Shoot XII - "Stowe, VT II"

Were you thinking Texas? I figured the rodeo clue might have been the give-away. Or, even the ranch larger than Little Rhody? For me, it was Buddy Holly! Its most popular nickname is, the Lone Star State. Also, thinking big with Texas were Carol, Elaine, Mike Di, Milt, Peyton, Doris, and Joani!

"Nostalgia"

Still on Shoot Twelve, Vermont. A side trip to the ever-popular and quaint town of Woodstock found us looking through its general store. Around a corner near the rear of the store was this glass-enclosed case. What caught my eye was the variety of items they had and the condition of the packaging. Even though I had pleaded and groveled with the store manager to open the case doors, it didn't work. Shooting through the glass doors is becoming one of my strengths of late. 

Thought for the week. . .

Found these most interesting outlooks on life:

A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it 

as when you are in it. 

~ Anonymous

N i f t y   F i f t y
Here are some interesting facts about one of our fifty states. Do you know which one? This state boasts of:

home for Sidney Poitier, Little Rascal,“Spanky,” Jim Morrison, and Ben Vereen

having the most lightning strikes in the US. Not sure I would be boasting about this!!

having the oldest European settlement in North America. 

cities which claim to be 

    the Sports Fishing Capital of the World!

    the Dive Capital of the World!

    the Shark Tooth Capital of the World! 

Leaving you with a smile, I hope. . .

When tempted to fight fire with fire, 

remember that the Fire Department usually uses water!

Shoot XII - "Stowe, VT"

Were you thinking Tennessee, the Volunteer State? Been to Great Smoky National Park and knew it was the most popular - also, drove past Dollywood! Well TN was on the minds of Carol, Milt, Joani, Peyton, and Michelle - I am so proud to count you among my blog followers!  


When this vehicle pulled around the corner leading into downtown Stowe, VT, my first and ONLY thought that came to mind was, "Driving Miss Daisy!" Shoot Twelve is another one of those events that I have attended many times in the past - the VAE!

The Vermont Auto Enthusiasts come together in Stowe each August. All around town you will see hundreds of antique vehicles parked at motels, restaurants, and on Main Street. And, then the two hour parade down Mountain Road!

"Driving Miss Daisy and Miss Lily"

Since there were two women in the rumble seat, I figured Miss Daisy must have brought her friend, Miss Lily, along! Perhaps, this image might lead to a sequel of the classic movie???

Thought for the week. . .

Found these most interesting outlooks on life:

Luck is the crossroads where preparation 

and opportunity meet. 

~ Unknown.

N i f t y   F i f t y
Here are some interesting facts about one of our fifty states. Do you know which one? This state boasts of:

home to boxing greats George Foreman, Jack Johnson, and Floyd Patterson

singers Buddy Holly, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, and Meat Loaf

having a ranch bigger than the state of Rhode Island!

serving the first Dr Pepper was invented in 1885.  

hosting the world's first rodeo was held on July 4, 1883.    

Leaving you with a smile, I hope. . .

Experts say the cost of funerals have risen by 50%, 
they blame it on the cost of living.

Shoot XI - "Wheels of Time"

Were you thinking WA? Starbucks probably gave it away, right? For Joani, it was not too hard as she lives in the "Evergreen State!" Others who knew were Peyton, Carol, Mike Di., and Michelle.  

"It's a Studebaker!"

The antique car collector group, "Wheels of Time" took over the local parish parking lot with their favorite pastime - their cars! In the past I have focused on trying to capture the entire car while trying to keep out the other curious on-lookers. This is next to impossible as there never seems to be a quiet moment at the more popular vehicles and also there is never enough room to get the entire car into the frame. So I decided to key on some of the intricate facets of these vehicles. I used this theme for the next three antique car shoots. I put some of my favorite partials in a folder on my website called, "Car-tifacts!" 

This week's image was of the classic Avanti, a sporty passenger car made by Studebaker. It was reported to have reached speeds of 170 mph! Certainly wasn't clocked at that speed in Dorchester!

Thought for the week. . .

Found these most interesting outlooks on life:

If you need a shoulder to cry on, 

pull off to the side of the road. 

~ Maxine 

N i f t y   F i f t y
Here are some interesting facts about one of our fifty states. Do you know which one? This state boasts of:

being the home for Morgan Freeman, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Dinah Shore, and Davey Crockett (are you singing the song, "born on a mountaintop in...")!

being known as the Birthplace of Country Music.

being one of the states to have the most visited national park in the United States! 

ranking number one among other states in the total number of soldiers who fought in the War Between the States.

being tied with Missouri as the most neighborly state in the union. It is bordered by 8 states!

bottling the first Coca-Cola in 1899 at a plant after two local attorneys purchased the bottling rights to the drink for $l.00.

Leaving you with a smile, I hope. . .

Wouldn't it be great if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes and. . .
come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller!

Shoot X - "Holmes Farm"

Were you thinking Montana? Totally clueless with MT but with five ghost towns, it has made my lifelist! Those who chimed in for the "Big Sky State" were Milt, Mike Di., Peyton, Carol, Doris, Joani, and Mommy Beth!

