Bonfire Scans

I also photographed the Snowfest Bonfire the other night with a "real" (not digital) camera. I'm much happier with these photographs. Digital wouldn't have been able to handle the contrast of the fire as it got darker, but film handled it fine. Here are a couple of the ones I'm most happy with.


Lighting the Bonfire, Rexburg Snowfest 5:00 pm 2006


Bonfire in Wind, Rexburg Snowfest 6:00 pm 2006

Rexburg Night

There is nothing special about this home that I drive past daily on my way to and from work. It looks like most new homes in the area. For some reason I'm always drawn to the simplicity and formal qualities of it though. The other night it seemed unbelievably beautiful so I made a photograph. The photograph was taken at ca. 9:00 pm and the exposure was 30 seconds. I sure like what digital photography does with mixed light (I think I've said that before).


Anonymous Home at Night, Rexburg, ID 2006

Haircut

My hair was getting pretty long (actually my hair gets big rather than long), so I gave myself my quarterly haircut. I was inspired by my sister Carrie's blog, so I decided to share my cool new haircut.


Before


After

Googeley Eyes

During the Winterfest Kevin and Ethan participated in some sort of treasure hunt (basically digging in the snow). They got this incredible prize:


Kevin wearing his prize

Rexburg Winterfest

Today was the annual Rexburg Winterfest. It's a great community event celebrating all things wintery. Activities include sledding, ice sculptures, an opportunity to join the Rexburg polar bear club, horse-drawn buggy rides, ice-skating, a treasure hunt, free hot chocolate, and the culminating event, a big bonfire made from discarded chirstmas trees.

All five us went to the winterfest and a pretty good time was had by all. Kevin sledded, Susan and the boys went on a buggy ride, Kevin and Ethan participated in a treasure hunt. I helped Kevin with sledding and photographed.


Susan and the Boys Rexburg Winterfest 2006


Sledding Hill, Rexburg Winterfest 2006


Russian Olives, Rexburg Winterfest 2006


Bonfire, Rexburg Winterfest 2006


Bonfire in Color, Rexburg Winterfest 2006

My Last Snowy Owl Post

I went out this morning to check on the Snowy Owl. I found him sitting on a power pole soaking in the morning sun, man what a beauty. I'll try to find something different to post about for next time, but I'm pretty stoked about this owl. Enjoy.

Free Money (sort of)

A few weeks ago I ran across a story on Inside Edition while channel surfing (please believe me, I don't normally watch that kind of trash). Anyway, the story suggested people go to the treasury department of various states where people live or have lived to see if they have any unclaimed property (tax refunds, old paychecks etc.). On a whim I went to the Louisiana Dept. of Treausry web page and did a search. It turns out I have a check for $1,671.41. I guess I didn't pick up my last paycheck when I taught a photography class for the night school at Louisiana State University. I called them today to comfirm and it's true. Pretty cool eh?

No photograph, instead here's a drawing of me being happy.

Better Snowy Owl Pictures

I went out to check on the owl again after work. It's still there. These aren't the best photographs I've ever made, but at least you can tell what a Snowy Owl looks like.


Snowy Owl, Walker, ID January 23, 2006


Snowy Owl in Flight, Walker, ID January 23, 2006

Snowy Owl Search

Yesterday a few people travelled a few hours to look for the Snowy Owls. I went out a couple times between church responsibilities to help look. The bird was not seen from 6 am until I left at 4:00. At 5:30 I got a call from Marty, one of the birders. "Well, I'm looking at the bird he said". So, it took 7 car-loads of people 13.5 hours to find the bird. Most had given up and left, but at least a couple of people were rewarded for their diligence.

I went out for 30 minutes prior to class to see if the bird was still around. It probably was, but the fog was so thick you couldn't see much more than 100 feet in any direction.


Foggy Road, Walker, ID 2006


Trees in Fog, Walker, ID 2006

Awesome Bird Bad Photographs

Snowy Owl is a bird I've been hoping to find for a few years. They nest in the high arctic and don't usually make it to Southern Idaho. This year however, they've been showing up in coastal Washington, Oregon, and even California. Today I was driving around looking for birds and photographs. I was driving one of my favorite winter drives (The farm fields SE of Rexburg). Out there is an old homestead 1/4 a mile from the road. It's comprised of a few scattered homes, barns, shacks, etc. I saw something out there that looked like an owl or a hawk on top of a barn. It turned out to be a chimney, but as I was scanning the tops of the buildings and trees I saw a large white bird. I couldn't quite make it out with my binoculars, so I put out the spotting scope and could easily see that it was a Snowy Owl. I'm a happy boy. Jon and I took some bad photographs of the bird.


Snowy Owl in Tree (photographed by Darren Clark)


Snowy Owl Cropped


Snowy Owl on Building (photographed by Jon)


Snowy Owl Cropped

Bleeding Snow

Life has settled in to a pretty normal pattern this semester. Wake up when it's dark, teach when it's light and go home when it's dark. I'm able to sneak in a little photography here and there, but the weather's been pretty miserable lately. Here's a quick photo I made between responsibilities the other day. I enjoyed the strange illusion of the water reflecting the light of the setting sun.


