Downtown Austin at Night

I traveled to Austin for work in early May. I was last here about 8 years ago, for a similar reason, and this time our group made it downtown.


I work in IT / Manufacturing and well, I'm used to being the only female. (I'm taking the photo)







I haven't been downtown since the 90's. I forgot they close down parts of 6th Street (aka Pecan Street) at night. This was a Thursday evening.






The music and overall vibe of Downtown Austin is hip and vibrant. I highly recommend venturing away from the suburbs and into the city.

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The Start And End of My Day

On Tuesday evening, I missed a great sunset. I knew it was one of those beautiful ones - with pink and red hues - I could tell because of the reflection on my neighbor's house. But I was busy making dinner, or something, so I didn't go out and see it for myself.

I found out what I missed when my friend, Kellie, posted a picture of it on Instagram. I kicked myself (mentally, of course) that I didn't take the time to enjoy it in person.

Then Wednesday morning, I slept in while my husband took our son to early jazz band rehearsal. I received a text, "wow, it was an amazing sunrise this morning". Dang, another lost opportunity.

This morning, when I saw the tinges of pink and red along our bathroom block window panes (they are privacy blocks, so you can't make out any details), I grabbed my camera and went outside - just to the driveway - because I wasn't going to miss out on this morning's show.

I wasn't disappointed.

Via my iPhone:


With the big camera, which captured the truer colors, along with more of the depth and variation:


It was a great start of my day.

The end of my day was just as nice - some more night street shots from our little downtown area.



The display at Ten Thousand Villages - a great shop that features Fair Trade, hand made products from around the world.


It was warm enough over the weekend to warrant outdoor dining. Not so much now, but with the twinkle lights, who cares....


In the summer, this alley is filled with patrons, live music and great eats. The lights stay up all year round.


I hope you had a great start and end to your day, too. Now, back to Christmas cards and all that stuff.....

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I Love the Night Life

There's something magical about going into the city on a chilly night - the bright lights of the skyline, the sting of cold air on the skin, warm breath creating wisps of steam with each exhale. With each inhale of cold air, you can't help but feel alive. Yet the warmth exuding from stores and restaurants beckons you inside for a break from the nip in the air.

I don't live in a big city with a spectacular skyline anymore, but the lights of our small downtown still give off that special spark at night.







We even have some neon....


Small town or large city - I hope you take the time out to experience the night life where you live.

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Now for Some Star Bokeh

I made a new bokeh filter yesterday using a star punch. Unfortunately, my centering skills were a little off, so one of the star's points is rounded off. Probably need to make another one.



Taken outside a local restaurant who has lights strung across the outdoor patio. It's too cold to eat outside now, but I like the lights.

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Heart Shaped Bokeh

With the twinkly lights on the tree, it's a perfect time for some shaped bokeh!

I read about specialty shaped bokeh last year with the Bokeh Masters Kit. But I also read a how to create your own optic filter at this post from DIY and tried it out.

Using my [seldom used] scrapbooking tools, I created a heart filter that I placed over my 50mm lens.

I was in a rush so the tape job isn't pretty, but it does the job:



It is important that your subject be placed at least 4 feet away from the lights - this will enhance the shapes and make them bigger. You need to set your aperture to as wide as it will go - I set mine to f1.8. You may have to spot meter your subject, too.

Of course, half the fun is experimenting. Having a willing subject helps, too.

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Suspended Lights

From the restaurant last night during dinner with "The Girls".



I wish I had spot metered the front lantern - I would have been able to capture more detail of the glass. The software I use is able to recover some of the blown detail, but I'm sure it would have been better if I had captured it properly from the start.

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The Mall Parking Lot

With the promise of an empty house all to myself this past weekend, what did I do? I went shopping at the mall, something I almost NEVER do unless coerced by one of my kids.

The newly opened Sephora store was my only stop, because it complete sucked me in. And I don't even wear makeup. Something about those sparkly displays, those beautiful colors, the flawless skin, pouty lips and eyes on those perfect models just draws me in. And yes, I dropped over 100 bucks there. And no, I didn't take any pictures, but I wanted to.

But I did witness the last glimmers of light in the sky as I left, and swung to an empty section of parking lot to capture it.


Exposure 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 36 mm
ISO Speed 500
I steadied the camera on the side view mirror of the car, since there is no way I can hand hold anything slower than 1/60 sec

I then decided to set my aperture to f/22 and included the lamppost that was illuminating the parking lot, for some star bursts:

Exposure 4 sec
Aperture f/22.0
Focal Length 40 mm
ISO Speed 500
I sandwiched my lens in the crook of space between the side view mirror and the car. Sometimes you have to improvise at these things!

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Orbs Above

I loved the detail of ceiling in the Morris Room, one of the original tea rooms at the Victoria and Albert Museum. We enjoyed desert and tea in this ornate dining room and I couldn't resist taking a picture.



Another interesting feature of the room - an inscription along the upper portion of the walls:

There is nothing better for a man than that He should eat and drink and that He should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.

I hope you are able to eat, drink and enjoy your labours today and every day.

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The Back Street View

I've taken plenty of night pictures of our lovely library. But not from the back.



I love the big expanse of windows on the second floor. We are very lucky to have such a nice facility.

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POTD - Out for Dinner

Confession - we rarely go out to eat as a family anymore, as just picking a place that the four of us agree upon requires a mediator these days.

But when I suggested one of the new restaurants in town, one that we hadn't tried yet, I obtained consensus from all family members. I guess the unknown is more palatable than the tried and true. Or maybe we all wanted to try something new.

For a "family style" restaurant that serves "breakfast all day long" and home-style meals like meatloaf, pot roast, and open face turkey sandwiches, the decor wasn't too homey or diner-like. In fact it was quite relaxing and elegant.


The lights above our table

And the food - yummy and down home, as prescribed. I think we may have agreement for future dinner outings.

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