Spring 2008 - Trinity County 08

A classic dogwood blossom, captured in Huntsville on our way home, in the shadow of the famous statue just south of town. I include this in the Trinity County set because it was taken on the same trip.

Spring 2008 - Trinity County 07

Taken on the same morning walk...

Spring 2008 - Trinity County 06

Soon after arriving in Trinity County we went on a fishing expedition...this was taken, obviously, on the river bank.

Spring 2008 - Trinity County 05

This was taken on the morning walk. A friend noted that the young leaves provide an interesting juxtaposition of the new and the old. I sure didn't do it on purpose, but it does make sense.

Spring 2008 - Trinity County 04

This was taken in the back porch of the cabin.

Spring 2008 - Trinity County 03

I thought I was taking a picture of a spider, but upon closer inspection discovered it was part of the plant!

This was taken from the porch of the cabin in which we were staying. The reason I like it is because the depth-of-field completely wipes out everything in the background while keeping the plant in sharp focus.

Spring 2008 - Trinity County 02

I got up early one morning and went out to shoot pictures just as it was getting light. Shutter speeds were slow and I had no tripod, but managed to get this one just right. I use the left side to insert lettering for special occasions, and think it would be sharp enough to do poster-size prints.

Really lucked out on this, one of my all-time favorites.

Spring 2008 - Trinity County 01

There is a property in Trinity County that we've gone to a couple of times in the past two years. This and the next few postings will be from that property; they were taken in late March.

Spring 2008 - Bayou Bend 04

This was snapped on our way out. Had to do a lot for lighting effect post-capture: the background was brightened a bit, and the flowers were selected out and brightened some more. I'm fairly pleased with the result, but someone looking at it for the first time might think the flowers were photoshopped in (which they weren't).

It was a fun outing, even though it was hot...I always enjoy going out with my picture-taking buddies.

Every time I visit Bayou Bend a former colleague comes to mind. One of my fellow teachers used to tell the story of how as a child she knew the family that lived in that mansion, and used to go over there to play with one of their daughters. This was way back in the '50's.
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Went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo today. There was a photography vendor there that was absolutely awesome...all nature stuff out of the Great American West. Said that when he isn't at rodeos selling his work he's out taking pictures, using Nikons. Couldn't help but wonder if he has a family...I rather doubt it. Still, that's a dream life for someone to be able to pursue a passion and become as involved as he obviously does. His work is great, and discouragingly cheap!

Spring 2008 - Bayou Bend 03

This was taken in the back also, along a shady path. We didn't have much choice if we were going to get anything good because it was mid-afternoon and the sun was out strong. I got some decent pictures of the fountains out front, composition-wise, but couldn't use them because it was too contrasty.

Spring 2008 - Bayou Bend 02

This is the picture that I have on my computer desktop at work...also taken on the back property at Bayou Bend.

Spring 2008 - Bayou Bend 01

Well, spring has sprung in Houston! The birds are chirping and our cat is spending a little more time on the windowsill...

In light of that, the next dozen or so postings will be of pictures taken last spring (2008).

This first batch of four will be from a trip that some friends and I took in April to Bayou Bend, just off of Memorial outside Loop 610 in Houston. We have a good friend from church, Bob Ross, that was the landscape administrator there, so we consulted him before leaving. He said that we were too late for some of the more spectacular color, but we took our chances and got a few shots worth saving.

This flower was in the back of the property. It had one little petal sticking way out, so I photoshopped it away and this is the result.

New Orleans Zoo - Flamingos

Really wish I knew a tad more about exposure before taking this one...

New Orleans Zoo - Orangutan

This is one of my all-time favorite animal pictures, and I'd bet that there are hundreds of them out there because this guy was perched on that pole all day long.

New Orleans Zoo - Macaw

Didn't notice until I was touching this one up for posting that you can see the Macaw's eye just above the tips of the wing feathers. Loving color as I do, these are great birds to photograph.

New Orleans Zoo - Elephant Show

The New Orleans Zoo is one of the best I've ever visited, for several reasons. One is the blend of good layout and attractive housing for the animals. Another is professional-level shows featuring some of the animals, on a par with Sea World at that time.

It's a shame that Katrina pretty much wiped out the city a few years ago, and I have often wondered what became of those fantastic displays as well as how the animals fared.

This image, obviously, was taken at the elephant show.

New Orleans Zoo - Swamp Shack

I bought my first digital camera in November of 2002, the Finepix 3800. Since it was so close to the end of the year, there aren't that many favorites from 2002.

Sure was a sweet little camera...the pictures had a great look and the auto white balance was just right every time for interior shots. I passed it on to my nephew in Wilmington, NC, and hope that he's getting some use out of it.

This picture was taken at the New Orleans Zoo in December of '02. I had an 8x10 up in my cubicle for a long time, and when people asked where it was I'd tell them that it was my boyhood home in the swamps of Louisana. Actually, I don't think I would have minded so much.

The square sign below the center window was distractingly bright so to tone it down, while maintaining a rustic look, some of the fence to the right was cloned onto it at 25% opacity. Did a convincing job, even when zoomed in closer.

Blue Flowers

Well, this one rounds out my favorites of 2003. I think that next I'll back up even more and do my favorites from 2002, right after I bought my first digital camera, the Finepix 3800.

Flying Skier

Sometimes you get lucky and snap the shutter at just the right moment...

This was taken in 2003, at Sea World in San Antonio.

Chinatown Lotus

This one was taken in Houston's Chinatown, at the big shopping center on Bellaire at Boone. Houston is such a great place to take pictures - not only does it have great nature pictures and great cityscapes, the myriad nationalities provide opportunity to capture cultures that originate all over the world.

It wasn't until after I saw this image on the computer that I noticed the pod in the lower right corner; it appears as though it's looking up at the flower, paying homage to its beauty.