Friday ~ January 09, 2015

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 9, 2015
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

Hurstville Dam

Happy, Happy Friday!

I have made images of this Hurstville Dam many times in all sorts of weather, but I never cease to be amazed how water can freeze while in rapid motion.  I didn’t have a meeting or lunch engagement yesterday, so even though there was a pretty good snow storm going I grabbed my camera and headed out.  By the time I got something to eat and started looking for images the snow had intensified and the roads were greasy so I didn’t have many options.

It feels like I’ve fallen into my Winter time rut earlier than usual this year.  Maybe all I need is a long vacation.  🙂

Lone Goose

I captured this lone goose last weekend.  He was with other geese and assorted ducks but I tried to isolate him from the rest.  I know that Jeanne and Betty love geese images so this one is for them.

That’s all I have for today.  The cupboard is bare.  Perhaps I’ll find some inspiration tomorrow and restock.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your day and be careful.

Wednesday ~ January 07, 2015

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 7, 2015
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

A bridge to nowhere

Happy Wednesday!

On my way to work yesterday I saw this out of the corner of my eye.  Well I had no choice but to find a cross over and go back to capture it.  The only decision was, should I leave it in color or convert it to black and white.  Since I couldn’t decide which I liked better I’ll post them both.

It’s always an interesting drive in the snow.  I couldn’t live in a much worse location for where I work then where I do.  It takes me longer to get to the 4 lane highway then it does once I am on the highway to my destination.  Then double that because of icy streets and it made for a long commute yesterday.

I’m not complaining, I certainly wouldn’t want to deal with what Buffalo, NY has had to put up with just reminding my friends who now live in Arizona and may have forgotten what winters are like in the Midwest. 🙂

Black and White bridge to nowhere

I am always fascinated and intrigued with how complicated human interaction is.  I sometimes wonder how anything gets done in the midst of all the chaos.  Thousands of books on the subject and still no definitive clear-cut answer.  We just continue the journey.

That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoy your mid-week hump day and thank you for stopping by.  Please be careful and stay warm.

Monday ~ January 05, 2015

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 5, 2015
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , .

Snowy Bird House

Happy Monday!

Back at it today.  I really did enjoy my four-day weekend and actually got a few things accomplished.

I shot this image of the little bird house yesterday after the small snow we received.  Apparently we are supposed to get another 5 – 7 inches between today and tomorrow.  I only mention this for my friends who live in warmer climates.  It is -7 this morning as I write this blog. 🙂

On that happy note I will say adieu.  Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Enjoy your day, stay warm and be careful.

Sunday ~ December 04, 2015

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 4, 2015
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , .

Gabby

Happy Sunday!

A couple of images of my favorite model.  Gabby, Josh, and Angie stopped over for some play time and lunch on Friday.  Josh is still in his “I don’t want you to take my picture” mode so there are no images of him.  Gabby on the other hand still likes to pose for Papa.

She also loves to ride this little horse that her Mother also loved to ride when she was Gabby’s age. 🙂

I wish I could find that print.

Gabby

I spent a huge part of yesterday working on a project that I have put off for over three years.  Mainly because it was going to be a lot of work, unpleasant, and tiresome.  But the good news is that finally it is done and I don’t have to think about it for awhile.

Snowing this morning in my little part of the world so will have to clean the driveway and walks soon.

Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Enjoy your day and be careful.

Saturday ~ January 03, 2015

Posted by Dave Updegraff on January 3, 2015
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

January-02-2015

Happy Saturday!

A short post today and only one image (although I took several yesterday.)

It was 22 degrees out but the water was warm and there was a steady stream of sparrows bathing and frolicking at the bird bath yesterday.  I had to capture some of the fun even though I had to shoot through the glass of the back door.

New Year’s Eve we had a wonderful time with our friends Andreas and Joan.  They invited us to their home for the evening.  It is the first time I can remember in at least 10 years that I was up past midnight.  The time just flew past and it was an enjoyable time visiting about so many things with of course a lot of discussion about photography.  Thank you Joan and Andreas for your gracious hospitality.

More tomorrow but that’s all I have for today.  I’m enjoying a 4 day weekend and I have more relaxing and vegging to do today. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and be careful.

Wednesday ~ December 31, 2014

Posted by Dave Updegraff on December 31, 2014
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

December-28-2014-3A

Happy Wednesday!

Happy New Year’s Eve.  2014 was an interesting year for me.  Several dramatic changes in my life mainly related to my health.

It was the year of drones that went up and came down in unexpected and disastrous ways.  The fleet is grounded now still not airworthy but that may change in 2015.    I continued to practice photography and feel like I made modest improvement.  No where near where I want to be but as my friend says it a journey.

