Thing go BOOM!

This morning, when I went out to get some coffee, I found out that the TCU stadium was to be imploded within the hour. I live near the stadium and can see the upper most part of it from my balcony and when games are going on, I can hear the crowd cheering and so forth. Well, I come home and set up my camera and tripod to record the action. Below is what I was able to capture with the camera set to "fast" or action shots.

This is the first time I've made a video out of stills that actually came out decently. I might try this more - with traffic or something.

Lost in Texas Pt II

I know I have not made a post in quite a few months. My only excuse is the lack of motivation. My photography hobby was put on hold due to life stuff.

But now I am back; so you all need not worry.

I "road-tripped" again and brought along my cameras. I packed a picnic lunch as well. I spent the day in my car with no particular destination in mind except to visit Mineral Wells again - on a day that some shops would be open.

Before I got into Mineral Wells "downtown", I noticed some signs for Clark Botanical Gardens. I decided to go eat a plum that I had packed in my lunch bag there. =D

Very nice garden. Lots of birds!

Also, a tunnel that reminded me a little of Salzburg (and you know how I like tunnels):

This is where I ate the plum (yes, that's me):

And I got a great addition to my "butts" photo collection:

And I thought this was humorous:

I left at about 11am and headed into the town.

The only store I went into was a coffee shop called Jitter Beans. You REALLY need to try the iced coffee. They make the ice cubes out of coffee as well so you dont have icky water at the end of the drink - but just more coffee. I hear they do the same with the lemonaide. the owner gave me a short history of the town and is VERY much active in getting the town behind rennovating the Baker Hotel. The hotel has a potential buyer group from Southlake, TX but the town is afraid of the hotel not profitable since HUD is also involved and the town doesnt want to be stuck with a bill if the hotel flops.

SO! Spread the word - if you ever get to Mineral Wells, stay at the Baker when it's back open. It was a grand hotel back in the 1930s - 1970s. Big names stayed there like James Stewart and Judy Garland.

Now, it's this huge monsterous shell of a building in the middle of this quaint little town.

Here are some more photos:

Here's a photo of the area on one side of the hotel. I like it because it seems to tell me the story of the hotel from grandness to delapidation (well it does to me, anyway):

 

Doorways:

         

After I went to the hotel, I ventured to the town's most famous little shop, The Famous Mineral Water Co... or something like that. The town was named after the mineral water well that was dug some time in the 1800s. The diggers (sorry, I think the name is Dismuke or something) noticed the water had a strange taste and later began to think the water was miracle water as it seems to "heal" people of ailments. Turns out the water contains high levels of natural lithium (an anti-psychotic). Anyway, this "healing" water is what brought about The Baker Hotel; which was built as a sort of sanitarium/spa. People bathed in and drank the water and were healed. =)

(yes, that is my car)

I bought a gallon of Crazy Water #3 (there are 4 different filtered strengths - #4 is my fav but is also the highest lithium content), a bottle of concentrated elderberry juice, some "texas trash" (chex mix), and some linen spray.

Random! I know.

After that, I went driving again. This time, I had NO clue where I was going and no destination in mind.

I ended up traveling further west and wound up in the hill country. I love Texas. The landscape here is so diverse. I come from the Gulf-Coastal area where the land is flat and lush vegetation (the humidity of Houston/Galveston makes things grow like crazy). Up here in North Texas, the trees are really over grown bushes and it's all very sparce and rough and dry.

I actually ended up at Possum Kingdom Lake. I'd heard about this town but had never thought of going. On my way into the lake area, I stopped off at the "welcome center" which is also a Re/Max realty place. i had to use the restroom. I got to talking with this older realtor lady and she was soooo funny and truely "Texan." Big hair and Big accent and Big jewelry that you can tell was bought at boutique-wanna-be place.

I asked her where I should go while in town. She asked me what I did for a living. I said "i'm an auditor" (didnt go into detail of what kind of auditing). She said, "Well! You need to go to Bonita Bay and have a few drinks, I am SURE!" HAHAHAHAAAAA!

Anyway, I didn't. I ended up going to the lake to have my lunch.

