243/366 - "Running"

(F/2.8, 100mm, 1/200 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

We were outside enjoying the nice weather and I was able to get a photo of Harper running up and down the yard.  It made me tired just watching her.

242/366 - "The Shot"

(F/8, 100mm, 1/100 sec, ISO 200, Canon 5D Mk II)

I had a previous manager that swore by doing a shot of Jack Daniels the moment you felt the onset of a sore throat.  Well, I started to get that scratchy throat feeling at work, so when I got home I poured a shot, took some photos, and down it went.  

241/366 - "Bow Ties"

(F/8, 90mm, 1/80 sec, ISO 200, Canon 5D Mk II)

I was surfing the interwebs at lunch today and discovered that it is National Bow Tie Day.  I have been known to sport a bow tie on special occasions, so I decided to do a product shot of my ties.  

240/366 - "Number 1"

(F/8, 17mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

On my way to pick up Jonah from school I stopped as the base of hill "number 1" of the thirteen that are climbed every year by the cyclists in Pittsburgh's Dirty Dozen.  This is Center Avenue in Aspinwall and as you climb out of sight the hill keeps on going for another 100 yards or so.  I believe this hill is in the 25% gradient range if I recall from last year.  I am not riding this year, so I am hoping to be able to get out and photograph it.

239/366 - "Lazy River"

(F/8, 17mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Before our last round of golf this morning, I grabbed a cart and drove out to 17th green to get this photo.  I had actually planned this for Saturday morning, but the fog was to thick.  I was happy to see the fog lifting when I was ready to get a photograph this morning.  The Allegheny River is so calm here it often looks like a lake and you can see the bottom, as it is about three feet deep in most sections.  As we golf it is filled with people in kayaks, canoes, and tubes enjoying the original lazy river.

238/366 - "Foggy Morning"

(F/6.3, 17mm, 1/80 sec, ISO 200, Canon 5D Mk II)

The mornings are typically very foggy, so I decided to try and get a few shots of the course.  This is the ninth green looking back towards the ninth tee.  During our morning round we can't really see our drives until we get up on top of the mountain around hole five, six, or seven.

237/366 - "Top of the Mountain"

(F/9, 17mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

This weekend was the annual golf trip to Tionesta, PA.  It was this weekend that I was a little concerned about taking pictures everyday since I would be on a golf course the majority of the day.  This is the 7th hole, a par 3 that is 167 yards according to the card, but plays like it is 145 because of the drop in elevation.  You can barely make out the green.  The hole is nice enough, but the real star of this hole is the view.  You can see all the way down the Allegheny River Valley.

236/366 - "Captain America"

(F/4, 100mm, 1/60 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

We received a catalog of costumes last week and ever since then Jonah is starting to wear all of his costumes.  Tonight he decided to put on his Captain America gear, and actually requested that I take a picture.  This is the pose that Jonah wanted me to photograph.  What you don't see is that he is in his underwear.  Love this little guy!

235/366 - "First Day"

(F/3.5, 50mm, 1/80 sec, ISO 200, Canon 5D Mk II)

Today is Jonah's first day of kindergarten, so I am obligated to take and post a first day of school photograph.  He is super excited and can barely contain himself long enough to stand still by the front door. 

234/366 - "Bridge Architecture"

(F/4, 40mm, 1/160 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

When I woke up this morning there was a really nice fog.  I decided to take my camera to work, which is rare for me.  While waiting in traffic on the Hulton Bridge, I took a few shots of the bridge architecture.

233/366 - "The Missing Beads"

(F/2.8, 100mm, 1/1250 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

I was struggling with what to photograph today when I saw Harper playing with these beads and string.  She is missing three beads.  I am sure more will be missing soon.

232/366 - "Chives"

(F/8, 100mm, 1/800 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

We were so busy today that I almost forgot to take a photo.  I wanted to play with the high speed sync on my speedlite, so that is what I did.  This is our chive plant at night using the HSS.

231/366 - "Cherry Tomatoes"

(F/5, 100mm, 1/100 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Sue spent some time in the garden today and harvested 200 or more cherry tomatoes.  We gave a bunch to the neighbors and I am sure the rest will make their way into our dinners this week.

230/366 - "Good Friends & Good Beer"

(F/5.6, 35mm, 1/125 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

We had a couple of friend over tonight for a few beers.  It is always nice to catch up while enjoying some good beer.

