Jay and Michelle's Blog: March 2010

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Morning Shoot

Before I left Tennessee yesterday, I took a few photos. It was supposed to be a sunny day, and it was the kind of perfect morning lighting that helps warm up photographs.

This little guy was pretty confident, he's the only one that would let me get close to him.

He also was a little grumpy about his territory in the grass. This goose was closer to him at one point, until he started poking his beak at him.

I took an abundant amount of photos yesterday morning for my low light assignment and I won't bore you with posting a ton of them. (But if you want to see a few shots, click on the picture below to go to the album.)

Friday, March 26, 2010

Oh Tennessee River and a mountain man

We get together anytime we can.

This afternoon, mom and I brainstormed spots around town that might photograph well (with the pooches, of course). She helped me plan a route around town and promised to take care of my furry babies as I left.

The sun wasn't at its best, as the clouds were still trying to dissipate. However, I managed to capture a few lucky moments when the sun hit objects just right.

This is was a gate house into Oak Ridge, or as it was known in 1941 the "secret city." Over 75,000 workers were building something that they didn't understand, which turned out to be the A-bomb dropped on Japan after Pearl Harbor. (Manhattan Project Photos)

The Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell: The bell was built to honor the workers of the Manhattan Project, to commemorate 50th birthday of Oak Ridge and to become a symbol and everlasting monument for peace.

It has been a fun trip to Tennessee, with much relaxation, shopping, cooking and chatting. I am so happy that I will be home soon with a fresh start and a clear mind.

A little time away

I was in need of an escape this week (hopefully I will be able to explain better later why I had to get out of the house.) Needless to say, I needed to get out of town for a while to relieve some stress. I left Wednesday early morning and drove up to my parent's house in Tennessee.

I packed the car as Jay was getting ready for work. (early) After our 3 weeks of belongings were tucked into my little car, I jumped in the shower and headed out on the road for our 3 day trip.

Haley and Murphy love grandma and grandpa's house. To the point where they squeel with joy as soon as they see the river that leads to my parent's street. As soon as we arrive, they tear out of the car. As I pulled up on Wednesday I had the window open, and Haley was so excited that she almost jumped out of the car through the window. They love the freedom of land to run, especially since my parents yard is not fenced. (They enjoy the neighbors yard as well, and only come back when heavily coaxed.) The only time I can capture moments is when they wear themselves out and take a break...

After Murphy got his clock cleaned by the protective dog next door, he went into time out on the porch for not listening. Haley thoroughly enjoyed the extra attention she received from the neighbor kids who also live next door.

My parents have a screened-in back porch where we spend most of our time in warm weather. I've been known to fall asleep outside in the evening on occasion. We spent the night enjoying a cocktail, talking about recent events, and enjoying dinner on the back porch.

We rarely eat out for dinner in Tennessee. My parents grill the majority of their meals and have their schedules down pat. They know exactly the time for each type of meat and the time to "flip." (In this instance they were cooking swordfish and chicken).

(I think it is only appropriate to not post pictures of us eating.)

As tired as Haley and Murphy were the next morning, they still found a way to beg at grandma's every step in the kitchen.

After rain all day yesterday and the first part of the morning today, I'm hoping that the weather clears so that I can take a few pictures for my photography assignment. If I get anything decent, I'll post it. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to the projected sunny and 65 degree weather tomorrow in Atlanta.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Buckhead bargains

I'm loving this web site for Atlanta bargains, Bargains in Buckhead. I especially like that there are often deals for the Fox Theatre, one of our favorite date spots.

If you live in Atlanta, bookmark this site to keep up with great deals!

Such a pretty day

I headed into Atlanta early this morning to have my hair cut (um, fixed). I always enjoy the perimeter area on Saturday mornings. It is so much more peaceful than my past experience of driving through rush hour traffic on week days.

On my way back out of town, I stopped at the Chattahoochee river to take a few pictures. It was packed with bikers, runners, walkers and little kids playing on the playground near the river.

These little guys let me get right up to them, but kept a watchful eye. I have a wide angle lens so I had to get a little closer than I wanted. They let me sit next to them for a solid 15 minutes. It seemed like they felt pretty safe with me around.

I never noticed geese standing on only one leg in the past. All of them that I observed were hangin' out with their left leg tucked up to their belly.

There is a boat rental area next to the river. I'm thinking this would be fun to try one weekend.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Don't try this at home

I shouldn't have.

But I did.
As I was rushing out the door a couple of weeks ago to take Haley to the vet (nerves on high), I trimmed my own bangs. Have you noticed that there aren't many pictures of me online lately? My bangs are crooked. And oddly shaped. I'm trying to let them grow. But every time I see a hair out of place, out come the scissors.

I saw an extra long piece yesterday, which I proceeded to snip off. They still don't look right. I looked in the mirror and I knew that I had to devise a way to stop myself from touching them.

Jay came home last night and said "What did you do?" when he saw the barrette. "You need to stop cutting them."

Easier said than done.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

First practice

Today I went to historic Marietta to take a few pictures.

The old train station, dating back to the mid-1800's.

Stopping the train by using a fast shutter speed.

Showing the speed of the train by slowing down the shutter speed.

I need to make plans to visit Marietta Museum of History. I heard about the history of this building during a girls night out ghost tour around Halloween. During the Civil War (1862), trains carried the wounded to this once hotel then make-shift hospital from a local battlefield (Kennesaw).

They used elementary means to numb the soldiers like alcohol while removing limbs - think Haiti today - and this building was said to be filled with "screaming patients." The morgue was on the forth floor, which you might notice is missing. The next owners removed the floor due to its past. Today, there are numerous ghost stories of patients roaming the halls and peering out the windows at night. We were shown some surveillance camera footage that caught some wispy beings on tape. An interesting place!

The dogs came with me for the ride....they needed some fresh air. And the 8,000,000 pets they received while I was taking pictures didn't upset them either. They make me smile.

Monday, March 15, 2010

The trailer's out!

The movie Killers staring Katherine Heigl and Aston Kutcher was partially shot in our neighborhood last May. Somehow I totally missed blogging about it. The trailer just came out for the movie, and it looks really good!

Here are some pictures that we took during the time they week or so that they here in May of 2009.

All of the trailers and set equipment behind me...

Rob Luketic also directed the movie 21. The Cadillac in the photo below transported Rob back and forth between the clubhouse (trailers) and the set for the week. Note Jay standing right behind it to get a glimpse of him. He's a huge fan. Actually, there were two Caddys that transported Aston and Catherine back and forth from the trailers to the set as well as the Director. The guy in the orange shirt walking toward the car was close with the director, possibly his Assistant? He definitely went wherever he wanted.

I can't even begin to describe how much work goes into movie production. I spent hours talking to the set crew who were working hours on end. One particular staff member, who was working on the explosions (in a fire hydrant crash scene), told me that it takes over 24 hours of set up the effects to produce less than one minute in a movie. The entire set crew staff were running non-stop, perfecting the lighting, sound, equipment, and everything else. These people work hard!!!

This Volvo crashed three fences at once. It was en enormous production that took a day and a half or so just to set up. The crew tore down our neighbors original fence, rebuilt it with their set materials, and finally crashed through it. Once the shot was set up, they had one chance to get it right. Let's just say they were very serious about everyone being quiet and keeping out of the cameras views. Poor Volvo, it was completely destroyed afterward.

Ashton and Katherine's stunt doubles getting ready to scale the fence.

Ashton stood in between the houses and ran into the scene. It was around 3:30a.m. in the morning when I took this picture so I'm not sure if it was me or the camera that couldn't handle the scene. (Hello, it's Ashton Kutcher! He's too cute.)