Photos of the Sir

Flowers...

2012-01-22T23:59:00.000-08:00

Mmmmm, Food...

2012-01-21T01:07:00.001-08:00

Ollie and Piccolo

2012-01-15T20:41:00.000-08:00

Met A Legend...

2009-09-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

Though I shouldn't have seen such magazines when I was younger, I was always a big fan of several of the illustrators Playboy magazine has used over the years. The king in my opinion is Doug Sneyd. His technique and style are really just superb. Anyway, last year at the San Diego comicon I got to meet him and buy a book of his unpublished sketches. He offered to do a drawing of my wife (then fiance) in the book. This is the photo of us with Doug and the book with the drawing.

Last Of The Easter Photos...

2009-08-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I know it's been a long time since Easter, but I'm finally getting around to publishing these photos. The photos at the beginning now hold a very dear place in my heart. They were taken while visiting my Aunt Barbara. Since these photos were taken, she suffered complications to her health and passed away. I'm glad that I had taken these last photos of her. Enjoy.
These cats were like children of the corn/the birds. Everytime we kept peering out the window, they seemed to double in number.

The lady in pink is my mother, the other is her sister Barbara. Then the youngest looking one is Ashley.

Aunt Barbara's house is full of amazing and beautiful treasures from all over the world.

Isn't this just an awkward moment to capture someone.

I managed to get in a picture.

We all headed back to the house to take a nap from relaxing.

And woke up in time to go eat.

The gentleman driving is Jim. He's one of my mom's close friends and he offered to take us out to barbeque, his treat--who am I to say no to a free meal.

You know it is good when it has a statue of what you'll be eating out front...

Mmmm... my plate of yummies...

...five minutes later. No joke, I eat fast. (On a side note, I love how the sun was setting at just a fast enough speed to make the two photos have that slight time lapse to it).

Now I turn my attention to that deer...mmmm.... deer....
...Whoa! I left nothing but bones, how did I do that?

It's always important to have your standard issue indian stereotype at any cowboy based restaraunt.

My mom staying up late to do nurses notes.

The cats sit uneasy knowing that we had good barbeque and they didn't.

Well, this post rounds out the whole trip and brings it to a finish. Stay tune as I get back into posting more photos. Plus lets see how I can make new photos without a camera!

Easter in Texas, part four...Nature, Nature, Nature...

2009-05-10T15:01:00.001-07:00

What is a trip to a heavily forested area of the country without photos of the forests or its inhabitants. This first grouping of photos are just the wildlife in and around my mom's house. First, the animals...
Alot of these photos were shot through windows. It helped the highlights at times to have that romantic softness, but all in all because the birds were so skiddish, it was down right annoying and limiting.

Now here are a here photos of the flowers around my mom's house (including a wonderful arrangement sent by my future in-laws)....

With all of the difficulty trying to get those 'award winning shots' only to end up with fair to moderate photos from all the outside wildlife, these creatures were easy to shoot camera whores.

These critters were at my cousin Susan's house when we stopped by to visit...
This cat was just calm admist the bustle of humans, cats, and two large dogs running around and playing (truly the eye of the hurricane).

These two geese decided to walk up to the house and act like they owned the place, then walked away. (Notice how you can see still a few of the structures from when Crystal Lake was a public water park.

While we were traveling around to different places these events happened...

Turkey Vultures swooping in on some carrion.

More cows.

Another goose.

After all these critters have come and gone, the end of the day decides to wield its face. The sunsets in the south are so beautiful and just have a relaxing ability to help you reflect on the events of the day...

Join us for the next installment of Easter in Texas as we explore eating and BBQ.

Easter in Texas, part three...The Whiddon Family and Easter Egg Hunts

2009-05-06T13:05:00.001-07:00

While heading over to meet with my Aunty Cindy and her clan of kids and family, we made a sudden and quick stop to my cousin Suan Whiddon's house. I love my cuz. She is actually my mom's first cousin, but she is something. A highly sucessful all state track coach and disciplinarian at school. She's almost my height (I'm 6'3") and we have the same shoulder width. She raises cattle and for years rode and raised horses. She survived the beginning affects of Polio and is getting older, but she is built to last. She is also one of the nicest and friendliest people you'll ever meet.