Bleeding Snow, Rexburg, ID 2006

Sand Dunes

I drove up to the Sand Dunes this morning. I had intended to photograph people sledding on the hills, but when I arrived nobody was there (it was 8 degrees after all). I grabbed the 8x10 camera and walked out through the snow to a small group of trees isolated in the hills ca. 1/2 mile away. That camera was heavy, my feet were freezing, but it was beautiful and I soon forgot how uncomfortable I was (usually a sign that things are going well). I made a few nice photographs with the big camera as well as these digital snaps. When I got back to the car people had arrived and were sledding down the hills. I was too cold to care.


The 8x10 Camera, St. Anthony Sand Dunes 2006


Trees in Snow #1, St. Anthony Sand Dunes 2006


Trees in Snow #2, St. Anthony Sand Dunes 2006

Jacob and Susan

Jacob's been home from the hospital ten days now and he seems fine. He receives breathing treatments a few times each day and is responding well. Here's a recent photograph of him and Susan. They're both pretty cute eh?


Susan and Jacob, January 2006

Ficus

Jon was kind enough to give us a ficus tree a few months ago. It does really well in our front room. It's now as tall as our ceiling. I love the way the lamp lights it from underneath and casts shadows on the ceiling.

Bohemian Waxwings

I took a little drive today, as I often do on Saturdays. I shot a couple things with the 8x10 camera, but nothing worth-while probably. I eventually made my way to Market Lake and did a little birding. Market Lake is completely frozen over, but there are always a few things around even in mid-winter. I found three species of blackbirds, including Yellow-headed, which is unusual in winter, a few Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, Harriers, Great-Horned Owls, Eurasian Collared-Doves, and a big flock of Bohemian Waxwings, one of our most beautiful birds I believe.


Bohemian Waxwings in Russian Olive, Market Lake, ID 2006


Bohemian Waxwings in Flight, Market Lake, ID 2006

Winter is Long

Winter sure lasts a long time around here. Even a mild winter like this seems eternal. Any little signs of warmth are appreciated these two photographs of trees make me happy because of the melting snow and bit of grass.



Trees in the Melaleuca Parking Lot, Rexburg, ID 2006

Monkey Falls

Near Newdale, Idaho is an irrigation ditch that flows into the Teton River. It cascades down some lava rock and has been here so long it now looks like a natural waterfall. Anyway, it's a cool little spot. Kids like to swim and jump off the falls in the summer. I've photographed it a few times. Jon and I visited it on Saturday, after photographing a few other places nearby. Here's an old and a new photograph.


Monkey Falls, Wilford, ID Summer 2003


Monkey Falls, Wilford, ID Winter 2006

Jacob is Home

Jacob and Susan are finally home. I can't believe we survived without them. Jacob seems to be fine, but will need to use a nebulizer for treatments for a while. Thanks for all of your phone calls, emails, prayers, and thoughts.

An Old Image

I had to come in to work today to prepare for classes, which start Monday. Jacob and Susan are still in the hospital. I miss having Susan home and the boys really miss their mother. This is usually a work day for Susan, so I took the boys to day-care. I really hope we get Susan and Jacob home tomorrow.

Anyway, this is an old photograph I made while in Louisiana this spring. I didn't think much about it at the time, but it seems appropriate for today's post.


Redfish Floating in Stagnant Water, Cameron, LA Spring 2005

Jacob Update and a Story

So, Jacob is still in the hospital, he seems to be doing a lot better and if all goes well he and his mother should be home tomorrow. In the mean-time I'm experiencing life at home with the boys. I appreciate Susan now more than ever. Here's a story that happened to us today that sums up how life's been the last couple of days:

We were out of baby wipes (Ethan really needs to figure out the potty, but still shows now interest), so we ran to the Megamart to get some. While waiting in line Ethan starts coughing and gagging. He fakes sometimes, so I didn't think much about it. He then says "I need to throw up". He rarely throws up, so again I thought he was over-reacting. I picked him up to comfort him and he throws up all over the two of us. He freaks out and shakes his arms, which sprays throw up on an innocent bystander in front of us. I tell Kevin to put down the wipes, which we haven't paid for and come outside. He follows us out still holding the wipes. Luckily he didn't get busted for shoplifting and I sent him in to return them while Ethan and I stand outside covered in Puke. A great afternoon to say the least. I didn't take a picture, for once I wasn't in the mood.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Jacob's been sick for a few days now. He didn't seem to be getting any better, so Susan took him to Community Care yesterday. They thought he probabaly had RSV so they suggested she take him to the hospital. The hospital comfirmed their suspisions and he's now in the hospital receiving treatments. They said it could be two or three days, I'm hoping they come home today though. Anyway, it's pretty sad to see him hooked up to oxygen and being so miserable. Susan is staying with him and I'm home with the other boys. Wish us well.