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2013-05-23 21:39:31 (21 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Hey +Jordan Oram ....

2013-05-21 08:28:40 (24 comments, 0 reshares, 47 +1s)

Thank you +Eric Stoliker for driving me around to the hidden places in LALA Land on Friday!  It was a lot of fun!  This was such a cool spot, even if we were looking for the cemetery :-)  

For a different view, looking straight down the dam see Eric's post at https://plus.google.com/u/0/109961126130574134878/posts/UE4DM8RSMek


#monochromemonday  curated by +Hans Berendsen +Jerry Johnson +Steve Barge +Dominique Pelletier +David Orr and +Martin Heller 
#MonochromeMonday (+Monochrome Monday) Curated by +Hans Berendsen , +Jerry Johnson , +Steve Barge, +Dominique Hilbert , +David Orr and +Martin Heller 

2013-05-21 00:12:21 (21 comments, 1 reshares, 54 +1s)

+Chrysta Rae +LaDonna Pride 

Ok, Here is my album.  Sigh, a few aren't what I wanted, but I did get 10 done.  I'll be away from laptop until tomorrow morning so I might not be able fix any names I got wrong until then.  

I know most won't think my Strawberry shot is anything special, and it's not really photography wise.. but it's where I was born :)

2013-05-19 23:17:32 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

it's *WORLD IBD DAY* #WorldIBDday  
 i am here to bring awareness to all of you.  
Do you have any questions about my Crohn's Disease or any other IBD {Inflammatory Bowel Disease}?  
IBD is very different from IBS {Irritable Bowel Syndrome},
so please try not to get the two confused.
Millions of people all over the world are affected by this life crippling disease, it's time to get the word out so we can find a cure or at least get a little understanding as to what we go through on a daily basis.  I also want to thank all of you that have reached out to me and to others who struggle with similar issues.  
Ask me anything !!
(no, not that...  geesh)

Wonder where i bought my T-Shirt?::
http://thegreatbowelmovement.org/ibd-tshirts/why-ask-me-crohns-shirts/
More IBD Awareness?::http:... more »

2013-05-19 19:36:22 (26 comments, 0 reshares, 45 +1s)

So how was everyone's weekend?  Hope you did lot's of smiling!!

2013-05-19 05:48:44 (15 comments, 1 reshares, 42 +1s)

Bubble Cow Behind the Scenes

A few people asked how I did this, so here ya go.  I'm sure there are other (probably better) ways to make the bubbles - someone mentioned a plug in for older Photoshop version, but this is what I did.

Step 1 :  This is my base image - it's a 3 bracket HDR, I bumped up the colors a bit, I wanted it to be a touch surreal, and through trial and error realized the bubble make process mutes the colors.

I then took this into Photoshop and applied the Adaptive Wide Angle Filter.  I selected the Perspective correction, made the lens as wide as possible (slide all the way to the left) and also reduced the scale to about 80% so it would fit.

This doesn't result in a perfect sphere so I then used Liquify with a huge brush to push in the corners.  I then saved the sphere.  And repeatedly Placed it on top of the originalimage,... more »

2013-05-17 02:51:39 (26 comments, 1 reshares, 73 +1s)

2013-05-16 21:52:00 (13 comments, 4 reshares, 40 +1s)

If you're going to photobomb me +Toby Harriman you should have walked a little slower so all the swag would be sharper :-)

#glassphotowalk  

2013-05-16 06:10:00 (26 comments, 1 reshares, 35 +1s)

Whoooah my circles turned into a Twister board!

2013-05-16 00:31:35 (40 comments, 1 reshares, 65 +1s)

It's so cute!!!

2013-05-15 16:35:02 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 74 +1s)

Happy Birthday +Alan Shapiro !!  Thank you so much for all of the hard work, encouragement and mentoring you have shown all of us in the Scavenger Hunt and Sit In the Back of Class!  May you have a bright, sunny day with lots of nutella and bourbon!!


  
#AlanShapiroBirthdayStyle  

2013-05-14 18:55:58 (12 comments, 3 reshares, 23 +1s)

2013-05-14 01:54:37 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

26 tomato plants
6 peppers ( 6 more to go )
2 zucchini
Bunches of herbs
Bunches of sunflowers.

Nyomnyom

2013-05-14 04:46:09 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 43 +1s)

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Mom's out there!  This is a very early one of me and my Mom - I wish I still had an outdoor bathtub!!!

#herestothemoms  

2013-05-11 17:08:42 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 31 +1s)

2013-05-10 15:53:43 (38 comments, 1 reshares, 63 +1s)

So.... I can finally share this crazy thing....  There are Burro warning signs all over Death Valley, so I thought I'd draw one.  I've done a bull, I figured a burro should be easy.  Wrong... this poor fellow has a mutant leg... has wandered off from his green grass, and has a very bad back....  But it was still a very fun night with my friends +Eric Stoliker & +Matt Frederick on the #deathvalleysausagefest  adventure.

