Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Las Vegas Secret Concoction

I'm busy preparing a secret concoction for New Year's Eve tonight....or not. This is something they sell in Vegas. I'm not sure what it is but it is colorful.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

About To Get Iced

Looking through my shots for the year this one has to stand out for its timing. Sammy, my niece, is about to get a surprise "ice bucket" of her own, well before the ice bucket challenge craze took off later in the year. On this vacation, if you weren't watching you would find yourself with a bucketful of ice as Sammy is about to discover. I had nothing to do with the planning. I just had a camera nearby.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Two Boats

I saw this as a painting when I took this shot last fall in Marblehead. It took until yesterday to get a piece of software (Topaz Impressions) that could produce what I saw. Two row boats in Marblehead Harbor.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Final Christmas Shots #2

Last year we were making real snowmen. This year we were going out with sweaters so the only snowmen were on the Christmas tree.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Some final Christmas Shots #1

Some final Christmas shots as the season winds down.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Anticipation

I'm not expecting to get much sleep tomorrow morning with a 6 year old in the house.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Creepy Heads in New York City

Would you buy a hat off of one of these heads? I didn't think so. Kinda creepy.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Macy's Christmas Window

The Christmas windows of Macy's don't have the impact they once did. But they still can be beautiful. This one certainly is.....

Sunday, December 21, 2014

When Buildings Had Names

Love the north side architecture and when architects had the courage to put names on buildings without selling naming rights. This building was part of a Romanesque revival that came to Chicago after the Chicago Fire. This building was a music school and also a German Beer Hall at one time. Now is part commercial and residential on Armitage Avenue.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Marblehead Walking Path

It was a beautiful early morning to go for a walk prior to heading out to work in Marblehead, Mass earlier this fall.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Hermosa Beach Surfer

I keep shooting this statue because each time I see it, I am in different light. This time, shooting into the sun, he can out in a beautiful golden glow.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Under the El

Saw light and shadow and thought this shot under the elevated tracks near Armitage was worth a try.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Places to Go, People to See

Lots of places to get to from New York City's Penn Station. Not a famous as the larger Grand Central Station. More of a workman's train station with commutes to/from New Jersey and up Long Island. But you can also get to Boston and Washington.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

NYC Fun Traveling

Isn't travel fun? Hit NYC last week and landed in a monsoon of a northeaster. This was a winter mis of sleet, snow and rain. Oh well, it could always be worse....

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Empire State Building at night

New York is a very photogenic city. Then again, I don't often find myself walking around downtown Chicago at night. In New York, if I don't have a dinner, I have to go walk somewhere to find something to eat. Bring and camera and you will find a shot.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Portillio's in living color

Sometimes, when you look for color, it hits you close to home. No need to travel the country this time out. This is the Portillo's near the Woodfield Mall and it is a shock of color when you walk through the door. No need for fancy color filters with this shot.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The colors that I see on Armitage Avenue

Sometimes you get in the mood to jack up the colors, but this is what I see when I walk along Armitage Avenue. I see these old buildings in all their glory. Buildings so proud, they have names on them. What do you see?

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Trumped Up Trump Building

Hyper Trumped Tower. I don't see what all the fuss was about with the size of the building name.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Mike's Camera bites the dust

We had some time to kill between meetings in Denver and I saw from my "Around Me' app that a camera store was near by. Looks like I got there too late. This place never would have closed if it was located near me in Naperville.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Dramatic Flatiron Building

Drama abounds in this picture of the Flatiron Building in New York City from last winter.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Sunrise, Sunset?

Sunrise? Or Sunset? Does  it matter?

Saturday, November 29, 2014

LA through the Looking Glass

Downtown LA as seen through a very dirty Century City glass window from my hotel this past year.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Did sunrise really look like this?

Caught a beautiful Pompano Beach Sunrise while getting ready for work one morning. Did it look this way when I stepped out to capture this shot? Yes, of course it did, if you squinted your eyes and were in the right frame of mind.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Things to be Thankful For--Family

Perfect shot by guest photographer, Becca Sack, who took a great picture of my family at Stephi's wedding. I was looking one picture that I might have snapped in the past year representing something to be Thankful For. I did't shoot the shot, but lots to be thankful about in this picture. Thanks Becca!!!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Blimp in the Background

You are not paranoid if they really are following you.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Bryant Park Merry-Go-Round

Bryant Park is always a colorful place to visit in midtown Manhattan. Ice skating in the winter. A place to sit and eat and play in the summer. I didn't have a tripod, but any solid surface will do to get a time-lapse photography shot.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Snow, its what's coming.....

