Distortion

This weeks photo shoot was on the theme of distortion. It could be done in-camera or Photoshopped to get the desired effects. I liked it because the instructor put no boundaries on what you could do, you just had to stick to your theme as set up at the mid-term review. Mine is mechanical things, both in black & white and color, with some textural elements and depth and distance. We will be showing our best 4 shots at an art show at LSC later in April. My instructor seems to be really into my style.

Above are three of my distortion shots. As you can see, Photoshop is a lot of fun to experiment with. I think I'll have the top photo printed on canvas for display at the show. I took it at the Rum River cyclo-cross race 2 years ago. The second is of me riding out at Lester Park yesterday afternoon. A quick extrusion reconstruction and that was all. I took about 30 lbs. off of me, so it I kept it to post for class.

The last is the from wheel from my road bike. A bold line plus a neon effect give it some pop and texture. I like it and may use it for the show.

It looks like we are getting into some seriously nice riding weather. I have a light day tomorrow and plan on some mile in the afternoon. Should be fun.

Digital Photo Class

These shots are from my Digital Photography class I'm taking this semester at Lake Superior College. The instructor really loves the derailleur pic, so much so she is having it blown up and shown in the art building on her office wall. She didn't even know what it was, but thought it was an excellent piece of art. What would she think if it was Campy C-Record? Hmmm...

I took the rock formation shot this last Sunday on the Munger Trail. Doug and I rode up the trail from West Duluth for a ways until the hike-a-bike got a little too much. It was nice to get out, even for just a little more than an hour, in the great weather. This week should really get the snow melt going, being above 50 degrees for most of the week. I plan on riding a bit more than I have been lately. I need a good base going into summer.

Spring 2010

The warm weather and rain have created some great rapids on the local streams and rivers. The above was on Skyline Parkway this afternoon. I took the local scenic route and luckily had my camera with. I bet Doug got a good look at this same spot. The deer were also moving around a bit. The little guy up above was content to just check me out and was in no hurry to get out of the road. A nice afternoon, I must say.

Some Days You Get The Bear...

And some days that som-bitch gets you. That's the type of day I had yesterday. First off, I had a doctor's appointment at 10:40 a.m. This called a fasting for blood work, since I hadn't been insured for quite some time and hadn't been to the clinic in quite some time. Since I recently got health coverage, I went in for a long overdue checkup. That's when the proverbial sh#t hit the fan. The receptionist that check me in informed me that I would have to pay for this visit and try to get reimbursed from my insurance company. What? I had listed this clinic as my primary care facility, but my card listed some Warshowski outfit thirty miles away. A quick call to the company revealed that even though their forms listed this clinic as eligible, they were contracted with this other system. I would have to go there since it was "near by". If i wanted to appeal, it would take about thirty days to change things. No physical for me. Not yesterday, anyway.

Next, a trip to the pharmacy to get test strips for my glucose meter. They don't give them away, being around a dollar apiece. I use One Touch Ultra strips, probably the most common one out there. Now wait for it..... My new insurance company strikes again!! Here's this tale of red tape and no common sense: The strips I use aren't covered, I have to switch brands. Yes, they will buy me a new meter and strips, but here's the rub. No alternate site testing. This is not good, since I test on my fore arm, not my fingers, since peripheral neuropothy has made my finger tips overly sensitive to things like finger pokes. And for the more serious problem with this whole affair, the meter they want me to use isn't even available at this time. It's on back order, as are the test strips. Do you thinks my insurance company would authorize the strips I currently use temporarily. No way, they will not budge. So there went another $100.00 out of pocket.

One last thing, even if it's minor. I dropped the wheel for my road bike off at the LBS to have a broken spoke replaced. They said it would be a couple of days as they would have to order a matching spoke. Ten days later, I hadn't heard from them, so I called. I was told the spoke had come in that day, and it would be done this last Monday. Monday came and went with no call to say it was done. I finally stopped in yesterday to pick it up and the shop guy handed it to me and said it was all set, but he had to put in a silver spoke since he didn't have a black one in stock. ? What happened to the one you had ordered? Blank stare. I should have just done it myself, but the owner is an old friend and I would like to give him some of my business. But I don't think that will be happening. A simple phone call to tell me they had to use a silver spoke never happened, a call to tell me it was done never happened, and done in a couple of days never happened. The only thing that happened was poor customer service.

After that crap, I wasn't in a good mood. Hungry and frustrated was my mood, but L switched that around pretty quickly. She had a great lunch and fresh coffee ready when I got home. We hung out together the rest of the day and had a fabulous time.

I think I ate that bear for lunch and dinner. I'm going riding today to work it off.