That's a Quote!

In the current issue of Sports Illustrated there is an article by their long time photographer Walter Iooss Jr. He talks about his background and his experiences with formal photograph sessions with athletes and photographing at games. I was just kind of skimming it, and then there was this bit, a remembering of a conversation he had with the great Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera:

Then one time I asked him [Rivera], "Who taught you that cutter?"

He said, "God."

I said, "God did?" Being an atheist, I said, "God never taught me anything."

Mariano said, "Oh, yes, he did, Walter." He was very calm. He said, "He gave you your great talent. You should be thankful."

That humbled me. The truth is, I see photos everywhere. I look at someone sitting next to me at lunch, and instantly I'm putting up a background in my mind. That's just churning all the time. If the beauty's there, I want to take a picture of it. I could be anywhere. I take hundreds of iPhone photos, and I compose those too, as much as I can. What I really am is lucky to be doing what I do.

I am glad to know there is at least one other nutjob out there who is composing photos in their head all the time, and takes pictures of stuff with their iPhone. He is lucky he gets to do it for a living.

Pug Mug

I recently visited a friend and her two pugs. They were adorable, so cute! So I have an outstanding collection of pug photos. Here are photos of her black pug--conditions made it so that these are some of the best pictures I have taken of a black animal.

So first we have cute pug face without tongue...

and pug face with tongue.

Such a tongue!

Kittens

I went to Wayside Waifs, and as usual, there were incredible cuties, waiting for adoption. For example, there was this group of kittens. Two boys, two girls, four different sizes, cute.

After I took this still, I was playing with the kittens when I realized that they were all turning their heads (mostly) together following the toy. Thus was birthed my first You Tube video. Enjoy!

Pink

Display at Dick's at Ward Parkway.

I have to confess, I like the pink gear. I managed to score a pink towel and sideline hat last year for next to nothing. I would love pink Giants and/or Jets pink tinged hats in my collection.

Siamese Sisters

Volunteers cradle two pointed kittens that were available Wednesday for adoption. Siamese and part Siamese cats and kittens go fast at Wayside but stock is constantly changing and it pays to persist!

Aren't they off the hook cute?

Storm Clouds

Setting sun shines through towering storm clouds.

First iPhone Pics

My neighbor was having tree work done. Definitely a photo opportunity! (Yes, there's a guy up in the tree.)

My neighbor had to cut down this 40 year old evergreen, alas.

Cats! Always great subjects for photos--especially sleeping cats...

Leawood police car outside Leawood City Hall looks like a recruiting brochure for the force.

I have always wanted to photograph this art near the Leawood City Hall. Note the moon up in the twilight sky, and the slightly reddish tint to the sky.

Pitfalls--yes. Holding it steady is a little harder, as this shot of my neighbor's organized wreaths in his garage shows. Other pitfalls have included poor focus and getting my fingers in the lens, which is in a very different spot than I am used to!

Showers of Blessings

68 photos went to Facebook from the NWLC so I could post a link for them. It is a bounty of the good, bad and ugly.

This photo, taken Tuesday night during Matt Redman's set features the wrap around visual they started using--it wrapped around the platform and on to the walls. This photo shows a tiny bit of the band, praise hands and the graphic, with the lyrics. It was amazing looking, without being so overpowering that it became about the graphic.

The photo was taken in color, but I pulled the color out in the "dark" room.

Extra Fluffly

Just wait until I find out who put the extra conditioner in the shampoo!

Dangerous BoyCat

Something startled both the BoyCat and the SmallFry. They went flying in opposite directions, claws out, hair up. BoyCat, flat of fur ordinarily, is a sight to behold when his hair is up. I snapped this picture, disappointed his bottlebrush tail did not show up well.

When I pulled it up on the big screen, and beheld the hackles raised, the pools of blackness in his hazel eyes, the posture ready for defense and attack, I realized once again that I share my house with small fierce animals we call "cats."

Tooting A Horn Among Other Things

Some scenes from the Car Swap area of the HPAC show June 11th....

You need these...because sticking your head out the window and hollering, "HONK!" just doesn't cut it.

Jacks are good for a lift when you need it.

Decisions, decisions. This vendor had several nice t shirt designs including some good Mopar ones.

Yes, there are a lot of car show pictures--not all of them are of cars. More will emerge, in fits and starts.

