Standing no more...

More from the Giants Autograph signing.  She was tired of standing and decided to just plop down.

The Madness continues...

Some of these people waiting in line for 4 hours to get perhaps a 5 second close up glimpse and autograph from a Giants ballplayer.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar T // 1/16000s // F/8 // ISO 1000

Friends...

While in line, waiting to get an autograph from one of the SF Giants ballplayers, these two girls decided to do a bit of customizing of a binder.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar T // 1/800s // F/8 // ISO 1000

Cool art...

After having one heck of a turbulent few weeks, a good friend today gave me a piece of art that his daughter drew for me as a thank you card.

For the first time in weeks, I actually had a reactionary big smile.

For those daddy's and mommy's out there... this isn't all new.  But for an old guy like me, this is really great.

Remember, it's those little things that mean the most !

Blade commuter...

Cars and trucks whizzing by. 

 All of a sudden, this guy - not too good on a pair of inline skates - going down the street. 

 Caught everyone's attention.  

Heck, at least he's getting exercise.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar T // 1/400s // f/11 //ISO 1000

Super sized...

Had a bit of time this morning to do some Street Photography... actually, NEEDED to do some photography today.  

Ran into this Super Sized video display that looks like a vending machine.  

Played with it a bit, saw some interesting things about British Columbia, Canada.  

At the end... out came a gift.  

An Addidas Golf Glove - super cool I thought.

  I then noticed a photographer taking pics of me using the machine and then a video crew around me.  I was interviewed for about 5 minutes and then had to sign the standard release documents.  

Looks like the 15 seconds of fame is going to grow.

Do yourself a favor - venture over to Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco.  

If the machine is still there... you too may get some super cool prize!

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar T // 1/160s // f/11 // ISO 500

15 Seconds of fame???

If you venture over to http://www.camerawest.com and click on "Blog", you'll find something out there about yours truly.

While you are on the site, take a look around.

This is perhaps one of the finest photographic equipment stores in the area.

In fact, if you are in Walnut Creek, CA, take time to visit them.

Even if you don't plan on buying a camera, you'll see some very interesting cameras on display.

The people there are first rate.

When the tool was...

... also a work of art.  Heck with all those electronic things.  This is going back to basics.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar T// 1/40s // f/8 // ISO 6400

King of the bushes...

Someone had to be the tallest.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar T f/2 // 1/320s // f/8 // ISO 100

You're never too old...

Sorry to my female viewers.  But a pretty girl walkin' down the street will always catch a guy's attention.

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G // 1/1250s // f/11 // ISO 1000

Sand Castle...

I'm sure the kid or kids who built this kingdom didn't expect it to last the night... but it did.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro Planar T // 1/400s // f/11 // ISO 1000

A Fish out of water...

I know... I know... funny, ha, ha

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar T // 1/800s // f/11 // ISO 1000

More Out there...

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G // 1/250s // f/11 // ISO 1000

Out there...

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G // 1/8000s // f/5.6 // ISO 1000

A Final shot...

Little did I know that this shot from the old neighborhood would be the last shot from my Nikon D3S.

Nikon D3S // Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D // 1/250s // f/5.6 // ISO 200

Rock and water...

Nothin' fancy.  Just shooting around.

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 G // 1/3200s // f/5.6 // ISO 1000

All to myself...

Stretches of beaches with no one around, a four legged friend, a book, 

the ocean, a sunny morning and a log to sit on. 

 Simple pleasures.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar f/2 // 1/800s // f/11 // ISO 500

Running on the beach...

Next to swimming and biking... running on the sand helps keep a body in shape.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar f/2 // 1/640s // f/11 // ISO 500

Ford in my...

While waiting for my car to get fixed, I mozied over to the showroom and decided to just snap a photo.  

Later I relaized that I owned each one of these cars at least once. 

 Taurus, Mustang (she still lives in Colorado) and Fusion.  