#lovegloves  

2013-05-09 19:39:47 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

2013-05-09 17:52:24 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

I was rummaging around some old stuff on my computer and came across this - if this doesn't fit #thirstythursdaypics  , I don't know what does :) 

Thanks +Mark Esguerra for curating this!

2013-05-08 15:25:05 (29 comments, 1 reshares, 59 +1s)

#wordlessonWednesday  
#deathvalleysausagefest  

2013-05-08 00:05:29 (41 comments, 0 reshares, 53 +1s)

Hurray for old school Coke, with sugar, not corn syrup. And in a glass bottle that you need a bottle opener to get into.

2013-05-07 19:49:29 (11 comments, 8 reshares, 16 +1s)

Spock Versus Spock. Funny on Several Levels! :-)

#humor #startrek   #spock

2013-05-07 04:51:30 (13 comments, 2 reshares, 72 +1s)

I stumbled across this neat barn and windmill a couple months ago, and keep meaning to go back with beater light and sky.  Well I haven't yet...  :(  But the weather was feeling rather Dust Bowl-ish a few days ago and reminded me of the Grapes of Wrath.  Hopefully I'll back it back soon, although I think the grasses will already be cured off by now.  

2013-05-04 16:57:42 (24 comments, 2 reshares, 51 +1s)

On my way home yesterday, I had to pull over and shoot the sunset.  It went from bleh to pretty in an instant.  While I really didn't get an image I was hoping for (not enough time to find the right tree) when I looked closer, I realize I had a few sunspots on the sun.  Thanks +russ vallelunga for confirming for me!  The image on the right is a super-cropped version of the left, with less saturation and more blacks to make them show up just a weeee bit more. 

Crossing my fingers that I see lots of meteors tonight!

2013-05-04 04:35:08 (24 comments, 1 reshares, 103 +1s)

Whooohooo made it in with just a few hours to spare for #floralFriday  - curated by +Tamara Pruessner 

This is hot off the presses SD card - was shot earlier today.  I actually went to shoot dogwoods, but was side tracked by Glacier Point road opening up, and it was too shaded by the time I got down to where they were.  So, I went with Plan B.  :)

2013-05-02 06:00:32 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Here is a short video I made in Yosemite this week.

It was taken as the wind wasn't allowing the dogwood photos I envisioned. I had totally forgotten my camera even took video as I'm not interested in video. 

Anyway, this is my first humble attempt at trying to show some local conditions. These videos are very similar to what I would try to photograph if wind conditions would allow.

If people like this I can certainly attempt some more in the future!

I would really appreciate a few shares as well!

2013-05-01 21:18:15 (21 comments, 1 reshares, 83 +1s)

Here's a macro of some unicorn poop for the ever awesome +kimberton pemberly :-)

Hope your day is just a pee wee bit brighter!!

#WeLoveYouPemberton

2013-04-30 20:46:27 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Happy Birthday Willie :)

2013-04-30 19:18:53 (21 comments, 2 reshares, 78 +1s)

I had such a fun time roaming around SoCal last weekend!  This is some "wild" fountain grass outside of the Bat Cave +Eric Stoliker took me too.  After we got a little lost once or twice.  Somewhere BatMan was laughing at us :)

2013-04-30 01:05:13 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Whooohoooo. I go away for a few days and come back to find Sonora Pass is open!

Sadly that means the snow is melting fast. :(

2013-04-25 19:32:49 (30 comments, 3 reshares, 119 +1s)

Hope everyone is enjoying National Parks Week http://www.nps.gov/npweek/ - get on out and enjoy your favorite one!!

This is from about a month ago, I always love this time of year, the setting sun shines a lovely spotlight on Bridalveil Falls. 

2013-04-25 02:25:20 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 45 +1s)

#wordlessonwednesday  

2013-04-19 17:17:11 (31 comments, 1 reshares, 72 +1s)

Happy #FloralFriday  !!  Thank you +Tamara Pruessner for curating such a fun theme.  

I think this is the first time I've ever seen the Joshua Trees in bloom.  The blossoms are as fun as the trees. 

This is from the awesomely fun #deathvalleysausagefest  trip with +Eric Stoliker & +Matt Frederick !

2013-04-18 17:45:46 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 37 +1s)

Happy Birthday +Eric James Leffler !! 

This was such a fun morning!  Glad I stayed up and drove over to go shooting with you.  Hope you are have a fun day and have your trademark huge smile on your face all day.  

2013-04-18 04:36:12 (32 comments, 1 reshares, 75 +1s)

From the first full day of the #deathvalleysausagefest  trip with +Eric Stoliker and +Matt Frederick  We stopped at this little sorta ghost town early in the morning.  There were lots of poorly spelled signs warning of rattle snares and other dangers, but thankfully I didn't see any :)

I think +Matt Frederick was warming himself in the sun. 

#windowwednesday  curated by +Cheryl Cooper +Jason Kowing +Catherine Furet  and +Jules Falk Hunter 

2013-04-17 18:09:50 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Does anyone actually like the sound of typing in a Hangout?
click click clack clack click clack clack!

