PINK SKIES OVER BIG RED, COLUMBIA MO

After a great vacation in Omaha it didn't take us long to get back out to Grindstone Nature Area with the dogs.  The sky was gray all day but the sun started breaking through the clouds just in time for sunset.  That's why I always bring my camera, no matter what the sky looks like when I'm leaving the house.

HINKSON CREEK COLOR, COLUMBIA MO

We witnessed a beautiful sunset at Grindstone Nature Area yesterday. The dogs had a blast at the 200-acre off-leash nature preserve, and we got to make some nice photos. It was a good day despite the terrible performance of our beloved Huskers.

BY MY SIDE

This is my view of Big Red from my desk.  He rests on the wooden floor by my side while I work.  Today I decided to get the softbox out and take a few portraits of the dogs in our apartment.  The problem is that our place is so small there is always some annoying things in the background.  I used 1/8th power on my speedlite and a quick shutter/aperture combination to make the light falloff and blackout the cluttered background.  Even using this technique it took about 10 tries before I got a useable photo with no stuff in it!  I can't wait till we move into a bigger place!

PIPE ART

Someone has added a little extra color at John A. Stewart Park.  A prominent pipe crossing the creek has been painted with the depiction of some kind of sorcerer.  The new artwork has been painted by brush and has a thick texture, very different from spraypaint.  I think the artist has quite a talent!

TAKING A BREAK ON THE TRAIL

Big Red taking a break after sprinting around in the woods for about an hour.  Columbia Missouri has an awesome 200 acre off-leash area for dogs at Grindstone Nature Area.  My wife and I love to take the dogs there in the late afternoon and make photos.  The fall colors were vivid this year and the tall prairie grass looks amazing all year long.

What other towns have nice big off-leash areas for dogs?  Anything bigger than 200 acres?  Please let me know and we'll be sure to stop by with Big Red and Cheech when we're in town!

THREE BIG REDs

My dog Big Red wandered into the fame on a few of the shots for this multi-exposure HDR photo.