Day 50, I Still Have Not Taken My Lights Down.

I Still Have Not Taken My Lights Down., originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Here it is, the day before New Years and I have not taken my lights down. I could have. In fact I should have. I am at home, I have nothing going on. I should do a bunch of stuff, but I didn't. I just played the Wii.

I think I needed some decompression time. I love playing with my kids.

Still heaven, being at home and doing nothing.

Tomorrow, I promise, no more Christmas lights, maybe.

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data;

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	15 sec (15)
Aperture:	f/11
Focal Length:	35 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 49, Outdoor Christmas Tree

Day 49, Outdoor Christmas Tree, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I think I am a little stuck on the lights at the house. I think the fact that I haven't been out for a while might help explain this. I took some vacation days, and I just wanted to stay home. No driving, no shoping, no sights, no visits. Just home.

It is heaven.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data;

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	15 sec (15)
Aperture:	f/13
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 48, Angels and Christmast Stars

Day 48, Angels and Christmast Stars, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

OK, here is the angel and star from the outside. No long winded discussion, see yesterdays.

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data;

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	10 sec (10)
Aperture:	f/22
Focal Length:	75 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 47, An Angel Out Our Window

An Angel Out Our Window, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

As you may have noticed in a previous post, this is the year that my youngest got it about Christmas. So this year, was the year that I did a better job with the lights. It seems that we are so busy that we cannot keep up with just life anymore. So this year I decided to push back. I put up this angel and a star. It meant building a platform and securing it to the house.

It also meant that looking out of the second story window, in the loft, you could see the Angel right out the window. It was really pretty neat to see. As I was turning off the lights and heading for bed, I noticed how really beautiful the angel was looking out at our street. She just glowed and trumpeted to our neighbors that we were celebrating Christmas. That we kept the religious theme to what is becoming a secular holiday. We do Santa, but Santa is not the central theme.

I then thought about how important it is to allow what we believe have a place. We have done this, but today I did not feel embarrassed or concerned about what others would think; rather, I felt pleased with my life and our home life.

Thanks for looking.

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	10 sec (10)
Aperture:	f/20
Focal Length:	21 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 46, Two New Eagle Scouts

Two New Eagle Scouts, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

If you didn't know it, I am an Eagle Scout. In fact, the day I got it is one of my cherished memories. Not for the award itself, but because I got mine the at the same time as my best friend, Mike. When boys you worked with get theirs, it seems to feel even better.

I have always hated some of the pictures that get taken at these events. they always seem to miss the point. Hopefully this will get closer to that ideal. These young men did not and are not doing this alone. Their parents and a bunch of other leaders are all here to see this, to experience this with them. They earned their own award, but a lot of people put in a lot of effort to help them.

Say what you will about Boy Scouts, it does give adults a chance to impact a young mans life for the better. They invest a lot in the eventual outcome of a young man that will be a good part of our world. Since I have three daughters, trust me when I tell you that I have a very vested interest in the young men of the world coming out ok. This is a shot of the Eagle Pledge. All Eagle Scouts in the room are invited to stand and renew their pledge as well. I tried to get a shot that showed that even if these two young men will be going off into the world seemingly alone, they never will be. Too many people have invested too much time for them to ever be alone.

I have always insisted that the young men that I worked with learn one thing, we take care of our own. We do.  The real magic is in how we define 'our own.' Since we are Christians, I tend to point to the Saviors view of who is our neighbor, our brother, our own.

Thanks for looking,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture:	f/3.5
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 45, Rockets and a New Truck

Rockets and a New Truck, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

This has no photo value other then what follows. What can I say, Christmas always evolves toys and toys involve play. This was just plain fun, and really funny as well.

The rocket hit my brother-in-laws truck not just the one time you see below, but multiple times. That is why I was looking for it when I got this shot. It was like the brand new shiny red truck was a magnet for the rocket. Baking soda and water, what a lot of fun we had that day.

Like it matters,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	55 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 44, Father and Son

Father and Son, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

One of the main reasons that I am doing this pic a day blog, is for me to find things that work for me. I want to build up on the arsenal of picture ideas so that I have something to work with when I need to shoot for a side business. I love this picture. It is not technically perfect yet, but it has the elements of something that could be a cool pose down the road. This one of my brother-in-laws, and his son. What a fun kid. I tried it again on my wife and daughter. I want to get a better lighting for this, maybe a flash that is off the camera and fills in dad better. I will play with this one.

