Lightsmith Photography Photo of the Day

Day 193: Evolve

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

I shot today's photo using off camera flash with the camera mounted on a tripod. I was able to maintain sharp focus on all the faces (which were not on the same plane) by using a smaller aperture. I used the manual settings on the flash and camera. It only took 2 tries to get my exposure correct which means, I guess, I'm evolving.

Day 192: The daughter of invention

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

Tonight we tested Jenna's school invention project with actual test subjects, our Super Bowl guests. I had promised myself that I wouldn't reveal the invention until we had secured a patent. But since the audience for this blog is rather small I will risk it and tell you that Jenna invented an electric marshmallow toaster. Tonight it produced perfectly toasted marshmallows and the focus group who tested them gave the invention very high ratings. As soon as we sell the patent for millions, I will be hosting all my blog followers to a trip to Hawaii.

Day 191: Showgirls

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

Tonight we attended the Bethany 100th Anniversary Concert. It was a collection of musical talent across the years in our dear town of Bethany. It was quaint. It was nostalgic. It was long. And it was well attended because the wise planners were sure to include lots of children whose parents would have to attend to see their treasures perform.Mine is the one wearing glasses.

Day 190: this is it

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

Have you ever found yourself identifying with the U2 song, I still haven't found what I'm looking for? If so, then you might want to head to 1100 S. Robinson because apparently, this is it. Actually what I think I found was the world's best sign painter because as this building is falling apart all around it, the window signage remains prestine. Just for kicks I called the phone number and as I suspected it is no longer in service. File this under things that make you go hmmmmm?

Day 189: Haunted evening

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

Tonight I was on the way home from class and realized I had no image for the day. As I passed downtown on I-40 I noticed the ghostly pale the fog was creating among the lit up buildings. I quickly exited and made my way to the Skirvin Hotel. I had my super-wide lens with me and looking thru the viewfinder the lights against this building with the heavy fog made for a wonderful capture. I'm so glad that this magnificent piece of western architecture is once again in service.

I would have preferred to take this photo with a much lower ISO, but I didn't have a tripod with me. Even at 3200 ISO, you'll notice that my shutter speed is a slow 1/6 of a second. These are not the settings that a prepared photographer should be using. Note to self...you have a photo-of-the-day blog...what are you doing without a tripod in the car???

Day 188: Lingering

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

Today was a dreary ugly day. But sometimes in the shadows, the best lingers.

Day 187: Bursting thru

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

Today the sun burst thru the clouds and the snow did some serious melting. This photo was one of those right place and time moments. I looked up and saw a hole in the clouds and this tattered flag happened to be right there. The photo is really a failure because it didn't capture the depth in the clouds at the moment. Still it works and perhaps that's enough.
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." ~Ansel Adams

Day 186: Central Park

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

Today I ventured to Bethany's version of Central Park and snapped some ultra-wides. I love the way the edges bend toward the middle with such a wide angle shot. With software this can easily be corrected, but to me the effect is pure magic.

Day 185: Icy perfection

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:05 -0600

The symmetry of nature is beautiful to me and ice and snow storms are some of the greatest times to witness it. Today's photo is of a simple chain-link fence with a perfectly even coat of ice. I think there is a statistics lesson in this photo...something to do with the normal distribution of rain drops.

"Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art." ~Ambrose Bierce

Day 184: Postcards

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:05 -0600

Today we ventured out of our igloo and Jenna and I accompanied Lori to the store believing that there would be some who thought a thrift store outing is the perfect cure for cabin fever. I had my camera with me and decided to venture out for some post-storm photos. As I approached our campus, the sun was breaking thru the clouds and the mixture of red bricks, blue sky and snow was not at all umpleasant. Bresee Hall has been the signature landmark of our campus for all my years in Bethany. I can remember as a teenager having postcards from BNC (now SNU) with this very building prominently displayed. So as I framed today's photo I saw a postcard that had to be shared.
So for all my friends and family from other parts of our country, GREETINGS FROM BETHANY this is SNOW STORM 2010.