Laughing Frog Images Archives - Page 4 of 15

Cat Sitting 101

Posted on January 25, 2016January 24, 2016 by Kurt

I think I finally figured out the secret, or at least a secret, to cat sitting.

You know the situation – you’re trying to do something, the cat wants attention NOW, and you don’t want to be mean to the cat but yet you still have things to do, like checking out Laughing Frog Images (sorry, couldn’t resist the plug…).

Yes, I know, I could put the cat outside the room and close the door. However, that brings about a separate and new problem that I don’t have an answer to.

So, back to cat sitting.

You probably have everything you need at home already.

Here goes…

Get a heating pad. Preferably one with an automatic shutoff feature so you don’t forget about it.
Fold two bath towels to the size of the heating pad to serve as a cushion.
Place the heating pad on the towels.
Turn the heating pad on to “warm”.
Take a third bath towel and fold it to the size of the heating pad.
Place the third towel on top of the heating pad.
Let everything warm up.
Introduce your cat to it.
Watch said cat sniff and explore this new warm place to lie down.
Watch cat rotate six or seven times looking for the optimal spot.
Watch cat finally lie down.
Go about your day, because the cat ain’t going anywhere….

You’re welcome!

How to cat sit in one easy lesson. — Cat sitting in one easy lesson.

Be prepared for an unintended consequence…

That being a cat staring daggers at you and yipping at you when the heating pad is off, and they want the heating pad on. Now.

Working on a solution to that one…

The wild horses of Assateague Island

Posted on January 20, 2016January 18, 2016 by Kurt

I’ve photographed the wild horses of Assateague Island, Maryland and Currituck, North Carolina. These are two of the herds of wild horses on barrier islands along the east coast. Actually, they’re feral, but that’s kind of a technicality, and we’re going to stick with “wild” because that’s how they’re commonly referred to.

I’ve been most successful on Assateague. I have to admit that photographing these critters requires as much luck as it does skill. Well, to be honest, maybe luck is actually more important.

A wild horse pauses to ponder its' next move on Assateague. — A wild horse pauses to ponder its’ next move on Assateague. Click on the image to be taken to the Gallery.

Why do I say that luck might be more important?

The wild horses of Assateague have been there a long time, and have adapted to the sometime harsh realities of their island home. Humans are (tolerated) visitors that they don’t seem to give two hoots about.

We’re limited to where we can go on the island, but it’s their home, and they go where they want, when they want. Despite what we might want when we’re on a quest for “that” image.

You can go there and see 20+ horses in a day. You can go there and not see a horse. When they’re in the brush, they can be virtually impossible to see and photograph.

And, they seem to have a tendency to rotate their posteriors to the paparazzi (that’s us humans)…

You can learn more about the feral horses of Assateague Island and the Assateague Island National Seashore from the National Park Service website by clicking here.

You can learn about Maryland’s Assateague State Park by clicking here.

You can also check out Wikipedia’s page on Assateague Island by clicking here.

If you get the chance to go, you can do just fine photographically speaking with almost any camera with a zoom lens. Just remember to stay at least 40 feet away from the horses. The images in this Gallery were taken with either a 28-300mm or 18-270mm zoom lens. Obviously, the more time you can spend there, the better your chances of seeing the horses and getting “that” image. For the best lighting, go early in the morning or late in the afternoon if you can.

And, for your enjoyment and photo art, you can check out Laughing Frog Images by clicking here.

Thanks for visiting!

It’s a long train! BNSF 7195 West.

Posted on January 18, 2016January 17, 2016 by Kurt

Being from the Mid-Atlantic states, being able to capture a whole train in one image was something that just didn’t happen. At least with normal sized trains.

One of the things I enjoy about the BNSF ex- Santa Fe Transcon Line in northern Arizona is the ability to catch a whole train in a shot.

