My first storm that I was able to follow was a blast. Had a few hiccups in the process, one being I forgot my camera so all I had was the one built into my phone. The other issue being that I was unable to get a hold of our local Skywarn net operators so I had to crank up my radio and talk with the central Indiana net. Once they got used to the fact that I tend to ramble we all got along great.

I did get to follow a cell that had rotation and even managed to generate a funnel but it never got past that stage. Probably a good thing considering the communication issues I was dealing with. So, lets get to some photos:

This is the cell when I started

Heavy precipitation, but still disorganized

Promising

Funnel as it was dying

Let me just take a moment to say that I was annoyed at this point. I had nowhere to pull off and my phone had slid off to the side. The funnel was quite impressive when I first spotted it.

Front of a new cell, cool look

I could have continued chasing but I was tired, mentally and physically. That precipitation in the distance was hard, fast, and as I found out, packed with pea size hail. I just sat on the side of the road and enjoyed the clattering on the roof of my truck till I could see the road again!

With no picture yet.

I have been learning the ins and outs of video editing lately and it has kept me fairly busy. I have learned one thing for sure, I ain’t no movie master. I will not be turning out any classics. But I have learned just enough to be a nuisance to those around me! They will rue the day I got that little video camera!

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Another Christmas has come and gone. While money was tight, I think everyone came away happy. I was able to put tires on my truck thanks to my parents and still had enough left over to buy a small flip-like video camera. Something to play with when bored.

Sunday we all went out after church to do a little shopping around for needed items, like a mattress that doesn’t sag in the middle. We found a few possibilities, but nothing we were willing to commit to yet. While shopping we stopped at a local flea market to browse.

While there I found an eMac that was in very good shape. They wanted $75 but he went down to $50, so that was a deal that I couldn’t pass up. It’s really quite nice and it gives me something to do my work on while the girls continue to kill the windows machine. It is capable of working with my photos and videos, slowly but not as slow as the windows computer.

I am planning on doing more photography this year, even if it’s only for me. I just need to get out and create, I think that will lighten my mood considerably. Got to go, need a nap after taking my meds then on to some chores!

Seriously, those ads just annoy the crap out of me!

The fall colors are starting to come out and I need to get out there and capture some of it. I also need to get out there and do a shoot with Anna, not only of her but with her. She really loves wielding a camera almost as much as she loves being in front of one.

I am thankfully, completely over my bronchitis now and all I can say is good riddance to it! That was one of the major factors in my not getting outside to take any photos, that and the unbearable heat. Now it is cooling off outside and I am feeling pretty much normal for me, I have to get out.

I used to walk around my neighborhood at night because it was so quiet. Now I will only go out in the daylight. Not because I am scared of the dark. no but I am pretty sure I heard the deliverance theme song coming from the pickup of the guy down the road.

I don’t want to have to squeal like a piggy!

We got out of the house the Saturday and went to brother in-laws for a cookout. Lots and lots of food was consumed. I way over ate and will be paying for it for years to come. We hung out for several hours so we could walk to the park and watch the fireworks. I love fireworks, I especially love photographing fireworks. This year I went under prepared. All I brought was my little point and shoot. While it may not be the greatest camera in the world, it served it’s purpose. Like they say, “the best camera is the one you have with you.”

Because it is a point and shoot, I didn’t have near the control I am used to. This led to some interesting effects, or as I call them, happy accidents. Such as this shot which sort of looks like a galaxy. I was shooting handheld which caused squiggles and the glowing white orb bottom right is a street light. When you get to the party late you get stuck with an obstructed view.

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Yet another one resembling a galaxy, the squiggles are more pronounced in this one.

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This one just looked cool!

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Last but not least the colors in this one were nice.

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I would have loved to show you a shot of the finale but it was several bursts ran together so the photo is just a burnt out mess.

See ya later!

Well thank God that week is finally over. The Roadeo Saturday went fairly well. I was a little uncomfortable with all the standing but was able to muddle through. Now I have to sift through over three hundred photos and get them on a disc and sent out. It was nice and warm so I was able to wear shorts for the first time this year. They will now become a significant part of my wardrobe till late fall.

I still haven’t heard anything about my disability. I am starting to worry that I have a long wait on my hands. It has already been a painfully long process and I am hoping it will be over soon.

My Crohn’s has been acting up lately. Lots of pain and a few of the other more delightful symptoms have been in full force. I am still on the fence about using the immunosuppressant, I just don’t think it’s a good idea to suppress my immune system, considering how often I get ill, it could be a big problem.

As usual, my depression isn’t getting any better either. I am afraid they will just keep throwing more medications at it till I am taking my body weight in pills each morning. I had several panic attacks last week, way more than usual, not sure why or what that might mean but at this point all I can say is oh well.

I think this blog has just become a place that I can go to and complain about my life. Maybe someday soon I will get back to posting photos. Anna and I have been trying to take bike rides as much as possible. I am severely out of shape so we are having to take it slow at first. It makes her happy and it gets me out of the house with my camera along for the ride. There are a few interesting things around the neighborhood to photograph. It takes me a few minutes to catch my breath before I can release the shutter though, otherwise the shot is just a blurry mess.

Alright, done, see ya!

I would say that this is a big FAIL.

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In case you can’t tell, the map is missing. I am really enjoying my new phone. Trying to work with it’s cameras limitations is challenging and entertaining.

It started sometime this morning but it was just melting. By noon it was sticking pretty well. It was still going a few minutes ago and blowing all over the place. Glad it’s the weekend and I have nowhere I have to be. Here’s a view from the window, not the best picture, point and shoots are not known for their night shooting abilities and I was too lazy to get out the DSLR.

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I didn’t need a $10,000 lens, or a camera that shoots 5 frames per second. I didn’t shoot 20 frames leading up to this moment. One shot, I followed the action and anticipated the catch. I got one of my favorite sports shots so far.

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The Colts Austin Collie catches the one and only touchdown of the night against the Baltimore Ravens.

Not that I think I’m great, just the opposite actually, I think I am pretty mediocre most of the time. I’m just saying to all those who want to shoot great shots, it doesn’t take tons of money. It just takes patience and knowledge of what you are shooting.

Last Sunday our church had a balloon liftoff. Of course I caught it on camera and decided to share one of the photos here. I liked this one, not sure why but it just online stuck out to me.

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