Checkered

A red and black tie affair? Naw, lets just meet for lunch on the Nicollet Mall.

I 35W at Night

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 5
Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 33.0 mm




Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 8
Av( Aperture Value ) 16.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 47.0 mm


A group of us, Mister MB Photos, Mitchster, Just Roaming the Cities, Snapshutter, and Beat of an Eye, and I spent a Thursday evening wandering around the north side of the Mississippi River. Eyephoto met us, but he had prior commitments at the State Theater.

I am amazed at the attention that we drew as we wandered around with our cameras and tripods. There were many inquisitive people asking about our group and had a nice conversation with a gentleman near the pavilion on Nicollet Island.

Further into the evening, the best quaetion asked of me was, "are you taking pictures?"

(Naw, I just enjoy lugging my camera and tripod around for the fun of it.)

Note the star effect on the street lights on the lower image. This happens when using a more narrow aperture, f11 and up. Here I used an f-stop of f16 for deeper depth of field and more vivid color rendering. The number of points to the star is determined by the number of elements that make up the aperture opening in the lens.

Checking the List

A bit of a change for me. I typically don't do portraits, only when asked. I feel my photography abilities in portraiture is not up to par. Nor do I have the confidence to approach people and ask is I could take their photograph. Too much pressure to make sure the image is spot on.

However, I took a series of covert photos. Sort of shooting from the hip, literally. I set my camera to ISO 200, leave the lens on wide angle; 17mm. I then change the metering to evaluative and matrix AF Points, and, shudder, I set the camera dial to Program. Yes, the green box on the dial. This is new for me, I typically shoot in Manual mode or Aperture Priority, never Program. But it works in this instance.

I simply hold the camera at about waist level and make a guess about aiming the camera at a subject without raising the camera above waist level. That's right, I don't look through the viewfinder, simply aim and shoot. Sort of Lomography in the happenstance sense. Try it, it's fun. You never really know what you'll end up with.

Monochrome Weekly

Technical Difficulties - Please Stand By

4% free space left on my PC's hard drive.

It is time to start archiving my photos, then disc clean up and a defrag. Back up and running on Monday.

The Big Room

An undisclosed abandoned building ransacked by spray paint happy youths.

Spin Wheel

A trip to the Little Log House Pioneer Village proved to be a fantastic day for photos. It's a wonderful place to visit in July.

Decisions, decisions...

...where to eat? Jimmy Johns or Hell's Kitchen.

It's Over

The waning light of summer
Vivid colors of autumn
Summer's last sunset

Sadly, this is the first day of autumn; summer is officially over. As the summer sun sets, we anticipate a glorious season of autumnal colors. Then that white crap falls from the sky.

Coffee Nook

On the Main Street in Stillwater, Minnesota

Monochrome Weekly

Archway

Late summer evening under the Stone Arch bridge. An iconic scene shot by many area photographers.

Sunbrella

Even in the rain, the mood is brightened by a happy sunflower. Even when it's an umbrella.

Friday Night Horror Film

We were photographing this facility moving from dim to shadowy dark areas. I said to the guys with me, "When we hear the dramatic music, you're on your own - I'm out of here!"

Milky Way

Ever tried taking a 1/2 hour photo? Here is my first attempt; 32 minute exposure at f4, 100 ISO, 17mm. It is nearly impossible to set up in the dark and you can not see anything through the viewfinder without a flashlight. It's pretty much guesswork. I missed the North Star behind the trees. Better luck next time. Oh, and with on camera noise control, the camera was set up for nearly an hour.

I am guessing that the lighter area in the sky may have been a passing cloud overhead. Or, perhaps the glow of the Milky Way. I really don't know for sure.

What I find amazing in this image is the color of the stars show up in this long exposure. Stars have a color temperatures. Cool stars emit energy in the red and infrared wavelength and appear reddish in color. Hot stars emit energy in the blue and ultra-violet wavelengths, making them appear blue or white.

More from Wikipedia

Margaritaville

So far, President Obama has appointed something like 34 Czars. Past administrations had also appointed their special interest Czars as well. What these Czars do is unclear to me. The idea of having an appointed Czar is quite silly and preposterous. That's government for you.

Since this is the new age in the political spectrum and me leaning toward the anarchist side of politics, I have declared myself as the Czar of Happy Hour. My first declaration as Happy Hour Czar is this; happy hour begins...now!

