Congrat's - You got it done!

Interesting rock climbing shots. I would love to have seen how the lead climber handled the transition past the overhang. The images communicate the action and the process of how these climbs are made.

I was a helicopter pilot and flew Mountain Rescue. One of the Medic's made a statement that seems to fit:

"Why do climbers climb? To get to the top and listen to the wind whistling through the holes in their head."

I took this portrait of my friends son without the benefit of having him pose. It is street portrait without the subjects participation. Thoughts on the handling of the image as a tinted black and white.

Tony - A Moment of Reflection

Capturing a slice of The Mission of San Juan Capistrano led me to this one image that I believe delivers the essence of the place.

What do you think? How could I have improved a "Sense of Place"?

Do not rely on Carbonite! You would be terribly disappointed! Frankly, they suck! That is from experience with an external drive paid to back up. They didn't back up a damn thing even though their system showed all was well. What a rip off!

Thank you all for your comments. I am thrilled you like it. Actually, I could go out and photograph all of the more base and dirty side of life here and have done some of that. I have quickly tired of that genre of "Street Photography" and wanted to turn my eye towards beauty, wherever I can find it in a crowded and noisy city like Manila.

Thanks Cosmo. It is a straight shot of what I saw in the reflection. It amazes me all the layers that are visible.

Often we miss the obvious in front of us due to our own imposed self limitations. We cannot let go of what we believe makes a great image and in doing so miss a lot of wonderful opportunities.

The next time you are out shooting take a moment to relax and truly see what is around you. You will find wonderful and amazing subjects that you might have otherwise walked right by.

Years ago I contracted a disease of my retina and there was a very good chance I was going to lose the sight in one eye. Scared! You bet! The Doctor told me to go home and figure out how to become a disinterested observer and lower my stress and come back at 5:00 and tell him what I had discovered.

His definition of "Relaxed attentiveness is to see everything around you and chose what we allow to move us emotionally. Everything else is of no value. Interesting take on it.

I found this image after walking out of a McDonalds in Eastwood outside of Manila. I showed it to a number of local photographers here and they insisted it had to have been done in Photoshop. It hasn't been PS'd other than to crop it and adjust the exposure. One guy would not believe me that it is a straight reflection in the glass.

Please tell me what you think.

Reflecting Deeply

I have now completely switched from Canon to a Fuji X Pro1 and am methodically learning to use the 35mm 1.4 prior to pulling out the zoom. I would like to add a 60mm Macro and a 14mm, but alas - funds are an issue.

Here are two images I took on Saturday as I made my way around Eastwood. When those in the US call Customer Service for Dell and many others they are connected to the Call Centers in Eastwood. I attend church there and help with a Bible Study for those working in the Call Centers on Saturday. It is actually a very nice area and not at all like Manila.

Another great set of images Brent! Again, you capture the feel and flavor of Southern California very well.

Kevin you certainly captured the emotion of the moment. Truly well done.

Still a great set of pictures! They convey that S. California feeling oh so well!

Brent, I did move! LOL! Still get homesick!

Is Alzheimer's truly not inevitable? Your location says Spain so I don't know what type of advertisements you are referring to. In the US, the number of people contracting the disease is growing and unfortunately the silent beginnings of Alzheimer's contributes to the person(s) not knowing it is even in the early stages.

I did volunteer work for the Alzheimer's Association and also did work for a company that had five very large homes providing care for Alzheimer victims.

I agree that there are things that one can do to help reduce the risk factors of contracting the disease and if only one person and their family is spared from the disease as a result of the advertisements then they are truly worth it. There is no known cure for Alzheimer's today and a very limited understanding medically as to why it even begins. The advertisements will also hopefully raise awareness and the needed money for research to find a medical breakthrough that is a cure or at minimum can slow or stop the progress of such a terrible disease.

It is a devastating disease for the family of the patient!

Gargle:

This a very sobering and serious disease! As a US Veteran who was a pilot flying air rescue I flew many missions above 12,500 feet going from sea level to altitude. No opportunity for the body to acclimate and no supplemental oxygen as required by the Federal Aviation Administration or the US Army regulations. End results are 14 brain lesions. Over the past ten years, since they lesions were discovered, I have had symptoms and complications as a result of the lesions to include two small strokes.

Thank you for posting such an important piece of information regarding Alzheimer's.

Bret, these are some very nice shots. I enjoyed looking at them and they certainly made me homesick! Life in Manila is not nearly as beautiful and picturesque.