LAND SHARK !!!!!!

This isn't a photographic piece of art but damn it was funny. We found this mailbox when we diverted off of a country road because we saw a public boat ramp sign (water = scenic views) on our Sunday photo safari. If I remember right, this was off of State Road 333 near Friendsville, TN.

Bridge Out Ahead

Here's a shot from our photo safari on Sunday. This is off of a section of Hwy 129, called The Dragon, which is one of the world's most famous motorcycle ride routes thanks to it's 318 twisting, curving, and banking turns in 11 miles through the Smoky Mountain foothills.

This shot just shows the set up of the old bridge pilings, just to show how beautiful the area is.
But this is the shot I loved because of the composition. I tried it in black and white but you lost a lot that way.

Sunday Morning Drive

We were childless this morning so Alexis and I left the house at 7am to go on a photo safari. We ended up driving 100+ miles to the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Unfortunately, the 1,000 percent humidity was oppressive and the ozone impenetrable, so mountain shots were out due to the haze. Even with UV or polarizing filters, it is still to hazy to get a clean shot.
But I didn't let the weather conditions ruin my photo safari. I took just over 100 shots of other things as we meandered through country back roads (right at a photo per mile). I got some real "keepers" today and I'll post some of them over the next few days.

Here's one taken at one of the first stops we made. Alexis noticed this old softball sitting at the base of a lake side tree. To me, this instantly began the storytelling in my head.
I couldn't help but notice the ANCIENT pop top tab (what are those, 30 years old now?) next to it, so I thought this would look great as a black and white.
Which version do you prefer?

Update: Alexis read this post and pointed out that she liked THIS one better. Only a slightly different take, but still, which one do you like better, color or b&w?

Shadow Shot Sunday

I haven't taken a lot of shots this week but I quickly snapped this shadow shot while running out the back door as I was cooking on the deck. Hop over to Hey Harriet's to see better examples of shadow shots.


I caught a lecture by retired botanist and award winning photographer, Dr. Alan Heilman, today at the Blooms Day festival at the University of Tennessee Gardens. There is a repeat of it Sunday at 4pm. If you are local, I highly recommend it. It's only $6 to get into the festival and parking is free.

Late Afternoon eukenaisa...echonesia...screw it, late afternoon flower.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Early this year, a breeding pair of red-tailed hawks set up house in a tree at the horse farm next door. Since then, they have taunted me. At first I thought it was just coincidence. If I didn't have my camera nearby, they'd fly just yards overhead and stay around. If I got my camera, they'd either fly hundreds of feet high or disappear behind the tree line.

I've enjoyed watching their aerial battles with the neighborhood crows and mocking birds but could never get a clean shot at them. But today, I was lucky enough to have their offspring learning to fly in our neighbor's yard.

"Great....I made it down from the tree. Now what?"
"Hey, this reminds me of the next....maybe I should just hang out here?""Well, these things got me down here, maybe they can get me back up.""Kewl! Look ma, I'm on top of the world! Well, on top of the house, at least!"
Once he figured that part out, he flew (well, sort of) back into the trees heading to the horse farm. I guess the two mocking birds that were dive bombing him didn't making him feel too comfortable here.

Friday Night Shoot Out!

It's the weekly Friday Night Shoot out over at Chef E's TMI blog. The theme this week is "metal". Check out her blog to participate and/or see the other entries.

Hot lead or cold steel? A working replica of an 1851 Colt Navy Revolver.Metal teeth! Front crankset of my road bike.Enter the dragon! The chains from one set of my nunchaku.Swirly. The handle to the ash tool for a Big Green Egg.Did you see what I saw?Happy Friday!

Rainbows

Ok, I retract my comment about rainbows last week;)If you look real close at this picture, there's a second rainbow above the main one. It's very faint.

Written by Paul Williams and used by Kermit the Frog, of The Muppets, Jim Henson Productions

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that
and someone believed it,
and look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell,
we know that it's probably magic....

Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.
La, la la, La, la la la, La Laa, la la, La, La la laaaaaaa

Shadow Shot Sunday

Once again, it is Shadow Shot Sunday over at Hey Harriet's blog and this is my contribution for this week.
I snapped these while cooking a London Broil tonight, using my Big Green Egg.

This is the shadow of my MAPP gas torch that I use to start my lump charcoal.Same torch, shadowing the seasoned top round roast I was cooking today.My glasses on the grill table. I know....awesome, it is the shade of my shades!
My grill spatula turned on it's side.Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Back lit

The late afternoon sunlight seemed to pick it's battles amongst the deep shadows. It appeared behind this one purple plant (it grows like a weed in our garden....anyone know what it is? It has three leaves like a clover.)

Around the neighborhood

My wife does an amazing job with our front yard garden every year. In addition to the glorious flowering plants that she actually has timed (spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer) so we have something flowering at any given time, she also keeps me supplied with my favorite herbs.

My 6'4" 20 y/o son Brett doing a front flip over a kids basketball goal and dunking the ball before landing feet first in the pool. I love the contrast between the blue sky and the blue of the pool.

Ordinary life....

...isn't all sunsets and rainbows.

After the rain...

Food Porn

This is a shot that I took this weekend for my food blog (Pan seared scallops with golden shrimp sauce...and a bit of sriracha heat!) but it is soooooo purty that I had to post it here too! Not only was it nicely executed from a culinary standpoint, I was proud of the styling, the composition, and color from a photography standpoint.

I'd have to say it's one of the top 10 food shots I've ever created and taken!