Join me while I rule as Commander and Chief, (Czar) of Margaritaville.

Please sing along - it is required;

Nibblin' on sponge cake
Watchin' the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin' my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp they're beginnin' to boil

Chorus:
Wastin' away again in Margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's nobody's fault

I don't know the reason
I stayed here all season
Nothin' to show but this brand new tattoo
But it's a real beauty
A Mexican cutie
How it got here I haven't a clue

Chorus:
Wastin' away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
Now I think
Hell, it could be my fault

I blew out my flip-flop
Stepped on a pop-top
Cut my heel had to cruise on back home
But there's booze in the blender
And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on

Wastin' away again in Margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's my own damn fault
Yes and some people claim that there's a woman to blame
And I know it's my own damn fault

Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett

Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett

Bugging Flowers

Have you ever tried shooting a butterfly on a windy day? Not an easy task. These over caffeinated creatures are a nervous lot as they never really sit still for long. They constantly flutter around, sometimes circling no particular place two or three loops before flitting off out of sight.

This handsome beetle knew he was photogenic. Unlike Miss Monarch on a caffeine bender, he stayed put showing us his colors.

Garage Space

In the Warehouse District

State Fair

Busy Dizzy

There is so much going on in this photo, i's too busy and chaotic. Just like the MN State Fair.


Going Vertical

Fair Travel

There are many different ways to get around the fair. Some means of fair transportation are fun and colorful. But the best method is simply walking. How else is one to enjoy the gastronomic delights of just about any food product and/of simulated food product on a stick? And what better way of burning off those 27,567,392,498.50 calories consumed in a 5 hour period of time than by simply walking it off?

CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE

Tried to amend my carnivorous habits.
Made it nearly seventy days,
Losin' weight without speed-eatin' sunflower seeds,
Drinkin' lots of carrot juice and soakin' up rays.

But at night I'd have these wonderful dreams
Some kind of sensuous treat.
Not zucchini, fettucini, bulgar wheat,
But a big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat.

Cheeseburger in paradise.
Heaven on earth with an onion slice.
Not too particular, not too precise.
I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise.


Verse 2:
Heard about the old time sailor men,
They eat the same thing again and again;
Warm beer and bread they said could raise the dead.
Well, it reminds me of the menu at a Holiday Inn.

But times have changed for sailors these days.
When I'm in port I get what I need;
Not just Havanas or bananas or daiquiris,
But that American creation on which I feed!

Cheeseburger in paradise, medium rare with mustard be nice
Heaven on earth with an onion slice.
I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise.

I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes
Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer
Well, good god Almighty which way do I steer

For my cheeseburger in paradise
Makin' the best of every virtue and vice.
Worth every damn bit of sacrifice
To get a cheeseburger in paradise;
To be a cheeseburger in paradise.
I'm just a cheeseburger in paradise.

I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes
Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer
Well, good god Almighty which way do I steer

CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE
Jimmy Buffett

Cheeseburger In Paradise - Jimmy Buffett

Cash for Clunkers

I'm claiming dibs on this old wreck, er, clunker of a car. It's the perfect vehicle for the Cash for Clunkers program dreamed up by the Feds.

Zinnia Zen

Our neighbor here in the north metro, has such a lovely garden that I had to interrupt her day to ask to shoot her flowers. Happily, I was allowed and spent an hour chasing bees and butterflies in the flowerbed.

More to come later, enjoy this Zinnia Zen for today is a great day; the day the children return to school! We now shall enjoy peaceful evenings while the kids tend to their homework and school schedule curfew.

Have a care while driving, children are out walking to and from the bus stop and after school activities.

Zen of Black & White

Seen on a rainy day in Stillwater, Minnesota

I am so far behind in the blogiverse, but I will get caught up soon.

Monochrome Weekly

Two Things Challenge - Arch / Road

This week's Two Things Challenge is Arch/Road.

The Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis was once a railroad at the turn of the century. Now the bridge and road surface is bicycle / pedestrian use only along with the occasional segway tours.


Two Things Challenge

Red Chair

A good place to sit and relax in the shade of summer.

Orange Julius

A drop of orange sunshine to brighten the day.

Block E

Barfly now showing at the Skyway on Block E. Plenty of them were seen entering.

Color of Red

Scenes from the Warehouse District in Minneapolis