Category Archives: Skywatch

Skywatch Friday – Getting Ready for the Fourth

Fireworks Trailer Impressions Swirly Strokes III 75pct

I was doing my Wednesday night run and came upon this scene on the west bank of the Arkansas River. Trailers loaded with fireworks getting ready for Tulsa’s fireworks display on the fourth. I never knew that they started preparations so early. Our family loves fireworks!!

I cheated on this photo, as I often do. I ran it through Topaz Impressions which mimics various painting styles and I blended in the “Swirly Strokes III” filter at 75% blend with the original photo. I wanted to show the trailer and trailers are not often photogenic so the effect was to “smudge” it a little bit. (Heather has a painter in her family and she told me that she often “smudged” things. I’m not a painter but I feel free to smudge, you should also.) As you can tell I am not much of a “SOOC” worshiper. I don’t even know what the means, really.

Anyways, all my fellow Americans, enjoy the Fourth!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday

Kaui Helicopter Rainbow

Kauai Helicopter Rainbow  Topaz

A definite highlight of our vacation to Hawaii was helicopter tour that Logan’s Grandmother and my MIL gifted him for his birthday. It was great and I’m going to post about it in more depth in the future. For now, I’m posting this rainbow. I’m not sure exactly where we were on Kauai when this rainbow appeared but the island is home to Mount Waialeale which at an average rainfall of 452 inches per year is called the wettest place on earth. So it is probably a good place to see rainbows.

All I know is that the Kauai is beautiful and magical.

Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday – Stars and Stripes over the USS Arizona

Pearl Harbor Flag

 

We just got back from our vacation to Hawaii last weekend. On our last day we ventured to Pearl Harbor and took the Navy launch over to the USS Arizona to pay our respects to not only the Sailors and Marines who died on the ship that day but to all who died for our country and their families.

It is a very somber and sobering experience visiting the Arizona. I’ll never forget it. It was such a pretty day when we visited and it was hard to imagine the death and destruction that came that day.

Linking with Skywatch Friday

 

Skywatch Friday – at the Hanson Brother’s Hopjam

Hopjam Skywatch before

Tulsa had a Craft Beer and Music Festival last Sunday sponsored by the Tulsa’s own Hanson Brothers. It was quite the shindig. The music part was free and featured some great bands including the Hanson Brothers. We couldn’t stay for them but we sure had a good time listening to the music, sampling the beer, and just hanging out. It was all happening on under a big ole Oklahoma Sky.

Isaac Hanson

Here is Isaac Hanson at the family beer tent. He was very gracious talking to fans and getting selfies taken with them.

Linking with Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday – Turkey Mountain Sunset

Turkey Mountain Sunset 2  Glow - Fur Feather i 53pct

I found this dancing tree during one of my evening runs on Turkey Mountain. I love the way the leaves reflect the low sun on its way down. A few minutes after this, it starts getting dark up on the mountain and it would be time to head back to the parking lot but I’m always wanting to go a little bit further. I love the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere.

Linking with Skywatch Friday

Woolaroc Skywatch

Woolaroc Sky Impressions Swirly Strokes I 47pct

The suddenly camera shy wife and kid off to the left. Note that painted look is because I used Topaz Labs Impressions software on the image. I backed it off about 50% on the strength of the effect.

More from our family trip to Woolaroc last weekend. We left Tulsa and it was all warm and everything and by the time we got to Woolaroc about an hour later it was chilly and windy but we had an interesting sky so it was all worth it.

Linking with Skywatch Friday and Good Fences

Skywatch Friday – Soccer Field Skies

Soccer Field Skywatch - Topaz Adjust

Son has a small part in a a musical at his school, Guys and Dolls, and is spending some long hours at his school at rehearsal. Last week I was a little early in the pickup line, so I got out of my car and walked down to the soccer fields and took pictures of the sun, not quite setting over Turkey Mountain to the west. If you are going to be a blogger you gotta have a camera with you all the time is my motto.

What’s your motto?

Linking with Skywatch Friday