Where the hell did the blog go?

"It's been forever since there was a blog up date by Brian, where did he go?"
"Is he still doing the 365 thing?"

Yes, I am still doing the 365 thing. I'm sorry to say I've missed a few days here and there though.

Where did I go?

I went to Africa....



No words today, just images...


This is Sierra Leone, Africa:

Pics O' The Week #23: The Weekend Project

So today's pictures are both a record of what I've been working on this weekend, and an explanation of why I don't have something more interesting to show ya.

We've been in this house a little over a year, and the lawn has always been a bit of a challenge. It wasn't in great shape when we moved in, and the dry winter combined with our property manager's decision to have our sprinklers shut off the second week of September last fall meant that most of the grass didn't survive the winter. So, as a bit of an experiment I'm trying to reseed part of the yard.

It may not look like much, but this is the result of four trips to Lowe's (and there goes my time to get out and take pics of something that's not the yard), one big bag of seed, an hour with a rake to clear off the dead stuff, and seven bags of cow manure. Well, ok, what you see here is only six bags of manure, I used a bag on the patch in the front yard.

It's kind of hard to tell scale here, but trust me, this is not a particularly small area.

Ah, yes, and the fencing...as long as there's nothing terribly interesting on the other side of the fence, it should be adequate to keep the dogs off of the new grass. However, should there be a bunny on that side of the yard....well....stay tuned for pics of Sera tearing around the yard dragging 40 feet of plastic netting!

Pics O' The Week #22

Last Friday one of our dogs learned a very important lesson:


Sometimes it's easier to get up than it is to get down.

I had gotten home from work a bit early, and the weather was finally nice for a change, so I left the patio door open. The dogs like to wander in and out, or lounge on the patio in the sun if they get the chance.

I was inside, minding my own business, when I heard a slight dog whine. Sera's a bit of a whiny dog, so I didn't pay much attention. After a few moments she whined again, this time a bit more urgently, so I figured I had better check it out. This is the sight that greeted me in the back yard - I have no idea how she got up there without making a sound, but she had no idea how to get down!

She looked a bit perturbed when I told her to "wait" and headed back inside for the camera, but I think our dogs understand by now.....pics first, THEN you get helped. Gotta have priorities.

Pics O' The Week #21

I'd like to introduce my new little friend....a birthday gift from my parents that they got in Albuquerque. The trick is that there isn't one drop of paint on this little guy - the patterns you see are produced by mixing, folding, and stretching polymer clay to create the design. There's a better description of the technique on the artist's website at www.fimocreations.com - it's pretty amazing.














After the formal photo shoot I let him out in the yard for a more natural look.

Pic O' The Week #19

More catch-up....this was actually taken a week ago, at my mom-in-law's house. Just a smudge of spring green, as the trees finally decided that it was safe to leaf out.

Pic O' The Week #20

Yup, playing catch-up here - even a picture a week is proving challenging!

The weather has just been goofy this year....winter was dry dry dry, spring has been cool and dry, and we are just now (this is May, mind you) getting the warm wet spring snows that we should have been getting in March or mid-April. I guess it's better late then never, though, and the dogs love snow regardless of the time of year.



Maybe that's the lesson from the dog for today....if it's sunny, enjoy the sun, and if it's snowy, enjoy the snow!

Project 365, Day 114. Digital slight of hand.

So I'm in Dubai...

I'm at the offices of the company I am working for, outside shooting a couple of quick pics, which happen to be at the airport.

Well, they don't permit photography at the airport.

I got hauled in to the security office and was asked to delete the images. Fine, at least they didn't try to take my camera.

So I pushed the "format card" button on the camera, which erases every image on the card. Look, see? No more pictures.

Fine, everyone is happy. Except me...

Thing is, I had some images I shot while I was at the hotel that I wanted. They were the only images I shot for the previous day and had to be used for my project.