Then I remembered passing a sign on the way in saying "Observation Point" so when I was ready, I got into my car (again) and drove to see what could be observed.

The Brazos River:

A house on a cliff:

More cliffs:

Part of the lake (and lots of boats but I edited them out):

Then I had had enough of the 107F heat (although the breeze was nice up in the hills) and decided it was time to come home.

And that was my day.

Tomorrow, I might not be as adventurous but you never know!

Zen and the Art of Decluttering

I am a master at purging items. I have no problem going through my stuff, packing it up, and delivering to a charity or second-hand resale. I tend to go to Goodwill as it is convenient and easy. I have a lot of stuff but then I don't have a lot of stuff.


My rule of thumb is that if it has not been used in a year or doesnt fit or is disliked - toss it in a pile and take it out. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Whichever. If an item is stored and has great sentimenal value - then keep it. Like I have lots of little trinkets from all over the world. I have my memories of these travels but no place to display the actual items - so they are packed up neatly and safely... just in case.

If you paid a lot of money for the item and you are keeping it because of that - why? What good is it if you are not using it? You are paying in space taken up (especially if you live in a small apartment or small crowded house). Donate it or something.

Gifted something you never use or honestly dislike? Don't be afraid to regift or donate (even if it is from me HAHAHA). See the pattern here?

Love to read and have TONS of books laying about. Are you REALLY going to re-read all of them? Have you even finished all of them? What about all those VHS videos of blockbuster "hits" that EVERYONE has a copy of? I love Half-Price Books... I'm keeping the hard to find videos/DVDs I have... but Pirates of the Caribbean and so forth - SOOOO outta here.

I do hoarde my CDs though. I'm entitled. =)

So, anyway - that's what I do.

I'd declutter other people's homes but I just have not gotten around to doing so. Too busy. Maybe this summer since I am taking Summer semester off. The thing with this is that I have to have carte blanche on the decluttering. None of this, "oh no... not THAT! I got it on sale!" stuff.

I will ask if something is special to the owner and why. Tell me the story. If it's "I got that from the office white elephant gift exchange... I simply can't part with it...The dinner was sooo good." Sorry - that isn't special (unless it's made of gold and diamonds). But "that belonged to my grreat great great grandparents when they arrived on the Mayflower...." Then - I think you can keep it. =D

OK, back to it.

I'm keeping the rune stones Ric made me, the Japanese figurines I bought at the Japanese Garden Gift Store, all my anime DVDs, and all of my Umberto Eco books... You get the picture. Or actually Goodwill is getting the "Girl with Grapes" picture. My 11x14 framed photo of The Modern's staircase will be donated to work for the United Way auction that is coming up later in the year (hopefully it will fetch at least $50 to pay for the frame and matting - going to good causes and stuff).

Nothing New

Sorry I have not been updating. I've been super busy with work and school that everything else has been put on the back-burner. No time for hobbies or anything else.

I did, however, get an email from the wife of a doctor here in FtWorth who asked me if I wanted to hang my photos on the art wall in his office - where they like to display local artists. The wall gets lots of view time and she suggested a price list too.

I wrote back saying I am interested but have not heard back. *shrug* I take my stuff down from Starbucks this week. I might take it down tomorrow because the weekends are the only times I have available to even think about anything other than work and school.

Finals are coming up... then I am taking summer off.

That's about it. Not posting a photo on this post as I dont have anything new... or even old that I want to share.

Angels and Butts!

I went to the Fort Worth Arts Festival this morning but didn't get many photos. I was just not "feeling" it. I did, however, get this one shot that I am "happy" with after some photoshop playing. One of the Bass Hall angels (probably one of the most photographed building facades in the city).

I was also going through my photo library and came across one folder that I forgot I had... my "Butts" folder. Last year, I was at Scarborough Fair in Waxahatchie, TX and was taking random photos of whatever I saw. What I saw most of were the backends of people and animals. I wasn't "planning" this - it just happened.

When in a crowded situation, you see lots of back ends. It's like a rite of passage I guess. I dunno.

Anyway! Here's some visuals...

