The Dream of the Bees (and a Lady Bug)

The Dream of the Bees (and a Lady Bug) a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I took the challenge of "Having Fun" to heart today. Cal State Fullerton had there Green Scene Plant and Garden Show this weekend and I decided to grab my camera and go have fun. So I headed out to the Arboretum.

It was 98 degrees, there were a million people and I think I parked my car in the state of Colorado.

Sweating and five super cool plants later I decided to go take some pictures. There is a big grassy area near a pond that was perfect what I wanted to do. There were also about 100 people in the area. Every one came over and kept asking questions on why I was laying on the ground making faces at the camera, one person asked if I was ok. (He thought I had heat stroke). Turned out it took about two hours to get the shot because so many people kept coming over to see the crazy man with camera laying in the grass makin faces at a camera.

With all the shots done, I headed out. I passed a row of porta potties at the exit and thought to myself, nah, I can make the half hour drive home.

TWO MILLION people all headed to the wonderful Southern California beaches at the same time made my trip an hour and fourty five minutes long. By the time I got home, I flew out of the car, busted down the front door, stepped on two cats and ran for the bathroom.

Finally able to sit down and relax I set to processing my shot. I challenged myself today with pushing the envelope on my Photoshop skills that I learned this week. I had no clue how hard this was going to be. It took me over two hours. (Secret: The bugs don't really fly) :)

So, Did I have fun? Nah, I had a BLAST! Hope you all did too!

View on Black. Don't wreck my good day! Just do it. :)

Our Daily Challenge: Having fun

A Dodo, A Chicken and A Terra Cotta Warrior Crossed The Road

A Dodo, A Chicken and A Terra Cotta Warrior Crossed The Road a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I was awaken this morning by pepples being thrown at my bedroom window by this Dodo! Seems it found a treasure map and wanted to share. Finally, my luck is changing! I grabbed my compas and the Terra Cotta Warrior (for protection) and off we went in search of treasure!

I had no idea the treasure was Dinosaur ants. Now I am infested with Dinosaur ants and I'm still poor!

PS. The chicken is only there for lunch.

View in black or you home could be infested with Dinosaur ants!

Our Daily Challenge: Whimsical

The Garlic Society Experiment

The Garlic Society Experiment a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Everytime I go outside, this dang Dodo Bird keeps following me around! It calls me 10 times a day when I'm at work. It just WONT leave me alone. So I deciced to try and deter it. I started wearing this Society Garlic in my hair. It has a very strong garlic oder and I was hoping it would chase it away. I had NO idea this was like a rose for the Dodo. Now things are way worse.
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View on black or I will chuck garlic at you

Our Daily Challenge: Smell


I really don't like taking self portraits but I have been forcing myself to do them and it IS getting easier. Maybe soon I can graduate to big boy pants and start taking candid shots of strangers (as long as they are smaller than me and can't beat me up, which leaves out everyone above the age of 10) :)

THEM!

THEM! a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I went outside this morning, frolicking in the garden and I came across some giant ants! After screaming (in a very manly voice), I ran into the house to get the Raid bug killer! By the time I found it and got back outside, the little booger was on his laptop emailing all his buddies to run and hide!

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View on black. You don't want him emailing his buddies about you.

Our Daily Challenge: Technology

In The Future

In The Future a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

In the future, the world will change and if we change with it, we will soar like the birds. Even if it is a Dodo bird. :)

View on black and come fly with me

Our Daily Challenge: In The Future

You Are Getting Sleepy

You Are Getting Sleepy a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Your in a deep sleep now and when I snap my fingers, you will awake and leave cool and righteous comments for this lovely but creepy image.

S N A P !

Stop reading now, your supposed to be leaving a cool and righteous comment!
:)

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View on black or he'll keep staring at you

Our Daily Challenge: Exactly Three Colors

The Escape

The Escape a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Beaking News!

We have just learned that the kingpin of the underground gang of hairy, pidgeon toed five year olds known as the Kindergarten Mafia has escaped from the Maximum Security Time-Out Corner.

We have are roving reporter, two foot midget clown, slightly chewed and dirty from being buried by a German Shephard who thought he was an ugly chew toy, on the scene. He was able to snap this photo of the kingpin pulling out a wedgie as he headed off to the candy store.

We'll have more on the story at 11. Thank you for tuning in to the channel 492 Eye Missed You News.

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View on Black or no candy for you

Kindergarten Mafia Series: 4

Our Daily Challenge: The Other Side

I have a blast processing the photos for this series. It's such a contradiction.
I over saturate the blue and under saturate the rest of the colors. Then under saturate the whole image but then bring the vibrance up.

Next I slighty bring up the exposure then bring up the dark.

Then I take the contrast and clarity and put it to maximum and add grain, followed by slightly smoothing out the picture

Last, I slightly vignette to darken the corners to draw your eye to the center of pic ... in this case to look at my butt. :)

How Do You Work This Thing

How Do You Work This Thing a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Ninety five percent of the time, I keep my camera setting on manual. And Ninety five percent of the time I forget to set something before shooting. I stressed for an hour over the settings before finally feeling happy about them. I ran outside and snapped about 100 photos!

Imagine my surprise when I uploaded them to the computer and they all came out looking like this! I couldn't believe I had been holding the camera BACKWARDS all morning!!!

Atleast the settings were correct

PS. I was so stressed my brains leaked. :)

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View in Black or stress will make you look like this!

Our Daily Challenge: Stressed

Good Morning Sunshine

Good Morning Sunshine a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Woke up this morning and staggered down the stairs to make my morning cup of joe and shoot the challenge. Opened up the cupboard and pulled out the coffee can ... empty. Pulled out another coffee can, empty too. Then a third, empty. Fourth, empty! Empty empty EMPTY!

I fainted. I think the cat took the shot and uploaded it

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View on black or my cat may take an embarrasing candid photo of you too!

Our Daily Challenge: Coffee or Tea

Frog, James Frog Goes After Goldfleckr!

Frog, James Frog Goes After Goldfleckr! a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Hmmm, Does the Aston Marting kinda look small to you?

Anyway, Frog, James Frog was hot on the trail of the super villian GoldFleckr!

No, really. I thought the car was much bigger when I bought it.

Sorry, back to the story. GoldFleckr, rolling down the road and getting ready to ...

Theres something wrong here, that car was NOT that small before!

View on black or GoldFleckr will come and fleck specks of Fool's Gold into your eyes.

Frog, James Frog series

Our Daily Challenge: Gold