Sally's World

2010 Challenge - 2/8/2010 - Car Icicle

1/100 f/8.0 ISO 1250 58mm. Lens: 24mm - 85mm, Camera: Nikon D700

Today the NWS forecast snow until 11am. Well, someone didn't tell the weather system. It snowed all day. This photo was taken of my car at the parking lot at CSU after a day of cold and snow. Check out those icicles.

2010 Challenge - 2/7/2010- Benched

1/800 f/8.0 42mm ISO 500. Lens: 24mm - 85mm. Camera: Nikon D700.

We stopped in Prospect, Longmont after lunch. It has been snowing lightly all day and it has been overcast. Gorgeous to take photos in - it is like a giant nature soft box.

Superbowl XLIV Saints v Colts 31-17 Ad roundup

So very exciting. I wanted to support the underdog Saints. And they won. 31 -17.

Now for the Superbowl Ads...

I usually don't bother with the vehicle ads - they never do anything creative, so they don't deserve any mention. Except this year. I thought the Sonata ad with Favre wining MVP in 2020 was very clever. I also think Dodge's "Man's last stand" deserves Honorable Mention.

So here is the ad round up... drumroll please!!

Third place goes to Dove for Men - comfortable in your own skin. Loved the way this ad showed a story of a man's life from conception onwards.

Second place goes to Google. This ad tells a story in such a simple way all through search queries. Must have been the one Superbowl ad that cost the least to make.

First place goes to Coke - Sleepwalker in Africa. Loved seeing where the sleepwalker was going to go next - bumping into elephants, cozying up to hyenas. Superb.

As always Kevin's favorite ad is the GoDaddy ad. They played off the "Too Hot for TV" theme. Funny and clever but not enough to make the top three. As always the beer ads were much in evidence. Didn't think any were clever enough to make it. I liked the Bud Light ad of the house build by bud lights. I thought the Motorola "sexting" ad was quite inappropriate and not a bit funny or clever. Fire your ad agency Motorola!

The Doritos ads were on the whole quite amusing. My favorite was the Funeral - "It's a miracle!" ad. Major thumbs down to the Denny Chicken ads. High irritation factor. Bridgestone did a decent job. The ad that was simply bizarre enough to remember (but not to remember what it was advertising) was the odd popcorn people performing as dolphins. Where do they get such odd looking people?

I thought the Focus For the Family ad that caused such controversy was very mild and subtle - in fact without the fuss before hand, I wouldn't have remembered it. (Perhaps that's why we had a controversy?)

So the Superbowl is over. Congratulations Saints. Let the party begin.

To watch your favorite ads CBS is repeating them. And no, I am not linking to them - just Google it.

2010 Challenge - 2/6/2010 - Car Wash

1/250 f/6.3 ISO 1600 24mm. Lens:24mm - 85mm, Camera : Nikon D700

One of the joys of winter driving is that the cars get covered in mud, splash back and whatever they use to deice the roads. My car was filthy. So today was the day to take it to the car wash. I thought it might make an interesting picture shooting from inside. Here I am facing through the front windshield. My car was so bad it needed "the Works."

2010 Challenge 2/5/2010 - Three

1/200 f/6.3 ISO 500 55mm. Lens: 24mm - 85mm, Camera: Nikon D700

Oddly for a Friday I had a hectic day with one meeting after another, and a hurried lunch over my keyboard. So towards the end of the day, when things had started to calm down, and I had time to take a breath I decided to grab my camera and have a walk (exercise is good for you). I came across this interesting shot on my walk around campus. I loved the texture, the door and the number three.

2010 Challenge - 2/4/2010 - Cat in a Box!

1/200 f/5.6 ISO 2000 50mm. Lens 24mm - 85mm. Camera: Nikon D700 Flash - Bounce +-0

Maddie our fur person loves high tech devices - empty boxes. Here she poses for me while I took this quick snap. Maddie is turning into quite the fashion icon. It is a bit like herding cats - but isn't she cute?

2010 Challenge - 2/3/2010 - Administration

1/640 f/7.1 24mm ISO 200. Lens: 24mm - 85mm. Camera: Nikon D700

This is CSU's Administration Building. The north facing lawns are still heavy with snow.

