365 Days — 2011 - Breakfast in America

My third attempt, and second complete 365 Days project. An endeavor to take a self-portrait every day for a year. The rules are simple. I must be visible in the picture, and I must take the picture.

July 10, 2011

Late at night sitting on my brother’s kitchen floor (365:191)

Late at night sitting on my brother’s kitchen floor (365:191). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

UK June 2011 – Day 26.

Last week we were Scottish Episcopalians, this week we reverted to CofE, and made a final visit to St Margaret’s. Where (if you’ve been paying attention) I was Christened, as were my two sons, and my brother. I and my brother got married there, and both my parents’ funerals were held there.

The service was sparsely attended, we stayed afterward for coffee, which we had in the Church as the parish hall was being used for a function of some sort.

Two weeks later back in Christ Episcopal Church in Springfield, I felt very uneasy about the full church and how well supported it is. I read that the (below target) weekly contribution for the previous week had been over $13,000 that’s about £8,000 at current exchange rates. At St Margaret’s the vicar stood in the pulpit relating the reduced income of the previous week’s jumble sale of £700.00. One wonders what he or the people at St Maelrubha’s in Poolewe would do with a fraction of that £8,000 per year let alone per week.

After church, we spent the afternoon and evening with my friends Roy and Jan, their daughters and families. Dee is my Goddaughter, and I’m honorary Godfather to Lynn who asserts (to me anyway) that she should be my Goddaughter. The amusing thing is that I wasn’t her Godfather because Roy and Jan thought my (first) marriage wouldn’t last, well that’s what they told me sometime later. Ha! I must have got ’em fooled by the time Dee came along then. We had a great time catching up and were treated to a nice dinner out. But much more importantly Jan produced real homemade mince pies for us. Mince pies in July. Wonderful.

I should have taken some pictures, but the photographic lethargy that’s afflicted me on this trip struck again, and I took none. At the end of the day, I just sat on my brother’s kitchen floor (why not) and took today’s picture. After nearly a month away from home my beard’s looking in desperate need of a trim – that’s only a few more days away.

Today’s extras

St. Margaret’s Church, Eastney, Portsmouth. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

St. Margaret’s Church, Eastney, Portsmouth. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
July 12, 2011

Photo-lethargy strikes yet again (365:193)

Photo-lethargy strikes yet again (365:193). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

UK June 2011 – Day 28. Yet more curry!

We spent the day buying gifts and stuff to take back with us – including a trip to Gilbert’s sweet shop, which someone had told me, erroneously as it transpired, had closed. We also visited the chandlers to get stainless ‘D’ ring fixings for our kayaks, and then it was back to Gun Wharf for Ginger to get clothes.

In the evening we attended one of the Monthly curry nights that I used to go to, and again it was great to catch up with everyone. The dreaded photo-lethargy struck yet again, so all I have is this late night picture taken back at my son Robert’s flat.

Today’s extra

Gilberts Sweet shop, Eastney Portsmouth
July 13, 2011

Oh dear! (365:194)
Oh dear! (365:194). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

UK June 2011 – Day 29. What a truly appalling picture.

I could have used the safety shot I took during our afternoon walk around Farlington Marshes, but that seems like a bit of a betrayal of my family. So this picture will have to do.

Tonight we had a family curry and took this picture afterwards. My brother is absent – on the way to a weekend of fun in Germany. I could have set up the tripod outside while the sun was still out and taken a better picture but the dreaded photo-lethargy is still affecting me. Oh well. The camera also had trouble focusing again. There were some better shots but they were too blurred to keep. A $1600 camera and it can’t take in-focus pictures when needed…

Tomorrow we return the hire car, pack and get ready to leave. Our trip to the UK is all but over.

Today’s alternate shots
July 14, 2011

Ginger and Gary on the beach (365:195)

Ginger and Gary on the beach (365:195). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

UK June 2011 – Day 30. Out of focus?

Possibly, but if it is, tough. Today I showed Ginger the benefits of a working public transportation system. We started the day dropping off the hire car. First piece of good news – they weren’t going to charge us for the extra day we had, and then the very good news– the dent in the car was there when we hired it – which explains why I couldn’t recall pranging it. £600 saved at a stroke, excellent.

We celebrated by catching a bus down to Gun Wharf and Ginger buying some more clothes. After that we went and found lunch and coffee at Lou-Lou’s and had a long wait for a bus to the beach. We spent a wonderful afternoon on the nudist beach at Eastney, and just so that I could say that I’d done it, I went swimming. Compared to the frigid waters of Scotland it was almost tropical.

In the evening we went for a farewell dinner with Robert and Mel. The taxi is coming to pick us up and take us to Heathrow at seven am tomorrow morning. The only thing left to do was pack. It wasn’t easy somehow our bags were overweight. I had to leave some of my carefully collected geological specimens behind, and we did a lot of re-arranging of our bags, including putting the entire tent (except the poles) into my carry on bag. Finally we squeezed everything in and the weights were within the limits.
July 15, 2011

On the flight from Dallas Fort Worth to Springfield (365:196)

On the flight from Dallas Fort Worth to Springfield (365:196). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

UK June 2011 – Day 31. It was a long day.

We were tired and travel weary by the time I took this picture and it shows. The total door to door travel time was twenty-one hours which wasn’t bad. It helped that the taxi arrived on time and we avoided any traffic delays on the way to Heathrow. The flights were uneventful and on time. One can ask for nothing better on a trans-Atlantic flight. On our final leg from Dallas to Springfield we were treated to some wonderful cloudscapes as the sun went down. We also got to see a rainbow, (a circle when you are flying), complete with the shadow of the ‘plane at its center. Rebbie was waiting at Springfield airport to collect us, and we finally arrived at home around ten pm.

Unfortunately our day wasn’t over. I’d like to say we got home, had a light meal and went to bed. The truth is that our decision to leave the Boy and Getzger in charge of the house wasn’t a good one. The place was an absolute tip and there was no food or milk, not even enough for breakfast, to be found (“I deliberately let it run out.”). While Ginger chewed the Boy a new one, I put air in the tyres of the van and coaxed it into life after its month’s sojourn in the garage. So, after being up nearly twenty-four hours we went out to dinner and then on to buy some essential groceries.

