Thanksgiving 2007

Dad
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I shot some family portraits... How Mike ended up escaping the camera, I'm not sure, but I'll grab him tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

White Berry Wreath
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Just a quick note to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Gotta run.. I've got 8 hungry mouths to feed for the holiday, including my own. I'm sure there will be photos.. lots and lots of photos!

The Stupid Little Angry Dog™ has certainly sprouted

The Stupid Little Angry Dog™ has certainly sprouted
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Gretchen has just gone through a HUGE growth spurt and is now 4 times her original size. Ok.. not really.. this is my 'house guest dog'... Sasha... She came back home to live in my cellar along with my son and his girlfriend... now if we could just get the 2 dogs to get along maybe I can get a shot of them together where they aren't trying to kill each other... they are getting somewhat better so hopefully it'll happen eventually.

Snow on the Mountain

Snow on the Mountain
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

We still have an amazing amount of leaves on the trees for November but off in the distance there's snow on the top of Mount Monadnock. I even spotted a few flakes falling from those grey storm clouds this afternoon but not nearly enough to show up in a photograph. I can't wait for the first really good snow shower.

Living on the Edge

Living on the Edge
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

So busy these days I haven't had time to shoot much of anything. I find that if I don't get 2 days off in a row I just get tired. You know tired. The kind of tired that only a day of sitting on the couch and watching old movies can cure it, tired. So, here's one from the archives that never got posted from the trip to Cape Cod. I'm glad I looked back at these, I really like this one and the little crane hanging out in the water under the dock is just a little extra bonus!

Luckily this week I'm back to 2 days off in a row. So I should be able to get back on track. I hope. I also gave up a couple of my mornings that I usually go out shooting so that I could get my Etsy store back up and running. I missed going out and about with the camera's but it was worth it, within a couple of days I had another sale. I've still got more work to do, I've got to get my Christmas card selections up there, but that shouldn't take too long. Gah... busy.. busy.. busy...

Fresh Pearl

Fresh Pearl
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

It doesn't get any fresher than this. When I got home from work last night my husband had a little gift for me. He had spent the day down at the ocean out fishing on his father's boat and apparently shopping in some pretty cool gift shops. As soon as I walked in the door he presented me with a plastic take-out container with this rather sad looking oyster in it. Cracking it open and fishing through the slime for a good minute or two eventually produced this beautiful pearl! The gift even came with a pretty twin dolphin pearl cage necklace to put my new treasure in and wear. Now how COOL is that!! All I know is my husband now has a license to go off fishing with his Dad any time he wants.. provided he brings me more plastic take-out containers full of pearls! :)

Autumn's Visitor

Autumn's Visitor
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I'm not sure if I've posted this to the blog off the top of my head (apologies if it has been) but there is an update on it... I entered it into the Masslive.com Fall Foliage Photo Contest and it was published a couple of days ago as an "Honorable Mention".. Yup... I'm Honored as well... :)

Say it isn't so...

Say it isn't so...
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I noticed this new banner while I was out on break... say it isn't so Santa!

Digging for Candy

Digging for Candy
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I don't usually (read never) post pictures of strange children but this one was just too cute... It was trick or treat at the Wally world last night and the kid on the right, dressed as an organ grinder monkey was just adorable... till I downloaded the shots and realized what the kid was doing with his finger... Which of course.. made the shot cuter than EVER! LOL

It's a bird.. It's a plane.. It's.. CAPTAIN COPYRIGHT!

It's a bird.. It's a plane.. It's.. CAPTAIN COPYRIGHT!
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Yes. Captain Copyright! That lesser known super hero!

Defender of Artists everywhere!

Your weapons shall not deter me from my task!

Tell me the Photographer is dead and I shall scoff at you!

Try and sneak Little Jimmies School Portrait in between stacks of snapshots from last Christmas and I shall route it out of the pile and destroy it!

Even your most strongest weapon of "I intend to tell a member of Management what a rude woman you are." is no weapon that can defeat the all mighty Captain Copyright it shall simply show Management that I am indeed doing the tasks for which I am employed and shall instead of getting Captain Copyright in trouble it will get Captain Copyright a raise for actually doing her job.

