Colossus: the Forbin Project

I watched one of my favorite old "computers are evil" themed movies today: Colossus: the Forbin Project and was inspired to make this for my desktop. Now your computer can be evil too. Colossus makes HAL look like a abacus.

I hear they are making a remake.

click to download

HIGH REZ LINK

The Grackle has landed ..

Old Mill - Dublin, Texas

Park bench - Dublin, Texas

(C) Steve Douglass

Drip .. drip .. drip.

I shot about 300 frames to get this.

Enjoy the thaw.

-Steve Douglass

Rust Never Sleeps

Rest in peace my old friend ...

Salvador "Buzz" Douglass
January, 20, 2010

Sparrow under glass

I've been experimenting with the sparrows whom frequent the bird feeder on my apartment balcony. They've become so accustomed to being fed that on most morning I find them waiting patiently waiting for me to fill it. As a result they are becoming quite tame and tolerate my close proximity because they know it means a free meal.

I've been experimenting a tad - by removing the feeder and putting in its place different (and I'm sure to them) odd shaped containers holding their bird seed, just to see how they will react and also hoping for different and unique photo opportunities.

In this example I replaced their feeder with a wine goblet hoping to catch a photo of a bird inside it, but have yet to do so. Instead they stand just outside it - pecking at the seed through the glass, sometimes furiously. To them it must seem like some kind of alien force-field - tempting them with food so close yet unreachable.

In this shot the lighting was just about perfect as this female came up and lifting one leg tried to peck through the glass. Looking at it all I can think it's too bad sparrows don't wear top hats and sing "Putting on the Ritz."

Mountain biking is fun ...

Taken during then Palo Duro Panhandle Marathon.

(C) Steve Douglass

SEE MORE AND BUY YOUR PHOTO HERE.

How do they know?

In the fall and winter I put out a bird feeder. It's on my back patio and about ten feet from where I sit at my computer, working on web sites, writing, etc. My camera sits on my desk, always ready and that's how I've been able to get such great shots of the sparrows and finches.

When it is warm, Salvador, my twenty-three year old blind and almost deaf cat likes to sit right under the bird feeder. He soaks up the sun and is oblivious to the birds feeding just a couple feet over his head.

But what is amazing is that the birds seem to know that Salvador can't harm them. Sometimes they even fly down and take a close look at him, face to face. I've never been able to catch it with my camera until today. I was taking some photos of Salvador on the balcony (for the first time in a few days due to my cat-hating neighbor) and along came this male sparrow to check him out. I got two frames before he left and flew back up to the feeder.

Good thing he did. Right after these photos were taken, Salvador felt the air being disturbed by the air and became alert- either that or he smelled the bird, which is the only keen sense he has left.

But the bird didn't come back down, I guess satisfied that my cat was no threat and continued to feed.

The shots are a tad out of focus, and a bit grainy, but it was one of those quick events that gave me little time to react. Still, I think its a cool slice of life captured.

Only processing I did was to sharpen it a bit and work with the exposure to enhance and lighten the details in both Salvador and the bird.

I hope it happens tomorrow so I can get a better shot - one that is focus and lit better.

- Steve Douglass

This shot gives you a better idea of what Salvador sees.

Solar Sparrow

On the wing ...

Pain On The Plains

Just a few shots from the "Pain On The Plains" mountain bike race in Palo Duro Canyon on Sunday. ALl the photos will be published for purchase on wrongwayphoto.com soon.

Click to enlarge.





(C) Steve Douglass

Good Gavin - Evil Gavin.

Click to enlarge:



Having some Halloween fun in Photoshop tonight.

Still life with pumpkins.