Marks 365 for 2010

Four Sunflowers

2010-08-29T20:19:00.001-07:00

Four Sunflowers, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is the view out our front window. I had planted a bunch of sunflowers I had planted in flats, and when the time came to get them in the ground I was just overwhelmed, and ran out of places to plant them. My wife took these and put them right in front of the window. A couple months later, nice view!

Arkansas Black Apples

2010-08-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Arkansas Black Apples, originally uploaded by mhall209.

The first tree we planted on our property was this Arkansas black apple tree. We planted it about twelve years ago. This is the first time it has had any kind of a crop on it. We are really looking forward to the potential crop. I love this kind of apple!

Zinnia

2010-08-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Zinnia, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This years crop of zinnias are rather ho hum. Thats the way it is, some years they are just amazing, and other years not so much. I planted them this year in a new bed in the newly landscaped back yard. I admit the bed was probably not really ready for planting, but I thought zinnias could handle the poor soil. Apparently not. But I did get this one shot.

Sunrise

2010-08-26T17:35:00.001-07:00

Sunrise, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Another sunrise on my way to work this morning. Almost the same spot as yesterdays, but a little less orange. A few more clouds also.

My morning commute

2010-08-25T20:14:00.001-07:00

My morning commute, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is what it looked like this morning on my way to work. Really. The view is from the San Joaquin Valley looking east towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was a really nice ride today.

Morning Windmill

2010-08-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Morning Windmill, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Another regular windmill. Its regular because I pass it many many times on my way to or from work. This one was shot on the way to work in the morning.

Red Sunflower

2010-08-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Red Sunflower, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I planted a bunch of sunflowers for the school in the early summer. Many of them fell victim to poor over summer watering and active children playing. A few of the plants survived the summer, and the first one is blooming now.

Murphys Bike

2010-08-22T11:14:00.001-07:00

Bike, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We go to the town of Murphys often. It is relatively nearby and has a number of really good restaurants, even a really good vegan place. No fast food here! The town is a big biker destination, and the road is often lined with bikes of all shapes and sizes. Ducatas, Harleys, even the occasional OCC or West Coast Chopper. I didn't see anything too exotic this trip. Just the unusual empty bike parking spot. Someone must have just left!

Church

2010-08-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Church, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is a typical feature on a lot of the churches around here. Every town has at least one church like this. Often built in the late 1800's after the craziness of the gold rush settled down, and the population was looking for a little permanence. The tower and clouds caught my attention while walking around the town.

Yellow Sunflower

2010-08-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

Yellow Sunflower, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This volunteer came up in our school garden. It wasn't planted on purpose, it seems to be a left over seed from one of last years plants. Looks pretty nice though.

Pumpkin Flower

2010-08-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Flower, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We grow a number of pumpkin plants at our school garden. Just before halloween the little ones from the preschool come out and pick some. On good years there are enough for each kid to take a pumpkin home. The flowers are just blooming now, so it is too early to tell if there will be enough for all the kidos. We'll see!

Sunflower

2010-08-18T20:01:00.001-07:00

Sunflower, originally uploaded by mhall209.

A walk around the yard at just the right time tonight found the sun hitting this sunflower. I took a few shots and this is the one I liked best.

Blue Sky

2010-08-09T17:40:00.001-07:00

Blue Sky, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Two weeks of the new school year down, and nothing but blue skies. Literally and figuratively. The students are really stepping up to the things we are asking of them. It really seems like we have turned a corner and we are looking really good- like this picture.

Red Door

2010-08-08T15:22:00.001-07:00

Red door, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is from a roll I shot in San Luis Obispo recently. The red door and the plants in front came out very nice. I like the way the old Yashica camera captures these old barns.

Patchwork Barn

2010-08-07T21:08:00.001-07:00

Patchwork Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I love the patchwork colors on this barn. I would love to know the story behind it, but I really have no clue. I have never seen anything else like it, and I have seen my fair share of barns! I actually took this a while ago, but I just got the film back from the lab.

Gas Tank

2010-08-06T17:43:00.001-07:00

Gas Tank, originally uploaded by mhall209.

OK, you got me. I didn't take this shot today. I know, the green field and cloudy sky was your clue. This time of year the skys are clear, and the fields are, well, brown. So I have been shooting more film lately, using mostly a medium format camera. The problem with that is there is only one camera shop around within an hours drive. And they are not very punctual. They tell me the film will be ready on Tuesday. But they never tell me which Tuesday. I assume they mean next Tuesday, but apparently no. It takes a while to get the film back. So my photo a day means I will post a photo a day, not necessarily one I shot that day. Hey, its my blog, I get to make the rules!

So this old tractor was shot a few weeks ago. OK, it was shot back in June. Maybe May. But I just got the film back. I told you it was a slow process.

I like the slow process when shooting the film. It makes me slow down and think. Whats the light like? What speed is the film in the camera? Can I even shoot in these conditions with this film? With my digital cameras I can change the ISO and be good to good. Can't do that with film. And then do I really like the framing? Hows the focus? Is the aperture right? I mean it costs about a dollar each time I click the shutter, and I have to wait several weeks to get the image, so I really want to be sure it is right. I have to say I have a much higher success rate with film then digital. I like about 75% of the shots I take with film. Probably close to 1% with digital.

Roadway

2010-08-05T19:38:00.001-07:00

Roadway, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Well summer is here. That means lots of clear skys. Lots of hot. Lots of dry. I was off in the middle of nowhere- long straight road that seemed to go on forever,fighting sleep. I had to pull over and, well, take care of some personal business. When I was ready to take off again I decided it could be an interesting shot.

SLO Barn

2010-08-04T20:25:00.001-07:00

SLO Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Finally got some film back from the lab from a trip I took back in June. My wife and I went to San Luis Obispo to watch a former student graduate from college. The day after the festivities we went exploring around and came across this old barn. If you have been around my images at all you know about me and barns! This was unique because it was right on the highway, in a very populated part of town. Well- populated by my standards! You could see other buildings, and the road required a signal. There was no fence, gate, door, or sign anywhere to keep idiots like me from poking around. It looked like a strong breeze would blow this thing down, with me in it! Or at least next to it. It didn't blow over, and I survived the adventure. I just wish it didn't take months to get the film back.