Snow is coming. Not this week as it is warming up, but you know it is coming....and my first GIF.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Pompano Fellow Photog


A fellow photog decided to get up early to see the sunrise. Pompano Beach north of Ft. Lauderdale.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Fort Lauderdale on high with a Cruise Ship Departing

Caught a huge cruise ship departing Fort Lauderdale as my flight was coming in. With record cold today, wish I was on that ship.....

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Field of Greens....and Purples

With the early and cold onset of winter this week I thought we needed a reminder of spring. So here is a colorful field of greens and purples to remind us that spring is just 4 months away. It is cold but we will have warmer days ahead.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Pompano Beach Sun Rise

Caught the sun rise through the beach grasses with an early wake up call in Pompano Beach.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Marblehead Splash of Color

For a blog about color, this is a shot you have to take. Lots of character in these colors.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Marblehead Red, White and Blue

Great use of patriotic colors in this beautiful house in Marblehead. For a blog looking for color, this is in the right spot.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Marblehead History in Signs


Lots of history in the buildings around Marblehead. These are some of the signs you see giving the names of original owners of the home. Nice seeing living history.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Downtown Boulder

Nice area in downtown Boulder to walk, eat and catch some rays being at least a mile closer to the sun than in Chicago.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Naperville Marathon 3:05 pace group

Running at a 3:05 pace and still enough strength left to wave and smile at the fans on the sidelines. This is approaching the 6 mile point. Still, impressive to run that fast for that long.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Ogawa Square Mall in Oakland

While Oakland, California isn't know for its distinctive architecture, every city has its charms. I caught a look at Ogawa Square in downtown Oakland on a morning run and took this iPhone pano. Nice open area in the midst of government and commercial office buildings. I am sure it is a draw for lunchtime office workers on a sunny California day. 

Friday, November 7, 2014

Pigeon Training in NYC

It takes hard work to get your pigeon to stay and pose for a picture. Had to use Golda Meir's statue to do it.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Washington MLK Monument

What a powerful display just off the Washington Mall. This was my first chance to see the MLK Monument. Impressive, with lots of his quotes on the walls surrounding the statue.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Flag Still Stands

The Senate turned over yesterday and the flag still stands. Wonderful view of democracy. Actually, this is the first time I have been able to shoot pictures of the Washington Monument without scaffolding all over the place.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

A Whole Lot Of No In Boulder

It's just one light pole, but it had a whole lot of "no's" on it in downtown Boulder, Colorado.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Fallen Fall Leaves Colors

I think the title says it all.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Denver Rockies Foothills



Cool weather in Denver gave excellent views of the Rocky Mountain foothills with just a touch of snow up at the tops. Might have to try to get some skiing in this year.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Halloween Fun

Ages 6 and 3 are perfect for Halloween. You can see it on their faces--along with the biting cold. But we got some sun as well and that made the half hour of our trick-or-treating lots of fun.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Three Pumpkins

Michael Jr, Cheryl and Jono all carved pumpkins with William's help this past weekend. Michael Jr. did "Shy Guy", Cheryl did a cat and Jono had some kind of ghost. Good work all. Thanks to Cheryl as my guest photographer while I was out traveling. Loved that we got outside to carve in beautiful weather last weekend in Chicago.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Hermosa Jumping for Joy

Two young girls on Hermosa Beach jumping off a ledge of sand for joy.

Monday, October 27, 2014

One more of Stephi, Anthony and Clio Wedding shot.....

Great shot of this young family in love. I am biased, of course.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Stephi and Anthony

I might be biased but that is a great couple and a great love story in the making.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Stephi's Big Day

Stephi is getting married today. We are very proud parents. Here she is on her 13th birthday. It does go by fast, doesn't it?

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Clearwater Bird Feeding Time

Don't feed the birds unless you want a Hitchcock movie to play over your head.