Not a problem. The second I got done formatting the card and left the security office, I took out the card out of the camera and switched it for another one.

You see, I have invested a few dollars in data recovery software. As long as the card isn't overwritten by new data, the deleted pictures are still on that card. It just LOOKS like they aren't on the card.

Now you see them, now you don't.



Now you see them again.

Turns out the pictures I wanted to use didn't really turn out how I was hoping, but some of the ones security wanted gone sure did...

The software did a good job, there appears to be no degradation of the images or data quality. In fact, I stitched together a panorama from the deleted images and Photoshop was able to accomplish it without difficulty.

Pics O' The Week #17

A simple post tonight....not only am I not keeping up the blog while Brian's gone, I'm not even keeping up with my own Picture of the Week! But, moving on...



I'm in the middle of an internship as a family therapist, which means that toys and crayons have now become serious job-related tools. I kinda like that. These are the happy residents of the barn playset I took on a home visit this afternoon - which the kids loved. I was instructed to bring it back next week or else. I had better hope no one else in the office checks it out or I'm in big trouble!



Our dogs spent a while this evening trying to figure out just what I had brought home and it any of it was edible. Sera gave up after a while and wandered off, but not before looking like the giant beast that had come to destroy the entire farm. Eek!

Project 365, Day 113. Why I love flying Emirates Airlines

First off, you're probably wondering what happened to Day 112. Ok, be honest, did you even notice I skipped that day?

I didn't think so.

I was so busy getting ready to deploy to Africa that I only got one shot taken on that day and it was with my iPhone.

It was Emily, still in bed, snuggled up with Sera. Emily forbid me to post it up here.

Fair enough.

It will be published in the book I am going to put together if I can complete this project.

So, if you want to see it, you'll have to buy the book! (How's that for marketing? I think they call that a hard sell)

Anyway, the shot for today was also taken with my iPhone. Trying to take gear out of a bag on the plane is such a hassle.

This is one of the reasons I love flying on this airline.



If you'll notice... my iPod is plugged in. That's right, it's plugged into the electrical socket build into the seat. Nope, I'm not in business class, I'm in steerage with the rest of the poor slobs. I don't know any airline in the states that has that available.

It's a lifesaver in this digital age. I was able to watch movies on my iPod for my entire trip.

The screen is too small though... I think it's time to get an iPod Touch with a bigger screen!

Project 365, Day 109. Dog not included (Used to show scale)

My new camera bag showed up today!

It's pretty awesome. It works as a backpack or as a roller bag. It'll hold just enough gear (which is a a lot, really), about 8 or 9 lenses, a camera body and a flash, plus assorted gear. It also has a laptop compartment, which means I can now carry a small Lumiquest soft box for the flash too!



The search for the perfect camera bag continues. This isn't it.

I didn't expect it to be, however.

I'm pretty sure there is no such thing. The flaws seem to be that there is not enough pouches/pockets to hold small stuff like batteries, cards, filters and other small stuff. Plus, I know it won't fit in the overheads in the regional jets, meaning I'll have to gate check it. Fuck. I'm just hoping this bad boy will fit in the overhead on the overseas flights. If it won't, there's gonna be problems. I refuse to check camera gear.



Oh, and the dog didn't come with the bag. She's just there to show scale.



Music tonight:
Mr. Tinkertrain by Ozzy
Stayin' Alive by The Bee Gees (Listened to this one a couple of times. Disco RULES!)
Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi

Project 365, Day 110, The Chair.

The lighting caught my eye here tonight.



This is my customizing table where I create my custom action figures.

I like the lighting. I may have to play with this again and get a shot of the desk where all the tiny parts and hundreds of containers of paint sit...



I'm quite proud of the creations that roll off this desk.


Music tonight:
Last Child by Aerosmith
Tears Are Falling by Kiss
Mr. Tinkertrain by Ozzy

Project 365, Day 111. Wild Horses

Are they wild horses?

Yeah, you know what? Probably not.

