Pearl Harbor 70th anniversary parade

Ron's last post with the pretty Hula dancers brought to mind these fellows in traditional garb.

Took these pictures handheld at various focal lengths between 50 and 135mm. I had the flash on my Nikon SLR set to +1 which is as high as it goes. Most of these subjects are 30 to 40 feet away. I was surprised at how well these came out actually.

Hula Girls for Q

This is from the Old Lahaina Luau in Lahaina. This is the second luau we've been to and I have to say I wasn't very impressed. The show was OK, but the sound was terrible and unless you are sitting on the ground in front of the stage, you can't see that well either. Add to that they really jam pack the people in and the food is mediocre at best, I'm not sure it's worth the $100 per person price tag to get in. The luau at the Hyatt Regency had much better food and we enjoyed the show more becuase they had the fire dancers where the Old Lahaina Luau didn't.

The location for this luau is better because you can see the ocean and the boats where as the Hyatt's luau has a backdrop on the stage. I'll take a back drop with good food over the ocean and mediocre food anytime. And don't get me started on the drinks, the Old Lahaina Luau doesn't put much alcohol in their mai tais or other "specialty drinks". I'm not sure there was any in mine.

Surf's Up!

I took these photos of surfers on the windward side of the island while making the drive to Hana. These were taken at a popular surfing beach near Pa'ia (pronounced pah-ee-a) which is the last town you see before Hana about 40 miles away.

These were all taken with the Sigma 150-500mm at 500mm and hand held. Sorry Q, next time I will have the tripod.

I have been looking at a new lens to buy before my next trip to Hawaii. Sigma makes a 300-800mm f5.6 lens that I think I'm going to invest in. You'll know why when I put up some more of my ocean shots. Is the suspense killing you? LOL

The Road to Hana

Now all you have to do is add 616 more of these curves, 56 one lane bridges and about a half dozen really stupid drivers and you have the 52 mile long road to Hana. It's not really that bad of a drive. You do have to pay attention to what you're doing though, it's along way down!

They call me Spike

We took the drive to Hana while on Maui this time and along the way we stopped several places to take some pictures. It is so much greener on that side of the island. That side of the island gets between 200 and 350 inches of rain a year compared to about 30-60 inches of rain on the leeward side.

Connection Made

connector one

connector two

In my last post I was trying to figure out how to connect the wires from the ball of twisted wires. Standing back and looking at the whole pic, one can see the robot like characters are either feeding or being fed from a shared energy mass! Which reminds me; Hope everyone is re-charging and re-energizing your bodies and souls this weekend!!

Kickn' Broadway

part 6

Just a little off the top please

I'm always amazed at the lengths the vacation properties go to to keep the lanscaping looking pristine. I saw this guy trimming the dead palm leaves from a tree so everything would look just right.

This was taken with the Sigma 150-500mm at 500mm. I was sitting on the lanai watching for whales when I saw a branch drop so I swung the camera around to see what I was missing. This guy had used a climbing tree stand to get up the tree and then lowered himself down using the rope. I'm not sure I would want his job, he was pretty far up and the wind was blowing at a good clip on this day. The tree was swaying back and forth the whole time he was up there.

I'm baaaaack.....

Unfortunately, we had to get on the plane and come back to "da mainland". We have already booked another trip to paradise and eventually we will be living there. But until then, I will be posting some photos of Maui. I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked because we were playing tour guide to my wife's parents but I still found time to take almost 3700 photos. That means I'll have about 150 I can use! LOL

You'll be seeing lots of Hawaii photos in the weeks to come. I hope you don't get bored.

WARNING Will Robinson, WARNING As a side note, I have learned the hard way not to go cheap on your memory cards. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of memory with me so I bought some cheap memory cards (Lexar Platinum II CF cards) and I had two of them get corrupted on me during the trip. I was able to recover all but one photo using some software but I would NOT recommend this brand of memory card for your camera. I had four of them and the first two I used corrupted on me. I didn't even try the last two. I figured a 50% fail rate was good enough not to even worry about using the other two. Needless to say these became trash as soon as I recovered the photos and got them on a hard drive.

