compound playground eye

originally uploaded by billaday.

Oh, the joys of travel. Since we spend the entire day getting from Michigan to Los Angeles, every photo was at an airport (or on a plane). I was taking the (mostly) typical aeronautical photos throughout the day, but then we got to the Milwaukee airport. They have a small play area for kids on Concourse E. These mirrors were made to either entertain or terrify kids.

Year 3, Day 248

Bob and John

originally uploaded by billaday.

What's more interesting in this shot? I think that depends on who you talk to, and what state they're from. If they're from Michigan, John Deere is more important. If you're from my wife's family, this shot of her grandpa is more important. He sure likes to mow the lawn.

Year 3, Day 247

Spartan Field

originally uploaded by billaday.

We visited Sparta today. That's really the name of a small rural town. I kept wanting to shout out quotes from 300, and run around with a red cape and spear. But I didn't.

I processed this photo using an infrared workflow I learned from Scott Kelby's Photoshop Channels Book. I like the black sky and white clouds.

Year 3, Day 246

Man of Many Phonemes

originally uploaded by billaday.

We visited Meijer Gardens today in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We took the tram tour since my grandpa-in-law needs a new knee. I ran back after our 2pm lunch to snap some shots of this sculpture. I can't find the name of this, but I love it.

Year 3, Day 245

Welcome to Michigan

originally uploaded by billaday.

Here's the beginning of our trip to visit Isabelle's grandparents in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We spent the entire day traveling (including this shot). This was taken somewhere in Michigan along Expressway 94.

btw, in Michigan, don't call them freeways.

Year 3, Day 244

James and the Giant Dog

originally uploaded by billaday.

We went to visit Isabelle's friend Erin in Colorado. This is weird, cuz Erin lived in Oregon, and is moving to San Diego. But she's in Colorado for a few fortnights, so we met her there.

This photo is not of Erin. It's her son and her dog.

Year 3, Day 243

dog goggles

originally uploaded by billaday.

I suppose that only in Colorado would you find dogs with glasses/goggles on while driving down the freeway. I've been told, however, that it's dangerous for dogs to have their eyes exposed at high speeds. Hmm.

Year 3, Day 242

Trinity Brewery

originally uploaded by billaday.

Finally! I'm caught up with my photo-a-day! This is what I did last night. Before I describe the photo, lemme talk about my photo-a-day project. I'm so glad that I didn't quit taking photos, even though I was a month behind. I was beyond busy with work, and was able to take pictures, but not process them. Each day, I figured that my photos were lame, since I didn't spend much time taking them. Looking back, I had some great shots (and some faily lame ones). I would be depressed right now if I had given up the photo-a-day project... especially because I am now caught up.

So, last night. We went to the Craft Lager Festival yesterday in Manitou Springs (see the Flickr map). I found one lager I liked--Libidinous lager from Trinity Brewery. It's unhopped, and has chai and berries, or something. Really tasty, really smooth. So we went to Trinity Brewery for dinner. Their logo and labels are amazing. They have an earthy color palette. This shot is a 1/2 second exposure, and I zoomed out (starting at the logo) during the shot.

Year 3, Day 241

LoDo

originally uploaded by billaday.

Isabelle and I are in Colorado visiting her mom. We went straight from the airport to Wynkoop Brewery in downtown Denver. It's lower downtown, so the cool people (?) call it LoDo.

Year 3, Day 240

a clunker

originally uploaded by billaday.

I know the Cash for Clunkers program is successful. I know that car dealerships are starting to actually make money again. And now, I know that car dealerships are really tacky when it comes to advertising.

Year 3, Day 239

no U turn

originally uploaded by billaday.

My original idea was to merge 5 shots, so the traffic in the background would be busy. This one shot, however, had most all of what I wanted. I purposely left my tachometer in the frame (top right corner, blue thing). I think it balances out the frame better.

Year 3, Day 238

reflection

originally uploaded by billaday.

I love my new(er) MacBook Pro. I've been thinking about getting a skin for my mbp, but then I'd lose the super cool logo from the back.

Year 3, Day 237

the gig

originally uploaded by billaday.

Here's Alex, our bass player. The guy's got some serious bass chops. He also has a serious handlebar mustache. I'm thinking of offering a photo shoot... he could use some head shots, and I think it would be lots of fun. I've also need to take more photos of people.

Year 3, Day 236

rehearsal

originally uploaded by billaday.

Meet Mike. He's a drummer. This is Mike taking a break during a Francis Band rehearsal. Mike is smiling because he got a new car (Honda Fit).

Year 3, Day 235

Stone Brew

originally uploaded by billaday.

Some people call me a beer snob. Sorry, I just like good beer. I hope you noticed the selective color (there's only red).

Year 3, Day 234

Sweet Baby James

originally uploaded by billaday.

When your out-of-town friends have kids, they grow up awfully quickly. The kids, not the friends. Last time I saw James, he was as big as a pea pod. Now, he's bigger than a cheeseburger with whole grilled onions.

Year 3, Day 233

The Pendleton Loop

originally uploaded by billaday.

Ryan and I went on a bike ride from Christianitos (Trestles) to Camp Pendleton, and back. Here's the route on Google Maps. http://snipurl.com/pendletonloop

Good times.

Year 3, Day 232

air hockey

originally uploaded by billaday.

Man, Chuck E. Cheese is exhausting with little kids. I used to go for my birthday, and only big kids were allowed. We'd go from 8-11 pm, and it was a blast. It's fun, too, with a three and a two year old, but in a completely different/exhausting way.

For a while, they played air hockey together. Good times, and good reflections. View On Black

Year 3, Day 231

The Brass Menagerie

originally uploaded by billaday.

That's right, I made a joke about a Tennessee Williams book. This is Tyler's man room. It gets cooler every time I step inside. This shot is a closeup of what's below the shuffleboard table. Nice.

Year 3, Day 230

Do you take palm trees in your coffee? Or just cream?

originally uploaded by billaday.

I met my friend Brent for breakfast. He's partly to thank for this shot--he went to go get more coffee (or to the bathroom), and I was staring at my coffee. The reflection caught my eye. Thanks Brent, for your active "coffee drinking".

Year 3, Day 229