Frame Thirteen

I spent Easter afternoon with family. After a wonderful lunch I went with one of my sisters and her son and daughter to watch my niece ride her horse. This is Racheal and her horse Ringo. They're getting ready for this years competition's. This is their second season together and the do quite well. Rachael worked all last summer to afford her part of Ringo's purchase, which wasn't small change. Not bad for a junior in high school. Who owns the other half? Her Mom who I think enjoys Ringo as much as Rachael. He's a pretty cool horse with a lot of personality.

Canon 20d - Tamron 28-75 2.8 - @75mm - f5.6 - 1/6000 - iso200

Frame Six

Meet Carey Crowson. Fellow Piano Tuner/Tech and great friend. Carey is also a fantastic keyboardist/vocalist whom I've had the pleasure of gigging (that's musician speak for band job) with for over 20 years. He's also the gentleman who taught me to tune and repair pianos, which is my main day gig (that's musician speak for real job). I couldn't have asked for a better teacher.

This shot was taken in his shop where he works along side his wife Lana and Blue, their 7 year old Weimaraner. Many a piano has been taken from total junker to "like new" in Carey's shop. It can be difficult work, especially when dealing with larger grands and the removal of the plate. It's also quite delicate at times as there are a lot of small parts in the action to deal with when doing a total rebuild.

Canon 20d, Tamron 17-50 2.8 @ 46mm, 1/60 @ f/2.8, iso 400, ambient light

Frame Five

Meet yours truly.

I have a 430ex flash I use with my 20d, but, have never really used it for anything other than straight on, flat light shots with a lightshpere. I wanted to try something different. So, I bought a piece of white foamcore, set it to my left side and with camera on my tripod in the portrait position I bounced the flash off the foamcore about two feet to my left. It took me about a gazillion tries to get myself centered in the frame the way I wanted. I finally did and after much messing around in PS this is the result.

I'm not sure if the left side of my face is too bright or not. It's not blown out on my screen, but is "almost there" and fear it may be on others (I use a spyder2 for callibration).

Anyhow, it's been cold here and I haven't been out much with the camera. I figured I qualified for a "People" in "People, Places and Things of Central Iowa", so, this is what you're getting this week. :)

Canon 20d, Canon EF-S 60mm macro 2.8, shot manual - 1/250 - f/8 - 430ex E-TTL

Frame Four

While out and about today I came across a group of West Des Moines Firefighters training for cold water rescue. I was snapping away and a Firefighter who'd already been in the water came over and asked me if I was with the paper (heh, first time I've been asked that). I told him no, that photography was just a hobby. I then asked him about the wet suits they were using and if they still got chilled while using them. He said they were quite warm and only became cold after long periods of time in the water. In fact, he was sweating around his neck when he took his suit off just a few minutes earlier.

I'm glad I turned down the road I did and came across some of our bravest training for what could someday save a life. I had no idea that's what I'd find when I walked out the door. I'm glad I did.

Canon 20d - Tamron 28-75 2.8 - 75mm at f5.6 100iso

Until next frame...

Frame Two

Meet Brett and Tamara, soon to be newly-weds and two of the nicest people I know. I met Brett in 1982 when he answered an add I placed looking for a bassist for a band. You can learn more about Brett, here. He's quite the creative guy.

I took this shot at dinner a few nights ago. Just a casual, spur of the moment thing using a wall for a back ground and my 430ex with a lightsphere for lighting. It was a wonderful dinner. Brett's mentioned to me many times what a great cook Tamara is. He's wasn't kidding. Good food, good friends. Can't ask for much more than that.

Canon 20d set to manual - shutter 1/200 - f/4.5 - iso400 - Canon EF-S 60mm macro - 430EX ETTL - Lightsphere