Late afternoon photo of the abandoned boat
at Smith Mountain Lake Virginia
Earlier in the day photo of the abandoned boat. I’d say it’s been there for awhile.
An assignment in photo class, take a photograph of the same scene at different times of day. Check.
I follow a blogger from South Africa at Sonel’s Corner and you may have read some of her lovely comments on my blog. She hosted Flat Ruthie and introduced FR to the Vervet Monkeys . You can see what a Vervet Monkey looks like at Sonel’s Corner blog post on B and W weekly challenge of Nature here.
She’s started a black and white challenge and I’ve been thinking about participating but kept missing the deadline. The Black and White Weekly Photo Challenge theme this week is TOYS. Here I am in Ohio, visiting the grandchildren and there are plenty of toys.
I shot these toys today specifically for Sonel’s challenge.
Then I converted them into black and white in Aperture and am posting a few from today’s effort. Shot with Canon 5D -50mm 1.2 L series lens. I used the cable remote to avoid camera shake.
My DIL Erika’s Grandmother Marion (Marlene’s mother) crocheted this doll dress, bonnet and undergarments for this doll I took down from the high shelf in Anna’s room.
Caught the afternoon light on her through the dining room window. I asked Erika if she had a name and she said no. Crocheted doll clothes were “in”.
Mark(from Aunt Bobbie) and Erika’s Teddy Bears. Mark’s Brownie on the left and Erika’s Teddy on the right. Presently residing in their daughter Anna’s room on the high shelf, not getting any “play time”.
This little doll was given to Anna in 2003 by my dear friend G. Anna’s first doll. Maura popped into the photo shoot. She is also in charge of tending this dolly now. I knit the old cotton dishcloth pattern extra large for a dolly blanket. They drape so nicely.
Found the missing puzzle piece today. Ooops, the puzzle was discarded a long time ago. (this one shot with the iPhone) Always liked those knob puzzles.
Thanks to Sonel’s Corner for the Black and White inspiration.
When the kids visit their grandparents in Virginia, they love to feed the horses next door carrots and apples. Marlene must have had ten pounds of carrots for our stay! The neighbors are generous with allowing all the children to visit the animals at the barn, too. You might remember the pigs. The grass was so high from all the rain in was hard to see the bare feet!
The fence where we took Christmas card pics last Thanksgiving.
Maura feeds the mini horse a carrot.
Not sure what Michael is communicating to the horses or they to him……
Jack
The next morning, saying good bye. Horses keeping cool in the shade of the woods.
and the much used but almost always successful running grandchildren shot.
They really respond to on your mark, get set, GO. Must be all that swim team practice and meets!
The four of them are making my summer vacation a lively one!
Many people have a favorite dog breed. In the list of the top ten most popular breeds in the USA, the top three are Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever. Forget the ranking, Airedales are tradition in my DIL’s family.
Henry, the 3 Month Old Airedale Puppy, is the newest member of the family. He is exuberant and happy with all the care and attention he is receiving from everyone. You’ve seen glimpses of him in a few posts.
Henry hails from Michigan (Aberdeen Airedales) and has already been in West Virginia and Virginia and resides in Ohio. He was really good on the seven hour ride to Virginia! Both ways so that racks up 14 hours in the van.
Mark was telling me about the Presidents who have had Airedales – Scott Brown of Cerebral Caffeine blog wrote “After The Great War (World War I), the Airedales’ popularity rapidly increased thanks to stories of their bravery on the battlefield and, in America, also because Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding owned Airedales.”
Although Airedales are not in the top ten most popular breeds in 2013, he is one popular little guy in the family.
Can you see how big his paws are?
Learning to go down the stairs
Henry in introduced to his cousin Penny the Golden Doodle.
Puppy Portrait
Each of the kids sat on Dad’s lap to help steer.
My DIL Erika took this one on her iPhone as Mark held Henry the Navigator at Smith Mountain Lake Virginia
(Mark asked me if I remembered Toonces?)
photo credit to Erika, guest contributor
Henry and his new family.
Maura, Anna holding Henry, Michael and Jack in Hardy, Virginia.
From Virginia to Ohio, through West Virginia in between. It’s a little more than 350 miles. Sunday afternoon and the holiday weekend travelers were on the highway. A tractor trailer had overturned and rolled through the median- you could see the jersey barrier broken up and then the missing guard rail along the other side of the highway.on Route 77- all traffic on the road was actually stopped for a time
Thunderstorms, lightning, magnificent clouds, sunlight behind clouds, wet pavement and teaming rain, then some bright sun for the weather report.
Shooting through glass is never ideal. I got to be in the passenger seat this trip. Good to be back in Ohio with the family, safe and sound.