Another Barn

2010-07-29T18:41:00.001-07:00

Another Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

ANother barn on my way home. This one in Lodi, CA. It is really amazing to me how many of these there are around when I start looking. I am not sure that this was always a barn. If I were a betting man, which I am not, I would guess that this was originally a barn that someone converted into an apartment. Thus the staircase. In any case it has long since fallen into disrepair. This one needs a little TLC.

Layers

2010-07-28T17:19:00.001-07:00

Layers, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Today was the second day for students to be back to school. The district had a catastrophic network failure of some variety last week, so getting students online was going to be an adventure. In my room I have a student run network; each period has at least one student admin who sets up accounts and such, and so I had a little advantage there. I have students who can create accounts for all the new kids and do some trouble shooting. But still, there were lots of issues.

Not only do students need network logins, they need accounts for our Google Apps for Education, as well as for Moodle. And then there is the Microsoft email account. Oh, and then there is the regular school district account. Of course as each issue gets resolved, there is a larger issue looming. And each layer is covered with thorns. Careful.

I think we had all of the issues resolved by the end of the day. All of the ones we have any control over anyway. I think tomorrow we can actually start the teaching /learning process! Woot woot!

Alpine School

2010-07-27T18:36:00.001-07:00

Alpine School, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Today was the first day of school for our students. We have a small school, and 250 students showed up today. That, I understand, is the most we have ever had. There were a few glitches but overall it went very well. It looks like we have a really good group of kids.

I thought today would be a good day to post an old abandoned school I came across. I can picture in my minds eye what the classes looked like in here. A chalk board up front. A teachers desk in front of that, facing rows of lined up student desks. Each room looking just like the next.

One of our new teachers (new to us anyway, she isn't new to teaching) asked me to help her with some techy things. I was so excited when I went into her room and did not see desks in rows! It is the only room in the school not arranged in neat straight rows. Including mine- I have permanent computer desks that cannot be moved. I guess change comes incrementally. It is just sad that our school looks more like what I imagined this school looked like than it is different.

Lodi Barn

2010-07-26T19:34:00.001-07:00

Lodi Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Today was the first day to officially report to work. I usually do not enjoy this day, as I find myself helping lots of people get their computers up and running, but no one is ever there to help me get my class in order. I need to learn to say no to people, and focus on my priorities.

So I was really wiped out when I went to pick up my wife to car pool home. She insisted on driving so I could relax. Since she was driving we took a little unusual route, and this is what we found. She knew as soon as she saw it that I would want to photograph it, so here it is. Not a bad end to not my favorite day.

rust

2010-07-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

rust, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Since I found this spot a year or so ago I have stopped by often to shoot some of the many pieces of old rusty stuff many times. Each time the situation was different. Different weather, light colors, and so on. This day all of the pieces were working well together.

Broke Down Horse

2010-07-23T17:21:00.001-07:00

Broke Down Horse, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Back to work today. I had a special training for a program at our school. All the other teachers report back on Monday. I feel about as ready for the school year as this horse feels ready for the Kentucky Derby!

Chair

2010-07-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

Chair, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I was fortunate to spend a couple of days at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA. About 140 teachers from around the world were gathered there to learn about using Google's Geo Tools in the classroom. It was really, really cool to be able to talk with all of these really cool teachers, some of whom I knew beforehand via Plurk or Twitter, but had not ever met face to face.

There were a few big takeaways from me. First was the work presented by Michael Hathorn and students from Hartford, VT. The team of students did a great job. I am not sure which is more impressive; the work the students did in the project, or the work they did in presenting the project. It was all very impressive, and a good model for my students in the coming school year.

Another take away was the time I was able to spend working in SketchUp, a 3D modeling program that Google provides. This application has been in my classroom for 8 or 9 years now, but I have never been able to give it the time and attention needed to really use it. I am much more prepared now to support my students in using the application.

The last major take away is the ability now to use Google Earth Pro. Google has really beefed up this application and it is now a reasonable GIS tool. Much more so than in the past. Additionally, Google in now offering up to 30 seats of this software for free! That really makes it usable in the classroom. I think my students will be able to get a much better handle on the whole GIS world now.

Thanks Google!

Oh, you probably want to know about the chair. The folks at Google were really clear that we were not supposed to be taking pictures at the campus. You never know what trade secret might be lurking in the background they explained. I was good with my camera (for a change) and did not even sneak any pictures. Well except for the one on this blog and this one. The chair was in the parking lot, and I was pretty sure there were no secrets in it.

Jesus Maria Dozer

2010-07-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Jesus Maria Dozer, originally uploaded by mhall209.

My wife and I went for a ride along one of the very remote roads around our home. We came along this old dozer stuck in the bushes. It looked like it had been there for a very very long time.

Stevens Bug

2010-07-19T21:11:00.001-07:00

Stevens Bug, originally uploaded by mhall209.

My son is restoring this bug. Slowly. Today the brake system was taken apart and diagnosed. It is waiting on parts, which should be here next week. So in the meantime the bug sits on jack stands in the garage.

Pump house

2010-07-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

Pump house, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We went for a walk in the evening and came across this pump house. In our neighborhood we all have our own water wells. Because it gets rather cold in the winter we have some kind of a structure over the pump and well to protect it from freezing. This one is a bit over the top. For this neighborhood at least. Especially when you consider this is the only structure on the lot. This and an abandoned pickup truck.

Kodachrome

2010-07-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

Kodachrome, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We had the chance to visit with my brother while we were in San Francisco this last week. While waiting to go out to dinner he asked if I still have a 35mm camera. I said ya, I am not sure where it is though, but I still have that Cannon EOS film camera somewhere. (I really wonder what happened to my AE-1. Hmmm.) He said "I have something for you then. He went to the refrigerator and came back with this, a roll of Kodachrome. Kool beans!

If you dont know, Kodak has discontinued production of this film. There will be no more made ever. There is only one lab left in the country that we can find that still processes this stuff. And they are going to stop in December. No more "Nice bright colors." No more "Greeeeens of summer!"