So. Go ahead. Make my day... Pull that professional portrait of dear dead Grandma off the wall and attempt to make a copy of it. For I shall laugh as I send Grandma through the shredder...

MMWWAAAAAHA HA HA>>...

Multiple Personality

Multiple Personality
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

so.. what else are you gonna do with free film but make sure you get your moneys worth... 4 shots per frame should do it... This was really fun.. but hard... by the time I reset the self timer I had forgotten where I was standing in the previous frame... I really got get someone to hit the freakin' button for me!

. . .

. . .
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

20 Year View

20 Year View
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I grew up right next to this barn. For 20 years I looked out on this view, it's funny that I never thought to photograph it until now, as it is I almost drove straight past without stopping before I thought better of it.

vice

vice
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

This is one that I did for a "Dictionary Group".. where you pick a word, shoot a photo to illustrate it and include the definition in the photo... So of course, I picked "Vice"...

Ok.. so this is a somewhat oldie... it's from back in September... but I needed a pic with a finger in it... Why, you ask? Well.. you know how I love to illustrate my posts with a pertinent picture to describe whatever it is I'm yappin' about at that particular moment and today I'm yappin' about fingers.

Yes.

Fingers.

As in those appendages that you find on the ends of your hands. You know the ones. The ones that people just LOVE to photograph. How do I know that people love to photograph their fingers? Because I develop at least one finger photo every day at work. I even had a streak going. I had developed a finger-shot every shift that I worked for over 3 weeks.

EVERY day!

Fingers...

Then... one day... it was really really slow during my shift and I only developed 3 rolls of film for the entire 4 hour shift. No fingers. I was SO disappointed. I shouldn't have worried though, like clockwork, the finger-shots were back again the next night, and have continued every single day since then. I've even considered making a game out of it. You know, for every finger shot I develop during the day's shift, I get to have the same number of fingers of Ketel One Vodka that night when I get home. Then I realized that that particular Sunday I had had an 8 finger day.

Yes.

EIGHT.

I quickly realized that my little game could only result in a couple of things:

1. Really bad hangovers as I try to develop more fingershots the next day.

2. A habit that could be really hard to stop.

3. Spending my entire paycheck on more bottles of Ketel One.

4. Death by finger poisoning.

So I've rejected the idea of my Finger-shot game. Too bad really. But I still keep track of things. Why just the other day, I beat my own record of eight with a banner "Nine Finger Day". I'll be sure to keep you posted, after all, as the Holidays approach I expect to see lots of "Kids (and is that Santa there behind Mommies Finger?)" shots. Time will tell... Eventually I'm sure I will have developed photo's of every finger in town.

Hey...

Maybe that's the coffee table book idea that I've been looking for...

"The Finger - Illustrated"

2 Seasons of Old Deerfield

2 Seasons of Old Deerfield
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I love this barn... I shot the Spring one first back in May and then last week I shot the Fall version... I'm gonna have to go back when the snow flies to get some snow on the barn and then again in the full green bloom of summer...

Pooka

Pooka
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

An experiment with my new film camera. Yup.. the old 1981 Minolta finally has started giving up the ghost.. all over my shots... it seems to have developed a light leak which leaves bleached out streaks across every 4th or 5th frame... I'll still try and salvage her and see if I can find where the problem is with the seal but in the meantime I've picked up a Canon Rebel K2... not necessarily what I would have chosen as a 35mm but the fact that all my Digital Lenses will fit on this body won the day. I am loving it.. the tiny electronic click of the digital can't compare with the lovely "click.. slap.. whirr" of the film camera... it's just so satisfying... this is a shot from the first roll of test film that I sent thru her... Not bad... not bad at all... I even shot the same scene on both the digital and the new film and the quality of the shot is amazing... I have a feeling that your gonna see alot more film shots from me...

Line up

Line up
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Boy.. did I pick the right day to visit Old Deerfield. I ran smack into an antique (pre 1914) car meetup. A great group of people from "The Snappers Automobile Club" in some of the most amazing cars!

