professional gear

 

Today I visited Texas Tech's New Deal Farm, a 900-acre agricultural learning site consisting of  swine, beef cattle, dairy calves, sheep and goat units.  I even saw a llama.  If you visit the hog pens, or even the farrowing nursery with the upteen piglets, you might avail yourself of the rubber boots hanging on the wall outside the door.  The pigs were ankle-deep in muck after the recent rains.

 

Texas Tech New Deal Farm 

Lubbock County, Texas

New Deal Farm, consisting of over 900 acres, a swine unit, beef cattle unit, dairy calf unit, sheep and goat unit, a feed mill, and the Burnett Center (research feedlot)

rusty hulk

 

The rusting grain elevator is the largest structure in town. It reminds me of the prow of an ancient battleship sailing westward. And like antiquated battleships, grain elevators are in mothballs -- sidelined and empty -- victims of technology and economy.

 

Nazareth, Texas

11.20.2011

ferris wheel

 

Tutorial #4 "Radial Blur"

I took the ferris wheel image from my "Carnival" series and applied the radial blur filter to add a circular motion effect.

 

carnival by night

2004



herb garden

 

Do  dreary days of sub-freezing temperatures make you dream of spring gardens?  Sit by the fireside pondering seed catalogs?  Sometimes the anticipation is better than the actual work.

 

Desert Ridge Resort

Scottsdale, Arizona

10.8.2012

 A-1 on Avenue A

 

The neglected building with its peeling red paint, broken windows and graffiti always catches my eye as I speed by on the interstate.  Today I visited A-1 Clutch & Brake up close.  Now the graffiti was readable, the strown empty spray cans visible and the air of abandonment evident.  A closer look on the door found advertising for automotive parts long gone.

 



choice of ampions

 

A-1 Clutch & Brake

Avenue A and 8th

Lubbock, Texas





true love

 

Is the affection Pedro the donkey shows really for Don or for that sack of feed behind him?  Poor Pedro's fence has a "do not feed" sign otherwise everyone would get donkey kisses.

 

 

Gold King Mine and Ghost Town

Jerome, Arizona

10.12.2012

http://www.sedona-verdevalley.com/jerome/goldkingminejerome.html

lunch stop

 

If you plan a wine tour in the Alexander Valley, lunch spots are limited.  Stop by the Jimtown Store to grab a sandwich, browse the tchotchkes and rest your feet.

 

Jimtown Store

Sonoma County, California

10.28.2012

www.jimtown.com



seed pod

 

Assignment in the backyard with the macro lens:  If, according to Internet articles, crape myrtles can be grown from seed -- then why don't I have myriads of volunteer seedlings around my crape myrtle trees?

winter tech-scape

 

The Tech campus is deserted.  No hurrying students scurry across the courtyard toward the Education Building as a cold rain blows in.  If classes were in session,the sidewalks will be filled with umbrella-carrying students wearing Uggs and flipflops.

 

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

chuckwagon cowboy

 

Tutorial #3 "Adding Background to a Portrait"  in improving my photoshop skills. This image of the Block Y Chuckwagon cowboy had a washed out sky and with a few detractors.  Erase the telephone poles, add a background texture and the focal point is now the weathered face.

 



Cowboy Symposium
Lubbock, Texas
9.9.2011

shadow the spotted owl

 

South Plains Wildlife Rehabilition Center

3308 95th

Lubbock, Texas

12.22.2012

standing on the promises

 

The Saint Teresa of Avila Church is a  Catholic church that sits on a hilltop above the small, rural town of Bodega in Northern California. It was built by shipbuilders in 1859 and is the oldest church still in continuous use in Sonoma County.

This is the product of Tutorial #2 "Adding Layers to an Image."  Scan a hymn from the Broadway Hymnal (you do have one, don't you?) to use as background.  Experiment with overlays, masks and brush selections.

Saint Teresa of Avila Church
Bodega, California
10.27.2012

straw hat still life  2

with shadows

 

Photo ops are found in strange places.  I suppose straw hats were on my mind because this scene caught my eye as I drove by the bar Taboo on my way to the post office.  Of course I had to shoot through the the gate bars.  This is actually an idyllic composition for the Depot bar scene. 

