01-19-13 Peachtree Station

I am in Atlanta, Georgia, for a few days to attend the annual Imaging USA conference. And four of my Lake Area Technical Institute photo/media students are with me. It should be a good experience for all of us.This photo was taken on the run. I was more interested in getting to our hotel than taking photos but I couldn't resist when I saw this scene. But instead of taking my big camera out of the bag, I snapped a single iPhone photo.When I photograph architecture, I look for symmetry, which is kind of the opposite of what I look for in landscapes. But in both, I look for lines and texture. And there are lines and texture galore in this photo. . . .

01-09-12 Mike, Scott & Clarence in Las Vegas

I have been to Las Vegas only once, and this photo documents the highlight of that visit: our hotel had a swimming pool! That's my brother Mike and my dad sitting on the diving board. And the story I am told (because I don't remember it) is that when no one was looking, little 7-year-old Scotty went out to the edge of the board and jumped in. The problem was that Scotty really didn't know how to swim. Whether that event occurred before or after the photo was taken, I can't say.This photo doesn't pass the test as far as quality photos are concerned: it has compositional issues and the photographer (my mom?) posed us with our backs to the sun, leading to underexposed faces. But like billions of other bad vacation snap shots, it is still an important photo - at least in my personal history.This photo, incidentally, was in an album that my aunt Betty had kept. In managing her estate, we ended up with several of her photo albums and it is obvious to me that even though she lived in California, her South Dakota family was very important to her.

01-03-12 Mi Amigos

It's always fascinating to see how people react to my camera. In this case, all but the second from the left were obviously eager to be photographed. Their smiles are great and the food was pretty good, too.

01-02-12 Welcome!

Sorry if I seem to be on a Mexico theme lately but when I look out my window, all I see is white and gray. So here's a little color.Most resorts that we've been to in Mexico offer some kind of welcoming drink, and these six glasses of (non-alcoholic) punch were being set up for our group.

01-01-13 Waiting for the Sun

Those of my generation know that the title for this post is also the title for the title track of the Doors third album "Waiting for the Sun." They sing

At first flash of Eden, we race down to the sea.Standing there on Freedom's Shore.Waiting for the Sun, etc. etc. etc.

And, this photo does little to reflect those lyrics. But I did take this photo early in the morning one day, well before the crowds arrived on the beach and a little before the sun came out from behind the bank of clouds that typically hovers over the eastern horizon off the shores of the Yucatan Peninsula.

12-31-12 Seeing Blue

This is the pool at the resort we stayed at recently. And this is yet another HDR photo (3 in 1) that has also been adjusted a bit with Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and OnOne Photo Suite 7.

12-30-12 Friend or Foe

The coati is a relative of the raccoon, an animal we are familiar with in South Dakota. These coati were part of a band of 15 or so and they were pretty good at working the residents of the resort we stayed at recently. They look cute and innocent but they could be aggressive, as my brother-in-law found out. One of them climbed right up his leg looking for a handout and leaving bleeding claw marks. All of the signs on the resort said "Don't feed the animals." That was probably good advice.

12-29-12 Modern Ruin

About a mile down the coast from the resort we stayed at recently in Mexico was a ruined resort once known as the Robinson Club. The story is that it was hit with two hurricanes. Apparently, it also had ecological issues and the resort was ultimately closed.To our family, the Robinson Club isn't just a ruined resort - it was the first resort we stayed at 15 years ago. And all of us have fond memories of the place. The resort was beautiful, the beach was perfect and the mostly German and generally zany staff made people feel like old friends.Scott, my brother-in-law, my nephew Matt and I ventured on to the property one afternoon and explored and reminisced. Our explorations were cut short by two young men wielding machetes. Though they didn't speak English, they made it clear that we weren't welcome and so we made a quick exit. (Though I did go back early a couple mornings later.)Here are all of the photos I took of this sad, ruined place.The last several photos are of the sauna area, which also turned out to be the "clothing optional" compound. The Germans staying at the resort the week we were there liked their freedom!

12-27-12 Mexican Stand-Off

I have nothing to say about this photo, though I can tell you that no animals were harmed in the making of this photo

12-26-12 Taking Flight

I should know what kind of bird this is. But I don't. I'm not really equipped for bird photography but this guy was pretty close to me when he/she took flight.Added 2-2-12: Jim Klinger tells me this bird is a Great Blue Heron. Since he took the time to identify my bird, you should take some time and check out Jim's excellent photo blog.Canon 5DIII 1/640s f/10.0 ISO200 102mm

12-25-12 Ocean View

It occurs to me that I should be posting something a little more seasonal, given that is is Christmas Day. But instead I give you young love, as seen from the inside of an abandoned building.It also occurs to me that the photographer can be a bit of a voyeur at times and that the camera is a willing accomplice.

12-24-12 He Runs; I Don't (II)

I suppose I shouldn't bask in the glory of a relatively sedentary existence here on the sun-drenched beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula, should I? But I've done it before.Merry Christmas!