An Aztec Solstice

Although there is considerable disagreement with my conclusions I am happy to show the Summer Solstice at the Aztec creation known as Carl DiCapo Fountain. Only one week per year does the sun strike the face of the water marvel reaching its peak illumination on this day each year. Constructed approximately in 400 BCE (the brickwork dates it) the fountain/waterfall/sacrificial pond thingy was the earliest use of electricity in the New World.

The face of the fall is re-cycled mud brick covered with syrup for water proofing. Ancient symbols frequently, mysteriously appear on its face. And I rest my case with .... Who else would build something to catch the sun just once a year?

ScarrPendleMound--or, Today's Bike Ride

I try to ride the bike several times a week and generally travel amongst Indian Mound, Pendleton Heights and Scarritt Renaissance neighborhoods... which I have shortened to ScarrPendleMound. Lot's of nicely maintained homes and yards and just enough hills to make for a goodly amount of exercise. Today was much nicer with lower humidity.




Above home glows in the dark....I like how the "Beware of Dog" sign matches the house color.
There is probably an excessive amount of Day Lilies posted here but they are in bloom now.



I like symmetry....

Above and below homes on adjoining lots elegantly planted.


Homes of all sizes live in our hood......

Above the Concourse Fountain with St. Anthony's in the background. Below, an Indian Mound home on Van Brunt Boulevard. Tomorrow... the other half of the ride.

Biker Drive By

The Kansas City Bike Club held it's City of Fountains Bicycle Tour 2010 this morning and three fountains in the Northeast were on the route. Actually there were 5 routes of 9, 17, 22, 31 and 39 miles respectively. Above, a portion of the riders by the Carl DiCapo Fountain along Cliff Drive... and, below, the group coming back from visiting the War Dead Memorial at Van Brunt and Budd Park Esplanade.... they are heading up Gladstone Boulevard toward the Concourse Fountain and sites beyond.
I hope you all appreciate the fact that Hyper got out of bed at 7am on a Sunday to get these shots.....

Bride+Groom+Chapel=Marriage

Rachel and Dean exchanged vows at the Grand River Chapel on the William Jewel Campus yesterday.... the weather cleared just in time.The Chapel was originally built in Jameson, Missouri, a town about 100 miles north of Kansas City... in the last census it had a population of 120 people. Constructed in 1918 the college moved the chapel to campus board by board in 1992 and rebuilt it. It is very popular for small weddings, holding about 100 people.

A small group of friends and family attended the service and the reception afterward at the groom's family home....

They are a hugely fun couple and are perfect for each other.... congratulations.....

Into the Woods.... Again

First time I've ever seen a baby Cardinal.... Dad and Mom were taking turns feeding him/her...one of them was always by the side of the baby. Difficult to get a clear shot in the middle of a Redbud tree.
Hover flies coming in for a landing on a thistle bloom.
Dew in the early morning is pretty on grass above and prevents many insects from flying until their wings dry. Such was the case with the Dragon Fly below... who was cooperative because he really had no choice.
Below... may, or may not, be a crash landing.... could just be resting.

Above, bugs in love.
A lot more fungus than usual this spring.... heavy rains and humidity.

More later.... I was going out again today but it's just too dang humid.

Taya-Portfolio

One of my favorite tasks is creating portfolios for models or pageant entrants. This was my second session with 11-year-0ld Taya who will be competing in a pageant in St. Louis at the end of July. The photo above will be her headshot in the program.
She is unusually "professional" for her young age able to switch between fun-loving pre-teen and pro-poser. It's made easier because she has an excellent coach, Lorenzo Johnson, who has great ideas of his own and solicits my view too.

For modeling purposes children are lit and posed much as adults would be...keeping everything age appropriate however. Lighting is the same. Photos tend to be cropped more than if I were doing a regular session with a child of 11.


We do as many outfits as time permits and venture outside when weather allows... the outfit below was a particular favorite of Tayas.... these outdoor images were taken just west of the Kansas City Museum in an area of Scarritt Point that is not mowed.... beautiful scenery.... although Miss Taya is NOT, I repeat NOT fond of smallish critters....




The outdoor shots were taken with a 70-200mm lens mostly at F11 and around 150mm at ISO 400. I used a softbox on the camera's flash to soften the effect and avoid specular highlights...the inside shots were taken with the 105mm lens at F16.... all images made with the Nikon D3.

Taya's Mom was in charge of hair and makeup and did a splendid job. In her very first pageant Taya came in fourth which is remarkable for a first time appearance. I'll keep you posted... it will be fun to follow her career.