So now that I have this roll I have two pressing problems; what to shoot, and where the heck is that camera!

Airport

2010-07-16T20:56:00.001-07:00

Airport, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We were in San Francisco for a couple of days and we stayed out by the airport. This being the peak of tourist season the hotel rates were out of site, the airport area was the only place we could get decent rates. This was the view out our room window. Needless to say it was not the quietest room I have ever stayed in. But for the price, at this time of year, I will take it!

At Work

2010-07-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Trim, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We were in San Francisco today to visit the de Young Museum, to see the exhibit "Masterpieces of the Musee d'Orsay". This pare of the exhibit was called "The Birth of Impressionism" It was very cool, and I saw a number of works from the beginnings of the Impressionist movement. These pieces are usually in a museum in Paris, France, but due to a renovation they hit the road, and I really enjoyed seeing them.

After the exhibit we wandered around the rest of the museum and the Japanese Garden next door. While in the Japanese garden it struck me that the pieces in the "Masterpieces" show that I really liked were images of working people. There were a number of unattributed etchings of people doing manual labor. I decided that I need to do a project about working class people. So here is the start of that study.

Pops

2010-07-14T20:39:00.001-07:00

Pops, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Pops is our male duck, the one in the foreground with the more orange bill. He doesn't get around so well. He has a problem with one of his legs and it is difficult for him to walk. He mostly hangs out by the barn, near where the ducks sleep at night. Unlike the other ducks he is usually sitting, like he is here. The duck in the background is walking circles around Pops. Like she usually does. It is kind of sad to see Pops not get around. But he seems happy enough. He quacks at me whenever he sees me. And I holler back, sometimes I say Hey Pops. Sometimes I just quack. It was nice to see he had wandered all the way up to the house this evening.

A weed

2010-07-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

A weed, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I guess it is official. Spring is over. Gone are the endless green fields. Everything not irrigated is now brown, and it is hot. Soon we will be dealing with wildfires and threats of wildfires. I have done a lot of work this year to make the house "fire safe" so I am not as concerned about fires as I usually am. For the first time in the dozen or so years we have lived here I feel like I have a handle on the weeds.

Except for this one. But it looks kind of cool here.

Les Miserables, School Edition

2010-07-13T09:38:00.001-07:00

Les Miserables, School Edition, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We stopped in Woodland, CA for dinner on our way home from Oregon. After dinner we decided to walk around what appeared to be a very cool old town. Soon we found the Woodland Opera House. A VERY COOL small theatre built in 1896. It is so cool it is actually a state park! A side door was propped open and so of course I HAD to stick my head in. Not literally, but I was obviously trying to see what it looked like. A man came to the door and said "Come on in, its cool inside!" Really? So we did. (My wife and I.)

Turns out it was dress rehearsal for "Les Miserables, School Edition" which was to open in four nights. I asked if I could take pictures and they said sure. So we got to wander around a very cool 100+ year old restored theatre and get a few shots.

Umbrella Lady

2010-07-11T21:07:00.001-07:00

Umbrella, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We were wandering around the rose garden in Portland, OR. I was looking for interesting shots, but have tired of the macro flower shots. I wanted something interesting that said "rose garden" but was not a flower. So I started shooting the pictures of people getting their picture taken, and people taking pictures. I am always amazed at how easy it is to do this. No one ever notices you taking their picture if they are posing for someone else.

Portland Engine 3

2010-07-10T22:09:00.001-07:00

Engine 3<>, originally uploaded by mhall209>

Our last night in Portland. We went out to dinner, which was difficult. So many wonderful looking restaurants within walking distance. We had a great dinner and went for a walk afterwards. We were walking down the street when we heard a crashing sound. We looked up in time to see a man tumbling over a sign, and went face first into the asphalt. He was out cold.

A number of people came to his aid, and I could see a number of folks on the phone to 911. Whatever did we do before cell phones. Other folks were providing appropriate aid, so we continued on our walk. We were several blocks away when the fire engine raced by. Fortunately the guy had fallen just one block from the hospital emergency room entrance. So he was well cared for pretty quickly.

Made for an exciting evening.

Bass

2010-07-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

Bass, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Our first day in Portland. I had been here only once before, long enough to rent a car at the airport and drive elsewhere. My sister lives here now, and she acted as our tour guide. She too us to an amazing BBQ place- Podnah's. I did not know that brisket could be so tender you do not need to chew. Just amazing food. Then she took us to Voodoo donuts. I have never stood in line for donuts before. I would happily do it again. It was cool.

It seems like Portland is a food town. Lots of really good food everywhere. And where there is lots of good food there tends to be lots of street performers. Enter this bass player. Or at least his hand and instrument. I try to tip these guys whenever I stop and enjoy them. Or if I photograph them.

Mt. Shasta

2010-07-08T19:22:00.001-07:00

Mt. Shasta, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Driving to Eugene Oregon today to visit my parents. This view of Mount Shasta is taken from I 5 at about 85 miles an hour. It was a beautiful day as you can see, though we did get rained on a little after this shot was taken. We know we are about half way there when we pass Mt. Shasta.

This is a 14,000 foot volcano. It looks just huge as you drive by. The smaller peak on the left of the main peak is known as Shastina. It looks small next to Shasta, but it is an impressive 12,300 foot mountain. I really do not know much about this part of the state, but rest assured it is on my bucket list to explore around here more.

Silver Barn

2010-07-07T13:23:00.001-07:00

Silver Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Another barn. This one is hidden from the road but I had permission to wander around the farm with my camera, looking for pictures. People think you are odd when you ask. Things are just everyday to them, they do not think of their own place as interesting or unique.

I am always amazed how family farms make it work with such old tattered equipment. Large corporate farms seem to always have new shiny big equipment in big shiny barns that look like warehouses. But the family farms always have old equipment that maybe grandpa bought new way back when. I understand the whole stay out of debt thing, and why borrow money to buy new when the old still works. It just amazes me how long they can keep things running.

