We Got Leid

Finally, we got leid. I was slightly disappointing not to get leid at the airport, but getting leid at the hotel may have been best.

Landfall - Hawaii

Again, I do realize that it is mildly insane to be taking pictures of airports all of the time. But, what else am I supposed to do during a layover? Plus, we were really excited to be in Hawaii. First and foremost, because we got off the blasted plane, and second because, well, frankly, WOOOO! Honeymoon!!!!!

The airport had some good touches, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was an actual translation. But, I'm pretty sure Aloha means mostly hello and goodbye. Which if it meant to love, would be a really odd way to great and leave.

And then, lunch. Or was it dinner. Linner? Anyway, I had some good local beer to kick off the trip. A good, local, $9 bill.

It was a good break from traveling.

jon

The Only Choice

I don't know about the rest of you, but the only choice as far as I know is Canada Dry. That sweet delicious ginger ale makes every flight complete. It is so ingrained in my mind that is what to order. I have no idea why, or where it comes from but I am delighted that I am not the only one to think so, The Oatmeal . Of course, why take a picture of it. Well, any number of reasons. Boredom, new camera toy, boredom, an opportunity to reference The Oatmeal, and boredom.  It was very necessary to break up the monotony of "the train game" and writing thank you cards on a 9 hour flight. If only it had been overnight and I could have slept.
jon

O'Hare A'Gain

O'Hare, the launching point of so many adventures. And really, not the worst place the Monday after Thanksgiving. No one was flying by the time we got there. Well, no one in the O'Hare sense, there were still a load of people. I was not the only one who photographed the decorations.

One reason Kat was willing to allow me to receive the camera is its portrait prowess. Amazing thing that nifty fifty.

I enjoy the hustle and bustle. Now that I'm a suburbanite and not walking through downtown every day, I genuinely miss it. Which is sort of sad, except my house is awesome. And better than yours. Niah.

It must be odd being an airport architect. So much of what you do is pure utilitarian. Structure following need, form following function. It seems there are only so many ways to a link terminals via walkway. But, when they do have a great space, it really makes you feel it is well thought out, and in its own way beautiful.

jon

It's a Party

The day after we had a traditional wedding present opening. Something I had no idea was traditional until in the middle of the party.

As usual, Andy was too cute with the kids. The kids destroyed everything in their path, including Andy. And everyone ate so much cake. Man we had a lot of leftover cake.

The classic me taking a picture of the girls taking a picture of the picture book with pictures of themselves in it. The girls did proceeded to take a picture of every page in the photobooth picture book. You know, just in case my mom wanted that on her camera.

Then we all took out our smartphones.

jon

What Nice Wrapping Paper

I for one, must admit, that presents are awesome. But, I don't think it dawned on us until much later that people would actually be giving us stuff. I know what people might have said, but we didn't get married for the presents. And they ended up being a total life saver, otherwise our house would be an example for a miserly Spartan.

jon

Tuckered

The night-cap ended up being water. After a night of fun and ceremony we were exhausted. The good way, but exhausted none-the-less.
Jon

My new favorite toy

It was after the wedding, after the reception, pretty much after everything, and time to wind down. I, oddly, was smart enough not to walk around drunk with my brand new camera the entire night. But, just the end when we were heading up to Blue.

To drunk, and the camera being new, I just ran with full auto. (Or maybe it was aperature priority?) Well, the important part is that the low light prowess of this beast was staggering.

It can even focus in low light! The Olympus either used the strobe flash, ick, or it would need the big flash. In this case, I can literally point and click, and amazing happens.

See, amazing!
Jon

Elegance, Thy name is

And, because as well as beautiful and elegant, she is also smart. She ordered it with a lens, and memory card so I could immediately begin snapping pictures. Super - duper awesome. In hindsight, I wish this was the first picture instead of Xavier. But, whatever. I was just so excited to get it going.

Thanks,
Jon

So, I have THE camera.

As a surprise wedding gift, Katherine got me the wedding gift of the century. The one, the only, Canon 5D Mark II .  

Xavier says, awesome.

Jon

What's On?

I enjoy the marks of civilization. Of our waste, of our triumph, of our defeats. That there might be a former owner with a tragic story, a TV that's just past its prime, or a broken heap that no one is going to pick up. Each item has a history of its own. From inventor to designer to trash, the life of an object is not without its own tale of how it arrived where it is. I'm always reminded of this as man made objects always seem so random, so out of place compared with nature's own grandiose plans. That we just drop things along a curb, entirely lacking circumstances of arrival makes each an exhibit for all. They are part of a web, but in this place they seem so removed from it. Did the designer realize that in the end, it was trash they were designing? That once the idea left their desk its fate was sealed, future landfill fodder. I suppose not, and maybe that's better.
jon

I know the answer

Who put these here is the question. Without any evidence it will be hard to ever know for sure. I cannot believe that man even has the technology to put up such crazy icons. And even though you think you know, I can disprove your "science". This riddle only has one solution:

For sitting?

Dude, I totally call dibs on the good seat.

jon

Hey Snaky-poo!

What's up little snake? Gonna find some crickets and eat them? So glad I didn't accidentally step on you on my way to that flower. Maybe later we can hang out, but now I've got to get back to my hike.
jon

Color Fantastic

So much color! Enjoy it while you cannot. As now is the winter. Oh, we can only hope it is a bright and cold winter, and not the long slog through gray blegh that it can so often be. What I wouldn't give for snow almost every night, and clear skies every morning. *finger's crossed*.