I shot 43 images of this sunset Sunday evening.  I had narrowed it down to four images and this morning I cut it down to two.  I just couldn’t decide which one to post so I finally decided to post them both.

December-28-2014-3B

I also decided to change the header for the blog because I like this sunset better than the other and it is after all the beginning of a new year.

We are going to celebrate new year’s eve with some great friends.  We haven’t gone anywhere but to the movies on new year’s eve in years so this will be a change for us.

To my good friend who is under the weather right now, you are in my prayers.

I hope you have a safe and reasonably sane new year’s eve.  Thanks for your support this past year and as always please be careful.

Tuesday ~ December 30, 2014

Posted by Dave Updegraff on December 30, 2014
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

December-28-2014-2A

Happy Tuesday!

I normally do not take images of grave yards.  For a variety of reasons but mainly out of respect.  However as I was wanting to photograph this tree it was the center point of this small burial site.  It was hard to show the tree without some of the old stones in the image so I decided to render it in black and white and capture the stones as well.

December-28-2014-2B

This is a reflective time of the year.  To think about what the year (and years) has been and contemplate what the coming year may hold.  I’ve never been known for my planning ahead.  I tend to take life as it comes, which I do not recommend.  Perhaps in my later years I have been more mindful of thinking ahead.

My eye continues to be an annoyance.  There has been no noticeable improvement since surgery.   Frustrating to be sure but I can see clearly and I do not have to wear glasses so I’m not really complaining.  The surgeon tells me that it will get better so I am trusting that it will.

That’s it for today.  Busy time ending the year in the HR field.

Hope you enjoy your day and thank you as always for stopping by to view my images and listen to my babble.  Be careful.

Monday ~ December 29, 2014

Posted by Dave Updegraff on December 29, 2014
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

December-28-2014

Happy Monday!

Yesterday afternoon Jeanne and I went out chasing the light.  Finally the sun made its long-awaited appearance (good for the blahs) and we decided to take advantage of it.

The images I have for you today are not so much about the subjects themselves but the light is what I found appealing.

December-28-2014-A

I used the Nikon D610 | Nikon 80 – 400 mm lens | ISO 400 with varying shutter and aperture settings.   Yes you’re right, each of these images would look equally well in black in white.  I tried them both ways but for some reason I was in a color mood today.

I have a three-day work week this week as I am planning on taking Friday off.  Because of my battle with diabetes earlier this year, I have been out of PTO (paid time off) so with the new year comes a resupply of PTO.  🙂

December-28-2014-B

Jeanne asked me on each of these images, when I got back in the car. “What did you see that made you stop, get out and take a picture?” My stock answer was, you’ll just have to read the blog tomorrow.  🙂

We always have a great time when we go looking for things to capture.  Yesterday was no exception.

That’s it for today.  I hope you have a wonderful Monday.  It’s here all day so might as well make the best of it.  Thanks for stopping by and be careful.

Sunday ~ December 28, 2014

Posted by Dave Updegraff on December 28, 2014
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

December-27-2014

Happy Sunday!

Cloudy, damp, windy, and cold most of the day yesterday so I didn’t venture out with my camera.  There was a period of about an hour of sunshine so I grabbed a couple of shots.

I’ve photographed this tree many times against some dynamic skies and I liked the clouds from yesterday.

December-27-2014-A

Angie and Ben gave me this beautiful handmade bird house as a Christmas present.  It’s too pretty to use as a bird house but that’s what it is for so I put it out.  I’ll be choosy as to the tenants however.  🙂

Jeanne gave me a mirror-less camera for Christmas and I took that with me on Christmas day.  I did not have time to learn anything about it other than to turn it on.  I took several shots with it but none worthy of posting.  Then when I woke up from my post dinner nap people were leaving so no group photo this year.  😦

Still a great Christmas and a joyous time with family and friends.

That’s it for today.  Hope you have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by and be careful.

Christmas ~ December 25, 2014

Posted by Dave Updegraff on December 25, 2014
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

Merry Christmas!

December-24-2014-1A

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with our family last night.  Santa Clause was way, way too good to me.  I certainly did not deserve all the wonderful presents, but I am grateful for them.

After presents we had a nice dinner and then to church for the candlelight celebration of the birth of Christ.  It was wonderful.

December-24-2014-1B

Then back home to clean up and try to figure out how to use some of the technology that Santa brought me.  It doesn’t come as easy as it used to.  🙂

No images of Joshua today.  He has decided he doesn’t like Grandpa taking his picture.  Gabby doesn’t yet seem to mind.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas today.

Thanks for checking out the blog and be careful.