DxO Nik Collection

Holy Cow Killer!

For them not interested in reading, you can see the photos in THIS<<link SmugMug Gallery.  

For a SmugMug slideshow, click HERE<<link. When you click the link, it will open in a new window, and you have two options:
1) Manually scroll through the photos by clicking the “<” and “>” symbols to the left or right of the photos.
2) There’s a PLAY/PAUSE button at the top-left of the screen with the transition set at about 5 seconds. Note: clicking the PLAY arrow activates the option for a full-screen slideshow. You can then still use the”<” and “>” symbols to the left or right of the photos (this will pause the slideshow).

If you want the full experience, keep reading.

I’ve seen this type of bug before in my yard. Once last year, and by the time I got the phone out, and ready to shoot, it had blended into the yard. Amazing that because of the coloring; you’d think it would stand out like a sore thumb.

Continue reading →

Third “Y” stories voting reminder . . . and more model planes

The “Y” stories voting block is going pretty well so this will be the last reminder for a few (or more) days.

If you are a regular reader of our stories, and if you feel like it, forward this post to someone who might enjoy them (and vote). Your friend — and even your enemies — will appreciate it, and the writers will be grateful. 

And, as usual, if you’re a regular reader of our stories and someone who votes, thank you in advance for casting a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge Y-Stories” are HERE(link). Votes will be accepted until  Noon (Central Time) on Monday, March 15th, 2021.

Side Note: while this blog’s first post was on the 19th of March, 2010, yesterday — March 6th — was the day I created this blog. Why the delay? I tried out Blogger and Live Journal before settling on WordPress. Why mention this? Because; just because.

So, model planes . . . well, sculptures, really . . . .

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

I’m going back to 2010 for these three photos (with multiple versions of each photo). The first plane, above, is the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress(link). That photo is as-shot (Nikon D200 camera).

The planes are in what is known as the Cadet Honor Court at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. These planes are all sculpted by one person (LINK).

Continue reading →

Second “Y” stories voting reminder . . . and falcons

The “Y” stories voting block is live and running, and because we’ve been gone for so long, I plan a few extra reminders, this being the second (hence the title).

As usual, if you like a particular story, in addition to voting for it — and if you feel like it — forward it to friends and family. Ideally, they should read all three and make up their mind, but it’s OK if you bend them to your will . . . as long as they still vote.

No matter how one comes to the stories, if you read them and vote, thank you for voting for your favorite. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge Y-Stories” are HERE(link). Votes will be accepted until  Noon (Central Time) on Monday, March 15th, 2021.

So, falcons . . . .

I’m going back to 2009 for this photo of a sculpture found at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

Continue reading →

First “Y” stories voting reminder . . . and model plane

The “Y” stories voting block is live and running, and because we’ve been gone for so long, I plan a few extra reminders, this being the first (hence the title).

As usual, if you like a particular story, in addition to voting for it — and if you feel like it — forward it to friends and family. Ideally, they should read all three and make up their mind, but it’s OK if you sway them to your opinion . . . as long as they still vote.

No matter how one comes to the stories, if you’re a reader of our stories and someone who votes, thank you in advance for casting a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge Y-Stories” are HERE(link). Votes will be accepted until  Noon (Central Time) on Monday, March 15th, 2021.

So, model plane . . . .

I’m going back to 2009 for this photo of a plane that has appeared numerous times on this blog. Normally, it’s shown sitting atop a post in the plaza right outside the Air Force Academy Chapel, along with other scale models of famous planes.

Continue reading →

Fall 2020 — leaves 0003

For them not interested in reading, you can see the photos in THIS<<link SmugMug Gallery.  

For a SmugMug slideshow, click HERE<<link. When you click the link, it will open in a new window and you have two options:
1) Manually scroll through the photos by clicking the “<” and “>” symbols to the left or right of the photos.
2) There’s a PLAY/PAUSE button at the top-left of the screen with the transition set at about 5 seconds. Note: the symbol above the PLAY arrow will switch to a full-screen slideshow . . . which I advise for the best experience (press Esc to exit). You can then still use the”<” and “>” symbols to the left or right of the photos as this will pause the slideshow.

If you want the full experience, keep reading.

Continue reading →

Fall 2020 — leaves 0002

For them not interested in reading, you can see the photos in THIS<<link SmugMug Gallery.  

For a SmugMug slideshow, click HERE<<link. When you click the link, it will open in a new window and you have two options:
1) Manually scroll through the photos by clicking the “<” and “>” symbols to the left or right of the photos.
2) There’s a PLAY/PAUSE button at the top-left of the screen with the transition set at about 5 seconds. Note: the symbol above the PLAY arrow will switch to a full-screen slideshow . . . which I advise for the best experience (press Esc to exit). You can then still use the”<” and “>” symbols to the left or right of the photos as this will pause the slideshow.

If you want the full experience, keep reading.

