"Seniors on the Go:

Had the opportunity to image those amazing ladies from South Carroll at the Annual Carroll County “Seniors on the Go” event at the Aug Center last Wednesday., sadly they were a lot more “On the Go” then i have been processing the images.  

Fear no I haven’t forgotten, just fell behind a bit,,     Some images have been up loaded to the event gallery located here More as time permits. 

It's almost Plunge Time again, just like it was last Winter.

Well look at that, the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge is almost here again. Weather isn’t looking so great, but It doesn’t look to be an event canceling factor like last year postponed plunge, 

But ever the optimist, I’m hoping for the best.

More tomorrow….. 

 

 

Fall Behind?

Setting the clocks, maybe but not when we’re talking updating this site.   After playing around with several site designs I finally decided decided on a minimalist design. The final choice was “Strpped” by one of my favorite RapidWeaver designers. Henk Vrieselaar,  Of course changing a theme is no big deal with a CSS driven website.  But with so many options/looks/capabilities picking one is no easy task.  With the “look” set, now I can continue to refresh the content.

 I shot my first solo Bat Mitzvah this weekend, totally enjoyed the experience, but still waiting on the family’s take on the images I captured.  A few years ago I shot an equestrian event and shot images I thought would meet the customers need.  Not so, I had no idea a formal style portrait of the rider standing next to her horse wearing her prize ribbons just isn’t what they want.. Just the horse, i was told. maybe with the rider doing something..  Go figure.  Hopping history doesn’t repeat the experience.  

Hello Old Friend... StudioD and Alien Skin Enhance 6

What 4 months since my last post..  Bad Poster, Bad Poster….    Well what’s new?  Other then a mindset redirection over at Speed Vision of MD..  Two things come to mind.  One is the rebirth of “StudioD”, play on words. Studio for my vintage Sunpac folding lightbox  and D for Doug, get it?  and another is a trial run of Alien Skin Exposure 6.  Lets look the specifies.

“ ©StudioD ” - In 2008 when I was much younger and new to Flikr, Santa left a SUNPAK Mini Studio under the tree.  Forward to Feb 2nd of 2009 and one of my early Flickr posts was one a model organ made by Father in Law, using said device.  As with so much of what I have, it saw sporadic use early on, but was quickly relegated to the back of the closet.  

 

Lets fast forward up to last Wednesday (52814) when Norm Barker, Director of Pathological Photography @ The Johns Hopkins gave a presentation to the Central Maryland Photographers Guild on Micro Photography.  Toward  the end of his presentation it was mentioned he used a portable light box and carried a small bit of good black velvet in his kit to use as an impromptu backdrop because of it’s ability to absorb light. Being a good minion of who’s ever presenting, come Tuesday morning I too has a piece of my own.  Up from it dark containment the Sunpak Mini Studio was transported, the black velvet backdrop incorporated  and “©StudioD” was created.  Immediately the resulting imagery of things laying around the house were a cut above what had been shot prior.  I was pleased 

Alien Skin Enhance 6  Saw several tweets a few days ago singing the phrases of Alien Skin’s new release of Enhance. 6.  Being a constant user of NIK, Perfect Photo Suite, Topaz, and Alien Skin products on almost all of my posted images inside of Adobe CS6 or as a standalone I investigated and later D/L a trial copy of the software.  On use I was very impressed with the vast range of effects included and started incorporating them into published  images using  “©StudioD”  or on motorcycle racing images..    

To be sure this software will be in my image manipulation tool kit but only when I can free up the $149 needed for purchase. Which is a shame as the more I look into the options the more Im amazed at it’s abilities

Job Interview at "the Dark Conservatory"

How can anyone journey for color and light turn into a much darker experience.  From this ………………………. Images of pure joy… 

To images like this, each with a story that hints of dark actions with deadly concurrencies.   

Was it a cry for help from a tormented mind or was it just a black mood triggered by the less then OK hot dog, offered at the temporary “Terrace Cafe”. Most likely we’ll never know as all this is now water under the dam.  

And then were none..

Almost at the exact same time as I reached the gates of Sandy Point State Park for the 2014 Maryland State Police, Polar Bear Plunge it was announced on 98Rock that the plunge was being canceled due to the dangerous weather conditions .  

 

By this time the State Police were turning away the faithful so the only activity were crews starting to dismantle the Plunge infrastructure z

Well the no activity didn’t apply to the ‘Super Plungers” Tent..  Everyone in the tent were in shock that the event had been called off.  Every hour for the past 23 it was out into the cold, in and out of the water and back inside to warm up.. I think all this involvement, and with a end in site they would never be able have, was the reason. With slight exception I knew no one in the tent.  Well no one but my hero local TV news star Rob Roblin, He looked just plain tired.

    

 

and 98Rock Morning Show Host Justin Schlegel who I had photographed this summer at the Baltimore Grand Prix.  I didn’t shoot any images but he told me this was the hardest super plunge he was involved in. He showed me a movie he took of the shore line at 2AM  where the waves were washing in layers of fine slush ice.  It looked real nasty and they did postpone plunges until 4am.  At this time he wasn’t sure if they were done plunging too, or were going to continue to the end.  Turns out they did go in one last time but we were on the other side of the site when it went off,  so we missed it… 

 

We did see some of the regular attraction The Ravens Roost guys and Captain “D”.  All hard core Ravens Fans. 

Wondered over to the fest tent for a cup-0-joe and ran into this really nice guy with a utterly fantastic beard. 

whats left cold and windy empty beaches and time for the ever vivacious Ms Tina Miles and mineself to head to our respective homes.  Smile for Tina.. 

By!

 

"Hot Day in January"

 In one of his songs, Cajun fiddle man, Doug Kershaw http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Kershaw sang  “It’ll be a hot day in January when she'd ever leave me”.  I guess they were talking about today.  I’m showing 18° as I get ready for my 5th Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge. (Media) While not one of the brave plungers, braving the outdoor’s 0800 to 1600 has been a challenge at time.  Most of my family and friends think I’m nutz, and would rather spend the day bundled up, inside.  Thankfully I’m not at that stage yet..  And why, may your ask? That’s easy, I spend the day trying to chronicle the nobel efforts of the thousand of folks, plungers, staff, whoever,  who do this each year to support the  Maryland Special Olympics.  Plus I get to hang around with one of the best media pros I knew Tina Miles.  With maybe a bit of Rob Roblin thrown in.  Who know what this year will bring? Cold, yes. Snow, maybe, In the meantime here’s some shots from the past to pass the time..    

 

Over the years Beauty Queens,  Swimming Chickens, Ravens QB Joe Flacco , and even my man “Brittany Girl Dale” have all fallen prey to my camera..   

 

Off shortly, hope to see you on the other side 

 

What's New With You?

Nothing much as of now.  Did visit the past in Ilkchester MD, The ruins of “St Mary’s Monastery” and Simkins Paper Mill will warrant a revisit as will the Old B&O rail infrastructure.     

Later on in the week it was a visit to the Providence Cemetery in Gamber MD.  

 

 

 

And then it was up to Abbottsville PA. for some local color. 

And that is what was the week that was. Oh yea, just one more thing before signing off, I did change my watermark logo…