Please Remove Sunglasses

The Carmel Tunnel in Zion was built in the early 1900's and is 1.1 mile long.

The tunnel is very dark inside and there is a sign upon entering that says please remove sunglasses.

Bicyclists aren't allowed to travel in the tunnel becuase of the dangers involved.

Justin and I allowed a bicyclist to ride in the back of our truck while we drove through the tunnel.

He was very grateful.

The above photo shows us coming out of the tunnel.

I regret not photographing our hitcher.

FMTSO- The Zoo (better late than never)

This last week I was out of town so I wasn't able to get to the zoo because I was on a field trip with my camera club.  I had planned to post some photos from my archives but I got bored looking at them.  I know if I'm bored then you all will be too so I opted not to post from my archive.  I did however, travel through Zion National Park in Utah on my way home from my field trip and I spotted a few places that were animal specific and I thought that they would be perfect for this week's theme, even though I am extremely late in posting.  Without further ado, here are a few photos for your enjoyment.

Peek-a-boo says the elk with the velvety antlers. 

This hay tastes good.

The big bad buffalo keeps an eye on me as I take his photo.

I couldn't get a clear shot of the Ostrich but here's what I did get.

This Ostrich isn't interested in camera happy tourists.

But there were a few interesting things to see behind the fence.

These ostrich eggs have been drained of their liquid protein.

Oh yeah,  somebody left their boots hanging too.

That's the end of my zoo pics.

Check out some more awesome photos by clicking on the links here.

Models, Cowboys, Greasers, Ball Players, Cheerleaders and Pure Sweetness.

The last few weeks have been filled with lots of activity.

I've been on three field trips with my camera club since I got back from my sister's.

The first field trip took place at a park and we had live models to photograph.

It was so much fun and I learned a lot.

I also finally had a reason to use lightscribe.

I absolutely love creating labels for my CD's with the lightscribe technology.

I can etch the model right onto the label and personalize it however I wish.

I finally got the hang of it after the first two CD's.

I'm thrilled how it turned out and I was also pleased with my photos.

They may not be technically perfect, but I still think I did a great job.

We had one male model and three female models.

Photographing people is a lot harder than it looks.

It involves a lot of work but it is rewarding too.

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to photograph children.

Children have very short attention spans so it is even more difficult to get that perfect shot.

I fell in love with this one little boy.

His hair was so thick and curly and he was just so adorable.

How can you not love that hair, those eyes, that face?

I couldn't resist taking lots of photos of him, even when he was distracted looking for ladybugs

in the grass and ignoring all of us photographers.

But......

I didn't give up.  I got a good shot of him with his big sister.

Can you see the ladybug on his sleeve?

There were other kids and cute outfits and costumes.

It was a blast.

Especially when you've got a blast from the past.

Aren't they cute?

This little girl liked making faces.

She was a great model.

I love this picture.  I think I captured the beauty of the little girl.

And Josh, the little boy is putting on his best outlaw cowboy face.

So cute.

And then there's always baseball.

I've never seen a younger more adorable cheerleader.

I really enjoyed photographing the kids.

They were so full of energy and spunk and they did their very best to please us.

Also, this morning I went to the Las Vegas 51's baseball game for a photo shoot.

The stadium was filled with elementary kids from all over the Clark County School District.

I thoroughly enjoyed shooting the game and it was cool that I had a special "Press Pass".

I haven't uploaded those photos yet but as soon as I get a chance I will post some on my blog.

Joining the camera club has really expanded my horizons.

Never in a million years would I ever have thought that I would photograph models or sports or children.

I have met so many wonderful people who love to share their knowledge and help others grow.

It is so refreshing.

I've also had more opportunities to go to places that I would otherwise not be allowed to go.

So far, it has been an amazing experience.

Friday My Town Shoot Out- The Dark Side of Town

This week's theme was chosen by Nanu.  She wants to see the darker side of town.

There are lots of places I could have gone to photograph the darker side of town but I did not have a whole lot of time to go on a photo hunt.  I do however, have one photo from my archives that I think is eerie.

This is the new bridge that is being built over Hoover Dam.

See all the lights in the lower right hand corner?

That is the existing road that goes through Hoover dam coming from Las Vegas.

I took this photo coming from Arizona going back into Las Vegas.

My husband was driving, it was dark outside and I snapped the photo just as we went by.