This guy was wearing some sort of denim leg-warmers? I did NOT know what he was trying to accomplish and what ever it was, I think "FAIL" would be the most appropriate word to use here.

The guy was a cutie - really.

Who wears heels to a Renaissance festival where there are NO paved walkways? Obviously, this girl does.

One of the "German Boys" - VERY funny. He's pretending to be a hot German male model in someone's big glam-sunglasses.

Horse and Rider...

Llama butt.

and shimmy butt. She was pretty good.

I am going to Scarborough Fair next weekend. I shall be taking my cameras as usual. Maybe I will be able to add to this collection!

Stay Tuned.

My Bucket List Getting Lighter.

Well, here's the wall of framed Andi-stuff. One photo you can't see but I've already posted it here in this blog some time back.

Anyway, not a lot of people showed but that is ok. I really appreciate those who did! REALLY!

Tomorrow I might go out and get some photos of crowds at the Fort Worth Main Street Arts Fest. I love getting lost in crowds. That is one of my other little weird quirks. You will find that I have alot of those.

Anyway, I am very tired. Today has been stressful and has been GO GO GO since 5:30am with workouts, work, and artshow.

I really am so glad some people showed. I almost left twice just as two people showed up. Crazy. I am so glad I didnt leave. =D

Now, what is next on my life-to-do list?

Ah yes... Skydive.

More on that later.

Forgot to add...

I forgot to add to my last post that I changed my "business" cards from reading, "Casual Photographer" to "Creative Observer" because that is what I am - I'm an observer not a photographer. I just happen to be an observer with a camera.

Little Miss Outgoing

I am officially up on a publicly displayed wall now. Well, *I* am not, but my photos are. I can not tell you how nervous I am about this. I am not all that into being "Little Miss Outgoing" but this is a self-imposed test on me. Why? I dont know. I just feel as if I have to push myself out of my comfort zone because I have this feeling I am about to be asked to do so or given an opportunity in which I will have to be more assertive. So, the photo above is like a part of myu journey. Each arch I pass under, I learn something new. That might sound kooky, but it's all I got at the moment.

I need to get out and get more photos but I am so busy pushing myself to grow in other ways. Like, fitness, I am at the gym 3 to 4 times a week in an attempt to better my physical self so I can live longer and have more energy. It's working and I've lost some weight and my blood pressure  is down. At work, I keep trying to learn new ways of making things more efficient and accurate. I'm very scared of failure at work and beat myself up mentally every time I make a mistake. BUT, without mistakes, I can't learn. But I don't make mistakes on purpose for a learning experience. That's just silly. At school, I am not pushing myself as I think I should. I'm getting tired with it so I am taking the summer off. I have to anyway because no classes I need are being offered.

And here's photo 3 of 6 photos I am showing. =) I cant remember if I have posted them here or not already. I am also showing "Stolen Moments" and "Coffee Break" (both of which I know I've posted) and also "Twig" (see below). That's it I guess. Twig is Mom's favorite. =D I am not sure if I have a favorite.

I wonder if anyone actually reads this. I wonder if my photos will get attention. I left cards out pointing to this blog. I'm not trying to sound stuck-up. I'm just curious. Oh well... We'll see! This coming Friday I am meeting some friends up at Starbucks for a sort of "opening" party. I think it's silly and dont want to do it but I was talked into it. *sigh* - Just another thing I have to do to push myself "out there" so... I will be happy about it, darnit! I was able to hang the stuff today because the artist who was up took her stuff down early.

Timewarp - Texas Style

Today, visited Fort Worth's Log Cabin Village. This is a collection of authentic log cabins from around Texas (mostly North Central and North West Texas). I have lived in Fort Worth for many years now - for about 6 years I lived just down the street from this "living museum" (a comfortable walking distance at that) and would pass it by daily and yet I never went in. You would think that my love of Texas history that I would have visited long ago.

