Daytona

This was taken during our first year of marriage in a small, old motel room that we were given a free night’s stay in to attend a friend’s wedding in Daytona. After exploring with my camera outside, I came back in the room to find my wife’s perfume bottle illuminated by the morning light.

I’ve had this image for almost three years, but never liked it enough to post it here. But, every time I looked at it, I saw something that wouldn’t let me trash it. So, I messed with it some more this week and finally got it to where I was pleased enough to share it.

My wife and I were always impressed with the generosity of this nice, Indian family that opened their place of business to us for free that weekend. This image will always remind me of that.

Storm

Morning light on a waterlogged, storm drain manhole cover. I just liked the steel tread and text popping up out of the shallow pool of water.

Mack Bulldog

I always thought this Mack Truck hood ornament was cool. I remember first seeing it on a shelf in my grandparent’s furnished basement. My grandfather, C. Nelson Yeager, was a truck driver for most of his working career and a diesel mechanic for some part of that time. He is now enjoying retirement, where as long as he has a newspaper in his hands and his Miniature Schnauzer “Lady” beside him, he’s a happy camper.

I recently thought to ask Pap if I could have this hood ornament that’s been in our family my whole life. He generously agreed to give it to me. So, I asked him for some of the history behind this piece and how he acquired it. He said that while he was working as a diesel mechanic for a particular fleet of Mack trucks, there was a problem with these ornaments being ripped off of the hoods, leaving gaping holes in the body of the truck. So, his boss ordered the mechanics to properly remove the ornaments before someone could improperly rip them out.

My grandfather says that it was actually the drivers who were ripping them off for themselves, but of course, they would never admit to that. So, since my grandfather was one of the mechanics with the task of properly removing these, he got to keep one.

This story took place around 1978, at least a year before I was born. This steel bulldog has enjoyed a sheltered life away from the elements of the road and weather ever since and I am the proud new owner of it.

It’s currently being used as a bookend in our office. I liked how the light was hitting it the other day, so I took the opportunity to make an image with it.



Mack Truck hood ornament 87931

Agua

As I got up from the sofa, I noticed light glowing through my wife's water bottle as it sat in front of the television. It was enough to get my attention, so I grabbed an image of it. I love the touches of reflected color and the contrast in the image.

There's beauty in the most simplest objects and scenes if we take time to look.

Contrast, Shape & Light

While sitting at Books-A-Million with my wife the other day, I noticed how the light was coming across this empty, mid-morning café scene, creating contrast with the table tops and their edges. I took a couple frames of it and decided on this one.

Pinkberry

My wife and I were at a frozen yogurt shop in Orlando called, "Pinkberry", late last Saturday night. What caught my eye about this scene was the way the lights were reflecting off of the glossy finished wall.

Lights Overhead

While I was posing for some group shots at a wedding reception I attended recently, I noticed this row of lights hanging in the hotel lobby that we were in. They caught my imagination, so I walked to the opposite end of the room and took this photo.

There wasn't much color in this image to begin with, but some of what did exist was that beautiful green and blue at the bottom of the frame. So, I did a selective color (which I love doing) to reward your eyes after following the lights down to the bottom.

La Niña

Some more Mackenzie love this week. I really need to get out and photograph some stuff. But, at least I have some more images of my beloved, furry creature to bestow to the world. She's actually sitting up on my desk as I'm typing this, just cleaning her paws and such. You know, "chillin'". Ok, she just looked lovingly over her sholder at me and meowed. How nice.

Well, that's enough for now. Until next Thursday.

2011 Tool Dealer Expo

This past weekend, I photographed the trade show that my company puts on each year. A lot of the images I got were photojournalistic / record shots of the crowds and booths that were involved in the event. The above image is one of my personal favorites, though. The clean lines of this Nissan 350z, which was one of six prize vehicles being given away, inspired me to make this image.

You can view the whole gallery of images I captured of the 2011 Tool Dealer Expo by clicking here.