Five Mopars

Five randomly chosen car pics from the recent HPAC car show...just because I like them.

Shelby outfitted Dodge from the late 1980s is more than just paint. This turbo equipped sedan has plenty of quick in it!

Early 1970s Dodge Challenger--nice car.

1960s (or 1970s could be) Plymouth interior is striking in appearance.

Gotta love those 'Cudas--our resident 'Cuda collector brought like 7 of them. This is one of his cleanest.

Earlier the back seat of this Dodge station wagon was featured--here's the whole package.

Mopar Couple

No, not a couple of Mopars, you knucklehead! (Although there were plenty around...)

Just like this shot of a couple walking through the HPAC show last week.

Mama Kitty

My neighbor's cat. We call her Mama, or Mama Kitty--she had one litter of one kitten before being spayed. She's at least 10 years old and is a mostly outdoor cat. For being mostly outside, she is remarkably healthy. She is a sweet, patient and interactive animal, and I enjoy her visits, even if she does leave paw prints on my car hood.

Can't Go Wrong With A Sunset

Love sunsets--I do enjoy sunrises too, but they are the province of those who are truly awake in the early morning. I leave them to the early risers.

Watercolor

When I was young I drew a lot from photographs. Usually, I used colored pencils to add color to my pictures. This is one of the few that survived, mainly because I made off with it. (Parents just have no idea what they throw out!) It is nice that it is one of my favorites. It is unique in that the color is from watercolor paints.

I have to say that this is one of the best drawings I ever did.

1976: High School Hoops

This is one of my favorite photographs from my days photographing sports in high school. I love how you can see all 10 players on the floor, and how the break is developing. This was the year that our boys were playing in away jerseys all year, except in this game the opponent, another blue team, was not reminded to bring their white jerseys. We scratched together enough stuff for the boys to wear for this game.

Easter Sunday Worship

It was almost completely dark except for the cross illuminated in red and red letters: "Three days later..." You can see the hint of light starting as Pastor Shoup and the acolyte start lighting candles. By the time they make their way to the Christ candle, it is brightly lit throughout the sanctuary, including the congregation, bathed in yellow light.

Christ has risen.

Just Another Day at the Cat House

Hadn't posted here for a while--have a lot of material. Here's something new to look at from the endless collection of cat photos. Taken with the Blackberry.

The Country Club Plaza

Leading off: Iconic Plaza Spanish tower--home to the Cheesecake Factory among others.

Blooming trees in front of the Balcony Building. The building, on 47th and Broadway, and the apartment complex behind it, apparently will remain as the law firm decides to build elsewhere.

Small fountain with funny faces. Blue, blue sky and buildings frame the shot rather nicely.

JC Nichols fountain with Seville tower in the background. Typical diverse crowd: homeless guy, touristy types, walker.

Outside seating area at street level, taken from above.

Snow on My Spring

For about a week it's been quite chilly here in Kansas City. On Sunday, it culminated in this...

Yup, those are the same branches as in the previous post. Just some snow added. Thankfully the blooms are still on the forsythia. The local daffodil population survived also.

Spring Potential

Forsythia buds featured just a glimpse of yellow in this photo...

By Monday, they were almost fully opened. The bushes looked bare just days ago, then the colorful buds, and now flowers.

Spring may just be springing.

Neon Lights

Awesome downtown parking sign features neon!

Cosentino's at Dusk

Downtown's grocery store looks very different from anything out here in the burbhood and looks especially cool in fading daylight.

Who can resist neon lights? Not me!

Auto Show Favorite Shots

Some of my favorite shots from the Greater Kansas City Auto Show...

Line for tickets--quickly and graciously dispatched I might add!

Jaunty angle, open door, visible fingertips on the steering wheel...I just like this simple shot of a Chevy Camaro getting a look see.

Honda Element has suicide doors...enough said!

Little finger prints on the hood of this Kia Soul attracted my photographer's eye...

Bittersweet: 1992 Soapbox Derby winner sponsored by Crawford's of Raytown...

Subaru put the bikes on the top--the couple looking at each other installed themselves!

Dream on buddy, dream on!

I fell in love with these little Ford vans last year--they had just one out this year, dressed as a taxi. I sat in the front and back and I think they'd make a good taxi!

Toyota saleslady with iPad in hand...

Two very different photos--one the saleslady is interacting with the humans, the other she is interacting with the iPad.