2009 Cyclocross Nationals

Bend traffic, this is 2TM...

So I didn't have time today to take any pictures but I wanted post something about flying.  I have been jone'sing to get in the air but the weather has been soooo crummy.  This image is during our final approach into Runway 34 into Bend airport.  Notice the pavement on the right of the runway, this is the new runway that is now finished at Bend.  Longer and smoother.  This was during last summer and there was some pretty stiff crosswinds and was a little bumpy but always a good challenge in greasing that landing.  

Saturday...

...that means time with the little dudes!  Robots and more robots...this thing talks at us if it is left on, trying to remind us that he is waiting for some fun.  The day looks crummy outside so no pictures outside, not liking the cold today.

I am not as happy with this image, because what I wanted was to really make the glows of the eye pop.  Didn't happen, but will continue to try.

Beautiful day!

What a beautiful day in Central Oregon!!!!!!  I had the chance to walk around for half an hour today to take a look around for some picture perfect setting.  I was walking through a neighborhood and found this fire hydrant coming out of the wall from a building.

Thanks to Wasabi Peas I was able to play around with the colors and make it more saturated and thus get a more interesting pic.

Choo Choo!

My son, Colin, loves trains!  Not sure exactly what it is he loved about them but it was evident when he saw one passing by...he would say "Choo Choo Train!"  I have since then been trying to capture pictures of anything relating to trains so that he can have a portfolio of images that he thumb through without having to go outside and wait for one.  I like this composition of the sign because I tried to center the whole image yet let the edges run off the frame...which makes for a very whacky image.

Warning labels

I always find warning labels to be very interesting...they are on practically on everything that we own in our house.  I like the contrast between the soft features of the lamp and the definitive content of the warning label.

Driving at night...

Just open shutter and drive!!!

Road to...

This was a good day at the beach...the kids loved being in the sand.  This was interesting to me because just the day before we were in the car nearly for 12 hours...so tire tracks on the beach was a great contrast.  A vehicle driving in an environment that is considered to be relaxing, how I would love to be driving 12 hours on the beach from Bend, Or.

In this composition I wanted to show where the tracks going...I wanted to lead the eye from the tracks to the palm peppered horizon.  I found a lot of opportunities to take pictures but this was one that represented where I wanted to be.

Line 'em up!

So had the chance to see the big guys in Solvang, Ca spin their legs around for the 15 mi Time Trial.  It was a good course with a slight climb in the beginning and slight downhill to the Finish.  

Walked around and got to see Tom Boonen, Oscar Sevilla, Mark Cavendish, and a host of others including Lance and Levi...who were very busy entertaining a slew of people during their warm-ups.

Probably the hardest thing to do with my camera at this point is to get a (fast) moving subject in focus for a great image.  I have been taking pictures of multiple types of races from motorcycles to cycling...and I have clicked many times but only coming out with a few (two) good pictures.  Disappointing.  I am working on my focus capabilities...

This image is in the trailer of the BMC team...there were about 20 frames in there hanging waiting to be ridden for the following stage...today was the Time Trial.  I found this to be a good opportunity to capture repetition...I wish I had a better line of sight to be able to include the other bikes there in the trailer but oh well.  I shot this with the 70-200 and tried to keep the aperture opened up a little more to give it depth.

Beach Time

This was a fun day for the fam at Pacific City at the Oregon coast.  My boys were primarily just playing with the sand and were not terribly distracted with dad hovering around them with a huge camera and an annoying flash.  I was able to take many candid shots and simply played with the flash in filling in shadows.  Kinda neat to also fool around with the composition with the background but as well as the foreground.  Here I wanted to give it some depth with the aperture but as well with my youngest being in the foreground and the big rock in the background.  It keeps your eye moving from the front to the back while being framed by the log on the lower portion of the shot.