Saturday, June 28, 2008

Photo of the Week: Tiger Lilies

OK - this week it actually two photos. I Couldn't resist taking a couple of shots of some Tiger Lilies in our front garden. Click on the images to see the full res version.

Both were enhanced with Adobe PhotoShop Elements 6. I shot them with a Nikon D40x using the RAW format just before sunset.

The first shot was enhanced with the Camera Raw editor to increase the exposure, clarity and vibrance. I love how the colors and the details really "pop"!




The second shot was edited in the full PSE6 editor after a little tweaking with Camera Raw again. I used a light smudge technique to soften the surfaces and borders to create an interesting effect.



Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

An Old Cowboy's Advice

A great friend of mine sent this to me recently - thought I'd post it here to share...

An Old Cowboy's Advice
- Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
- Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
- Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
- A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
- Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
- Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
- Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
- Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
- It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
- You cannot unsay a cruel word.
- Every path has a few puddles.
- When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
- The best sermons are lived, not preached.
- Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
- Don't judge folks by their relatives.
- Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
- Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back ,you'll enjoy it a second time.
- Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
- Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
- If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
- Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
- The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
- Always drink upstream from the herd.
- Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
- Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it backin.
- If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
- Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Photo of the Week: A Fine Wine

One of my favorite Chardonnay's.

This was what was left of a bottle from cocktail time on May 21st, 2005 out on the deck.

Ah, I remember it well!



Saturday, May 10, 2008

Photo of the Week: Cool House

I was on a recent trip to New Buffalo, MI and we took a drive around the town to check things out. We were driving down a road near the channel to Lake Michigan and I saw this house. The bright blue created an interesting contrast against the grey sky. I just thought it was a cool looking house.

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Photo of the Week: Cabo Wabo

I have to do a post in honor of Cinco de Mayo. What better way to remember the Battle of Puebla then to hoist a toast at one of my favorite watering holes - Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. This is a picture of the mural in the cantina on the second floor that I took on our most recent trip down to Cabo in February of 2008. I think the picture says it all. So this Monday, sip some tequila and celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

(Click to view a larger version of the image. Use the Back button to return to the blog)

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Photo of the Week: T-28 Blue Angels Trainer

This was a shot I took at the Kalamazoo Air Museum (the Air Zoo) back on July 12th, 2002. I was there visiting the museum with some friends when they announced a special demonstration flight. We headed out to the tarmac in time to see them preparing this old T-28 Trojan used by the Blue Angels back in the 1950's for team training. It was quite a sight to see this vintage war bird fired up, take off and perform a few maneuvers for the crowd. What can I saw, I like aviation!

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

Photo of the Week: New Orleans Neon



This was a neon sign I found inside a great little restaurant in the French Quarter in New Orleans. The name of the place was the Olde N'awlins Cookery, but unfortunately is was damaged by hurricane Katrina and has not reopened. I took the shot in April of 2002 when I was down there for a technical conference. It was one of the better business trips I have taken as the sessions were good and the atmosphere was inviting and fun. I have been to New Orleans a few times, but this one stands out as one of the better trips down there (thanks to Smelly Girl and the whole gang!). I just thought it was a cool image (I'm sure it had nothing to do with the copious amount of alcohol consumed prior to dinner). Click on the image for a larger version.