I love her accent (one of the best East Texas accents you can find--lots of the fun stuff of the accent and none of the annoying qualities).

Here is Lt. General Orren Ray Whiddon. He's also my cousin (susan brother--see how that works), but we all call him 'Cotton'. This is because when he was born, my Aunt Cynthia said his hair was soft and white as cotton--the name stuck. (Just in case you are curious, a Lt. General is a 3-Star General--big brass).

This is his wife Harriet. I've rarely gotten to talk to her. I've always seen her from a distance for years, but she hasn't changed in style. I have heard fun stories of her and when I met with her this time, she again reminded of gentleness.

This is a picture of Crystal Lake. This was owned by my uncle and was ran for years. I got to go a couple of times, but it closed when I was young. Susan still owns the lake, but all of the water rides have been removed.

Continuing on our way we reached my Aunt Cindy's house.

The grandkids arrived to search for Easter Eggs

They're full of money?!!! If I had only known!! I would've take them before the kids all arrived... I mean... (ahem)... That's great! Good for them!

My cousin Joel is about to cook the crawfish.

My cousin Josh is the head on the right.

This is my cousin Holly with the youngest of the new generation (well that is until the one she is carrying right now is born)

Her husband Derek, he's in the air force and is just a great guy--a real badass with a gentle demeanor.

More kids...

My mom can't wait to be a grandmother and have a granddaughter. She wanted a daughter originally, but life handed her a lemons, so did the best with it and made lemonaid.

The cows don't know what the hell is going on... or do they?

Well, like all good things, this day had to come to close. Sorry I didn't get photos of the crawfish. I started eating crawfish before I thought of taking pictures, and by that time things get too messy to handle nice equipment. Till next time when turn our attention more to the nature around us in Texas at springtime.

Easter in Texas, part two...Visiting the Grandmother

2009-05-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

My granny is 93 years old, a stroke survivor (has paralyzed her left side), and lives in a nursing home, and is amazingly patient and kind hearted. This is all the information you need to be on track for this set of photos.

Walking up to the nursing home.

Trash can for your cigarettes.

When we arrive, my Aunt Martha has beaten us to the punch by already visiting and grooming Granny.

Getting her hair shampooed....

Putting lotion on her skin to keep it soft and comfortable...

Getting powder to smell nice...

Don't forget some lipstick to look extra pretty.

But most importantly, you aren't dressed till you put on a smile and have someone make you wear some oversized jewelry.

Everyone fauning over Granny to make sure she sees everyone and is well kept.

But that was a bit cut and dry telling of the story, here's other smaller details that happened (some vulnerable moments that show both enjoyment and wear of age)...

Sometime during all of these events, Aunt Martha went by and picked up my cousing Charmian.

This is amazing, she goes to hug one person... and ends up hugging another--how did she do that?!

With alot of her babies around her (children, grandchildren, and a future granddaugther), Granny starts to fall asleep enjoying the company and togetherness of the family she has helped create and raise.

Stay tuned as the next installment of the Easter trip to Texas involves the littlest members of my family, Easter egg hunts, and animals gone wild--or close there of.

Easter in Texas, part one...Travelling Everywhere

2009-05-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

I went back to Texas for Easter to see family and such. Had a really great time and actually got to see more relatives than I thought I would. Anyway here is how fared my first day at taking photos back home once I remembered that I brought my camera.

We landed in Houston, and it looks like nobody is coming to greet us.

Then suddenly the calvary arrives--group photo (look closely).

Most of my family is several hours away from really any major cities so there is alot driving that must be done to get home, and also to see everyone.

Over hill, over dale, as we hit the dusty trail, and those caissons go rolling along...

Local farm type buildings.

Spring is very green down in the south.

Now where would a trip to Texas be without a photo of a cow.

Local color...

Also local color

Wave goodbye, there she goes...

As we neared the end of our migration we were greeted...

...by this thing...

... and this thing...

and finally by this... the signs that a nice home cooked meal was waiting to be eaten.