This is bad news. Bad news because we had planned to leave the Boy and Cat in charge again later in the summer and go camping. It looks like that won’t be happening.

Today’s alternate shot
July 16, 2011

Half-cut – again (365:197)

Half-cut – again (365:197). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

After a month away on vacation, my first job at home is to tend to my personal grooming.

It’s not the first time I’ve taken a picture like this…
July 17, 2011

It’s that wall again… (365:198)

It’s that wall again… (365:198). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I’m busy.

In fact I’m very busy. There’s all the playing catch-up after our vacation, loads of pictures to process and a new project to start. Unfortunately updates will be a bit sporadic for the foreseeable future.
July 21, 2011

Thursday evening service (365:202)

Thursday evening service (365:202). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I could write a lot,

but I don’t have the time. However, it was nice to get back to my regular routine.
July 22, 2011

Day 203

Day 203. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I’ve run out of ideas for titling these wall pictures.

I should write a book – I’ll call it Facebook with lots of wall pictures.
July 23, 2011

Wine and TV (365:204)

Wine and TV (365:204). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Apparently I’m not too busy to drink wine and watch a movie.

I must have drunk more wine than I thought, as I took another picture an hour later..
July 24, 2011

Day 205
July 25, 2011

Gary takes a break from other duties to repair the washing machine (365:206)

I could have taken this picture at a more jaunty angle,

but I was concentrating on getting the washer fixed. For some unknown reason clean clothes were of more concern to the family than my daily photo project.
July 26, 2011

Popcorn

Popcorn.
July 27, 2011

Phew! What a scorcher

Phew! What a scorcher. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

And other tabloid headlines.

You need to be British and of a certain age to understand the relevance of the title; of a certain age because with British weather the opportunities to use headlines like this are few and very far between.

By the way, little did I know how much hotter it was going to get over the next few days…
July 28, 2011

Reading before bed (365:209)

Iain M. Banks – Surface detail.

I took the car in for a service and walked back in the morning’s 90°F temps. To get out of the heat for a few minutes I stopped at the library. Browsing the shelves I found an Iain Banks book I’ve not read.

I don’t think I’ve sat down and read a book for pleasure in a couple of years.
July 29, 2011

Gary, Sprinky and Inspector Morse (365:210)

Gary, Sprinky and Inspector Morse (365:210). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I enjoy Inspector Morse.

It was good to find that Netflix have the Inspector Morse DVDs. But as they also have such UK masterpieces as the ‘Biederbeck Tapes’ I suppose I shouldn’t be that surprised.
July 30, 2011

Gary and Ginger at Emily and Larry’s Wedding reception (365:211)

Gary and Ginger at Emily and Larry’s Wedding reception (365:211). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Which explains the somewhat curious and questionable lighting.
July 31, 2011

Hello wall

Gary Allman

Actually, unlike Shirley Valentine, I’ve not taken to talking to the wall.

Though I had better not discount the possibility entirely. I might even have a sensible conversation.
July 31, 2011

July 2011

This month we finished our vacation in the UK. I met with an old school friend I’d not seen in nearly forty years; I took Ginger to a sleepy seaside town I’d last visited on holiday with my Grandparents sometime in the sixties, spent a day on the beach in Portsmouth, and said our goodbyes to our family in the UK.

Then it was back to earth with a bump; processing pictures and hiding from the 100°F temps that prevailed in the Midwest.

1. Gary and Ginger at the end of the hike, 2. Hiding from the midges, 3. Gary and Ginger looking out over Gruinard Bay, 4. Enjoying the scenery by Loch Bad a’Ghaill, 5. Gary and Ginger in the tent camped beside Loch Rannoch, 6. Chinese restaurant Berwick-Upon-Tweed, 7. A photograph in which I appear to have a foot protruding from the back of my head. The foot does not belong to me., 8. A full day’s driving, a walk on the beach, beer and fish and chips take their toll, 9. Gary and Ginger on the beach at Hunstanton, 10. Gary, late at night sitting on the kitchen floor, 11. Keith and Gary, 12. Photo-lethargy strikes yet again, 13. Oh dear!, 14. Ginger and Gary on the beach, 15. On the flight from Dallas Fort Worth to Springfield, 16. Half cut – again., 17. It’s that wall again…, 18. Working late at the computer, 19. Processing, 20. And yet more picture processing, 21. Thursday evening service, 22. Day 203, 23. Wine and TV, 24. Day 205, 25. Gary takes a break from other duties to repair the washing machine, 26. Popcorn, 27. Phew! What a scorcher, 28. Reading before bed, 29. Gary, Sprinky and Inspector Morse, 30. Gary and Ginger at Emily and Larry’s Wedding reception, 31. Hello wall
August 1, 2011

Manly shopping (365:213)

Gary involved in the art of ‘Manly Shopping’

Carol and Jim came to town today.

Which means I got to go places with lots of power tools and other exciting stuff.
August 2, 2011

Today the temperature in Joplin Missouri was 111°F (365:214)

And I thought 105°F was hot.

We took the van, jammed full of tornado relief items collected at church down to St. Philip’s in Joplin today.

Today the temperature in Joplin Missouri was 44°C

The Temperature in °C for my ‘little English chums’ as Anton would have it. Not that I would ever admit to watching such a lewd and trashy TV programme.
August 5, 2011

Making a spice rack for Ginger (365:217)

Making a spice rack for Ginger (365:217). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Well actually only the back of it,

and it is not just to put ginger in but for ‘Ginger’ who wants a spice rack. I suspect anyone actually bothering to read this knows what I mean.

My bit is all done and I’ve handed it over to my wonderful wife to finish it off. I did have other pictures which I took while I was trying out softboxes in the local Photographic emporium. However, ‘she who will remain nameless’ (with apologies to Rumpole) insisted on finding a way of getting into the background of all of them.
August 6, 2011

Gary and Ginger at the dinner table (365:218)

Gary and Ginger at the dinner table (365:218). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Ginger said this picture needed some color.