But you wouldn't know it if I hadn't fessed up. And THAT is what photography is all about.

Using images to tell a story, blurring the lines between fiction and non-fiction.






Music today:
Lover Man by Metallica
Bringing Home The Heartbreak by Def Leppard
Back In Black by AC/DC
Magic Touch by Aerosmith

Project 365, Day 108. Hyacinths and Hail

The weather can't seem to make up it's mind about whether it's spring or still winter.

It was spitting snow last night before bedtime. I was kinda hoping for a few nice warm days before I fly off to Africa again.

Guess that isn't going to happen.

Today was also my turn to shoot the hyacinths in the back yard. Though instead of doing some close up macro work, which is what I would prefer to do, I had to settle for capturing the nice little hail storm along with the flowers from inside using a telephoto lens.

Oh well. At least Sera cleaned up all of the hail that managed to fall inside while I was shooting. She eats ice cubes like they are popcorn, so the hail just happened to be nature's ice cube.



Music tonight:
A Little Ain't Enough For Me by David Lee Roth
Two Timer by Kiss
Monkey On My Back by Aerosmith
Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
Greasepaint And Monkey Brains by White Zombie
Your Mama Don't Dance by Poison

Project 365, Day 107. I Am Iron Man!

Well...

Robert Downy Jr. heard I'm a huge Iron Man fan and a photographer.

So, I got invited to get in on a photo shoot with him in the Iron Man Mark IV armor.

I did all of the lighting myself. The picture is pretty much straight out of the camera. Just a spot removal here and there and some sharpening and noise reduction. With great lighting, there just isn't a need to do much in post.

I got a few good shots, but this was the best one: (Be sure to click on the picture a couple of times to see the amazing detail!)




Damn, that was a shitload of fun!



Music tonight:
Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil
Anyway You Want It by Journey
Turn Up The Radio by Autograph
Those Shoes by The Eagles
Shoot To Thrill by AC/DC

Project 365, Day 106. Denver Starfest!

As you have already no doubt read earlier, Emily and I went to the local Sci-fi convention yesterday. We always have a good time.

It's always nice to realize, no matter how much of a geek you think you are, there is always someone that is way more out there than you.

There are always a lot of people dressed up in costumes, tons of models to look at, art, robots, and of course, my favorite...The Dealers' Room! Endless toys, posters, DVDs and other memorabilia.

It's thanks to the Dealers' Room that I have an interesting and unique collection. The first convention I went to, Jeremy Bullock the guy that played Boba Fett, was there signing autographs. I had nothing for him to sign, so I ran to one of the guys selling action figures and bought a Boba Fett figure, still on the card. Even though they told me not to ask for special requests, I asked him if he'd sign it and write "AKA Boba Fett" as well.

He thought that was pretty clever and was happy to oblige.

I suggested the idea to Emily a few years ago when she wanted an autograph from the actors who plays one of her favorite characters. She liked the idea.

Now, between us we have a pretty impressive collection. From William Shatner (Captain Kirk) to Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), the collection grows almost every year!

This year, it was Emily's turn again.



That's Levar Burton signing Emily's Geordi La Forge action figure. Only because she couldn't find an action figure of him from Reading Rainbow.

He thought that was pretty funny.



Music today:
Deuce by Kiss
Kings And Queens by Aerosmith
Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
Hammer To Fall by Queen
Back In Time by Huey Lewis & The News
Love Ain't For Keeping by The Who
Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard

Project 365, Day 105. Two minutes of fun.

I spent one dollar on a toy at Wal-Mart today.

Not for me, mind you. But rather for the dogs.

One dollar won't buy you much fun. Turns out it's about two minutes worth.

One big green ball.

The dogs like toys, but all toys must die a horrible death at the hands (or mouths) of Hatch dogs. You could hand them a cinder block and by the time you've returned with your lawn chair to watch what they'll do with it....it's just a pile of dust and they've moved on to pooping and chasing each other.



