Day 29 Mr. Majestic River

I had so-so shots of a UPS driver and an adorable little girl, but I really didn't want to use either as I didn't feel they were as good as they could be. I will see the little girl again and can get a far better shot of her in the future.

For today, I was walking one of my horses back to his stall and stopped off at my truck to put a few things away, when he took it upon himself to see if the window was something he could eat. Or maybe he believes he is kissing the horse in the window. In either case I grabbed a few shots.

Mr. Majestic River is named after a character Charles Bronson played. He is six years old this summer.

Day 28 Joe

I was driving out of town when I spotted Joe walking along carrying bags of groceries. I stopped my jeep, jumped out and asked him If I could take his picture. He consented after I told him I did not work for the Modesto Bee. He told me he had never been married. I must have had a shocked look on my face as he began to explain he wasn't gay. That he liked women very much. In fact he used to live with two older women. They are both dead now he said, I live alone. He said he was born in February of 1929.

Day 27 Sydnee and Matthew

I'd been taking pictures all day. I had even taken one that would have been great if I still worked for a newspaper. However, given that I have photographic freedom on my blog, I set out on another evening walk to hopefully get something I really like. I was walking down the street and saw from a distance these two children. I asked their father if I could take their picture and he said "you'll have to go ask their mother". I did and after she consented I began taking pictures. It didn't take long about 10 frames in all before I found what I was looking for. I prefer the photo of Sydnee by herself but I also wanted a picture of the two of them, Sydnee and her brother Matthew, so today I'm running two pictures. After all it is my blog and all my rules are made to be broken.

Day 26 Barking Dog

On my way to a favorite park I often walk by this house. Each time this little dog comes out of nowhere and begins protecting his territory. Each time his owner yells at him to stop it and get back. Today I notice they have a new puppy. The puppy seems to be gaining confidence, learning from the older, more experienced yard protecting master. I also love to photograph houses with white picket fences. Dogs and white picket fences, always a reminder of the American Dream.

Photographically I wish I could have taken the shot earlier while the little dog was completely in the sun.

Day 25 Dylan

Since starting this blog I have been wanting to get a night shot. So immediately after midnight I headed out on my photographic quest. Soon I came along a couple of guys and a girl. Both guys let me take their picture and gave me their names. A few steps later I found myself trying to remember the names they gave me. I believe the other guys name is Nigel, but can't remember this guys name. Check out his tattoo, a name! I bet it's his. I gave them my blog site and if they look it up and I'm wrong, I'll correct it. For now it's Dylan.

Day 24 Scary man

Nursing, still a swollen ankle, I'm forced to look for photographs at home. With macro lens at hand I set out to the kitchen. I had planned on slicing up a few bananas and possibly dripping some honey across them, but then this light caught my eye.

I used to love driving by rocky hill sides as a child, it was so much fun looking at the rocks and imaging them as so many different living creatures. As an adult this happens far less often, but this morning I turned to see a man's profile. He looked slightly scary and sad. I felt sorry for him immediately but also found myself liking him as well. So I took his picture.

Day 23 Apple

I had planned on taking a walk down 9th street in hopes of finding the next picture, but I woke up this morning with a swollen ankle. Thank goodness for the macro lens. I've had this lens for about a year now and have never really played with it to the extent I should have. So recuperating my ankle could prove to be a lot of fun. I love the light that shines through my kitchen window in the morning. I also discovered how prurient an apple is and now firmly believe it was Adam that picked the first one.

Day 22 Steven

Once while viewing many paintings of men swimming by David Hockney, and noticing all the variables created by the water fluctuation and placement of the swimmer, I thought how cool it would be to do that with photography. I never did, life just seems to carry you away.

Well, I sprained my ankle at work today and knew there'd be no going for a walk looking for pictures. I called my son and told him he was swimming for me. I had him swim right underneath my camera and blow bubbles. I could do this all summer, pictures of bubbles in water.

Day 21 Mysterious Mylar

Since finding this blog http://catchycolors.blogspot.com/ a few days ago I've been wondering why I haven't taken a picture with brilliant color. Not exactly knowing where to look I didn't waste to much space in my brain pondering the issue. Today I was at work, which since I am a substitute, means I was in another persons space. A public place a classroom, but held in high regard and as a personal space by the teacher. I admit sometimes out of sheer boredom I snoop. While looking around I found a basket filled with mylar type swirling decorations on a bottom shelf, I lifted the basket to the light and began taking pictures. So many interesting shots, but I picked this one as it seemed a bit mysterious. Mysterious mylar.

Day 20 Edgar aka "Sonny"

Sometime in April I spent a couple of hours talking to Sonny and photographing him in black and white film. Since starting this blog I have been wanting to go back and get a color digital picture of him. Several times while driving down Ninth street I noticed he was moving things out so I stopped by today. He said he was hoping to retire and be out of the building by June 1st. While I admit there is far less stuff there now than when I visited in April, it still seems like a difficult task to get rid of so much stuff. But good stuff he says. "Brand new stuff that I don't want to throw away, I've thrown enough away already." He showed me two awesome hotel safes from the early 1900's. They both weigh about 4,000 pounds and he's hoping to sell them for $500 a piece but says they are probably worth between $1,000 and $2,000. Sonny took over the boat repair business when his father had a heart attack in 1957. Originally the business was across the street but has been at this address for the last 14 years.