These were just a warm-up. Photography is like drawing to me, takes me a bit to get warmed up if I have done it in a while or I'm feeling stiff. So don't you fret, part two will get more interesting.

More Zoo Photos...

2009-04-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

I love going to the zoo. Every since I was a kid I thought it was cool to see the animals. Now that I am aware of the Species Survival Plan that most zoos participate in, I can draw there (and now take photos) I get even more of a kick out of the whole experience. (The camoflage of the snow leopard is really something special. Most people walking up to the exhibit wouldn't see the animal for several minutes despite the fact that it was right by the edge of the cage. I had to go into the photo and bump up the yellows in his fur to help make him stand out against the rock.)

Paramount Ranch...

2009-03-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

Out by where Ashley works in Calabasas there is a great hiking area known as Paramount Ranch. I've posted some photos of the last time I was there back when I first got the camera. Now I've learned a little and so we can compare what I've learned. I also had been wanting to take some more black and white photos too. This was inspired by a fellow classmate of mine named Emud Mokhberi who I think is just a FANTASTIC photographer (in addition to making films that get nominated for oscars). Well, hopefully he won't mind me trying to reach for his caliber and that imitation is a sincere form of flattery. Now most of the photos are black and white, but there were a few times where color was needed or the photo was inspired by color. I haven't included it, but as an interesting point, there was a photo that I took where having it in black and white made it harder to see the subject because of its natural camoflage. Yet in color, it was obvious to spot the subject with problems (we are so spoiled to be able to see in full color).

Damn Cat...

2009-03-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

So I had this feather duster that was very good to me and of great use. I unfortunately left it out where the cat could reach it... I mean gut it like a bird she had killed. Here she is caught red handed... damn cat. (Ashley actually took the photo while I held the cat at the crime scene.)

Lemur...

2009-03-23T22:46:00.000-07:00

It is hard to shoot a picture of a white subject against an overcast sky. Well you do what you can to make it work. Learned alot.

Everybody Sleeping...

2009-03-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes if you lay too still on the couch you become infested with critters.

Detail of how the dog sleeps.

L.A. Natural History Museum...

2009-03-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

At this moment I have the feeling of pride. It could just be that I'm looking at a group of lions (also known as a pride). Dumb joke, but I regret nothing.

I wonder what that cub is doing

Aaaaaw... isn't that cute, he's cleaning that zebra's leg till it comes back for it.

This is the gorilla of my dreams (another bad pun, but I don't care, these make me laugh)

These two walrus (walri?) look like football field goals posed like this.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!!!!!!

Carnotaur

This dinosaur looks really long in the photo, but it was quite smaller than i though it would be (check out how big the T-Rex skull is to the right)

These guys must be waiting for the pizza dude to arrive.

I really like this drawing and so I'd thought I'd share it with you all.

Zoo Photos...

2009-03-20T00:30:00.003-07:00

Curious About the Camera...

2009-03-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

Both animals were curious about the camera... at first. Now the cat acts like an attention whore in front of the camera and the dog, as you see, wants to cower in fear.

Work Space Photos...

2009-03-18T15:33:00.001-07:00

Here's a photo from my perspective looking at my workspace. At the request of a friend, I will try to do a few more photos of what my man-cave looks like.

My Dog Eats With A Ruler...

2009-03-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

My dog eats his food very peculiarly... in straight lines of either thirds or halves, there is no other way.

Fun with iPhoto...

2009-03-16T01:14:00.001-07:00

Granted this is not done with my new camera, but here are some fun and embarassing photos I found from my old apartment when organizing my computer.

A Funny...

2009-03-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

So I bought this really nice expensive camera and this what I do with it--make stupid jokes.

Whatevers...

2009-03-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

After the Lakers game that I went to, we went to this restaraunt. I was fascinated with the lighting.

Panoramic-O-Rama...

2009-03-04T11:34:00.000-08:00

My friend Matt Flynn has this awesome camera that can take two photos in sucession and try to blend them into one giant wide panorama picture. Well, my camera can't do that, but I thought it would be fun to try to replicate that effect. I decided to take various photos of our living room and then try to line them up later in photoshop.

Santa Barbara...

