Monday, December 31, 2012

Sunset In Clearwater

The primary color here is probably orange, but there is blue from the Atlantic Ocean, so it counts. More importantly, I should be standing on this balcony in Clearwater, instead of 30 degrees (which isn't bad really) in Naperville. This is the view from my brother-in-law's condo.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Jerry's Deli Miami

Don;t know how I missed this one for the red theme, but it fits the blue theme too. This is a beautiful art deco building in South Beach Miami that happens to have a great New York style deli. Great food in a beautiful building. What can be better?

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Blue Balloon Rising

The 2010 Lisle Balloon fest gave some great color, including this blue US Bank balloon putting a move on the Michigan Wolverines.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Blue Italian Shoe

My mom will be mad to learn that I didn't spend the 35 Euros to buy this small Italian shoe with the Effiel Tower on it. She actually collects these small shoes and I am kicking myself (in blue) for not buying it. Now I have to go back to Florence to go find it.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Blue M & M

Can't get much bluer than this blue M & M from the fall Morton Arboretum display of local girl scout troops art work.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Blue Lincoln


For some reason, while driving through the small city of Ottowa, Illinois they had a large hat display. So, of course, I had to shoot some of the hats. This is one of Lincoln, which gives me the excuse to say go see this movie by Stephen Spielberg. Amazing movie and should be a must see to understand our political process from a current and historical perspective.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas in blue....PJ's

Christmas 2012 in our new blue PJs. Just in time to add to the blue theme!!!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Blue Maui Underwater

Starting Up a Blue theme and what could be better than an underwater shot? Taken from Maui in 2011.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Naperville Blue Sunset


Cheryl and I caught this wonderful blue and orange sunset last night heading home from our last of the Christmas shopping. This is a small pond just a mile from the house off of NaperPlainfield Rd.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

San Francisco Chinatown

Stopped at the light in Chinatown while looking for a place to park and walk around. My eye was drawn to the colors inside the shop and had just enough time to pop a shot off before the light changed.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Signs of New York City

Love this view of New York. Using the telephoto brings all the signs into a tight shot. Love the colors and this reminds me of New York near Broadway and 42nd.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

New York Food

Yea, you know what I was thinking.....how am I going to put this in as an expense report? Here is some New York city fine dinning.....

Monday, December 10, 2012

Out and About New York City

Walked by a Sephora "flash mob" group of dancers putting on a show for the Broadway shoppers last week in New York while out and about last week with my rented 24-70 lens. That gets shipped back today so I am quite sad, but I have one on my birthday wish list so I think I will see it again.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Something I Love

Its hard to get William and Clio to sit still together for a picture but they were in the mood so I was able to get this shot without too much effort at all. This fits today's theme of Something I Love quite well.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Lights On

Tough for me to shoot a shot not in focus, but I thought this one fit the theme of "stars" for the monthly shot of the day challenge better than the in focus shot. Lovely soft "bokeh".

Thursday, December 6, 2012

New York Flags

New Yorkers were celebrating love of country by showing the flag on an unseasonably warm December day. Loved the sun shining through the flags.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Looking Up in New York

Wow. Such a beautiful city at night. Lots of color and lots of things to do. Gotta love my rented 14-24mm lens. Never rent one or you will want to immediate own it.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Brooklyn Love: is it fare or fair?

Apparently, all is fare (not fair?) in Love and Brooklyn. Michael Jr's home base for now.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Niagara Falls

I took this back in 2011 but somehow it didn't make it to the Shot of the Day. I just forgot about it. Going through older shots today so problem rectified. Such an amazingly powerful flow of water. Hard to capture in a photograph.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Chicago Christmas Colors

Ok, a little blurry, but I was in stop and go traffic heading into Ohare and trying to grab a quick shot while safely driving at a crawl speed, but I liked the colors. Tough to get out and compose a shot in traffic when you have a plane to catch!!! With Chicago's budget deficit, you have to wonder if it is worth it.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Horseshoe Fountain Shreveoport

Early morning sunrise over the fountain at the Horseshoe Casino in Shreveport. Louisiana. Actually, a very nice hotel and one of my favorites on my travel rotation. That comment has nothing to do with the overall winning percentage and the very low room rates for very nice sized rooms...

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Most Thankful for.....

...family. Since I don't have a recent shot of everyone, the grandkids are my best stand-in!!!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Lower Manhattan

I saw this as a bendy stretchy shot when I took it so fooled around to get the buildings to wrap in the software. I had the 10-24mm lens on the D7000 to help get it get that curved look.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Miami Colors

For once I don't think the camera does these colors justice in this very bright light sunlight. Still woderful view of newer buildings with Art Deco colors.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Empire State in Red

My hotel room in my last trip to New York had a window view of the Empire State Building. Still haven't been up to the observation deck. Have to do that one day.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

William Penn in Sunlight

Early morning run in Philly caught part of city hall in sunlight. Quite an amazing building.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Philly Love Star

Getting ready for some Christmas Love.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Two Suns in Philly

Would this be what the world looks like with two suns in the sky? Hmmm......


