Holy @&#%!

I feel sooo... sheltered, left out and behind the times even. Found this new wonder breakfast product in a shiny big mall in Vancouver. The city people get all the latest, greatest, new things! Us poor sods who live out in the countryside and in little villages far from civilization are stuck with old fashioned breakfast things like Corn Flakes, bacon "n" eggs and oatmeal. LOL

NiK Software.

This is a post processing from NiK software.  The original file is a RAW file from Nikon D70 with 18-70mm f/3.5.  I love this camera, and this is my first DSLR.  If you want fast post processing, this software is the one you need.  I like the way they have all the default settings for you to choose from.  All I have to do is converted this picture to back and white, then select one of the 25 default settings "you don't have to create a layer for each adjustments:.  This software is a plug-in for Photoshop CS3 - CS5, Light room, and   Photoshop Elements.  

Must be a "Family Guy"

Subtile Canadian Humour...

Looking Up

I was going to name this photo "copycats" from all of the other people in Las Vegas with cameras that were trying to figure out what I was taking a picture of. I caught myself looking up through one of the gardens one day and decided to look through my viewfinder to see what it would frame out like. When I brought my camera back down I noticed three other people with cameras looking up in the sky to try to see what I was taking a photo of. I'm not sure if I took this photo because of the way it looked or just because I wanted to see how many more people would look up. LOL

Just got back...

from Vancouver.

I'll bet you were thinking Hawaii! LOL No such luck... But did get a few days away from home and the weather as you can see was beautiful! I also had a chance to take a few pictures this past weekend and will be posting a few of the better ones over the coming days as time permits.

Interesting Vista

This is one of many pictures that I've taken while out hiking but not done anything with for whatever reason... This particular view down Holberg Inlet kept catching my eye for whatever reason, so I cleaned it up a little in Photoshop and put a subtile bit of virtual matting around the whole thing to make it a little more presentable and, well,  here it is.

Tribute To The Fallen Soldiers.

These pictures are from Washington DC.  The top two pictures are from Arlington Memorial Cemetery, and the bottom picture is the Vietnam War Memorial.  We love to visit this city, I could not believe there are so much histories just within 5 sq. miles.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Waterfalls

OK, so I cheated. They're man made waterfalls but they're still waterfalls!

Inside Caesar's Palace

Don't let the blue skys fool you, these were taken inside the hotel. There was a lot more to this fountain but there were too many people around to get good photos of parts of it.

These two are in another part of the hotel on your way to the fountain pictured above. Caesar's Palace takes up a good city block if not better. When we would go into the hotel through the main lobby and walk the hall to the elavator that took us to our room we had to walk about 100 yards just to get to the elavator and then we went up about 20 floors. I don't think I've walked so much in a very long, long time.

These were all taken with the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 lens on the D700 with the ISO set at 1600.

The Fountains at the Bellagio

If you ever get to Las Vegas and are wanting some free entertainment then the Bellagio Fountains is a good place to start. They put on a show several times a day (mostly at night) and there is always someplace you can stand to see the show. It was interesting to see the show and maybe even more interesting to see the people coming to see the show.

According to information from the Bellagio website the fountains are "A refreshing addition to your entertainment options, the Fountains of Bellagio were destined to romance your senses. Take in a complimentary Las Vegas show of water, music and light thoughtfully interwoven to mesmerize its admirers. All for your amusement, the most ambitious, choreographically complex water feature ever conceived amazes against the beautiful backdrop of Las Vegas' lavender sky. Each dynamic performance from the Fountains collection is unique in its expression and interpretation. Fall in love with the stunning nature of this unprecedented aquatic accomplishment while relishing a clever concert of opera, classical and Broadway tunes."

These were all shot using a Nikon D700 with a Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 lens. These were taken handheld with apertures between f2.8 and f7. Anybody want to buy a good used tripod? LOL

Bird on IPhone 4s.

After I bought my cup of coffee today at Starbucks, I found this little bird sitting on the curb where I parked my car.  I'm not sure this bird is sick or not shy by human, I have tried to feed this one with peanuts, but it wouldn't take it.  I hope I don't get any bird flu from this one.  All these shots came from my IPhone 4s on HDR mode.  

In the Shark Tank with the D700

These were all shot with just the available light in the tank. I set the ISO on the D700 to 6400 and was using the Nikon 17-35mm lens at f2.8 so that I could get the shots.

Birds, Butts and a Waterfall

A flamingo from the Flamingo Hotel and Casino

Puttin' on a show for the tourists.

What? This isn't the butt you were expecting?? LOL

Sorry Q but this one was shot hand held

Sunset for Keiki

Keiki the wolf dog silhouetted in the setting sun on Holberg Inlet. Took this with my 4mp Fuji S5100 back in 2005.

Alas poor Keiki had to leave this world a few years ago. Fortunately I am one who believes in the hereafter and am looking forward to seeing Keiki and many other of my two and four legged friends again after my time here is done.

What happens in Vegas....

....get's photographed!

I took this photo about 10:00 a.m. I wasn't sure if they were just getting started or were just finishing from the night before.

Anything for a buck I guess.

You can blame this one on Paul. Ever since he posted a photo a woman in a bikini holding a camera in Hawaii I have been looking for that one shot to out do him. LOL

I'm still looking!

Solar eclipse from the West Coast

It was supposed to be overcast and cloudy all day but for a few minutes late this afternoon the sun peeked through and I was able to snap a few (75) quick shots of the solar eclipse! The above shot was the best of the bunch. I took this with my Sigma 120-400 at 400mm. then cropped to about 25% of it's original size in Photoshop.
I'm really hoping one of the other posters here on this blog site had clearer skies in their area and got a better picture than this to post!

Dallas Dragon Boat Race 2012.

This is an annual Dragon boat race in Dallas area that hosted by Chinese communities in DFW area.  They have done this for 12 years, and I did not know about this until yesterday.  There are other things including in this festival, such as flying kites, and other cultures stage performers.  Yes, Ron they do have Hula dancers there, but I preferred stay at the race.  The best thing at this festival is hearing the Hawaiian music in the background while sitting in the Sun taking pictures.

These pictures are from Nikon D3, 200-400mm with CP filter.

Viva Las Vegas!

Need I say more?

Puppy pictures

Ok this blog site has been far too quiet with both Parker and Ron away on holidays. So looks like it's up to Q and I to keep the pictures coming!

Here are some puppy pictures of Buster the Maremma Sheep Dog at 8 weeks old. Buster is now all grown up now and weighs in at 115 lbs.

Ok Q your turn... LOL

The Forgotten Places.

The Salton Sea was formed between 1905 and 1907 when the Colorado River burst through poorly built irrigation controls south of Yuma, Arizona. Almost the entire flow of the river filled the Salton Basin for more than a year, inundating communities, farms and the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Continued filling of the Salton Sink was finally stopped in 1907, when a line of protective levees was built by boxcars dumping boulders into the breach from Southern Pacific tracks. By then, this inland lake was about 40 miles long and 13 miles wide, covering an area of about 400 square miles.

Have a nice weekend everyone!