Anyway, it's quite interesting. The Parker cabin is here. Parker County was named after the Parkers and two of the daughters were kidnapped by indians. One, Cynthia Ann, survived but lived through some brutality that I just can not imagine ever in my worst nightmares. Quanah Parker, her son by her indian husband is a famous Texas figure - although I do not know if he actually did anything except be the son of a famous Texan woman and Chief of a tribe. He has a town named for him up near the panhandle at the beginning of the north end of Hwy 6. I've camped in Quanah, TX before. The cabin has a breeze-way in the middle, which was unusual but not all together unheard of. The heat of Texan summers is brutal and the breezeway helped a great deal.

The Parkers were also friends of MY personal favorite Texan hero, Sam Houston. He'd sit in this chair when he would visit.

It's a TINY chair and Sam was NOT a short little guy. But, you take what you can get with sparse pickin's.

Anyway, I took about 40 photos of log-cabin type stuff but not in the mood to post much more than what I have already done. I did have a good day and the weather was perfect although a tad chilly. There were a few costumed people there to answer questions and give demonstrations of how people lived back in the pioneering days of Texas. I personally have no desire to live in that era. =)

One more thing... this house overlooks the village. I found the juxtoposition amusing:

Yes, this is a house - not an office building.

Bright Ideas and My Competitive Nature...

I just had a "bright idea" for Christmas or birthday gifts - I am going to print out notecard sets of my favorite photos. Sets of 5 each. I just printed the first set - two of the photos look very fuzzy. =( I could not figure out how to print on the back of the cards to put the name of the shot and my name as the photographer so I printed on clear mailing lables.


Let me tell you - the cards look like POOP! BUT it's an idea and I think I am going to still do this but will have Shutterfly.com handle the printing. The insides will be blank. The first set I will be keeping for myself. Cost would be about the same when you factor in how much paper and ink costs.

Another thing is there is a new artist on the wall at Starbucks. Well, actually I have seen this artist show there before. But anyway - I think the artist is a "she" - so I will write "she" here as I discuss my delimma.

She is a fabulous photographer. Her show is all stuff from around Fort Worth (there are noticeable landmarks - the Bass Hall Angels, the round bridge at the FWBG, etc - all of which I have photographed as well - just like thousands of other people with cameras).

The 3 items from FtW that I will be showing are not noticeably "Fort Worth" - well, maybe "Coffee Break" but it's pretty annonymous... and if you know the Modern Museum at all from the inside... you'll recognize the stairs, but I doubt you'd know unless I told you (like I just did). The other 3 or 4 I will be showing are all Germany but even those are vague except for a sign hanging in an alley way that is written in German but you have to get really close to make it out.

Anyway, it is obvious I will be showing my amateur-out-of-focus stuff after a professional and that is freaking me out a bit - enough to pull it all and not show at all. I've already told friends, family, and strangers about the show so... there is no turning back. This is what other snow-boarders must feel like when they have to go AFTER Shaun White in competition. "What's the point?" Ya know? (and I have no idea why I used him as an example as I have never seen him in action.)

She also has 2 11x14 prints in 16x20 (or so) frames. All of mine are 8x10 in 11x14 frames (double white matted). They look good but now I fear they are all too small. I am not going to change this or it might look like I am copying her (which in a way - I would be) and then it would also look like she has new prints to show instead of an artist change on the wall. If I ever do this again, I will add a bit of variety. Right now, I did want them all the same size because all of the photos I have framed right now are hanging in my dining room - straight across in matching frames... it LOOKS like a gallery which is the way I want my dining room to look.

Well, I am nervous. April 9th is fast approaching.

Tunnels, Stairs, and a Cartoon

I have a fascination with stairs and long passageways... and tunnels. I dont know why - I just do. I didn't realize this until I started getting out and photographing things and places. These types of places remind me of travel in some way... some sort of activity that gets you from one space to another  - and usually has a beginning and an end so you meet a sort of goal.

I wonder about a lot of things. I often find myself over analyzing the details of why I find myself drawn to stairs and tunnels, etc. I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment building with only stairs. I didnt just rent this place because it was cheaper than getting a lower floor (granted, that was the MAIN reason) - but I knew I would have to climb stairs all the time and I had this weird sort of "liking" of that. I'd get exercise, and when I look straight down from the top of the stairwell, I see a nifty sort of uniformity. I dislike chaos and clutter.