Milepost 302 on the BNSF Seligman Subdivision is one of my favorite places to do this. The lighting is perfect for about the last 30 minutes of daylight when the sun is just above the horizon.

You can see a westbound crest the hill just west of the Highway 99 Exit to Leupp (don’t ask me how to pronounce that properly) and photograph it over the course of a couple of miles. The train drops down a slight grade, enters a curve to the left, disappears from sight, and then pops up as it continues to climb towards you. As it nears you, it enters a right-hand curve and if you catch it just right – you’ve got sunlight that’s hitting the train almost perpendicular. This is what is known as “golden light” or “sweet light”.

BNSF 7195 West. Milepost 302 Seligman Subdivision. Click on the image to be taken to the BNSF ex- Santa Fe Lines Gallery to view the series.

This is one of the first shots of the series described above. I chose this picture, as it shows just how “big” northern Arizona is. The engines are over four miles away from me. The train itself is over a mile long (don’t ask just how long – I lost my note). The smoke in the distance is from a power plant nearly 40 miles east in St. Joseph City. It’s big country… It’s a long train!

The light couldn’t have been much better, as the sun dropped below the horizon four minutes after the last shot.

While I wish I could have been at this location about 20 years ago when the trains were headed by Santa Fe’s Superfleet power in the classic red and silver “Warbonnet” paint scheme or the blue and yellow “Bluebonnet” scheme, I’ll take it.

Image details: tripod, ISO 800, 1/640 second, 500mm.

There’s much more to add to the BNSF ex-Santa Fe Lines Gallery as slides get scanned and scans and images are processed.

Thanks for visiting. Be sure to check out Laughing Frog Images for help on covering up that blank space on your wall.

Symmetry at Sky Harbor

Posted on January 14, 2016January 10, 2016 by Kurt

One of the benefits of today’s smartphones is that it’s easy to create an image as you’re walking along almost anywhere, like, for example, an airport. As proof, I offer you Symmetry at Sky Harbor.

I was changing terminals one morning, and looked to my left and thought “there’s a picture there…”

Out came the Lumia Icon and I snapped a few pictures.

However, things just weren’t quite right in the Lumia’s original 16×9 (16 pixels wide for every 9 pixels high).

I had symmetry, but it wasn’t right.

When I got to my next gate, I opened the image in my Picture Perfect app and began to create the symmetry I wanted. In this case, symmetry (at least to me) meant that the image needed symmetry as well. That meant a 1:1 (square) crop. So, that meant a little finger dragging to position the crop box and a simple tap to finish the image.

I left the colors as the camera captured them. The muted pastels of the building and the sky offer a stark contrast to the metallic-like reds and blues on the tails.

(I still prefer the classic “AA” image of American Airlines that dates back to the late 1960’s, but I didn’t get a vote when they changed.)

If you look closely, you’ll also see another element of symmetry – the auxiliary power units that appear just below the tail of every aircraft.

It’s all in the details, which in some case rely upon how long you look at an image to find them.

This may never sell as the cropped image is too small for much more than a coffee cup, and it may never win any awards – but I like this image, and that’s part of what it’s all about.

It may also give you some ideas the next time you see symmetry, or the potential for it, in your travels – airport or otherwise.

You can see this image in the planes gallery on Laughing Frog Images.

Thanks for visiting!

Ever need every last drop?

Posted on January 12, 2016January 10, 2016 by Kurt

That morning cup of coffee is a ritual for millions the world over. Ever need every last drop?

I was organizing images tonight and came across this one of our dearly departed Hunter.

He liked a drop or two of iced coffee every now and then, and this day in November 2013 was one of those days.

There were a few drops left, and he was determine that they were to be his. Never mind the fact that his head wouldn’t fit in the glass – he was going to get his due!

I never saw him get his head stuck, but I did see him contently licking iced coffee from his paw a time or two…

Things came to a bit of a halt tonight as I paused to smile and remember him.

For those of you who didn’t get to read about him when he passed, he was a gentle giant and a kind soul.

