I was fortunate to be able to get out and shoot this past weekend. We spent the holiday at my in-laws, in southwestern Minnesota. I've posted 8 of my shots from this weekend so far, and will be posting more as I get them processed. Had some good light on Saturday evening, so we'll have to see how those work out.
Less than two weeks until the Badlands trip! Going to be a good time, and lots of hiking. Hopefully everything will be good at home and on the trip, as I always worry whenever we go out on a trip like this, or I leave the Wife, and the Pre-schooler at home. Luckily, my mother-in-law will be up to help out at home.
Did I mention I picked up a new lens? I don't remember, and I'm too lazy to check back and see. It's a Sigma 28-80mm with a macro switch. I've posted up some shots of the flowers I tried it out with on Flickr a bit back. Fun lens, and much less than the cost of the filters I was looking at getting to do the same thing.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
It's Over!
Saturday came up very quickly. The event at Shane's on Main was a blast. Lots of people came out just to see me! Thank you to everyone who showed up, and thanks to Shane at Shane's on Main for hosting the event. I had a good time talking to everyone, and before I knew it, it was over.
We ended up going to Bachman's on Saturday morning for their spring opening. My daughter loves everything about it; the flowers, the "plant your own flower", the baby animals. And it helped take my mind off of the afternoon event, so it worked out. I did bring my camera, and took a bunch of macro shots with my Sigma 28-80mm lens that I just picked up. There are several of them posted up on Flickr now.
On other topics, it looks like I'll be heading to the Badlands at the end of the month. A co-Flickr-ite asked me a while back about going, and after this weekend, my wife gave me the hall pass to go.
And I need to get a handful of photos together, and write an artists' statement for another possible adventure. It keeps on growing!
We ended up going to Bachman's on Saturday morning for their spring opening. My daughter loves everything about it; the flowers, the "plant your own flower", the baby animals. And it helped take my mind off of the afternoon event, so it worked out. I did bring my camera, and took a bunch of macro shots with my Sigma 28-80mm lens that I just picked up. There are several of them posted up on Flickr now.
On other topics, it looks like I'll be heading to the Badlands at the end of the month. A co-Flickr-ite asked me a while back about going, and after this weekend, my wife gave me the hall pass to go.
And I need to get a handful of photos together, and write an artists' statement for another possible adventure. It keeps on growing!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Couple of Days Left Until...
The big opening at Shane's on Main in Stillwater. Like I've probably said before, I've got a dozen images up on the walls in Shane's restaurant. From 3-7pm on Saturday, come down to downtown Stillwater and hang out with some great people, great food and great photography!
Need to get out and shoot more. The weather hasn't been co-operating at all; in fact, it snowed this morning, and is pretty dreary out right now. Plus, two times I did not have my camera, I've seen Bald Eagles flying around. One was right by the US Bank in Stillwater near Cub. The other was on 244 by Mahtomedi, on one of the ponds. It was eating some sort of creature; I couldn't tell if it was a fish or an animal. Either way, I could have filled up the viewfinder with the bird if I had the camera along with me. I'll just have to remember to bring it with me everywhere, for the shots that just happen along for me.
I'm actually just hoping that the weather finally co-operates, and things can get warm again. Otherwise, I'll have to break down and take pictures of the psycho robin that keeps on trying to get into my neighbor's front door. It's been there for about 3 days now - flying at the door, not hitting it, but then back to the tree, or the sidewalk. And up again, and back again. It does take a break for a drink now and then, but it goes right back at it.
Need to get out and shoot more. The weather hasn't been co-operating at all; in fact, it snowed this morning, and is pretty dreary out right now. Plus, two times I did not have my camera, I've seen Bald Eagles flying around. One was right by the US Bank in Stillwater near Cub. The other was on 244 by Mahtomedi, on one of the ponds. It was eating some sort of creature; I couldn't tell if it was a fish or an animal. Either way, I could have filled up the viewfinder with the bird if I had the camera along with me. I'll just have to remember to bring it with me everywhere, for the shots that just happen along for me.
I'm actually just hoping that the weather finally co-operates, and things can get warm again. Otherwise, I'll have to break down and take pictures of the psycho robin that keeps on trying to get into my neighbor's front door. It's been there for about 3 days now - flying at the door, not hitting it, but then back to the tree, or the sidewalk. And up again, and back again. It does take a break for a drink now and then, but it goes right back at it.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Preparing
I'm still in prep mode for the opening at Shane's on Main on April 4th. Working on getting some new business cards, printing out order forms, and I created and dropped off a pile of fliers for the event with Shane on Tuesday. Still nervous, but excited, about the whole thing. Hope all goes well; I'm hoping for the best!
