OKLAHOMA BLIZZARD!

Jana got this awesome picture of Big C on December 23, the day of "BLIZZARD 2009". We received 14.1 inches of snow which was 5 more than our one day Decemeber record and our 3rd highest one day total I believe. Along with it we had some 40-50 mph winds. It was some fun weather that we are still enjoying!

Fooling Around

Here are a couple pictures I took of the boys having fun between shots the other day.

Picture Day

Here's another picture from our recent time out taking pictures of the boys.

Picture Day!

It was cold and windy but we got out to Will Rogers Park and got some pictures of the boys today. Here's an example of more to come in the next few days!

Rob Bell

Here is another shot from the Rob Bell "Drops Like Stars" tour. While this graphic was up, he as talking about how you can own something, but not possess it. One of his examples was a guitar he owns and how he owns it, but his friend possesses it.

Rob Bell

Here's a picture of Amber, Jana, and I in Dallas at the Nokia Center right before Rob Bell came out to speak. More pictures coming soon.

Black Eyed Peas

Here's a picture I caught at the Black Eyed Peas/U2 concert last night in Norman.

Dodgers Bullpen

Of all the strengths the Los Angeles Dodgers 2009 team has, the one that might stand out above the rest is their dominating bullpen. If you fall behind the Dodgers early, you can pretty much kiss that game goodbye because they've got the best collection of talent in one bullpen of any team in baseball. This is a picture of Hong-Chih Kuo stretching out in the outfield before the Dodgers August 23rd game against the Cubs. Kuo's responsibility is usually the seventh inning. He's a lefthander with overpowering stuff. He comes in throwing gas and gets the job done in a hurry. Kuo's role may sound small, but he is dominant at it, and it takes 25 guys all doing their part well to win a championship.

Railway Museum

Took this picture at the Oklahoma Railway Museum recently. Not a whole lot of cars and engines there, but a few cool things to check out.

Let's Play Ball

A couple weeks ago I was trying to find a close ball field to take the boys to so we could hit some baseballs and have some fun. Almost every field close was fenced in and locked up. Seems really sad to me that kids can't walk down the street with their families and play ball on a diamond. Everything has to be locked up and off limits. Just one block from my house are some fields owned by the Elks Lodge. They are in the perfect place for neighborhood kids to walk down and enjoy. Unfortunately they are fenced in (barb wire on top), locked up, and overgrown. The fields are there wasting away when they could be a great service to the community and enjoyed by many. Here are a few pictures I took.

Our first game at Dodger Stadium

27 Days

Day 27--This picture was taken on August 21 at Dodger Stadium, our first ever game there. We had an amazing trip in so many ways, and can't wait for the chance to go back (hopefully many times).

Santa Monica Pier

27 Days

Day 26--This picture was taken of Santa Monica Pier during our last night in California. The beach was beautiful and it was a gorgeous night to be out walking around and exploring Santa Monica.

Flowers

27 Days

Day 25--This flower picture was taken at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Graffiti

27 Days

Day 24--Here is a graffiti picture I took from our cab one day. It was part of a strip of great work, but in a part of town I probably didn't want to be walking around in.

Dodger Stadium

27 Days

Day 23--Here was my last look inside Dodger Stadium before we left.

Save me Tom Cruise with your voodoo magic

27 Days

Day 22--Few people know of my sister's fascination with all things relating to the church of scientology, Ron Howard or Hubbard or Huxtabul or whatever his name was. This picture was taken for her.

Graffiti

27 Days

Day 21--Here's another cool dumpster/graffiti pic from LA

Scoreboard

27 Days

Day 20--Here's the back of one the two large scoreboards at Dodger stadium. It was a beautiful day at Chavez Ravine.

Andre Ethier

27 Days

Day 19--Andre Ethier is posting some huge numbers for the Dodgers this season. Along with Matt Kemp and Manny Ramirez, they make up one of the top if not the best outfields in all of baseball. Hard to believe the Dodgers picked up Ethier in a trade a few years ago for Milton Bradley.

Close Play

27 Days

Day 18--This picture was taken of a close play at first base. Rafael Furcal had charged a slow roller and made a quick off-balance throw to first. Mark Loretta came off the bag and made a great attempt at a tag but just missed.

Randy Wolf

27 Days

Day 17--Here is a picture of Randy Wolf getting some conditioning in before the Dodgers game on August 23rd against the Cubs. He had just pitched a gem two days earlier versus the Chicago. Wolf has been a great addition to the Dodgers this season.

Look out CSI Miami

27 Days

Day 16--Los Angeles got jealous of the set of CSI Miami and built a beauty of a police station. They even hired a group of real pros to keep it safe.

Beware!

27 Days

Day 15--Really, this is a problem we all need to worry about. The Flaming Lips have sung about dangerous robots and visual artists everywhere want to keep it in the front of our minds. Be careful out there!

Graffiti

27 Days

Day 14--Here is another graffiti pic I captured not too far from our hotel.

Geovany "Hits From The Bong" Soto

27 Days

Day 13--Here's a picture I got of Geovany Soto stretching out before the Cubs/Dodgers game on August 22nd. He reminded me a little bit of a turtle that had gotten stuck on it's back.