Remember that old cartoon (even before my time) of the dot and the squiggle? It was narrated by some British actor whom I loved but cant remember his name - Robert Morley... That's his name. Anyway, I loved that cartoon. I am very much the "line."

Here it is!

Lost in Texas - A Road Trip

Mineral Wells, TX - When you think of small traditional Texas towns - Mineral Wells should be at the top of your list. Home of Crazy Water and the Baker Hotel (reportedly haunted)

I've been meaning to get out there again. I actually drove through the first time I decided to get into my car and drive west. I wanted to get to Abilene for some unknown reason - I guess because "I could." I made it to Hwy 6/Stephenville which was about the halfway point. I had passed through Thurber, TX first and stopped at a restaurant called "New York Hill Restaurant" and had a "hashbrown omelette" (heartattack on a plate - for breakfast... this was before my current fitness regime). They sold the BEST hot sauce I have ever had... so I had to purchase a case (some of you have been lucky enough to get a bottle from me as a gift). I think Guy Whats-His-Name from Diners, Drive-Inns, and Dives (Food Network) should feature this place on his travels.

Anyway, I had originally taken I-20 straight to my destination but on the way back, I decided to go to Minerals Wells. The drive into town was beautiful. Rolling hills, no traffic, 2 lane farm roads - more people on horseback than in cars. It was a Sunday though. Sundays are "Cowboy Church" days for the natives here. The town was deserted (all stores closed). 

Well, next weekend I need to make a trip - I might go back to MW with the Canon instead of the Olympus. If anyone wants to come along - you are very welcome to join me. The weather should be heavenly.

Stolen Moments

This is a photo of a girl I do not know. She was with a lot of other Peruvian dressed children at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens some time in the autumn of 2009. She was the only person who noticed me and my camera (as far as I can tell).

This shot was not planned (I dislike posed shots anyway) and it has turned out to be one of my favorites of all the shots I have. I've had it blown up to 8x10 and framed. I will be showing this at my upcoming "show" at the local Starbucks in April. Her face is a little out of focus... but to me, it is perfect.

Contact me if you want to know more about the show.

Andi

My Photography Stuff

Photography is an expensive and addicting hobby - especially when you know that, as the artist using the equipment, you are not all that great and do not take the necessary time to study techniques to better your use of the equipment.

Here's my inventory:

Cameras

HTC Fuze Cellphone (not in photo - because I used it to take this "not-so-great" photo)

Canon Rebel XT

     Lenses
          18-55mm (stock with the camera kit)
          70-300mm Zoom IS
          75-300mm Zoom (not used - wanna buy it?)
     Flashes
          Speedlite 430EXII
Olympus Stylus 1010 (for portability)

Accessories

Canon Delux Backpack

Canon DSLR Gadget Bag

Canon ET-65B Lens Shield

Dynex DX-TRP60 Tripod

Manfrotto Monopod

Various Lens Filters

Software

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

Olympus Master 2

Other Stuff

Kodak ESP9 All-In-One Printer

I also use http://www.shutterbug.com/ and http://www.qoop.com/ to order prints

So, why do I spend the money when I know I am no-where near being the next Ansel Adams or Annie Lebowitz and have no intentions of being so? Well, for one thing, it gets me out of the apartment. Another thing is that I am an observer of life. I don't search for the extra-ordinary but sometimes the ordinary becomes the extra-ordinary, at least to my eyes, and I try to capture those moments.

William S Burroughs once said,

"Nothing exists until or unless it is observed.

An artist is making something exist by observing it.

And his hope for other people is that they will also make it exist by observing it.

I call it 'creative observation.'"

I could not have said it better myself. My goal as an artist - is to create a world in which the ordinary becomes the extra-ordinary through 'creative observation.'

I hope you all enjoy.

First Blog Post! First Blog Post!

So, this is my first blog post with photo. Isn't is cute?

But seriously...

I have a goal for this blog. I dont want to be boring or post "Hi, I washed my hair today" type entries. I will most likely just post about my random adventures when I take them and will post photos as I go on them. Maybe I will post other stuff I find interesting too. *shrug*

For now, I need to figure this all out and create a plan of action.

Andi