Right Place... Right Time...

I ran outside to grab my cameras to create an image to enter into a contest after I signed out at work.  This is what I saw.  I guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow for the camera shots, and maybe I was a little harsh with an earlier post.  The houses made for a unique skyline...

Skywatch Friday

Another thing I like from other blogs, and therefore going to follow suit, is from a Seattle Daily Photo.  "Skywatch Friday"

Today as I was going to my car, out the back off the loading dock, the trail of smoke caught my eye.  I looked on the news when I arrived home, but saw and heard nothing.  I hope no one was hurt....

Faces In Everyday Places...

Have you ever been walking by something and thought, "Hey, that kinda makes a face"?  Happens to me all the time.  And apparently to a lot of people.  Just check out this Flickr Group.  I call this one a "The Ninja Envelope".

Mobile Phone Wednesday #1

There's a couple daily photo blogs I follow and many of them have iPhone Wednesdays.  I don't have an iPhone (or want one), but I like the idea.  One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite photographers: "The best camera is the one that's with you." ~ Chase Jarvis

Mistakes Can Be Blessings...

My original intent this evening was to take a "self portrait" while i was driving.  I've seen it done where the person came out crystal clear with the lights streaking across the window.  I set up my camera on my dash with my remote, stopped down the aperture so I could get a slow shutter (and so I could have a larger depth of field), and went for a drive.  As I was turning the camera around to take a look at what I just captured, I accidentally hit the shutter button and took another picture.  I left it there, just for kicks and giggles, and above is what came out.  This ended up being the best image of the night.  While the streets in downtown Temple City are well lit, they aren't the smoothest.  Maybe I'll try the freeway....

They Took It From Me...

About two years ago someone bought the lot next to where I work, took out the radio towers, and starting building a gated community.  When this first started, I had mixed feelings.  The lot wasn't very taken care of.  Because it was below street level, people would throw their trash down there, the only plants growing were weeds, and some kids built dirt ramps in one of the lower corners.  I also enjoyed watching the huge earth-moving trucks as they leveled out the lot to start building.  But at the same time, I loved sitting in my car at lunch and watching the Red-tailed Hawks fly over and sit on the guy-wires, looking for their lunch.

Now all my feelings are for having the lot back.  The person who bought the property must have lost a lot of money in developing it; and I hope they did.  There are still two ugly empty slabs of concrete, maybe an empty house or two, and no landscaping except for 10 feet of lawn in the front, and a couple Bougainvilleas and Cypress' across the back wall, 20 feet behind the houses.  I think the entire plot for the houses are 50' by 100'.  Why someone would pay $1 million for a house that looks the same as all the others and has no yard is beyond me.

I want my amazing sunsets back!

Pleasant Surprises...

After church this morning I took a drive into downtown Pasadena.  Something I intended to do yesterday after the floats, but it got too dark too quick.  I'm definitely glad I went; it ended up being full of surprises.

My original plan was to go for a walk around the city, but I ended up spending most of my time around City Hall.  And while I was waiting for a photographer to finish up taking what I assume to be a couple's engagement photos by the fountain, I started shooting the roses in the courtyard.  Most of them I'm really happy with and posted some of them here.

Another pleasant surprise was how close the Gold Line's Memorial Park station was... Definitely going back soon.