Editing... I had 15 pictures I liked of Sonny and his business, but this is a one photo a day blog. I tried my best to edit wisely. And yet, could only edit it down to three pictures. Oh well... Photographer yes... Editor no...

Day 19 Robert

I was snapping away in my son's apartment, waiting for him to get ready to go grocery shopping, when a man appeared out of the bedroom area. Robert had been fixing the fuse box or doing some kind of electrical work for the apartment. He was hot and sweaty, just what I wanted a hot and sweaty man. I began throwing my camera around willy nilly all in fun while he stood there with a smile. I photographed him drinking a large glass of ice water and all the while I kept seeing the side of his face and the sweat dripping in the light. I knew all my thrashing about of the camera wasn't catching what I saw, his face. So I said after taking 92 pictures of nothing, o.k. now it's for real, let me get a couple of nice shots. He stood smiling while I took three more pictures.

I took a photography class a couple of years ago, taught by a very successful photographer, who after viewing pictures of mine very similar to this one, told me to loosen up, loosen up. I think of that comment when I'm out there in the wilds of life looking for that all mighty photograph and I loosen up. But in this case, all I could see was the light gracing Robert's countenance. So I'm happy with my tight shot. And next time just call me loosey goosey.

Day 18 Doggie in the window

Note to self, next time check your camera battery before you leave! So I was taking pictures of a guy washing windows at an old fashioned hamburger joint, then diverted my attention to two customers who also didn't seem to mind my relentless snapping away, when my battery died. Disappointed I had to walk back home with out a working camera, I took solace in believing I might have gotten a shot I liked. In pulling up this image I noticed the doggie in the window.

How cool is that? I love that song... "How much is that doggie in the window?"

Day 17 Wet Rose

There's an international exhibit of photographs taken by blind photographers on display at the California Museum of Photography in Riverside Ca. One photo in particular refuses to leave my mind. As a photojournalist I used to take many photo's of kids playing in water. And here comes this blind guy who does it so much better. I didn't have a little kid to throw water at, but out back I do have a rose bush, with one last tiny rose left. I held my camera with the right hand and hosed the rose with the left. Not nearly as cool as Bruce Hall's Frenetic, but I have only just begun to play. Not to mention, I have that disability called sight to overcome.

Day 16 Poppies

Five years ago I spread some poppy seeds near the back fence of our yard. Each year since poppies have arisen to brighten our life. This time around just one plant graced us with it's presence. I've photographed them each year but now I have a macro lens! and what a different experience it is... Now I have to plant all kinds of wild flowers. Is there any better color than what flowers give us?

Day 15 Star Trek

A few times as kids, my sisters and I went to visit some distant cousins. While my sisters played outside with the girl I watched the Star Trek series with the boy whose name I can't recall. I think that was the beginning of my appreciation for science fiction. The Blob lapping up people in it's gooey blubbery stuff, giant ants in the movie Them, a small Japanese boy and his friend Godzilla destroying buildings and saving an unappreciative people from another more deadly monster, movies all as measures of time with which our lives pass by. At almost fifty it was a pleasure to watch James Tiberius Kirk and Spock meet, bond and save planet Earth. But of course I couldn't distract people by taking pictures during the movie, so a preview will do.

Day 14 Sam's Automotive

Sam's Automotive on 9th street has been working on our cars for years. Today I picked up my jeep which now has a new water pump and thermostat. I photographed like a mad woman while there and had two shots I liked. In both of them people waiting, always people waiting for their cars to be finished.

Day 13 Mickey

Strolling down the street I happen upon a few guys kicking it. One guy runs away saying it's illegal for me to take his picture. Then Mickey comes strutting over, "take mine". Mickey stands there striking some poses and tells me I can have him for ten dollars. After informing him I don't have ten dollars, he says "O.K. then you can have me for free."

Day 12 Sam

I was driving along Ninth street in Modesto and saw this man sitting comfortably in the shade. I turned around, jumped out of my jeep and with camera in tow asked the sitting man if I could take his picture. He smiled his consent. While I was snapping away, an unhappy man pushing a broom appeared out of the doorway. I asked my subject for his name and the unhappy man looked over at him with a scowl. My subject said he could not give me his name. I asked if I had done something wrong why couldn't he give me his name. As the unhappy man turned around my subject said quickly, Sam... s a m.

Day 11 Rose pedals on a wood windowsill

I've been playing a lot lately with the macro lens and getting some neat shots. Why I haven't posted one of them I'm not sure. Maybe they just weren't there. I had one shot of a lady bug staring down an aphid but I felt the aphid couldn't be seen very well as it was in the shade. So this morning when I saw these tiny rose pedals laying on my kitchen windowsill I had to take a picture. I love the shallow depth of field the macro lens gives. I also love how the tiny screen shadows create lines that accent the larger diagonal lines.

