Real Cowboy

The chief is a real cowboy, and what character in his face... I don't think he was all that impressed with my fancy camera.

Huli Warriors

This is me with a couple of warriors and the chief. They weren't a real talkative bunch but they gave me a drum to hold for the picture.

People of PNG

At one of the villages, they gave us coconuts as a gift. This lady was using her knife to open them up. When I asked to take her picture, she put it behind her back but I asked her to show it.

I've posted more pictures of people I met on this trip in the slide show. Click on it or follow this link to see a larger version.

Houston Marathon

This is the start to the Houston Marathon. Teresa ran the half but I sat it out, I mean photographed it. The big guy in fair focus near the middle and closest to the camera with a white singlet came in third. The guy just behind him was first, and the 4th guy behind just visible in the green singlet was second place.

Later on, when the sun came up, I got some better shots at least technically but not as interesting in my opinion. I had the wrong lens here - should have had the fast 50mm instead of the wide angle.

Teresa did well. Check out the results here: Marathon

Williams Tower

The Williams Tower used to be known as Transco Tower and is located just outside the loop on the west side of Houston. I took the picture at an ultra-wide 14mm focal length on my D3. I really like the way the reflections turned out. Very futuristic...

Muscovy Ducks

I didn't know it, but Muscovy Ducks are native to South America, Central America, and Mexico. There is a small native population in far South Texas. Of course you also spot them in parks and what not. These live in a small pond not too far from Williams Tower.

Pencil Sketch #1

I have been fooling around with Photoshop lately imitating pencil sketches. Some of the photos look better to me after the treatment. Some can't take it at all. I have been playing around with different borders lately too just for something different. Anyway, it is interesting...

Pencil Sketch #2

I like the way this one came out. It really does look like a pencil sketch. I do these by turning them into a contrasty B&W photo and then using the "find edges" filter. There is usually some more manipulation needed but it still pretty easy.

Pencil Sketch #3

I seem to have less luck converting pictures of people to B&W sketches. Most look better to me in color. I do these slightly different using the cleverly titled "colored pencil" filter.

Buying a Car

I have been thinking about buying another car lately. Because I don't have family in the business any more, this means a lot of research on my part and getting ready to go do "business" with a car salesman. These days though, you have to almost feel sorry for them. In fact, given that they really haven't made money for quite some time as an industry, maybe I should have felt sorry in the past.

Actually, the same applies to a lot of business. When the oil and gas industry shed all those jobs in the 1980s and early 90s and companies went under there wasn't anybody outside the industry feeling sorry about it. A lot of other jobs were "outsourced" over the last 20 years or so too. Most of the work I do for an American company is with companies in other countries.

What to buy? I am torn between a Corvette and a hybrid Escape. You can get a heck of a deal on a full sized pickup truck. I guess I am not ready to buy yet.

Buggy Ride

We went to see David and the San Antonio Symphony last night. You weren't supposed to take pictures inside the concert, but outside no problem.

San Antonio River Walk

The river walk in San Antonio is unique and gives it something that is entirely missing in most US cities. I like it.

The Alamo

If you are in San Antonio, it is mandatory that you take a photo of the Alamo.