A single maple leaf frozen in thin ice. It had been floating in the pond the day before but it got caught in the first freeze of the season.
09-04-09 Frozen In Time
in Nature
09-03-09 Smile!
in people
By Scott Shephard
This may seem a little self-indulgent. Sorry - I do think that this is the first time my face has shown up in my blog.
This is a 3 second timed exposure, which means that I had to smile for three seconds. Try doing that some time. If you ever wondered why people in old-time photo aren't smiling, it's because the old cameras required a several second exposure - and it's hard to smile for several seconds.
09-02-09 Amazing Art 02
in Nature
Here's another one from my trip several years ago to the Sertoma Butterfly House in Sioux Falls. I wish I knew more about butterflies. Perhaps someone looking at this knows the name of this species?
One thing a remember about my trip to the Butterfly House is that the volunteer docent who followed me around was careful to point out butterflies that were fairly young, since older butterflies often have damaged wings. This is another example of the word "ephemeral," which I used in an earlier post to talk about sunlight. Canon 1D 1/800s f/3.5 ISO500 70mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
09-01-09 Amazing Art 01
in Nature
By Scott Shephard
What humans create often pales compared to what Nature creates. Consider the butterfly, for example. The threatening eye's on this butterfly's wing appear to have been painted there. But, of course, they weren't. Pretty amazing, if you ask me.
This photo was taken at the Sertoma Butterfly House in Sioux Falls. If you have a chance to visit, you should. It might be worth going at the time reserved for photographers. The day I visited, there was a 5th grade class there - it wasn't exactly relaxing for me or the butterflies.
Canon 1D 1/160s f/3.5 ISO500 200mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
08-31-09 A 60s Survivor
in Architecture
By Scott Shephard
In the early 60s all the talk about "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll" was baffling to me, but I did think the Space Needle was awesome when my parents took me to see the Seattle World's Fair in 1963.
I'm pleased to say that when I returned to Seattle last year (2008) and went up in the Space Needle, I still found it awesome. It occurred to me that the Space Needle is the West Coast equivalent of the Eiffel Tower. Both towers were considered offensive to the aesthetic tastes of some. Both towers were considered technical marvels at the time they were built. Both towers "lived" to see another century. And both towers have become iconic. The view from the top of the Space Needle was amazing. (click)
08-30-09 Beer Lover's Delight
in Nature
You are looking at mature Cascade hops growing outside the Red Hook brewery near Seattle, Washington. Hops give beer a slightly bitter taste, which some beer connoisseurs crave. We are looking at flowers, too. As with many things that humans eat or drink, I'm left wondering who had the idea to put these brown buds in beer to see what it did to the taste?
08-29-09 Tuscan Sunrise
in Travel
Having been put in charge of finding a place to stay near Siena, Italy, I was very proud to have secured lodging in a well-kept Villa a few miles away from the city center. On the grounds of the villa we stayed in a small cottage that had once been a grainery. Just a few feet away from the cottage was a large swimming pool. There was also a main house that had been converted into 4 more apartments. But for two days we had the place to ourselves. The cost per night was $100!
None of these details have anything to do with this photo other than the fact that it was taken near our villa. (I like the sound of that.) I suspect that this view is a bit of a cliche since scenes like this are commonplace around Siena. I half expected to bump into Francis Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun) but her villa is in Cortona.
08-29-09 nspired By Art
I think I've mentioned that I enjoy taking candid photos in art museums. This photo was taken in Tacoma, Washington, at The Museum of Glass. This art lover seems exhausted by the experience of seeing all that glass. He's sitting on a glass, leather and chrome bench.
Canon 5D 1/30s f/4.0 ISO640 60mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
08-27-09 Mother and Child
These two were part of a crew of "panhandling jackasses" working the crowd in Custer State Park. Donkeys are not regal animals but how can you not think that this couple isn't photogenic? I like the white hooves of the little one. In a few short years he'll be sticking his hairy muzzle through open car windows and eating Fritos out of tourists' hands. What a life!
Canon 5D 1/200s f/6.3 ISO320 130mm
08-26-09 School Is In Session
in Blog, South Dakota
Yesterday was the first day of school and in about two weeks it will be time to celebrate our annual Homecoming week. Students - especially seniors - look forward to the week and many teachers and administrators dread it, largely because events occasionally take precedence over the important task of teaching and learning.
Our town's homecoming is rich in history, with a Legend enacted by students, a powderpuff football game for the junior and senior girls and a "Burning of the W" that would make ancient pagan harvest celebrants proud. I've always seen our homecoming week as one of the first steps in the graduating classes' rite of passage.
This photo, incidentally, is one of my trademark KiYi photos and it is always arranged well before it is taken. I tell the students what to do and, as much as possible, where to stand. When the photo is actually taken, we have about 30 seconds to get the right shot before the crush of people fill the space we are in.
Canon 5D 1/160s f/5.6 ISO1000 23mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
08-25-09 We've Got Giant Cowboys. . .
in Travel
By Scott Shephard
. . . but in eastern European countries, such as Hungary, they had giant Communists. Marx, Engels, Lenin, happy workers - you name it, and they probably had a giant statue for it.
Many of you may remember that when Sadam fell from power, one of the first things that happened is that the giant statues and pictures of Sadam were toppled and destroyed. That also happened in eastern Europe when communism fell. But in Budapest, someone had the foresight to save the statues and many are now housed in a park on the outskirts of Budapest called "Statue Park." In all of my European travels, our visit to this park is one of the more memorable experiences.
The title of this blog entry is a reference to the fact that in our community, the most monumental art we have are two identical statues of cowboys, intended to draw attention to the convenience stores they stand next to. I was trying to imagine why anyone might topple them. A revolt against capitalism? Or overpriced necessities like bread or milk? Or maybe bad art? Who knows. . . ?
Canon 5D 1/320s f/13.0 ISO250 40mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
08-24-09 Purple & Gold
in Nature
My wife tells me the purple flowers are called umbrella flowers, though when I do a search, I find that there are many types of flowers called the "umbrella flower." I would never challenge the authority of my wife. Nor would I challenge the authority of Nature - who provides such photo opportunities as this one.
Yes, there is a slight blur applied to this photo. Before digital, I could get the softening effect by putting cellophane over the lens or by just using a really dirty lens. Now I have photoshop. Yes, it's a manipulation of reality. But, if you ask me, all perception involves some kind of manipulation of reality. And photography is highly manipulative. The photographer picks what you see and how you see it. Can you get your eyes to blur the background like my 70-200mm lens does in this photo?