Me and Jenny

Me and Jenny
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Looking OH so like an advertisement for Mazda.. LOL... That's the Mount Washington Hotel in the background... I'm finally getting around to processing all the pics I took up in New Hampshire during the "Great Annual Leaf Peeping Traffic Jam" that we attended a couple of weekends ago... More to come.. or check my Flickr Account to see 'em all..

Mike shouldn't leave his balls lying around...

Mike shouldn't leave his balls lying around...
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

A little Halloween fun goin' on... :) I didn't get a chance to carve the pumpkin the proper way before he developed a soggy bottom so this was the best I could come up with... I really like him actually... definitely not your typical Jack... I may still pickup a new pumpkin and do a traditional lighted one... we'll see...

Nauset Light

Nauset Light
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

We managed to visit not one but two lighthouses during our visit to the Cape... The Chatham Light and this one, the Nauset Light.. they are twins that used to stand together in Chatham until they moved this one up to Eastham.

Heron revisited

Heron revisited
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I've shot so much lately I'm having a hard time find time to edit and process... Here's one from last week that I'm just getting around to working with now... More of that great Great Blue Heron...

Like Shootin' Fish in a Canal

Like Shootin' Fish in a Canal
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I'm lovin' it... The shore fisherman didn't catch a single one... I keep finding more and more stripers in my pics...

Hi Mileage...

Fisherman
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I know.. the posting has been a bit sparse... but I've been traveling... Mike has been on vacation this week and what with not having a day job combined with taking the weekend off of the photo job we've actually had time to get out and about... We went down to Natick, pictures posted below and here.... then up to New Hampshire, pictures still to come.. and then Wednesday and Thursday were spent on the Cape... This is one of my favorites from that trip... You can find a few more here.

So many photos.. so little time to get them all posted...

Bonnie, Riordon and Lu' bokeh

Bonnie, Riordon and Lu' bokeh
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Of course when you go to a photography meetup you get a ton of photo's of people taking pictures.

The Motley Crew

The Motley Crew
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

No pressure here... just take a portrait of a ton of the most awesome photogs.. nope... no pressure!

Me, me and more me.

50mm and non-photographer
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I've never had my picture taken this much. Ever. Not even when I start doing some of those "self portraits" that I know you all love so much, but that's what happens when you spend the day down in Sherborn with a group of 20 or so photographers.

Saturday was the 1st (annual hopefully) Meetup of the online group that I belong to known as "Utata". That's right... those insane photo's that I take for "Iron Photographer" and "Title This".. that group. It was a little scary. Meeting all those people for the first time, even tho with most of them I can tell you who their spouses are, how many children they have, what kind of cars they drive, where they live and in alot of cases, what they had for dinner last nite because they've photographed it and posted it to Flickr.

The intimidation factor was huge as well. These are some of the BEST photographers that, whether they realize it or not, have become mentors to me. I learn so much from looking at their stuff. So there was no way I could pass up the chance to meet these people in the flesh... So.. it was off to Natick/Sherborn and I'm SO glad we went. It was a total blast. It really was amazing how 20 very different people, that have never met before, can all just show up and instantly have a connection and gel so well together. It felt more like a group of 'old friends' getting together than a group of strangers. I just wish I had had more time to talk one on one with some of them, but I guess that's what follow-up visits are for. I'd love to take the day and meet Tracy Lee from New Hampshire and pick her brain. Patrick from Revere for his awesome portraiture and Jody from LA, I swear, carries around her own portable "early evening light" and uses it just OH so freakin' well.

Anyway... it was really wonderful and I'm sure you'll see some more photo's from the meetup. Or... if you can't wait for me to post some you can surf through these here. These are all the photo's from the Meetup from everyone that was there. We all put the same descriptive tag on the photo's "That cow is a bull"... Long story.. let's just say there were alot of "city folk" there... LOL

My four cents...

My four cents...
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Here's your photo to go with the entry below... shot just for you!

Gimme another reason - and my freakin' pennies!

Nope, no photo to go with this post. I did have an old shot that I've posted before from McDonald's but if I put up the same photo twice, my Southern Blonde sister gets confused so I won't do that to her. Perhaps she's been in the "slow south" a little too long? ;)

So. As you may or may not be aware, my son and his girlfriend have moved backed into the house this past weekend. All and all I'd say their moving in has been great. Alot less intrusive and crowded than I though it would be, but one side-effect has been the food situation.