Some &^$% people left him in front of a pet store in a crate on a cold February morning in 2012. We me him not long thereafter, as it seems that adopting cute kittens is far more prevalent than adopting a six year old. He was a project – building trust and getting him to understand that we were here to serve (cat owners, you know what I’m talking about…). Every time I see one of those “Who Saved Who?” bumper stickers, I can’t help but think of Hunter.

And, I think of him when I’m going for every last drop…

Beyond the memories this image stirred up, there’s a moral to be found here – and here it comes:

Take pictures.

Take pictures of your family. Take pictures of your friends. Take pictures of your pets. Take pictures of things that make you smile and things you want to remember. These days it’s pretty cheap and pretty easy to make a memory – there are few excuses not to make a memory.

And when you stumble across random images when you aren’t expecting to, they bring a pause and a smile to the insanity and craziness that seems to be everywhere in life today.

And that’s not a bad thing….

The Frog is back.

Posted on January 10, 2016January 9, 2016 by Kurt

Well, we’re back!

The Frog took some time off from the blog to take care of some things around the house, and spend time with family, friends, and (of course) the cats. It was a nice way to end the year. I hope you enjoyed your holidays as well.

In the midst of all that, I did some photography and I also scanned several hundred slides dating back to the late 1970’s. Yes, I have a lot of processing to do!

So, what’s coming to Laughing Frog Images in 2016?

Petroglyphs.

Wild horses.

Trains. Contemporary and historical.

A National Monument or two.

The stories behind the pictures.

“How to” insights (or at least how I do/did, keeping in mind that I have no formal photography training!).

A new book on the final years of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad as I saw them through my lens.

A new book on steam operations from the 1970’s and 1980’s (and possibly more). Think C&O 614, Reading 2102, N&W 611, N&W 1218 and maybe Nickel Plate 765 as well.

It’s going to be a busy year!

Thanks for your support as we grew throughout 2015. Every “follow”, “like” and “share” is greatly appreciated.

Here’s to a great 2016 for all of us!

Merry Christmas, WNY&P Style

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Kurt

Merry Christmas from Laughing Frog Images!

This year’s card takes us back to February of 2003, and the early days of the Western New York and Pennsylvania (WNY&P) Railroad. The WNY&P is a part of the Livonia Avon and Lakeville (LA&L) family of railroads.

We’re at Niobe Junction, New York on this brisk February morning to see two LA&L Alco C424m’s heading west to Corry, PA on the former Norfolk Southern / Conrail / Erie Lackawanna / Erie Railroad mainline.

Niobe Junction is at the east end of what was a separated section of double track. Typically, when railroads had a double track mainline, they kept the tracks parallel to each other. I seem to recall having read somewhere (and I can’t find the source now) that the line separation was made due to issues with the eastbound (uphill) grade and the effect that it had on eastbound perishable (iced) food freight – something to do with the ice shifting in the cars. It was one of those interesting railroad history stories. Just wish I could find it instead of relying on a crowded memory…

Anyway, on this fine February morning, we see two spotless Alcos, each 35+ years young (and still around today!), heading west to Corry, PA.

They’re passing an unusual sign warning drivers of “increased train traffic”, as the WNY&P is about to resume through freight service on the line between Meadville, PA and Hornell, NY.

Why were they headed to Corry as light engines?

A customer in Corry had a slight problem.

A freight car was stuck – as in frozen stiff, and it needed to be moved. The two Centuries headed west from the terminal in Falconer, NY, freed the car for the customer, and headed home.

That’s customer service by the WNY&P in the spirit of the Erie Lackawanna’s “Friendly Service Route”!

Peace. Love. Joy.

Posted on December 21, 2015December 20, 2015 by Kurt

Well, here in the U.S., we’re in the middle of the Christmas rush – those that haven’t shopped are watching the clock tick, and those that are selling are trying to influence those who still have to shop. And so it goes…

Around the world, millions are already traveling or preparing to travel.

