Day 198, Vidal, California, US-95 Abandoned Gas Station Home

Day 198, Vidal, California, US-95 Abandoned Gas Station Home, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I drive by this as I head to Needles from Blythe. I go by here once a month for my job. It is some serious windshield time, but with a camera and a book ripped and on the iPhone, I am good. I don't really mind the drive time. But it does leave me a little whipped the next day. I can tell you that I will probably shoot here again.

From Wikipedia -
Vidal, California a small unincorporated community located in southeastern California, in San Bernardino County on U.S. Route 95, 38 miles (61 km) north of Blythe, California and 55 miles (89 km) south of Needles. The town is 22 miles (35 km) west of the townsite of Earp, California and 23 miles (37 km) west of Parker, Arizona on State Highway 62. The community, which is two miles (3 km) north of the Riverside County line, lies at an elevation of 812 feet (247 m) above sea level. Vidal is 221 miles (356 km) from the city (and county seat) of San Bernardino, making it the second farthest town in the county from the county seat behind Earp. Wyatt Earp spent the last winters of his life in Vidal, working claims of gold and copper he found nearby; the aforementioned townsite of Earp is located in and around those claims.

Other Shots

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 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