MAR 31, 2009 - Open (212)

The flowers opened in just one day.

MAR 30, 2009 - Closed (54)

I bought these at our new Trader Joes, yesterday. I hope that they open up so I can take another photo.

MAR 30, 3009 - Sign (282)

Imagine

What a clever way to advertise property.

Blogger, evidently, does not like panoramas. The only way I could get it to load was to upload it small, but it does seem to enlarge.

MAR 28, 2009 - Mechanisms (181)

My kids use this kit/toy to make electrical connections. They can turn on a light bulb or alarm or something and learn about electricity without the threat of electrocution. I, normally, like to have nothing to do with it, but they left it out on the table so I thought it would be a cool thing to photograph. Unfortunately, it was just my luck that they put all the pieces back in the box, so I had to put it together myself. For some reason, the light went on and off intermittently, instead of staying on, so I had to try and time the shutter just right.

MAR 27, 2009 - Pumpjack

Pumpjack in the distance drilling for natural gas.

MAR 26, 2009 - Broken (36)

I love these shoes, but notice I lost the strap several years ago. I keep thinking I'm going to find the strap in my closet, but it hasn't happened yet.

MAR 25, 2009 - Missed Opportunity

I have made up my own theme, again.

Sunday was my kid's piano recital. They sang and played piano. They were terrific, and they were absurdly cute in their little suits. I was so looking forward to photographing the recital. Unfortunately, my shots look TERRIBLE!! I did everything you can imagine wrong. First I started in Aperture Priority and the exposure was fine, but the shutter speed was too slow. Next I tried manual. Of course when I shortened the shutter speed the exposure was too dark, and lets not forget the unbelievable amount of noise. I wish that I would have done better. I processed the heck out of them to salvage something, but I'm no PSE expert either which explains the purple hair. These two shots are all I've been able to salvage, thus far.

MAR 24, 2009 - Clocks (53)

Challenge - Roman Numerals

Mar 23, 2009 - Pairs (223)

Let's face it. I'm obsessed with using my new light box.

For a while I collected shot glasses. What are these--shot cups? They are made of tin.

MAR 22, 2009 - DIY Light Box

I, usually, use the light box at work (art department), but it is inconvenient. I figured I'd buy one, but the cost is much higher than I thought it would be. So I made one, today. There are so many different approaches. I took stuff from different DIY's and came up with my own.

Stage 1 To complete the light box, I bought interfacing from the fabric store and taped it onto the sides and top, and I used two small flood lights to light the box. I, also put poster board in it as a background.

It is about a million times better than nothing. I'm not convinced I wouldn't have been better off buying one. It turned out to be kind of expensive to make. Duct tape was $7. That was particularly shocking to me :) I guess I should have got a box from Home Depot. It turns out they are 99 cent, but I stopped in at Mail Boxes, Etc for a card board box and it cost me 6.50. The lights were only $10 each, but the bulbs were $7 each. The exacto knife was $3.50. I don't feel like adding it all up, but the whole set up had to have been close to $50. Couldn't I have bought a basic light tent set up for $50? I'm not really complaining. It was fun, and it is cool that I did it myself.

MAR 21, 2009 - Industrial (158)

MAR 20, 2009 - Dangerous (74)

MAR 19, 2009 - Recessionary Economics (253)

I live in CA. Although, I would love to use public transportation, there is no viable option. The only way for me to get to work is to drive, and my hours are different than the other people at my job, so carpooling isn't really an option for ma either. My husband is in the same position. He spends 10 hours a week commuting and I clock 5. We both hate driving. We would LOVE to take a train to work. CA has passed a huge tax hike on gas as well as raising every tax you can imagine. The sales tax is going up to 10+, property taxes, fees, everything is increasing. I don't see how you can get out of a recession like that. CA is a mess.

MAR 18, 2009 - TAGGED

I was TAGGED by Tammy (Chesney). Here are the rules:

•Go to your photo folder on your computer

•Go to the 6th folder of photos

•Go to the sixth picture

•Put the picture on your blog and a description of it

•Invite six friends to join the challenge

•Link them in your blog

The following people have been or will be TAGGED by me. I hope they elect to participate with us.

Karen - Capturing the Light

Katie - Three Sixty Five in 2009

John - Silverback

Esther - 2009 Photo Challenge

Shiela's 365 in 2009

Lori - This Moment Captured

The PICS

The truth is that I think these photo are as so cute that I couldn't post just the 6th. The 6th is actually the second photo shown. Someone gave me these. I was there, but I don't think that I had my camera with me. The first photo cracks me up. The kids are so serious.

MAR 17, 2009 - Little League - Banner

Here is my oldest son's team banner. Each team is responsible for making a banner. Most teams buy one, but if there is a particularly crafty Mom, she makes it. Only the "home made" ones are eligible to win the banner contest. I'm actually pretty crafty when it comes to felt, but I didn't make this. The team Mom made it, and ours won, so the kids get a pizza party.