The dark side of my imagination which can be pretty morbid at times,

envisioned a car driving on the unfinished bridge and plunging to its demise down below.

I am terrified of heights and so I do not look forward to this route when it is completed.

I shudder at the thought.

Take a walk on the darker side with other fellow bloggers here.

FMTSO: Things I Like To Touch

I've been really pre-occupied these last couple of weeks.  My sister, who means the world to me is going through a tough time right now fighting the big monster called Cancer.  My perspective has changed and life seems so much more precious to me.  There are people I want to see and things I want to do before it's too late.  I have vowed to spend more time with my sister who lives about five hours away.  I spent all of last week with her and so my first photo is of the two of us.  I set up my tripod and clicked away.  I love to touch and hug my sister as much as possible.  She is an amazingly strong and beautiful person who has the most positive attitude and I am inspired by her.  She is a year younger than I but I learn so much from her. She is a rock. She is my rock.

Every now and then.....

Ok a lot,

My lips need to touch the flesh of my husband.

I'm very affectionate.

I also really love to touch my dog.  She gives me pure joy.

I love touching my hair.  It feels good to run my fingers through it.

If my husband had more hair I'd run my fingers through it all the time.

There are so many things that I am tempted to touch.

I love to rub my fingers on the leaves of plants such as the colorful plant below.

I love the feel of fabric.

If I see someone wearing a really cute sweater or blouse I will often ask them If I can touch it.

I've never been turned down yet.

I love to touch and smell leather.

Leather makes me feel wild and free.

Gloves.

My favorite thing to wear in winter.

I like the way my hands and fingers feel inside.

It inspires glamour and sophistication in my attitude.

Rabbit fur is soft to the touch.

Sorry folks.

I've had this rabbit fur for about 18 years.

I do not condone skinning rabbits or shooting them.

I am a huge animal lover.

Other things I like to touch are books.

The glossy covers are cool to the touch and they feel so good.

I like the feel of a good pen in my hand and the way it glides across the paper when I write.

I like touching my hands to the cold tile.

I think I like shiny and smoothe things.

I love touching people.

A good hug can cure many ailments and relieve the thickest of tensions.

For my soul to be touched by another's soul is the greatest feeling in the world.

My soul has been touched once and now it cries for recognition.

Touchy feely.  That's me.  I'm like a kid in a candy store.

I have to touch everything that looks good or appears strange.

Please click here to check out some other awesome blogs with the theme of touch.

Someone Else's Life

 

Sometimes I have to remind myself to be thankful for all that I have.

I have a tendency to daydream about a life that I wish I had

instead of living the life of my reality.

I have a really great husband who provides very well for me

and supports me in my endeavours.

He works really hard and he's honest and faithful and I trust him completely.

I'd say we have a pretty good marriage. 

BUT

I wonder if he's really happy.

And

I think maybe I don't love him with the passion that he deserves.

And

that makes me feel really sad

because I do love him

and I want to be an excellent wife.

There must be something wrong with me

if I'm always dreaming of another life.

I've been questioning this for over ten years.

Can you believe it?

This other life I keep dreaming about haunts me as if I have lived it before

and I am longing to live that life again

and feel that passion .

Sometimes certain situations make my heart feel like it has been stabbed.

I expreienced that earlier this evening which prompted this post

but I cannot write about all that haunts me like a ghost

and taunts me like the betrayal of an ex lover.

I don't know if any of you believe in reincarnation and past lives

but I do

and that's what this post is all about.

I know what I'm saying doesn't make sense to most of you

and I probably sound like I was just released from the looney bin

but I just had to get some of this out because If I didn't write it here

it would have unleashed itself elsewhere in a much more negative way

and that is what I'm trying to avoid.

It's as if what is occuring has happened to me before in a former life

and it caused unbearable heartbreak

that was devastating.

I don't know where this is coming from but I feel that heartbreak deep inside my soul.

It's as if history is repeating itself and I don't know how to change the outcome.

I feel the spirit or soul of another living inside of me

and sometimes the pain is gut wrenching.

I'm frustrated a lot because no one believes me.

They think this is just some fantasy that I dreamed up.

I am sorry to leave out so many details but I don't think it's necessary at this time.

It would be nice if just one person understood where I was coming from

and could validate my experience so I don't go around thinking I'm crazy.

Cactus Flowers

There is loveliness in the desert after all.

Have a beautiful day.