Colorful leaves on rocks

Continue reading →

Subjects of mystery art photos for “O” stories voting revealed

The voting for The Alphabet Challenge “O” Stories round will close tomorrow at noon (Central Time). The writers were pleased to see an increase in the number of votes cast. For a while, we thought we’d been forgotten, what with the elections, hurricanes, fires, riots, protests, and empty promises by politicians who know very little about the needs of their citizens.

But, no . . . voters came through and turn this into a respectable voting round. Thank you..   

. . . even so, for old times sake, if you’ve not already done so — please read the stories and then cast a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge O-Stories” are HERE.<<link

So, yesterday I posted two quick “Topaz-fied” photos . . . and here are the originals (plus more) . . .

You can understand why I chose to amplify structure and color . . . in their natural state, these are pretty bland. Still interesting, but bland.

Continue reading →

Mystery art for “O” stories voting

Two days left in The Alphabet Challenge “O” Stories round and — what do you know? — the voting round is showing some signs of life. Perhaps all my begging is not going to waste.   

. . . so, just a few more times, if you’one of them and have not already done so — please read the stories and then cast a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge O-Stories” are HERE.<<link

This will be another (super)quick post because I’m busy . . . so here are two photos reworked in Topaz Studio . . .

Perhaps some will know what those are. If so . . . I didn’t process them enough.

I’ll share unprocessed photos in the next few days.

Continue reading →

Thistle time art for “O” stories voting

Three days left in The Alphabet Challenge “O” Stories round and it’s official . . . this will go down as a low participation round. With three days left, I don’t see a slew of voters coming in from a cruise or something and casting 20+ votes. Heck, they’re probably in quarantine from the cruise.  

. . . but, just in case, if you’one of them and have not already done so — please read the stories and then cast a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge O-Stories” are HERE.<<link

This will be another quick post because I’m busy . . . so, here are the reworked photos of thistle flowers; reworked in Topaz Studio . . .

You can actually buy thistle . . . and I’ll probably do that.

Continue reading →

Thistle time for “O” stories voting

Four days left in The Alphabet Challenge “O” Stories round and it’s looking to be a low participation round. It happens, and we hope for better in the future, and I’m almost past even asking . . .  

. . . but, just in case, if you’ve not already done so — please read the stories and then cast a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge O-Stories” are HERE.<<link

This will be a quick post because I’m busy . . . so, here are a few photos of thistle flowers . . .

I should try to grow some . . . I hear they are low maintenance and I know bees and other insects like them.

Continue reading →

Bug for “O” stories voting

I bug, but there’s no love for The Alphabet Challenge “O” Stories. Voting has stopped in its tracks and it ain’t budging. 

The writers are at a loss to explain the sudden dearth of voters. Worse yet, it appears the stories are getting some eyes on them . . . OK, I exaggerate a bit . . . no one has looked at them for the past few days, but before that, we were getting a minimum of four views per day on each story . . . and few of those people voted. Probably a statement about our writing talents.  

As useless as it might be, I’ll mention it again . . . if you’ve not already done so — please read the stories and then cast a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge O-Stories” are HERE.<<link

On the last post, I mentioned the game “find the bug” . . . as it happens, I have a great candidate for the game . . .

Do you see the bug?

Continue reading →

Bugs and more for “O” stories voting

I hate bugging people, but The Alphabet Challenge “O” Stories voting still lags the voting for the last round . . . not by a little, either.

But, I get it . . . two conventions, hurricanes, fires . . . four concurrent disasters are maybe too much to handle and still have time to read. It takes someone with a lot of grit and fortitude to make time to read the stories.  

If you are one such reader, and if you’ve not already done so — please read the stories and then cast a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge O-Stories” are HERE.<<link

Let me begin the main body of the post with a type of bug I don’t see as much as I did last year . . .

It could be there are just as many around as last year and I’m not out there as much because of the oppressive heat and humidity.

Continue reading →

Acorns for “O” stories voting

The Alphabet Challenge “O” Stories voting has hit a bit of a Big-Time lull . . . but, if willing readers are up to it, we can get it going once again with just a moderate a hefty push shove. 

If you are one such reader, and if you’ve not already done so — please read the stories and then cast a vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge O-Stories” are HERE.<<link

So, acorns<<link . . . harbingers of mighty Oaks<<link . . .

I shot some photos in my make-shift studio, and that’s one of the series of photos of acorns I collected during a few of our walks.

Continue reading →

Reminder for “N” stories voting

The Alphabet Challenge “N” Stories are active and the stories have yet to drawn first, second, and third blood (as I write this). You can be the first to vote!

Of course, you have no obligation to do anything . . . but it sure would be swell — if you’ve not already done so — if you would read the stories and cast your vote for your favorite of the three. Links to the stories and the poll for voting for “Alphabet Challenge N-Stories” are HERE.<<<Link

Oh, here are a few photos before you go reading the stories . . .

That’s from the pond at King’s Shops on the Big Island . . . home of our favorite fish and chips (the previous post where I mention them is HERE<<link — the fish and chips, not the fish).

Continue reading →