"Holmes Farm Barn"

My third July 2014 shoot was with one of the meet-up groups. The Holmes Farm in Plymouth was the scheduled spot. After a few laps around the property, I came back to the barn. I checked out the various possibilities of the other sides and settled on this. I think it was the late morning sun that cast a few shadows on the peeling paint of the barn board.

Thought for the week. . .

Found these most interesting outlooks on life:

When in charge, ponder; 

when in trouble, delegate; 

when in doubt, mumble. 

~ James H. Boren.

N i f t y   F i f t y
Here are some interesting facts about one of our fifty states. Do you know which one? This state boasts of:

being the home for Bill Gates, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Barker, Adam "Batman" West, Bing Crosby, and Judy Collins

having the oldest operating gas station in the United States.

serving the world's first soft-serve ice cream machine was located in a Dairy Queen.

the original home of Starbucks, the biggest coffee chain in the world!

having the claim to inventing the popular games Pictionary, Pickle-ball, and Cranium!

Leaving you with a smile, I hope. . .

I cook using the 4 food groups: 
Canned, Boxed, Bagged and Frozen. 

~ Aunty Acid

Shoot IX - "Paradise Gardens"

Were you thinking Louisiana? I knew about the use of parishes over counties in LA. So did Carol, Peyton, michelle, Joani, Milt and Doris! Mike Di and Michael P. stopped by to check out the blog.   

"Lotus"

Number Nine was also a return engagement. A few years ago I visited a nursery a few towns away. They had pools of water lilies blossoming all over the place. However, out in the back, there was a pond teeming with lotus buds and flowers! I looked back over what I captured on my last visit to check for date when I was there last.

Getting there before sunrise I was able not only to catch the morning light on this lotus but also carve out my spot before the other photographers arrived!

Thought for the week. . .

Found these most interesting outlooks on life:

As we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, 

but the things we didn't do.

~ Anonymous

N i f t y   F i f t y
Here are some interesting facts about one of our fifty states. Do you know which one? This state boasts of:


five ghost towns - Combination, Comet, Keystone, Black Pine, and Pony .

having the largest grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states (state's official animal)

having 3 times as many cows as people!

most notable citizens - daredevil, Evel Kneivel 
actor, Gary Cooper 
comedian, Dana Carvey  
actor / body builder, Steve "Hercules" Reeves

Leaving you with a smile, I hope. . .

Old age is coming at a really bad time!

Shoot VIII - "NECCC Conference II"

Were you thinking Michigan? For me, it was the "Cereal Bowl of America" that gave it away - Kellogg's! Carol, Michelle, Elaine, and Joani chimed in with the "Great Lakes State!"



Still at the NECCC Conference! This set-up was odd in that a young woman was posing behind a curtain. Since I was already in line, I figured, get my three shots and head over to the other models. What I didn't know is that those setting this up used a colored filter giving Raven a silhouetted look with a purple cast.

"Raven"

Yeh, sure, now you are interested in attending!

Thought for the week. . .

Found these most interesting outlooks on life:

It's not what you look at that matters, 

it's what you see.

 ~ Henry David Thoreau.

N i f t y   F i f t y
Here are some interesting facts about one of our fifty states. Do you know which one? This state boasts of:

Being the only state in the union that does not have counties. Its political subdivisions are called parishes.

Having the oldest street railway line still in operation. - since 1835 this line has been running!

Being the birthplace of such notables as Louis Armstrong, Celtic legend Bill Russell, entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis, author Truman Capote, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Leaving you with a smile, I hope. . .

Why do I have to press one for English
when you're just going to
  transfer me to someone I can't understand anyway?

Shoot VIII - "NECCC Conference"

Were you thinking Illinois? Nothing in the clues hinted the "Land of Lincoln" for me! However, Michelle, Joani, Milt, and Carol knew it was Illinois! 


One of my annual activities is the New England Camera Conference at UMASS Amherst. Shoot Eight was one of my four July outings. The organizers set up model shoots in several of the rooms and around the campus.  I chose this one of "Kayla" because of the emotion in her face. I thought she looked like she was waiting for someone to come home soon. Shot in color, it was converted to monochromatic.

"Kayla"

If photography is your thing, you need to plan on a July weekend at the NECCC Conference! There are guest speakers covering every aspect of photography, photo ops, vendors to sell you anything you are needing and great conversations with hundreds of other photo enthusiasts.

Thought for the week. . .

Found these most interesting outlooks on life:

Don't worry about tomorrow until it's today. 

~ Kyle Kirkland.

N i f t y   F i f t y
Here are some interesting facts about one of our fifty states. Do you know which one? This state boasts of:

the birthplace of Madonna, Kate Upton, Stevie Wonder, Burt Reynolds, Diana Ross, and Tom Selleck

being the Cereal Bowl of America as one of its cities produces most cereal in the U.S

being home to the world's largest manufacture of magic supplies

having the only place in the world with a floating post office. The
J.W. Westcott II is the only boat in the world that delivers mail
to ships while they are still underway. They have been operating
for 125 years. 

Leaving you with a smile, I hope. . .

Even though duct tape can't fix stupid. . . 
it can sure muffle the sound!