Peaches

2010-07-06T17:38:00.001-07:00

Peaches, originally uploaded by mhall209.

It is peach season! We stop at a peach stand on the way home from work as often as we can. It is actually a house, and they have converted their back patio into a farm stand. It is an older german couple who live there. Each time we come there are several different types of peaches and a small assortment of other fruits and vegetables. As the season progresses the types of peach varieties will change. Today I bought June Bride and White Lady peaches, along with an unnamed yellow plum that the lady said her son found as a seedling.

I asked one time how many peaches they grow, and the old man said they have well over 100 different named varieties, but he hadn't counted in a while. I believe him, And everyone one of them are delicious. The only problem is you can only buy a one or two day supply as they pick them dead ripe and the peaches go bad quickly. But boy are they good! Fresh peaches from now till October!

Brandt Road Vineyard

2010-07-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

Brandt Road Vineyard, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Our favorite strawberry stand is on Brandt Road. They grow a different variety than most of the other stands, and the berries are awesome. So I stopped for a flat. and then went straight down the road instead of taking the faster way home. I crossed a creek and there was this barn. A wonderful old barn surrounded by these cool green vineyards. It made a nice stop on the way home.

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Fill 'er up.

2010-07-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Fill 'er up., originally uploaded by mhall209.

I have been by this gas station many times- it is near some of our favorite places to eat. Usually though there are a number of cars parked obscuring the shot. I am not sure what kind of business occupies the building now but it is something, and not a gas station. The pumps (which have no hoses) register 40.9 cents per gallon. So it has been a while since they have seen any gasoline.

In the garage

2010-07-03T16:07:00.001-07:00

In the garage, originally uploaded by mhall209.

My wife and I went to a farmers market this morning, and then decided to go exploring. We ended up in Amador City. We have lived in the area for over 12 years but have never really explored this part of this town. It was a nice neighborhood, probably a little too expensive for our paychecks, but a nice place to wander around in anyway. I found this car at the end of a dead end street, in a doorless garage. I just had to take this shot - standing in the middle of the street. I was hoping I would be able to drop out the background, and it worked wonderfully.

White Flower

2010-07-02T16:41:00.000-07:00

White Flower, originally uploaded by mhall209.

FInally home for a while, and I feel like summer vacation is here. Time to really get into working the yard and garden. So here is the plan; get up early and work in the yard before it gets too hot, and then into the house around 10 or 11. I need to work on my Moodle courses and get them nice for the new school year, and I want to do that in the heat of the day. Then back to the yard in the evening when it cools off. Sounds like a good plan. Lets see how it works out.

Blue car

2010-07-01T06:14:00.001-07:00

Blue car, originally uploaded by mhall209.

On my last morning at University of California at Berkeley. We have been staying in a dorm on campus and eating in one of the campus cafeterias. I have to say this has been a different experience, and I am sure I will not volunteer to do it again. Did you know that in the summer universities are used for youth sports camps? And did you know that means the cafeteria is full of kids under, say, 12? Hundreds of them. They were well behaved and all, but still. It is a tad bit out of my comfort zone.

Anyway it was several blocks from the dorm to the dining hall and on the way between the two was this old car. I kept yelling at me to get a picture, but the light was too harsh most times. But this time I got it.

Blue Chair

2010-06-30T06:47:00.001-07:00

Blue Chair, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I found that if you wander around a college town right at the start of summer you find lots of discarded items on the sidewalk that you normally wouldn't. Like this chair.

I had one just like this in my classroom a couple years ago. Including the broken wheels. The kids loved to sit in it (high school) even though they would eventually forget the part about the missing wheels and fall over. It was funny at first, then it was annoying. One day it was particularly annoying, so I picked it up went outside, and threw it as far across the blacktop as I could. It broke into a zillion pieces. It wasn't annoying anymore!

Berkeley Viking

2010-06-29T21:34:00.001-07:00

Berkeley Viking , originally uploaded by mhall209.

While in Berkeley, California for a few days of PD I went for a little walk through the neighborhood. I wasn't a block away from the dorm where I was staying when I found this sewing machine on the sidewalk. I have a general policy in life that when I find a sewing machine on the sidewalk I take a picture. So here you go!

Bee Balm

2010-06-28T21:37:00.001-07:00

Bee Balm, originally uploaded by mhall209.

In the front yard, in my wife's garden (don't tell her I called it that- its OUR garden) a bunch of bee balm with a bee on it.

Fence Post

2010-06-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Fence Post, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Out for a walk in the neighborhood and noticed this fence post and barbed wire. The rust and the green work for me. Need to do more of these walks!

Smile

2010-06-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

Smile, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I have never noticed these types of plants around before, but this year they seem to be everywhere. Any idea what it is?

Army Snack

2010-06-25T13:48:00.001-07:00

Army Snack, originally uploaded by mhall209.

The Army recruiters were out in force at the SkillsUSA National Convention, and they even cooked for us. Bananas Foster a la U. S. Army were pretty good. I don't think it is quite what my brother talked about back in the '80's. I think they may have stepped up their game in the Army Food Services department.

hmmmmm

2010-06-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

hmmmmm, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I snuck off to find some lunch in Downtown Kansas City, and found this different perspective of an everyday object. Can you figure out what it is?

Bread Scale

2010-06-23T15:06:00.001-07:00

Bread Scale, originally uploaded by mhall209.

One of the highlights of the SkillsUSA National Conference is the different culinary arts competitions. As we visited this morning the students were just starting their day of baking. Most contestants were measuring out ingredients for whatever all they were being asked to make. Believe me, at the end of the day they make a whole bunch of stuff, all of which looks awesome. There wasn't much to see as we strolled around, but I did manage this shot.

We will see what tomorrow brings as my students are presenting their projects to the public all day, leaving me with time to stroll, and my camera battery is charging now!

Urban Renewal

2010-06-22T15:10:00.001-07:00

IMG_3445, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I am still in Kansas City, MO. with students who are participating in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. They needed some materials we thought would be easier to buy here than to pack on the plane, so off I went this morning to find a few things. On foot. The good thing about walking is it takes you to corners you would otherwise miss, you would just drive on by. Like this little spot. A new parking lot getting new landscaping right next to a building that is either falling down or being torn down. Not sure which. In California it would be surrounded by fence, but not so here. Maybe people in this part of the country have enough sense to not walk though a falling building. (There was nothing cool in the falling down part. I checked.)