2009-03-03T01:18:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day I took Ashley up to Santa Barbara--here is the photo proof. I got a little better with the camera as I got to learn how to use some more of the sunlight options. It wouldn't be for another week that I would get a huge breakthrough/hang of the camera. Still I think the photos are slowly getting better. Enjoy.

I was just half a second behind the money shot where the poses of both dogs was perfect, but this one still gets the energy of the idea across

So this guy didn't like it when you took photos of his sand sculpture unless you asked him (he would block the photo). I asked him why and he said that he didn't like feeling like a monkey performing for others... then why did he make this right next to the large pier in Santa Barbara where all the tourists go, hmmmmm... he's a rocket scientist.

He does do nice work though

I like to have flags flying, just in case I forgot where I live

A funny bird the pelican, his beak can hold more than his belly can

Awww, that's cute

Wait, if I'm in the photo, and Ashley is in the photo, who took this?

I saw an opportunity here to take photography and try to reduce the subject to just an abstraction

Another abstraction

Ashley said that the mountains looked like when she was in Maui

This photo is like something from Baywatch or Miami Vice

This was a weird kinetic 'sculpture' outside of a candy store

Entrance to that candy store

We went to the Mission of Santa Barbara

A Vanilla Plant

Trying to get a wide angle lense distortion

Looking into the mission fountain

This is where my batteries died...

Lakers vs. Spurs, Jan. 25, 2009...

2009-03-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

Ashley got me tickets to see the Lakers take on an old thorn in their heels, the San Antonio Spurs (a christmas present). This was my first time going to see a Lakers game, and my first time going to the Staples Center too. Here were some photos from that day. Just like the batch of photos before, I was still getting used to the new camera and really didn't know what I was doing. I think there are some good action shots and definitely was a great opportunity to get used to using my camera at long distances.

Heading towards the lion's den

Magic Johnson points the way to game (is it me, or are his arms really short)

He is like a bronze sculpture

This is a shot of how high up we were

This shot of the team warming up is how close my camera could get to the action

The team gives a big entrance

Ooooh, Teleprompter

It's not a home game without Jack there

This is my favorite photo of the game

Security at time out and commercial breaks

I actually cleaned up alot of these photos in photoshop for clearer presentation, but here is 'raw' photo

This is my second favorite photo of the game

Around this time I realized that my camera had an extra zoom function to it

The crowd goes wild!!!

This boy was caught dancing to the good times

I can almost see what Phil is writting

The foam finger makes a cameo

Odom is wide open

Lamar Odom looks like he is in love with the coach's plan

I wish I knew at this time how to get my camera in clearer focus cause I was constantly blown away that I could get this close to the players

The enemy strikes back

Aaaah Wipeout!!

Yaaay! We won!!!

And we got to have free tacos (I got to have the full experience--great time)

The tickets to the game and also the 2 free taco coupon

Getting Used To My New Camera...

2009-02-10T01:12:00.000-08:00

I got this great Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Digital Camera about a month ago and I'm still getting used to it/reading the manual on how to do everything I know it can do. For the most part I think the compositions in these photos work, but they are each missing 1-3 extra details of good photography (better action, stronger contrasts in lighting, being in focus, etc..) that keeps each of them from being just great photos. Hopefully I will get better sooner than later, in the meantime, enjoy these beginner photos:

Here's one of the first photos with this camara (trying out the wide angle lense)

Below are photos from a friend's party where the garage was converted into a rock band stage:

These photos were taken at the Paramount Ranch (A public park which has a western town owned by Paramount Studios):

Near Paramount Ranch in the Calabasas area is a Hindu Temple!:

Lastly, a the only photo that I took and liked from my friend David Johnston's birthday/house warming party:

First Post, Some Rules...

2009-02-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hello this the blog that I will use to showcase photos I am taking in hopes to get better with using and thinking in terms of camera usage. I hope any that stumble upon this blog will be kind enough to lend me criticism and help to help me improve. In turn, I would love to look at your blogs, so feel free to share links. Lastly, this blog will be updated infrequently as most of my attention will be spent on my main blog Sir Meets World (feel free to check it out).