Coffee

Starbucks apparently shipped too much Holiday Blend 2014 to Rochester, MN - 'cause they seem to have a lot of it left.

coffeestarbucks

Magazine Rack

Spent a lot of time browsing at the local Barnes & Noble. There are no shortage of magazines on every topic imaginable to tell you how to fix yourself. Today I learned the one thing I should do to improve my photography is stop reading about it and shoot more.

magazines

Ethernet

Today we joined the legions of americans who are cutting the cord with cable TV and streaming content. The impetus for this move was the TiVo finally dying :(

switchethernet

Wood Texture

One of the waiting room walls at Outback Steakhouse in Rochester, MN

texturewoodlighting

Xavier cools off

With air temperatures around 20ºF he was getting warm on the walk home.

xavierwinter

Loading Dock

For the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester, MN. This hotel is located directly across the street from the Mayo Clinic's Gonda Building. This view is accessible from Center St. There are still some corners of Rochester that show their age.

doordockblackandwhiterochmn

Oskar checks out drums

His new electric drum kit arrived today. So he had an impromptu practice session for about an hour.

oskarmusicdrums

Flag

American flag flowing in the wind at Hazama park on South Broadway.

flagskypatriotic

Vacant Structures on South Broadway

Buildings in need of renovation, tenants and love. #rochmn

Happy Little Graffiti

Bob Ross has been showing up all over town

Draining Utility Access

I'm not sure the contractor was thrilled with my photo project today.

Canon 50mm 1:1.4

Uninspired today, but I didn't want to skip a shot. Turns out, there's a lot of dust on this lens. Rather than re-take the image, I learned patience retouching the photo.

Math Homework

Oskar works on his algebra homework

Footprints in Snow

We had a dusting of snow last night, I went for a short walk in the morning and saw only where I had been. Little did I know, where I was going would land me on my butt a few moments later when I hit a patch of ice.

1940's Dodge

I love how the grille says 'Made in USA'

Audio

Soundboard at People of Hope

Running the soundboard

Fourth Sunday of the month is my turn to push the buttons.

Ten Fidy

Oskar Blues Brewery - Ten Fidy, a most excellent imperial stout for beer can appreciation day. Obviously we can't fully appreciate the can with beer in it.

Glass of beer

Chimay - Grande Reserve 2012

beer

Pour

Xavier glares

Frustrated with his brother, he's no longer interested in being my photographic subject.

Oskar disapproves of my photo taking

Taken over lunch at HuHot

Scharf Auto Supply

This building will eventually become part of the UMR campus. Given their long history, it only feels right they be immortalized in B&W

Berries and conifers

I liked the contrast between the red and green on this bright overcast post snow morning.

Snow on Shrubs

Yes, it snowed again.

Corn Nuts

This builds on the experience from yesterday where I tried these things for the first time. A quick hack at a product shot of Corn Nuts by Kraft foods. This image has been submitted to Wikimedia foundation to add to the official Wikipedia entry for Corn nuts here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_nut.

Clearing the track at Soldiers Field

Because in Minnesota, we do stuff outdoors in the snow too.

Me! Sampling Corn Nuts and Barrel Aged Beer

Shot captured by Matt Weaver

Dart relaxes on all the blankets

Oskar is hypnotized by a game

Interesting clouds

Playing with some long shutter technique. Not at all what I was going for, but I'll try again another day (and with more light stopping ND power)

Dragon

Oskar folded several of this origami dragon this morning.

Rainbow Hour

Gretchen's Christmas presents for the last few years have been Swarovski crystal snowflakes. This year we hung them in the window so they could catch the sun. Now the entire room turns to rainbows on sunny days!

Improving my focus

Instead of buying a focus chart for $80, I turned to the DIY photography community for help. This chart cost me 3 pieces of paper, some glue and a chunk of thick card stock I already had. I downloaded the template from http://squit.co.uk/photo/focuschart.html and spent about 15 minutes cutting and gluing.

Dart

He really thought I had a treat

Xavier Playing Nintendo

Xavier enjoys his ice cream

Went out for dinner at Victoria's Italian restaurant in Rochester today

Peace Plaza

Sunrise over Soldiers Field Golf Course

The lens I used seems to have a penchant for casting a wicket flare when pointed at the sun.

Candle-lit

Farewell beer with Steve at the Tap House

Plummer Building in the Sun

Just another view of the one ornate building in downtown Rochester, MN

Blue Sky

Water Main Break at YMCA

When temperatures fall to -10ºF it's hard on everything, including the infrastructure we depend on every day.

Caprese Salad

Last Monday Night dinner with Chris and Steve for a while (maybe 2015)

Plummer Building Basks in Morning Light

Xavier Reading

Clementines