Snow Dogs

So I decided to allow the dogs to play out in the yard...with 6 inches of snow on the ground.

Pretty-much what you'd expect. Snow covered dogs. One thing you get an extra-special helping of with the long-haired dogs...

Super-Snow Toes!!! Well, at least thats how it looks...but it's just as possible Levi was attempting to do his nails. That was until he realized that whole "opposable-thumb" thing was going to cut his dreams short.

So why don't we just eat the snow between our toes instead!

Titus wasn't nearly as willing to be photographed. That is dog-spit frozen all over his neck making it puff out like a lion's mane. I actually had to remove some ice frozen to his whiskers on the left side of his face to get a picture of him. He kept trying to bite them to get the ice off. I didn't have to heart to tell him he'd never reach the tips of his whiskers with his mouth...then again, would it have mattered?

Cleveland

So I took a trip about a week ago to visit Joel and Amy in Cleveland. Megan was supposed to go, but got sick about 2 hours before we were supposed to leave. Levi then became my co-pilot and navigator for the trip north. The above is a view of the city not far from their apartment...not too shabby.

I probably should have taken more pictures, especially considering the lack of attention I have been giving this blog. I guess I'm just not one to take pictures of anything and everything, but I almost wanted to! Almost. Then I didn't, and you get a picture of the chains. The out-of-focus cabin in the background is the alleged first place settled in Cleveland...well, a re-creation.

Joel and Amy took me to the beach with the dogs. They loved it, particularly all the dead fish laying around. Despite the temperature and wind it wasn't really that bad out there.

Here's the artsy money shot of the post. Ooooh...Ahhh...
Despite feeling and being too short, it was alot of fun, (that's what she said). It's always refreshing to go somewhere new and different. Hopefully the opportunity to get out of Columbus even for short stints arises soon... Until then, Joel and Amy should expect a few more visits...at the very least ;)

More Stuff

More photos I've taken recently. For some reason it just seems there aren't enough hours in the day...and my blog takes the brunt of it. If anyone still checks this, here's some pics to tide you over.

Dog Blog

I should just start a new blog and dedicate it to inane random photos of all the pets of the family...then again, I can't keep up on this blog by itself.

Garrette Park in West Jefferson

Stumbled across this park in West Jeff yesterday after being sent to shoot a house. This park was hidden off the main road, but it looked pretty awesome. I had to stop and snap a few photos.

New Lens Time

So I bought a new lens for my camera today! It's not some super-fancy lens, but one that I hope will give me a few better pictures in certain situations. The main thing being it allows me to let significantly more light into the camera while not reducing my shutter speed to minuscule levels.

Here is a "Before and After" comparison. The old lens, (above), allowed this shot at an aperture of 5.6 and a shutter speed of 1/6 of a second. To try and put it simply, (given I fully understand all of this), the greater the aperture means the more it is closed. An aperture that can open wider allows more light into the camera thus allowing quicker shutter speeds. The faster your shutter is able to move, the better the chance of catching that action-shot without it looking like a giant blur of crap.

Here is the same, (roughly), shot with the new lens. I'm not expert so I'm sure I could have gotton a better comparison, however I was trying to achive roughly identical shots with both lenses. My old lens could go to a minimum aperture of 3.4. This new lens can achieve an aperture of 1.8. A nice heafty jump that allows my camera to recieve more light. This picture was taken at the full 1.8 aperture and a shutter speed of, (wait for it...), 1/60! At such a wide aperture you also get a shallower depth-of-field as well.
To make these comparisons alittle truer, I should have taken these shots at both lens limits, in this case being their widest apertures at the same shutter speeds...I think. Either way you get the idea and the fun test will be at ADB's next show!

Ugh.

Came outside today to find this. Our neighbor informed us to the possible culprit, a semi truck on our street from: http://www.e-zmovers.com/.

The cable company was called and I told them it was their fault because they did not hang the wire high enough. My theory is the minor bit of ice buildup from last night caused the wire to droop more than normal, making it susceptable to the above.

Another option, this moving company came down our street with a "semi" according to our neighbor. Semi trucks are not allowed on our street, (so I've been told), so I am contacting them to see what they say. The presence of a tall semi where it shouldn't be could be the main reason for this...maybe.

We'll see how this goes. I have learned one thing, there can be a price to having certain wires tucked under your siding. Sure it looks much much nicer...until a fat truck rips it out of your house. At least he didn't rip the cable jack out of the wall of my house...

holy crap! two posts in one day! (sorry for the lack of updates...I am so letting my public down.)