Now it has.
August 8, 2011

Making plans (365:220)

I just wish they included hiking, backpacking, camping, kayaking or fishing.

Unfortunately they didn’t.

Katie checking out her sister’s cake consumption – Today was Katie’s Birthday so lots, and lots of cake has been eaten.
August 9, 2011

Gary upside down with his head under the deck of a Kayak (365:221)

I know it’s in here somewhere… Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

No, it’s not very well framed, but if you think I was going to extricate myself from being jammed under the foredeck of the kayak to check if the darned picture was alright, you are very much mistaken. The framing got even worse when the kayak tipped over on the opposite side.

At least I got the ‘D’ rings we bought in the UK fitted so now we can secure the kayaks if we want to leave them somewhere.
August 10, 2011

More hours in front of a monitor (365:222)

More hours in front of a monitor (365:222). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

This time researching, reading and learning.
August 11, 2011

Gary in the van (365:223)

Gary in the van (365:223). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

at church after the Thursday evening service.

Not that you can tell that from this picture. I guess it is just as well I took the time to set the record straight.
August 12, 2011

It’s Friday. Put your feet up and take a break (365:224)

It’s Friday. Put your feet up and take a break. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Or FUTAB is it is often referred to on Flickr.
August 13, 2011

If I look a little surprised (365:225)

If I look a little surprised. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

It’s because this wasn’t meant to be my picture for today.

I was experimenting with tethering my Camera to my Linux Netbook and it actually worked. No wonder I was surprised. Though I was also equally alarmed when the software removed all my unprocessed 365 days pictures from my camera. Fortunately, I recovered them. Now if I want I can see the photos I take on my netbook as I take them. In theory, this should make taking self-portraits a little easier. However, I suspect this will not be the case.
August 15, 2011

Working late (365:227)

Lots to do and I’m not getting a lot of sleep.
August 16, 2011

Sometimes there is a huge disparity between how I feel and how I appear to others (365:228)

Sometimes there is a huge disparity between how I feel and how I appear to others. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Wine does help though.
August 17, 2011

Gary + wall = picture (365:229)

Gary + wall = picture. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Playing with some new lighting set-ups.

And here’s a test shot I took of Ginger
August 18, 2011

I thought I ought to prove that my camera does have a colour sensor. My recent pictures would indicate otherwise (365:230)

I thought I ought to prove that my camera does have a colour sensor. My recent pictures would indicate otherwise. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Still playing with new lighting set-ups.
August 19, 2011

More proof that my camera takes colour pictures (365:231)

Now I’m playing with more lights.

Fun times.

Ginger and Blue Kitteh attempt to recreate a scene from an Abba video
August 20, 2011

I have nothing to add (365:232)

Today was a bad day.

’nuff said.
August 21, 2011

Dressing gown (365:233)

Dressing gown (365:233). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Or robe as the colonials here would have it.

We visited Ginger’s parents and I tried to take a picture of Jim’s latest creation, a huge bottle tree. iI was working in very hot and humid conditions, by the end of the shoot both I and the camera were drenched in sweat. After taking pictures we loaded up the tree in our van for delivery to Oklahoma tomorrow. It’s going to be a fun trip.

Bottle Tree

Bottle tree details

Bottle tree details

Bottle tree details
August 22, 2011

Meet my camera (365:234)

Meet my camera. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

It’s about time I took another mirror shot

Today I helped Jim deliver his bottle tree to its new owners. We drove to Oklahoma and the Will Rogers museum where we loaded the tree into the pickup of the very happy Bud and Marg.

After a break for lunch we visited the Will Rogers memorial museum. To cut a long story very short, thanks to Ivan Pace, whose business card is sitting on the desk in front of me, and says “It just don’t seem right for a man to go through life without owning a Winchester Rifle or a Colt Pistol” we had the privilege of going into the Rogers family tomb. Judging by the difficulty they had getting the doors open I doubt there’s many Brits that can say that, and I suspect not so many Americans either.

It rained the entire time we were in Oklahoma so I didn’t take any pictures apart from a couple of shots of the Bottle tree in the back of the pickup.

In tonight’s picture we get to meet my D7000.
August 23, 2011

Wine and picture editing (365:235)

Wine and picture editing (365:235). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Working on my latest batch of 365 pictures. Once more faux Lomo is used in an attempt to rescue a mediocre picture.
August 24, 2011

Working on a new project (365:236)

Working on a new project (365:236). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

and of course other work comes in.

So I’ve been busy. This picture merits the award of ‘most processed so far’. I knew I couldn’t get the picture in one shot so I took a picture exposed for the background, and then another of me so that some details would show. Merging the two images in PhotoShop was a pain. I should have got one of the flashes out and used it to fill in. It would probably have been quicker. I’ll try that another day.

I guess that makes this picture an HDR image. Heaven forbid. That can’t be right, where’s all the funny visual effects and ghosting? I obviously don’t know my HDR from my elbow.
August 25, 2011

Lit by a black foamie thing (365:237)

Lit by a black foamie thing (365:237). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I’ve been trying out another attachment on my speedlights. Single flash + ‘black foamie thing’ – here’s a link for it.
August 26, 2011

Gary and Tubby (365:238)

Gary and Tubby (365:238). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I thought I’d try and liven up my daily picture with a cat.

Unfortunately Tubby didn’t seem to be that impressed with the idea. Working at the computer all day so not a lot to do photographically, hence the endless stream of ‘wall shots’. Today I used two black foamie things just because I could.

While I was at it I took a couple more shots:

Ginger

I’m getting tired of seeing these wall shots.
August 27, 2011

The problem with dirty glasses (365:239)

The problem with dirty glasses (365:239). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I had terrible trouble with this shot.

I was trying get a very controlled amount of light from the flash, but I was continually getting a terrible reflection from my glasses. I’d change my position, change the position of the flash (being bounced of a wall). The highlight wouldn’t go away.