Ravenswood Trailer Park
Ravenswood Bridge connecting West Virginia and Ohio a two lane cantilevered bridge
Driving Over the Ohio River on Ravenswood Bridge
Side of a truck trailer parked, taken through the driver’s side from the passenger seat
Clouds and smoke at dusk
Smokestack through the driver’s window
Nelsonville Ohio Information on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway if you are thinking of taking an old fashioned train ride
Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.
Michael talks to 3 month old Henry, (the Airedale Terrier puppy) on the boat.
Henry wore a life jacket and did a bit of doggy paddle with the family but was glad to get out of the water and shake off.
Henry is losing his black puppy hair on his face and as Mark said today, he is looking more “Airedaley”.
Thanks to everyone who sent birthday greetings. Nothing like announcing “Hey, it’s my birthday” publicly and then being the recipient of such lovely wishes.
Rain kept us from going to see fireworks Thursday night. Anna had her Pap light a sparkler or two and she tired to enjoy them in the rain in the front yard.
For the second day in a row I took the photos from the porch. It was totally dark.
The first photo was taken without a flash but there was some light from the house and the sparkler.
The second was taken with hand-held off-camera flash. Thought i would experiment as I read about it but never really tried it. I avoid using the flash as much as possible but wanted to experiment for some different dramatic lighting effects. Thanks Anna you were most cooperative.
The cord I bought about 9 years ago and never really used. I will try it again when I have some more willing subjects.
you can see the raindrops
Not too dramatic lighting but a few visible raindrops.
Experimenting with light and hand held off camera flash
Anna in motion. With flash.
We’re celebrating the Fourth of July in Virginia. I’m grateful for another birthday.
When I was Maura’s age I used to think all the fireworks were just for me on my birthday. Ha!
Not sure if there will be fireworks to celebrate the fourth as there’s rain and more rain.
My granddaughter Maura (4) sings the Star Spangled Banner with a slight alteration of the opening lyrics.
“Okay, can you see?” or more like “O-O-O-Okay can you see”
The title for this post could also be How to Photograph Four Kids at a Time. I’ve had a lot of practice. It’s not impossible but to get ALL four with their best expression is not an easy task. Add the new puppy Henry to the effort.
I’ve used the -get ’em in action method- quite a few times. On the playground, the backyard, the hula hoop, the swing, the bicycle. Anything so they aren’t conscious of Grandma’s lens.
The sitting around all in a row or even staggered grouping and looking at my lens with the old CHEEEEESE doesn’t work for me. Or them Not that I haven’t tried. Canon 70-200mm L series lens ISO 100 f/2.8 1/125 I’m up on the front porch.
On Your Mark-
And they’re off-
Uh oh not that view of Henry. Henry, turn around.
Oh Henry, turn around. Nah, too posed looking. ACTION!
Maura, Anna, Michael and Jack and Henry
Here they come.
Anna calls to Henry to join them.
He’s getting it now
A moment of childhood captured.
Maura doesn’t like coming in last. Henry is watching the cows in the field next door.
Anna turned five just before her sister Maura was born. This fall they’ll be five and ten. Or should I say, ten and five?
The eldest and the youngest with two boys in between.
Sunday morning I looked down the driveway after Laura and James had just pulled out with Laura’s new car (they’d driven over to show us)
I saw Anna fixing Maura’s hair as they stood the end of the driveway. Very intent.
Maura doesn’t really enjoy getting her hair braided or brushed but her hair is long and they swim a lot so it’s necessary. She’ll let Anna do it and Anna has a nice way about it- getting her to cooperate…
convincing Maura it’s a good thing to brush out the tangly knots!
Both girls pretty much ignored me and my camera, the concentration to get it right on the hair made them forget about me, so I took some shots and approached them slowly. You can see when they became “camera aware”.
I like it when they ignore me.
Here’s the link to Francine Russo’s interesting article The Science of Siblings that my sister and I read last week. Sibling relationships and their importance in your life. Some note about only children as well.
These are taken Canon 50mm 1.2 L series lens so no zooming possibility. Have to move myself. Good practice.
Hair still wet from washing it. Anna in the
Anna (in the pink) can get Maura (in the yellow) to do what she needs her to dao
Big sister Little sister
One of my favorite blogs I follow, is hosted by Frizztext in Germany. (The link is right here ) It’s fun to be part of the wordpress blogging community, supporting one another’s efforts. He is always encouraging.
You’ve seen his comments on my blogs or his alphabet challenge on fellow bloggers posts.
His posts are filled with finger style guitar music and interesting photographs, curious cats and philosophers. He publishes a daily paper that promotes photography and photographers, news of the world and provocative thoughts and subjects. He’ll tweet your post and retweet! He has a ton of followers.
Today when I was walking down the sidewalks of Powell, Ohio, I saw this Volkswagen van in the window. He came to mind. He has a VW van in his header.
This photo is for you Frizz!
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