Flying antique

I captured this Grumman Goose moments before touchdown. They sure come close to the low trees at the edge of the runway on their way in!

Originally designed as a flying yacht and commuter plane in 1937 this versatile and rugged amphibious airplane quickly gained the attention of the US Airforce, Navy and Coast Guard at the inception of the Second World War and were used in numerous rolls during the war years.

Since then these airplanes have been used as the bush planes of the coast. All told 345 were built and of those approximately 50 remain airworthy. Not bad for a 70 plus year old Airplane!

LOUD! and in TECHNICOLOR!

I might have heard it before I saw it. An explosion of colors a half block off Broadway!

Naturally, anything this colorful, and I do like colors, had this picture taker making tracks to the scene,Man! What I found was a Gallery created by a psychedelic band, 'The Flaming Lips'. Opened the front door but there was a photo shoot taking place. Almost had ourselves begged in to watch but the photographer balked. Must have been the Nikon hanging from my neck, He was using a Canon! Bummer Man!

Thought I would include the window menu for the New Years happenings at their gallery, which I later learned had to be moved to another location, art exhibits, stage and all! Fire Dept. nixed the deal.

Guess now's the time to issue a little warning. If you decide to visit any of the web sites shown on the sign, be aware that some of the material is graphic and only broad minded Adults should view!

After the warning, thought I would go to the alley, where else, to continue the photo adventure!

I've got to give these artists credit for their use in colors and creative minds. Some might call this Grafitti, others Poster Art! I do not know what to call it, and really don't know if it needs a name. All I know is alot of time had to have went into it's making, and was sure fun to shoot by this snapshooter!

Every story needs an ending. So here I sit staring at one of the pieces created on the pink painted bricks! I must really have my wires crossed because finding two wire ends that connect is proving to be a challenge; so I guess one more post of this madness will be coming as soon as a connection can be made!

Kickn' Broadway

part5

Blustery day!

A rare patch of filtered sun illuminated the docks and waterfront buildings of Sointula on Malcolm Island. Took this handheld with the Sigma 120-400 at 400mm from Hyde Creek an even smaller community on Northern Vancouver Island.

A Flower on Broadway

A Showy Corner

The Magnolia Petroleum Company building has retained its facade and still has a very functional presence on North Broadway!

A Picture from a Picture

A friendly young man noticed all the photo work that was going on and invited us into his place of employment to view some old pics they had hanging on their walls. Thus, this old pic of the Magnolia!

Built in 1919 and later sold to Mobile Oil Corporation. Wonder how many of us remembers Pegasus, The Flying Red Horse! The best example I know of, is in Dallas, Texas.

  

First Fidelity Bank is now the operator of the bldg., replacing the gas pumps with outside teller stations. I think buisness is good, an armored truck was needed to carry away money the safes wouldn't hold!

Kickn' Broadway

part 4

It takes two to Tango

I was killing some time while the women folk were shopping yesterday and came across these two flamingos doing a dance. They were in the greenery at the Hyatt Resort in Ka'anapali.

We spent the day looking at houses today. There may be a move coming on!

A TALE from BROADWAY!

622 North Broadway

Readily found a parking spot in front of the famous Hale Photo Bldg. One of OKC's earliest commercial photographers founded the business in 1913. George C. Hale passed the love of photography to his son who expanded and grew the legacy to this location. George T. Hale Photo was the place to go for your photo needs.Cameras, film, dark room supplies and equipment, film developing, photo shoots, expert advice and whatever else the novice or professional needed to capture their photos! Full service store!

The front door was locked . Cupping my hands around my eyes peering thru the window, I was shocked to see the roof had caved and was laying on the floor! Found out that George T. passed in 1983. I suppose his wife and son were not into photography because the bldg. has been declared a derelict structure by OKC! The son says he wants to save the bldg. The City has given him a short time to present a plan. We all know what happens to derelict buildings! 

