2 ducks

2 ducks, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Oh my goodness it was cold this morning. I noticed a lot of ice when I went to let the animals out of the barn, so I got my camera which was in the trunk of the car. The lens quickly began to frost over, but not before I got this shot. The forming oce on the cens is what caused the light flair around the duck. Oh it was cold.

The Chicken Ladder

The Chicken Ladder, originally uploaded by mhall209.

An historical monument of sorts, "The Chicken Ladder" is a wooden sidewalk of sorts built "back in the day" by residents of this street. The street is so steep that it is very difficult to walk up, especially in the winter with the ground is covered in ice or wet leaves. Because I was just learning how to use the old school medium format film camera I used on this shot you can not really tell how steep the street really is. My wife and I walk alot. We have to stop to rest a couple of times on the way up this one block stretch!

Chevy Truck

Chevy Truck, originally uploaded by mhall209.

I am experimenting with an old medium format camera my brother loaned me. I went on a walk with my wife and came upon this old truck. My brother is an avid photographer who specializes on shooting old cars in their current residential settings, so this seemed the perfect shot using his camera! The jusy is out on the color that results from this film. I can't quite decide if I like it or not. But I will keep playing with it.....

Welcome Home

Welcome Home, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Another experiment with a medium format film camera. The house is an interesting old Calaveras County house. I cant really tell if it is occupied or not. It could be that some folks are living in it, or it could be that someone is fixing it up. Hopefully it is being fixed up, because behind all that junk is a really cool house!

VW Van

VW Van, originally uploaded by mhall209.

Who doesn't love an old VW van? Well, OK I MAY be showing my age here, but I really love these old things. I came on this one on a walk with my wife while experimenting with this old film medium format camera. In this case, I really really like the color the film produces. It sort of gives it an old school look. It was really difficult to get this shot. When you look in the viewfinder of these old school cameras everything is backwards. You have to turn left to go right because you are looking in a mirror. And up is down and down is up and nothing is as it seems it should be! AArrggghhhh! Oh, and don't forget- nothing is automatic- apreature, shutter speed, focus, ASA. Did you forget something. And NO ZOOM! You have to actually frame the shot in the viewfinder! I think if I keep using this camera I might just become a better photographer!

Mossy Budda

Mossy Budda, originally uploaded by mhall209.

This is taken in Harry's yard. I don't know if it is supposed to be budda or not, but it seemed like a good name. Harry is an older asian artist (anyone older than me is considered by me as older) who has become a sort of mentor for my son Steven. Harry is considered by many as the "Master Potter" of the area, and Steven loves potterey. In fact it turns out that Harry went to school with one of Steven's current professors. Small world.

I took this shot while at Harry's house of the opening of a kiln. The opening of a japanese wood fired kiln is an interesting event. The results are unpredictable and it is fun to see the anticipation on the artists faces as they first open the kiln and then layer by layer remove the work. Each piece removed carefully and lovingly, like it is a new born child. I have never seen anything like this process. And this budda sits on a little hill overlooking the whole process. Its just too cool.

mums

mums, originally uploaded by mhall209.

These dark, rainy winter days leave little opportunity for getting out with a camera. I guess that means for the next little while I will just be buying cut flowers and photographing them. Might even score me some extra points with the wife!