The Sky is Cracking, the Sky is Cracking!!

I am no chicken little but I was getting a little concerned during my morning run the other day.

The sky wasn’t falling but it was definitely cracking.

Watery Wednesday

I don’t know about where you live but here in Tulsa it was 106F yesterday. So I’m taking my watery photographs inside this week.

Watery Wednesday

I’m good to go

All I need is a post.

Apologies

I’m going through a blogger experience right now. My apologies. Things will be better soon.

Where Does a Twenty pound Maine Coon Sleep?

Wherever she wants at our house.

Camera Critters

Downtown Reflections

I’m still learning how to use my new Takashi Digital FX 521 Camera. It can take photographs using different effects in the camera rather than with software later.

The building where I work

Again with the blue tint.

I like the negative effect the best:

Weekend Reflections

I haven’t quite figured out how to control the “folded up” appearance seen in the first and last photographs on the lower right hand side. That is a feature of the camera that appears because it is so low tech and backwards in its technology. I’d love to be able to figure out how to do it on purpose.

Western Oklahoma Road Trip

(Drilling rig drilling a horizontal well into the Cana Woodford Shale formation.)

I had a meeting in western Oklahoma on Wednesday. I love driving out there. The sky just opens up and expands and so does my outlook on life.

(Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant under construction.) (sorry about the splotch)

It was a nice dry, not too hot day. Just beautiful.

There were reminders though of why so many people have storm shelters. This area saw a tornado come through just a few weeks ago.

There was lots of damage to houses and buildings and several people perished.

The dry weather is nice, but can lead to grass fires.

I have always thought of western Oklahoma as the beauty and the beast kind of thing. It is beautiful but it can bite hard.

Skywatch Friday

Lomographic Triple Trampolining with my Diana Mini

What is Lomography?

What is the Diana Mini?

Wordless Wednesday

My new Takashi 521 FX Camera

I got some money for my birthday a while back so I used it to by a new camera. It is a Takashi 521 Digital FX. It is digital camera that simulates an analog camera. It has several built in modes. One can take pics in a “normal” mode and also black and white, sepia, negative, and various color tints. So its a fun camera to play around with. I’m still working with it and these are some of my first pics.

As you can tell it is fairly low tech but I think that I’m going to like the old timey feel of the pics.

Have I taken leave of my senses? Probably! I’ll still be using my high tech digital cameras and my low tech Diana Mini film camera. The Takashi will be another tool in the bag so to speak.

Turkey Mountain Trail Run

Last Tuesday I went on a run on Turkey Mountain. I was going to run with a group, the TATUR running group, but I was a little late. I actually saw them take off while I was still in my car but it took me a few minutes to make sure that I had all my stuff together and they left. I wasn’t too worried about it though. If I caught up with him them, great, if I didn’t, I’d still have a great time. I run Turkey Mountain in the summertime to beat the heat of the concrete trails and to get my head on straight.

I like to stop and take pictures. Turkey Mountain has a bunch of pretty good sized ponds.

Sometimes you can spot things. Like somebody using a battery to illegally shock fish. Turns the sport of fishing into catching.

When I lived in Texas close to a lake I knew several people who unashamedly would use such devices. Game laws to them were just a means to make sure that the suckers among us left plenty of fish and game for them.

The mountain bikers flew past me. The TATUR’s passed me on their way in. I could have turned around and gone with them but I wasn’t ready to quit. I was rewarded a little later with this sight.

I’ve seen lots of deer on Turkey Mountain. This one is the only one with the manners to wait while I got my camera out and ready. I have seen three fox on the Arkansas River trail, they seem to know when I don’t take my camera with me. Mannerly wildlife are always appreciated.

I passed through an area that burned last year. I don’t think it took many trees but it sure cleared out the brush and opened things up.

I got up to the top of the hill and had a good look at downtown to the north. To the south though, where I parked I had a ways to go. See the notch on the left side of the road? About where the car is on the road? That is where I parked.

Here is a closer look.

That is a long ways away. I made it though. I considered going down the highway or the adjoining power line right of way but I didn’t. I went down via a trail. Everybody was packed about and about to go. When you are a slow runner like me and take lots of pics, that happens a lot.