Ring flash love

I received my DIY Photography ring flash kit today!  It took about 15 minutes to assemble (it would take any normal human 5 but I'm anal and meticulous, I even wore gloves so not to finger print the reflector).  Compared to a $300 "true" ring flash this performs like a dream for $25 buckaroos!
I immediately took it for a test drive.  Some quick portraits and then macro.

Early Spring Hike

I spent a couple hours hiking around the woods "near" the Trolley Line Trail (I never seem to stay on trails).
The skunk cabbage is blooming, one of the first definite signs of Spring.  I'm fascinated by these little blossoms, they maintain a balmy 72 degrees inside and on chilly spring days if you peek in you'll find honeybees taking refuge.

I trudged happily through boggy marshes in my (formerly) shiny new hiking boots and tried to get lost, I found a tiny waterfall and giant tree fungi (whom pleasantly allowed my to pose with them).

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I'm a current casualty of cold season.

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I had a massive headache this evening, so after a nap and some Tylenol what do I decide to do?
That's right, stare at a blinking light in the dark...brilliant.

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Trying out a watermark design.  Thoughts?

These last 3 shots were taken by my 7 year old daughter.

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Today I went for a quiet walk at one of my favorite local trails.  The overcast sky was great for getting those deep colors, contrast and general moody moodiness.

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I love this mirror.  A friend gave it to us as a wedding gift.

Now, I don't believe in the supernatural and hesitate to tell a cheezy "ghost" story but at any rate here's an odd occurrence.
It has been hanging about 9 feet high over a doorway since we moved into our house 7 years ago and I gave it a good windex-ing just before I hung it up.   About 2 years ago, I glanced up at it and noticed a smudge on the glass. When I got it down and looked at the glass there was well defined "kiss" on it as well as a nose print above it.  I hung it back up as-is and left it there for a while.  I eventually cleaned it off and now I wish I hadn't because it hasn't returned.

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I love antiques, especially old cameras [go figure].
I was planning on doing an image like this for a while.  I didn't realize until I started shooting that the way the viewfinder is positioned in these old twin-reflex cameras would reflect my little face in the lens.
Nifty surprise.

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My head was starting to look pretty shabby, so it was a time for a haircut.  I had only planned on a trim but I got an idea for this self-portrait so I had to go for it.

To be honest, I don't like this image and do not want to post it.  I must do it because I thought it out and spent so much time on it, not to mention I would have to come up with another picture...and LOST is almost on.

I have to remember that this blog is about ideas, experimentation, and self-improvement not about a perfect picture.  Sometimes ideas look much cooler inside your head.

So here it is!
Another scary self-portrait.

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Yep, it's thursday...

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So after a depression inducing day of narcoleptics, epileptics, and clinically brain dead neonates I drove through the expanded arctic circle to my home.  I shaved my head, trimmed the beard and decided it might be a good time for a self-portrait.
You've been warned...