We’ve been jipped the last few winters in terms of snow so I for one have enjoyed the above average amount of snow we’ve received this winter. While our measly 4″ at a time may seem pretty weak compared to many parts of the country, here it’s enough to nearly paralyze civilization and empty the shelves of every Wal-Mart in the process.

Here are a few recent snow pics I’ve taken…

Contrary to popular believe I am not dead, nor is this website. I’ve just been busy and like any habit, once you get out of it, it can be hard to get back. Regardless, I’m going to start off 2010 with a random assortment of photos documenting 2009. Enjoy!

 

Saturday night Andy and I went to a bball game at my alma mater. Thanks to some of my special connections I was able to take some courtside shots. Although since we were sitting on the 3rd row it really wasn’t even necessary to go courtside to get them. Here are a few of the pics (click them to enlarge)…

Downtown Joplin in all it's splendor.

I will be sharing a space with Jason Shelfer at 515 S. Main and I think his wife may do some light catering of the event. So I have been very busy the last few days getting my stuff ready for my first official ’show’ here in Joplin. I think i’ll have about 15 of my favs nicely framed and on display. It’s totally last minute so our gallery may not be as fancy as some of the others, but I am sure our works will not disappoint!

Anyways, I hope everyone comes out and stops by!

Anyone who follows this blog or my photography knows of my obsession with trying to photograph storms and lightning. Last night I noticed some flashes of light coming from the north side of the house…turned out to be one of the most easily photographed lightning storms I’ve had the opportunity to shoot. It was also one of the creepiest and there was almost no thunder…kind of reminded me of the movie War of the Worlds.

Since the strikes were somewhat predictable (as far as lightning goes) I decided to take a gamble and use my telephoto lens to get in closer. Which made the lightning stikes larger, but it also severely reduced my chances of actually catching a strike in the frame.

Turns out I have become pretty decent at manually focusing my camera in the dark on something that I can’t see!