If you’ve done Hangouts, you’ve almost certainly experienced it.  It’s hard to chat over that typing.  Maybe you’ve accidentally been that typist, and didn’t realize it until someone muted you!   That’s why we’ve added automatic muting when you type.  Specifically:

- If someone keeps typing in a Hangout, their mic will be muted until they stop
- They'll see an in-Hangout notification, so they know they're not interrupting the conversation
- We’ll do this for larger Hangouts (4+ people).

We hope this feature makes your Hangouts experience even more enjoyable, and we welcome your feedback in the comments!

#googleplusupdate

2013-05-10 05:18:17 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 36 +1s)

#wordlessonwednesday  

#deathvalleysausagefest  

2013-04-16 21:21:48 (15 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

Ok it has been really windy lately. But I didn't expect this bike to be blown in.

2013-04-16 16:57:07 (13 comments, 1 reshares, 59 +1s)

Door #1

#lonelychairstuesday  curated by +Lauri Novak & +Rachel Tine 

2013-04-16 05:43:58 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 65 +1s)

The clouds weren't that great, but sometimes smog does help make a sunset a 'lil prettier.  Loved this place, so many cool things to see, the building itself has so many interesting Deco details.  

Thanks again +Eric Stoliker & +Baber Afzal for the company!

2013-04-16 02:11:14 (15 comments, 1 reshares, 28 +1s)

After watching the sadness in Boston earlier, I needed to get out and have some faith in humanity restored.  What better movie to see today than 42.  It was even better than I hoped.  Now granted I already love baseball.  And I love the Dodgers.  This just makes me love them more. 

Even if you are not a baseball fan, go see it. Yes it recreates old stadiums, shows amazing old footage and photos, and recreates old games.  But it's about people.  It's about standing up for what is right.  For treating everyone as equals.  Even those from Pittsburgh :-)

Shame on +MLB for not showing the +Los Angeles Dodgers game tonight. 

Happy #JackieRobinson    Day everyone.  

2013-04-14 19:33:27 (23 comments, 0 reshares, 56 +1s)

During a fast trip to LA on Friday I went out shooting with +Eric Stoliker and +Baber Afzal .  Eric was kind enough to drive us up to Griffith Observatory for sunset - and we even got a peek through the telescope at Jupiter.  The smog and lingering daylight didn't make for the best viewing, but it was still cool.  

2013-04-12 03:13:51 (25 comments, 2 reshares, 97 +1s)

I love this staircase :)

From the #deathvalleysausagefest  with +Eric Stoliker and +Matt Frederick 

2013-04-11 23:33:01 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

Hey people of G+ if you happen to Facebook, the +Playground Dreams project is trying to get a grant from Umpqua Bank - you can help us out by liking the photos we post in the next couple days, the first one is here: 
http://bit.ly/YMKtnO 

2013-04-10 23:46:50 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

~Time is Relative~

#nationalparksmonday   curated by +Juan Pons +NationalParksMonday    
#landscapephotography  curated by +Margaret Tompkins +Carra Riley +paul t beard +David Heath Williams +Bill Wood +Jim Warthman  
+PixelWorld +10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS around the World curated by +Robert SKREINER 

2013-04-10 23:09:23 (32 comments, 1 reshares, 56 +1s)

#wordlessonwednesday  

2013-04-10 04:00:48 (31 comments, 2 reshares, 67 +1s)

So... Silly me went out to try and shoot sunset in 40mph winds.  Fail.  Nothing I shot was very sharp even with 3 cubic foot bags of soil amendment braced against the tripod!  But I kinda like this one even with it's faults.

2013-04-08 04:43:06 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 76 +1s)

"The sun so bright it leaves no shadows
Only scars
Carved into stone
On the face of earth"

U2's One Tree Hill 


Each time I've gone to Death Valley I have U2's Joshua Tree running through my head for the whole trip.  It just fits.  Yes, I know, there is not a single tree to be seen.

U2 - One Tree Hill

#lyricallyinspired   curated by +Jason Jakober  +Amanda Recker  and +Tara Romasanta 

From the Great #deathvalleysausagefest   trip with +Eric Stoliker  and +Matt Frederick 

2013-04-07 21:52:20 (18 comments, 0 reshares, 37 +1s)

Things aren't always what they seem

Lippincott Pass - with +MOO! The Cow that Travels and +Eric Stoliker 's #creepydollhead  


#signsunday   curated by +Lori Carey  +Janice La Mere Hackney  and +Gary Posner 

From the awesome #deathvalleysausagefest  trip.  See what you missed out on while sleeping +Matt Frederick ?  :)

2013-04-03 19:22:49 (50 comments, 7 reshares, 130 +1s)

The other day I went to Yosemite to meet +Khris Griffis and +Bobby Gibbons for sunrise.  I never found them, but walked along the river a bit enjoying the sound of the falls.  

Happy #waterfallwednesday  curated by +Eric Leslie 

2013-04-03 00:06:20 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 28 +1s)

Ode to +Eric Fredine V.2

This time with cows.  Cows make everything better.  :)