It was only when I came to process the pictures that it became obvious that the problem was not so much a reflection, but dirt on my glasses. If I’d cleaned them, it would have been fine. D’oh! Oh well, at least you can’t see the wall in this picture.
August 28, 2011

Chatting with Ginger (365:240)

Chatting with Ginger (365:240). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

We had a plan, but it didn’t work out.

Tomorrow at 8am I have an appointment to have my biometrics taken to extend my US visa by 10 years.

Originally Ginger and I had planned to spend the night in St. Louis and leave the grandparents in charge of the kids. It all unraveled starting with Ginger’s mother being ill. That was okay (well not, but you know what I mean), her dad could still come down. Then our friend’s aunt died, and she needed cat tending duties while they were away. So we re-planned, I’d spend the night at St Louis, and Ginger would stay behind to look after cats and kids.

So there I was in the hotel in St Louis and suddenly I found myself transported back 3 years, using Chat to keep in touch with Ginger. It wasn’t good to be apart, but it was very good to find out we could switch back to our old modes of communication.
August 29, 2011

McDonald’s, I’m good ‘n cold and I have two egg McMuffins! (365:241)

McDonald’s, I’m good ‘n cold and I have two egg McMuffins! (365:241). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I love Egg McMuffins.

Sorry, but it is true. However, that’s jumping ahead a little bit. I was the first to arrive for Biometrics scanning – which was great because it was all over in ten to fifteen minutes. There is probably a joke to be made about an Englishman, a Jamaican and a Russian waiting in line for Biometrics, but it will have to wait for another day.

I guess I made somebody’s day, as the lady taking my fingerprints said “it is great to start the week with a laugh” this was after busting out laughing because I was nonplussed as to why my thumb print still matched, when it shouldn’t. Then it dawned on me… I’d injured the other hand.

You are not supposed to take cameras along for the biometrics appointment so I saw lots of pictures I couldn’t take while walking to my appointment, and by the time I walked back to the hotel the light had changed and the pictures weren’t there any more.

It was hot and rapidly getting hotter in St Louis so I decided to head on home. On the way back I stopped at Pacific, Missouri for an egg McMuffin, and I couldn’t believe my luck when I was told there was a two for one offer! My attempts to take this picture of one of my McMuffins attracted the attention of the staff, but fortunately I wasn’t asked to stop – probably because I’d deliberately hid myself away from everyone else which I guess was also rather suspicious!
August 30, 2011

2 am (365:242)

2 am (365:242). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I was working late.

I wanted to finish the first draft of a website, and I just kept at it as the last stage was loading in the content which doesn’t require a lot of brain power. Of course I should have remembered and taken my daily picture earlier.

This picture will have to do. At 2am I wasn’t in the mood to try and set up a complex shot. Shame about having to wake up just after 6am the next day though.
August 31, 2011

At my desk (365:243)

At my desk (365:243) Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Another late-ish session.

I did try a bit harder for this shot though. I used my desk lamp and monitors as the light source, and put up a large reflector camera right to slightly lift the shadows. I could have tried a bit harder and used one of my Speedlights. But I didn’t.
August 31, 2011

August 2011

This month saw the return of black and white! Again we were hunkering down hiding from the +100°F temperatures. I spent lots of time at the computer working on a new project, and have been playing with some new photographic toys. I also prepped the kayaks ready for use. I shouldn’t have bothered, we didn’t use them. Finally, at the end of the month, I went off on a trip to St Louis to get my biometrics taken for my ten-year permanent resident card.
September 1, 2011

Just me – reprise (365:244)

Another busy day doing webby stuffs.

Just me – reprise (365:244). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Tonight’s picture is a reprise of a picture I took on my first 365. I wore more clothes this time and didn’t treat this one as harshly in post-processing as I did the original shot. I look a lot happier in today’s picture. However, the original remains one of my favorites.

For some reason that I still haven’t gotten to the bottom of, my flashes weren’t working properly tonight, resulting in partial exposures. That’s a synchronization issue. I’ve not met this particular problem before. I was able to work around it without difficulty, and at first, I thought I had the shutter speed set too fast, but it didn’t always sync at 1/60th either. Ginger ran off a few shots on her camera and had the same problem. I’ve obviously accidentally changed a setting on the flashes. I feel a bout of manual reading and Googling coming on.

Just Me 365:088 (re-edit). Copyright © 2007 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
September 2, 2011

More of the same (365:245)

At least this one is in colour.
September 3, 2011

Sitting at the kitchen table chatting with Ginger (365:246)
September 4, 2011

I was going to use a picture of me facing right for a change. But I like this one more. (365:247)

Gary Allman. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I could have gotten a much better picture if I’d got the camera out earlier today. I didn’t.

Church this morning was at Camp Shawio followed by burgers and conversation. I enjoyed the informal service and had a great time catching up with people afterwards.
September 5, 2011

Gary, Lanie and Ginger (hiding at the back) too (365:248)

For what seems like the first time in over three months the temperature dropped below 90°F.

So, we had a celebratory hike. A nice short 4 miles on the white trail and Busiek. We took along Lanie, Katie and Katie’s friend. My camera is far too heavy for an arm’s length self portrait, and it took me a few attempts to get the flash level right.

We should have tried for a better shot in which all of Ginger’s face was visible, but we wanted to get on our way as we had an appointment with some burgers at Tom and Rebbie’s to keep. Very nice they were too.

Tonight we’ve had to close up the house. Not because it’s too hot – but because it is too cold!
September 6, 2011

365:249

365:249. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Lately it seems I’ve been running a lot just to stay in the same place.

Discuss: More often than not freeware and shareware reduces the quality of software products down to the lowest common denominator by removing the investment and incentive required to produce a good well tested and documented product.

That gives you some idea of how my day was spent – researching suitable software only to find a load of mediocre half-arsed products, 50% of which don’t work, and the remaining 50% don’t actually do exactly what you want them to. I’m not alone – I found pleas in the various fora for a product just simply did what was needed.

