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9/11 Never Forgotten
11
September

I remember being awakened the morning of 9/11 by a relative. When I got the TV turned on the first tower was ablaze and the second hadn’t been damaged yet. That moment was the start of a day I’ll never, ever forget.

Tribute in Light, with cityscape & red, white and blue ES... on Twitpic

Photo courtesy of Inga Sarda-Sorensen via TwitPic

I’ve since been to Ground Zero and I’ve worked should to shoulder with survivors. I’ve trained soldiers to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve been forever changed by the actions of men who’ve let the enemy of Heaven distort their judgement of what is right and what is wrong. The fight that brought down the Twin Towers, destroyed a wing of The Pentagon and crashed an airplane in a field in Pennsylvania has been raging since Lucifer rose up against God and was cast out of Heaven. It is Satan who encourages men to do evil. Yes, men make choices but who puts those opportunities in their paths?

While I remember with sadness the lives of those lost this day, I will also remember that this is but one battle in the greater war for the souls of men. A war in which we already know the outcome, that Jesus wins, that God loves us and that all will be made right. The only question that remains is how many men and women will fall to the great deceiver and how many will come to know The Truth?

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How to Build a Cheap and Simple Variable Neutral Density Filter
27
August

PetaPixel is a great blog for photographers and photography enthusiasts. This post especially caught my attention as I’ve wanted a Variable ND filter for some time but just haven’t been able to pull the trigger on a $400 or higher price tag.

I’ll be building me one of these in the next few weeks and am looking forward to posting photos taken with it.

How to Build a Cheap and Simple Variable Neutral Density Filter.

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LeggNet’s Digital Capture | Behind the Scenes Video: Theater Photo Shoot
25
August

This is a great behind the scenes look at what it takes to pull off large Stock Photo Shoots. Very creative. Enjoy the short video.

LeggNet’s Digital Capture | Behind the Scenes Video: Theater Photo Shoot.

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A Place Of Rest – Finding beauty at a Rest Stop
19
August

Along Interstate 5 from the border of Canada in the North to the border of Mexico in the South there 39 Rest Stops where both man and pet exit their vehicles for a quick stretch and to donate the left overs from fast food diets or “stop and rob” (convenience store) purchases. Most are of these locations are simply functional but some are truly beautiful.

Baldock Safety Rest Area located 14 miles South of Portland Oregon is a peaceful location with well maintained grass and evergreen trees growing throughout. Even in the heat of the day this location is shaded and inviting.

A Place of Rest v. 1

While riding home from my marathon motorcycle journey to Southern California I pulled in to find I was drawn to how the mid-morning light was filtering through the trees illuminating some but not all of the tree trunks and casting cool shadows on the verdant grass. Of course I had to pull out my camera. I’ve post processed my favorite image from the set I took into two distinct versions. One is warm and diffused giving a feeling of age and nostalgia while the other is more vibrant and truer to what I saw with my eye and felt in my spirit.

A Place of Rest v. 2

The image was shot in Manual Mode with a Canon 40D using an EF 28-105mm L series IS lens at f/22 for 1/2 sec and an ISO of 100. I intentionally raised the camera from trunk bottom upward while the shutter was open to blur the image into a more surreal artistic image of what I visualized instead of a “true” capture of what I saw.

Use the Poll below to let me know which one of these you like better and of course, comments are always encouraged because I like reading what you post and Google likes content, content, content!

Which Image Do You Like Better

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Category: General, Photography, Technical Stuff  Tags: , , , , ,  One Comment
Sshhhhh! Locals Only
16
August

2,745 Miles from Olympia WA, to Southern California and back again via motorcycle is a great way to spend your vacation days. Especially when you take short detours to get off of Interstate 5 and see some of the amazing things God has created to decorate the western edge of North America.

One of the easiest to find is Castle Crags in Northern California. Just off the freeway there is a state park with a day use fee of $4 but if all you are looking for is a great view and to stretch your legs before rolling on here’s the skinny direct from the park ranger who gave me the “locals only” inside scoop.  Instead of entering the park follow the road past the park as it winds along a creek. Roughly 2.5 miles from the park entrance the road makes a hairpin turn to the left and starts to climb. Within a half mile the trees will open up revealing the Crags in full view. From Interstate 5 you’ll drive about 4 miles to get there but it’s all paved and was easy going on my motorcycle.

Looking for some feedback on this photo… I’m considering cropping out some of the sky. What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Castle Crags State Park

Castle Crags

Here’s a link to some other great photo posts on Twitter Tuesday.

