Candy

 

Just cannot let go of the feeling that these petals would be as sweet as sugar if I were to take a bite.  Oh, posting two today for several reasons. One, I am consistently falling behind in posting. Two, I already posted the picture below this one.  So, Enjoy - jon

Not Quite Rocks

Wave breaks from Japan.  Here in Milwaukee we only have the big limestone chunks, so this pretty much blew my mind.

Shadows

 

Most of my friends don't see this as a good photo.  I do.  So there. I said it, deal with it.  Enjoy, jon

Cloud

 

     Yes it is real. Some people don't believe it, but it was.  Pretty much my favorite cloud ever, this shot is from my back door balcony when I lived in Colorado.  This view no longer remains, as they have built a small complex of 5 story condo buildings that would cover up the continental divide peaks on the lower portion.  How sad. But how awesome it was to be there was what it was.

 

- jon

East Side House

A late fall house shot.  The red leaves seem to match the house paint perfectly.  I also love the old style East Side second floor windows. Especially this type with the weird turret things on the side. Enjoy - jon

Super Emo

  Not my description originally, but it does seem apt. Thanks, jon

Sweet Home

Though not the glorious metropolis of grand sky scrapers, Milwaukee does have its moments.  Most of which revolve around its beautiful lake.  Boy howdy do I love Lake Michigan.  Enjoy, jon

Wooden

Las Vegas casino's are full of modern bars, restaurants, and cafe's.  All very expensive, all very cool.  I believe this one is in the Bellagio, but I could be mistaken.  My trip to Vegas was a whirlwind tour of hotels and such, so who really knows where I was. Thanks, jon

Lifty in the Morn'

Part of the morning preparation when I worked out West was uncovering the "Magic Carpet".  On this morning I captured a lift attendant, lifty.  As the wind blew across the beginner area, the sun illuminated the thick leather covering, the shadows  danced across the closed section of the trail above.  What a beautiful morning.

Winter Rose

Funny as this may be, I didn't set this picture up.  I was walking out of my apartment and spotted someone else's handy-work.  I quickly ran up and grabbed a camera, ran down and got this shot.  As with many of my flowers, this one is a bit sad, but I still like it. Thanks, jon 

Tao

This is from Tao.  A club in Las Vegas.  It is a pretty neat sculpture, but considering it is Vegas the whole thing is probably as artificial as it gets. Of course, this leads me to ponder... Can a sculpture be fake?  If so, than what of the picture of the fake sculpture?  Who knows, but I do hear Britney and Paris hang out there.

Thanks, jon

Sapporo Train Station

Today, Sapporo Train Station, Japan.  Thanks, jon

Green Macro

I do miss my super macro zoom.  When you can shoot with depth of field of an object that is less than an inch by an inch, you know you have an awesome macro.  Plus, green is cool.  I am worried about this one on a white background, it makes the shot bleed off, when it works much better with a border or off color behind it. This is another fun one, do you know what is in this picture?

Enjoy,

jon

Foreground Focus

Depth of field is one of my favorite camera toys.  I have gotten back to using it after my camera with the wicked macro died and I cannot focus as closely on the flower.  In the end, I am happier being forced to be more composition minded and less macro minded.  Thanks, jon

P.S. I'm likely going to post a macro shot tomorrow.

Valley View

Just a  valley view.  I always enjoyed the end of the antenna looking thing on top of the building.  Something about the way that part of the pic works with the sky.  Enjoy, jon

Chocolate

Though I thoroughly enjoy this picture of the worlds larges chocolate fountain, I am likely posting it because I took it in the last week.  Haven't had a chance to figure out why I don't like it yet, so here it is. Thanks, jon

Lil' Luxor

Just thinking about the fact model's are pretty cool.  Perhaps I will post the whole model of the Vegas strip in the future.

thanks, jon

First Snow

  

We had are first day of snow this year.  Always reminds me of Colorado, skiing, and winter.   Most of it has already melted, and near the lake it never stuck at all. Doesn't make it any less grand that Winter has begun.

Chihuly

     

Taking a picture of one's favorite sculpture artist is always a disappointment. Yet I still try. It seems without having the immensity of the work, its depth of color, a picture fails.  But, I try anyway.  I'm happy with this shot, but not as happy as seeing it in person.

- jon

Break

 

 

The ragged wood and polished stone grabbed my eye. Unfortunately I didn't have my own camera, but borrowing one is just as good I guess.

Bicycle

 

 

Bicycle. That is all.

Tula's

A cafe I have never been in, nor do I know if it is still open.  Just caught this great reflection on an afternoon walk.

Thanks,

   jon

Day Sail

On the way into Willmette harbor.  It was a rather gorgeous day.  We may have even won the race.  Though eventually taking my camera out sailing would claim it's life.  Now I only have one camera. So sad.

- jon

Moments

  Commemorating time with pictures.  It seems that is how we use our toys the most often.  Though I spent a undoubtedly extensive amount of time on this picture for what I got out, I think it celebrates more than time.  It celebrates the act, of enjoying my little bit of art.   Plus, I think it's a great advertisement.

- jon

Capturing the Spirit

On very very rare occasions one gets to capture a picture of how they feel about a subject.  This time I accomplished that in my eyes.  Not that I expect anyone else to understand how I feel, or how I think that I caught it. Thanks, jon

Blue Water Wisconsin

A small man made inland lake.  A former quarry.  It is amazing how blue water Wisconsin can be.

- jon

A View of a Colorado Ranch

Well, the ranch is on the other side of this ridge. And it's somewhat less interesting than this view.

Enjoy,

- jon

A Spring Bloom

This was one of a few shots of mine that were prompted by someone else.  My brother called because his bushes were flowering, and I have been enjoying those bushes for 3 years now.  I hope you enjoy as well.

