Been A While…
Wow. It’s been quite some time. A lot has happened. Initially, I was unemployed for a little bit, and anyone that has ever been there knows that priorities change. The internet had to go. Time was spent looking for a job, pounding the pavement, rather than walking the streets looking for photographs waiting to be taken. Money got tight, gas prices rose, and activity in my life ran down to a minimum.
But I’m back. I’m working, making money, and putting my camera back in hand, and priorities back in line. So by way of a re-introduction, here’s just a few random shots that have helped pass the time…
Zayne and Great Basin Gophersnake
My son and his girlfriend hunting for petroglyphs in the Volcanic Tablelands.
Goldfinch
Zayne enjoying Hot Ditch. Natural reflection from the water cured backlight shadows nicely.
Random front yard flower
1982 Shovelhead Custom Rigid. She will be mine. VERY soon…
So…yea…just a few shots to say, I’m back. And things are getting better. Thanks for stopping by!!
Slowing Down…
The summer is finally winding down. I hope to be getting out and shooting a little more, now that baby bird season is fairly well behind us, and work is winding down. For now, I took a couple of shots while walking around the park with my daughter today…
She really is growing up far too quickly…
Thanks for taking the time to look!
Street Photography
Street photography…shooting whatever is happening right at that moment, and making it tell a story. The Decisive Moment, captured forever in the blink of a shutter…
Old Dan--Bishop, CA
Waiting...-San Francisco, CA
Beautiful Oblivion--San Francisco, CA
Decisions...--San Francisco, CA
Changing Times--Bishop, CA
Thanks for taking the time to look!
Playing around with Portraits
I took some semi-candid shots of my daughter messing around over the summer that I never really worked up and published. I went in and played around with them in my new Silver Efex Pro software last night, and came out with some very pleasing results. All in all, I first thought this software was a bit pricey for a simple plug-in filter. Truth be told it is quite an impressive tool. I’m certain I will be using it for a majority of my B&W conversions from now on. Everything I always wished I had in converting tools, and none of the artifacts that usually come with it. Well Done Nik Software!
Some Family Shots
Had my daughter’s mother and sister in town the other day for a decent, albeit cold, photo shoot in the town park…
Up, Up, and Away!!!
Sometimes, you just gotta put the chores aside and get out there to play with the kids. It’s not about doing anything constructive, or trying to accomplish something. You let the kids be kids, and somehwere, somehow, deep inside your soul, you feel something of your own kid waking up to laugh with them…
What do you do when you don't have a mulberry bush? You go 'round the fence post
Rosie Posie getting airborne
She always told me she wanted to fly...
I hope you enjoyed them. I know we did!!
Thanks for taking the time to look.
Trip to San Francisco
So…anyone that’s been reading knows that I have been in the process of moving. I have been living in a small, 2 bedroom apartment with my daughter and a room-mate for the last 4 years. It wasn’t the best, but we made it work. Not long ago, my girlfriend asked if I was interested in getting a place together with her, and we jumped at the chance. So, me, my daughter, my girlfriend, and her daughter al share a really nice 4 bedroom, 2 bath house. Moving sucks ASS, and I despise the process. But the results are well worth it.
So…as a little bit of a break, my good friend John and his wife took me to San Francisco for a night. It still amazes me how easily my stress melts away with a camera in my hand…
Wild Rose growing in my new front yard
Bueatiful Swallowtail Butterfly
This guy threatened to break my camera if I took his picture. I wished him luck with that...
Awaiting the Bite
Alcatraz
The Rock
Alcatraz Guard Tower
Forbes Island
Seagull you fly across the horizon...
Telegraph Hill from The Embarcadero
The Golden Gate in B&W
Crosstown Traffic
It was a really fun, albeit short-lived trip to the Bay. I had never been there before, so it was a very worthwhile endeavor.
Thanks for coming along!