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Four Hunters in Philly


I thought of the title for this one even before I shot the picture.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

City of Brotherly Love


Here is some Philadephia Love.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Downtown Vegas

Colorful view of downtown Vegas from Oscar's Restraurant (World's Best Steakhouse) in the Plaza Hotel. Lately I have like visiting downtown Vegas more than the strip. One of these days, we will stay down there.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Peppers Anyone?

Colorful bunch of peppers in a farmers market in downtown Minneapolis.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Another Dolphin Shot

I was so lucky to get this shot while lounging on a balcony on a cruise this summer. I posted a similar shot a few weeks ago and I like this one just as well. I was trying to get shots of flying fish which occasionally buzzed the ship. Then these dolphins came by and this was the only time I saw any dolphins the whole trip. Grab, focus and shoot. That is what got the shot.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

California Sycamore

When walking around any where, I am always looking up. Lots of interesting shots are above you. I love shooting into the tops of trees, especially when they have an interesting structure, such as this California Sycamore. This was taken while walking in San Francisco.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Inside a Piano in Richmond

Always looking for the unusual angle caught this shot by looking up as I was walking under a bridge near the James River in Richmond. Looks like I am inside a piano, doesn't it?

Saturday, November 3, 2012

NYC and the Empire State Building from Brooklyn

Here is looking at you New York, New York from Brooklyn Heights. It did seem like a dreamy fall evening, despite Hurricane Sandy about to come barreling down the East River.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Fall Colors --here and gone

Before I left for a long trip the fall colors were just peaking. I get back and all the leaves are gone. Luckily, I got out shooting before I left and caught some nice color.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Atlanta from Buckhead

Shot from my hotel room in Buckhead, a suburb of Atlanta. Nice crisp morning with Hurricane Sandy having brought all that cold air down from the north.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Guitar Shop, Roanake

Lovely red light showing off the wares at this local guitar shop in downtown Roanake, Virginia.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

On the Rocks in Richmond

These kayaks were shooting down the rapids on the James River and one found himself briefly on the rocks. I was scared for a moment, but he came right off and headed down river. Looks like fun.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A New York State of Mind

Great view of the still under-construction Freedom Tower from Brooklyn. Wonderful view of lower Manhattan on a beautiful fall evening. Didn't have a tripod so used the railing to keep the camera as steady as I could.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Bryant Park Skyline--NYC


New Yorkers sure know how to use their limited and crowded space. Bryant Park near the heart of mid-town Manhattan at 40th and 6th Avenue is one example. Great spot to take in the sights, people watch, ice skate in the winter and shop and eat--all in a single square block with trees and a little green space. One of my favorite resting spots. This shot is just sitting on a chair and looking up.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Same Model 3 Times- New York

What do you do in New York when work stops at 3? Join a photography class at B&H photo. An award winning photographer, Jerry Ghionis, from Melbourne, one of the world's top wedding photographers was having a free lighting seminar and I got to join in. I don't like shooting models that someone else hired and posed. How would that count as my shot? So, I shot over  the shoulder of another classmate and got three shots of the model. (Did you see the third version of her in his glasses?) Fun day.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Ladies, look here please....Fashion District NYC

Staying near the fashion district in New York gives lots of opportunities for portraits. Tough to get the models to look your way, however.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Fashion Magazine Shoot, New York

Ok, it is a "fashion magazine shot" as all of those magazines were fashion magazines from around the world. Quite amazing that a store can specialize to such a degree. I saw the colors and shot the shot.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Rocks on the James

One fellow found himself on the rocks but quickly made it off with no difficulty. Nice of hem to where red and blue to fit this blogs theme.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Jumping into the James

The James River runs right through Richmond, Virginia. Caught these kids enjoying one of the late days of summer.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Peaks of Otter, Bedford Virginia


Sometime that damn GPS takes you in the strangest directions. I had to get from Lynchburg, Virginia to the airport in Roanoke, a path that I had taken three of four times as a passenger, so I knew there was a state highway. For some reason, the GPS takes me around what the locals call the "Peaks of Otter" on one of the narrowest and most twisted roads that I have ever driven. I kept seeing signs that said, "Only one Car over the Narrow Bridge at a Time". Still, the great luck is that I got to see the Peaks of Otter, which are beautiful part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now, I want to go back and do that drive again on purpose. Such fun.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Color is here!

Falls colors are peaking. Lots of yellows. More reds probably coming. If you look very, very closely, there is actually a girl in a tree in the center of the shot. I had to laugh, since I didn't know it when I took the picture.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Red Coming in Fall

Getting close to peak colors in Illinois. From the wonderful Morton Arboretum in Lisle on a rainy overcast Sunday.