Just as I was about to head to the kitchen yesterday and make my lunch I heard drawers sliding, cabinets slamming and general "I'm cooking" sounds coming from in there. I rounded the corner to find my son making sammich's for him and Sasha... I decided to have a seat at the table and chat with him as he cooked for them. When he was done I went to make my lunch only to find out that not only was he done, but so was the lovely left over steak from last nite's supper, the butt end of the crusty french loaf, and the incredibly creamy mild cheddar. Damn... a half hour late and a sammich short. So. To keep from passing out between the film developer and the camera bar at work last nite, I decided to leave for work a half hour early and swing through McDonald's to get myself some sustenance.

Anyway, I digress.. McDonald's. OY... Like anyone needs another reason to dislike them. Their food is usually enough, but no, they have to go and add really crappy customer service to the mix. But, let's begin at the beginning.

Unsuspectingly... I pulled into the lot and walked in and ordered my lunch. The least offensive thing I could think of on their menu... Chicken Selects... You know.. they are kind of like the old "Chicken McNuggets" only these haven't been pre-chewed for you. So.. I ordered up and then the fun began.

I handed the cashier my $6 and she reached into the drawer to get me my 24 cents change. Withdrawing her hand and extending it over the counter to me, I notice that it contains only 2 thin dimes. 20 cents. Puzzled, I looked at her. Apparently she was quick enough to recognize that patented "WTF" look that I've mastered so very well and she quickly stated: "I'm sorry, I don't have any pennies. Is that ok?"...

Huh?

So, talking slower now so that I could understand her as the look on my face had gone from "WTF" to "You've got to be kidding me." Which apparently I haven't mastered quite as well and some people interpret it as "I'm not that intelligent, I don't understand you, and would you say that again.. only s l o w e r . . ."

"I don't have any pennies. Is This O K ?"

I considered her suggestion and almost said "OH.. no problem.. when you get your pennies, just put my 4 cents here in the Clown House bucket as a donation."

And then my brain started up.

Uh oh... never a good sign...

Never...

It started whispering stuff like:

-"That is just SO wrong."

-"What kind of customer service is this?"

-"She's not gonna just give me a quarter and call it even?"

-"WHY is she asking me this?"

Now it's all kind of a blur from there but I believe at that point I did something uber smart.. like.. you know...

Laugh in her face.

and replied with...

"Let me get this straight. YOU don't have any pennies... So you want to short me FOUR cents? How about THIS. YOU give ME a quarter. And that way instead of shorting me... THE CUSTOMER.. FOUR CENTS... you only short YOURSELF.. ONE PENNY!"

I admit at that point... I was still laughing at her.

And her reply?

"But then my drawer will be off by a penny at the end of the night."

My mind then went into "hype-drive-beam-me-up-Scotty mode"...

In flash I contemplated at least 20 different replies to that statement. Including, but not limited to:

- "And if you short me, my pocket will be off by FOUR cents at the end of the night."

- "If your off by a penny and the Manager gives you crap about it, Honey.. you SO need a new job."

- "SO?"

I settled on the following:

"How is it MY problem that you don't have any pennies?"

At this point... to her final credit.. she came across with my freakin' quarter...

Now... I'm not dumb enough to turn my back on someone that I've just had a go round with as they are preparing anything that I intend to put into my mouth, so I was watching her VERY carefully as she packaged up my food. And what do I see and hear but my lovely cashier yappin' it up with the 'fry girl'... Now.. I didn't catch it all.. but I did catch the attitude that she added with a flourish as she said "How is that MY problem."

OH FREAKIN' MY...

Wrong answer. Wrong attitude. Wrong. Wrong. Freakin' WRONG.

"Make-it-so-Jean-Luc" and we're off to hyper-drive again. I considered the following:

- "I'd like to see the Manager. NOW!"

- "LET ME EXPLAIN A BIT ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO YOU IDIOTS!"