229/366 - "Yellowjacket Doom"

(F/8, 70mm, 1/80 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

Yellowjackets have been discovered making a nest between our siding and the house and occasionally a stray yellowjacket in the basement.  Well after much research I order the following "kit" to resolve this issue.  Tonight I will be performing step one, which is to take the CB-80 spray and spray it in the nest.  Night time is best because they are all in the nest after a long day of flying around.  Also, yellowjackets can't see very well so it will be harder to sting me, or at least that what the interweb says. Step one will last a couple days, and then ka-pow I spray this magic dust into the nest and that penetrates the entire nest and hangs around for any babies that are thinking about hatching.  If I were a yellowjacket, I would think about getting out of the nest forever.  You have 30 minutes....GO!

228/366 - "Sunflower"

(F/5, 100mm, 1/160 sec, ISO 800, Canon 5D Mk II)

I went out front today after dinner in search of something to photograph and wound up talking to our neighbor Cathy.  I explained the 365+1 Project that I am doing, and she walked me behind her house and showed off her beautiful sunflowers.  I will be revisiting this garden with a tripod later.  Thanks Cathy!

227/366 - "Shark Week"

(F/4, 100mm, 1/100 sec, ISO 800, Canon 5D Mk II)

Jonah loves Shark Week so much he found his old costume and dressed up to watch some shows.

226/366 - "Giant Wasp"

(F/6.3, 100mm, 1/15 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

I was outside after dinner taking some macro flower photos for #macromonday, when this "Giant" wasp buzzed by me and landed in this bush next to the flowers I was shooting.  After I regained my composure, I refocused my camera and my energy to capture this beast.  Since I am using a 1:1 ratio macro lens you are seeing this as actual size.  Trust me when I say it was huge compared to your garden variety wasp.  I looked this wasp up in my bug book, and it appears to be some sort of spider-hunting wasp. 

225/366 - "Pool Party"

(F/7.1, 24mm, 1/160 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Sunday we celebrated Seth's 14th birthday.  He invited a bunch of his friends and family over and most of them ended up in the pool for some fun.

224/366 - "Extreme Laundry"

(F/4, 17mm, 1/40 sec, ISO 800, Canon 5D Mk II)

We tried something new this time when returning home from vacation this year.  I unloaded the car in the driveway and all the clothes, bedding, and anything else that needed washed went into Sue's car.  Sue went to the laundry-mat and knocked out numerous loads of laundry in less than 3 hours.

223/366 - "St. Michael's by The Lake"

(F/11, 17mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

After dinner I went over to the chapel to get some shots to create an HDR image of the chapel at camp.  Thanks to the Pascal family for vacating the church so I could get this photograph.

222/366 - "The Wrestling Albers"

(F/4, 70mm, 1/250 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

While we were waiting for the annual campers versus staff softball game to start Auggie and Timmy entertained us with some wrestling.  Here you will notice that Auggie is trying to escape from Timmy's bear hug hold.

221/366 - "Pool Side"

(F/11, 17mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

I was able to gain access to the pool just before sunset.  I appreciate the access and I am even happier the way this shot turned out.  This might be my favorite photograph I have taken at camp so far.

220/366 - "SCC Sunset"

(F/4, 73mm, 3 Exposures, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

We had some beautiful sunsets.  This is just before campfire on Tuesday night.  I love how all the colors of the rainbow seem to be present.

219/366 - "Hanging On"

(F/6.3, 84mm, 1/320 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

During "Painted Wings" Matt carried Indie and Otis back to the MAC Hall.  Otis was hanging on as tightly as he could.  Finally he realized he could just walk on daddy's calves.

218/366 - "James"

(F/5, 105mm, 1/500 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

We have been on vacation this past week and just got home, so I am going through all the photographs from each day.  On Sunday, we went to the pool and this is James playing hide and seek with me.

217/366 - "Seth"

(F/4, 95mm, 1/80 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

Dad and my little brother Seth (13) are spending the night.  They are riding in Pedal Pittsburgh (65 miles) tomorrow morning and wanted to be able to sleep in a little.  Good luck and have fun!

216/366 - "The Swedes"

Melissa

Anna Karin

Johan

Our Swedish cousins have been visiting the USA the past week and last night they came to our house for a cookout.  It was a wonderful visit and I was able to snap a few shots before it got dark.

215/366 - "Bottle"

(F/2.8, 100mm, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

I was trying to figure out what to shoot tonight, so I decided to do a macro of an empty bottle.

214/366 - "Matt"

(F/4, 105mm, 1/125 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

We were outside on the deck after dinner and all the kids were playing.  I was able to snag a photo of Matt while he was picking up some acorns.