I'm Ready

Ok, I'm ready now! I'm ready for Spring. Now. I'm ready for sunshine, clear skies, short sleeves and no need for socks. I'm ready to put my rain jacket away. I ready to wear my Keen flip flops (which I LOVE) and I'm ready to go kayaking. I'm ready for winter and his gloomy counterparts to take up residence elsewhere. Now.

At the request of a fellow photo pal, I am presenting to you a Spring-ish photo and my wish for sun. I made this shot of tickseed in my garden last summer with my Pentax. It feels so warm and welcome, at least to me.

BUY ME!!

Topped Out

It's so nice having Wednesdays off. Today, I am vegging in my pajamas, readying images for my upcoming website www.stephparke.com and just enjoying my midweek break from work.

Here is a stitched panorama from photos I took back in September 2005 on our annual hike to Ben Lomond peak. We started the hike at the summit of North Ogden Pass, switchbacked for a while as the sun rose, meandered through a misty, cloud-filled forest for a few miles and topped out here on the ridge at about 8000' with 180 degree views from Ben Lomond about three miles to the north to Mount Ogden and the Wasatch range southward. We stopped here for some trail mix, a bathroom break and to layer on more clothes, and I got out the Ansco Super Memar for a few shots. These were from the first black and white roll I put through it. The mountain in this shot is 9200' Mount Ogden, maybe six or eight air miles away, probably 25 by foot.

Lightleaks? Here's your solution.

Flour

I've been so busy lately catching my breath after working on the second issue of Lightleaks that I haven't had much time to get out and shoot. Last week though, I took out my new Polaroid 420 and my trusty Holga for some industrial-sized fun. I shot this down at the flour mill a few miles from my house. When I was a kid, my dad worked here, filling flour sacks day after day. Almost every weekend, my mom would take my sister and me down to the mill for a picnic with my dad and he'd give us rides on the giant turntables and elevators inside, and proudly show us off to his buddies as he gave us the grand tour. A fine childhood memory for me, those visits were, but I'm sure my dad mustn't have many fond memories of the place, being that it was back-breaking work that kept him from his family weekends and most holidays. Luckily, he moved on from the mill long ago, and when I visit him at work now, I'm not covered in flour dust when I leave.

Today marks day two of my new computer. Monday, I came home from work to find that my four-year old HP died. The guy at the computer store said I had over a thousand viruses. Huh. Amazing work from that antivirus program I had. Hopefully this new one will be better. So far, I'm loving it. Lots of speed and it just looks cool sitting in my desk.

If you haven't already, buy yourself a copy of Lightleaks!