Have I driven a Ford lately.... seems like there's aways been a Ford in my life.  

From being the 1st stick shift car, to 1st accident, to 1st time being stranded, to the 1st time having to "pop the clutch" to get her started, to fun in the backseat.  

Looks like I'm a Ford guy... take that you Chevy / Mopar guys.

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 // 1/25s // f/2.5 // ISO 100

Right outside your door...

You'll never know what you can find right outside in your yard.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar f/2 // 1/400s // f/8 // ISO 400

Camera Geek stuff...

Nice thing about having a 36MB Full Frame sensor is that you can capture a lot of detail

Especially when you crop the heck out of the photo.

Nikon D800 // Carl Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar ZF // 1/125s // f/2 // ISO 500

Looking at the future...

Ever get a sense you are looking at yourself in the future.  

Sitting down at a favorite spot, this gentleman caught my eye.  I can see me sitting alone with a cup of coffee and some electronic doo-dad in my hand with a gesture "what the..."

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 // 1/200s // f/1.4 // ISO 100

What do you see?

It's a heart and appears to have two deer heads facing each other.  What do you see ?  

BTW... this image is heavily cropped from the original 36Mb capture.

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 // 1/2500s // f/4 // ISO 500

Today my initials. Tomorrow...

This little guy was carving something into a tree.  One day he'll end up carving his initials along with a special someone'a initials.

Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 // 1/1000s // f/4 // ISO 400

Good Bye Old Friend...

I know, it's just a camera.
This was the one that pushed me into the realm of the higher end of the camera specturm.  Consider I jumped from a $1500 DSLR and leap frogged over to a $5000 DSLR... took this photography thing from a casual hobby to a serious hobby.  Although the image was taken with the new toy that has better specs that the D3S for the exception of ultra high ISO, machine gun shutter and build quality... I'll miss this one.  My first model was shot with it.  Lots of action shots were also shot with this....

New Kid - Nikon D800 // Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 // 1/500s // f/2.8 // ISO 6400

Bags with Wheels...

The late George Carlin did a routine about us and all of our stuff.  Considering all the "stuff" we take with us, it comes as no surprise that we have more and more of these bags on wheels.  I'm guilty too since I have tons of bags with wheels.

Leica M9 // 35mm Summilux ASPH2 // 1/750s // f/9.5 // ISO 1000

Friends...

Here's something for those of you who know what I'm talking about...

A song from my generation to you with my thanks!!

(best viewed if you go to http://stevefoonphotography.blogspot.com)

"When you're down and troubled

And you need some loving care

And nothing, nothing is going right

Close your eyes and think of me

And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there

You've got a friend

If the sky above you

Grows dark and full of clouds

And that old north wind begins to blow

Keep your head together

And call my name out loud

Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend

When people can be so cold

They'll hurt you, and desert you

And take your soul if you let them

Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there

You've got a friend"

Time...

So many phrases around time....

"Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking...into the future"

"Standing the test of time"

"No better time than the present"

"Time to move on"

On a personal note... something recently occurred that brought the sense of time to the forefront.

Standing the test of time - a building, a friendship or a relationship.  All very true when it comes to "standing the test of time".

 I've come to realize that if it were 'ment to be.... it would have stood the test of time.

On the other hand, sometimes time can slip through your fingers.
(This is something I talked about a couple of times in past posts.  Not to waste time and not allow time to slip by.)

This too is something you learn and sometimes learn too late.  When you realize that you've allowed time or taken time for granted... time has slipped by and it's now too late.

A piece of advise to all who visits this site...
Cherish every moment.  Take nothing for granted.  Make time count and don't allow time to take it's toll.

Personally.... it's time.  Time to take those trips.  Time to build that house.  Time to get that car.  Time to move on.

A line from the movie "Auntie Mame" - "Live, live, live"

Moon in the morning...

An overcast morning as the sun rises in the east, the moon still glowing brightly as to say...

