EXPRESSIVE EXPOSURES

IN THE LAND OF COTTON

2008-08-22T13:33:30Z

August 21, 2008 I pass this incredible structure every work day, both coming and going. Yesterday the clouds were great and the light right so I stopped and captured this image. This landmark stands less than a mile from my office where today it serves some purpose on the property of a cabinet manufacturing company. Many years ago, when the cotton industry was thriving in Waxahachie, Texas (Ellis County), this huge metal structure served as some sort of storage at the Cotton Seed Oil-Mill, here in the city. Friends I have spoken with, who were around when the mill was still in business, say that the aroma coming from the mill was so delightful. There were numerous cotton gins all around Ellis County and the cotton seed usually ended up at the mill, where it was processed into different products. Well things changed down here and across the country as well but I’m glad they left this landmark for us to remember a time when 'Cotton was King.' Note: The movie 'Places in The Heart', starring Sally Field & Danny Glover (1984) was about the cotton industry and was filmed in Waxahachie, Texas. A special thanks to my good friend, James Ledbetter who provided the historical information about the mill.

RAINBOW AND CLOUD

2008-08-21T10:51:31Z

August 20, 2008 It has been raining off and on for three days and we feel very blessed. I can't remember this much rain in August anytime in my life. We had another thunderstorm just before sundown yesterday. While driving home I noticed this rainbow and told my wife that I do not any images of a rainbow and would like to shoot this one. She was driving and rushed me home to get the camera before the beautiful colors vanished from the sky. Once home, I grabbed the camera and started driving, looking for a good vantage point from which to shoot and found this view about five minutes from home. I knew that I had a bonus when I saw the cloud.

AUGUST ABSTRACT

2008-08-19T09:05:14Z

TOMATO TRIO

2008-08-18T06:01:03Z

MR. EYES

2008-08-17T16:55:56Z

1979 Years ago, when our daughter was about four years old, we took a trip to the Dallas zoo. I remember the day well because we had three little girls with us and they were all having a great time. We stopped by a special area for children where they can pet the baby animals. I shot numerous images of my daughter and my wife’s much younger sisters that day. Somewhere in the area, out of reach from the children, was this owl, perched there just watching the action all around him. I changed lenses, stepped back a little and captured this image. Minolta XE-7 Rokkor 135mm Kodak VPS ISO 160 1/125 @ f4

HILL ON HIGHWYAY 8

2008-08-16T13:43:48Z

December 2005 The drive from Dallas Texas to San Diego, California is a long one and halfway there I was convinced that half the distance around the globe is from Dallas to El Paso. A large part of the terrain along this trip is flat. Somewhere along Interstate 8, I saw this hill emerging from the horizon and wanted to capture the view and it way past time to get out of the vehicle and walk around.

HIGH NOON HINGE

2008-08-05T07:20:24Z

July 28, 2008 In a previous post I mentioned that I stopped to explore an old barn. When I parked my vehicle, the first thing I noticed about the old structure was that it was about to fall down. The south wall of this barn was at a 45 degree angle and the others not much better. I decided then and there not to enter and do all my exploration from outside the tilted walls. The next thing I noticed was this old, rusty hinge and the old wood on which it was mounted. It was high noon, 104 degrees and when I reached up to see if the hinge was still move, I couldn't touch it for long! Normally, noon is not an ideal time to shoot images (you all know that) but in this case the light was right and casting shadows below the hinge, nails and creating vivid texture in the classic old wood. While making this exposure and viewing the subject I thought of Harry (http://retained-images.my-expressions.com }. “This looks like something he would shoot” I thought. Fuji S2 Pro Nikkor 24-85mm Monfrotto tripod ISO 100 125 @ f13

LADY LAURA LEE

2008-07-31T17:46:05Z

July 28, 2008 In a previous posting I mentioned that I went to get the oil changed in my company vehicle. While at the shop I noticed that there was a new dog there. I say new because I have never been to the shop that there was not a dog somewhere on the premises. The mechanic told me her name was Laura Lee and that she lived at the house next to the shop. Well, I just had to see if this incredible creature would cooperate while I attempted to shoot her portrait. It took awhile for her to get used to me but eventually she settled down and moments later gave a hugh yawn that was captured for life. In August '07 I photographed another dog at the shop that was also owned by the same neighbors (see Sandy, posted Aug 31, 2007). Two weeks after I photographed Sandy, I learned that she had died. I was so glad I had taken the time to capture her beauty and share it. Fuji S2 Pro Nikkor 24-85mm ISO 800 1/125 @ f4

WALKING THE LINE

2008-07-30T19:01:24Z

FEATHER AND THE FORGOTTEN

2008-07-29T17:59:07Z

July 28, 2008 It was hot and I was comfortable in the my air conditioned vehicle. I was enroute to the shop to have my oil changed in my company van. I was coming upon some property with an old barn that I have passed many times before when the notion struck me to stop and check it out. I stepped out of the vehicle, removed my tie and started walking around the old barn, looking for anything that might be worth photographing. I rounded the corner of the old structure and found a collection of old metal junk that appeared to have been there for some time. Lying next to these items was a rather large feather that had some character and I decided to find a way to combine this delicate item with the rusty old junk at hand. Then, there before my eyes, was an old, red fender from a tractor. I placed the feather on this classic old piece and went back to the vehicle for the camera. Moments later, in the middle of a 104 degree day, I stood elated as I realized that I had made the right decision to stop life's race for a moment and enjoy what I love to do. Fuji S2 Pro Nikkor 24-85mm ISO 200 1/125 @ f5.6