Room With a View

In recent years my wife and I have been taking an annual "birthday vacation" in the first week of June. This year we have rented a cabin in the Great Smokey Mountains of eastern Tennessee and plan on spending some time in the National Park and surrounding area. This shot is from the cabin balcony.

I'll be posting a few shots here from the cabin but, in the way of a disclaimer, I'll be doing so from my wife's laptop using PSE8. [REVISED: THE CURRENT PHOTO IS A DO-OVER USING PS4, PHOTOMATIX PRO, & TOPAZ ADJUST - AFTER I GOT HOME!]

Fred Hartman Bridge

This shot is from the Southeast shoreline of the Baytown Nature Center looking across the Houston Ship Chanel at the Fred Harman Bridge that links Baytown and LaPorte, TX.

BNC Black Bird

An infrared black & white treatment of a black bird shot at the Baytown Nature Center this past weekend.

BNC Turtle Pond

This small pond, called "Turtle Pond" is located on the Bay side of the Baytown Nature Center.

BNC Cactus Flower

A cactus flower shot a week or two ago at the Baytown Nature Center off Bayway Drive in Baytown.

BNC Pelican in Flight

I caught this pelican in flight near one of the popular fishing spots inside the Baytown Nature Nature Center a few weeks ago.

Going Once...

This shot is from the Baytown Youth Fair and Rodeo this past Friday night. This scene is of the auction which was held in the late evening under an open air pavilion at the youth fair facility off Main St. north of I-10 in Baytown. I couldn't help but think this would have been an excellent opportunity to use a fish eye lens to capture the whole rural environment. [Note to self: have fundraiser for fish eye!]

Baytown Eagle Chic

Approximately 10-12 weeks ago a mating pair of American Bald Eagles became the parents of two chicks. Last Sunday my wife and I watched this one stretching it's wings. It hadn't flown yet but we watched it jump up and hoover in place above it nest several times so it won't be long! FYI: Juvenile Bald Eagles can take up to five years to develop their characteristic white feathers and can expect a life span in the wild of up to 30 years.

BNC Magnolia Blossom

I photographed this Magnolia blossom at the Baytown Nature Center this weekend. I used a 1" extension tube on my 50 to 200 Olympus lens mounted on my E-3 while I stood under an umbrella in the rain to capture the shot.

Swamp Buffalo

This was my second entry in Tuesday nights BAPC Honors Night assignment "Low Key." I got this shot on the BAPC field trip to the Brenham area last month. I like the shot a lot, although I don't think it would have been usable in any other category but Low Key. It's a better than 50% crop from my 10MP Oly E-3 and, at the 12" X 12" size I presented, the image was only 67DPI! Normally the resolution wouldn't hunt but here I think it works.

Harlie Girl 3

This was one of my shots at last night's Bay Area Photo Club "Honors Night" program. I entered this shot in the "assignment" category of "Low Key." Up until a hour before the program, when I matted this image for presentation, I considered this my "B" shot. At the end of the day however I ended up liking this more than my other entry [see here tomorrow.]

I shot this handheld with my 30 MM f1.4 lens mounted on my Oly E-3 at F2 and ISO400 and a shutter speed of .3 seconds by late evening window light.

Casual Lizzard

Just another shot from my backyard on a sunny weekend a while back.

Songbird Supper

A BlueJay helping itself to a peanut at our backyard buffet last weekend.

Salvation Army Lady

This shot is from the Rosenberg Railroad Museum's festival a few weekends ago.

Pesky Problem

Here's another version with a white point set on the paper tag on the fence. [ 5/9]

I spotted this poor fellow on the BAPC field trip to the Brenham area last month. Looks to me like he could use a good dusting to help control his pesky entourage!

BNC Foliage

This macro is from the Baytown Nature Center a few weeks ago.

Toy Train Passenger

This young man was having a big time at the Rosenberg Railroad Festival two weekends ago.

Tiny Town Rosenberg

This shot will be my submission for the Baytown Photo Club's April assignment "macro". This shot is of a miniature train set up permanently at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum and photographed the last weekend in April at the "Second Annual Rosenberg Railroad Festival & Hobo Days" event.