09-18-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

When Teri came home from work we all jumped in the car and drove to nearby Mammoth Park for a quick picnic. We’ve basically developed being able to have these easy, after dinner meals to a simple science. There is really no better way to have dinner, in my opinion. We get to relax outside, go for walks and play with the baby with no distractions. I’m sort of sad the end is near and soon it will be too cold outside to do this.

Until then, we’re going to continue to try to have at least one picnic/week!

You can see a short clip by clicking here.

09-17-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

The weather was simply perfect today. It was warm, bright and sunny. I just HAD to get out! Freja and I went to Conemaugh Dam and after having fun in the playground, we went for long walk on the West Penn Trail. She took a nice, long nap on the way in. After going about 2 or 3 miles, we came to where a small stream flowed though a tunnel under some rail tracks. Freja woke up just as we got there, perfect timing. Once in the tunnel, we had fun with the echoes! On the other side is a little pool and a cement platform where we had a simple picnic and played in the leaf litter. I taught her how to pick up small stones and drop them into the water, something she did with a lot of gusto!

You can see a short clip from the walk back by clicking here.

09-16-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

When Freja & I returned from the local farmer's market, I found she had a snack of her own, which had kept her very happy on the drive home!

09-15-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

My aquarium is a MESS!!!!!!!!

09-14-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

As I was "putzing" around the house, my wife called to me, "Honey, there's a Praying Mantis in the fern by the front door. I was happy to hear it was still there, in the fern. A few days ago I saw it as I was coming into the house, then this morning I found a dead male on the porch. I didn't expect her to still be out there, but there is was a nice, big female. It seems she has chosen our Boston fern as her territory.

At first, I tried using my on camera flash, but when it wasn't working well I just went with natural light. It took me a while to get a good shot; the winds from Hurricane Ike were really whipping things up!

09-13-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

We went to visit with Flavia today, something we’ve been neglecting to do for most of the summer. While Teri took care of the baby, and they played with Flavia’s mother, I learned how to make a lamb stew. I’ve always LOVED Flavia’s cooking! Having her show me how to make one of her dishes was very exciting for me. I can’t wait to make it at home! In fact, Freja loved the food as well! She ate up a lot of food, homemade applesauce from wild apples, and lots of the super tender lamb meat. She gobbled up more meat than at any sitting up till now!

As for this lens, it has its pros and cons. I really like the wide angle, and the f/2.8 is nice and fast, as well as the general build of the lens. It just doesn’t have the same “punch” as my Ef35mm f/1.4, but that is to be expected. It would be great to have a W/A that does though! Of course, it is a 3rd the price… so… I guess I can’t complain!

09-12-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

It’s wrestling time in the baby’s room again. I’m also trying out my new Tokina lens today. I need to get used to this lens, and learn its ins & outs. There’s some interesting potential here I think…

I’ve been spoiled by my EF 35mm f/1.4L lens though. I want a superior wide angle lens that can perform as well as that lens. Ideally I’d get the EF 14mm f/2.8L II but it’s hard to justify the over $2K price right now.

09-11-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Our neighbor gave us a big bag of plastic balls. I put her small, inflatable pool in the dinning room and “presto” instant fun! She simply loves to crawl around in it, and Teri has taught her how to throw a ball! We’ve even tossed them back and forth, from about 2 feet.

09-10-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

As I started to make dinner I noticed the light was changing just “so” outside. I quickly bundled up the baby and we made a dash to the Calisti home. Again, I had to do distortion correction, someday I’ll get a T/S lens…

09-09-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

After the baby has her bath we are starting to have a new, nightly ritual. All three of us spend time in the baby’s room, playing with her. Tonight Freja was particularly thrilled to wrestle with mommy!

09-08-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

The weather finally gave me one of those clear, cool mornings I have been waiting for to shoot the side of the Calisti home. I really enjoy this assignment, working for this architect. Freja and I walked the few miles to his home, I timed it so she’d be asleep by the time we arrived, and sure enough, she snoozed in her stroller while I worked. I really wish I had a T/S lens for this, but it will have to wait. Until then, I’ll just have to learn how to do lens distortion correction digitally.

09-07-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

It was a really relaxing Sunday, a perfect day in fact. We just spent the day going on walks, playing with the baby and eating. How can we complain? We can’t really.

As we walked on the local bike trail I heard the deep thrum of rotor blades and suddenly there was a flight of, what I believe to be, Apaches flying overhead. I was struck by the contrast of us walking in the sun, being a happy-go-lucky family and having these yound men & women flying over us, training for war. I’ve been noticing more military aircraft in the skies around town these days. I have no clue where they come from, not being too familiar with the area. I guess I need to do some research, I can’t seem to find any info online about this squadron, or where they may be based at…

09-06-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

We had a very busy day today, with lots of chores to do and we also took a very long walk. All in all, it was a great day; I’m also getting back into my cooking. I’m even thinking about taking photos of the meals and posting the recipes in a gallery here. That might be kind of fun.

