Monday, Monday.

Gee... Wasn't that a song from the sixties? Maybe my mind is slipping. Anyhow it has been a really nice Monday. I have been at the computer most of the day. Actually I woke up at 4:00 this morning eyes wide open. No groggies what so ever so up and in the shower I arose. 

I am getting ready to tear apart the office in hopes of installing a larger work platform so I can get some better organization and workflow into the biz. I will keep you posted on the progress.

This past Saturday Evelyn and I stopped buy one of the area churches where Word of Life was having there Area Teens Involved competition. I wanted to take my camera and run around in a photojournalistic fashion taking shots of the daughter of one of our friends. As our church teens participate in the competition to a very large degree the youth pastor asked me to take as many shots as I could. I had brought my 70-200 f2.8L IS lens and a 16-35 f2.8 wide angle so I was somewhat prepared. What I had not expected is how much shooting I would be doing. Note to self, make sure the batteries are fully charged. You guessed it just I was taking a shot the world came to an end. Fortunately I had the other battery in the car but it was dead as a door nail. I was able to juice the original battery in about 15 minutes enough to allow the dead battery to charge enough to the allow the original battery to fully charge. The world was again at peace.

I took about 130 shots and one of my favorite it this on above. Kearstin on the left is about to perform a vocal solo with Wendy having been her coach and doing the accompaniment. All the competitors and coaches pray before each performance for the usual "Lord don't let me mess up" prayer. The rooms are small classrooms at this church and the tremendous support our church give these kids just packs the house out.

I say all that to explain what I did with the image. I was diagonally across the room about 20 feet away with the 70-200 mounted. It as a combination of natural light from the right and the standard fluorescence overhead. With people packed in the room the people behind the piano really detracted from the shot. A slight gaussian blur, a darkening layer, and a couple of layer masks and we have a nice image that brings the purpose into focus. Bringing glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

Thats all for tonight. 

Doug