Dusty Lens - North Metro and Beyond

My, What Big Feet You Have

2009-07-11T00:05:00.003-05:00

Sshh!! A good idea to let sleeping bears lie.

Snap E Tom

2009-07-10T00:05:00.000-05:00

This big snapping turtle was walking along side of the paved bicycle trail.
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(By the way, does anyone remember Snap E Tom Tomato and Chile Cocktail?)

Peony

2009-07-09T00:03:00.001-05:00

An attempt at a macro shot. Pretty flowers with huge blooms, but they are short lived.

Plenty 'O Seating

2009-07-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

On Main Street in Minneapolis.
Table and chair set with the added bonus of sun umbrellas. More than one bargained for. My attempt of capturing a table and chair set; inspired by Virginia.

Fastenall

2009-07-07T00:02:00.001-05:00

The return of my personal favorite; rusty crap! I enjoy the color, texture, and tone of rust.
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Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/40
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 85.0 mm
Image Quality RAW

MT Space

2009-07-06T00:02:00.004-05:00

the scene under the 3rd Ave. Bridge
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Monochrome Weekly

Commentary

2009-07-05T00:02:00.002-05:00

"That's why we have the lockbox"

Independence Day

2009-07-04T00:02:00.004-05:00

Fly Fishing on the Mississippi River under the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis.
Enjoy your Independence Day Holiday!

Orange Pop

2009-07-03T00:04:00.000-05:00

There is plenty of shade along Main Street to sit and enjoy a cold refreshing adult beverage and a good meal.

Fishing Pier

2009-07-02T00:05:00.000-05:00

Fishing on the Mississippi River is a favorite activity by many.

Blocks

2009-07-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

Do you remember playing with blocks as a child? These blocks are a bit too heavy to move. But colorful and fun to look at. Now here is a clever graffiti painter.

Moody Minneapolis

2009-06-30T00:04:00.000-05:00

Just above St. Anthony Falls looking south across the Mississippi River into downtown Minneapolis along the 3rd Ave. bridge.

Braces

2009-06-29T00:05:00.004-05:00

Hennepin Ave Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.

Birdman

2009-06-28T00:02:00.000-05:00

A nesting Flicker

Scarlet Tanager

Colored Waters

2009-06-27T00:04:00.001-05:00

Big 559

2009-06-26T00:05:00.002-05:00

Rather intimidating to stand in front of a train engine.

Lemon and Basil Sorbet

2009-06-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Sorbetto di limone e basilico
The recent hot and humid weather put us in the mood for something cool and refreshing. We had been enjoying root beer floats, but I wanted something more savory. In my August issue of La Cucina Italiana, I found the perfect recipe to make a refreshing sorbet. The recipe calls for this sorbet to be served on peach wedges. But we didn't have peaches, and I couldn't wait.

2 cups water - 1 cup sugar - 14 fresh basil leaves - 1 lemon.
Cook water and sugar on medium until sugar dissolves. Transfer to a metal bowl adding basil leaves. Stir and let cool to room temperature. When cool, remove basil leaves. grate lemon zest into water/sugar syrup and add 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Chill for several hours. Then add to your ice cram maker. Be sure to follow the directions provided by your ice cream owner's manual.

Enjoy! this is a refreshing lemony sorbet with a hint of basil. Tomorrow, I make another batch!

Reflection Red

2009-06-24T00:45:00.001-05:00

Park trail bridge reflection across Elm Creek
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Our fellow City Daily Photo blogger 'A.', photographer and webmaster, is missing in Tehran!

He has done a remarkable job covering the protests in the streets of his city. His blog, Teheran 24, has been daily updated until it was blocked in Iran last wednesday. From then on he has used his page on Facebook to spread the word. His last message dates from saturday, 10h20 am...
Family and friends think the police took him and they have no news until now: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-278349

White Balacing

2009-06-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Sunset over the Mississippi River

Below are the differences in a few of the White Balance Settings.
Choosing a different white balance setting can make striking results. These four photos were taken at the same settings and post processed in the same way. The only difference was the white balance setting on the camera.

White Balance: Daylight

White Balance: Shade

White balance: Tungsten

White Balance: Fluorescent

Locking on to Green

2009-06-22T00:05:00.004-05:00

A 50mm wide open shallow depth of field project. All images taken at f1.8
Kayak lock at Lake Calhoun.

Dock Reflection

2009-06-21T07:02:00.000-05:00

Fluid Dock

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I have been scheduling my daily posts to submit shortly after midnight each day. For some strange reason that is not happening. Is anyone else having problems with scheduled posts not posting?

Day Trader

2009-06-20T00:03:00.004-05:00

Can You Hear Me Now?
Only the fish are continuing this conversation.
This poor economy has affected everyone. Someone was upset enough and threw their cell phone into Lake Calhoun. I'm guessing he was a day trader and lost everything. No, I don't know that for sure. But that is my story and I'm sticking with it.

Blooming Time

2009-06-19T00:05:00.001-05:00

Sometimes we need a splash of color

Bocce or Petanque?

2009-06-18T00:06:00.006-05:00

What do you call a fun outdoor game using Bocce Balls and playing in the style of Petanque? Petocce?

The game is competitive and fun; challenging when the yard is uneven full of tree roots, rocks, dips and depressions. The ball in play was difficult to predict which way it would roll from all the natural obstacles. Our remedy was to build our own boule pitch of sorts.
Being a non conformist, I made our court wider, longer, and irregular. Makes for a more challenging game anyway.

Besides, we are not officially playing Bocce nor Petanque. Four yards of sand were spread over the area and boundaries lined with rocks and wood beams. The play is much better, a slower game without the tree root hazards and such.

Seize the Carp

2009-06-17T00:06:00.001-05:00

Carp swimming in the shallows. Often I have enjoyed fishing from shore with nary a bite. But leave the fishing gear at home and fish are plentiful. Even if they are just carp.