I have several pictures of the Sky Tower in Auckland. I took this one from street level, crouching slightly to get the base and tip in the frame. If I could have, I would have gotten lower down to get more of the base, but a taxi was in the way.

Handheld, 1/250 sec at f/2.6 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

I spent Christmas in Texas with my in-laws. We made dumplings (pork and celery filling). Enjoy the photos.

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Christmas Dumplings

Merry Christmas! I took this picture a couple days before Christmas in 2005 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas (right outside of the Michael Mina Restaurant). The floor is covered in poinsettias and the arches aren't plastic tubes but laminar streams of water that shoot out once in a while. If you look at the left side of the frame, there are a few suspended tubes of water where a partial arch was shot out and near the center top of the frame are a few streaks shooting overhead.

Handheld, 1/15 sec at f/3.5 on ISO 800, 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

Up until recently, I had never looked closely at what active dry yeast looks like. When I prepared my article on Baker's Yeast, I took several macro shots of the dry yeast granules. I remember being surprised that they were tiny cylinders instead of little balls or a non-uniform shape.

Tripod, 6 sec at f/16 on ISO 100, 105mm f/2.8 macro lens

Stacks of plates. I think this is one of those "I'm bored and I have a camera in my hand" shots.

Handheld, 1/640 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 400, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

This is another example of a picture that I don't think is good, but somehow calls to me. I set the camera on the handgrip of an escalator and left the shutter open for a little more than two seconds. I'll have to try to get a "good" version of this photo sometime.

Supported on hand rail, 2.5 sec at f/18 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

Ever since the terror attacks of 9/11, pretty much nobody has been allowed to the top of the Statue of Liberty. Here's a shot of the interior structure from the middle of the base of the pedestal. I asked if the President wanted to go up, could he? They told me the President isn't allowed onto Liberty Island since he needs three methods of exit and there are only two for Liberty Island - ferry and helicopter.

Handheld, 1/30 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 400, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

Dried fallen leaves - there's a nice pattern to it but when you look closely there isn't a pattern - it's just a bunch of leaves.

Handheld, unrecorded exposure

Yet another sunset picture along the California coast. This one just kind of called to me while I was browsing through my library. I think it was the bright sun breaking out of the clouds. The rest of the shot is kind of "meh".

Tripod, unrecorded exposure on Velvia 50

I shot this frame at a Pappasito's Cantina in San Antonio, Texas. We ordered the Flaming Cheese appetizer (which comes with shrimp, carmelized onions & roasted poblano peppers and is delicious) and when it arrived our waiter lit the cheese on fire. Unfortunately, right next to the plate was an empty polystyrene foam container and plastic bag (for another customer). Another waiter had his wits about him (and ultra-fast reflexes) reached over and pulled the container and bag away preventing a potential disaster.

Handheld , 1/30 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens