Saké
This might be one of the last pictures taken on my Nikon.
Had I planned ahead I’d have taken a picture of me taking the baby pictures, I didn’t so I thought of I’d take a picture of Ginger and I enjoying the warmer weather and some end of the evening Saké, that Ginger’s parents left with us when they popped in earlier in the day.
This isn’t bad for a three second exposure.
Today’s extra
A sneak preview - one of today's shots of Natalie Anne in the 124 year old family Christening gown
09 May 2011 | 365:129 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Lighting test
One word adequately summarises my day – Meh.
After church I went home and worked for a while; some web development for a customer, and I gave myself an update of the UK’s VAT rules which have changed significantly, with knock-on effects to online purchase processing. It looks like I’ll have to brush up on my php scripting too.
Tomorrow I have a family photoshoot to do, so I set up the lighting & backdrop rig in advance and ran a few test shots – today’s picture numbers among those. We tried to get a picture of the shorn Blue Kitty, but unlike Getzger who was very obliging and sat fairly still, Madame kept running around. I managed to salvage one very poor picture.
Today’s extras
Lanie waiting to collect her silver cross at church. I needed that 70mm - 200mm F2.8 lens for these pictures. Shame I didn't have it.
Lanie collects her silver cross at church
The husk of Blue Kitty. One of the wags around here neatly arranged Blue Kitty's excess fur into a cat skin rug.
Terrible picture, but the only one that was usable. I did point out that a lion's mane extends back to the animal's shoulders, but my input was vetoed.
Mr. Getzger Cat. Note the bug in the background. It was used to entice Mr. Cat into shooting range.
08 May 2011 | 365:128 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
EFM Retreat
This week’s EFM class was held on a Saturday,
During our mid-morning break I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye and heard a small knock on the front door. On investigating further I discovered a small bird had flown into the door and was laying stunned on the mat. Checking the bird books at home, we found it was a migrant – a Male Wilson’s Warbler. After about twenty minutes it recovered and flew off.Before we finished for the day I explained about my 365 Days project and asked if anyone was willing to be in my daily picture. Everyone was, and this is the result. Thanks Guys!
To get the best out of this picture I would have needed to use a diffuse fill-in flash. I didn’t have the flash gun and diffuser with me (the weight of EFM books was quite enough), so I had to settle for an over exposed background. Had I been thinking I’d have taken a separate background shot with no one in it and merged the two – there’s hindsight for you.
***
While I was out being educated Lanie spent the day working the parking lot at Arts Fest with the Youth Group and Katie went with Ginger and they enjoyed some time out in the Kayaks on Lake Springfield. However, the home highlight of the day had to be Ginger, Katie and Lanie shaving Blue Kitty to give her a lion cut. When Blue Kitty eventually comes out of hiding I might try and get a picture.
Today’s extra
Male Wilson's Warbler
07 May 2011 | 365:127 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Studying with cats
This week I did my studying on a Friday.
Earlier in the week while working out ideas for my next backpacking wood stove I thought up a couple of ideas that might improve the current one. When I’d finished preparing for class, I went out and made a couple of modifications and set the stove aside for testing. After dinner we tried it out with great success, bringing a pot containing just under a litre of water to a rolling boil in around fifteen minutes. Result.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
First two cats turned up...
With a couple of modifications the stove now works well.
06 May 2011 | 365:126 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
At the High School Orchestra concert
I give up, I forget what I did today.
School run; check. Go to Katie’s concert; check. And very good it was too. I’ve not been to any this year as the concerts always take place on a Thursday when I’m at class. That’s all. Oh and never try to take pictures with Ginger while children are around. That explains my expression in this picture.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
I was trying to get a picture with Ginger, but somehow the irrepressable Lanie managed to get herself into the shot.
High School Orchestra concert
A rather blurry Katie leaves the stage during Hadyn's Farewell
05 May 2011 | 365:125 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Crossing Camp Creek
Today we hiked the white and orange trails at Busiek,
If was a bit cold at first, but the weather was glorious and now everything is starting to go green the colours were wonderful. The trail was very muddy in places, and I had great fun slopping through all the mud in my bare feet while Ginger struggled to keep her shoes dry. I took today’s picture while I was standing in Camp creek washing some of the mud off. We did the six odd miles of the two trails in plenty of time to pick up the big kids from school.
We had an early start at Church this evening. Ginger because she and Lanie are singing with some other mothers and daughters on Mother’s day, and myself for a meeting. Alek helped out in the kitchen. While the kids had youth group the parents spent their time chatting.
We finished the day with Gin and Tonics and the last of the Star Was prequels – Revenge of the Sith. Thank goodness, now we can watch the good movies in the series.
Today’s extras
The shooting range bridge at Busiek was washed out
The damaged shooting range bridge at Busiek
Caution - there's no bridge!
Spring on the White trail at Busiek State Park and Wildlife Area
Ginger on the White trail at Busiek state Park and Wildlife Area
Ephemeral Creek at Busiek
Ephemeral Creek at Busiek
04 May 2011 | 365:124 | 365 Days blog | Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area| Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Making huaraches
I meant to make a to-do list today.
So I ended up doing all sorts of things that didn’t really need doing, and missing out on things I should be doing. Oh well.
I’ve been promising to make Ginger, Katie and Lanie some huaraches for a while. This afternoon, I gathered the stuff up and made them each a test pair to make sure the fit of the final shoes will be correct. In today’s picture I’m cutting out one of the soles on my scroll saw. Using the scroll saw is probably a bit of over engineering, but it’s the most suitable cutting tool I have.
While I was making huaraches Ginger took Katie for her driving exam, which she passed. So after dinner I took Katie down to the Mall parking lot where she drove around for half an hour before it got dark. We’ll be spending a couple more hours in the parking lot before I let her venture out on the road.
Ginger and I finished the day watching the movie Beyond the sea which we enjoyed even if it was a flop with the critics.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Making huaraches (1) - Marking out the soles
Making huaraches (2) - Marked out soles
Making huaraches (4) - Finishing the soles
Making huaraches (5) - Making holes for the laces
03 May 2011 | 365:123 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Drawing
Tonight I was working on the design of my next backpacking wood burner.
After a bit of surfing I thought it’d be nice to draw up my new design for a backpacking wood burner in Google SketchUp. Unfortunately the free version doesn’t allow you to intersect a curved surface with a hole (I’m not sure if the paid version does either). As the burner design is a set of cylinders riddled with holes this idea was going to be a bit of a non-starter. So I decided to hand draw a rough sketch to help me with the construction and think out the design. Today’s picture shows me completing my drawing.
It’s been a long time since I last drew something, I wrote a little bit about it back in February, when I pondered how much better my drawing might be if I’d just done a little every week. This morning I noticed Ginger’s portable painting easel and paint box by the bed, and that image must have stuck with me throughout the day. I draw technically, and it is a learned process; very much a process. Drawing is not something I can naturally do, the images don’t just flow from my fingers. I have great respect, jealousy even for those lucky people who do have this innate ability.
My Photography is the same. Technical, not emotional, produced by following a set of processes. Again I greatly admire people who can get emotion into their pictures. I’ve tried but I just don’t ‘get it’. I guess I have to accept my limitations, and make the best of what I can do. Anyhow, I think I’ll try and include a little drawing in my weekly activities, and see how it turns out.
Today’s alternate shot
Hamming it up for the camera
Silliness on the Sac River Trail
The real picture’s in the background.