There are a lot of things going on – and somewhere in the middle of it all, peace. love and joy are out there.

So why am I writing this in such broad terms?

Easy.

Demographic reports tell me that Laughing Frog Images is currently followed beyond the U.S. in thirteen (13) countries around the world, plus one (1) U.S. Territory. That’s just those who follow Laughing Frog Images’ Facebook page. I can’t tell where those of you who follow Laughing Frog Images on Google+ or via our Blog are from, nor can I tell where every visitor to each medium is located. Let’s just say that I’m amazed and humbled by it all, and encouraged to see that the following keeps growing.

Those demographics also tell me that there’s much more to this holiday season beyond wishing every one of you a simple “Merry Christmas”.

Among you who follow the Frog, there are a lot of people in a lot of places around the world celebrating their own religious, ethnic and cultural traditions, seasons and events.

I’m not even going to pretend that I know what all of them are, nor am I going to try and fake it by trying to wish everyone a happy this and merry that. Odds are that I’d likely make a mistake or two (or more), and perhaps make a fool out myself in the process.

So, the Frog is simply going to wish everyone out there reading this three simple and universal things:

That there may be peace for your, your families, and friends.

That you take time to love yourself (not selfishly, but to take care of yourself), your family, your friends, your pets, and even those who aren’t your favorite folks.

That you take the time to find the joy in this season.

The Frog has been quiet lately – between the day job and family and friends, the Frog has been very, very busy. He’s tired and looking forward to a little downtime. You probably won’t see a new post until early in the New Year. He’s also realized that churning out an informative, interesting, and entertaining blog and an interesting website and product selection is easier than it sounds when one already has a full-time job!

Don’t be this guy!

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Kurt

Look at this poor little thing.

Worn out from holiday shopping – he just gave out on the wall.

Holiday shopping can do that to you!

We have a solution!

There’s one day left to take advantage of Laughing Frog Images’ 2015 holiday sale.

25% off everything on except our books (yeah, there’s always a catch!).

There’s still time to get what you want your way by Christmas if you find yourself in that situation….

Or, because you feel like this little guy, get yourself something!

Even if you don’t… safe and happy holidays to you and yours from Laughing Frog Images.

Reflections on the USS Arizona

Posted on December 7, 2015December 6, 2015 by Kurt

I have been to Pearl Harbor once.

Coincidentally, it was ten years ago today – December 7, 2005.

That day, by virtue of being on the last boat out to the Arizona Memorial, I experienced something that most people don’t – the internment of a Pearl Harbor survivor’s ashes on the USS Arizona.

I saw the gathering of family, Honor Guard, and current military personnel for the ceremony.

While I wasn’t a part of the ceremony, I was certainly moved by it.

There were few words being spoken as people took their places at the Memorial as we were leaving (it was a private ceremony).

There didn’t need to be any words.

You felt the significance of what happened there in 1941, and was happening there that day.

The feelings were more than any words could say.

It still moves me today as I write this.

The Arizona was seeping fuel oil that day, and, to my knowledge, she still does.

Perhaps it is her way of weeping for all who gave their lives that day.

Maybe she weeps as a symbol for all who have given their lives at war.

I don’t claim to have any answers about what happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 or why.

Nor can I really grasp man’s inhumanity to man throughout history.

Or today.

All I can do is sit here and be moved by a ten year old image and wonder “why?”

It’s a very broad “why” that’s not limited to Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is just one part of that “why?”

I wonder why about a lot of events that have cost mothers their sons and daughters, and children their mothers and fathers.

I wonder how people can kill other people because they (fill in the blank).

I wonder, and I just don’t understand.

I probably never will understand.

Maybe it’s because I’m a photographer that I see and feel things in pictures, and believe that a picture can carry and convey a meaning – no words necessary.

I think that the USS Arizona weeps for us all.

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