I love the catch lights in this picture – it looks like I’m wearing contacts, but it is actually the reflection of my glasses.
September 7, 2011

Gary at the computer (365:250)

Gary at the computer (365:250). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

After too many hours spent working at the computer the law of diminishing returns starts to set in.

I broke away from the dreaded machine at least a couple of times. Once for a meeting at church and a second time to go pick up the girls from Youth Group. Originally the title was ‘Gary working at the computer’ but by 11pm I was way beyond working anymore.

This picture marks a departure for me. Normally I’d have used monitor light. Tonight I opted to place a large diffuser on the desk in front of me and tucked a wireless triggered speedlight behind it and used that instead.

Technology gone mad: you realize things have become too complex when your flash gun locks up due to a software error. Sad but true.
September 8, 2011

Tedious (365:251)

Tedious

This 365 days project is a bit tedious at the moment

Probably a reflection on my life, which involves not a lot more than sitting at a screen slogging away for 10-12 hours a day. Not a lot of room for photographic excellence there. Even worse I sit up late in the vain hope that some inspiration will strike, then dash off a half-hearted quickie like this just before bed.

I was so immersed in whatever research / writing / reading I was doing this afternoon I forgot to go to the Thursday service. But I did get to go out at eight pm for an hour or so with a friend. The bar we picked was too noisy inside to chat, so we sat outside – where there was a band. Oh well. It was also dark outside so I didn’t try for a picture.

Today’s picture involved a very lazy set-up – it was coming on for 12 O’clock, so I’ll cut myself a little slack. I didn’t bother to diffuse the fill light and it shows in the harsher shadows around my hand.
September 9, 2011

Gary in the backyard (365:252)

Yay! Out of the house and no sign of a wall (same basic pose though).

Out and about this morning, with a trip to church and WalMart. We spent a fair bit of the afternoon in the backyard where I fed the mosquitoes while we took pictures.
September 11, 2011

This evening I was momentarily stumped as to where to begin (365:254)

This evening I was momentarily stumped as to where to begin (365:254). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I soon got over it.

This Sunday was different. At church people were exchanging their “Where were you when..?” stories, and the services were extended to include additional prayers. At the 11 o’clock service the adult choir was supplemented by members of the Dury Singers for a performance of a piece specially written for the tenth anniversary of 9/11. To my generation this must be like the assassination of Kennedy was for our parents. One of those key moments in a lifetime.

Growing up with the IRA and their ever-present threat and the actuality of terrorism, and living in a city that 30 years on still hadn’t completed rebuilding after the second world war, my reaction to 9/11 is somewhat different from my American friends. No less saddened by the losses, but not as disbelieving or indignant.

****

Today also marks my mother’s birthday. Were she still alive she’d have been 76 today. Oddly, for the first time in several years I miss her.
September 12, 2011

Staring into space (365:255)

Staring into space (365:255). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I do a lot of mental staring into space, not so much actually gazing into the distance though. I’m having a bit of a mope at the moment. No real reason, just a minor self-pity fest. I’ll shake it off quite quickly.

My EFM class starts again this Thursday. So that means I get to do a ‘Studying for EFM’ picture each week. Potentially more exciting than all the wall pictures I’ve been churning out. Part of this week’s studying is listening to a two and a half-hour reading. I’ve not yet thought out what photo opportunities that will present. Earbuds in my hand? Earbuds in my ears? Maybe I ought to pass on those.

****

Today is my son’s birthday. It is at times like this that I miss being able to see my family.
September 13, 2011

Working late (365:256)

Only 99 more days to go.

This documentary picture a day project doesn’t work very well when you never leave your desk. My day began at 7.20 am with the school run, then back home at my desk and I’m still here at 1 am.

Edit: I’m mildly dyslexic especially where numbers are concerned – I didn’t find it out until I started doing business accounts and couldn’t work out why they never balanced – I was typing in a lot of the numbers all jumbled up. The right digits, just not necessarily in the right order. The astute will have spotted that I have 109 days left to go…
September 15, 2011

Studying again (365:258)

The second year of my EFM course starts tonight.

We’re working on the first lesson in advance. This week I had to listen to the text, which explains the earphones. I chose to read it too. I’m really looking forward to getting back to class again. Keeping up my tradition from last year, I realized I’d listened and read the wrong text – so I had to start over. In many ways it turned out quite helpful as it put the text I was supposed to be listening to into context.

Ginger had a meeting at church at the same time as my class, so we had a chance to see how the kids coped without us. Very well as it turned out.

Blue Kitteh will lay on anything. Whether it be a box, a book, a piece of paper or a laptop. I was dashing to get out when I saw her slumped on Ginger’s laptop on the bed. I only got a chance for a couple of quick pictures before some noise outside distracted her. Just as well, if I had spent a lot of time taking pictures we’d have been late getting to church.
September 16, 2011

Warmth (365:259)

Warmth (365:259). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

This week it went from a hot 94°F to a chilly 45°F.

Ginger got the chance of a well earned break today and went out with our friend Rebbie.

While she was gone, considering that it looks like autumn is on the way, I decided to clean the furnace’s air filter and burner ready for the colder weather; fitting in my daily picture in the process. Working on the furnace has to be better than another ‘Wall’ picture.

I won’t recount the epic tale of how I got this photograph, but let’s just say that taking the doors off the cupboard turned out to be a good idea. If you look carefully you’ll see the sweat on my brow.
September 17, 2011

Trying to get out of the parking lot on the way home from the symphony (365:260)

Trying to get out of the parking lot on the way home from the symphony (365:260). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

It took nearly an hour to complete a ten-minute journey.

I spent the day doing ‘webby’ things and ending up ultimately disappointed once more in the quality of software – this time bought. Sigh. This should be simple.

Ginger took Lanie down to church to help with the ‘Cider Days’ parking lot fundraiser, and Katie clothes shopping in a hunt for some classic clothes in the downtown flea markets. The fundraiser got washed out, but the shopping trip was a success, and I was treated to an impromptu fashion show when they got back.

John and Marsha are on vacation and very kindly gave us their tickets to this evening’s symphony concert, so we had a Beethoven treat night. I had planned on taking today’s picture either just outside or inside the auditorium, but the light was horrid inside and it was frightfully busy outside.