Thanks,

   - jon

It's a Rock

Or an island, perhaps a small mountain.  Anyway, it's Japan.

Enjoy,

jon

Man on the Mountain

I have always thought of my brothers as rather stoic larger than life individuals.  I think this shot shows that feeling.  Taken in Telluride, Colorado we had a pretty rockin' time in the steep powder.  Enjoy,

- jon

A Thistle Day

Another example of the hidden beauty in the city.  The plant itself looked fairly terrible and weed-like.  But the macro zoom saves the day. 

Enjoy,

- jon

Milwaukee Revival

In an empty lot with derelict train lines and half empty buildings I found some amazing things.  These little spots around Milwaukee have wild grasses and flowers everywhere.  Little zones of wild nature amidst concrete and asphalt.  Soon these will be gone.  One than another will be condos and businesses.  I do believe in the revival, though someone should pay attention to wild zones in the heart of the city.  Just imagine, a couple hundred feet from here I saw a blue heron dipping in the river under an old railroad bridge.  Soon it as well be condo docks and restaurants.

Thanks,

   jon

Twilight Social

Today, a twilight social.  There are certain aspects of this shot I truly enjoy.  The slight purples on the right and the iridescent blue are unfiltered. In this case the picture has better color than when I was really there.  I believe a tripod was used for this one, and the light was a lot darker than the sky shows here.

Thanks,

   -jon

Downtown Milwaukee Nights

I do love my city.  This shot captures the basic parts. Museum, US Bank building, though it is missing some of my favorite landmarks.  Interestingly I didn't have a tripod for this shot. Instead I used a transformer box, lens cap, and some paper to prop my camera up properly.

thanks,

-jon

Black and Blue; Bridge and Sky

 

Excuse the hiatus.  Old friends, old acquaintances and old activities dominated my past week.  Though old, and somewhat familiar, time changes all things.  It has been an overly exciting week. It will probably take another week just to catch up with last.  So, I will begin again, anew for you, posting this week every day. 

Thanks,

    jon

Today's Second attempt

 

 

My first blog attempt was rather unsuccessful today. So here is the second.

Third Ward Sun Shot 333

 

The sun is one of my favorite subjects. As I have stated before.  Third Ward Milwaukee has a large variety of beautiful old buildings which to shoot.  From this location Katherine has a shot I enjoy much more than this, but I didn't  take it, so why should it be on my blog?

Thanks,

    Jon

Otaru Snapshot

  A quick snapshot from Otaru, Japan.  This is certainly one of my favorites.  Otaru has a cute sort of 'old town' that runs a few blocks inside of a larger city.  It was cool to see some older architecture just blocks from a huge mall/train station.  The other aspect I enjoy, is the slight lens curvature in the shot.  There are no really straight lines.  I always thought of that as a cool effect, not lens error.  I know some people disagree. In any event, hope you enjoy as well.

thanks,

   jon

For the Photographer, the Freshies

Fairly straight forward title. I never got a chance to photograph some serious crazy, but the fun times I had on the mountain with friends couldn't be beat. Everyone of my friends fell on this small jump, the snow was more than waist deep at the bottom, it was unreal.

Thanks,

Jon

Solitude on the Mountain

A small monument on a Japanese mountain. I have no idea what it says, but it seems reverent. It has always given me a feeling of solitude and quiet. Though, the truth is it was a hike from the top of a chairlift with 3 other skiers, this was a interesting side note to some long beautiful Japanese ski trails.

- jon

Reflections on Milwaukee

This title meant in a rather literal sense. This is Milwaukee street.

- jon

Perhaps, A Boot Model

This image is a sort of dual purpose.  I am setting up a possibly, more refined, efficient way to do my posting.  The other purpose, is to have a picture of an individual.  I have been devoid of them for recent postings.  Not that I think I capture everything about the subject here, but a few things of importance.  Hiking, outdoors and a scene of adventure help describe Ms. Walls.  Don't you think?

Thanks,

   -jon

Vanishing

Very rarely do I get this right. But here is an example where I drew a very nice vanishing perspective with my camera. Believe me, there are any number of these pictures back from the days of black and white film that I have hated. But this one nailed it.

Thanks,

-jon

Blue Mood

Not blue mood as in sad. Just enjoying the color blue. Blue skies, blue subjects. Blue is fun and buoyant. Wonder how it got such a negative connotation, because frankly I wouldn't mind a blue mood any day.

- jon

Scrap

I feel slightly guilty about the image editing on this one. I did change contrast and saturation to make it appear more like I viewed the scene. The power of your eye to focus so narrowly in all aspects is sometimes hard to convey. Though I think I am pulling you into how I viewed this scene.

- jon

Wind Flower

Spotted this flower as it was blowing side to side behind an abandoned building. The yellow really stood out against the blue sky that day. The other part that caught my eye was an upside down no parking sign. Though I couldn't imagine many people would bother to park in that spot anyway.
thanks, jon

White on Blue

From the time the Calatrava was built in Milwaukee it's architecture has been borrowed and built on. This particular example is part of a viaduct just outside of downtown. This particular one borrows elements, but doesn't truly mimic the style. Some other projects are not so well done. I appreciate the contrasts these lend to the city, from old to simple construction.
- jon

Sunflairs

Due to my oversight on posting yesterday, I have decided to include two today. The two I choose both have sun flairs on them. I do not have a flair filter on my camera, rather I just noticed this tendency by mistake. I have grown to really enjoy using the sun as an addition to many of my shots. It seems to add something special, magical about a scene. Though I think I could reduce the effect if I took better care of my lens.

- jon

Danger

My guess is that this is a valid warning sign. Though I found out later that this still only qualifies as medium voltage. Good grief.
- jon