Invasion on Peachtree Street

This is the time of year that Dragon Con  comes to Atlanta.  It is billed as the world's largest science  fiction, gaming and fantasy convention and is great fun for participants and onlookers.  One of the highlights is the Dragon Con parade on Peachtree Street.  Here are some images from this year's parade.

The crowds were six deep at Peachtree Center.

 

                                          Knights jousting in the street.

An interesting array of characters and beautiful weather made for a memorable day and unique images.

Have a great day,
George

Raising a Robin Family Under the Deck

We recently had a visit from one of our robin friends, who chose a place under our deck for her spring habitat.  In a short time eggs hatched and the new arrivals began their life. 

















They grew quickly and adapted to activity in the area including lawn mowers, footsteps from above, and an occasional camera lens being pointed their way (at a short distance; 200mm lens with a 1.4  tele extender)

 

Here are the chicks in full song.  "Kingston Trio" is already taken so maybe we could call them the "Birdie Trio."

  

Momma bird was a good provider and protector.  The chicks grew quickly and soon after flew the nest.

 

It was a delight sharing our deck with the Robin family and having the opportunity to observe and capture the beginning of new life close up and personal.

Enjoy the day!
George

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

Rain has been a pretty scarce thing around here lately.  Here is what it looks like at 1/400 of a second.

Enjoy the day.

George

The Beach...it makes you slow down

What is it about the beach that we love so much?  The sound of the surf?  The lazy days?  Time with friends?  Time to unwind?  I think one of the greatest gifts we get from a trip to the beach is that we  slooooow down.  When you slow down, you allow the senses to take in and register all that is around you.

We are so busy with cell phones, i Pads, computers, email, and voice mail, often using more than one at a time.  Our senses are in overload and we don't focus on any one thing.  When we do slow down, it is amazing what we notice.  Here is a good example:

These three images were taken on a couple of consecutive days and I didn't move more that 100 feet from one spot to record all of these images.  Three completely different images that were made possible because I was  able to really focus on what I was seeing, without distractions.

Coming home from the trip, I  made a promise to myself to always strive to stay focused in the present, and to go fast enough so that I can get to where I am going, and slow enough so that my senses are able to take in the beautiful sights and sounds that surround me every day.

Have a great day!
George

Puppy Portraits

Our tender-hearted neighbors Frances and Tommy recently became foster parents for a Toy Poodle named Libby and her four newborn puppies. They invited us to visit mama and puppies and photograph the four sisters.  As we waited for the girls to wake from their nap, we were poised to move quickly, as their awake time at four weeks is in very short spurts.  We knew a basket would keep them corralled, that is, for about two seconds.  Getting four puppies to stay still for a 60th of a second is next to impossible, and many of our shots looked something like this: 

Perseverance eventually pays off.  

Using a squeaky toy to catch their attention for a split second, we got our picture.  Window light provided back light, and a strobe filled in the front.  Within moments after this snap, they were all sound asleep. Fortunately, in the small window of opportunity, we captured a darling portrait of the four sisters.

Frances and Tommy and the new adoptive parents have a keepsake that celebrates their giving and caring for Libby and her puppies.  They have all found good homes.

Have a great day!
George

Sunny Day, Fast Cars, and Fast Lenses

The recent National Auto Sport Association events at Road Atlanta were a blast to photograph.   Not much beats a beautiful day at the track, experiencing the sights and sounds of cars racing around a road course.

Getting cars ready for the track is often a family affair with friends and family pitching in for last minute preparations.












Talk about tight racing coming out of the last turn and heading down the front straight!

Great design, great technique entering a corner.  The instructor looks very much at ease.

Reliving the race with a captive audience is a great past time.

Notice the intense concentration in the driver's eyes as he heads into a turn. That sure looks like fun.

Have a great day.

George

Cumming Fair: Alligators and Bull Riding

The Cumming Fair had lots of attractions. The Rodeo was really fun to watch and photograph as the light was getting low in the western sky.  Old Glory made her entrance courtesy of a cowgirl on her special ride.

Then it was time for the cowboys to take over

I'm not sure if trying to ride one of these bulls requires courage or a bit of insanity.  As I think about it, the answer is both.  These guys were great and provided a lot of thrills and excitement for the crowd.

The bulls couldn't resist kicking up their heels and doing a little dance on their own.

This guy was able to handle the gator almost as good as a Georgia Bulldog can.

Lights, characters, rides (amusement and animals), and some photographs to tell the story.  The Cumming fair had it all.

Have a great day,
George