Exit

2010-06-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

IMG_3440, originally uploaded by mhall209.

The first day in Kansas CIty. One of the first things I noticed, besides the heat and humidity, was the number of brick and stone buildings in the downtown area. We don't see them that much in California. I guess earthquakes and stone and brick construction do not go together well!

Real red

2010-06-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Real red, originally uploaded by mhall209.

My wife and I went for a little walk this morning up the "Spure Grade" a little section of road near out house. As you can see from the picture there is not a lot of room to walk on this road. We were a bit surprised to see this road rally come by, the 2010 Snowball Rally. It was cool to see these old cars come by, and a real challenge to get good shots as the sped by. There some more shots in my photo stream, click the photo to view them. And if you can identify these cars, please do so!

Bike

2010-06-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Bike, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Going for another walk. In the spring, summer, and fall the area we live in is serious recreation country. When going on walks you really need to watch your back, you never know what might be silently lurking behind you! In this case it was a serious bike ride. I don't know what you call it when a couple hundred bike riders get together and do their thing. I call it a photo op. If you are on a bike on the road by my house, you are hard core!

Moke river

2010-06-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

IMG_0635, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is an older shot from the archives. I didn't like it originally, but I was playing around in Aperture on my new Mac. I had never used the software, and I wanted to see how it stacked up against Picasa and Bridge. Way better than Picasa, Jury is still out on Bridge.

Old Dodge

2010-06-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

Old Dodge, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I have been meaning to get a shot of this truck for a while. It sits in a field not too far from the house. The problem is the guy who owns the property would not be too happy about having someone taking pictures of his property. I know that as long as I am not trespassing I can take all the pictures I want, but who wants a confrontation. So I waited for an evening when I thought he wouldn't be around, and took my shot. I didn't trespass. I didn't. Thats my story and I am sticking to it.

Two Does

2010-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Two Does, originally uploaded by mhall209.

These two does were having dinner in our pasture this evening. Sometimes they aren't real happy about having their picture taken, the click from the shutter release often scares them off. Tonight they didn't seem to mind. I was lucky, there was enough light to get this shot, but not too much as to be too much light.

Sharp

2010-06-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sharp, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I had a rather bloody encounter with this plant. Would you call it a bush? A cactus? Heck I dont know. I do know those sharp ends are sharp, and they do pierce the skin, rather deeply. Note to self: when focussing on something in front of you, dont pay so much attention that you forget there might be something equally sharp behind you. Enough said.

Mission Fountain

2010-06-14T18:30:00.001-07:00

Mission Fountain, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Another image from our recent trip to the California Central Coast, and the Mission San Miguel. One of the things that fascinates me about the California Missions is the ancient relics that are being maintained on a shoe string budget while the mission is still used as a functioning church and museum. This results is a really interesting blend between relic and function.

I am sure that the original missions had a water feature in the courtyard, but I think it would have been more functional than this one. Ornamental cattails would have been little use to the mission residents. I am sure they did not have a fountain with a stone ball in the top with water pumped through it. But for today, it is pretty.

And just so I don't sound too negative, hats off to all the people who work really hard to keep these old places open to the public. I really enjoy visiting and learning from them. And thanks for not chasing me off on a Sunday morning.

Mission San Miguel

2010-06-13T21:05:00.001-07:00

Mission San Miguel, originally uploaded by mhall209.

COming home this weekend from San Luis Obispo my wife wanted to stop by this mission. Its been a while since we stopped at a mission. I think we have been to all of the California Missions at one point or another, but this is the first time to be at one on a Sunday morning. I felt the need to be miire discrete with my camera.

I decided I need to do a photo series on the California Missions, I think it will start right now.

Crystal Graduated

2010-06-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

Crystal Graduated, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I met Crystal about eight years ago when she was a freshman in the high school I worked at. Towards the end of her high school years she told me that she wanted me to go to her college graduation. I was luke warm at best, I told her we were very close then, but she would go off to college and I would ever hear from her again, like most of the students I have known. I told her that was a good thing, that she needs to move on with her life. SHe disagreed. She promised that she would stay in touch and come back to visit, abd thet I had to go to her graduation. I made a deal; if she stayed in touch, I would go.

Well she has stayed in touch. We are on each others facebook.(I dont think she has a twitter account) She comes by to visit me at school when she is in town when school is in session. She is one of very few former students who have been to my home. The rest of the students who have been here came with Crystal!

This weekend she graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and I was there. No question, my wife and I got in the car and drove the 6 hours each way to watch her graduate. We went to her apartment that evening for a little BBQ she was having for family and friends. It was a lot of fun, and I am very, very proud of her.

Good job Crystal!

Stars over SLO

2010-06-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Stars over SLO, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Our first mini vacation of the summer! A former student was graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and she wanted me to come see, so we did. On Friday night we went out to eat in downtown SLO. It is a great town-if you are in to college towns, which I am.

This was the view from the top floor of the parking deck. I liked the way the star was lined up right over the mountain. I had no idea, untill I got back to the room and uploaded the image to my computer, that there ware actually three stars! This is why, next time my wife asks, I always keep a tripod in the car trunk!

misson gate

2010-06-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

misson gate, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Something about this image that I really like. The old adobe building techniques, the cactus outside the gate, and the old trees inside. And the colors. This really works for me.

Sidewalk closed ahead

2010-06-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

Sidewalk closed ahead, originally uploaded by mhall209.

A little shack along a road I found a while back. You can guess why the sidewalk is closed. My surprise was that there were actually sidewalks where this barn is.

lake flowers

2010-06-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

lake flowers, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Finally got the film back on this one. From a nice Sunday afternoon walk around a nearby lake. The wild flowers were out, and I thought I would try my hand at some wild flower photography with a twin lens reflex film camera. Turned out worth waiting for.