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:	f/4
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 43, Cousins in Red

Cousins in Red, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

One of the many great things about my life is my Wife. When I married her, I had no idea that I would find in this huge family of hers a place. but they are one of my joys. I know, I know, what about all of that mother-in-law baggage and the way everyone is in your business. But I think that I must have the best Mother-in-Law in the world. She is really a wonderful woman. All of my brother and sisters in law are great.

The best part is my kids have something that I did not, cousins. They have lots of cousins. And they are like best friends. I have two and they are really great people, but they were 5 to 10 years older then me, and well, you can see where that goes. The age difference is not so great anymore, but now we are not close, not like my girls and all of their cousins. The funny thing is , that is how it worked out on both sides.

So here is one of many pictures of cousins.

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:	f/4
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 42, The Wand

The Wand, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Christmas Eve was great! Christmas Day was great! Sophie would like to remind everyone that the magic is in the wand. She really had a great Christmas. This year she really got it. She is the perfect age now, three and a half. As she said, "I like Santa now!" The magic was in watching her and her sisters and cousins just glow. It was really great watching the older ones get it, that they had to be a part and work to make others happy. It is something to watch your kids grow up and like how they are coming out. To see them get to a point where they make good choices and then enjoy the outcome.

Maybe the magic was in the wand....

And now, a mea culpa, I really checked out of the blog. I did not quit shooting, I just did not post anything. I was down from the internet for a few days, and this led to 'I'll catch up', which led to, 'Later,' which led to 'I don't have time.' Now, I am really behind. So, I will use the great editing skills that an author gets, and post up. I will catch back up over the next few days with multiple posts, then I will take down the mea culpa.

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	46 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 41 Fender Guitar Factory, Corona, CA

Day 41 Fender Guitar Factory, Corona, CA, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Since I checked out the Fender Museum, I was curious about the factory. The woman at the counter for the museum was nice when I asked her a couple of questions. I just wanted to know why would Fender put a museum in Corona. It turns out that one of their factories is in Corona. She said that she used to work there, and that it is a pity that they don't do tours since so many people would love to see that. She is right, I know that I would.

The Museum is a non profit that gets sponsorship from Fender. They do not own the museum, but they do have a factory in Corona. Weird to think that Clapton maybe playing a product of the Inland Empire. So I went to find the museum. They are on 311 Cessena Cir, Corona, CA 92880. I found them with a quick online yellow pages search. The other address that you may find if you do the same, 2621 Research Dr, Corona, CA 92882, is vacant. I think that they moved from the one to the other.

Now I am curious if I should be staking out the building for views of Stevie Vai or Avril Lavigne, maybe even Clapton himself has graced the IE....

Thanks for looking.

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Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:	f/8
Focal Length:	45 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 40, Johnny Cash's Guild Guitar

Day 40, Johnny Cash's Guild Guitar, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." for many years, that is what Johnny would say while playing this guitar. It is a Guild D605BE. It was a gift from Johnny to his good friend Bill Miller. This guitar was given to him in Feb of 1993 and the letter that Johnny sent to Bill with it said that he had played this guitar in every concert for more then 10 years.

For curiosity, I wondered, was it really more then 10 years? On the letter that Johnny sent to Bill with the guitar, he scratched out the word "more" and then put "more" in anyways. Why would he do that? It is possible that Johnny mistakenly put more then 10 years. The Guild website does not list the D60 until 1987. The serial number that Johnny notes in his letter to Bill would place the instrument to 1987.

It is important to note that Guild on their website mentions that unfortunately, some of the serial number documentation has been lost over the years resulting in holes. I am also not an expert in Guild Guitars. Certainly, It is Johnny's Guitar, but it was probably not played by Johnny for more then 10 years. It was a fantastic gesture to his good friend Bill. Bill also has the duster that was used for some of the photo shoots with the guitar and the case for the guitar.

The museum is worth a stop if you are in the area and are a Johnny Cash fan as there is not another Cash museum anywhere else. A pity if you think about it. Johnny was part of the quartet that came from Sun records and changed music. Elvis has Graceland, but Johnny is in a small museum in Corona.  A Big Thanks to Mr Bill Miller for placing all that great Johnny Cash memorabilia in the museum.  

Thanks for looking.

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Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.5 sec (1/2)
Aperture:	f/4.5
Focal Length:	27 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 39, Johnny Cash's Boots

Day 39, Johnny Cash's Boots, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I did not know that Fender was a California Company. They started in Fullerton, but they are in their second factory here in the Inland Empire. They are in Corona. Also in Corona is the Fender Museum of Music and the Arts. Though not officially a Fender organization, Fender apparently supports the non profit group with money and instruments. The museum offers free and low cost music instruction for youth. It also has an exhibit that every guitar slinger should love, with occasional visiting exhibits. Right now they have items from the collection of Bill Miller, one of Johnny's long time friends.