Day 10 Katie and Maddie

I had so many to choose from today but in the end it is Mothers Day... So a picture of Katie and her youngest daughter Maddie. I was lucky to catch a tender mother daughter moment.

Day 9 Gabriela and grandma Abigail

Gabriela and her grandmother Abigail stand as I take their picture. I explain it's for my blog and the boy sitting on the porch tries to look it up. His laptop is running slow and the page won't load.

Day 8 Fruit Stand

Driving out of Patterson on Main Street I saw this brilliant color so I stopped for a shot. This guy saw me taking pictures as I walked over and began saying "you could ask..." but stopped short when he saw me reach into my pocket and pull out a five dollar bill. He smiled, pointed to what I could have for that price, and allowed me to take my pictures. I didn't take to many though, just a few. Grabbed my cup of fruit and left.

Day 7 Jillian and Kaitlyn

I was so exhausted when I arrived home from work today that my muscles ached. The last four or five days have been hectic. I was ready to accept that the only picture I was going to take was of my dirty dishes. When after a short rest on my couch, I took my dog for a walk. A few blocks later I saw these two girls siting in front of what looked like an empty house. I snapped a few shots from the sidewalk but had to have more. I asked them if their parents were around. They ran next door to where they said they lived and brought their mom outside. I explained to her I had a photo blog and she allowed me to take pictures of the two girls. What a lucky person I am to be able to photograph these two beautiful girls. I'm putting two pictures up one for each. Jillian, Kaitlyn and mom thank you.

Day 6 Tonopah Ora

After work I headed up to La Grange to photograph Steve and Carolyn Bauhr. Steve is training a mustang mare they've named Tonopah Ora. She will be competing in the 2009 Western States Horse Expo mustang challenge.

Day 5 Eric and Starving horse update

Nor Cal Equine will be taking legal possession of this horse at 5 p.m. today if the owner does as he said he would. Nor Cal paid for Taylor vet to access the horses condition. One of the vets said "This is one of the worst cases of horse starvation I've seen where the horse is still alive". Taylor vet is going to try and take the horse to it's clinic today at five when the owner signs it over. I want to personally thank Nor Cal Equine for helping this horse.

While waiting for the vets to arrive I walked around talking to neighbors who have been asking what's going on with the horse. They have all been calling animal control for over a month now and seemed to really care about his situation. I told one of them that I needed a picture for my blog and along came Eric. Eager to have his picture taken. Thank you Eric.

Foot Note: the story about this horse on my blog is scattered and a little difficult to understand. I was communicating on another blog and through e-mails to NorCal Equine Rescue. They did acquire possession of the horse who is now named Phoenix. They ran the entire story on their blog http://savethehorse.blogspot.com/2009/05/5-5-09.html The story was also picked up by the Modesto Bee. The articles title is "Former Racehorse Saved From Starving to Death". Published May 17, 2009. Phoenix is recovering and occasionally NorCal Equine Runs updates.

This blog is for my own personal growth as a photographer, however I am also discovering the significance of photographs in our everyday lives. I'm grateful for the ability to post pictures, which then can get others involved and in this case that ability played a major roll in saving a life. In fact without pictures and a place to share them, Phoenix would have died in that field.

day 4 blog purpose

The purpose of this blog is to challenge myself as a photographer. These are not the kind of pictures I want to show on this blog. I have decided however to leave these pictures up. As proof of the condition of this horse and his lack of care. I cannot believe that animal control says this horse is being cared for and that he is on pasture. Since when are fox tails considered pasture?

starving horse food picture 2

I thought I should post another picture of the food this horse has in case the owner tries to say he is caring for the horse. Animal control said they'd check it out today or tomorrow. I hope they enjoy their dinner knowing this horse is starving to death on their watch.

starving horse food pictures

This is the food animal control says the horse is getting, The horse is located on Carpenter road in Modesto CA, Neighbors not the owner are giving this horse water,

starving horse

These are pictures of a starving horse, I drove by and turned around, these are for any of the fugly readers so they can help me do something about this poor horse.

Day 3 choir boys

I actually had three shots to choose from for today. But in the end I choose this shot of a couple of choir boys waiting outside the True Love Family Church on Ninth street in Modesto. I barely had the chance to talk to them when they were called in to perform.

Day 2 Rufus

I started my day eager for a new photograph. I spotted this guy walking a dog across the street made a u-turn and asked to take his picture. "Sure" he said " but don't think I stole this dog. This is my brothers dog. He's in prison. I know what it's like to lose something the people are gonna miss him. It looks like they've been fighting him. I know this is my brothers dog. Not my real brother, my brother under the skin. Yeah, I remember this dog it has the same makings. I've been calling him Rufus. He responds to Rufus. Yeah, Looks like cat scratches, they've been taking good care of him. I'll take good care of this dog. I'm taking him home."

picture one

I visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium yesterday and photographed this guy while walking down the street. He is officially picture one. Three hundred sixty four pictures to go.