Panoramio Anyone?

Not long ago, I discovered a website called Panoramio, whose tag line is “Photos of the World”. It is a geographical photo collaboration site that uses Google Earth and Google Maps to link photos to the exact location from which they were taken. All uploaded photos (subject to review), will be included in Google Maps through Panoramio’s interface. During Google’s review they may also choose photos to include in Google Earth. This is a really fun way to contribute and view photos taken all around the world.

To participate, create an account then upload your own photos¹ of interesting landmarks and views from around the world. You can then use Panormaio’s “map it” feature² by placing the marker at the spot where the picture was taken (not the location of the subject in the photo). I uploaded four photos a couple months ago and just now uploaded the above photo of Price Lake with Grandfather Mountain in the distance. After logging back in recently, I was delighted to find that one of my photos has been chosen to be in the latest version of Google Earth. On behalf of Wall to Wall Photos, I plan on submitting some of my father’s photos from around the world as well. They also have monthly contests for various categories such as “Scenery”, “Heritage”, “Travel” and “Unusual Location”. Want to join in on the fun? Please leave a comment with a link to the photos you choose to share.

UPDATE: Four of the five photos I have submitted have been chosen to appear in Google Earth. The fifth one which I just recently submitted is in the standard review process right now.

1. According to the their current terms of service, copyright holders retain all rights to submitted content. [↩]
2. Those individuals with GPS data attached to their photo will not need to perform this extra step. Your photo will be placed on the map automatically. [↩]

Boone’s Outdoor Drama Horn in the West

I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with some of the cast members of the Horn in the West Outdoor Drama in June the day before the show was about to open for the 2008 season. I was at the Daniel Boone/JC’s park for LLL’s annual outdoor/picnic meeting and the cast members happened to arrive at the same time for a dress rehearsal. I asked them If I could take their picture; they happily obliged and even posed for me atop one of the climbing bars at the park. I also grabbed a quick photo of them while they were singing at one of the picnic tables under the shelter. I even got a little bit of exposure as a freelance photographer when High Country Media published my playground photo in the June 23rd edition of the Watauga Democrat Newspaper. 

Brian used to work with Wes Martin, who currently plays Daniel Boone in the drama. Brian and I went to see the production for the first time in 2000. I was impressed with the varied theatrics and the professionalism of all the actors. The drama has a new director this year who changed some minor things about the production. The show is also offered to Watauga county residents for only six dollars. I think it is about time we go again before the season ends on August 16th.

Nest Update

Daughter told me today she hadn’t seen the Juncos in a couple of days so I peered into the nest to check on it. This is what I found. 

Juncos and Sigmas

This female Slate-colored Junco has decided along with her mate that it was a good idea to make a nest to nurture her baby birds in one of my fern plants hanging in our carport. Daughter and I discovered the dad and mom making the nest several weeks ago and tried to relocate it but they came back and built another nest in the same plant. At that point, I figured it futile to pursue moving it again and far be it for me to deny a momma a nice, warm place to tend to her young. I gave up and continued to water my ferns as usual until one day I disturbed the momma in one of my three ferns. The next day I went out to check on the nest to see what was in it: eggs or baby birds.

I spied feathers and a foot all the while making both mom and dad very mad as they were chirping at me from a nearby tree. It makes it very difficult if not impossible to water this fern because I am afraid of hurting the hatchlings and making momma and dada too mad or, worst case, prompt them to abandon the nest. Every time anyone goes outside now they begin their defensive clicking chirps. I captured this photo while outside watching the kids play on their swings which is right near the nest.

I took this with the 400mm f5.6 lens I inherited from my Dad. It is very, very old and I think it may have dust or dirt in it as pictures come out sort of faded and hazy most of the time. I plan to send it away to a Sigma repair center for a good cleaning. I tried to take it apart to clean it myself but just ended up stripping one of the screws so I will now leave it to the pros. Hopefully, the cost will be reasonable and the time it takes, zippy as I will miss it.

Speaking of lenses, one of the other lens I inherited from my dad is a Sigma APO MACRO 180mm 1:2.8. It will not work with my rebel XTI and I found out last week after calling Sigma that it cannot be rechipped to work with my camera because they no longer make the chips for it, as the lens was discontinued over ten years ago. It was made sometime between 1991-1997 and it is in excellent condition. My Dad loved his Sigma lenses and took great care of all his equipment. I am bummed a little because I really like taking macro shots but I do have his 35mm Canon EOS ELAN camera body which it will work with. So whenever I get a chance to take a class where I will need a film camera I will have an awesome macro lens to shoot with.

Summer Solstice Sunset

Well this photo was actually taken after the sun set below the horizon and is really of the few rays that stick around after the sun fully disappears but the title sounded so good. We ventured out to Price Park to meet some friends but we were too late so we headed down to Price Lake and the view was too beautiful not to have recorded. Looking at it now, the composition could have used some adjusting.

Welcome Summer!

Summer is officially here. Too bad it will be gone way too soon. Here is a photo of a daylily from our yard. I have been taking lots of pictures and practicing composition and alternative views of subjects. Hope everyone enjoys this summer as much as I hope to.

He wasn’t kidding

When Brian said he was tempted to dig out his board and ride around the neighborhood, he wasn’t kidding. Now I have a few more additions in the skateboard gallery. However, I need alot more practice with action shots so I hope Brian is willing to do this all summer while I work on learning various motion control photography techniques.

Thank you!

Here is look at my first professional photo assignment. Pick up a June 5, 2008, copy of the High Country Newspaper to see my pictures in print.

Yum! Homemade Pesto Bruschetta

At the end of April, Brian told me about the annual plant sale at the ASU Department of Biology Greenhouse. I had heard about this in the past and couldn’t wait to go so I could get some plants. I wanted a couple of ferns but mostly longed for fresh herb plants for my kitchen window shelf so I could spontaneously add fresh herbs while cooking. When I got there they had so much to choose from that I would have gone way overboard if I hadn’t stop myself from getting one of everything they had. I bought some basil, oregano, spinach, arugula, mesclun lettuce, and tomato plants as well as some ferns. I have from time to time added fresh oregano to spaghetti sauce, mixed in some arugula and mesclun lettuce with my salad and I can’t wait to enjoy some tomatoes from the tomato plants but by far my most favorite creation from the plants I acquired would have to be the pesto bruschetta I made one weekend afternoon.

Since a friend of mine had shared with me some pesto a while ago, I had been wanting to make some of my own. We needed an appetizer before lunch and decided I would try to make some pesto, which was similar to a traditional topping for bruschetta, to go with the last bit of yummy spinach feta bread we had leftover from our local bakery. I searched ”the g**gle” for a pesto recipe and decided to use this one.

I was a little surprised we actually had everything I needed to make it but that is beginning to be more and more common as I experiment more with cooking. To make pesto which looks more like a bruschetta topping, use chopped versions of all the non-liquid ingredients, instead of following the pesto recipe instructions.

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Olive oil
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced

Place basil leaves in small batches in food processor and whip until well chopped (do about 3/4 cup at a time). Add about 1/3 the nuts and garlic, blend again.
Add about 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese; blend while slowly adding about 1/3 of the olive oil, stopping to scrape down sides of container.
Process basil pesto it forms a thick smooth paste. Repeat until all ingredients are used, mix all batches together well. Serve over pasta. Basil pesto keeps in refrigerator one week, or freeze for a few months.

While technically I may not have made textbook versions of pesto or bruschetta, it sure did taste good.

Yet Another Photo Gallery Update

I have been busy taking lots of photos and I just completed my first professional assignment. Just taking a quick break to let everyone know I have updated my photo gallery with more pictures.