These custom made rockabilly boots are the one of the first things that Johnny bought with his first royalty check from Sun Records. Johnny Designed them and they were the first pair of many custom made boots that he owned.

I will post the other shots from the Johnny Cash exhibit tomorrow and then I will go find the Fender Factory and get you a shot. If you want to visit the Museum, I have added their link in the links section.

Thanks for looking.

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Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	4 sec (4)
Aperture:	f/5
Focal Length:	44 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 38, Traffic at Night

f r e e r i d e, originally uploaded by Toni_V.

I wish that I had taken this shot.  But, I did not.  I tried to do something like this, and it came out horribly.  

I will try again soon. I used a tripod behind me in the middle. I just got a bogen super clamp and a little arm to work with, I have a cable release that helps to take these kinds of shots. But it really came out badly.

Here is the EXIF data for the emaple by Toni V, and for mine. I thought you would enjoy seeing me flub up one.

Thanks for looking

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Freeride by Toni V

Camera:	Nikon D50
Exposure:	8 sec (8)
Aperture:	f/9
Focal Length:	10 mm
Exposure Bias:	0/6 EV
ISO Speed:	200

Mine

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	1.3 sec (13/10)
Aperture:	f/3.5
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Mine

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	3.2 sec (16/5)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 37, Holiness and an Angel, Newport Beach California Temple

Day 36, Holiness and an Angel, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

All LDS Temples have a bit of writing on the outside, Holiness To The Lord. They mostly all also have an Angel Moroni statue on the highest spire with a trumpet. For the LDS, he is a herald to the world of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The idea is from a passage in Revelations about an angel who would preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Given the sacred nature that the LDS accord to their temples, the symbolism is becoming iconic to the LDS faith.

How do you bring down an icon and photograph it with respect and honor? For photographers, there are not many opportunities from the ground level to frame the angel and the temple in a way that is different or interesting. Most pictures of the temples end up showing the building from a distance. And they do lend themselves to grand big shots. But that is about all that I see in pictures of the temples. Since they are relatively newer then the great cathedrals, and the interiors are not accessible to the general public, they do not get the attention that they are due.

The out takes have some shots that show the statue and spire in more tradition ways, I have posted already other shots that I have taken of the temples in thier whole, but I have been trying to find the shots that are different and lend a new perspective to these highly significant places to the LDS faith.

There are some other folks out there shooting the temples and other themes that come up are the Temple Doors, the Lighting (they are always well lit at night) and the spires. Next time you are near one, see what you can find that might lend a new veiw to a subject that is not as well studied as so many others out there.

For improvements, I think that the light material coupled with the sky make this a though shot. I shot these planning to convert to Black and White and then force the simplicity of the shots to be the focus. I even shot a higher ISO to get a little grain. Black and White is tough when there is too much grey, and that was what happened. This shot is different in perspective, but might have shot better at night or early morning when the rising sun would be on the temple wall . This was an afternoon shot, I would have rather returned and shot later, but I couldn't get back. For next time I will try that. In the out takes, the one with the spire front lit seems to have the best exposure, but my favorite is this one. and the one from a few days ago with the fountain and the spire.

Thanks for looking.

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Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture:	f/29
Focal Length:	55 mm
ISO Speed:	800
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 36, Girl and Fountain Reflection

Day 35, Girl and Fountain Reflection, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I am finally getting around to playing with some of the images from the little trip that we took to the Newport Beach Temple. It really is a peaceful place. As I was coming around the fountain, I saw my daughter playing in the reflecting pool and the shot just seemed to come on its own. I wanted to capture the reflections of the water on the water and marble. I also took this shot imagining that I would work in Black and White for this image. The backlight on the water and the opportunity to have a dark background were what I was hoping for when I shot these.  I even shot at ISO 800 trying to have a little more grain to the shot.  The aperture was wide open the metering was pushing for a fast exposure.  I was going for a contrasty kind of feel that let you focus on the girl and the reflections.

Temples are for the LDS faith a special place. They hold more significance then the meeting houses or chapels that are used every Sunday. The most sacred ordinance happen in the temples. The most sacred thing for an member of the LDS faith is the forming of a family, blessed by God. It is called sealing. The members of the LDS faith believe that the bonds that are sealed on earth by God, will still hold in the next life. As a father, I must admit, that is one of the most compelling teachings. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, all of these things are made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The significance that the LDS faith places on forming these everlasting bonds in these special places really lends to creating a peaceful place. A place to focus on what is of real value in this life.