Ginger, Katie and I put in a four mile hike on the Sac River trail today. I was expecting the trail to be very muddy but it turned out to be surprisingly dry. During a brief stop I thought I’d grab a quick safety shot. I had an idea in mind. So it seems did Ginger and Katie. I could have gone with the more serious shot, but this one’s more fun. Ginger said she looks stupid – well that’s what you get for messing with my self portraits. Katie’s comment was along the lines of “D’oh, you can’t see me licking mom’s hair – it was kewl.” Oh well, I’d wanted them out of focus in the background, little knowing the stunt they were going to pull once my back was turned, so tough!
We decided to stop for lunch at the old barn, where Ginger and I ate lunch on our last visit on March 28, We were surprised to find the building had collapsed, leaving just a pile of rubble where we had been sitting. The recent storms must have done for it, though checking the timbers there was a lot of termite damage which I’m sure escalated its demise.
After the hike we returned to Springfield via Braum’s where we each had a double dip cone. The calories in the ice cream cones probably exceeded the number of calories we consumed on the hike, but they were very yummy.
This afternoon I tried out my latest Backpacking wood burning stove again, unfortunately with no more luck. It burns well once lit, wood gas is being generated and it burns well too, but the stove is not producing enough heat to boil a litre of water in a reasonable time, or without adding more fuel. I sat and thought about it for a while; I’ve now got another design in mind, which is not based on any of the designs I’ve seen, but uses what I’ve learned about gassification and wood gas burners in general. Hopefully a I have a more efficient, easier to manage and more consistent configuration. Whatever happens I know I’ll have great fun designing, building and trying it out.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
This would have been today's shot but I prefer the more irreverent picture.
A reward for the day's hiking
The old barn had collapsed since our last visit
Where has the barn gone?
30 April 2011 | 365:120 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger watch the running commentary on the Royal Wedding on Facebook
And it was absolutely hilarious.
We both had tears of laughter streaming down our faces at one point. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pro monarchy. I think the monarchy does a great job of marketing Great Britain plc, encourages tourism and there’s something to be said for maintaining tradition; no surprises I’m an Episcopalian then.What I do object to is the rabid hype, hysteria, tackiness and pure bad taste events such as royal weddings seem to encourage.
Several people I know here (Springfield, Missouri) got up at the crack of dawn to watch drool over the events back in Blighty. They seemed much more interested in the event than the few ex-pats I know around the world.
We spent some time exchanging irreverent and ribald facebook comments on the wedding. Comments of note included: “Why is no one in work today…” – my brother. “Today is a good day to travel” – a friend who is popping over to France, and pictures of another contact in her own wedding dress waving a couple of union jacks semaphore style while her bemused hubby ignores her and reads the newspaper. Should any of them stumble upon this rambling; you all know who you are. One of my sons claimed he was playing Mario on the SNES and posted “If he wasn’t getting married today, this is definitely what William would’ve been doing.” the other has just posted “I think that Sky Sports played a blinder today… Premier League Years versus the Royal Wedding. Only ever going to be one winner.” and then there was a whole string of comments about the frock which were so funny and inappropriate I won’t repeat any of them here or they won’t let me back in the UK ever again.
It was about then that my bright idea for today’s picture came to me. So today you see Ginger and I sitting in bed with our respective laptops, laughing ourselves silly.
Today’s alternate shot
Royal wedding watching on Facebook. It must have been the mention of a gratuitous nipple that did it
29 April 2011 | 365:119 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger in ‘Urban Market’
Slight change of plan today.
To prevent rampant purchasing we maintain ‘to buy’ lists, the idea being that stuff not on the list doesn’t get bought, scotching most impulse purchases. On the whole it works, though I spent $4 on $30 worth of audio cables that wasn’t on the list. I don’t think we got anything that was on the list, which was annoying as I wanted to find a small aluminium pan to go on my wood burning backpacking stove.
We dropped off our goodies at home and decided to go out again and check out a couple of flea markets. I was waiting to find out if I was cooking dinner for class tonight, so we had time to spare. We went round three flea markets and today’s picture was taken in the third – Urban Market. Ginger has this habit of standing behind me when I take a picture of both of us – she says it’s so that she doesn’t look bigger then me, but the normal result is that I’m in focus and she isn’t. Anyway I’m taller by half an inch, I just choose to wear very flat shoes, so there.
