Swing

Swing, originally uploaded by billselak.

I took this picture of Isabelle, Everet, and me. Not bad, considering I was swinging him and taking the picture (and I didn't drop him or the camera).

Hollywood Lines

Hollywood Lines, originally uploaded by billselak.

Telephone lines, smog, and me. It was this hazy at 9am.

Concrete smoke

Concrete smoke, originally uploaded by billselak.

This guy was cutting concrete all day... 20 feet away from my classroom. It was loud, but the picture at 5pm turned out nicely.

Activate orange

Activate orange, originally uploaded by billselak.

This orange was in the staff lounge. It's times (and photos) like these that I'm glad I keep my camera with me at all times. Seriously, where did this come from?

Red wall and a Rose Parade elevator

Red wall and a Rose Parade elevator, originally uploaded by billselak.

Of all the cool places (and photos) in Pasadena, the parking garage elevator ends up being the photo-a-day. btw, the blue and green channels are desaturated (black & white), and the red channel's saturation is toned down.

Oh yeah, that's a super old photo from the Rose Parade on the elevator doors.

SD800IS

SD800IS, originally uploaded by billselak.

Here's my Canon SD800IS (taken with my digital SLR). I always keep it in my pocket. I love it. In fact, I use it more often than my fancy Nikon dSLR. Don't get me wrong, I also love my dSLR, which took this picture. The real question is, which is better: the camera, or the camera that took the picture of the camera?

Guitar shelf forged of silver

Guitar shelf forged of silver, originally uploaded by billselak.

This holds up my guitars.

Nikon D70s

Nikon D70s, originally uploaded by billselak.

Here's my digital SLR (taken with my Canon SD800IS). The body is a D70s, and the lens is a Nikkor 18-200VR. I love it. I also love my little Canon, which took this picture. So, which is better: the camera, or the camera that took the picture of the camera?

L.A. Galaxy confetti

L.A. Galaxy confetti, originally uploaded by billselak.

We saw the Galaxy lose. It was a fun game; I didn't realize that they had been in Los Angeles for 10ish years. Beckham was injured, so we only saw him in his private box. The arena people shot out confetti whenever something (remotely) interesting occured.

Wild Sunflower

Wild Sunflower, originally uploaded by billselak.

This wild sunflower is actually a weed growing in our garden. It looks cool with a slow sync flash on it at sunset.

Little feet

Little feet, originally uploaded by billselak.

My index finger is bigger than his entire foot. That's my new brother-in-law, by the way (not my own kid (yet)).

Labor

Labor, originally uploaded by billselak.

That spike in the graph means a baby is on the way.

Steamroller

Steamroller, originally uploaded by billselak.

The playground blacktop is getting slurried. Here's the steamroller that rolls the steam over it.

Oversize

Oversize, originally uploaded by billselak.

This is an oversized truck.

It's what on the inside that counts

It's what on the inside that counts, originally uploaded by billselak.

Here's the inside of my guitar amp. If you haven't seen inside a tube amp before, here you go. If you don't know, there are two types of amps--solid state and tube. Solid state uses electronics to add color to the guitar sound; with tube amps, the sound passes through the tubes. The sound is richer, deeper, fatter, guitar-ier. btw, I almost burned my hand reaching in to take this (the tubes get really, really hot).

Veil

Veil, originally uploaded by billselak.

I shot a wedding today.

Element

Element, originally uploaded by billselak.

Here's the wheel of my new road bike.
If you know a lot about bikes, the tires are Forte Pro DC, 700 x 23C and the wheelset is Formula Element XSR-3, 20H and QR.

Mac & Cheese

Mac & Cheese, originally uploaded by billselak.

It's not just for breakfast anymore.

This holds the barrels together

This holds the barrels together, originally uploaded by billselak.

This dock had lots of barrels around. I think they were going for a pirate theme or something... this was the only decoration around. Either way, I like the depth of field in this shot.

Point

Point, originally uploaded by billselak.

This is the view from our room in Dana Point. Nice.

Balboa

Balboa, originally uploaded by billselak.

We played Mass on the Beach and then went for a bike ride through Newport and Balboa. The Balboa Peninsula was fun to ride along since nobody (especially cars) really goes there. Thanks to Paul and Mike (The Francis Band) for being patient while I stopped to shoot this.

Pedal

Pedal, originally uploaded by billselak.

This pedal will soon be on my new bike, and it will keep my foot attached to the bike. That way, I will fall in a painful, embarrassing way at a crowded stoplight.

The Office

The Office, originally uploaded by billselak.

Another hard day at the office.

Go

Go, originally uploaded by billselak.

I beat Isabelle in a six hour game of Monopoly.

Confidential

Confidential, originally uploaded by billselak.

