Color accuracy is very important to me, so I painted the walls gray to avoid introducing any color bias into photographs.  I used the excellent Colorwheel brand of paint in Silver Shimmer 8772W.

During the day, I work by natural light.  But at night I use a Solux task lamp and bulb because it’s the most accurate daylight spectrum artificial light source on the market.   This light does not introduce false color casts when I’m doing color correction work; and when viewing prints from the lab, I’m sure to see the colors accurately in comparison to what’s on my monitor.

My Apple Cinema Display and Mac Pro allow maximum usability and productivity; ColorEyes and X-Rite DTP-94 Colorimeter calibrate the monitor.  And I love my new Herman Miller Embody chair: it fits my back like a glove, flexes as I move, and allows for the healthy reclined seating position.   Scanner to the right and trusty Wacom graphics pen and tablet near the keyboard.  Around the corner are some bags, gear, lighting.

Note for criminal miscreants of the world:  if burglary is on your mind, please notify your next of kin and bring a pre-written toe tag.   Homey don’t play that.

I really enjoyed Geneva, and apparently those living there like it, too.  In 2009, the city ranked third among the best places in the world to live, according to Mercer Consultings Quality of Living Survey, topped only by Vienna (No. 1) and Zurich (No. 2).

While in Geneva, I ate a hearty breakfast (my favorite meal) at a neighborhood cafe every morning.  The locals were very warm and down-to-earth, and they treated me like family.   Geneva itself is a beautiful city that wraps around Lake Leman and sits beside a small mountain range to the north with a view of the stunning Mont Blanc to the southeast with its stunning 14, 000 foot snow-capped peak.  It was a great time of year to visit.  The temperatures were cool not cold; and the leaves displayed bold, vibrant colors.   I enjoyed walking around the old city, meeting the locals, and even hanging out in the Starbucks near the university.

After Geneva, we spent several (rainy) days in Paris; on the way home, I spiked a fever on the plane and wound up in the ER getting IV drug therapy.  Feeling better now!   It was a great adventure, and we had a really fine time.

Enjoy the following montage of photos from Geneva.

Camera: iPhone 3Gs.  App: Hipstamatic

Red truck making time under blue September skies.

Enjoying the ride.

Speigel shot!   Traffic was heavy at the start, so Lori was really focused on the road.

Big truck.

Spiegel shot!  Again.  Kyra reflects her mom at the wheel.

Big wheels keep on rollin’.

On the road refreshment.

Kyra exhaling a cloud.

A little friend popped up to say hi.

Time for a rest stop.

Blue truck speeding to its destination.

Backseat photographer.

I shoot with two cameras for weddings.  But this was a last minute decision to shoot this personal project.  And it was hot!  So I grabbed one camera (Canon 1Ds Mark II) and got all the coverage below with only one lens (Canon 300 f/4 IS).    The capture  format was JPEG.

Even though I shot with just one prime lens–and a long one–I used it creatively to approximate the view of a medium and wide angle on some shots for variety and scene-setting.   Sports is all about peak action and drama.   But, as always, I tried to capture the essential narrative of that morning’s athletics and tell the story of the event.

A little nature walking.

A little dune strolling.  I just love the twisted sand oaks.

A little claim-staking.

A little reading.

A little sleeping.

A little sport.

A little refreshment.

And a little “America’s Next Top (Smartest and Most Beautiful) Model.”

After two weeks of rain we drove around all day with the Miata top down.  It was in the 50′s all day, but we were toasty with the heater on.

Shot as a JPEG file.  Canon 5D, 24mm 1.4L, ISO 500, f/14, exposure 1.00 second, white balance: tungsten.  Handheld.  Post: subtle saturation boost.

One of the worker’s kids was doing all he could to keep from being bored.

Second floor starts.

View from the future garage.

The friendly shopkeeper, Joan.

Jake and Elwood accosted by an anonymous street pirate.

Stroll down the short boardwalk of Oaks by the Bay Park, and you’re greeted by a view of St. Andrews Bay.

The drive from the west end of Panama City Beach was really quick with the relatively new four-lane blacktop and October traffic.  It was only 20 minutes to Grayton Beach and another 20 to Destin.

Parking was an easy road-side drill, allowing a short walk to the festival.  There was the usual arts and crafts and seafood; but for me, the major draw was Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.  Joan played one very long set with songs ranging from the great Runaways tunes to her contemporary works, which are really good (you can listen to a few on her website).

I made some Lasagne the other day from a recipe in a Mario Batali cookbook.  I even made the pasta dough myself, which was a first!   I had fun doing it.

Finished product

Cut the asparagus in half for baking

The Balsamella sauce.  Absolutely mouth-watering.