Stewed Prunes...

<**Updated** Fixed the picture links**>

I often think about the advances in technology man has made over the years. Not just the cool stuff like microwave ovens, wireless communications, and silly string either. I think about how simple it is for everyday people to do certain things that were either cost prohibitive, required specialized training (because it was complicated or dangerous), or required some sort of magical natural skill.

I think photography is one of those areas where technology has eliminated the barriers to entry to all but those not yet concieved in the womb (only a matter of time). Cameras are everywhere. Entire cities are wired with cameras. Camera Phones, something that any spy from the 70’s would have given up an identity for (except they would have been a little conspicuous talking into futuristic clamshell phone in 1975), are being used by grade school kids (which by the way…..to all the parents out there……come on? a camera I understand…..but does a 3rd grader really need a cell phone?).

But the real reason I rant and rave is because of digital cameras. They are cheap. Take excellent pictures. Simple to use (I will allow arguements here). Best of all, ANYONE can take good pictures. Today’s cameras have all kinds of hocus pocus features that will practically let you take a perfect picture of an American flag left on the moon while snowboarding.

I am no camera genius, but every now and then I take a picture or two worth bragging about. The Nun and I were chillin’ at the crib last night, when we caught a view of the back yard. I grabbed the camera and tripod and took these pics.

The tallest palm tree is my back neighbors and is about 60–75 feet tall. What sort of looks like a cactus to the right of the tall palm is actually our Christmas Tree from last year which was a live tree with a bulb that we moved to the back yard.

I don’t like this one so much. It reveals my fence which is badly in need of a whitewashing.

I am sure someone with a PhD in backyard sunset photography is grimacing right now. My answer to that is….you paid 6 figures for your PhD in backyard sunset photography, between 5 and 6 figures for your backyard sunset photographic equipment and likely spend hours setting up for the perfect backyard sunset photograph.

I took a total of 12 shots in 5 minutes with a 4.1 megapixel Sony Cyber-Shot on a rickety tripod.

nyah. nyah.

This one is from the same position but the angle twitches just slightly (note: it would have cost me a lot more money to get educated on the doctoral version of “twitchy angles” but I think everyone still gets what I am talking about.)

Same position but with a change in the landscape setting on the camera. This game me a different exposure which make sthe frame more red.

This is my favorite shot. Too much black at the bottom so I fired up Digital Image Pro and cropped it (below)

Change the orientation of the camera for a couple of shots.

The remaining pics were bad or not interesting. These turned out pretty good all things considered.

I have a Canon i9900 Photo Printer that I immediately sent a cropped photo to which turned out wonderful on 13x19 Glossy Photo Paper.

This is my favorite shot. It was cropped from “Sunset Red” above

You can click on any of the picture and get the full size version. They are a couple megs each if you are on dial-up.

All pictures copyright Chris E. Avis. Wanna use them? Have your people call my people and we can send them to lunch while we go have a beer and sort things out.

Cheers!