Please excuse the absence

So, I had this wonderful plan for yesterday. I was going ride my bike over to Avila Beach with Noah and take lots of pictures. When we were almost there though, a dog (who was not on a leash as he should have been) ran right into the front of my bike (which was going fairly fast at the time). I decided I would try to fly over the handlebars and land on my face, hands and knees. The flying didn't work out so great. The landing definitely happened. So, instead of spending the day at the beach, I spent my day at MedStop having my face literally glued back together (better than stitches!) and picking up Vicodin. So much for picture taking. Noah did take some pictures of my face, but I won't gross you out with that nastiness (it seems to be getting nastier with every passing hour). Luckily all my camera equipment survived and is in working order, the dog is perfectly fine and I was wearing sunglasses so my prescription glasses aren't smashed in the least.

So, sorry about the lack of pictures the past couple days. I'll get back on it soon enough...promise!

Got it pinned down

The bubbles tickle my nose

I do love my macro lens...best...birthday...present...ever!

The key to success

Or to my garage...one of the two.

Monday? Really?

Am I right?

Mathew Brady

Today, we meet Mathew Brady. He was known as the brilliant leader of a project that for the first time showed the glories and horrors of the battlefield to those who were far front line. While he was rarely ever behind the camera himself, his team chronicled the Civil War in photographs.


War photography at that time was a far cry from the war photography that we know today. Due to long exposure times and complicated chemical processes, it was nearly impossible to shoot the battle in progress. Nearly all the images in Brady's archives are of the moments before or after the bullets were flying. There are pictures of forts, trenches, cannon and mortars, arsenals, and portrait after portrait of groups and individuals posing. Then, there are the shots of what remains when the battle ends. Haunting photographs of the bodies of Confederate and Union troops littering the battlefield; the bombed and shelled remains of buildings that once stood proud.


And on that note, I hope you have a very happy Sunday!

It's Caturday!

It's a big Caturday!!

Flashback Friday

I took this picture back in April at the Elfin Forest in Los Osos. It was a warmer, sunnier day that day. Today is threatening rain. It's needed, but it doesn't mean I have to like it!

sage advice

Who me? No, I didn't do it!

practice makes perfect

I do love playing with my macro lens.

Mmmmm...

Wine anyone? Yes, this is a picture of the rim of a wineglass. I love taking pictures that is of a small detail that no one really looks at. Enjoy! I know I did.

Félix Nadar

Félix Nadar

Today starts the 50 Photographers You Should Know. Our first photographer is Félix Nadar. He was born Gaspard Félix Tournachon in 1820 in Paris, France. He was a well-known journalist, novelist, and caricaturist before his photography ever brought him any fame. It wasn't until 1854 that he took up the camera. Less than a year later, he won a gold medal at the Paris World's Fair for photographs of Charles Debureau as a mime, made in collaboration with his brother, Adrien.

He owned and operated his own private balloon named "Le Géant" (The Giant) and was known to take aerial photographs over Paris. He would also delve deep into the catacombs and sewers of Paris to capture the city from below. But above all, the name Nadar was known for portraiture. He immortalized the intellectual greats of the day: Doré, Daumier, Delacroix, Millet, Daubigny, Courbet, Manet, Monet, Rodin, Charles Baudelaire, Verdi, and many many more. These portraits brought out the true character of the sitter: their intellect, charisma and humor. These were portraits of artists by an artist.

Gioacchino Rossini 1856

It's Caturday!

Full disclosure? I didn't take this picture. I did say that I would introduce you to Monstrous Mouse though (you met his sister last week). The only pictures that I have of him that I took were from his kitten days before he became the behemoth he is now. You'll be hard pressed to find a sweeter boy...just ask his mom (aka my mom).

flashback Friday

I took this picture back when it was summery and warm (although living on the central coast of California, I can't really complain about the 65ish degree weather we've been having). Hope this little guy found a warm place to hide over the winter.

work, work, work

Work seems to be nonstop lately. On the bright side though, things at work are going really well...so, at least I'm happy while I'm there. Looking forward to the coming weekend though. I can relax, go take some pictures and not think about arts and crafts!

pumpin' iron

Damn, gym....you're killing me! But you hurt so good!

lovely light

I makes it hard to focus, but I do love the light behind the white petals.

Manic Monday?

Hopefully this photo will calm you just a bit.

You're gonna make me learn something?

So, it's a new year and it's time for something new for Sundays. I recently got a book called 50 Photographers You Should Know by Peter Stepan. I've noticed that when I buy books like this, I always flip through and look at the pictures. I'll even make a valiant effort for the first 50 pages or so to read it; but I always end up distracted by some other book and it invariably ends up on the shelf collecting dust. So, I thought by introducing you to a new photographer every Sunday, not only will it be a learning experience for you but a great way for me to actually get all the way through my book. I'll start next Sunday with Félix Nadar. Hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am!

It's Caturday!

This is my moms' cat when she was just a kitten. Unlike her brother who has grown to ridiculously huge proportions, she still looks fairly similar to this. Perhaps next week you can meet monstrous mouse.

birds of a feather

not impressed

2012? I'm not impressed with you yet...I know you've just started, but so far? Meh...

Happy 2012!

What are your resolutions?