Four Sunflowers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.