Say hi to Tony if you’re getting service at Lakeside Car Company.

This is my oldest son. Thanks for all of your help recently.

I can’t pronounce it let alone spell it without some help.

Winter weather is coming in Michigan.

It might get cold outside but a stainless steel saguaro cactus should hold up to some nasty weather.

How are you doing? Easy to say and not sincerely mean it. What if this person is dying and knows it and really wants to talk to someone? Are you ready to open your heart and listen to them? Some people think we get one shot at life, some might believe you get another chance.

I’ve been aware of the brevity of life for a long time.

How are you?

Originally uploaded by photoshoparama – Dan

Sometimes I just have to get these things out of my head.

This photo illustration came from a previous location I was residing at. I was visualizing a hostage situation so I added the rope to the image but then it started looking like I was going to hang myself. That’s out of the question. I’m glad to be here but know I could go at any time.

Enjoy life. I am.

-Dan

So I just got untied and have had a chance to do something with it.

What do you think?

Via Flickr:
We have ways to make you talk.

Have you considered that all of these trees around us are our neighbors and they’re keeping our air clean?

Can you identify ten different trees in your area? Five? Two? A maple leaf is pretty easy. What about the three lobed leaves that are similar to a maple?

Pine trees (evergreens) were most likely used in the framing that is holding the roof and possibly the floor together wherever you are sitting right now unless you are in a cave, school, or a high rise building.

I’m not suggesting that we all start hugging trees but we could try to be as aware of our environment as we are of football, movies, or video games.

This was a six second exposure in full moonlight but the moonlight did not show on the top of the frame as I was hoping. I took only one shot while I was holding an LED flashlight in one hand and a spray nozzle set on ‘shower’ so this was only illuminated with a small flashlight seen swirling around as I was weaving in between these three evergreens.

I wonder how this would have turned out if I didn’t use a flashlight? Black? Probably so. Must mean that you need light to take a photograph.

It’s been a very long time since I did tree identification (7th or 8th grade) and it was about this time of year when I got that assignment. I remember that I had to do it pretty fast since it was September and the leaves were changing and falling off of the deciduous trees and I had to collect at least 20 good leaf specimens for a good grade. I’m a little rusty on this since it was ages ago. Time to set aside some study time and refresh my memory on tree identification.

Keep learning.

Since the 1940′s or earlier, someone’s been seeding clouds with various chemicals and particles. What are they doing TODAY over our land called America?

You ARE aware that what bugs me is some group is spending a lot of money on this and where is the money trail leading? There is so much need in the world and someone is playing god with the weather and trying to control or modify it.

Originally uploaded by photoshoparama – Dan

This past weekend can be pretty much summed up by this photo of a field of sunflowers blowing in the wind. Fast, colorful, and fun with some adventure ahead.

I toured the central and eastern peninsulas of the Traverse City area, visited a few of their wineries, and ended up cruising with friends for a while on Torch Lake. These sunflowers were near Elk Rapids, Michigan.

Personally, I think I ate too many times but the meals were excellent.

Thank you to Dale DeVries for being a great host, tour guide, and actually a pretty good captain of the yet to be named boat we were safely cruising in.

A great weekend with friends is now in the record books.

Via Flickr:
A very windy afternoon blew us by this sunflower field in Northern Michigan near Elk Rapids, Michigan.

Reorganization

Originally uploaded by photoshoparama – Dan

Hey Crew, I’ve called this meeting to discuss the current state of affairs in the company. To be brief. We’re moving up.   :c )

I’ll need your cooperation to make this work.

I’ve been very busy in the workings of this and other stresses and it appears I’ve lost some weight. I’ve been wanting to get into smaller sized clothes…

The green walls that I dared not paint. Are going bye bye. The 7′ 3″ inch ceiling is staying here. New heights are available. New viewpoints and lighting opportunities. Happening this week.

-Dan

I just liked the glow of this aerobic ball as I was wandering around in the dark at my place.

Some of us tend to get excited about how things are lit and just have to change course, set up the tripod, and take that photo. I don’t know if we’ll outgrow it or not.

Why did I title it this? Because that is what it is. A log in screen and aerobic ball.

Okay, back to wandering around in a dimly lit room…

A few days ago I went up to Manistee for a couple of nights.

I took these on the day that I headed out of town and away from the concrete for a while. I’ve been fortunate to have some family property available to visit and stay at since 1967. Only about two hours away from the grind. Plenty of Michigan sights in between home and there to pull the car over for a few minutes to memorialize with a camera.

So, what’s with the gerbil on the wheel? For me it is the money shot. After about 30 other exposures I got this. When I was done with this shoot, I packed and left the concrete jungle for a few days.

It was good and refreshing.

Yes, the problems in my life are still here but I am refreshed and ready to take the problems on.

I’ll try to trickle out a few photos that I took along the way in the next few days.