2010 Challenge - 2/2/2010 - Greenhouse Glow

1/500 f/6.3 85mm ISO 500. Lens : 24mm - 85mm, Camera: Nikon D700

Just West of my building is a greenhouse. It is lit by artificial light. But at sunset with the sun setting behind it (slightly off to the left) it looks as though the sun is lighting the greenhouse making it glow.

2010 Challenge - 2/1/2010 - Vroom!

1/320 f/4.5 85mm, ISO 250. Lens: 24mm - 85mm. Camera: Nikon D700

2010 Challenge - 1/31/2010 - Invesco Field @ Mile High

1/400 f/10.0 24mm ISO 200. Lens 24mm - 85mm. Camera: Nikon D700

Today Kevin and I were showing at a Bridal Festival Show at Invesco (home of the Broncos.) This was taken inside Invesco overlooking Denver Downtown.

2010 Challenge 1/30/2010 - Pumping Iron

1/230 f/5.1 180mm ISO 200. Lens: Nikon 70mm - 300mm 4.5 - 5.6 VR Camera: Nikon D700

Today Kevin and I went to Longmont to our favorite Indian restaurant and home away from home, the Flavor of India. We then wanted to check out bathroom tiles, vanities and fixtures for a proposed budget permitting renovation of our bathroom. On the way back home we took a frontage road just West of I-25 at the Dacono off ramp. Each morning on my way to work I have seen these oil pumping platforms. I thought they might make an interesting shot with the Rockies in the background. This is really a morning shot. This photograph was taken around 4pm.

2010 Challenge - 1/29/2010 - Lemon

1/200, f/4.0 105mm ISO 200. Lens: Nikkor Micro 105mm (MF) Camera: Nikon D700. Alien Bee Bounce, Full Power.

Today started full of great photo possibilities. I woke up to the most beautiful mist, and crystal white frost on all the trees. Didn't have chance to stop and photograph. The sun started to burn off the mist, creating a gorgeous large natural soft box effect. Later during the day I saw Canadian geese, that could have been a good subject. And last but not least driving home I witnessed a large full moonrise. And again, no opportunity to stop and shoot.

I got home, and decided that I would try out some affects (playing with bounce flash, and really blasting it) using this lemon. I set the alien bee at full power, and aperture was wide open. So the image turned out to be really hot (too over exposured.) I played around with some of the exposure levels, converted to B&W and I got this. It is not sharp, but I thought it was surprising.

2010 Challenge - 1/28/2010 - One Way

1/400 f/5.6 35mm ISO 320. Lens 24mm - 85mm, Camera: Nikon D700

I took this today during my lunch break. We had a small system move through the area bringing with it a light dusting of snow.

2010 Challenge - 1/27/2010 - A Clear Picture...

1/160, f/7.1 52mm, ISO 800 Bounce flash +2/3

I took this at work in my office towards the end of the day. Some time ago I was clearing out some old boxes and I found this nifty high tech device... It makes for an interesting conversation piece!

2010 Challenge - 1/26/2010 - Market

1/400 f/11.0 72mm, ISO 200. Lens: 24mm - 85mm, Camera: Nikon D700

I didn't have much time today for taking photos. I had to pop out at lunch time to stock up on some lunch stuff. Whole Foods is just down the road from campus, on College. I am shooting this over the roof of my car. Whole Foods is a store that always makes me feel virtuous.

2010 Challenge - 1/25/2010 - Reading List

1/200, f/8.0, 50mm, ISO 200. Alien Bee - Bounce +1/2 power, Lens: 24mm - 85mm, Camera Nikon D700

It is very unusual that I would look at the books I am reading and see a theme... Here I have gathered books that I am currently reading that are all books about interesting women:

1. Sarah Palin, Going Rogue: I am halfway through this. This is what I call "toilet reading". I am not a fan, but the reference to "toilet" is not indicative of what I think of the book or the author, it is more about the mode/ style of reading...

2. Virgin Warrior, the Life and Death of Joan of Arc, by Larissa Juliet Taylor. I got this out the local library. Haven't started it yet.