Jon

Hiatus

Thy name is wedding planning. Well, not just wedding planning. There was also the simple fact I overwrote a trip to Madison with my nieces Christmas card pictures. Yes, I finally did it. I mismanaged my memory cards. It is an awful, traumatic experience. A whole weekend with the Ferkos down the electronic toilet. It did, however, focus and double my "get this done" attitude towards the photo session. But, I was deflated, the blog was missing critical pictures. I know I'll go back, but it will never be the same. Why is time so fleeting?

Red Tree

Let me say this for sure, fall started too early this year. I know it is pretty and all. But, man, I was really starting to get into Summer. Next year I'm going to start playing outside even sooner.
jon

Maybe, not open.

Well, last of the North Ave line. I suppose I'll have to post another set of depressing Milwaukee pics a different time. In fact, I think I took a similar walk a week later. Allright, more depressing pics!
jon

Phone, Without a Phone?

 

So, maybe there should be preassigned spots to stand when you are talking on the phone. Especially if you use bluetooth, that way we know you aren't crazy. Of course, this only works until the crazy people figure out they can stand and talk to themselves without being harrased in the zones. But, maybe that's another idea; designated crazy people zones. Awesome.
jon

There's More

It also dawns on my me that my spell checker was not working properly. Hopefully the embarrassment is minor.

jon

37th Street Scoopz

When shooting on my city trips, I've gotten more and more into desaturation. Though it seems like an odd choice, it seems like a natural progressoin for photogophers. (this based on my informal poll of dicking around on the Internet). It just seems that the feel of the scene, and communicating how you felt when you were standing there matters more than "pop". I've shown a few people this picture, and I just know that they feel the scene the same way I did. Knowing that my choices to execute match the emotion I am going for is pretty cool.

Then there's this. But, it means something different. It is contrasting the 'pop' with the deriliction. Of course, if I think its necessary to explain, I probably missed.

jon

A Lost Marquee

Not truely lost. I mean, it is right there and all. But, well, you know what I mean.

jon

Uptown

While in line at Walgreens last night, there was a fairly old couple right in front of me. Normally I would say nice old couple, but I have no idea how nice they were. They could have been a the biggest asshole old couple for all I know. Sorry, digression. Anyway, as I was standing in line I had a sudden moment. Imagine how strange this all looks. I mean, not just only since they were my age, just generally how strange. I pulled my self out of the moment, looked around, and though weird. Just really weird. The best I could come up with in that 45 seconds before I had to pay for my card, is that our reality is so set by our childhood. When we are young everything is 'normal'. There is no offsetting reality to assess now against. So we just go along. When we get old, not only are we not "with it", but we have so much 'it' to compare now to. Then I started thinking about Abe Simpson, onions, and really lost my train of thought. The checkout lady was nice. But imagine, soon what's normal will be a world without pay phones. And it will be normal. But now, I get to live in a world where they are a strange anachronism hearkening to a time past. A time no simpler than now, but a time separate, apart. A time which I will never get to live in again. So damn strange.

jon

Happy Birthday Kat

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

From Kat

WOOO!!!!!!!
( I really hope I have the right day )

jon

Just Another

I think you would have a harder time finding a store front with a business in it than the other way around when it comes to North Ave.
jon

A Busy Street Bare

I must admit, I sort of cheated on this one. This is actually quite a busy street. Some may know it as North Avenue. I just waited a couple of cycles just a block away from a stop light on a major intersection. Still, great effect if not 'truthful'
jon

Even the Pawn Shop?

What sort of world do we live in, where pawn shops cannot survive.  A travesty I tell you, a travesty.

jon

Good Spot

A good spot to make a call I guess. You can't actually use the phone. Seeing as someone has taken it. But, you could still stand here on your cell phone. And that counts for something. Right?
jon

Judy's Red Hots

The wreckage of an ecomony past liters the north side of Milwaukee. Someone's small business dream left to rot away. Empty parking lots and stores without wares. It is really a shame.
jon

A Little 'Trava

I'm not one for shooting the Calatrava (Quadracci Pavilion?) very often. A combination of "it's been done" and "it's been done better than I ever could" make for a difficult subject. Photography is sometimes like dating, you pretend you are the first one there. That it is your composition, that your the first one to see it that way. In effect thinking your eye has graced the presence of the scene like no other. When you see commonly photographed items, you cannot but help think of oneself as retreading where many have gone. Or even worse, finding a shot after you post your own of the same scene done much better from days, months, even years earlier. Though, sometimes you think you've gotten the best shot no matter how many have been taken, almost making it all better. But then, you still come find out how low on the list of great ones you really are. It is all rather emasculating. The photography. Really, I'm talking about the photography.

jon

Let Them Eat Cake

 

 Tasty, tasty cake. Now, if only I hadn't hosed the scheduling we'd be probably be getting a Simma's Cake. As of now, it is up in the air.

It Could Have Been 1987

Then I saw this and really started to wonder, did I travel back time to grade school? I mean, are the "Goodfellas" suddenly in Milwaukee? What is going on here?!?!

jon

I Thought They Were Extinct

Can I get a prize or something? You aren't suppose to find these anymore. And what gives? A phone call is still only a quarter?!?! Do drug dealers have better negotiating skills than the rest of us? I could have sworn prices everywhere else went up since grade school.

jon

Lil' Blue Door

It suddenly occurs to me, you have no perspective on the size of this door. It could be eight feet tall, or three feet tall. I shot it at a flat angle to reduce distortion, and have pretty much relieved the photo of scale. I mean, we have a general idea of the size of a brick, but not enough to truly get an idea of what's going on. It looks like a normal 7 foot tall door. It isn't. Not at all. It isn't tiny, but just a little smaller than what one would expect. A serious 'croucher' for someone like me. Well, enjoy the illusion.

jon

The Only Good Thing

Blight and decay make for great pictures. If only they were the exception and not the rule in this town. (Sad face)

jon