I found an aluminium pitcher just the right size for the wood burner at the rather worryingly named STD. Now I’ll need to fire up the stove again and test it.
I made cottage pie for eight in the afternoon which seemed to be well received at class (no green beans or mushroom soup in my recipe). Mary’s cheesecake was much better than the cottage pie though – yum! Hopefully I haven’t poisoned anyone.
Today’s extras
Useless Hammer. At least they are honest - though I doubt they'll ever get their 88 cents for it.
All things sixties and seventies - One of the booths at Urban Market, downtown Springfield.
28 April 2011 | 365:118 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Compressor coupling
Tyres do not stay inflated around here.
So here I am trying to work out how to take the coupling off. If I had my eyes tested and got new glasses I probably wouldn’t need the magnifying glass, but I have better things to spend my pennies on like food, shelter, drink, gas (Mon Dieu the price of gas), hiking and backpacking gear etc. etc.
The rest of the day was spent studying. I’d two lessons to get through this week so it was quite a slog, though thankfully the lesson topics were much more interesting than some we’ve had over the past few weeks.
In September my Green Card expires. So we finished the day looking at pictures of us; mentally earmarking those we want to get printed to use as evidence to support my application for the removal of conditions and the issue of a new (ten year) Green Card. And to do that we have to prove that our wedding and relationship isn’t a sham organised just to get me into the country. It’s a shame the US Government doesn’t accept Flickr accounts as evidence. As it doesn’t we will have to call on friends to write affidavits for us, and there’s the possibility of an interview, plus they’ll be taking my biometrics again.
27 April 2011 | 365:117 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Bedtime
Memory. I wish I had one.
Of course the main reason for additional processing is my own lack of experience. It’s over twenty-five years since I worked weekends as a studio wedding photographer and I’m a bit rusty. I obviously need to try harder to get it right, in camera, first time. Working fast I deliberately decided to de-risk it and shot wide so I could crop later.
Of course I ignored any self portrait opportunities I may have had during the day, so once again we have a hurried just before bedtime capture.
26 April 2011 | 365:116 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Easter Eggs
Saturday and Sunday Lanie made coloured Easter Eggs.
It’s been raining almost non-stop for two days, we’ve had over five inches of rain and Ginger’s parents have had over ten inches. I was alerted to the backyard flooding by the sound of water pouring into the crawlspace under the house. By that time it was several inches deep, and while I did the school run Ginger sorted out the pump. On getting home I donned my waterproofs and cut a short channel down the side of the house by the back gate which let some of the water out, we’ll have to see how it goes.
I spent most of the day working at the computer; the church website is up to date, and I’ve cleared a couple of other items off of my to do list. None of which was worthy of a picture. I was tempted to get out my kayak and set it in the backyard for today’s picture. However, (1) it was quite dark outside (2) I’ve already broken a camera by getting water in it, and I didn’t fancy going through that again, and (3) that would not have been a documentary picture. So instead I set up a backcloth on my work bench, enlisted Lanie’s help to arrange her eggs and hold the diffuser while I took a picture of the ‘Camo egg’ she made for me.
I’m not too happy with the lighting on this shot, I’ll have to work out what’s wrong. I suspect I’ve used too much diffused light, even though I tried putting some direct light in from the left to bring up some shadows.
Today’s extras
Lanie's Easter Eggs
The backyard slips silently beneath the waves
25 April 2011 | 365:115 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Dirty Martini
Easter Sunday.
A sloppy picture deserves a faux Lomo effect.
24 April 2011 | 365:114 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
You’ll always find me in the kitchen at lock-ins
I managed around three hour’s sleep,
which I guess isn’t too bad. I was up at seven fifteen and helping out with breakfast. Before the end of the lock-in we held a short service in the church, and left for home at ten am. Instead of getting a nap, we went shopping, I spent some time at the computer and we had a visit from Dash and Leslie.