"I'm still here".

Olympus E-P3 //  Lumix-G 20mm (40mm equiv)  f/1.7 // 1/60s // f/1.7 // ISO 400

The Missed Hand Off...

Street Photography with a big DSLR just doesn't cut it.  

This image was shot from a distance and still, the sheer mass of camera and lens caught the eye of the subject.

Nikon D3S // 85mm f/1.4 // 1/8000s // f/1.4 // ISO 200

Red Barn...

Another shot while riding in a car at highway speed.

Leica M9 // 35mm Summilux ASPH 2 / 1/3000s / f/2.4 / ISO 400

Gathering...

Mom's, kid and animals.  Ocean, bay and bridge.

Olympus E-P3 / 45mm (90mm Equiv) M-Zuiko f/1.8 / 1/1600s / f/5.6 / ISO 200

SAM WO...

On my last walkabout in Chinatown, I decided to take photos of buildings.  Just because many of these structures are so old and have been a part of the neighborhood.

One photo I had to take was one of SAM WO restaurant.  It's been there forever and is interesting from the standpoint of "what a dump" and "how can you have a business in a building the size of a walk in closet?".

Officially closed forever.... SAM WO maybe back.

A meeting with City Officials is scheduled to see what can be done to re-open it and make it a historical landmark.

Leica M9 / 35mm Summilux ASPH2 / 1/350s / f/9.5 / ISO 1000

Stop...

Olympus E-P3 // 45mm Zuiko f/1.8 (90mm equiv) // 1/1600s // f/5.6 / ISO 400

Walking Stick...

Walking along with a stick is something you never out grow.

Olympus E-P3 / 45mm M.Zuiko f/1.8 / 90mm(equiv) / 1/1250s / f/5.6 / ISO 200

A place to go...

When you are in a funk?  Does anyone use that word anymore or am I showing my age again?

Nikon D3S / 85mm f/1.4 / 1/8000s / f/1.4 / ISO 400

More Steps...

Alley...

How things have changed.  These alleys were once dingy, dirty and smelly.  Now they are cleaned and made more presentable.

Goose via rangefinder...

Some people claim that a rangefinder isn't too capable in capturing wildlife or fast action.  The goose decided to fly from one building to another.  I reacted if as though I was using a DSLR and quickly focused while twisting to get "the shot".  Rangefinders rock!

Yum Yum...

Ok.  Besides beautiful women.... I'm a sucker for decadence dessert. 

Nikon D3S / Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/20 50mm / 1/125s / f/2.8 / ISO 1000

Dictionary...

There's the old story about someone taking a dictionary with them to work everyday in order to do a bit of self improvement.  If now we can only get our young people to understand that information doesn't always come "on-line"

A Bit Over Dressed I think...

One thing can be said.... he's prepared.

Leica M9 / 35mm Summilux ASPH2 / 1/350s / f/8 / ISO 1000

Uh Huh...

Just one look...

Nikon D3S / 50mm f/1.4D / 1/640s / f/6.3 / ISO 2000 / Model - Kena Erdmann

Close up...

Nikon D3S / 50mm f/1.4D / 1/250s / f/4 / ISO 1000 - Model Kena Erdmann

You gotta look up...

Wondering around San Francisco Chinatown, it's too easy to just see the tourist traps.... uh.... stores.  A lot of people don't stop and look upwards.  These buildings are more interesting than you would think.

Leica M9 / 35mm Summilux ASPH2 / 1/750s / f/6.7 / ISO1000

Can you hear me now?

Nikon D3S / 85mm f/1.4D / 1/1600s / f/1.4 / ISO1000

I Don't Think so...

Live...perhaps.  Exotic??

Leica M9 / 35mm Summilux ASPH2 / 1/180s / f/6.7 / ISO 1000

Take Five...

Fuji X100 / 23mm (35mm equiv.) f/2 Fujinon ASPH  / 1/210s / f/2 / ISO 200