Haven't got out too much to shoot lately. I've been planning and preparing for the opening, and between work and home life, I haven't had much of a chance to get out. Maybe I'll get out this weekend; I've got a list again of places I want to shoot more of, or visit for the first time. With the snow almost gone, all sorts of places open up now.
Haven't got out too much to shoot lately. I've been planning and preparing for the opening, and between work and home life, I haven't had much of a chance to get out. Maybe I'll get out this weekend; I've got a list again of places I want to shoot more of, or visit for the first time. With the snow almost gone, all sorts of places open up now.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday Already?
Jeesh. What happened to this week? It's already Friday.
Good news. Along with the 12 images I have on display at Shane's on Main in downtown Stillwater, Shane wants to have a showing/opening for me. Right now, it looks like it will be April 4th, which is a Saturday. Nervous as all get out, but we'll see how it goes. Can't find out unless I try, so I'm going to see what happens. Hopefully, we'll have a full house, and it will draw attention to my photography, and bring business to Shane's place. I'm looking for a win-win on this, and with the date coming up fast, I need to start planning on getting an invite out and figuring out what times to be there.
Been trying to get out and shoot more. Really, I have. Spring seems to be just around the corner, then gets pushed away with more snow. I'm hoping to get out and shoot more when it warms up, as it isn't fun to lug around 20+ pounds of camera gear and a thick winter jacket, with gloves, a scarf, and a hat. And if it is cold enough, hand and foot warmers too. I need to hit up the old bridge again, and see how the thaw is going after this weekend. I'd ideally have a layer of snow still around it, with the water running down the creek, but we'll see what happens. The owner has always been really cool about allowing me access to the bridge, so it's been fun to get out there and shoot it in all sorts of weather.
I keep on looking at new lenses. I'm eyeing a 200-500mm Tamron right now. It isn't the fastest lens (I think it is F4.0/5.6, but I'm not 100% sure), but it is less than most of the "primes" that are out there, which are around a F2.8, and $5k for a price tag. I keep on hoping for that Nikon/Tamron/Sigma sponsorship, but I don't even know where to start with that, if such a thing even exists.
Been listening to a lot of the old 80's music I used to listen to. The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Replacements, Porcelain Boys. The old 80's new wave/punk stuff. Lots of Clash lately too. As for reading, I just finished re-reading the last Harry Potter book - book 7, the Deadly Hallows. I'm a geek, yes. But they're well written, and I like the storyline. I've moved onto 1984 now, buy George Orwell. I don't recall reading it ever for any high-school course, so I'm going to check it out.
I also got my first DVD about strobist shots, and doing portrait work. It's supposed to be a fairly educational disk set, once it is finished. I haven't had a chance to watch much of the first disk yet, but we'll see what happens this weekend.
Good news. Along with the 12 images I have on display at Shane's on Main in downtown Stillwater, Shane wants to have a showing/opening for me. Right now, it looks like it will be April 4th, which is a Saturday. Nervous as all get out, but we'll see how it goes. Can't find out unless I try, so I'm going to see what happens. Hopefully, we'll have a full house, and it will draw attention to my photography, and bring business to Shane's place. I'm looking for a win-win on this, and with the date coming up fast, I need to start planning on getting an invite out and figuring out what times to be there.
Been trying to get out and shoot more. Really, I have. Spring seems to be just around the corner, then gets pushed away with more snow. I'm hoping to get out and shoot more when it warms up, as it isn't fun to lug around 20+ pounds of camera gear and a thick winter jacket, with gloves, a scarf, and a hat. And if it is cold enough, hand and foot warmers too. I need to hit up the old bridge again, and see how the thaw is going after this weekend. I'd ideally have a layer of snow still around it, with the water running down the creek, but we'll see what happens. The owner has always been really cool about allowing me access to the bridge, so it's been fun to get out there and shoot it in all sorts of weather.
I keep on looking at new lenses. I'm eyeing a 200-500mm Tamron right now. It isn't the fastest lens (I think it is F4.0/5.6, but I'm not 100% sure), but it is less than most of the "primes" that are out there, which are around a F2.8, and $5k for a price tag. I keep on hoping for that Nikon/Tamron/Sigma sponsorship, but I don't even know where to start with that, if such a thing even exists.
