Workbench, originally uploaded by wesleyray.

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It’s late June and the summer rains have blessed us with plenty of water, the ponds are full, the gardens are abundant and everything seems to grow a foot a day. Most days we try to get our outside chores done while it’s still cool, in the mornings. This summer I have many things to tend to including the new Art Studio we are building. Deb and I have a number of art projects in the works with a collaborative exhibit upcoming in August. Most of my photos are captured within the gardens of our homestead as I have had very little time to venture out and explore my favorite haunts. This being a close to home summer, I am provided with intimate moments watching the flowers bloom and the fairies dance. It’s been a delight and I’m happy to share the beauty I see. Enjoy.

Garden Art, originally uploaded by wesleyray.

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Well, I did get out back with my trusty dusty Canon 10D infrared DSLR today and shot off a few frames. The most interesting shot was the old paint shaker up on the Laurel Oak stump. Did you see my Flickr series on milling limber? Well this giant Water Oak dropped a tree sized branch in the yard barely missing my utility trailer. When these oaks start dropping branches it’s time to bring them down. Deb and I miss the giant oak but after that last storm broke off my west side neighbor’s trees and dumped them in our yard I was really happy that we cut our oak down and milled it for lumber. Enough said, almost time to put up the Art Studio. Maybe my next post will be the framing. Enjoy the summer!

where am I?, originally uploaded by wesleyray.

As usual I’m having a tough time keeping up with my blog posts as It’s been a really busy semester. I did get have a creative moment the other morning arriving early for work a little before the sunrise. I walked out across the campus and found a nice place to roll around in the clover. I powered up my Canon 20D color DSLR outfitted with the Sigma 10-20mm and shot my perspective as the sun was rising. You can see the entire series on my Flickr page. Make sure you view the full screen slide show on black. The semester is nearly complete so I’ll try and post more often.

Toulouse-0027, originally uploaded by wesleyray.

It’s been a while since my last post, been busy working on the Art Studio, still on paper. This morning I decide to capture some of the bright morning sunlight, it’s cold here in North Florida but the sun is shining bright. First I set up the camera and tripod and my only subject was a self portrait. I shot a few of those to test the light and then Toulouse jumped up on the window sill. First he sniffed the rose but not long enough to capture it, did get one shot while he was near it though. Then he sat on the sill and just gazed out the window watching the wind blow through the garden. I like this window light and plan to do more portraits here. Hopefully Deb can use some of these images in her encaustic mixed media art pieces. Enjoy.

I had a New Years Day tradition for a while, I’d get up real early and capture the first sunrise of the year at my favorite lake spot. This year we were up late so that was out. The day began as usual, breakfast in bed with my sweet heart, then on to the list of little things that needed to be complete this day. I had also thought about the 365 photo thing posting one per day, but then again more things to do. It’s a really big “To Do” year as we’re building a dream studio and that involves all kinds extra little daily, weekly worker bee things. As the first day was dwindling down I realized I had not captured a single image yet. There in front of me on the kitchen table was a beautiful arrangement of our garden roses Deb had cut before our Canadian cold front blew in. Luckily, I saw the beauty and picked up my camera to capture to moment. A Dozen Roses for You!

Enjoy every moment possible…. they are all precious!

I’m really trying to update my blog as often as possible but find that my days and weeks are filled with little details. With that said I’m also wishing I could get out to capture more photos but then again, so many little details to every day. Today, the day after Christmas I did get out for a drive, looking for the Sandhill Cranes on 441 at the boardwalk. It was nearly sunset but none were there to see, however on the north end a lone bison was grazing along the roadside. The light was fading but I did catch a couple of quick shots. After shooting though the barbed wire fence I decided to climb on to of my Xterra which was easily done by climbing my cattle guard on to the hood then walking up to the roof. For the past 5 years I have dreamed of building a platform with a ladder so that I could shoot from 15′ or higher, maybe this will be the year to complete that dream along with many others I have been visualizing. Happy New Year 2010!

OK, so yesterday I decided to shoot the sunrise on the lake and it was as foggy as ever, beautiful but foggy. The sun did not appear until much later and by that time I was sipping coffee at the Jones. This morning we were up early (before daybreak) even though Deb was going in late. We had a wonderful relaxing breakfast in bed (as I make for my sweetheart on most every day) and I had made no plans to rush off to the lake. All of sudden there was a strange orange glow seeping in through the windows and screen doors. I ran out onto the deck to find everything draped in a think orange layer of beautiful light. I ran in the house and grabbed my camera, running back out to capture the event. As I shot straight up and all around, I kept saying this is impossible to capture, all of this drippy orange light. Our white doves were wondering what I was all excited about as I peered at the dripping orange cage. If you missed it I certainly hope you enjoy the few moments I captured. I can only imagine what it was like out on the lake

Looking east off the pier on an early foggy morning

Fishing off the pier on a very foggy morning, Pithlachocco Lake Gainesville, FL

Well it’s be some time since my last post and the reason being my latest art exhibit, the Digital Media Technology Faculty Show at Santa Fe College, http://dept.sfcollege.edu/vpa/GALLERY/current.html . The gallery show includes a multi screen video presentation as well as an array of computers with interactive menus presenting the individual videos. My personal inspirational video is posted on YouTube (as seen above). If you missed the opening you can still visit the gallery and see the show until November 5, 2009. Now I’m preparing for the next show at Thornebrook, October 3 and 4, 2009, http://www.thornebrookart.org/ . At the Thornebrook show I will have more of my new “transparencies on foil” infrared photos as well as gallery wrapped canvas pieces. Everything will be for sale as I hope to recoop some of my costs of putting together all of this artwork. I’m also getting very close to breaking ground on a new art studio for my wife and I. It will be in our backyard, as such we’ll have a very short commute with quick access to all of our creative resources. Hopefully I can keep the blog updated on the progress during construction. Enjoy and I hope to see you at the Thornebrook show if not before. Wes

garden-8496, originally uploaded by wesleyray.

After the rain stopped I went out to catch a shot of the sign Tia was talking about and as I came in the gate Pekoe was lying on the ramp looking for some afternoon loving as he often does. He was meowing loudly as I snapped a few frames. This was my favorite capturing the dreamy afternoon light. I particularly like the juxtaposition of pekoe and the old metal chair. (BTW, Pekoe is an orange kitty)