Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I took the time to head back to Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP), in Philadelphia, PA, this time with my Nikon D700, Â my super wide-angle lens, the Nikkor 14-24, and my trusty Really Right Stuff tripod. Â Admittedly, that kit is significantly heavier than rolling with just my iPhone, which I’ve been doing for many months now, but I think ESP is one of those places that justifies the hassle. Â I’ve got a few other shots I’ll post over time, including one of Al Capone’s cell (he was a “guest” at ESP in 1929, for those of you who may not know).

Empty on the Inside

Yesterday, during a conversation with a dear friend here in Redding, California, we talked a bit about lives transformed. Â He observed that, having met me and talked with me when I first arrived in Redding, back in July, he would never have guessed that I was anything but happy and fulfilled. Â Truth be told, I informed him, I was “happy” on the outside, but pretty hollow inside. Â My passions in life, of which I had many, were not where they needed to be. Â That all changed in Redding, thankfully, and I’m a different man today. Â All I had taken for granted, I now cherish, while all the things I “thought” I loved have taken their rightful place (either gone, forever, or refined). Â I suppose my message to all of you reading this, during this season, is that I urge all of you to take stock of your lives. Â Are your passions where they should be? Â Is there someone out there you may have taken for granted for far too long? Â I’m pretty sure you know the answer to those questions, given a little thought. Â What you do with that truth is up to you!

Surf’s up dude!!

So we’ve made our way down to the San Francisco Bay Area to do a little exploring. Â Spending a few days hosted by a wonderful family at their beautiful house on Stinson Beach. Â It’s just so peaceful and relaxing here, the smell of the sea and the crashing of the waves along the shore. Â I went out early this morning to snag this shot of a surfer doing his thing. Â I was experimenting a bit with long exposure to get a more painterly effect in the shot. Â Also blend in some a nice blue texture to give it an almost canvas painting like look. Â What do you all think?

Buck Wild!

Kenya is chock full of DLTs (that would be deer-lke things), and one of my favorites is the water-buck, pictured here.Â Usually you’ll find these roaming around grassy plains and such, but I had never encountered one near or on the water.Â This fella was about knee deep in Lake Naivasha, where we also came across LOTS of hippos.Â What with the name water-buck and fact that he is actually hanging out in the lake, this has to be my favorite “environmental portrait” shots of one of these magnificent creatures.Â We were in a long-boat when I shot this with the D700 and Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR set to 180mm.Â Sure was cool to get so close to this guy and have him look up at me in time for the shot, though the boat was also moving (slowly) when I shot this.

Meet Junior!

While we were in Kenya, we took some time to visit the two wonderful Kenyan my daughters sponsor through the great organization, Compassion.Â While visiting one of those children, Philes, in the village of Kiima Kiu, we met one of Philes’ friends, Junior.Â When I saw him enjoying a small Cadbury chocolate bar by the wonderfully colored and textures door and wall, I asked if it was okay to take a picture.Â I sure was glad he let me take this, as I think it came out pretty well.Â I promised I’d send a copy once it was finished, which I’ll have to do through Compassion; sure hope he likes it.