 

Taboo Bar

1717 Crickets Avenue

Lubbock, Texas

for sale

Looking for an entrepreneurial enterprise?  This hamburger  joint is for sale.  According to the flyer, the price has been reduced $5,000; for $45,000 you can own this place --and that includes the equipment.  I thought the condition of the building lent itself to my new skill of texture layers and to grunge photography.  The grunge movement came out of Seattle and, in photography, refers to rough, gritty images in earth tones which often feature destroyed or gloomy subjects.

Hamburger Joint
1103 E. 50th
Lubbock, Texas

vintage columbine

 

New Year resolutions include adding new skills.  This photo is Tutorial #1 "Applying Texture to Images" and exposed me to layers, place, blend, overlay in Photoshop.  For the purists, the original image is included.

Columbine
Fort Bend, Colorado
5.22.2009

straw hat still life

 

Jordan Winery

Healdsburg, California

10.28.2012

north pole

 

I found the North Pole today while driving south in Hockley County.  It was there alongside the railroad track in a muddy cotton field.  Quite a town with the Elf House, Santa's Workshop, a church and assorted houses.  I suppose in the dark -- from a train -- it would appear magical, especially when the Polar Express stops for Santa.  However, the place was deserted.  I suppose Santa and the elves take the first of the year off and bask in the Bahamas.

 

Hockley County, Texas

(between Wolfforth and Ropesville)



adios 2012

 



As the sun sets on 2012, one looks back and ponders the paths of the past year.  I can mark my travels by bodies of water visited over the last 12 months.  Atlantic Ocean at North Carolina, Pacific Ocean at Bodega Bay California, Gulf of Mexico at St. Petersburg Florida, Lake Pontchartrain and Mississippi River in Louisiana, Eagle Mountain Lake at Azle Texas, Ohio River at Cincinnati, Rio Chama outside Santa Fe, Monongahela River in West Virginia, Detroit River in Michigan, Missouri River in Springfield, Scottsdale Canal in Arizona and Niagara Falls.

Safe travels and happy trails in 2013!

portrait of a chicken

 

I was reminded of my friend Rebeca when this chicken posed for me.  She has undertaken poultry farming and has fresh eggs for sale.

 

Gold King Mine Ghost Town

Jerome, Arizona

10.12.2012.

brrr.....

 

Today's blue skies belied the fact that the morning's low temperature was 16 degrees.  Local lakes are fringed with ice and the birds skate across the surface.  What don't they stay on the dry land?  Hence the term "bird brain."

 

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock, Texas

party shoes

 

I couldn't wait to my first pair of high heels (along with the requisite panty girdle and hose).   Even had some lace and fishnet stockings.  Discoed many a night in high-heeled Candies.  You won't find me wearing a pair of these on New Year's Eve -- Dr. Scholl is my new friend.

 

Afterglow Open House

26th and Boston

Lubbock, Texas

12.1.2012

basics of life

 

The little store on Clovis highway sells the basics of life -- meat, bread and cold beer.  One needs to find a bright building on a dreary (and why didn't I find it during my "colored" building phase in January?!)

 

Carniceria y Panaderia

2837 Clovis Highway

Lubbock, Texas

beach volleyball

 

Contrast and compare:  Today's snow-covered yards, patches of ice still on the streets and a high of 35 with two weeks ago on white sand beaches and a balmy 77 degrees.

 

Treasure Island Beach

St. Petersburg, Florida

12.9.2012

a tale of two christmases

 

We awoke this morning to a white Christmas with several inches of snow.  We braved the icy loop to drive to my dad's house, which only had a dusting of snow.  As we drove the 12 miles to Idalou, the snow disappeared.  Instead of blowing snow, we encounter blowing dust!  Only in West Texas can one find white snowdrifts frosted with brown dirt!

pancho clos

 

Santa's sombrero and serape-clad cousin from the South Pole, Pancho Clos, was in Lubbock today.  He didn't come by sleigh but was accompanied by members of the SolitoS low-riders car club.  Ninos and ninas lined the block to sit on Pancho's lap and receive a gift.  The GI Forum founded the Pancho Clos concept in 1971 and continues to sponsor the event.

 

 

Maggie Trejo Community Center

3200 Amherst

Lubbock, Texas

on dasher, on dancer . . .

 

Santa's reindeer in the stable look like racehorses at the starting gate. Did you know that each reindeer has his own Facebook page?  For real -- check it out!

