Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Things I Find on the Way To The Doctors.

To make a long story shorter, I had a Doctor's appointment that I had on the brain was 9:20. Turns out that is the appointment in February. The one today was 2:20, not 9:20 so I'm ready a bit early. After checking the e-mail and checking on the web page and the blog, I got my shoot list out to see if there was some place on the list that I could shoot and end up at the Doctor's about the right time. As luck would have it since Mr. Murphy had already dealt me one of his laws ----I headed out.

Dallas has a couple reality TV shows being filmed here. One is the popular A&E," Storage Wars Texas". The other, Discovery Channels, "Fast 'N Loud".The storage war series from a photo shoot point of view is not the storage lockers as much as the places in the Design District where they get their items appraised and in  one case,  Dr, Mo's retail shop. And, of course, as far as Richard and Aaron are more popular it is the garage rather than the auction barns. The luck of the draw today made more sense to head out to the garage of Fast "N Loud, aka Gas Monkey Garage.

As luck would have it again.......today......there was a sign on the door that read, "Closed Set  Do Not Enter." The doors were half down and you could see legs from the knees down. The most interesting was the fact that the traffic was unbelievable. People were everywhere taking pictures. So it really wasn't that bad of a day from capturing a moment in history. There was a sign that I debated whether to shoot in whole or in part but decided to go ahead and shoot the full sign since the address was already published on their website  Gas Monkey Garage. Normally, even in an editorial situation I try to be fair and show respect.

Since the show is a super good show and the Discovery Channel has done such a great job with the season...tune in and check out the show.

Note the sign on the door!

The Swag Van is Stoker
 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

A Chilly Fall Afternoon Full of

outdoor events, peaceful moments and  a big broadcast satelite truck hundreds of miles from  its base.

Beautiful Turtle Creek in Uptown Dallas Area just off Cedar Springs Road.


Dallas,Sunday,October 7,2012 (Editorial Use):At the opposite end of Cedar Springs Road on the back side of Love Field  at Bachman Lake ,sits a big broadcast satelite truck for a television station in Tampa-St. Pete area. It's several hundred miles from its base as it sits here.
 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Signs are Everywhere

Fall is in the air. This is only the first week of October and already December temps are in the air. There are other signs as well. While at the lake yesterday, looking across to the other side, the tops of the trees were showing some yellows. On the trail the wild cherry trees were already dropping cherries and the birds were going nuts (so to speak). This first real taste of Great Lakes weather won't last. Already, the weathermen are talking about 80s returning by mid week, but the cat has snuggled down in her comforter a little deeper than most afternoon nights and  the heavy knit sweaters are at arms reach, just being on the safe side.

It is the time of year that I really have come to love more than spring although they both are weighted pretty much the same on my scale of seasons. Spring just happens! Subtleties before it pops out and announces that it has arrived. But, fall--that takes preparation and getting ready for winter. Watching the animals get ready for winter is awesome. Squirrels stashing nuts, birds packing seeds and nuts and berries, migrating birds overhead as they do their annual migration to warmer spots in South America and Central America. Just a walk in the park is never boring.

Plus, I'll let you in on  a little secret. I can't take the heat like I once could so the cooler temps makes being out more enjoyable  overall.

Due to the
LBJ I-635 redo from the High 5 to I-35E (a 11-mile stretch)



 

Wild Cherries
Here are a few images that  need little comment. Enjoy.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Big Tex Hits 60!

Big Tex
A 60-year old man in size 72 boots wearing a 75 gallon hat and standing 52 feet tall with a few more wrinkles and slighly more grey hair, took his place at Fair Park today at the annual ceremony at 11 am when on the Monday before the fair opens, he is hoisted into place and immediately proclaims,"Howdy". Friday,at 10am, the 126th Texas State Fair begins its annual run. I had wanted to be there for todays "howdy"  but had a doctor's appointment at 11.It was a little after 12:30 when I got there. For about two hours, I walked around the lagoon looking at the Chinese Lanterns Display. There is a fence around the entire Lagoon area and the guy putting up the last section of the fence said that there was going to be a $10.00 fee to enter, which is above the regular ticket price.
The display is breath-taking and the Dino's on display look so real. It will be a popular exhibit, I'm sure. The workers were building the main stage in between The African-American Museum and the Music Hall complex. I know, I said last weekend that it was my last trip until after the fair and  here I am back at Fair Park again! Well, it's the bee hive of activity, construction, vendors testing equipment,rides being tested. The smell of taffy in the air! People visiting Fair Park's active museums in the complex. It's just the most festive atmosphere. Kind of like a behind the scene type of atmosphere, but also the get-out-of-the-way atmosphere that goes on as workers lay tiles,build sets and stages with just days before completion. I've missed that hustle-bustle atmosphere. My camera just shoots image after image. I'm not shooting my stock images that sell but I'm having tons of fun! The last two days I've shot more fun images from horse-drawn carriages,antique rail cars moving to a museum to Big Tex's head and hands on a skid waiting to be assembled for this years state fair. I've even managed to have a dish of Rocky Road ice cream a couple of times!

Ladies--you think you have beautiful nails. Check out my nails!!

Beautiful Nails
 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Moving on the Rails (2 of 2)


The third consist arriving at Irving. It passed the Mockingbird yard at approximately 13:45 this afternoon.

Moving on the Rails (1 of 2 post)

The tank cars were used for support in the move and are not part of the museum collection.
The Last Car
Here are a few images of the old rail cars moving to a museum as they passed between the Medical District and the Wye at Irving where they are spending at least one night.

Friday, September 21, 2012

The City Lights of US East Coast at Night

These images to me are the most amazing use of the international space station.

   The images are in the public domain but credit goes to NASA and the crew of the International Space Station. Please give them credit if you copy this image. If you want the full credit you can go to NASA's web page.  

It All Started in the wee hours of May 28th when 80 MPH winds was tossing everything against the side of my house.

 Those winds were substained for well over 40 minutes. The results were trees everywhere down or large branches broken off. One of my bus ro...