Last week I showed a photo of my youngest. This week is a photo of my oldest. It's basically the same picture. I'll try to show some batting next week.

March 16, 2009 - Star

Here is a close up of a chunk wood from yesterdays's post. I wanted to call it closely croppped, but I didn't crop it. It does look like a nicely formed star, though.

MAR 15, 2009 - Who Put That There (360)

There is a massive pile of wood on a lot next to a very busy street in my neighborhood. I'm not sure if its an abandoned lot or not. The pile seems to get a little smaller every day, so I don't know if people are taking it, or if the owner is clearing it little by little.

MAR 14, 2009 - Nojoqui Falls - Moving (189)

Nojoqui Falls

This is a popular local attraction. It is what yesterday's rock path led to. This photo is the first time I've tried to take a pic with a slow shutter speed to create motion blur.

MAR 13, 2009 - Rock, Paper Scissors (263)

This is a rock path on a nature trail. I liked the way the light was hitting the rocks.

March 12, 2009 - Earrings (81)

I asked one of my students if I could take a picture of her earrings. They remind me of spring.

MAR 11, 2009 - Candy (40)

Since my husband gave me a hard time about my candy post last month, I figured I'd try again. This time, I counting on the backstory to make it interesting. My son gave me this set of candy jewelry for Christmas. He knows I'm allergic to metal (I don't wear very much jewelry.), so he figured this was even better--because you can eat it of course. He had gotten a little concerned that I hadn't worn it, but I explained I needed to photograph it first.

MAR 10, 2009 - Little League-Still Life (303)

My son (from yesterday's post) hit the Tball so hard that the ball burst its seams. The coach gave us the ball as a souvenir.

MAR 9, 2009 - Little League-Determination

My little guy is only six, but he is serious about his sports.

Baseball season has begun. I hope some of you like to see little kids playing baseball. I've got two kids playing and a coaching Dad. I can guarantee, at least, a photo a week. OK, this week-- two photos. The theme is Little League, but I'm titling this one DETERMINATION.

MAR 8, 2009 - Balboa Island, CA - Occupation (206)

This artists didn't mind having his picture taken. I guess with so many tourist, I wasn't the first to ask.

MAR 7, 2009 - Balboa Island, CA - On the Water (209)

Balboa Island is a tiny island in southern California. It took a while for my friend to convince me that it was really an island, because I couldn't remember going over a bridge to get there. As it turned out, we really had gone over a bridge, but I must have blinked and missed it. This little island is very interesting. The homes/mansions are very close together and just a few feet from the sidewalk which is right on the water. There is little to no beach area. Most of the homes have huge windows that allow the residents to look out, but also allow passersby to look in. As you are walking down the sidewalk, you see people in their homes going about their normal routine.

MAR 6, 2009 - Aged (10)

I attached the camera to the telescope, again. This time for a shot of the moon.

MAR 5, 2009 - Christmas

Believe it or not, my Christmas stuff is still in my garage. My husband's back is hurt. Need I say more. You don't expect me to get on the ladder, do you? I always put this Nativity in my kids room.

MAR 4, 2009 Santa Barbara, CA-The Pier

This is the last shot that I have to share of the pier in Santa Barbara. This was actually the first photo that I took. Notice the people sleeping on the sand. I didn't see them until I was processing the photo. That is very sad to me. They shouldn't be unnoticed.

MAR 3, 2009 Santa Barbara, CA-The Pier

I took this from the end of the pier. I cropped this a bit. Someone told me that I should put the horizon in the top third or the bottom third, and I tried to use the golden mean or rule thirds (I can't tell or remember which I did) with the boats. It actually wasn't sunset, just a little rainy. The sky was colorful, but I enhanced it in post processing.

MAR 2, 2009 Santa Barbara, CA-The Pier

Yes, I'm still on the pier. I think this little guy was trying to tell me something.

MAR 1, 2009 - Orion Nebula - Out of This World (43)

I know...I am supposed to be on the Pier. I'm still there, but I am just, too, excited about this one to wait. I attached my camera to my telescope and used the telescope lens as my camera lens (I think it is called prime focusing.) . To do good astrophotography, you need equipment that I just don't have and don't foresee being able to get any time soon (mainly a wedge). Essentially, without the proper equipment, the most I can hope for is a 30 second exposure. I don't know how to "stack" the photos are do anything related to astrophotography other than connecting my camera to the front of the telescope, but I am excited that I was able to see so much color in the Orion nebula. It is so thrilling to see something in the camera that you can't see with your naked eye! I know if I keep practicing, I'll be able to get those stars in better focus.

MAR 1, 2009 Santa Barbara, CA-The Pier

This gentlemen was very agreeable to having his picture taken, but he didn't like me mistaking his girl dog for a boy dog. He doesn't like pink collars, so he had to get a blue one, but, make no mistake, she's a girl.