I started scuba diving this year to broaden my range of where I could take pictures. I must say I am loving diving. It's very free-ing, good exercise and a lot of fun. It's also a humbling experience as a photographer. I realize how hard it is to get those underwater shots. You think taking photos on land is hard... Underwater you need to deal with 3 dimensions. Up, Down, left, right forward and backward. Everything is moving, to boot. you have currents and fish and yourself. No tri pods underwater, you're floating weightless. I can't even say that I have taken 1 decent photo underwater yet. But I'm not going to stop trying!

Here's a sand tiger shark hanging out with us at the hang line (a line 15 feet underwater where you stop for 3 to 5 minutes at the end of a dive to help prevent the bends).

Ok, not really. I tried my hand for the first time taking photographs of lightning. I understand now, why someone invented a gizmo that attaches to the camera and looks for lightning strikes. I saw lightning from a storm out my window and grabbed my camera and tripod. Across the street and down the road from where I live is a little horse farm, I new the open spcae would be great to try and grab some lightning shots over the horizon. I took about 50 shots and grab just this one decent one. Tripod, 4 to 10 second exposure on f/5.6. In hindsight I am going to go down to the farm in daylight and set my focus and make a note. It's hard to focus in the dark.  You can just see the moon starting to peak it's head rom behind the clouds.

We set out to go to Sylvan Heights bird sancturary from Raleigh. Via the highway it's a little less than 2 hours ride. We, did not take the highway. The GPS was set to avoid the highway at all cost. A scenic route across field and plain, looking for whatever jumped in our way. What would have taken us about and hour and 40 minutes took a little over four hours. Four hours well wpent. We never seem to travel the back roads anymore. We want to rush to where we are going and see what we came to see. You miss a lot like that.

So I broke down and got an iPad. So far I love it. Since I have been at my parents visiting for the weekend, with my computer and iPad, I find myself using the iPad much more than the computer.

I love this game, Angry Birds. I have it on my iPhone and actually purchased it again in the high def for the iPad. When you are willing to buy it twice, you know it's good. $4.99 in the app store.

The basic premise is that you fling birds at pigs who have hunkered themselves in different areas. There are different kinds of birds and different puzzles to solve. It's really quite good. They have a free version that you can try out.

I am headed to Moab in October to take photos with one of my favorite people, Mr. Bill Fortney. My friend Al Crook and a bunch of others from the Savannah trip will be on hand as well. Scott Kelby and Bill are doing a workshop out there with a little pre-workshop for some a few days before. Moab, UT is such an amazing location with lots to do and see. I can hardly wait!

The above photo was taken at the Valley of the Gods when I went on a canoe trip down the Colorado 2 years ago.

I have been blessed with travel experiences this year. I am headed to San Francisco in August followed by Washington DC. I have been out of touch and not taking many photos as of late because I am training to take photos in a whole new realm. I have finished my first round of scuba classes with more to come this month. It opens the world up to new places to explore. Yet another expensive hobby, but so much fun!