Steven's home

2010-06-05T20:16:00.001-07:00

steven, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is Steven, my youngest son. He is home from college. He goes to San Francisco State, where he is an art major. When he is home he has a habit of taking over the garage with two of his projects; restoring that VW bug, and his pottery. I don't know how to explain what he is building there, but I do think it will be awesome!

The backyard

2010-06-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

creek, originally uploaded by mhall209.

The backyard looks pretty good this time of year. Actually, this is behind the backyard, but it is still behind the house. Our property line goes down the middle of the creek. I have always wondered how you measure the middle of the creek when the creek is always moving. Hmmm.

This year I am able to spend more time down in the creek. I am doing a little gold panning, and a little clearing. I am hoping to clear a path along the creek so we can walk along it. Right now most of the area is unusable. Blackberry vines, downed tree limbs and what not make it difficult to walk along the creek without walking down the middle of the creek. But that's pretty fun to.

field work

2010-06-03T14:58:00.001-07:00

field work, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Our school has a lot of students who are children of farm workers. When you ask what their parents do for a living these students will usually be evasive. "Work" and "Stuff" are the usual answers. They really need to trust you before they will say "My dad works in the fields." I have never heard a kid say "My parents are farm workers."

Around this time of year they sometimes let it slip, especially the boys. The boys will be excited when their parents "let" them miss school to work in the cherry packing sheds. I understand that by farm worker standards the jobs in the cherry sheds are the top notch jobs. They pay very well, comparatively speaking, and you get to be in the shade all day. So I understand why the parents and kids want to miss school for this. It is not legal, and I don't agree with it, but I understand the situation.

This picture was taken a couple miles from our school. The school is at the edge of the city, the farms start literally down the street from school. The people in this shot could very well be parents of my students. Heck for that matter, they could be my students. This is another image I want to use in class this year. I am hoping the students can relate to the image. The topic? Composition, and leading lines. What do you think?

art

2010-06-02T18:13:00.001-07:00

art, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I have been keeping my eye out for shots around school. I want to collect images from around where my student's live. This was a grocery store a mile or so away from school. A couple months ago it caught on fire in the middle of the night and has remained empty since. The pay phone was the first thing that caught my eye. I don't know how long it has been since I have seen one that actually had a phone it. The second thing that caught my eye is the lack of graffiti. That is very odd for this part of town!

When I took the shot I had it framed with the word Mart at the top, but it turns out much better with the word "Art."

car fire

2010-06-01T16:22:00.001-07:00

car fire, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I had to drop my son off at the airport this morning at an ungodly hour. On my way back I saw some smoke, and having some time to kill I wound my way around an unfamiliar neighborhood, and arrived at this seen, except no one was there. No one. It was a car that was fully involved- nothing I could do but call 911, which I did. The Sacramento City Fire Engine 6 was there pretty quickly, and so I grabbed my camera and started shooting. It was pretty cool. Stuff was blowing up and I was getting some good shots!

I need more of these shots for my classroom this summer. I have been shooting a lot of rural scenes, but I need to be shooting exemplars for my students' work. I need shots that are relevant to them. Like this. I think I will use this shot in the photography lesson about filling the frame.

Pretzel got a haircut

2010-05-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

Pretzel got a haircut, originally uploaded by mhall209.

With the warming weather the goats needed a haircut. Fortunately I have a son who came home from college, took out the goat shears, and got to work. All I had to do is come home and bam, done. So the goats have fresh haircuts and fresh pasture. At this time of year they have free range along the Jesus Maria creek. Lots of fresh running water and tons of fresh green stuff to eat. The goats are living large!

grey tractor

2010-05-29T19:39:00.001-07:00

grey tractor, originally uploaded by mhall209.

It seems like it has been raining forever. A few days of rain, a few days of sun and repeat. I have been loving it. But the dry season is coming. Slowly the grasses are turning from green to brown. It starts in the lower elevations and slowly moves up the hills. This tractor is at about 1200 feet elevation. In another couple weeks the green will be brown. A couple weeks after that our house will be surrounded by brown. And then we start worrying about fire, and hoping for rain.

Bill

2010-05-28T18:03:00.001-07:00

Bill, originally uploaded by mhall209.

On the main road into town there is a house with a bunch of old equipment out in the front. I saw someone in the yard so I stopped by to ask if it would be ok to take some pictures. That is where I met Bill. Bill seemed to think it odd that I would want pictures just to put on the Internet, but said sure, and proceeded to give me a tour. This piece seemed to have a special place for him, it is a giant fork lift. He told me it will lift 15 tons, and I believe him. It took a little bit to get it started, but he did. Clearly he was proud of it.

Then he brought me to his saw mill. It was the third one he built he said. He wasn't sure how long ago it was, but he remembered his kids "swamping for me as little bitty guys. And they are well into their 50's now."

After the saw mill and a few other choice pieces of old stuff, he asked "want to see my garden?" Silly question. His garden is clearly vi sable from the road, and it is awesome. It is all raised beds, about 4 feet off the ground, each about 3 feet wide and 15 or 20 feet long. They are built out of metal heat shields from an old saw mill that he welded together. All on a concrete floor he put in because his wife said he couldn't.

After the tour he told me where I could find other pieces of equipment he has stashed around. Go over this or that bridge, over the hill, up the dirt road, don't worry there is a place to turn around eventually. You get the idea.

And then he invited me back. I am going to take him up on that.

Foundry WIndow

2010-05-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

Foundry WIndow, originally uploaded by mhall209.

We took another trip over to Sutter Creek. It is not that big of a trip, we can easily drive over for lunch or dinner. But this time the light was a little better than past times. I used a borrowed old school film camera for this shot and just got the film back from the lab.

Using film is a challenge. First, you need to slow down and think about what you are doing. You don't get do-overs like you do with a digital camera, and each click of the shutter costs money. I don't get prints, just a CD, so it only costs about a dollar a click, but that adds up fast!

I started carrying both a film and digital camera and shooting both to see the difference, and on these rural scenes the film camera is way beyond what I can do with a digital camera. I just can't reproduce the color with a digital camera. I have heard people say that in the past, and I just scoffed, but now that I am actually trying it, the film rocks.