Anyway, as Freja was taking her bath, I thought I’d break out one of my least used lenses, my old Lensbaby 2.0. I’d forgotten how fun this little piece of specialty glass can be!

09-05-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Yesterday I snapped a photo of a statue in the park. When I looked at it last night, I then took a look at a lot of my older photos. I want to start shooting stuff from around this town. I know I have said this over and over again, but I really do need to go back and explore the roots of my shooting skills. As I walk with the baby on this warm, end of summer day, my eye is open for any small detail I can try to capture. I spotted this small tree growing off an older building downtown. As I stopped to raise my lens to shoot, I suddenly felt self conscious of what I was doing… that’s odd… I thought I’d gotten over that. “It seems I have gotten truly rusty,” I thought. This resulted in a very poor photo and I am posting it here as a reminder of how much work I need to get to where I should be with my shooting…

09-04-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Freja and I went on a very long walk today, going way down the local bike trail to a park, and then passing through another park on the way home. The weather was really very warm and humid, a perfect summer day really. As we passed through St. Claire Park, I noticed how the light was hitting the bronze statue of General Nathaniel Greene.

I really don’t know much about the history of this area, being new here myself. So I did some research as to why there’s a statue here. Apparently this city was originally named “Newton” up until the late 1700’s. When he died in Georgia the city was renamed in honor of him as many soldiers who served under him during the Revolutionary War lived in this area.

Learn more about him by clicking here.

09-03-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Nothing major happened today.

The last few weeks of summer are now here and I’ve noticed leaves already falling, as well as some starting to turn color. The summer went by so fast! Freja and I are taking even longer walks, going for miles to local parks. I’m going to really miss the warm weather.

When my wife comes home, one of her nightly “rituals” is giving the baby her bath. I rarely give her a bath, and I’m not to make it “too fun” as its Teri’s gig. Tonight I peeked in and found they were having a bubble party! I loved how she’d close her eyes when the bubbles would get close, so the soap wouldn’t get in them!

PS: I took yesterday off from taking photos…

09-01-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

We had a very relaxing, quiet Labor Day today. We didn’t go ANYWHERE, we just stayed at home to play with the baby all day. While one Grandma did stop by for a bit, it was mainly just we three. I can honestly say I think it was the best Labor Day yet!

You can see a clip of the day by clicking here.

08-31-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Teri & Freja play in the gator pool at the end of a hot summer day. I can't belive the summer is "over" already! It seems as if it just started and now we have to begin preparing for Fall. Halloween candy is already up for sale in the stores and football season is almost here. The time has just flown! I'm glad I started this project up again, as I can look back and see what we've been doing all summer long.

As for today, it's been a very relaxing day around the house. We get a few chores done, play with the baby, eat food I've made, nap... and now the girls take a dip while I make us all dinner. As I worked in the kitchen I can see them down there, having fun and it makes me so happy.

08-30-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

On the way home from running errands we stopped to pick up some lunch. As I got out of the car I was surprised to find a tattered Luna moth, Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758) lying on the ground. Looks like the end is near for it...

08-29-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Mommy came home early today as Freja had her 9 month check up this afternoon. She's in excellent health and the Dr was impressed by her strength and coordination. She also gave the green light on feeding her even more varied foods than we have been. One surprise was the fact that her upper teeth are now coming in! That's why she's been fussier this week! Her teeth hurt!

After coming home, we all went on a long walk to the local school playground, where the girls had fun climbing all over the gear there.

08-28-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

My buddy gave Freja a toy drum, I think with the idea it would drive ME crazy. Far from it! She LOVES to play with it, and is even learning to use the sticks. Of course, her favorote thing is to climb up on it!

08-27-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

We're having a very restless, fussy day here today. She can't seem to sit still and wants to explore everywhere, including the downstairs bathroom, where we don't really let her explore. I'm spending a lot of my day just following her around...

08-26-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Another day of collecting some shots for a local architect. Today we walked all the way over there, but I have to admit, the lighting wasn't doing it for me... it was still a great walk!

You can see the gallery by clicking the 24.

08-25-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

During the day, I headed over to photograph a local architects home. I've been building an image gallery for him to use for magazine submissions and award submissions. I don't have a tilt/shift lens, so I'm playing with the forced perspective I get using the lenses I do have. I am looking at getting a TS lens, or a new super, utra wide lens... so many options...

You can see the gallery by clicking the 24.

08-24-2008, originally uploaded by Darter02.

Today's picnic was to Cedar Creek Park, where we let Freja explore the stream where it feeds into the Youghiogheny River. It's very shalllow and was a perfect place for her to crawl around. Her favorite thing was to find really nice rocks, and then to try and eat them!