Maybe it's just me, but Wal Mart shouldn't post confidential papers on the shelves. Just a suggestion...

Central Coast

Central Coast, originally uploaded by billselak.

Here's the drive back home. It was pretty (long).

Relic

Relic, originally uploaded by billselak.

I found a phone booth that worked in San Luis Obispo. I decided to walk around downtown during sunset while waiting for a friend's birthday celebration to begin.

SLO Creek

SLO Creek, originally uploaded by billselak.

I read my book in the middle of this creek, waiting to meet a friend. It was nice.

Harbor

Harbor, originally uploaded by billselak.

On my drive to visit old friends in San Luis Obispo, I stopped off in Ventura for halibut and chips at the super tasty Andria's in the harbor. I got there just after sunset and just before they closed. Nice timing.

Ode to Wayne

Ode to Wayne, originally uploaded by billselak.

This seems like a shot Wayne would be proud of... the depth of field and the dirt. It's like you can taste the grime.

Worn

Worn, originally uploaded by billselak.

My old electric guitar case; I think I've had it for 12 years now. I like the detail in this shot--how the tweed pattern slowly goes out of focus.

Check it out large on black.

Climbing Point Dume

Climbing Point Dume, originally uploaded by billselak.

Ryan turned 30 and wanted to climb in Malibu. Here he is, footsteps from the ocean.

Photoshop notes: I took the original and applied a Lomo Cross Process with Kodak Film (Alien Skin Exposure is awesome); next, I inverted the image in a new layer and changed the blending mode to color (for the red sky); finally, I duplicated that layer, changed the blending mode to color dodge, and masked away all but a few highlight details (face and rocks). Or, if you're not photoshop-savvy, I tweaked it a bit.

SLO crowd

SLO crowd, originally uploaded by billselak.

I met up with some San Luis Obispo friends for a BBQ in Tustin. Good times.

Spring time

Spring time, originally uploaded by billselak.

Up close and personal with the garden clippers.

small town brick road

small town brick road, originally uploaded by billselak.

Walking back from breakfast in Bayfield, Wisconsin. The roads are made of bricks and the fences made of gumdrops.

Harbor bird

Harbor bird, originally uploaded by billselak.

There was a friendly duck on Lake Superior today.

Hay!

Hay, originally uploaded by billselak.

Here is some hay while driving through Wisconsin (Mineapolis?) on the way to Uncle Carl's wedding. This is hour 14 in our journey to Bayfield, Wisconsin. This picture/area/field is called Hayfield (but just to us).

Choose the green door

Choose the green door, originally uploaded by billselak.

This reminds me of The Matrix.

Spaghetti contrast

Spaghetti contrast, originally uploaded by billselak.

Pasta, pasta. I like the bright top and dark bottom of this shot. Part of August's Monthly Scavenger Hunt.

Manhole in the back

Manhole in the back, originally uploaded by billselak.

something smells

Piercing

Piercing, originally uploaded by billselak.

Don't fall on our old gazebo.

Car wash

Car wash, originally uploaded by billselak.

I went to the gas station car wash. It was fun (for a car wash).

Stained glass

Stained glass, originally uploaded by billselak.

I'm looking up at some stained glass here. The colors are neato.

Carrots from the garden

Carrots from the garden, originally uploaded by billselak.

Isabelle picked some carrots from her bountiful garden. They're good. And now she's officially a farmer.

Hollywood from above

Hollywood from above, originally uploaded by billselak.

We saw Harry Potter at the Mann Chinese. Since there was no line to wait it (it's been out too long), we hung around Hollywood & Highland and happened upon this.

Elephant macro

Elephant macro, originally uploaded by billselak.

Here's an old family heirloom--a small elephant. I tried to make it look gigantic. I suppose I could Photoshop myself in and be really small.

Angels in the Dugout

Angels in the Dugout, originally uploaded by billselak.

The Angels won this afternoon 7-6 vs A's. We had great seats (as illustrated by this shot). That's Guerrero, Napoli, and Wood. Cabrera is up to bat. I think this is the best shot of the set.

Spotlight

Spotlight, originally uploaded by billselak.

I found this music stand set up at my mom's work. It was REALLY dark. This is a handheld, .8 second shot. It's a bit shaky, but I held this still for almost a second (and if I set the camera on the ground, you couldn't see the shadow at all).

Gate

Gate, originally uploaded by billselak.

Please enjoy the rusty latch of my gate. It was a bit dark when I went out because I got sidetracked trying to fix my wireless router. So, I suppose this shot could've been punchier, but I waited until most of the daylight was gone. I still think it's a killer shot.

Rosewood

Rosewood, originally uploaded by billselak.

My fender P Bass, viewed from the 10th fret. I love how the rosewood neck came out in this shot. It's a beautiful guitar.