Month: December 2013

12-31-13 Global Babies

2013 12-31 Global Babies by Watertown, South Dakota, photographer Scott Shephard
I guess it’s appropriate that the final post of 2013 is a photo of our grand daughter, Glenyce Jane, whose arrival on June 2 was no doubt the biggest event in the life of the Shephard/Brass family this year. As everyone who has a grandchild has told me, she has been a blessing and a true marvel.

This photo wasn’t staged and is the result of a little luck, as is so often the case in photography. Deb was intending to read this book to little Glenyce but Glenyce decided she would rather taste it instead. And I happened to have my camera ready.

Having traveled only to South Dakota and back from her native city of St. Paul, Glenyce isn’t yet a “global baby.” But given the nature of the world and the inclinations of her parents, she will certainly be cosmopolitan, which literally means a “citizen of the world.” The world is lucky to have her. She is, of course, smart, beautiful and everything else that grandparents say about their grandchildren. 🙂

Canon 5DIII 1/100s f/2.8 ISO800 100mm

12-30-13 Jack Frost

2013 12-30 Jack Frost by Watertown, South Dakota, photographer Scott Shephard
When you look closely at the amazing details of a frosty window it’s not hard to understand why someone chose to personify the creator under the name of Jack Frost. Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by the seemingly random yet ordered patterns of the kind seen in this photo.

Unfortunately, due to improved window glazing, this kind of window frost is less often seen. But fortunately my son and his family live in a venerable older home in St. Paul, MN. They may not appreciate the heating bills but I appreciate the beauty of Jack Frost’s art.

If you would like to see more of this series (8 more photos) click here.

Canon 5DIII 1/60s f/5.6 ISO100 100mm

12-29-13 Tropical Rain

2013 12-29 Tropical Rain by Watertown, South Dakota, photographer Scott Shephard
We arrived back in Minneapolis last night from a week in Mexico. The temperature was a balmy 27 degrees F. But in Watertown, SD, it is -14.

And so I thought it was appropriate (and maybe even good for the soul) that I should post a photo of a tropical plant covered with rain drops that I saw yesterday morning at the resort we were staying at. But in spite of the 94 degree temperature difference, I am happy to be on the way home.

12-27-13 Under the Sea

20131227-062829.jpg
20131227-062829.jpg

I have been on a bit of a hiatus from this blog, mainly because I am on a week-long trip to Mexico where a couple days ago it was 96 degrees F warmer than it was in my beloved home town of Watertown, SD.

The photo today is a GoPro screen capture of some video I took just off the shore of the resort we are staying at. I’m working on getting the video posted here but I may be at the limits of my tech know-how: I am using an iPhone to write and post this entry and it is much less user friendly than my desktop computer. But we’ll see. . .

Tomorrow we fly back home to the frozen North. I am actually looking forward to it.

12-26-13 Window Light

2013 12-26 Window Light
I am taking a bit of a break from writing and in the process giving you at bit of a break, as well. Enjoy the photo. And how about a famous photographer quote?

“Photography is like stealing. You rob someone of a moment that exposes something essential about their character, their soul, if you like. There are people who are very conscious of that, who find that terrifying. The thought that everyone, friend of foe, can get so close to you, look you straight in the eye and judge you without having any control over it or being able to respond. A part of them has become the property of the photographer.”
― Esther Verhoef, Close-up

12-22-13 Fascination (Center Courtyard – Joclyn Art Museum, Omaha)

2013 12-22 Fascination
2013 12-22 Fascination

I am taking a bit of a break from writing and in the process giving you at bit of a break, as well. Enjoy the photo. And how about a famous photographer quote?

“A portrait is not a likeness. The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph it is no longer a fact but an opinion. There is no such thing as inaccuracy in a photograph. All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth. ”
― Richard Avedon