3. The Life of a Steel Magnolia, Condi, by Mary Beth Brown. Also from the library. I've just started this one.

4. Rosa Parks, by Douglas Brinkley. Rosa Parks is famous for refusing to go to the back of the bus in the segregated South. I am halfway through this, and find her story fascinating.

5. My Life in France, Julia Child (with Alex Prud'homme). My sister in law, Arden got this for me for Christmas. I haven't seen the film, but really love this book. Also not finished. But reading it makes me want to 1) go to Paris, 2) learn to cook - I mean REALLY learn to cook!, 3)And eat decadently!

Our darling furperson, Maddie was feeling needy and got in the way of this shot. She kept rubbing herself all over the set up. In the end she ended up in the shot!

2010 Challenge - 1/24/2010 - Green

1/250 f/3.5 (105mm f4 micro lens, with 50mm extension tube) ISO 200. Alien Bee bounce flash, full power.

2010 Challenge - 1/23/2010 - Melt

1/800 f/10.0 85mm ISO 500. Lens: 24mm - 85mm, Camera Nikon D700

Today Kevin and I took our cameras and went for a short walk around Erie. There are so much potential for great photographs. I am sure I will be revisiting each of the spots we walked passed today. We are currently in a mild phase - where there is still some ice/ snow on the ground, but the sun as melted quite a bit. This photo was taken while I crossed the street and came across a patch of snow/ ice/ melt. I loved the textures that I think have been left by boot prints, and the thaw/freeze/thaw cycle.

2010 Challenge - 1/22/2010 "Trash"

1/160, f/7.1, 85mm, ISO 1000. Flash - bounce -1/3.  Lens: 24mm - 85mm, Camera Nikon D700

I didn't really have any time today at work today to really do anything other than take a quick snap. Here is a photograph of the inside of my trash bin. As you can see, the Starbucks is prominently displayed.

2010 Challenge - 1/21/2010 "Sky on Fire"

1/160 f/7.1 24mm, ISO 1000. Lens: 24mm - 85mm, Camera: Nikon D700

As I left for work this morning I witnessed this amazing sunrise. A true "sky on fire". It lasted briefly. I stopped my car on the road that I usually use. I am still in old town looking East.

2010 Challenge - 1/20/2010 "Vending"

1/250, f/6.3, 50mm, ISO 640. Lens: 24 - 85mm, Camera Nikon D700. Flash: Bounce -1/3

Vending machines are ubiquitous in office and campus environments. Here's one that lurks near the restrooms... It costs $1.25 to get your quick caffeine fix.

"A Family that blogs together..."

My mom decided she didn't want to miss out on any of the fun. So I set up a blog for her. Mom decided she wanted to take part in the 2010 challenge. You go girl!!!!

To see my mom's blog go to June.

2010 Challenge - 1/19/2010 "They're back..."

1/250, f/6.3, 85mm, ISO 500. Lens: 24mm - 85mm, 3.5-4.5 G Nikon, Camera: Nikon D700

Today, winter break is over. The students are back. This means parking spaces fill up quickly, bike racks are full, and one carefully coordinates class time breaks before heading out to catch some on campus coffee (to avoid the long lines.)

2010 Challenge - 1/18/2010 "Cat's Eye"

1/125, f/4.0, 105mm, ISO 3200. Lens: 105mm 2.8, VR. Camera: Nikon D700

I was sitting at our kitchen table taking artsy pictures of my Macbook's keyboard. I wanted to use only natural light - so no flash, just gorgeous natural light streaming in through the window. Maddie (who has starred already in this month's photo a day challenge) wanted to see what I was up to. She ended up sitting quietly next to my computer, looking out onto our front porch. Maddie is usually quite photo shy, and she is a devil to photograph as her very dark face fools most cameras. Except today, whatever was outside held her attention, so that when I pointed the 105mm lens at her she was quite still. In fact the eye is reflecting the outside railing (in white) of our front porch.

2010 Challenge - 1/17/2010 "Red Rocks"

Shutter speed 1/200, f/9.0 105mm, ISO 320. Lens: 105mm Nikon VR, Camera: Nikon D700

Today we joined my mom and dad for a photo shoot up at Red Rocks. I had a number of good shots that I could have chosen. I decided on this one, because I liked the texture on the rocks and the tree.