At seven pm Lanie and I were back at church for the Easter vigil. Either we didn’t do these back in my days as a choir boy, or the choir never attended, as this was my first. It was a wonderful but long service; we didn’t get home until after nine. At one point I was concerned that Lanie would burn the church down with her candle. That, fortunately turned out to not be the case.
Once the kids were all in their rooms for the night Ginger and I settled down to watch Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. We’re slowly going through all the Star Wars movies in episodic order.
Tomorrow we have another early start for Church and hopefully I’ll get a chance for a nap.
Today’s extras
Breakfast at the Youth Group lock-in April 2011
Breakfast at the Youth Group lock-in April 2011
Breakfast at the Youth Group lock-in April 2011
Breakfast at the Youth Group lock-in April 2011
How can Donya, our Youth Minister be so chripy on so little sleep? Donya with Dan.
Cindy and Edith serve the breakfast they and Donya prepared.
23 April 2011 | 365:113 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
2.25am Youth group lock-in
I was foolish enough to volunteer to chaperon at tonight’s Youth Group lock-in.
At seven pm Lanie and I went to church for the Youth Group lock-in which started with Friday night’s Good Friday service. The lock-in that followed was an enjoyable, tiring, late night. Some of us watched the movie – The Passion of the Christ, there was a less challenging movie available for the others and I honed my dish washing skills; not that they need any honing. By the time I took this photograph I was thinking that maybe we should have brought bed time forward by a couple of hours.
Note: A lot of people taking part in the 365 Days project make sure they take their pictures before twelve midnight each day. I’ve always considered that my day isn’t over until I’ve gone to bed for the night. I have no problem posting this photograph taken after midnight as my previous day’s picture.
22 April 2011 | 365:112 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Slideshow
Today I’ve been spring cleaning my PC.
Setting it up was a trial, the screen we have is rather high, so boxes and things were needed to get the projector high enough. The projector also has to be operated by hand because the little rubber belt inside that provides the motive power to remotely change the slides has perished.
We persevered and got it all sorted out. I had a great time going through pictures I’ve probably not looked at in at least ten years, and certainly not since I’ve moved to the US. It was good to be able to share some of the pictures with Ginger and give her a glimpse of my previous life. All in all it was a good night, and I can’t wait to look at the rest of them.
The slides are starting to fade so I need to scan them all, and quite soon. That is going to be a huge job.
Today’s alternate & extra shots
Discussing the slides
Slideshow
Curious clouds seen on this afternoon's school run
21 April 2011 | 365:111 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Late night self portrait at the kitchen table
Once again I had a plan. Once again, unfortunately it didn’t work out.
In the end I took this last minute self portrait sitting at the kitchen table before going to bed. Ginger sort of helped. I say sort of helped because her idea of helping was to keep putting Getzger on the kitchen table in front of me.
Today’s alternate shot
20 April 2011 | 365:110 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Lunch break and ‘phone call – day hike at Busiek
Ginger wanted to see the Dogwoods in bloom.
In the midst of setting the shot up I got a call from the UK, which amused us both, knowing that Stephen (the caller) had no idea that we were in the middle of a hike. Busiek is dissected by Highway 65 with cell ‘phone towers on top of the surrounding hills, so getting a signal here isn’t a problem.
After the hike we popped into a flea market in Ozark, hoping to find a suitable saucepan for the wood burner. Unfortunately we couldn’t find anything. Maybe another trip to Bass Pro, or a tour of the local flea markets is called for.
After picking up the kids from school I filled the van with gas – $62! this is getting silly.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
Lunch break - day hike at Busiek
Ultra-pod tripod in use with a Nikon D40X
Ginger and the Dogwoods
Assuming it survives, this tree has had a very lucky escape. It's obviously been struck a glancing blow by lightning.