After the concert we got stuck in traffic trying to exit the parking lot – apparently a rodeo just down the road had finished at the same time, so we spent 50 minutes just sitting in line. I decided to take a safety shot while we were waiting.

We were a bit concerned about our back tire which currently has a number plate screw, complete with washer, buried in it. It’s been raining heavily all day, and I didn’t fancy changing a tire in the wet, so we left it in place. It can stay there, probably until after the school run Monday morning if I can get away with it.
September 18, 2011

This is what results when one accidentally presses the shutter while struggling to get the camera into position (365:261)

This is what results when one accidentally presses the shutter while struggling to get the camera into position (365:261). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

AKA Parking lot fund raiser wash-out.

Ginger and I volunteered to watch over the Youth Group kids working the Cider Days parking lot fundraiser after church today. Yesterday’s attempt got rained off, and the weather wasn’t any better today. After less than an hour we sent the kids in and Mark and I stayed out and took around six dollars an hour (that’s two cars) for about three hours before throwing in the towel.

While Mark was off having some lunch I took a few pictures for today’s self-portrait. This is what you get when you accidentally hit the shutter and it fires several times in quick succession when you are not expecting it to do so. I had a more normal shot – but I’ve loads of those, so I decided to go with this rather stupid-looking one. You will, I hope, note the rain on my glasses. Unfortunately, you can’t see how wet my hair is.
September 19, 2011

We had a bolt stuck in our tyre

So this afternoon I got it fixed.

The van’s a lot quieter now.
September 20, 2011

2 am. (365:263)

okay 1.55 am to be precise.

It could also be titled HTML, CSS, PHP and Javascript, oh my! I’ve been busy working on a WordPress theme.
September 21, 2011

Double take (365:264)

I thought I’d cleaned the mirror before taking this picture.

Obviously not. Ginger’s not been feeling too well, so I let her sleep and picked up the big kids from school.
September 22, 2011

Thursday Evening (365:265)

Today was my study day.

Today it really is 100 days until the end of this project!
September 23, 2011

Gary’s a lumberjack for the day (365:266)

Gary’s a lumberjack for the day (365:266). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

I spent most of the day logging

Some friends are thinning out their trees, cutting the big ones into 8-9 foot logs and sending them to a local lumber mill. I volunteered to give them a hand today, so I spent my day clearing and cutting back brush, chaining logs and standing well back as the tractor dragged them up the hill.

I was too busy working to take a picture – so here I am at home with a spare chainsaw Ginger’s dad left with me, initially so I could help out in Joplin, and latterly in the vain hope that one day I’ll cut up the limb that’s been sitting in our front yard for the past few months.

Had I not been tired I might have worked a little harder on the lighting. Had I arrived home before dark I might also have cut up that limb – honest.
September 24, 2011

Saturday September 24. (365:267)

Saturday September 24. (365:267) Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved

Just another Saturday

Lanie had been out on a sleep over so we collected her and did some shopping. Later on we took a few pictures, and then watched a movie.
September 25, 2011

I eat toast and marmalade while Mr. Getzger Cat exits frame right. (365:268)

I eat toast and marmalade while Mr. Getzger Cat exits frame right. (365:268). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

“Marmalade, I like marmalade.”

It’s one of my favorite sayings – and true to boot. After church I put in another day helping with the logging. It was hard hot and dirty work. I’m already aching from Friday’s exertions, so no doubt I’ll really be regretting it by Tuesday.

By bed time I was hungry again, so toast and marmalade seemed appropriate, not to mention a picture opportunity. Getzger also decided to get in on the action, and I decided to go with this shot showing his tail about to exit the picture.
September 26, 2011

Today I received my new driving license

Gary Allman and his new Missouri Driving License. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Not normally a momentous event, but this one doesn’t expire for seven years. This means the licensing people know something I don’t, and that is that my 10 year US permanent resident application has been approved. That is very good news.

Update: According to the Department of Homeland Security my application has not been approved yet. So a seven-year license is probably a mistake made by the Missouri licensing people. A driving license should only be issued for your period of residence – hence my last license only ran for two years. At the moment I only have a letter extending my residence by a year, which gives the DHS a year to process my ten-year residence application. Oh well, we’ll see…
September 27, 2011

Quick shot in the hall mirror (365:270)

I’ve been busy processing pictures.
September 28, 2011

At the computer (365:271)

I’m spending a lot of time waiting for my computer.

With image files starting at 20 Mbytes nowadays my computer is no longer up to the job of processing them quickly.
September 29, 2011

Day 272 (365:272)

Move on, today was the same as yesterday.
September 30, 2011

Whoosh! (365:272)

There goes September.

Hiking: 4 miles (just). Kayaking trips: 0. Nights camping: 0. Hours spent at the computer working – too many to count. I cock a snoot (metaphorically, and photographically quite literally) at September.

Definition: Cock a Snoot
Photography: Snoot
September 30, 2011

September 2011

Another month spent almost entirely chained to the computer working late into the night. We did manage to get out for one short hike, so that’s better than nothing. I started the second year of my EFM course – which is a fantastic help in keeping me sane. We also saw the Symphony orchestra (thanks John & Marsha), I renewed my driving license, which surprisingly now doesn’t expire until 2018, and I helped some friends with logging some timber.

Next month is extremely full already – I’m planning to go on a short backpacking trip and spend a week in Chicago. Ginger is also spending a week in Chicago so I’ve a week alone with the kids to look forward to. Some fishing and time in the kayak might be nice.

