A Photo Shoot with Walker

It is seldom that I have the enjoyment of an impromptu photo shoot.  This weekend's trip to the Phoenix West Condominiums in Orange Beach, AL provided corresponding variables that allowed for such an event.

Our family was invited to a long weekend stay at the beach during the Independence Day holiday.  Our hosts, per the norm for our stays at the beach, were my in-laws.  They are always very gracious and accomodating.  We always have a great time, regardless of the weather.

Walker always likes to check everything out when we reach our destination.  He is a "no stone unturned" type of gentleman.  He had made his way to the balcony of our condo and I saw a perfect opportunity to snap some pics with my prime lens that I ought to use more than I do.

The trouble with a prime lens is that it is not a "utility" lens, which means its versatility is rather limited. It has a fixed focal length, so you are unable to zoom in or out, you just have to move your feet.  It's rather interesting how this one feature can limit the use of a lens to the point of rarely taking it our of your camera bag, but with children running around, you need a lens that can chase them so you don't have to.

My prime lens is a 50mm f/1.4.  The 50mm prime is the traditional portraiture lens for photogs in the know.  However, since I use a crop sensor camera (Nikon D7000) and not a full-frame sensor, it translates to what would be the equivalent of an 85mm.  But it is still remarkable.  What makes it remarkable is the f/1.4, which is the aperture (the amount of light the lens allows to pass to the sensor).  When you have a lens in your bag that has an aperture this large, it allows you to capture light much more quickly than with a normal zoom "kit" lens.  

So Walker was checking out the balcony, which did not have much walking around room, and I had the "aha" moment of "Quick! Put the prime on the camera and take some pics!"  Well, I was pleased with my allowance of images that were granted to me by a somewhat cooperating three year old.  

This first image caught him off guard.  This is Walker's usual "I'm not into fashion" pose.  

I quickly hold my left index finger up. HE LOOKS!!!

Another great pic.

So now he starts to warm up to the camera because I let hime see the pics I take.

And gets silly.

This is my favorite. Encapsulating the essence of

the three year old boy.

Then he just felt like laughing to hear himself laugh.

I think a bird flew by.

I tied to get a serious pic before I put the camera away.

He actually took direction well for three years old.

I just told him not to smile. Presto change-O!

Happy American to Unicef poster child in

less than 5 seconds!  What can I say, the kid

has talent!

A few curve adjustments in photoshop and that was that.  Now I just need to do a photo shoot with Molly Kate!

My wife has all the pictures on her computer. All I have is a salad.

Ok. Its been over a year since my last post. What can I say? Life is busy, and I am lazy!  But time to slowly dip my toes into the waters of the blogosphere and acclimate myself to the surrounding temperature.
Looking through the pictures on my computer I quickly realized that my wife, Katie, has all the family pictures.  So today I'm going to blog about a salad.  Because I like salad.

Growing up, a side salad was a typical staple for our evening meal.  We called it supper.  Now I call it dinner, because when you get married your vocabulary changes. Sometimes dramatically.  But nevertheless a small salad accompanied the main event.  Trying to recollect my early childhood, which used to be alot easier when I was closer to it, our side salads were pretty legit. Iceberg lettuce, carrot, tomato, chopped hard boiled egg, and a sweet pickled cherry pepper.  I loved the cherry pepper.  Actually, I loved the brine in which the cherry pepper was pickled.  I would bite a small hole in the cherry pepper and extract all the juice with extreme prejudice.  Then my dad would eat it so it wouldn't go to waste, an attribute he has passed on to me.

I dont think it was until I was in high school that we started using Romaine lettuce.  To be honest, I don't think I knew there were lettuces other than iceberg.  You can imagine how amazed I was.  I had been sheltered for so long from the immense plethora of greenery on which a salad could be built.  An unusual but not so unusual feeling. The kind of feeling you get if you lived in a log cabin and never went outside.  Then one day you ventured outside and you were surrounded by skyscrapers.  And the passers-by stared in awe as their ideas about how much plaid one person could possibly wear were shattered.

 My parents did their best to shelter me from the evils lurking in this world.  Romaine lettuce, baby spinach, and spring mix were apparently made of adultery, swear words, and Democrats.  Perhaps they were waiting until I was old enough to cope with such a paradigm shift.  Its a process that takes years.  My eyes will still roll back in my head if someone puts a bowl of arugula in front of me. But I digress.

The dressing that accompanied our salads was somewhat of a rudimentary Thousand Island, but it was sooooooo good. And still is.  Its goodness is imbedded in its simplicity.  Built upon the cornerstones of the greatest of American ingredients.  Mayonnaise and ketchup. Salt, black pepper, and garlic salt to taste.  As I've grown into somewhat of a mature adult, I have developed a more refined palate.  Now I make it with freshly ground black pepper.  And Kosher salt. And I use Hellman's instead of Kraft.  What can I say.  I'm a carnisuer.

So when Romaine was introduced to our table, it didn't take long for our side salads to become a little more filling.  Chopped celery and bell pepper had joined the party along with cucumber and green onion.  The evolution was pretty dramatic.  Like watching Richard Simmons transform into Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Ok, I'll admit. That comparison is not the most appetizing but whatever.

Here is the photo that inspired this post.  I took this picture after making this salad so I could show my mom, because this was an awesome salad.  After I emailed it to her I realized that she cant eat salads like this anymore because they contain too much sodium.  I felt pretty bad about that.  Sorry, mom.   Then I ate the salad and didn't feel as bad.  Actually, I felt awesome because this salad was incredible. Two eggs are on that sucker!

Well, thats all I've got for now. Until next time.