- "Ever hear the term the customer is always right? That means when you can't accommodate the customer's needs. LIKE THEIR FREAKIN" CORRECT CHANGE. You don't ask THEM to give anything up. YOU SACRIFICE THE COMPANIES PENNY..."

As she made her way back to the counter with my bag of lunch, I quickly settled on "the HIGH road."

"Excuse me, but I'm standing right here, and I heard what you just said to her. I think you should know that that was INCREDIBLY rude. I can't believe you just did that. That was just so RUDE."

Her reply, mumbled now.. was something to the effect of:

"She's the one that has to go get me pennies when she's done over there, so I was just letting her know what happened."

So.. I reiterated my stance that "Asking the CUSTOMER to take the hit when you don't have the correct change to give them is absolutely WRONG and perhaps the worst customer service I've ever had. You just have a yourself a GREAT day, now."

I grabbed my bag of lunch before she could change her mind and do something horrible to my sweet and sour dipping sauce... and walked away.

It was a freakin' PENNY. But I sure as heck got my money's worth outta that exchange.

Autumn's Visitor

Autumn's Visitor
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

It was a wonderful day yesterday. I found this guy standing on his log at the edge of the Ware River. He's probably still standing there. I know he outlasted me. I shot a full 2 Gig card of him and part of another and when I left, he was still standing there. Outlasted by a Blue Heron. Wonderful.

Jaws

Jaws
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

So many pictures... SO many... :)

So far it's just been an awesome week. My first week of no day job. WOOHOO... We went to the Big E.. well.. ok.. that was last week but close enough...

Monday I went shooting with my friend Sandra out to Shelburne Falls and the Bridge of Flowers...

Tuesday Sasha and I hopped in my little car and took a wonderful foggy tour up through Hardwick and into Petersham (I haven't even posted those pictures to Flickr as yet - I'm still working on posting the ones from Monday!)

And right now I'm downloading over 2 gigs of photo's from this mornings ride. A quick toot up to West Brookfield, across to Gilbertville and down through Grenville Park where a very accommodating Blue Heron sat on a branch and posed for me until I ran out of chip space!

Awesome...

I'm loving it!

Roll.. Roll... Roll in za Hay...

Roll.. Roll... Roll in za Hay...
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

A tribute to "Young Frankenstein" (perhaps THE best movie ever) shot for another of Utata Iron Photographer's that just make me crazy! :)

This one had to have:

1. Something from the bathroom
2. Something from the fridge
3. Shot in the bedroom

WHEW!! This one was really hard!

Posted

Posted
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Spent an awesome day out shooting with Sandra.. Where this one was taken will remain a secret.. LOL ps... I stayed back in case SOMEONE needed bail money or an ambulance! ;)

Blue Morning Glory

Blue Morning Glory
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I spent a lovely day out in Shelbourne Falls, Mass shooting with my friend Sandra... I came back with a ton of shots and will upload them over the next couple of days... right now I'm just too damn tired from all that fresh air and sunshine.. oh.. and did I mention the freakin' MOUNTAIN she decided we needed to climb...

Driving Light.

Driving Light.
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

It was an amazing sight watching all the horse teams flying through the midway at the Big E.

red

red
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I'm feeling rather minimalistic today so here's my minimal effort.

Deer... I think...

Deer... I think...
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

OH what fun.. I picked up a cheapo motion detector digital camera the other day and we've set it up in the woods near the house. This morning we had a deer come by for a photo shoot. I can't wait to see what else we have out there although I'm a little worried about what I might see.. LOL... coming home after dark will never be quite the same if I see something out there that shouldn't be so close to the house!

Ferris Wheel

Ferris Wheel
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

We managed to miss the Belchertown Fair this year. bummer... this is all that was left when we finally made it up there last nite.. The rides were only partially lit... A few shots were all that I could manage from the passenger seat of the Miata and yet I really like them. We had gone up to have some "Fair Food" for supper.. you know.. a healthy diet of Fried Dough with maybe some fruit for dessert (aka Candy Apples)... Instead we ended up in the Wong Garden... nope.. not a typo... Wong Garden - a chinese food place that was recommended to me by a co-worker... I must say.. you got HUGE portions for very little bucks... and if they hadn't dumped a whole crap load of MSG into the beef and broccoli (and the rice) it would have been really.. REALLY good... as it is though we had dinner at about 7pm last nite and I'm still freakin' thirsty from all that salt.. next time I'll see if they can go MSG free for me.. either that or I'll stick with the ginormous chicken fingers and the really good home-made duck sauce...