There are a couple problems though. I cannot replace the lens on the camera I am using. The only zoom abilities I have are my right and left feet. If I can not move closer I can not get closer. With the fences around, that's an issue.

The other issue I am up against is the ISO of the film. ISO is a sensitivity rating. For the last several months I have been using an ISO 400 film, which is great for low light, like cloudy winter days. With summer coming up I need a faster film, one with a lower ISO, like say 200. But when is is cloudy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon, you can't just replace the film. Well, you can, but that wastes the rest of the roll!

Well all that to say I really like this image. The light, color, and composition are what I was looking for.

Chapas Concessions

2010-05-26T10:57:00.001-07:00

Chapas, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Behind the school I work at are the county fairgrounds. In the back of that is a storage area where you can find those trailers that are set up at fairs across the state selling hot dogs, cotton candy, and who knows what all. This truck is parked back in a corner of that area. It is about 4 blocks from school, and so far not one student has recognized the truck. I guess you just don't notice things when they have always been there.

In the fall I will be teaching a digital graphics course that will focus on the use of digital cameras. It is not really a photography course, but sort of a desktop publishing class that uses original images. Between now and then I need to gather example images for the course, and I want to emphasize the school neighborhood, and see if I can get the kids to see "the hood" differently.

So the images in this blog will probably start to change in the near future. Less country, more inner city. We'll see if you notice.

Enjoy a Coke

2010-05-25T13:37:00.001-07:00

coke, originally uploaded by mhall209.

When we were teenagers my brother collected Coke advertising. He had quite the collection and people came from miles around to buy, sell and trade items. So when I was driving down the road and saw this, I thought of my brother. This is something he would have wanted back then.

Altaville School house

2010-05-24T16:23:00.001-07:00

Altaville Schoolhouse, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is a well maintained one room school house in town near where I live. Its one of those treasures that everyone knows about but no one pays it any attention. While I drive by all the time, I think I have stopped by here a total of three times ever. Once before we lived here and we were considered flatlander tourists. Once because there is a geocache (just to the right of the image). And once to take this picture.

I really like the colors with this film under these light conditions. They really pop.

Media van

2010-05-23T13:10:00.001-07:00

Media van, originally uploaded by mhall209.

My wife likes to wander the streets of San Andreas. This scene is next door to a house she particularly likes. We have to drive by every now and then to "see if it is for sale yet." I don't know what is supposed to happen if it IS for sale, but I do as I am asked and drive by. A actually hope it is not for sale, because then she would be depressed that someone else is getting her dream house. That wouldn't be fun. The house she likes is pretty cool. It is on a large lot, maybe a 1/2 acre, and built in the early 1900's I would guess. Not too big, its just right for a couple.

But I didn't take a picture of that house, I took a picture of this barn and van. I have no idea what thie story is behind the van. I remember seeing vans like this when I was growing up. They would be at things like the town Christmas parade or high school football games. People would stand on top with video cameras and film the event. I suppose this could have been one of those vans. I just love that the structure above the van is rust free. And dont miss the little stuffed bear on the dash board!

Fresh Lunch

2010-05-22T18:00:00.001-07:00

Fresh Lunch, originally uploaded by mhall209.

What do you do when you are driving down the road and come across a flock of vultures in the middle of the road eating a snake? Well if you are me you take out your camera and take pictures! There were a bunch of these birds, and they are huge! They were in no hurry to get out of the road. There are only three in the picture, but there were 5 or 6 of them to the right of this shot.
We see these birds a lot around here. It amazes me how quickly the carcass they are working on disappears. Weather it is a dear or a snake they take it down to nothing fast. Between them and the meat bees. Its the circle of life!

Locked Gate

2010-05-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Locked Gate, originally uploaded by mhall209.

There are a lot of locked gates around. It is really a good idea to respect a locked gate around here. Usually it is locked for a reason, and that reason is to keep you out. In my photography I come across lots of spots where I would really like to cross a fence, go through a gate, ignore a no trespassing sign. It would make a much better shot at times.

But back in my fire fighting days we didn't pay much attention to locks. We had a "big red key" (bolt cutters) that worked fine on locks like this one. But we always had law enforcement either with us or right behind us when we used them. We came across meth labs, marijuana grows, hazardous materials dumps, and explosives. Just a whole mixed bag of bad things! And that doesn't count the people and their weapons. I remember one place that had a shotgun leaning against every window in the house. You never know.

So if you ever find yourself in a rural area, respect the lock!

Jesus Maria Barn

2010-05-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

Jesus Maria Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

So my wife and I have had an interesting discussion; is this structure an old house or an old barn. The windows make one think it would be a house. I don't recall seeing barns with that style window on either side of the door. On the other hand, the door looks more barn like. The more I think about it the more I am leaning towards this being an old house. Hopefully someone will see the picture and clue me in.

The building is in an area that is, for lack of a better term, a ghost town. There are a number of old buildings like this one. There is an old cemetery up the road a little bit. I have heard there was a lot of gold pulled out of the creek here, which is about 30 yards behind where the camera was for this shot. Anyway, I would love to know more about this area.

Grass

2010-05-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

Grass, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This grass caught my eye. I am a big guy, about 6'2". I usually look at grass from above, But this grass was at eye level. I was standing straight up, looking straight across at these grass seed heads. I was looking for an airy shoot, and I wanted to blur our the background. I wanted a little more green in the background, but that didn't happen. I would like to figure out why the background is so dark, but I am happy with the shot anyway.

Garamendi McSorley Home

2010-05-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

Garamendi McSorley Home, originally uploaded by mhall209.

The Garamendi McSorley ranch lies on Highway 49 between San Andreas and Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County. I think it is the family ranch of U.S. Rep. John Garamendi. (Former California Lt. Governor), though I am not positive. You can see a sign from the highway marking the ranch, and there is an interesting looking old barn visible from the road. That is what I intended to shoot. (Uh oh, I used the name of a U.S. Congressman and the word shoot in the same paragraph! I hope the Internet police don't hunt me down!) But when I walked up the driveway to the gate I saw this uber cool old house. Much more interesting than the old barn.