Continuing the walk North, crossing to the 700 block, we passed by this colorful store front. Thought they did a nice job presenting their wares and location. Purple for the wine along with a corkscrew for opening!

After the downer Hale Photo story it was sure nice to run into this new Studio and Gallery. I'm proud to say that Photography is still alive and well on Broadway!

Kickn' Broadway!

part 3

Shooting the breeze

A little para-surfing off the coast of Maui.

Not burr!

Just kicking back before sunset contemplating another mai tai. Now where's that chair Q had? LOL

Burr!

Over on the West Coast of Canada we've become real good at rain... Light rain, heavy rain, drizzle, fog etc. We totally fail when it comes to cold and snow, especially snow!

The past week has been below 0° C. (32° F.) and as cold as -10° C. (14° F). Fortunately the rain is forecast to be back by the end of the day tomorrow!

Not that I'm complaining, with the colder weather we get lots of sunshine and Lord knows we all need as much sunshine as we can get this time of year especially over here on the West Coast.

BLUE WATER RD

Cool thing happened today! My hiking Buddy Ron, along with his cool wife Cheryl, posted a blue water pic from Hawaii. My next pics from 'Kickn' Broadway'  were these next two shots! Blue Sign in the bottom of the middle window read Blue Water Rd! Perfect title for my post this evening.

Reflections in the window include my Cool Wife Charlotte, who kicked Broadway with me!

Lady next to mannequin is not cool wife! Old Cool Dude with camera is the Picture Taker!

Anyone who has viewed the pics and read the captions of past posts from the archives of Shutterbugs, is aware that Ron and Cheryl do a little diving in the clear waters around the Islands.

Thought maybe before their next dive this year, they should be aware of the latest 'Fashions in Dive Wear' that is currently being shown on Broadway!

Kickn' Broadway

part 2

Life is good today

Aloha from the island of Maui.

KICKN' BROADWAY

A New Sidewalk Adventure! With Pics!

January 6, 2012, was another one of those Winter Days in Oklahoma City that just called for this novice picture taker to get out on the streets and start twisting dials and snapping shutters! North Broadway would be the Prey on this Sunny and Shirtsleeve day ! 

Fresh off my Dec. 28th of 2011, Kickn' Along the Sidewalks series, which opened my eyes to the many photo opportunities that lay within a few miles of me, I was ready to get going! Not only for the pics, this is Great Fun to Boot!

Start Your Clocks!

As with the last series, this was a one day shoot, with several days posts of pics. All photos were taken with a Nikkor 18-55mm lens with no editing! Frames are added by our Blogger format. Handheld, (steady, Q), Shots of Opportunity!  

Winter wonderland!

Had a light dusting of snow overnight, everything looks sugar frosted this morning! I used the Sigma 10-20mm ultrawide at 10mm for both of these pictures.

Too bad Ron and Cheryl are going to miss all this nice snow and freezing tempertures! LOL

Here Today...

I know I haven't been posting much the last few weeks but I will be posting even less for the next 12 days. The time is FINALLY here, we're going on vacation. Maui and mai tais are calling me.

I am taking a laptop with me and I will try to post a couple of photos while I'm gone but I'm not going to promise anything.

Aloha!

RON"S ANCHOR

Anchor From USS Oklahoma

Happy to say the temporarily lost anchor has been located in a small park between NW 12th and 13th Sreet on Broadway! In an earlier post our blog leader Ron showed us a scanned newspaper clipping of him at 5 along with his Dad. Both were in uniform as they viewed this anchor on Pearl Harbor Day. With all the changes over the years the location was lost. The next two pics will give the history of the anchor including it's many relocations over the lost years. 

A fresh coat of paint along with a solid Oklahoma granite base, makes a fitting place for its new home!

I feel this Quote honors the many men who lost their lives in Pearl Harbor while serving on the crew of the USS Oklahoma that fateful day!