92/366 - "Stay Off My Lawn"

(F/1.4, 50mm, 1/4000 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

I remember as a kid there were neighbors that did not want the neighborhood kids playing on their lawns. Today, I cut the grass for the first time this year and I was playing around with low angle photographs.  I put an example of on the Other Stuff Blog.  Anyway, Jonah was bugging me as I was laying on the ground and I told him that if he wanted to see the photographs he needed to be in them.  So he hopped on his bike and came right for me and then insisted on viewing everything I had taken.  For the record, I don't care if the kids play in our grass.  I actually hope it dies and I never have to cut it again.

79/366 - "Spring"

(F/8, 99mm, 1/50 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Tomorrow is the first day of spring and the weather in Pittsburgh the last week or so has been more like early summer.  So much so that both of my neighbors flowers are going like gang busters.  This is just a sample of the flowers in Laurna's backyard.

78/366 - "The Jump"

(F/4, 60mm, 1/320 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Jonah and I went on a photo walk today.  We probably walked about 2 miles around Oakmont in search of "clues" as he would say.  In reality we were looking for objects that resembled numbers 0 through 9.  I have to credit Jim for giving me the idea.  I was going to post all 10 photographs but instead those are on my Other Stuff Blog.  I have to credit Jim for the idea, so thanks to Jim.

We followed the railroad tracks a bit and there is a little bridge that crosses Plum Creek.  Jonah was very dramatic about crossing this 9 inch opening, which probably looked like the Grand Canyon to a 5 year old.  This is him tossing his camera to safety before he jumps across.  He made it without injury and his camera still works.

75/366 - "Green Thumb?"

(F/4, 105mm, 1/400 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

It is very well known that I do not have a green thumb.  Everything I plant dies.  Around our house this year I have seen these little white and purple flowers popping up in random places.  So does this mean I have a gren thumb?  Hardly.  Our neighbors both have these flowers planted all around their yards and obviously mother nature has helped seed our yard.  Hopefully they come back next year.  I added the purple flower to the bottom for your viewing pleasure as an added bonus.

71/366 - "Pavé"

(F/4, 24mm, 1/2000 sec, ISO 100, Canon 5D Mk II)

Today was quite the day and Jonah and I spent about 6 hours of it outside playing.  While he was digging in the dirt and riding his bike I was taking photographs and cleaning my road bike.  The picture you are looking at is of the pavé, which is french for pavement or cobblestone that is next to our house.  Remember this word because it is going to be in some upcoming posts.

67/366 - "Bike Time"

(F/4, 105mm, 1/40 sec, ISO 400, Canon 5D Mk II)

What a great day out today!!!  It was so nice that I was able to get the kids outside after dinner.  As expected Jonah wanted to ride his bike, and I was more than happy to watch and take pictures.

58/366 - "Morning Sky"

(F/8, 24mm, 1/80 sec, ISO 200, Canon 7D)

While we were getting ready to head out this morning I looked out the back windows to checked out the sky.  It was a great sky with pinks, blues, and a nice golden color.  I grabbed my camera and snapped a couple photographs.  Luckily one of them turned out nicely.  Unfortunately the view from the street to the tree tops is ugly, littered with houses, telephone poles, and wires.  So I am forced to crop the bottom out of the photograph. 

42/366 - "Plum Creek"

(F/8, 50mm, 1/80 sec, ISO 100, Canon 7D)

I had to run out and get a haircut this morning.  I decided to take my camera and drive around the neighborhood a little and find some potential snow photographs.  I was on my way home, when I spotted this scene.  This is a section of Plum Creek, that runs past a housing plan called Oakmont Commons.  The wind was blowing and it was still snowing, so I shot this from inside the car with the window down.

16/366 - "Shadows on Snow"

(F/7.1, 28mm, 1/640 sec, ISO 100, Canon 7D)

We finally have a little bit of snow and this untouched snow still exists on the deck.  It has been here almost and week and I am really surprised the a squirrel or bird has not left some tracks.  I worked from home this morning and decided to look out the back window as the sun started to shine through.  I am glad I did, as I saw the shadows on the snow created from the sun shining through our railing.  I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped a few shots.  I did a little cropping and vignetting to clean this up.

On a side note, I helped a friend dig a ditch for a wall last year to protect his house from zombies.  I have been giving him a hard time that I will need some help this year on a project.  Well, it may just be sanding and staining the spindles on the railings around my house.  My estimation is that there are about 400 spindles.

9/366 - "I Hate You"

(F/10, 16mm, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, Canon 7D)

Such a pretty day today.  I was working from home, so at lunch I walked outside and snapped a couple shots of the trees that I love to hate.  I love the shade they provide, but I hate the pollen balls, falling leaves (spring and fall), peeling bark, and falling limbs.  I believe these trees are the dirtiest trees EVER.  The type of tree is a sycamore and according to the Shade Tree Commission (Oakmont's Tree Police), they were transplanted from the Allegheny River to the streets all around Oakmont some 100 years ago.

7/366 - "Jonah, Tired of Being Photographed"

(F/4, 100mm, 1/640 sec, ISO 100, Canon 7D)

Two days in a row we have had outstanding weather in Pittsburgh, another 50 degree day.  Jonah and I headed outdoors while Harper was napping.  Bikes and tennis were the order for the day.  This is not my best picture of the day, but it is the one that I like the best.  He is beginning to get annoyed with me taking his picture and we are only seven days in.  This is going to be a long year for him.