Daily Photos

< January 2011 >

January 1, 2011
This year, I`m really going to get serious about photography. No more monkeying around. Shadow spill. I predict a real estate boom coming this year. In case you missed it: today was sunny. Ah, the quaint charm of a historic neighborhood.

January 2, 2011
Yesterday this was a puddle. This implies there`s such a thing as authorized dumping. Irrepressible nature. Stairway to the sky. Land of the free.

January 3, 2011
We don`t have time to look at the whole bridge. Sparkling river seen through a slit in a tree trunk. People like to think that we know a lot. Watch how water moves and you`ll begin to realize how little we know. Sometimes it causes me to Trimble. Not a good day for swimming.

January 4, 2011
High school gymnasts fall down a lot more than they do in the Olympics, but they just get up and keep on going. I don`t know any of these gymnasts, but quickly learned that whenever spectators started shouting `Get it, Shelby!` something extraordinary was about to happen. You can`t get shots like this from the spectators` seats. You have to stand among the teams and try to look official. I captured this fleeting moment not by luck, but by watching the warmups and remembering what she was going to do. `Is it bad?` her coach asked. She nodded. But they taped her up and she continued to compete, limping and crying.

January 5, 2011
Highly trained attack birds protect the checkpoint. There are memorable picture-taking days, and then there are days like today. It was just the two of us in the park. No more art. Downtown is a great place to do some quiet reflection.

January 6, 2011
Our Lady of Guadalupe by Michele Devitt. Some people love snow. I don`t hang around with them. Believe it or not, it`s time for one more Christmas party. The Information Desk was festive (see August 26, 2009). Is he humming `Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow`?

January 7, 2011
Daylight never came. Powdered sugar? Do other people take MY picture without me knowing it? The most simple things can make me happy. Ready to lead a photography workshop tomorrow morning. We WILL NOT be taking pictures outside.

January 8, 2011
After my indoor photo workshop today, I took pictures outside because I knew I should, not because I wanted to. I approached very quietly so it wouldn`t fly away. Be vewwy quiet, I`m huntin` wabbit! Yeah, so, what did YOU take pictures of outside in the snow on Saturday morning? Before I started doing laundry there were two of these.

January 9, 2011
Grass and Ginkos by Terry Welker. Railings by Hamilton Dixon. Floor by somebody. The arches of the Dayton Art Institute, with the city skyline in the distance, refracted in droplets of condensation. The Dayton Art Institute generously allows cameras in its galleries. Sometimes I even take pictures of the artwork.

January 10, 2011
A true shooter ignores the hands and sees only the hoop. A true rebounder is able to see into the future. `Guess who?` She finished the game with 92 yards on twelve carries. `Here, let me help you with that.`

January 11, 2011
Enjoy it while you can, Frosty. Your day will come. You may be able to detect a theme in today`s photos. Snowcatcher. At about this time, I stopped being able to feel my fingers. Snow puffs.

January 12, 2011
The snow lies deep upon the ground, and winter`s brightness all around. PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR I am conceited enough to think that he and I write in a similar way. You won`t find many books on my shelf that weren`t written by authors who are long since dead. This is turning into a `desert island` exercise. I spend lots of money on expensive lenses, and then I deliberately take blurry photos.

January 13, 2011
Winter is a very difficult time for photographers. A few more flakes that size and we`ll get a snow day. Yes, today`s pictures are dull, but better than reading this. She seems to be missing something. That`s better.

January 14, 2011
THINK FAST! If you have a bloody lip, expect the ref to send you to the bench. `Okay, we`re HERE, and the concession stand is HERE. Go get me some nachos.` Down 33 to 19 with 1:39 left in the game, what do you say to your team during the timeout? This week, they had something to cheer about.

January 15, 2011
If you zoom the lens in the middle of taking a photo, you end up with something like this. In case you didn`t fully absorb the zooming technique in the previous photo, you`re going to get four more today. Getting some cash at the ATM at 6:24pm on my way to a 6:30 dinner engagement. This one turned out much better than I deserved. This one turned out about how I deserved.