19 April 2011 | 365:109 | 365 Days blog | Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary by the Little Sac River
Today I went on a short hike,
The day started badly with a flat-ish tyre, which delayed getting the kids to school, which meant I was delayed getting out of town to help Loyal check out the fence line on his father-in-law’s farm. There was no trail so we had to bushwhack our way through and negotiate some steep descents clambering over fallen trees along the way. When I got home I found my right leg was covered in blood from thorn scratches.
The north part of the farm ends in 90 foot bluffs down to the Little Sac River, we followed the fence line down a hollow to the river, and stopped to take pictures along the way, and I suffered equipment envy at Loyal’s Hassleblad, but at least I don’t have to wet process my pictures. I took today’s self portrait balancing on a downed tree.
We were accompanied by three dogs, two of which would have looked much more at home as pampered lap dogs, but they were very game and got very wet and muddy. One swam across the river which was running quite fast, and on swimming back got caught in a big pile of washed up trees and limbs. We can only guess that in rescuing the dog Loyal got into a nest of ticks. He told me later he found over sixty. I only found two – both were having quite a feast though, one on my ankle and one on my backside!
I was treated to lunch, and got back to Springfield just in time to pick up the kids from school.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
Gary by the Little Sac River
Little Sac River, near Willard, Missouri
Little Sac River, near Willard, Missouri
18 April 2011 | 365:108 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Beauty and the (out of focus) beast
I had a self portrait planned for today.
Not to worry though, the day wasn’t about my project, and I got some superb pictures though this is probably the only sneak preview I’ll show. With over 500 pictures it’s going to take a while to do the processing. The F2.8 70mm-200mm lens was an absolute godsend, and made all the difference on the shots of the ceremony.
Unbeknown to me the architect of the church sat in on the wedding – I even got a picture of him. I wish I’d known as I would have asked who designed the sanctuary lighting, and hopefully prevented the future use of sodium lights in up-lighters in an area where ambient light photography is required.
Lanie, Katie and Alek all did a super job, and Ginger was great, pointing out shots I might otherwise have missed, holding and directing the flash gun, positioning the reflector and passing equipment to me. It was a long and tiring day, and I promptly fell asleep once we got home. Not for too long though, as a barbecue and several Jack Daniels and Coke with the parents of the groom, Tom and Rebbie beckoned.
16 April 2011 | 365:106 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Batch-loaded, inverted down-draft gassifier wood stove
I spent some more time in the workshop today.
In the evening we went to the wedding rehearsal for Saturday’s wedding. I had to re-think my planned shots of the ceremony as Leslie (the bride), as is her right, has had the altar moved and a couple of huge candelabras brought in. She is also having all the groomsmen and bridesmaids arranged around her during the ceremony, which cut off all my pre-planned sight-lines. It didn’t take long to work out some new positions for the pictures, though the sodium lighting is still a problem, and will require that I convert most of the shots to black and white (I can’t use the flash during the ceremony). The (huge) 70mm-200mm F2.8 lens with stabiliser I’m picking up tomorrow is really going to make a difference over my F3.5-F5.6 kit lens which really can’t cope with these conditions. After the rehearsal we were treated to dinner (thanks Tom & Rebbie!).
We have a busy weekend ahead for all of us. Saturday at the wedding Lanie is a flower girl, Alek is looking after the parking lot and Katie is a ‘greeter’; I’m taking pictures and Ginger is acting as photographer’s assistant. Once the wedding is over we’ve a barbecue at Tom and Rebbie’s to look forward to. Sunday is Palm Sunday, and the new bishop is making his first visit to Christ Episcopal Church. Lanie and Alek are taking part in the reading, and I’m supporting a friend who is being confirmed, which means I’ll be attending two services. I suspect Sunday afternoon and a nap will be very welcome when it comes around.
15 April 2011 | 365:105 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Hair cut
It’s Thursday and this isn’t a picture of me studying.
14 April 2011 | 365:104 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