Been listening to a lot of the old 80's music I used to listen to. The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Replacements, Porcelain Boys. The old 80's new wave/punk stuff. Lots of Clash lately too. As for reading, I just finished re-reading the last Harry Potter book - book 7, the Deadly Hallows. I'm a geek, yes. But they're well written, and I like the storyline. I've moved onto 1984 now, buy George Orwell. I don't recall reading it ever for any high-school course, so I'm going to check it out.
I also got my first DVD about strobist shots, and doing portrait work. It's supposed to be a fairly educational disk set, once it is finished. I haven't had a chance to watch much of the first disk yet, but we'll see what happens this weekend.
Monday, March 2, 2009
March Already?
I went out and shot some around St. Paul. Finally made it to the Seventh Street Improvement Arches. Construction on them started in 1883, and finished in 1884. They have this cool helicoidal design, which makes the bricks that it is made out of spiral around. I wanted to go exploring around the trails a bit more, but would rather do it in a group. Maybe that's a good Flickrwalk idea -the arches and then the following trails around them.
Putting up my work at Shane's on Main has been delayed. I called Shane last night, to confirm that I was to come out, and he forgot he had to pick up his sister and her husband from the airport. So we re-scheduled for tonight. I'm going to try to remember to take some pictures again.
That's about all I've got so far for this week. We'll have to see how the week goes and maybe blog more later.
Putting up my work at Shane's on Main has been delayed. I called Shane last night, to confirm that I was to come out, and he forgot he had to pick up his sister and her husband from the airport. So we re-scheduled for tonight. I'm going to try to remember to take some pictures again.
That's about all I've got so far for this week. We'll have to see how the week goes and maybe blog more later.
Friday, February 27, 2009
New Places to Check Out My Work.
Couple of new things popped up recently.
One of the guys on photomn.com started up a local artists site. It is called MN Pixels, and I have a photo up there. Check it out - it's a pretty cool site. And if you're a local artist, join up!
The other new thing that is happening is Shane's on Main in downtown Stillwater. I met with Shane, the owner, this past week. After talking to him about my photography, and checking out his restaurant, he said that he would like to display some of my work at his place. Sweet! So, I ordered some prints, and need to get some framing done, but it looks like there will be about 10-12 photos of mine on display there. There is another "opportunity", involving Shane, but I'll blog about that when that time comes around. I'm hoping it works out, because this "other" thing could be cool in several different ways.
Went out and shot with Shawn this past weekend. We wandered around Hudson, and ended up finding a large group of Trumpeter Swans "pairing up" for the season, floating in the St. Croix. There were a couple of other photographers there; one had a Canon, the other had a Nikon D300 like mine. They had some HUGE lenses on their cameras though, with the whole "camo" kit on them. Pretty sure they were pro nature/wildlife photographers, but we didn't talk, so we'll never find out. I'm going to guess that the lenses they had on their cameras were 300 or 400mm F2.8-ish, which would work out great for the swans. I only had my 18-200mm, which did work good, but a longer, faster lens would be nice. Too bad they are so expensive, or I'd pick one up. :D
One of the guys on photomn.com started up a local artists site. It is called MN Pixels, and I have a photo up there. Check it out - it's a pretty cool site. And if you're a local artist, join up!
The other new thing that is happening is Shane's on Main in downtown Stillwater. I met with Shane, the owner, this past week. After talking to him about my photography, and checking out his restaurant, he said that he would like to display some of my work at his place. Sweet! So, I ordered some prints, and need to get some framing done, but it looks like there will be about 10-12 photos of mine on display there. There is another "opportunity", involving Shane, but I'll blog about that when that time comes around. I'm hoping it works out, because this "other" thing could be cool in several different ways.
Went out and shot with Shawn this past weekend. We wandered around Hudson, and ended up finding a large group of Trumpeter Swans "pairing up" for the season, floating in the St. Croix. There were a couple of other photographers there; one had a Canon, the other had a Nikon D300 like mine. They had some HUGE lenses on their cameras though, with the whole "camo" kit on them. Pretty sure they were pro nature/wildlife photographers, but we didn't talk, so we'll never find out. I'm going to guess that the lenses they had on their cameras were 300 or 400mm F2.8-ish, which would work out great for the swans. I only had my 18-200mm, which did work good, but a longer, faster lens would be nice. Too bad they are so expensive, or I'd pick one up. :D
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