Flower

27 Days

Day 12--Here is another flower pic taken in the gardens surrounding the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Matt Kemp #27

27 Days

Day 11--Here is a great close up pic of Oklahoma product and rising star Matt Kemp. Shortly after this pic was taken I was lucky enough to catch one of his batting practice home runs.

KatVonD's

27 Days

Day 10--When we were in LA one of the places Jana really wanted to see was the home of LA Ink. It was a cool shop and we had a good time checking it out. Jana picked up an autographed copy of Kat's book while we were there. Next time I think we will get some work done.

Shoes To Fill

27 Days

Day 9--Here's another pic of Matt Kemp. I have at least one more I will share during this 27 day project. One of the things I love about photography are the little details and things that we don't tend to notice. I'm really please with how this pic turned out.

Life On The Street

27 Days

Day 8--There are few things in life that remind us how well off we are than when we are confronted by the reality of homelessness. During our time in Los Angeles we certainly had plenty of opportunities to be witness to the harsh realities so many face daily through life on the street. It's easy for some to sit back and judge the homeless. The fact is a majority of them are suffering from a mental illness. Some of them outgrew the foster care system and had no where to go. Some have just caught some really bad breaks in life, while others are certainly a product of poor choices. What ever their circumstances, the are all worthy of God's love and grace and our kindness, thoughts, and prayers.

SLAY SOUP

27 Days

Day 7--Not sure what this means, but I saw it on the base of a rail post outside Dodger stadium and it jumped out at me.

Escape

27 Days

Day 6--Here is a shot I took in an alley a few blocks from our hotel. It's simple but I like it.

Angles

27 Days

Day 5--Here is one of my favorite architecture pictures I took at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. I love finding unique angles on buildings and structures to captures shots like this. This shot almost has a black and white look to it but was simply taken in an area sheltered from the sun, giving it that feel.

Graf

27 Days

Day 4--One of my favorite subjects to search out and shoot no matter where I am is graffiti. I'm not sure why, but I am just drawn to it. I know lots of people are turned off by the vandalism and property damage graffiti causes, and rightfully so, but graffiti can be very artistic and moving visually. I have spent hours in train yards capturing thousands of freight train graffiti pics, but I think I find exploring cities more rewarding. Several more graffiti shots to come in this series.

Flower

27 Days

DAY 3--We saw lots and lots of beautiful flowers around LA. Here is one of our faves. This pic was taken on the Walt Disney Concert Hall grounds.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

27 Days

Day 2--Here is a pic Jana took of me as we were heading over to check out the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA. Just an amazing work of architecture. I was able to get lots of great up close shots from unique angles. Look for some of those pics soon.

Matt Kemp

27 Days

Day 1--For me there is no better way to start out this 27 day project than with a picture of my current favorite Los Angeles Dodger player, Oklahoma City product Matt Kemp, who just so happens to wear jersey #27.

This picture was taken on August 22nd, my birthday. It was early in a scoreless game and Kemp stepped up and hit a mammoth 449 foot home run OUT OF THE STADIUM to left field. He absolutely crushed the baseball. In this picture, you can see the ball approaching home plate as he has begun his swing. The ball literally got up and out of the park so fast that it was out of the stadium before I realized what had just happened.

Kemp is a young player with an extremely bright future ahead of him. Hopefully that entire future will be spent in Dodger blue.

View the BOMB here:
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6229215

27

August 21-24 I had the great opportunity to spend some vacation time with my wonderful wife in Los Angeles. I was able to fill what has been a dream of mine since the age of 5 to visit Dodger Stadium. We were able to take in three games over the course of the weekend. During the weekend we were also able to see lots of different parts of LA. Not just the pretty parts. In fact, when exploring a city and out taking pictures, I find myself much more drawn to the not so nice parts of town. Over the next 27 days. I hope to share 27 images of my trip. There will be graffiti shots. Baseball shots. Architecture shots. Random shots. Just for fun shots. Heartbreaking shots. And whatever else I decide to share.

I loved, loved, loved my time in LA although health wise I felt like crap most the time. I hope to return really soon. I hope to spend longer stretches of time there. I hope you enjoy the pictures to come. Comments, thoughts, and critiques are welcomed as always.

Ty and Emily

Here is another picture I really like from Ty and Emily's wedding earlier this month.

Church Dance

Our Church had a dance last night and I volunteered to take "Party Pics". It was a lot of fun for me and it also got me out of having to dance for the most part. This was probably my favorite image that I captured last night.

Decor

Here is one example of the great decorations used at Ty and Emily's wedding.

Candy Candy Candy

Here's a fun shot from the candy table at Ty and Emily's wedding.

Ty and Emily

Here is the first of a few pictures to come from Ty and Emily's beautiful wedding. Check back soon for more!

Abandonded Site

Abandonded Site

Here is another pic from that abandonded site.

Abandoned Site

I've driven by this abandonded site on occasion over the past several years and always wanted to stop and take some pictures. This year I did. Over the next 5 days I will share some of the pictures I came up with.

Rangers/Twins

Here is a family picture we grabbed at the Rangers/Twins game this past Friday night.

Royals Game

Here are a couple pics from our recent youth fun trip to Kansas City.