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Weekly Twitter posts for 2010-08-14
14
August
  • I'm at TJ's Cycle's in Redding CA. They are changing out my rear tire. Saving me $100 over the dealer and giving me a better tire. #
  • Spent 4 hours with my HS Class of '85 tonight. Wow! Many of the ladies look as great as ever but us poor boys got the short end of the stick #
  • I'll be at the Starbucks in Willows in about 30 min if anyone wants to join me. #
  • The road ahead is long but the reward is beyond imagination. #
  • Oh yeah!! Adalberto's http://tweetphoto.com/37708882 #
  • Java Twix my new favorite candy bar. @twix #yummy #twix #
  • I'm 15 miles N of Fresno headed for Santa Clarita. Whew! It's hot out here wish my hogwash humor shirt were short sleeved. @Bryan_Duncan #
  • Two firsts today. Road 10 hours from Willows to LA on my motorcycle and I "Split Lanes". Safe and sound. #
  • Really missing my espresso machine. Starbucks every day adds up quickly. #
  • The well of life is connected to your tongue. Open your mouth and let if flow through words of love, life, hope, praise, etc @JaniceSeney #
  • Rode my motorcycle down the heart of I-5 this afternoon. Splitting lanes is not for the faint of heart. #crazy #dangerous #exhilarating #
  • @Vlingo can you add a feat allowing vlingo to be the default voice command utility on blackberry? in reply to Vlingo #
  • S'Mores on the front porch. http://tweetphoto.com/37987813 #
  • Join in prayer for the @calbaptist athletes who were in a multi-vehicle crash last night & are grieving the loss of their cheer coach. #
  • http://twitvid.com/JOEYC – Took this from the porch of the Entertainment Federal Credit Union today. Cool Location! #
  • Why would @Starbucks only have one person working at this time of day? #slow #
  • @Disneyland is on the agenda for today! #
  • Buzz Lightyear! http://tweetphoto.com/38277866 #
  • http://twitvid.com/OEZX9 – Autopia, Disneyland 2010 #
  • http://tweetphoto.com/38381986 A day at Disneyland has me pretty much bushed. Visited 15 attractions & am (cont) http://tl.gd/32q3fj #
  • Enjoying Oceanside in my Bro-in Law's time share. #familyisagoodthing http://tweetphoto.com/38568913 #
  • 85 degrees/sunny @home. 72 degrees/cloudy on vacation. #bummer #sad #
  • Enjoying Joe's Crab Shack in Oceanside. http://tweetphoto.com/38790456 #
  • Ya Think! //RT @foxnews: Obama's Support for Ground Zero Mosque Draws Fire http://bit.ly/9AmjvD #
  • In Buttonwillow. Headed to Anderson CA. If you want to link up along the way let me know. #

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Fort Brag – Willows Portraits
08
August

When I had Senior Portraits done 25 years ago in Willows, CA there was only one option so everybody’s photo in our yearbook looks the same: different face – same picture.

Lisa Taylor has changed that. Commuting regularly between Willows and Fort Bragg she does portraiture in parks, on the beach or any place meaningful to her clients. I ran into Lisa at my 25th HS Class Reunion last night. It was good to talk shop a bit and to hear how she is bringing life to weddings and portraits in what otherwise has tradionally been a very stale ‘one horse’ market.

The image below was snapped with my cell.