I Quit

I Quit
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

ok.. so not really "quit"... I just won't be doing web work all day long anymore... I don't really know what to call it when you've told your biggest client "No more!". Have you quit? Fired yourself? Fired your client? More than likely it's called "I've discontinued your contract.", but that doesn't sound nearly as dramatic as...

I QUIT! :)

Shut your Pie Hole...

Shut your Pie Hole...
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

More of the Quabbin Twins... This was actually from a couple of weeks ago and I just haven't had time to process it... I've been up to the Quabbin a couple of times in the past week or so and they haven't been anywhere to be found. Hopefully I'll run into them again sometime soon!

Hiding in the Orchard

Hiding in the Orchard
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

I took a trip up the orchard in the Quabbin this morning looking for the deer. There was just this one having some sweet apples for breakfast and she took off pretty quick when she spotted me.

..the word..

..the word..
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Just the beginning of the fall flowers. I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. It really feels good when what you picture in your mind actually comes out exactly the same in the finished picture. That rock in the background makes the perfect backdrop to the buds...

..archery..

..archery..
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

My new rod iron wall hanging... I'm not quite sure where it's final spot will be so I'm trying it in different locations both inside and outside the house. I may even go back and pick up another one. It was quite the bargain. Ocean State Job Lot had them for 15 bucks. The original price tag from kohl's was still on the packaging - $60! I may even try this as a headboard. I think 2 of them would span the mattress nicely. We'll see.

Nice Boat

Nice Boat
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Instead of my usual fake drive-in commute today, I took a walk down my driveway with the camera. I think it's time we got rid of the "Nice Boat" that lives at the edge of the woods down there.

Alternative Autumn... Revisited

Alternative Autumn...
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Ok.. so this pic is one you may have seen before, it's from exactly one year ago, but I've been so busy that I haven't had time to shoot anything... so busy that I'm starting to reconsider my work schedules... so busy that that reconsideration is even including going so far as to consider quitting my day job. I haven't made any decisions as yet and I'm still considering (hopefully) ALL the options... but I do know that something has probably got to give.

I'll smile but I won't like it.

I'll smile but I won't like it.
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

The Stupid Little Angry Dog™ just has no patience for the camera.

A quick update on the new Photo Center job. Let's just say "I'm lovin' it."... I haven't folded anything or picked anything up off the floor or put anything on a hanger ALL WEEK! Woohoo... Zoning the department, which normally would take HOURS (as in 3 hours minimum).. now takes 5 minutes..

Now that's not to say that I haven't been busy, I've been wicked busy, but it's a good busy... developing film left and right.. learning the machines.. my first roll of film that I worked on even ended up being a pain in the butt that forced me to have to learn to use the black box (a light free box where you stick your hands in and manually remove the film from the roll and re-spool it into a blank cassette working completely without being able to see what your hands are doing)...

So what was the first picture on the first roll that I developed all by myself? A bouquet of flowers! Perfect... Which was alot nicer than the first customer that I waited on by myself in the new department, I've never seen anyone get quite as upset as that little old lady over the fact that we didn't have any traditional style photo albums... I guess you can take the girl outta the as* floss department, but you can't take the as* holes outta the store... How's that for a picture for ya'.. LOL

Gretchen to the Rescue!

Gretchen to the Rescue!
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

ok.. so my exposure was way off and I didn't intend for The Stupid Little Angry Dog™ to be in the shot.. but there you go.. sometimes you just have to roll with it! I was using the lawn chair as a tripod, plunked the camera down, kind of aimed at that tree in the background and hit the timer, ran like heck (cause of course on a 900 dollar camera body they only give you a lousy 10 second timer) and hurriedly laid down on the lawn. It was all too much for the dog, she took off running after me and then became concerned when I laid down. I was thrilled when I saw the shot, I don't think I could have framed it any better if I had actually tried but I messed up the ISO setting. I had been shooting in the dark woods so I had the ISO cranked up to 400 and then of course, when I moved back into the light, I forgot to reset it. damn... I might have to retry this...