2010 Challenge - 1/16/2010 "Valley"

Shutter speed 1/320, f/16.0, 70mm, ISO 250. Lens: 24mm-85mm, Camera: Nikon D700. Converted to Black & White in iPhoto.

Today we drove to Longmont to our favorite restaurant, The Flavor of India for lunch. We take the back country roads to get there. These roads go through corn fields, passed farm barns, unused silos, and the occasional yak. I love this spot. Kevin parked on the side of the road, and we both got out to take pictures. It always amazes me where more than one photographer is taking the same subject matter how very different the photos are. I can't wait to see what Kevin's photo's looked like. I decided to convert to black and white to give a slightly different look. The light was gorgeous, and the left over corn was a rich gold color.

2010 Challenge - 1/15/2010 "Coffee"

Shutter speed 1/250, f/4.5, 40mm, ISO 1250. Lens: 24-85mm, Nikon D700. Flash: Bounce +2/3

I had coffee today with my dear friend and mentor Earlie Thomas, retired Director of EHS. Earlie is enjoying his retirement. And it is always good to drink coffee and chew the fat with dear friends.

2010 Challenge - 1/14/2010 "Track"

Shutter speed 1/200, f/6.3, 85mm, ISO 320. Lens: 24 - 85mm, Camera: Nikon D700

This photo was taken at the end of the day, but before the light was really starting to fade. CSU campus has a rail track right through it. In fact the City of Fort Collins is bisected by a rail track. These are not little used tracks, but are well used. My office building sits west of this track, yet it is so well built, that I can't hear the train at all when in chugs through.

2010 Challenge - 1/13/2010 "Inside/ Outside"

Shutter speed 1/200, f/5.6, 30mm, ISO 2000. Lens: Nikon 24mm - 85mm. Camera: Nikon D700.

Colorado State University's Morgan Library has an art exhibition of works by Dr Patrick McKee. The exhibition is called "Skysckapes of the West" and it ends Jan 18.

I was recently at the library giving some training when I saw this wonderful exhibition. What caught my eye was the view of one of CSU's many sculptures that could be seen through the window. That made me think "Inside/ Outside".

Here, I tried to get as much of the outside to show through. I remembered how I shot the Erie Library, and decided on a similar strategy.

Deja Vu... family crisis over...

This afternoon, exactly to the day, on the 5th week of Andrew's death, I get another "Oh Frak!" phone call. My father has collapsed and is being transported in an ambulance to the hospital.

I felt dizzy, in shock, and I really wanted to crawl into a corner or start yelling. Not, oh please!!! AGAIN!!!!

I make the mad dash from Fort Collins, to Littleton. This time to the Littleton Adventist Hospital. After a 2 hour drive, and battle through traffic on Sante Fe, I get there. Dreading it. And there I find my mom and dad in the ER, My father with good color, sitting up, and waiting to be discharged. All tests are clear. In fact Dad was champing at the bit, as he wanted to show me some photos that he had taken that morning as part of the 2010 Challenge!

Thank God.

I don't think I could have gone through with this again. Absolutely not!!!

2010 Challenge - 1/12/2010 "Chair"

Shutter speed 1/1000, f/8.0, 110mm (75 - 300mm Nikon VR) ISO 200. This was taken at the athletic track on campus. The track is next door to my office building. The students are still on their winter break. So everything seems to have a quiet mournful air. I found this chair in this spot next to the nets. The track had been cleared of snow, and we are currently facing a big melt, thanks to sunny warmish weather. I liked the incongruity of a simple office chair in the middle of an athletic track. I liked the deep rich red sweep of the track, and the wonderful shadows cast by the nets.

2010 Challenge -1/11/2010 "Chain of Command"

Shutter speed 1/200, f/11.0, 105mm (micro lens, manual lens) ISO 800, Alien Bee bounce. Converted to Black & White in iPhoto.

2010 Challenge - 1/10/2010 "Peerless"

Shutter speed 1/500, f/7.1 85mm ISO 500. Camera: Nikon D700, Lens 24-85mm. Color adjustments in iPhoto.