Saturday, July 24, 2010


Special Effect

Swirling lights and long exposure. I wanted all of the rides to be going at once. While waiting for a ride to get going, the first one stops to let riders on or off. It is like a juggling act. So, to combat boredom while waiting, I decided to play with the zoom ring during exposure. Emboldened by my first clumsy attempts, I kept playing with the shutter speed and degree in which I turned the zoom ring. It took many attempts. I was happy with this one. I never did get all the rides going at once.

When taking long exposure shots, make sure you have a very steady tripod.
This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D on a tripod. Exposure 6.0 s at f/22. ISO 100. Focal length 16mm.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Willits Frontier Days part 5, Carnival


Three Sunglasses

The carnival experience is not complete unless you share it with friends.

This photo taken with a Canon 40D, with 16mm-135mm lens. Accidentally stripped my Exif data.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Willits Frontier Days part 4, Carnival


Ferris Wheel

"Round and round and up and down" said my young friend as we slowly rose into the air on the ferris wheel. Fourth of July in Willits is not complete without a visit to the carnival. The bright lights are a photographers delight.


This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D on a tripod, Exposure 0.3 s at f/5. ISO 100. focal length 82mm.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Willits Frontier Days part 3, Street Dance


Daaance Paaarty!

Here in Willits, California we really know how to have a good time. After the evening rodeo, the spectators mosey over to the stage area for a dance. The band, SK2, has the brilliant Flying Eagle ferris wheel and the rest of Johnston Amusements rides as a backdrop. The community at large comes out for a good time and great music. There are sodas and water for the kids and non-drinkers in one corner, and if you had your hand stamped at the gate, you can purchase a cold beer in the other corner. The dance is where you can hang with old friends, make some new ones, and run into neighbors and elected officials. Hey, its a small town. If you don't know someone, stick out your hand and say, "Hi!" Ten to one, you will have some mutual friends.

If you were at the dance, did you have a good time? Can you find yourself? Steve M. I see you.

This photo was taken from the roof of the beer truck on July 3rd at 11:45 PM with a Canon EOS 40D. I had an off camera flash that I popped to give some light to the foreground. Exposure 1/30s at f/3.5 on a tripod. ISO 800. Focal length 44mm.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Willits Frontier Days Part 2


Willits Frontier Days Rodeo was the Fourth of July weekend. The rodeo runs during the Fourth of July every year.

Rodeo. It dwells deep in psyche of the cowboy, young boys grow up watching their big brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, neighbors, and wish to emulate them in the ring.

In small towns across the West, the rodeo is a family affair. Small boys often get their start riding sheep. They move up to calves. By the time they are old enough to join the California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA), they will graduate to bulls.

These two adorable boys took turns being the bull between events.

For more information: CHRSA , Willits Frontier Days

These photos were taken with a Canon EOS 40D, flash. Exposure 1/60s at f/4. ISO 400. Focal length 68mm "Boys on Fence" and 28mm "Boys Playing Bull Rider."

Monday, July 19, 2010

Willits Frontier Days part 1



For some strange reason, today's post ended up with Sunday's date. So, I am going to post again. Also, haven't figured out how to enable the subscribe button. So, if you would like an email to send this direct to your inbox, please write me at outpost_patton@yahoo.com

Willits Frontier Days-4th of July
Dust, bulls, horses, and cowboys are the mainstay of every rodeo. And, Willits rodeo is no exception.

The young man in this image is called E.P., 23 years old, and he hails from Laytonville 22 miles north of Willits. E.P. went flying, but thankfully he was not hurt. This was a purely lucky shot. I normally do not shoot the cowboys once the chute opens. This day, the chute opened, the bull twisted, E.P. lost his seat, but his hand was still tied to the bull. A collective gasp went through the spectators, they all know that this can be dangerous if the hand does not come free with his outward momentum, the cowboy will then swing under the bull where he can be trampled. Fortunately, E.P. pulled free, a little disappointed, but still ambulatory.

Photo taken with Canon EOS 40D with a borrowed Canon 16mm-135mm wide angle zoom lens. Exposure 1/200s at f/5.6 with a bias value of -0.33. ISO 100. Focal length 16.mm

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Shasta Daisys, Guerneville


Shasta Daisys
Shastas, shastas everywhere, in gardens of friends, medical providers and family. These daisys grow in my mother's backyard. They grow along the borders of the deck, along the fence and in the front yard. Long legged Shasta Daisys propagate everywhere, deer do not eat them. They take over gardens like weeds, albeit very pretty weeds.


Photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D with a Tamron 17-50mm lens. ISO 100. Exposure 1/200s at f/3.2. Focal length 28mm

To purchase this photo, contact me: outpost_patton@yahoo.com

White Barn


White Barn, Healdsburg.
A wide-angle lens allows a photographer to get the whole image. After driving by the white barn for the past two years, today I had my brand new wide angle zoom lens. I was eager to finally be able to cature the whole barn and vineyard setting. I arrived at six o'clock, almost too late, the shadows were starting to creep up the side of the barn. This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 40D with a Tamron 17-50mm lens. ISO 200. Exposure 1/3200s at f/4.

To purchase this photo, contact me: outpost_patton@yahoo.com