Gallery

Jul 2, 2011 ∞

Remodel Update Week 4

The destruction in the yard slowed in week four and the destruction in the basement accelerated. Outside we got our new egress window wells poured and the dirt around them is mostly filled back in. The foundation for the new mudroom is in place as well. The yard is still a muddy, rutted mess but at least we don’t have six-foot deep holes that people can fall in. I also can now take the lawnmower from the garage to the front of the house without walking through the alley and around the block on the sidewalk. It’s the little things!

The basement is a disaster zone however. The stairs got cut off half way down. I put a ladder at the end so I could get down and take pictures. The half of the floor being lowered has been broken up, hauled out and the dirt dug down. The half that isn’t being lowered has been cut out for the drain tile installation around the basement wall. The plumbers were here for two days rerouting plumbing to accommodate the various changes.

Next week framing starts and the new floor in the basement gets poured. I’m thinking this is maybe the ugliest it will look. 😀

Jun 26, 2011 ∞

Remodel Update Week 3

Week three of the remodel project has been substantial. Arriving home to heavy equipment in the yard is the first clue. Most of this weeks pictures are large holes dug around our house. It’s proven to be a big inconvenience as we cannot walk from the front yard to the backyard easily now. This leaves Chase incredibly confused about where he’s supposed to do his business in the yard.

The week ahead starts some of the framing work and the excavation of the floor in the basement. The next shots from the basement should be interesting! I love how the light comes in from outside in the basement already. I’m also pretty excited about the large windows we’ll have in the basement. I think the space will feel really nice.

We lost about 3 days this week due to rain. Everyone agreed we didn’t want large holes in the yard filled with three feet of rainwater.

Jun 18, 2011 ∞

Remodel Update Week 2

The I-beam is in place! This week the project has gotten dirty and more serious. I would say that the project has really started now with a decent amount of hammering, smashing and banging. Notable events this week include installation of the new furnace (not hooked up), the pouring of new footings for some central supports and pulling the central foundation support that has been in place since 1939 and replacing it with a super strong steel beam. Thank you for your 72 years of service large wooden beam.

Nothing much happened outside this week, but that will change this week. The excavation crew arrives Monday to start digging.

Jun 11, 2011 ∞

Remodel Update Week 1

The first week of the project really just focused on getting things ready for real work. The deck was tore apart so that the new mudroom foundation could be put in. The first part of the work on the support structure of the house started. We are removing a central support post in the basement to open the space up for the family room.

Mar 17, 2011 ∞

First Shots with Lensbaby

For Christmas this year Tammy got me a fun lens for my camera, the Lensbaby Composer. When I did the Stone/Steel/People workshop I mentioned that my pro friend Layne was obsessed with shooting with his Lensbaby. I thought it would be a fun option to have in my camera bag and Tammy decided it would be a fun present. I haven’t been shooting much but I used it when I was in Grand Marais this last weekend and here are some shots with it. These were all shot on manual at f/4.

Jan 30, 2011 ∞

Birthday Photo Shoot

My sister asked me to do a favor for her. She has a good friend that was turning 40 and she wondered if I would mind doing a small photo shoot at his birthday party. The party was known but the photo shoot was a surprise. I ended up traveling the entire week before the party so when the time arrived I wasn’t the most excited to go and shoot, but sometimes you need a kick in the butt to set up your gear and have some fun. And, fun it was! Everyone was really fun in front of the camera and had a good time posing and being posed.

I setup my black backdrop. The room was pretty dark and my only light was my Canon 580EX II flash. I was firing the flash wireless using the ST-E2 transmitter. I shot with my Canon 5D Mark II all handheld with my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L. I had the flash mounted about eye level and fired it backwards into a bounce. The lighting all worked out better than I expected, given that I just had the one flash.

The only issue was on flash recharge rate. My flash ate 8 AA batteries and when they weren’t fresh I was struggling to keep the flash going. I’ve added the Canon CP-E4 flash power pack to my wish list for any shooting like this in the future.

Here are nine shots that I really liked from the night. I couldn’t pass up an excuse to get a bunch of adults to do a pyramid! Starting with the birthday boy.

Dec 27, 2009 ∞

High Resolution Album Art #3

More high-resolution album art for others that may have these albums: Chan Poling “Calling All Stars”, Cities 97 Sampler Volume 8 and Dan Wilson “Live at Pantages”.

Sep 11, 2009 ∞

Canal Park and Gooseberry Falls

We drove from Duluth to Ely this morning to start our weekend in Ely. We got some photos in Canal Park and of course we stopped at Gooseberry Falls. I really dig the photo of the violins.

Sep 7, 2009 ∞

2009 State Fair

We had a great time at the Minnesota State Fair this year. This year was the first year that Mazie really got into it. Highlights included the butterfly house, carousel ride, cookies, skyjump and the butter heads. Mazie had an awesome time on the skyjump.

