Day 321 – Outside the Sparks Theater

We met some friends tonight for dinner and a movie. Sweetie and I beat our friends to the theater which gave me an opportunity to snap some shots with my iPhone and the Hipstamatic app. This was my favorite and was taken looking out from the theater toward John Ascuaga’s Nugget on Victorian Avenue.

By the way, the movie we saw was “Lincoln,” which is a fantastic film. Steven Spielberg has done it again. The story and acting are superb, and the cinematography was incredible. The film had cool tone and felt to my eyes like a textured vintage photograph. I highly recommend the film. If you can, go see it. Do not wait for the DVD.

More Air Race Photos – B&W

A few more photographs from the Reno Air Races that I processed in black and white. I’ve still got more to work on and will keep posting them as I can.

Program sellers.

Munching down a teriyaki bowl.

Running the gauntlet of Box Seat Security.

Color guard.

Pit pass ticket sales.

Leaving the box seat area.

Enjoying the show.

Day 259 – Dave

The past few days have been full of hugs, tears, swapping stories, filling in puzzle pieces, laughing, and more.

Dave’s been working the Reno Air Races for years. One of the people who died in last year’s crash was one of his crew, Sharon Stewart, a wonderful woman who always had a smile on her face no matter how rough her day was going. My first day back (Thursday) I saw Dave taking a break so I sat beside him and we talked for about fifteen minutes about that day. His young charge sat close by, his eyes wide. Later that day, the first responders were honored at the opening ceremony and Dave saw me up there shooting and asked me if he could get a copy of the shot. I asked him if he had email. He did not. I promised him I’d print one for him.

Yesterday he brought me an apple fritter from the box of goodies he brings for his crew.

Today I popped my 50mm lens on my camera with the express purpose of catching as many people as I could. While Sweetie and I were working the gate at the far end of the box seats, Dave came by, smiling as always. Up went my camera to my eye, Dave flashed a peace symbol, and I got this shot.

I printed a copy of this for him too.

I have taken a lot of photos over the past few days, but need to get through one more day at the Reno Air Races, and then I’ll have time to go through them and get some posted.

Day 257 – Early Morning at the Reno Air Races

I’ll be at the 2012 Reno Air Races through Sunday, and while I’m taking a lot of photos, you probably won’t hear much from me. It’s pretty much a sunrise to sundown activity for the next few days.

Before the crowds come, the volunteers arrive and get things ready. This fellow is bringing a cooler to one of the box seats. I like how the lens flare frames his body.

As I wandered through the box seats, I snapped this box seat decoration. The guy who “owns” this box comes every year. For those of us who return, year after year, it is like a big family.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Near and Far, Take 2

A second take on this week’s Photo Challenge.

Backed-up traffic on Hwy 50 heading out of Carson City. When there is an accident, there is no place to go. And so we waited.

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Day 246 – A little gem near Lake Tahoe

Spooner Lake is one of our favorite places to take the dogs for a hike. Given my heart issues, the trail is reasonably easy for me to handle, and the scenery . . . AWESOME!

The lack of rain is evident in the shoreline.

Given the very dry winter, there were almost no flowers to speak of. Just a few here and there, but again, the view was still lovely.

Another view from the trail – through the trees.

Seriously…isn’t this gorgeous?

Day 231 – It’s feeling a bit tropical around these parts

We’ve had some very strange weather lately. Humidity in the 40 percent range, and now, rain. Go figure. Not complaining, really. We need the precipitation and if we can’t get it in the winter, I’ll take it now.

I woke up at 3:30 in the morning to the sounds of a huge downpour, so after I got up for good I stepped out into the backyard to see if I could find any remnants of the moisture. While the grass was a bit damp, no evidence of the early morning storm was to be seen.

Still, the hibiscus was blooming . . .

and the grapes were starting to ripen.

Buddy napped one minute . . .

. . . and hoped to see a rabbit the next.

And while I was processing these photos, rain!

Day 227 – Are these butterflies or moths?

I assume they are butterflies, but either way, they were very busy gathering nectar this afternoon. If anyone can identify them, please do so in the comments. Thanks! EDITED: Thanks to Emilio we now know that these are Western Branded Skippers (Hesperia colorado). (Or they are Hesperia nevada – it’s hard to tell)