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Weekly Twitter posts for 2010-08-07
07
August
  • "The Commander" Al Qa'id" will be back from graphics and striping tomorrow. So looking forward to seeing the final product. Whoohoo! #
  • Beverley Hills Chihuahua is one of the dumbest movies ever made. #
  • On my way to church enjoying a grande 3 pump no whip mocha from @starbucks #
  • RT @Bryan_Duncan: Little by little I can change my world, not by escaping to a new one, but by making a new me in the old one #
  • @kurt13warner Thanks Kurt, this resembles how I feel when considering my kids and my relationship with God. – http://filesocial.com/2zdtmt0 #
  • I've uploaded a custom theme to my home Twitter page Looks best with your screen maximized Let me know what you think http://bit.ly/bvHJgX #
  • RT @brentonbrown:Brenton Brown just gave me a FREE download of his new song Our God is Mercy http://skor.me/dbxfed #
  • @Vlingo yes! A VIP code for Vlingo Plus would be fantastic! in reply to Vlingo #
  • @Vlingo 4 star rating in reply to Vlingo #
  • RT @Vlingo: BB Trivia: RT Q then Tweet answer w/Vlingo to enter. 1st correct answer wins! Q1)Vlingo Plus has a __ star rating in AppWorld? #
  • @Vlingo 4 stars! in reply to Vlingo #
  • @Vlingo has a 4 star rating in BB Appworold. #Vlingo in reply to Vlingo #
  • @Vlingo @Vlingo has a 4 star rating in BB Appworold. #Vlingo Vlingo in reply to Vlingo #
  • So if you're wondering what all the Vlingo is today..I'm trying to win a free copy of Vlingo Plus for my Blackberry. Gr8 Application #Vlingo #
  • Vlingo BlackBerry headquarters Ontario Canada #
  • BlackBerry headquarters is in Ontario Canada Vlingo #
  • Goodness, Winning sure is hard work. :) #vlingo @vlingo #
  • Boston Red Sox have 60 wins. -Spoken w/Vlingo #
  • My phone nearly blew up when I posted my last tweet. It must not be a Boston Red Sox fan. #vlingo @vlingo #
  • Wife and kids Seatac to Los Angeles via @AlaskaAir. Freedom! #
  • Loving each other unconditionally has a prerequisite of prayer Its when we C each other as God does that we cn overcome R innate selfishness #
  • Getting my things together for my Motorcycle Trip to Los Angeles! Follow me here and see where I am via Google Latitude http://bit.ly/a8wr6m #
  • Another blow to marriage as Prop 8 is overturned. It's amazing how the "ruling class" in our nation disregard the will of the people. #
  • @Starbucks and @subway together in Woodland, WA. Perfect pairing for a motorcyclist http://tweetphoto.com/37019500 #
  • Saw a large RV upside-down about 40 miles ago. Glad God delayed my departure this AM so I'd miss out on being there when it happened. #
  • They have no conscience.. RT @foxnewsradio: Senate confirms Elena Kagan as 112th Supreme Court justice, fourth woman. #
  • "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has… http://fb.me/EYNnsHrk #
  • Met a guy named John at a Shell Station. His HD blew the oil cooler. #
  • Met a guy named John at a Shell Station. His HD blew the oil cooler. http://tweetphoto.com/37043089 #
  • Just filled up a bit South of Eugene. 70 miles or so more to go today. Headed for the Roseburg Travelodge. #
  • I've arrived safely at the Roseburg, OR @Travelodge. Ahhh #
  • Met Joe Gschweng, owner of http://www.kewlmetal.com today. Big dude, nice guy. #
  • Google Maps: 5.5 hrs to Arbuckle. Cousin says leave at 7, meet at 1. I think he's a bit crazy. .5 hr isn't engh time for gas and In-N-Out #
  • @Bryan_Duncan Rules for old men: B4 riding back2back 300 mile days complete your breakfast w/ an ibuprofen chaser. #
  • My bike in Grants Pass. Grabbed a quick jolt of caffeine at @thehumanbean http://tweetphoto.com/37173268 #
  • Rogue River. http://tweetphoto.com/37188739 #
  • Made it to Redding. Next stop Arbuckle to link with my cousin. #
  • Arrived in Sacramento about an hour ago. Biker church tonight with The Way Riderz Motor Cycle Ministry. Should be great fun. #
  • its R responsibility 2 seek the kingdm of God not build it If we build its in vain & will fail Seek the kingdom & God will build the kingdom #
  • Went to the Healing Rooms ministry at Bethel this morning. God blew my mind. @ibetheltv #
  • @daddyoslacey I don't feel even a little guilty eating @in-n-out. You are my favorite burger in WA but the x2/x2 is my first love #

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Enjoying a great ‘Manventure’
06
August

So here it is my first post using my BlackBerry. I left home yesterday on my motorcycle for a grand ‘manventure’. I’m attending my 25th HS class reunion in Willows CA before heading all the way to Oceanside about 45 minutes N. of San Diego.

Never before have I ridden this far, and I’m doing it solo. Am I insane? What does this say about my wife? No, she’s not looking to cash out my life insurance, rather she understands what John Eldridge writes about in “Wild At Heart”. Every man needs to have adventure, without it we are incomplete and part of us dies. I believe my wife’s encouragement to go is rooted in a profound love of me and for that I’m eternally grateful.

At present I’m writing this post from the airconditioned comfort of my aunt’s home in Sacramento. 715 miles across WA, OR, and into California is quite a ride and has been a great start to this adventure but it won’t compare to the reunion I’ll have with my wife when it’s over because I’ll be a different, better, stronger man for these days away and the increase in self-esteem will enable me to better be the Man of God she needs me to be.

Fuel Stop

Fuel Stop

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A Writers Block: Religion – not my favorite word
04
August

Here’s a good post from my friend Kassie Ketchum on religion. It’s a short but poignant read.

A Writers Block: Religion – not my favorite word.

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