photo excitement

Several months ago I decided to enter a photo contest, so selected three of what I considered my best. On a whim, I added a fourth, not my best, but I liked the colors. The contest was sponsored by Ruralite, the monthly magazine published by our electric cooperative. The prize was $100 per photo chosen for the covers.

I checked the website and found none of my photos were selected for the cover. This didn't really surprise me, because while I love taking photos, I am certainly not a professional - and at times I think I'm mediocre at it. I'm truly excited when I get something I really love.

A couple of weeks after the announcement of the winning photos, I received a letter from the electric company. They told me that although I didn't win the cover contest, they want to run one of my pictures in a section inside the magazine. I completed and signed the release form immediately, and shortly after that I received a check for $25. The money is just gravy. I'm simply excited that one of my photos was selected to run in a regional magazine.

The winner? It was the fourth picture - the last-minute add-on. It was a photo I shot from the window of a moving bus in Denali Park.

Even though it was a spur-of-the-moment addition, I loved the fall colors and the contrast - the low brush and tall trees, the reds set against the green of the spruce.

This isn't the one I sent in, but it's similar. So I'm now waiting until Sepetember to actually see one of my pics in print!

I will probably spend more time concentrating on photo composition and really working to improve my technique. A lot of the time I simply point and shoot without really thinking about the end result. But the rush of excitement when I read the letter has me wanting more!

travel, travel, travel

I have recovered from the various infections (all respiratory related) and from the trip to San Antonio. The conference was a good one this year, with excellent workshops, especially on social media and an overview of our career field (public affairs).

I was still in the recovery mode for the upper respiratory infection and the heat and humidity in San Antonio didn't help at all. It was 95 degrees during the day (went down to 72 or so at night) and VERY humid. That's weather I really don't like. I'd rather have 35 or 40 below than 90 above with humidity. However, I connected with some old friends and brought back some great information.

As promised, I've got a few more photos from the Las Cruces/Phoenix trip.

I love the palm trees in Phoenix and was able to shoot a few through the windshield as we drove around the city and surrounding cities.

I really liked this tree-lined street.

My cameras are all automatic digitals because I know if I go to DSLR I will end up carrying a huge bag full of heavy lenses. I have one small pocket-size camera with a 10X optical zoom that is with me all the time. My "big" camera has a 20X optical zoom and I'm able to really bring in scenes from a distance with it. Both have a sweep panorama function and various scene modes such as water, snow, dark without flash, sports and fireworks.

One night following the baseball game there was a fireworks show, so I decided to see what happened with the fireworks mode. I wasn't disappointed. Here are two examples.

There's a whole different effect because the lens is open for quite a long time.

On the way back to Las Cruces, we stopped off in Tombstone. The historic town is a little off the beaten path, but was a fun ride. We had to leave the freeway and drive several miles down a two-lane road, past houses and countryside. It was fairly early and there were not a lot of people. It reminds me a great deal of Alaskaland (now Pioneer Park) with gift shops, boardwak sidewalk and historical buildings. We shopped and stopped in a few of the old buildings before hitting the road again.

There were several stagecoaches and one covered wagon traveling Tombstone's dirt streets, but we opted not to take a ride. I rode the stagecoach in Dodge City years ago, and I recall a hard wooden seat and a very bouncy ride - not at all comfortable. Sadly, the OK Corral was closed and we missed the "gunfight" there.

Back in Las Cruces we did more shopping in Old Mesilla and had two wonderful dinners - one at a great Mexican restaurant and another at a Japanese one. We rested and visited with Bonnie and Junior, then hit the skies again to return home.

These cactus are in Bonnie & Junior's yard. I was pleased to see them in bloom.






I've been given a heads-up for another possible trip coming up - this time to Hawaii, again for work. It's not a done deal yet, but I'm on alert for it.

I'm so glad to have warmer temperatures, more daylight and snow melted. Happy spring everyone.