Sep 3, 2009 ∞

Max's 30th Birthday Party

My brother-in-law Max turned 30 today and there was a nice get together at the Bayside Grill on Lake Minnetonka to celebrate. Just a few photos from the evening. I wasn’t able to get even a small fraction of all the people in attendance. Sorry to all those not pictured here.

Aug 27, 2009 ∞

Mazie Photo Shoot

Last Friday Mazie and I had a super fun “Daddy-Daughter” day filled with many fun things. Part of our fun day was a trip to a store to get a new dress (we ended up getting two) followed by a photo shoot in her new clothes. We decided to do the photo shoot in our front yard, taking advantage of all the wonderful tall grasses and native plants. Mazie had a ton of fun, and so did I behind the camera.

Mar 6, 2009 ∞

Photos from Overnight Website Challenge

Last weekend I made three trips to the Sierra Bravo Overnight Website Challenge to get some photos of the start, middle and end. I lugged a decent bit of gear and tried my first attempt at event photography.

The event wasn’t simple to capture. The room wasn’t very interesting so it was hard to get a decent backdrop on people. The podium where people presented had natural light behind it which made it nearly impossible to photograph. I tried some long exposure stuff and it was a little interesting. All in all, a tough room. I think my favorite shot is the one I took of the Ruby.MN 2.2 Team right before the event started.

Auto-generated description: A group of people wearing red shirts with name tags are posing in front of a digital timer displaying 24 HRS 02 MIN.

I thought there would be more opportunities for pictures of people sleeping but there were surprising few that actually caught any sleep. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get one of the teams to do a human pyramid.

A group of people wearing matching blue shirts are gathered around computer workstations in an office setting.

A group of people are gathered around a conference table with laptops, coffee, and snacks, in a meeting room with a sign that reads Internet Broadcast.

A group of people are gathered around desks with multiple computers and screens displaying various digital content.

A group of people with name tags are gathered in a classroom setting, some seated and others standing, amid computers and equipment.

A group of people wearing matching shirts give thumbs up while seated at a table with computers and equipment in a conference room.

A group of people sitting around tables with laptops and equipment, appearing to be in a collaborative or workshop setting, with one person giving a thumbs-up gesture.

A group of people wearing matching 2009 Overnight Website Challenge Team shirts are seated around a table with laptops and computers, engaged in a collaborative work session.

A group of people wearing lanyards are posing for a photo in a room with computers and equipment.

A group of people wearing red shirts with name tags are posing in front of a digital timer displaying 24 HRS 02 MIN.

A group of people in red shirts are working with computers and equipment in a conference room setting.

A group of people wearing name tags are gathered in a circle, engaged in discussion inside a room with laptops and a whiteboard.

A group of people wearing matching T-shirts collaborates around a whiteboard during a teamwork session.

A person is working at a computer with multiple monitors displaying code in a room with other people engaged in similar activities.

A group of people wearing blue shirts are sitting in a circle on the floor of a carpeted room with a whiteboard.

Several people are gathered in a room with computer stations, large screens displaying a countdown, and individuals engaged in conversation and work.

A group of people are working on computers in a busy office or conference room setting.

A man sits at a table with laptops and other equipment, in front of a large screen displaying a countdown timer and the event name Sierra Bravo's Objective Website Challenge.

A group of people is working on laptops at a cluttered table in an office setting.

A group of people are gathered around laptops at a workspace, with a clock showing 11:11 PM on one screen.

A person is sitting at a desk in a busy office or classroom environment with multiple computers and people working around them.

Several people wearing casual clothes are gathered in conversation in a hallway, with open doors leading to a room with desks and computers.

A person wearing a black shirt and lanyard sits in a room filled with boxes and office supplies.

A group of people is working on laptops in an indoor setting, with one person wearing headphones and focusing on their computer.

A group of people are focused on working at computers in a crowded room.

A person is reclining in an office chair at a workstation with multiple computer monitors displaying various images, surrounded by tech equipment and people working in the background.

Several individuals are seated around a table in an indoor setting, working on laptops and engaging in group activities.

A person in a yellow shirt is resting their head on a table cluttered with electronic devices and cables, while others work in the background.

A group of people wearing blue lanyards are gathered around a seated individual working on a laptop in a large room.

A person wearing a red Team Ruby shirt is working on a computer in a room with a large projected countdown timer displaying 00 HRS 00 MIN 01 SEC.

Four people are seated in a conference room, engaged in conversation, with tables and other attendees in the background.

People are sitting attentively in a classroom or seminar setting with conference badges around their necks.

A person with glasses and a lanyard sits in a workspace with laptops and snacks around.

A group of people in matching blue shirts are celebrating and holding small trophies indoors.