The Creature....

The Creature....
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

OH.. the things you see when your out and about on a lovely day... I probably should have gotten the artist to stand beside his creation so you could see the actual scale (heh.. get it .. SCALE..) of this.. he's got to be at least 9 feet tall.. He was created by Wilbraham Massachusetts artist Peter G. Mayberry, Sr. of Mayberry's Metal Art... (hit me with an email if you want some contact info for him)... All I can say is.. now I know what I want for Christmas!

We actually lucked out and got to meet the artist and his wife, a very nice couple indeed. They very nicely invited us onto their property and showed us around his shop and the lovely gardens and rock waterfall that they have in the back yard which, of course, if full of more of his work. I'll post a couple more pics in a few. His art is absolutely wonderful and the colors that he manages to get out of sheets of metal is just amazing!

Cow Butt Bokeh

Cow Butt Bokeh
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

Sung to the tune of "Beer Barrel Polka"...

The colors are a bit odd on this one, but frankly I really like the 'off hue' on this one.. all kinds of news around this place.. in a quick nutshell:

Happy Anniversary to me... 23 years! Sheesh... Where does the time go?

Happy New Job to me... You'll still find me at the Wally World... but now instead of finding me amongst the bras and panties, your gonna have to go to the PHOTO CENTER... How freakin' perfect is that? Not that that wasn't the department that I had initially applied for but sometimes you gotta take what you can get and just wait it out until there is an open slot. So... I get to deal with the stuff that I love, wear a really cool white lab coat (well, actually I suspect that are gonna be more HOT than cool.. but whatever), I'll get out at 9pm instead of 10, I was told the hours are "pretty much the same" (pretty much? uumm... ok so that's a little scary... exactly what is 'pretty much'), get to meet other photographers, and I get to see everyone's pictures!! OH and they are even gonna pay me more. The transfer is gonna happen pretty quickly. I start training next week for a couple of hours during my regular shift amongst the intimates. I do have quite a bit to learn... the photo developing equipment and the register mainly.. But... I can't wait to get started! I will miss the ladies from softines tho... but.. I can always visit... I'm sure you'll be hearing more about it in the coming days and weeks... but YAY!

A Muse

A Muse
Originally uploaded by BayRoadPhoto/Laura

A muse according to wikipedia is:

In Greek mythology, the Muses (Greek Μοῦσαι, Mousai: perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *men- "think"[1]) are a sisterhood of goddesses or spirits, their number set at nine by Classical times, who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music and dance.

Sounds impressive, doesn't it? When I think of a muse I tend to get a little more simplistic. A muse to me is someone that inspires you, works closely with you and just generally is up for anything. That's what I'm talking about. A muse. A cohort. A partner in the crime that is my photographic vision. Someone that can smile and say "Sure, why not!" when I get out the fuzzy bunny ears, inflate a blue balloon and corral the Stupid Little Angry Dog™.

The correct applicant for this position would be one that offers to drive when at midnight I want to grab the camera, the oddly shaped zucchini that came out of the garden, a pitchfork and shovel, and head out to the local Grange Hall. Suggestions from the proper muse would be most welcome and questions such as "Should I wear the overalls or the wedding dress for this one?" are absolutely encouraged.

Applicants should be able to sprint at least one quarter mile, jump and land, unhurt, in the passenger seat of a small convertible, without scratching the paint job and while being chased by local law enforcement officials and/or random junk yard dogs. Bonus points will be given to any applicant that can do the above in almost complete darkness while wearing a prom gown, flip-flops and a football helmet.

So, if your that kind of person, I want to hear from you.

Extra consideration will be given to any applicant that shows up for their interview carrying suggestively shaped produce.

Applicants with their own wig collection will be considered for a permanent position.

This position does not include monetary compensation of any kind but I can guarantee* you a photo album that will have your grand children buzzing for years to come!

*no guarantees will be made that said photo album will not be used as exhibit A in any particular court of law.