Local Legend
The Sierra Phantom. He’s a local legend…sort of. One part eccentric, one part mountaineer, 3 parts Enigma. Add contents to bowl, mix thoroughly, and pour into a local river. What you get is the Sierra Phantom…
Sierra Phantom
He’s in his mid-60′s now, but he doesn’t let that slow him down. He spent many years living the life of a hermit, up in the mountains, in the backcountry, eking out a living from the bounty of the backcountry through fishing, hunting, and what little gardening can be done at 11,000′. He has played an important role in the Search and Rescue of countless individuals lost in the mountains. He has been party to searches, pack trains, mining companies, and environmental lawsuits. The man has seen a lot…
I made arrangements with him to get together on a nice warm day, head to the river for some fishing, and to get some really good shots of the Phantom playing in his environment. I hope we can really make that happen…
I also ran across a really neat car yesterday…
Cadillac LaSalle
You don’t see many of these anymore. I have no idea what year she is, but I know her owner, so I can find out. Sure is a beauty of an old luxury car, though, ain’t she?
Thanks for coming along!
Local and Live!
Bishop. It’s a tiny little town nestled quietly between the western slope of the White/Inyo Mountains that border California and Nevada, and the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which separate Coastal California from the rest of the U.S. We have about 4,000 full-time, year-round residents, a total of 4 stop lights, 3 bars, a grocery store, and a K-Mart. We don’t even have a Wal-Mart…
But one thing we do have is a great appreciation for all genres of live music, and community events. This weekend was the Inyo County Council for the Arts Main St. Festival. Part of the festival is the ability of local artists to display their works along the Main St. Promenade. Another aspect is the great live music scattered about town. This is about the music…
Fiddlin' Pete and Neal
Fiddlin' Pete
Pete and Neal
Pete and Neal. These guys were a lot of fun. They played a mix of folk, country, and blues, and each song had a story about the History of the Owen’s Valley. It was really a nice afternoon.
Special Thanks to Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott for allowing me to photograph the event, and post these pictures. Great Job, Gentlemen!
Today’s Spotlights…
Went and talked with a couple local shopkeepers today, and convinced them to let me take some shots while I was there.
Brian and Brian of Aerohead Cycles were busy, but they didn’t mind that I snapped a few candids while they worked…
Than I went over and talked to Brent. If you’ve ever needed an electronic device fixed in Bishop, you probably know Brent, or at least you’ve spoken. He wasn’t busy, but he didn’t mind muggin’ about while I took pictures. At least…he didn’t mind too much…
Thanks for taking the time to look!
Old Timer…
Dan is a character. He is an old school mule packer with about 10,000,000 stories. Doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, Dan has a story that you can either relate to or be thrilled by. And I have no doubt that every single one of them is 100% true…whether it really happened or not… 
Good Ol' Dan
Nowadays, Dan can usually be found behind the counter at a corner fly shop in town, tending the till and sharin’ stories with anyone that happens to wander in. Stop in and say Howdy sometime. Heck, right now they got Metz #1 Badger Saddles for $5. That’s worth the trip alone…
Thanks for reading!
Another Walkabout…
I went for another walk around town with my camera over my shoulder yesterday. I’m really excited about “discovering” Environmental Portraiture. It’s really neat going out and talking to random people, getting to know them a little bit, and getting good shots. It’s great practice, as well. It’s easy to take pictures of my daughter because I know her, and I love her dearly…it’s a pleasure. It’s a bit more difficult taking GOOD shots of complete strangers, so this whole Environmental Portraiture aspect of photography is great fun AND great practice.
Anyhow…
50 Year Local
This is Chris. He has lived in Bishop, CA for 50 years now. I didn’t catch his age, so I don’t know if he was born here or not. I also don’t know if he has ever spent time elsewhere, or if Bishop has always been home. I DO know that he has no interest in leaving anytime soon…
Desert Rat
Not a local in the traditional sense of the word, but this gentleman knows the surrounding desert better than anyone else I’ve ever met. He spends his days, and even some nights, wandering the desert, studying the land, and disovering petroglyphs and Native American sites for anthropological and archaelogical study. I didn’t catch if he was a clinical anthropologist or a geologist, or what, exactly…but he’s quite proud of his desert days…and he should be.
Thanks for coming along! Hopefully, over the next several months, I’ll be able to introduce you to a few more Bishop Locals, and maybe give you a peek into their lives…
Needed a ‘Cut…
I was out and about, walking around town today, seeking out interesting individuals to take photos of. I walked past the barbershop, and as usual…it was bustling. Meh…I needed a cut anyhow…
2-Bits
Around the Ears
Distinguished Gentlemen
Satisfied Customer
All of these were shot in monotone. And I am quite happy with my cut, thank you.
Thanks for taking the time to look!