As always, thanks for looking.

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Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	1/2500 sec
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	55 mm
ISO Speed:	800
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 35, Prayer at Home

Day 35, Prayer at Home, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

These are some of the great folks in our church. I was asked to shoot a picture that showed a family in our church for a montage that is being put together for the calender/directory. I think a lot of this great mom and her daughter. They have been though a lot and the mom has been a great example throughout it all of perseverance and determination. She has made a great home for her kids and they are all very successful.

When I asked them if they would mind if I came by their home to take a picture of them praying together for the calender, they were so kind and at ease. I get nervous about these things, which is why I probably prefer to be behind the lens and not in front of it. They were so patient while I took about 20 pictures. I think that they came out well. I would change some things given more time. We were under a time crush, and I was so grateful that they were willing to be in the picture that I just wanted to shoot them how they would hold their family prayer.

If I were to work this out without a time crunch, I would have used more lighting and not just the camera flash with a diffuser on it. I would have limited the decorations so that the background would be more simple and the focus would be entirely on the family prayer. I would eliminate the black sweater since it makes the contrast hard. I like the pose, I think it works in showing them together. I would have used a reflector on the ground to light their faces better as well.

That is why I do the blog, to learn to do better. I am definitely learning a lot, and the images are getting better. People are one of the hardest subjects for me, so every portrait seems to be a big learning chance. I will be shooting some portraits of our friends families this christmas, so there will be more posted as they get done.

As always, thanks for looking and the out takes and EXIF data are below.

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Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	6 sec (6)
Aperture:	f/10
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 34, Fall Leaves in California

Day 34, Fall Leaves in California, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

One of the great things about Southern California is the weather. So many folks out there just don't get it. Yes we have congested freeways, and our economy swings the U.S. In fact, on its own, the economy out here makes up the 8th largest in the world. 

It has always amazed me how big and diverse California actually is. When you leave the L.A. area and head north on the 5, you see the agricultural backbone that we have. It is amazing all of the crops that grow here. Where I live in Riverside, Citrus was the crop that made the area. Our housing track was Orange Groves just 10 years ago. I drive through groves everyday. They smell great. Orange blossoms are one of my favorite smells. 

Here it is, December 15th and I went for a ride on my Electra Townie with my kids and cut my grass. The temperature was 68 degrees and the day was beautiful. One of the parks by us had some trees just finally losing their leaves and the colors were great. I have always loved looking from the inside out of these trees. The backlight gives the leaves a great color. Salt Lake got up to 28 degrees and talking to my friend on the phone he said that there was about 9 inches of snow on the ground.

Southern California has great weather, and I love the year round activities here, hope you like the pictures.

As always, thanks for looking and the out takes and EXIF data are below.

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Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture:	f/8
Focal Length:	54 mm
ISO Speed:	800
Exposure Bias:	0/3 EV

Day 33, Stump by Lake Gregory

Day 33, Stump by Lake Gregory, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I found this on the beach of Lake Gregory, and I forgot to take it off the camera. I shot this for the blog, but miffed it big time. So here it is. I have bought some Cokin filters and have been playing with them and black and white since I read an article by John Sexton in Shutterbug - Expert Photo Techniques 2007. It was a special extra from the magazine Shutterbug. Be sure to check out the link to his site in the links section. John is one the premier black and white photographers out there now.

Johns article talked about his love of using a yellow #12 on snow and white sand to bring out the texture. Or a #11 yellow green for highlighting the yellows from other deep colors. I have been doing similar in iPhoto or Photo shop. This is the result of that in iPhoto to bring out the tones and contrast.

When your camera light meter reads the light off of the objects or areas where you point it, it is really reading the reflected light. But it does not know the difference between strong black or white. It is programed to read everything in grey, 9% grey is the standard setting for all of these. So then the trouble comes up when you have strong white or black, they reflect at 36% just based on their properties. This was not white sand and the trunk did not have black shade. But the idea is to get the proper exposure and then to get the right tones. We do this with filters.

I did not like the way the filter did it, so I used another shot and converted the shot to black and white. Then I used the sliders on temp and color and went very warm and very green. The cool temp tends to go blue and lighten the image. I wanted darker tones, it is a stump and not a flower, and then green to keep the tone popping but dark. I like how it came out. I am going to try some other filters and see where it ends up.

So even though this may not be the most interesting picture that I will ever take, I learned a lot playing with it and doing the research to understand the principles behind the image.

As always, thanks for looking.