Reflection of Light

I’ve heard great photographers say that “photography is all about light”. The very origin of the word means “drawing with light”. The amount of, quality of and behavior of light, all affect how a scene is viewed by our eyes and by a camera lens.

While sitting at Chipotle the other week, I noticed how light was bouncing off the aluminum table top, lighting my wife’s face from below. I liked what the light was doing in the scene, so I decided to make an image with it.

“Photography is all about light”.

Illuminated

I think at the core of photography is the thought or phrase, “look at this”. There’s always a reason why we push the shutter release button. Something inspired you to take the photograph. Maybe it was to remember a place or occasion. Or, as I like to do, maybe it was just to capture the beauty or art of a scene or object. Something you wouldn't normally take the time to notice or enjoy, now framed and frozen in time.

Last Saturday night, my wife and I met up with her sister and brother-in-law for dinner at Pei Wei. As I was sitting down to our table, I noticed how light was glowing through my wife's cup of water in an otherwise dark scene. It immediately inspired me. So, I got out my camera, composed the shot and took this image.

Season of Hope and Light

I took this image of my cat, “Mackenzie”, tonight after my wife and I set up our first Christmas tree in our new house. Today, we went shopping for a white tree and just the right colors to go with it. It needs some tweaking, but at least it’s up.

We’re actually planning on setting up about two more trees in the house since we have the room right now. I’m sure our cat will have a field day with multiple trees, she’s already intrigued with this one.

Believe it or not, but my cat has her own Facebook page. Check it out by clicking here.

Sharing this Life

The woman I’m living the dream with. I’m so thankful I have her.

Whatever good things I become in the rest of this life are going to be because of how God has used this woman to encourage me, challenge me and support me as my wife, best friend and life companion.

This weekend, Sandy and I drove to Franklin, Tennessee for the wedding of some friends. We left Kissimmee, Florida on Thursday night and arrived in Franklin on Friday morning for the wedding that night. It was a 12 hour journey, but worth it.

On Saturday morning, Sandy and I stopped in downtown Franklin for breakfast. While there, I spotted this old church with a beautiful tree in all it’s Fall glory beside it. I shot a few frames of the scene and came up with this image. I have another one that shows all three windows in a landscape format, but I felt less was more for this one.

"Mackenzie"

This is our “furry child,” Mackenzie the cat. She was born on May 30th, 2009 at Sandy's Aunt and Uncle's home. She was a member of a litter of three from a stray that was temporarily taken in while she gave birth and nursed her kittens. Mackenzie quickly became our favorite and came home with us as soon as she was weaned off of her mom.

Sandy and I are very glad that we’ve brought this little short haired tabby cat into our lives. You’ll definitely be seeing more of her on this blog in the future.

Look Up

While at the Boca Raton Resort and Club on a business trip back in 2006, these windows and ornate ceiling caught my eye. I remember people looking up as they passed by to see what I was photographing.

Reflecting the Sun

I would had probably missed this shot at Celebration, Florida, if it had not been for my wife. We were walking to dinner and I had seen a potential shot that probably wasn’t going to work anyway, when I heard Sandy point out this clock that was down another street. When I saw the clock illuminated by the setting sun, I quickly walked in that direction and captured this image.

Life Boat

I took this photograph while on board a casino cruise in West Palm Beach back in 2006. The bright orange in the boats; the steep, wood stairs; all inspired me to capture this image.

I never played any slots that night, but I did get approached by a staff member as I was photographing them. He informed me that I was not allowed to photograph the slot machines.

Hey, I wasn’t trying to figure out how to heist the place or how to build a better machine, I was just trying to create some good images. Oh well.

…I still had gotten two images of the machines before I was approached though ;)

No, you’re not visiting “Country Captures”, my Dad’s photo blog. You’re looking at an image that I took at Lakeland, Florida's Lake Parker in 2006. Although, my Dad was with me photographing the wildlife there as well during that time.

On another note, I want to say “Thank You” to all of you who take time to faithfully view this photo blog every time I post something new. It’s much appreciated.

Shades of Green

I took this image three years ago at Hollis Garden in Lakeland, Florida. I just like the color and pattern.