 

Santa Land

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock, Texas

12.19.12

seasonal work

 

Today was this part-time Santa's only work of the season.  Are times hard for old St Nick too?

 

Santa Series #4
Plains Capital Bank

50th and University

Lubbock, Texas

christmas special effects

 

Vintage Township

Lubbock, Texas

christmas prairie dog

 

Only in West Texas would you find a Christmas display featuring prairie dogs (although to the uninitiated, they may appear to be woodchucks chucking wood).  Half a dozen prairie dog figures occupy the space - imitating busy elves, I'm assuming.  Santa Land is the City's annual, free Christmas gift to the community with the opportunity to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  The prairie dog display is situated between the Nativity scene with baby Jesus and the jungle scene with Simba the Lion King.

 

Santa Land

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock, Texas



career santa

 

If one carries a big camera and walks with authority, one can enter the Claus's cabin by the exit and bypass the long line.  The things one does for a shot!

 

Santa Series #3

Santa Land

Mackenzie Park

Lubbock, Texas

reflection of christmas

 

Cactus Alley Courtyard

Lubbock, Texas

 

technicolor christmas

 

No, not a white Christmas nor even a blue one.  Traditional red and green are bypassed for chartreuse and fuchsia.  Want a purple or hot pink tree?  There's one available.  My grandmother thought she was high tech ( or maybe the '50s term was "modern") with her silver tinsel tree and spot light with a rotating color wheel.

 

Tech Terrace Home Tour

Lubbock, Texas

12.1.2012

naughty or nice?

 

I had thought for December I'd shoot a series of Santa shots.  Little did I realize that he's a rare bird, with limited sightings - usually on weekends -- and that some even wanted to charge for a photo!

 

Santa Series #2

Holland Gardens

Lubbock, Texas

vintage christmas card

 

This one-year old graced Billy and Jean's Christmas greetings.  The first baby and first grandchild on both sides gets lots of attention.

christmas chemistry

 

Traditionally the central buildings on the Texas Tech campus are illuminated for Christmas.  The classic facade of the Chemistry Building is part of the Quadrangle.  An annual trek through Texas Tech is recommended as part of your holiday festivities.

christmas star

 



Poinsettias were considered by the ancient Aztecs to be symbols of purity. The December birth flower symbolizes good cheer and success and is said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration.

black skimmers on white sand

 

Redington Beach, Florida

12.10.2012



palm trees #2

 

North Shore Drive

St. Petersburg, Florida

december sunset

 

You expected a Christmas photo?  I took a break and watched the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico at -- where else -- Sunset Beach.

 

Sunset Beach

St. Petersburg, Florida

florida christmas

 

I was invited to a Christmas open house this evening -- a balmy Florida evening of 70+ degrees.  We enjoyed a wonderful buffet, decorated Christmas tree and a virtual fire blazing on the TV!

 

Orlando, Florida

christmas bow

 

At a recent photography workshop, we spend a session on "zoomies."  I'm not sure I have the technique down but I like the effect.

sideshow

 

Memorialize your trip on the Polar Express with what else -- a photograph!

 

Polar Express Depot

Wolfforth, Texas

christmas 1953

 

Sandy and Suzy pose in front of the scraggly tree in their Christmas robes with Santa's gifts which included a teddy bear, doll trunk, toy dishes, and assorted toys.

 

New Deal, Texas

December 25, 1953

peacock christmas

 

Studio West is a funky place to visit with intriguing interiors, furniture and art.  I like that Melissa kept the inlaid "Cobbs" in the concrete at the front door -- a testament to the studio's department store past.

 

Studio West Interior Design

2801 26th Street

Lubbock, Texas

www.studiowestid.com

12.2.2012

ho ho ho

 

Jake was a retired German short-hair hunting dog who spent his senior years with me.  He didn't get into the Christmas spirit very much but was accommodating.

 

Christmas 2006

In keeping with its Spanish style, the Miller-Loter Home, 2323 18th Street, is decorated with luminarios and lighted ristas.  The house was built in 1927 for William J. Miller, the first dean of engineering at Texas Tech,.  The house was designed with the elements of mission and pueblo styling to be compatible with the buildings on the Tech campus.  The warmth of the exterior is matched with the hospitality and cordiality within.

santa and the missus

 

Santa Series #1

KK's Craft Mall

Lubbock, Texas