1. Just me – reprise, 2. More of the same, 3. Sitting at the kitchen table chatting with Ginger, 4. I was going to use a picture of me facing right for a change. But I like this one more., 5. Gary, Lanie and Ginger (hiding at the back) too, 6. 2011 Day 249, 7. Gary at the computer, 8. Tedious, 9. Gary in the backyard, 10. No wall, 11. This evening I was momentarily stumped as to where to begin, 12. Staring into space, 13. Working late, 14. Day 257, 15. Studying again, 16. Warmth, 17. On the way home from the symphony, 18. This is what results when one accidentally presses the shutter while struggling to get the camera into position, 19. I have a bolt stuck in my tyre, 20. 2am, 21. Double take, 22. Thursday evening, 23. Gary’s a lumberjack for the day, 24. Saturday September 24., 25. I eat toast and marmalade while Mr. Getzger Cat exits frame right., 26. I have a new driving license, 27. Quick shot in the hall mirror, 28. At the computer, 29. Day 272, 30. Whoosh!
October 1, 2011

Incense, wine, and conversation (365:274)

Today was a bit of a mad day.

We were out taking pictures in the morning and out again in the afternoon. Then we did what all good Episcopalians should do for a Church social meeting – went on a brewery tour followed by an evening in a pub.

Yes, I said pub and not bar. There is one in Springfield. I tested the ‘bangers and mash’ not bad, but not enough onions in the gravy for my liking and more butter in the mash would have been perfect. Ginger drank some Old Speckled Hen. Jim (Ginger’s dad) joined us for the brewery tour – he was in town for a car show, and the girls helped out back at church with the babysitting. Alek was at work, so everyone was busy!

Come the end of the day I wanted to relax with some wine (I’d not had a drink earlier) and some nice incense. The only problem is I’ve got to be at church at 6 am tomorrow as I’m helping prepare breakfasts for the three services, then we have the blessing of the animals and Getzger’s annual outing in the afternoon.
October 2, 2011

Blessing of the Animals (365:275)

Today was another busy day.

I was up at five-thirty am and out the door at six for my lift to church, and then I spent most of the next seven hours in the kitchen helping with the meals. It all went very well (well planned and executed Kris!). We were far too busy to take any pictures. I really should have made the effort.

Clearing up took a long time, so I decided to stay at church until the afternoon’s events started. I took today’s picture after the blessing of the animals had taken place, Getzger was very well behaved and the only feline this year – there were lots of dogs but no lizards (shame).
October 3, 2011

Playing with lighting (365:276)

It would have been an okay picture if the camera hadn’t focused on my ear.

Oh well, it’s the only picture I’ve got. Today Ginger left myself and Getzger in charge while she’s away on a trip to Chicago with our friend Rebbie. I get my chance to go to Chicago in a couple of weeks time. I spent my day at the computer, and by early evening I couldn’t see a thing. Last Thusday after just eight hours in front of the computer I couldn’t read a license plate at 15-20 feet. Not good. I guess it really is time for new glasses, I’ve only been putting off getting a pair for four or five years.

As I couldn’t see anything on the computer screen I thought I’d spend a little bit of time on today’s picture, so I lit the wall separately with a snoot. Unfortunately my eyes weren’t good enough to chimp the resulting picture or maybe I’d have got one that was in focus, which brings us back to where I started today’s post.
October 4, 2011

This is how I avoided getting eye strain today (365:277)

Well it worked.

I spent the day processing pictures – a slow job until I get a faster computer. After getting the kids from school we took Alek and Katie to a career fair. Having made sure that they were actually asking questions and collecting information, Lanie and I went to the library. I couldn’t find a book that took my fancy before being called to go back and collect the big kids.

I spent the remainder of the evening working on picture processing, taking a break to chat with Ginger on the ‘phone (love you honey) before processing more pictures until I decided to call it quits and take today’s picture. I’ve always fancied playing with backlights and hair lights, so that’s what I did this evening. While I was at it I thought I’d show off my funky goggles too.

I seem be be having problems with the skin tones on this camera – I end up with a lot of post processing to try and improve them. So this morning (5 October) I took some simple shots and did some direct comparisons – subject to chimped image and subject to the image on the monitor (which is colour balanced). The results showed some ever so slight but acceptable red/orange tones in places where the actual tone was less red/orange. I tried both manual white balance and auto white balance – interestingly the later was actually better. More research is needed, but the evidence to date is that the camera’s doing its job. That’s not necessarily true for the photographer’s post processing.

Note: image re-edited in Lightroom December 2014.
October 6, 2011

Gary and Sprinky (365:278)

Gary and Sprinky Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

With Ginger away the cats have been a little uneasy.

Tubby’s gone into hiding and Getzger doesn’t show his face much. Blue Kitteh has remained her aloof self, and Sprinky has been keeping her distance – always nearby but not too close. This evening though she’s been pestering me for attention – which generally means she wants to be ‘flipped’ which in our parlance means she wants to be turned over on to her back and have her belly rubbed – each to their own I guess.

In other news, I ran some white balance tests on the camera this morning, and I worked out a new and more successful technique for fixing odd color casts in Nikon Capture NX2. After that breakthrough, I finished processing a batch of pictures and moved on to looking for a new PC capable of storing and processing our pictures. This evening I had a meeting at church, and I stayed on to eat with the kids and adults for a bit of social time.

Note: re-edited in Lightroom December 2014.
October 6, 2011

Chatting with Ginger on the telephone (365:279)

This time we’re only 600 miles apart, not 5,000.

Taken as a whole, today wasn’t behaving at its best. I started out working on my studying for class tonight in the hope that I’d be able to go, but because I messed up the childcare arrangements, I didn’t. I didn’t get to go to the Thursday evening service either. These both provide an anchor and quiet time for the week, so without them, I’m feeling a bit edgy. This week’s coursework was short (I am enjoying the lesser amount of work in year two – year one is two years studying compressed into one), so I was soon working on ‘other stuff’.

Back in 2008, when we were 5,000 miles apart. Thanks to JKS for reminding me of this picture.

‘Other stuff’ today consisted mainly of endless reading and web searching for a replacement computer. For some reason I’m not cognizant of, graphics adapter manufacturers no longer think it necessary to set out their specifications in terms of colour depth and image size. Making it difficult to determine if an adapter is suitable or not. Especially as I want something that’ll drive up to 2560 x 1600 pixels and operate in the AbobeRGB colour space; I have my eyes on a high gamut 30″ monitor, and it’ll be a waste of money if the graphics card can’t drive it. At one point in the process I even found myself missing my old Portsmouth based computer supplier – Novatech. The nett result of my inconclusive and many hours’ search was only to add to my disgruntlement. Though I now know more about the latest Intel processor range, graphics adapters, memory and mother boards than I have ever felt the need to previously, and I’m not interested in retaining the information any longer than I have to.