The rust on the roof, and the glass windows are awesome. But what really knocks me out is the mail box in front! I really like this one.

And I really, really, really meant shoot as in shoot a picture! Really!

Boer Goat

2010-05-17T14:17:00.001-07:00

Boer Goat, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I have posted a number of images of our goats. The ones we now have are angora goats, which in the real world are raised for their hair, known as mohair. We raise them for their weed eating ability. Unfortunately our flock has dwindled to just two animals, and they are not able to keep up with their weed consuming responsibilities. We need more goats!

This goat is a Boer goat. These animals are raised for their meat. They are becoming more and more popular in our area. I think the next addition to our flock will be a couple of these animals. They eat lots and do not need regular haircuts. And you have to admit, they are kind of cute, too! And don't worry, we are not going to eat them. Probably.

Another Old Barn

2010-05-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Another Old Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Now that I am looking, there are a lot of old barns in the areas I am. Sometimes they are right out in the open, and other times I have to walk over a berm or look between the trees. This one I had to go over the berm, through the weeds, and then look through the trees!

A girl and her frog

2010-05-15T19:18:00.001-07:00

A girl and her frog, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Today my wife and I went to the Calaveras County Fair, AKA the Frog Jump. Our county fair is a take off from Mark Twain's story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" which was written in the gold rush days when Mark Twain lived in the area. For the last 68 years on the third weekend in May people come from miles around to competitively jump their frogs. The fair has all the other things a typical American county fair has; rides, animals, and exhibits. But here the focus is the frogs.

You can bring your own frog or rent one. This little girl rented one. The way it works is you set the frog on the little pad, in the picture it is a small circle of carpet. Then you do whatever you can to coax the frog to jump! The distance is measured from the starting point to the tail of the frog when it lands from its third hop.

This was the first time I actually sat and watched the frog jump part of frog jump! I just wnated to get a couple good shots. Mission accomplished.

Old Truck

2010-05-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

Old Truck, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I had an errand after school that took me down a road I had never been on before. I thought what the heck, lets just take this east and see where it goes. I hadn't gone too far when I found this truck. I don't recall ever seeing a truck like this before. I am not too sure which is more unusuall, the truck or the house behind it! A rather different looking house. The people who live there were in the driveway (the truck is in the yard) so I asked if I could take a picture or two. They were very nice and I got my shot.

Barn and Roses

2010-05-13T10:28:00.001-07:00

Barn and Roses, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Take a left, take a right. I need to vary the old commute a little more often. When I do I find cool stuff. Like this old barn with roses. That green tree at the edge of the barn is an old cherry tree, and the cherries are almost ripe. I bet they are extra good! I will never know as I am not going to climb the fence!

I predict a detour in my future!

Spring Fruit

2010-05-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Spring Fruit, originally uploaded by mhall209.

The ride home today was particularly difficult today. My wife and I did not carpool, so I had the car to myself. Sort of. I had these in the passenger seat. First fruits of the season! The road side stands are open! Do you know what it is like driving 60 miles with these just inches away. The smell! I so wanted to eat everyone of them. But I resisted and only ate a few.

Let the fruit season begin! Woo Hoo!

Tabeau Road

2010-05-11T14:31:00.001-07:00

Tabeau Road, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is the first barn I have seen with a painted orange room. Very unique. The weathered wood, the fresh green grass and trees really set off the very different roof. This is one of my favorite barns, also a new find!

Empty Barrel

2010-05-10T12:55:00.001-07:00

Barrel, originally uploaded by mhall209.

In rural agricultural areas you come across strange things sometimes. This old barrel along a fenceline caught my eye. Seemes kind of fitting today. Att he end of the school year the students are all fresh and new, just bursting with life, and I feel like an old empty rusting barrel. Some days.

Mothers Day at Lake Tabaeu

2010-05-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Lake Tabaeu Panorama, originally uploaded by mhall209.

After a great brunch at the Pickle Patch, my wife and I went for a walk around Lake Tabaeu in Amador County. The weather was iffy; maybe it was going to rain, maybe it wouldnt. This was the view from one section of the walk. In the end, we did get a few raindrops, but just a few.

Clinton Road Barn

2010-05-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Clinton Road Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I found another old barn that just needed its picture taken. I don't know what it is about barns lately, but I notice them alot. This one was a little odd, usually the roofs are orange with rust, but this one has rust covered wood. And I have no idea what those little cream colored rectangles all over it are. But I do not better than to cross the fence line to find out!

green duck

2010-05-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

green duck, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Today was Cinco de Mayo. Woo Hoo. I did nothing to celebrate. Nothing. But I did come home and say hello to our ducks. This guy is actually sitting in a little drainage ditch, so he just barely rises above the grass.

Gianini barn 2

2010-05-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Gianini barn 2, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is one of my favorite barns, and it seems I can't really go anywhere without passing it. I like this view, a little different than the one a few days ago. I have one more view in mind of this barn, but parking and getting to that view is a little tricky. We shall see.......

green barn

2010-05-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

green barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Another barn/shack I pass almost every day. It was another rainy day, and I got a break in the clouds long enough to pull off the highway and poke around a little. While I pass by here often I had never noticed all the stuff outside the barn. I would love to come poke around a little closer, but I am not fond of climbing through barbed wire. People tend to get a little crabby about that, and I'd just rather not.

Gianini Barn

2010-05-02T09:28:00.001-07:00

Gianini Barn, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is an old family farm barn. It has been here for a really long time, and it is still used as a barn for a family cattle operation. I pass this almost every day, but have never stopped in part because there are very few places to safely pull over. But this morning, very early, I went out in search of barns to shoot.

This was a more difficult shot to get than I had planned. The sun had not yet come over the hills to the left, so it was a little dark. Perhaps I should have used a faster ISO, but on my LCD it all looked good. I did think to use a range of exposures; over exposing, underexposing, changing the aperature, and so on. In the end there was no really good shot straight off the camera, which was my goal. I had to bring it into Gimp and make some adjustments. Oh well. such is life.