I didn't actually time it, but it was less than three minutes before Sera had delivered the deathblow and was parading her kill around the yard like the great hunter.

I had to take it away shortly after this shot, otherwise also like the great hunter, she would have started eating her kill....


Music for today:
Already Gone by The Eagles
Big Time by Peter Gabriel
Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac
Ain't That A Bitch by Aerosmith
Hear About It Later by Van Halen

Project 365, Day 104. Out with the sort of old.

There is no such thing as the perfect camera bag.

There is only the search for one.

Some are good for shooting from but not for travel, some are just the opposite and travel well, but suck to shoot from. Some hold not enough gear, some hold too much. Some have so much padding that they weigh a ton, some have less padding, but you really have to be careful with you gear to prevent damage. Each of them have great features found only on that bag and they each have flaws.

I decided on my last trip overseas to Africa that I need a backpack that has a roller system build in, that it will hold a laptop, fit in an overhead compartment and holds just the right amount of gear.

I found a bag that I liked, so I bought it. It'll be here on Thursday, I hope.

As with all camera gear, nothing comes cheap. I have noticed that my buddy, Jason, sells off his old gear when he gets something new not only to offset the cost, but to keep the wife happy.

Smart man. I decided to follow suit.

I'm selling off my large Moose Peterson bag on ebay. Hopefully I can wade through the retards on there and get it sold to someone who will not only use it, but pay for it too.



And yes, all of that stuff fits in that bag. That's 12 lenses and two bodies.

There's still room in that bag... It's just too heavy to carry all of that stuff around and I have no intention of taking that much stuff on my next trip to Africa.

Music for today:
Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
Stand Up by David Lee Roth
Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue
Photography by Def Leppard

Pics O' The Week #16

So springtime in Colorado means the annual return of Starfest - the local sci-fi convention. It's a three day event with Saturday usually offering the best in costumes and people-watching. However, this year, I was in in search of an autograph that I could only get on Sunday, so we went today. Got it!



It's a trade-off, really....Saturday is more people and more to see, but by the end of the afternoon on Sunday just about everything is on sale in the dealer's room, which can get you some good deals on toys and merchandise.

I don't remember the robot-building being quite as big a deal in past years, but there was a whole room full of robots this year. Several R2D2's, of course, and Robbie the Robot was well-represented, but when I saw...

...I had to snap a pic. Figured my mom would like to this one.

As always, we're looking forward to next year...and if there's something we want to see on Sunday we may just have to make it a two-day event!

Project 365, Day 103. On the way home...

Well, I had a great time in Ghana. It was awesome to actually be in Africa. I never thought that would happen when I was growing up.

I can also now say I've worked as a paramedic on three continents. I have also now been on five of the seven continents too. This leaves only Antarctica and South America, though I would like to spend more time in Australia.


It was the trip from fucking hell to get home, just so we're all clear on that.

Music today:
I Can't Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar
The Miracle by Queen
Rosewood Bitters by Joe Walsh
Young Lust by Pink Floyd
Good Man Down by Joe Walsh

Project 365, Day 102. Is that a banana or are you just happy to see me?

Ah, that joke never gets old.

Seriously though, geez, them are some fucking huge bananas! Those things are longer than my....well...they're really big...

Those are what we call wife-pleasers. What? Oh get your mind out of the gutter will you? Imagine how happy the wife would be to have a banana split made from one of those things. Shame on you.

I forgot to take a picture of the avocado that I bought. The pit inside was about the size of the avocados we get in the states. And was it tasty!

I dont know who the guy on the bike is, but that's my buddy Ahemn taking to him. He's the lab tech here in Takoradi and is always happy to pose for pictures!



Music today:
A Kind of Magic by Queen
Rock is Dead by Marylin Manson
Armageddon It by Def Leppard
Refugee by Tom Petty
Just Like Paradise by David Lee Roth