Today’s picture is a facsimile of me and Ginger chatting on the ‘phone. Ginger and Rebbie apparently spent the evening drinking with some Eastern Europeans who as a group could only communicate via a combination of Lithuanian, Russian and Polish – that’s if I understood her correctly. Just as well I wasn’t there as it appears English wasn’t on the menu of languages being spoken. Parlez vous Francais anyone?

It sounds like great fun was had even when the conversation was straying into the metaphysical – how that worked given the language issues I have no idea, though Ginger did say that the more she had to drink the better her Polish got. Yes, well, I’m sure… 😉
October 7, 2011

Catch-22 (365:280)

Catch-22 (365:280). Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Tonight I watched Catch-22 for the first time in many years.

I’d forgotten how close the movie had come to the book. I enjoyed it so much I even re-watched some of the movie with the director’s commentary on to find out more about how they filmed it.

Earlier in the evening, I took Lanie to Bass Pro where she became excessively enamored with a very sparkly motorboat.
October 8, 2011

Day 281 (365:281)

Today Ginger arrived back from Chicago.

I was too busy catching up to take any fancy pictures.
October 10, 2011

Gary plus rat (365:283)

Gary plus rat. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

This plastic rat has been making appearances in lots of places over the past few days

Sprinky demonstrates that it is not only Getzger that likes to get in on my pictures.

I recently retrieved this rather gruesome toy from its hiding place in the garage. Since then it has appeared in many unexpected places, including lounging on Katie’s chair, lurking behind the bathroom door, tucked up in our bed, and enjoying a meal in the cat food storage bin. Its discovery is frequently accompanied by a loud shriek of some sort.

This reminded me of a time when I stayed with my uncle. I’d bought a load of novelty toys equipped with rubber suckers and springs. I would leave them in hiding places around the house and they’d spring out unexpectedly. It rapidly turned into a competition, which culminated with my uncle climbing up on the kitchen roof to put one on the bathroom windowsill while I was taking a bath.
October 11, 2011

Day 284 (365:284)

Another wall shot.
October 13, 2011

Backpacking gear (365:286)

I’ve got a busy seven days ahead.

I’ve got a busy seven days ahead.

Tomorrow I’m off backpacking with a couple of friends. Should be good; I’ve no idea where we’re going – somewhere on the Buffalo River in Arkansas. We’ll be back Saturday, and then on Sunday, I’ll be off at 7.30 am to Chicago with Tom to help clear a house and haul some stuff back to Springfield. We are due back sometime Thursday, and then next Friday it’s off to Thornfield to spend the night with Ginger’s parents and her visiting aunt who I’ve yet to meet.
October 14, 2011

Gary on Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas (365:287)

Gary on Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas (365:287) – Today I had an easy day’s hiking in Arkansas with a couple of friends. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Today I had an easy day’s hiking in Arkansas with a couple of friends.

We started off with a hike up the ‘Lost Valley’, I’ll have to return when the creek is in spate – today it was completely dry; so we hiked up the creek bed instead of the trail. We crawled on hands and knees into a cave (I found out afterwards on YouTube that there is supposed to be an upright route in), which has a large chamber about 150′ in. Normally there is a waterfall there, but not this time. We took a second hike along the Buffalo river and finished the day backpacking to a superb camping spot near Hawksbill Crag (aka Whittaker point) – a rocky shelf suspended some 200 feet up on a bluff overlooking Whittaker creek. The bluffs and crag providing magnificent views across the valley. It really is a wonderful place, and it’s not surprising it is one of the most photographed features in the Buffalo River area.

I left my pedometer behind, but a rough guess is that we hiked just under 7 miles altogether.

Our campsite was under a huge rock ledge, that is normally fronted by a waterfall. However, after the long dry summer it was dry. There were a few drips of water to be collected nearby, which was lucky, otherwise we’d have been thirsty, as the six litres of water I packed in very quickly started to dwindle. The space under the ledge was big enough for several tents, so we had plenty of room with just two.

Here I am with my backpacking companions for this trip. It’s been a long time since I last used a 10 second timer to take a picture, so it took me a couple of tries to get this picture. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Steve and Gary on Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas – Not taken by me, though it’s such a nice picture I wish it were. Copyright © 2011 Kirby Newport, all rights reserved.

After dark we were interrupted by the arrival of a party of students who were hoping to spend the night under the ledge. They were very polite, and fortunately had a better knowledge of the area than we did, as they spent the night under a smaller overhang, that we didn’t know existed, a hundred yards further along the bluff.

Just to finish off the day we revisited the crag around midnight to enjoy the scene in the moonlight. Given the huge drop-offs perhaps that wasn’t the most prudent of ventures – especially as my headlamp batteries decided to go into terminal decline on the way back.

Bluffs on the Buffalo river near Ponca, Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Bluffs on the Buffalo river near Ponca, Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Bluffs on the Buffalo river near Ponca, Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Bluffs on the Buffalo river near Ponca, Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Campsite near Hawksbill Crag, Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Campsite near Hawksbill Crag, Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas – My hiking/backpacking companions for this trip. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas – My hiking/backpacking companions for this trip. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Gary on Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas – Not taken by me – there’s no way I could have set the timer and run around onto the crag in 10 seconds! Copyright © 2011 Kirby Newport, all rights reserved.

Gary on Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas – Not taken by me – there’s no way I could have set the timer and run around onto the crag in 10 seconds! Copyright © 2011 Kirby Newport, all rights reserved.

Near Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Near Hawksbill Crag (Whittaker Point), Arkansas. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Campsite near Hawksbill Crag, Arkansas – What a superb spot this is. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Preparing and eating breakfast. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Campsite near Hawksbill Crag, Arkansas – What a superb spot this is. Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.