January 16, 2011
A completely riveting picture. Moon Base Alpha. The spring thaw will come, one drip at a time. Vacant storefront, downtown Dayton. A sign of the times.

January 17, 2011
The John Taylor Trio has occupied this corner of Brio Tuscan Grill every Monday night for the past three years. Pictures taken from inside the car at night are a sign that I`m not treating photography as a high priority. Near the old Greyhound station. Near the public library. One reason why my photography is suffering lately.

January 18, 2011
No, don`t take it away yet! Reflections, reflections of reflections, and reflections of reflections of reflections. After the longest winter break EVER, school resumed today with the euphemistically named `Spring` semester. Then suddenly, Pepto-Bismol began to rain from the sky. A picture of a pitcher.

January 19, 2011
The world`s largest holy card. I heard an unconfirmed rumor that there is a student at this school who DOESN`T wear black leggings, but that she`s in the process of transferring somewhere else. This demolition job is on the fast track; there are desks in the debris. I just hope all the employees got out in time. More Catholic imagery. It`s an easy target. The definition of my recent photography.

January 20, 2011
It`s been snowing for ten hours. We get the point. Willis `Bing` Davis is Dayton`s most distinguished artist. Despite the weather, Bing`s exhibition brought in a crowd. His artwork blends traditional African influences with modern materials and themes. This piece is part of a series inspired by Paul Laurence Dunbar`s most famous poem `We Wear the Mask.`

January 21, 2011
Somebody REALLY wanted to sit down. Better not try to make snow angels here. Windows within windows. Melt, sure, whatever. It`ll just come back. I suspect someone just stopped scraping and moved to Florida.

January 22, 2011
I was quite surprised anyone showed up for my photo workshop this morning. I`m in there somewhere. I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be, when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see. BILBO BAGGINS Something lives! I just kept walking.

January 23, 2011
Watch your step. I continue my endless fascination with park benches in winter (I predict there`s one coming tomorrow too). Despite what you may have read, the place is still there. I have an idea that will eliminate hunger in our community, and make the river corridor cleaner at the same time. Unlike those bleeding heart liberals at the ACLU, I believe constant government surveillance preserves our LIBERTY!

January 24, 2011
Black and white. After taking so many inadequate photos lately, this picture of a park bench (my fourth in four days) made me smile. Beautiful slime. My letter carrier, a professional walker, leaves a distinctive trail. Are those chains? Encouraging signs.

January 25, 2011
Holding back winter. If I dropped trash on the sidewalk, I`d feel guilty about it years later. Outside the lawyer`s office. I TOLD you not to slam the door! Look what you`ve done. There`s never a cop around when you need one.

January 26, 2011
Cardboard can look so appetizing. Enlarged to show texture. Feeling thirsty yet? Some photographers do nothing but take pictures of food. How painstaking it must be to make these potato chips, basting each one with barbecue sauce.

January 27, 2011
Those aren`t moths flying around the lamp post. Keep driving until we get someplace sunny and warm. Tinkerbell lives! The first photograph ever taken was of a building seen through a window. But I decided to take another one. This has a strange infared look to it.

January 28, 2011
It`s FOR SALE BY OWNER, by the way. He was singing, not just chirping, as if he had a secret. Shaving cream, nice and clean! Shave every day and you`ll always look keen. Disillusioned with the art world, Alexander Calder began working for the cable company. My neighborhood appears at its best when you look up.

January 29, 2011
`Dunno what he`s doin, kinda kneeling on the sidewalk. Better call 9-1-1. Wait! He`s takin a pitcher of somethin.` An accident waiting to happen. Sno-Cone. DOWN WITH -- uh, whoever that is. Down with that guy! Snow can be useful.

January 30, 2011
I`ve got one photo already and haven`t left the front porch. A regular pattern undergoes random distortion. In the shadow of peace. Ron Jones on alto saxophone. Love, love, love. Love is all you need.

January 31, 2011
I`m fairly certain that I`ve done this shot before. SOMEBODY put on weight over the holidays. Our streets have been pre-treated for ice. Sidewalk art. This will help me find my car tomorrow in the ice.

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