Feb 12, 2009 ∞

Photos from Wintergreen Dog Sledding Trip

I finally edited and uploaded the photos from the Wintergreen Dog Sledding Photography Workshop I did two weeks ago with Layne Kennedy. The workshop was amazing on all aspects. The dog sledding was great. The dogs were amazing. Layne did a great job teaching us how to take better photographs, and I truly think I stepped up my photography skills in a significant way from the trip.

At the end of the trip we put together a slide show of 10 shots from the trip that told the story of the trip. Layne really focused on getting us to ask ourselves “What are you trying to say with this shot?” when we looked through the viewfinder. It was an interesting learning experience, because I found that I had to really immerse myself in the experience to try and see that story. He also highlighted different types of shots, and thinking about how they will be used down the road.

I’m really happy with how they came out. It was great fun, and I really want to push my camera skills further.

See list of Photography Workshops.

Dec 8, 2008 ∞

Another Contribution High Resolution Album Art

Another contribution to the world to improve album art.

Nov 6, 2008 ∞

Contribution to High Resolution Album Art

I’m a big fan of high resolution album art. It improves the overall music experience for me. I like having a high-quality album cover while listening to Apple TV. It’s a must for cover flow in iTunes. I recently went through and tried to close to 100% coverage of album art, which meant scanning some covers that I just couldn’t find anywhere on the Internet. I figured I should share that work, so that others can more easily put the right art on their music. Here are 11 covers all at 1,600 by 1,600 pixels that I scanned for my collection.

Dec 27, 2007 ∞

Christmas 2007

Dec 20, 2007 ∞

Dow Jones Disco Party 2007

Oh my. Really. Wow. Absolutely fabulous!

That is the only way to start any post on the 2007 Dow Jones Disco Party that we had this year. This years party was a complete blast. I had given a preview of the Disco Theme in another post and people did not hold back at all in going all out.

Great food. Amazing band, Boogie Wonderland. Disco music. Awesome people! How can you go wrong! Party along with this video!

Every year it gets better and I really cannot imagine how next year could top this one.

Nov 18, 2007 ∞

Butterball!

Tammy and I had a great time last night at the Butterball! Through the generosity of my friend Dan Grigsby, Tammy and I as well as the Tangen’s got on our best Black & White and headed out for a night of fun. The evening was packed. The Butterball sold out and raised a nice amount to help get food to those who need it.

The evening began with a silent auction. There were probably 50 items up for auction with a great variety of things. We put our name on a number of items and after surveying the area a bit decided to get serious about the live art. There was an artist on the stage who was doing a painting right there while everyone mingled. The artist was Chris Allen and he was doing a Graffiti piece. I really liked it for a bunch of different reasons so we focused on that and happily when 9:30 arrived we were the highest bidder. Great art, and for a great cause.

This is the piece that we got before framing and in really horrible light.

We ran into so many people that we knew at the Butterball. It made a fun evening even more enjoyable! After the auction ended Soul Asylum took the stage and put on a really amazing show!

I haven’t listened to much Soul Asylum for a while now and it was really fun to hear some of the great songs. The energy was great – really a fun show.

After a few hours of mingling and having a great time, we headed home in the chaos of Saturday night frenzy in downtown.

Nov 4, 2007 ∞

Sous Les Sapins

Photos from our weekend in Eastern Iowa staying at Sous Les Sapins Guesthouse with friends.

A family of three sits on a stone platform outdoors, with trees and a red wagon in the background.

A child with blonde hair walks on a grassy field covered with fallen leaves, while another child in the background holds hands with an adult.

A child joyfully runs towards the camera on a grassy field, with another child in the background near trees.

A child with long hair is running across a grassy area covered in fallen leaves, with the image appearing slightly blurred to convey motion.

A young child is lying in the grass while wearing a blue shirt and pink pants.

Two young children are sitting on wooden steps, holding hands, surrounded by small pumpkins and a metal watering can.

Two children in winter hats are sitting in a small wooden wagon labeled Town & Country, with one child holding a stuffed animal.

Two children in jackets and hats sit on wooden steps in front of a white house with a porch, surrounded by plants and pumpkins.

A sunlit grassy landscape stretches under a clear blue sky with a bright sun overhead.

Two children in pajamas are sitting on a floral armchair, playing with toys in a cozy room.

A person and a child walk along a rural dirt road under a clear sky.

Two young children are walking hand in hand on a gravel path.

Two young children, dressed warmly in hats and jackets, sit together in a wooden wagon on a grassy area.

A young child is walking outdoors on a patch of grass with a backdrop of trees.

A man and a child walk hand-in-hand down a gravel road on a sunny day near a farm.

Two young children are sitting on wooden steps in front of a white door, with small pumpkins beside them.

Sep 3, 2007 ∞

Mazie's First RenFest

This weekend we were adventurous and decided to take Mazie to her first Renaissance Festival! And just to keep things really interesting, we brought Izzy along as well. It was awesome. Everyone had a great time. Mazie really enjoyed it and had fun with just everything going on. Izzy did well, and was very interested when she realized there were bones laying around.