Tim McMurdo

lisska ar

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

I pass this bar every morning on the way to work. The light is always on and I wonder if it is still open and who would be in the bar that late or that early? I'll bet that there are a lot of interesting stories about the patrons and their hijinks.

I also wonder what Lisska means? Is it a last name? Was the bar opened by an immigrant and this was his favorite pony's name growing up? Do the patrons all gather here to watch their favorite teams playing "football" back in the old country?

You never know with these things.

Exposure	0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture	f/5.6
Focal Length	45 mm
ISO Speed	1600
Exposure Bias	-0.3 EV

From a photographer's point of view, I like the B&W version of this image. However, I wish that the street light was not in the scene. I feel like it distracts from the LIsska AR sign. Notice that I stopped down the exposure by 1/3 of a stop to bring the glow from the sign under control.

my morning weakness

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

Sunday mornings are my opportunity to get up early and enjoy a sunrise walk. Driving over to the lake and walking around the shore or through the prairie are pretty typical. When I am done, I often head downtown just to look for something to photograph. For some strange reason, my car drives past Schuler's Bakery… all on its own, I swear. The doughnuts are good but the butterfly cookies are even better.

All I can say is that my waist line is lucky that I don't walk every morning.

Sorghum

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

You have never seen sorghum? I am not surprised. Sorghum is not a common plant any more and when you do see it, you might be forgiven if you think you are looking at a field of corn.

Just like corn, sorghum grows on a tall stalk with long hanging leaves. However, if you look closely, you will see that there are no ears on the stalks.

At the top of every stalk is this bunch of fruit that looks like berries. These are the seeds.

What do you do with sorghum? Well, you make syrup with it. The canes are cut down and passed through a grinder, squeezing out the juice in the process. The juice is then boiled down to make a sweet amber colored syrup. Think of slightly bitter sweet molasses and you will have some idea of what sorghum tastes like.

While not very common in the North, Sorghum syrup can still be found in some areas of the South, like northern Georgia. I have eaten biscuits with sorghum syrup many times and can tell you that it is worth eating, if you can find it. Just like maple syrup or honey, a jar can sit on the shelf for a long time, so bring one home and enjoy the sweet flavor of sorghum syrup for months to come.

Consider this a tip from your friend Tim. I would not steer you wrong when it comes to good eating.

dale chihuly

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

When it comes to non-photographic art, I generally find myself drawn to watercolors and, dutch masters, and the impressionists. I can name only a handful of current artists beyond the few that I am personally acquainted with. Dale Chihuly is among those few well known artists whose work is instantly recognizable to me.

His name comes so easily to mind because of the beautiful glass medium that he works within and the organic shapes that he creates. His peaces are easily recognizable.

Franklin Park Conservatory, located just east of downtown Columbus, Ohio has a large permanent collection of Chihuly glass sculptures that warrant a visit if you are ever in the area. Installed within the indoor gardens, the sculptures mingle with the gorgeous plants and flowers and can be visited year round without needing to worry about the weather. As an added bonus, many of the pieces are located within the tropical butterfly house.

Lovely art, beautiful flowers, and butterflies. How can you go wrong with a combination like that?

my welcome aboard party

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

Friday marked the end of my third full week at my new company. I've ;earned a lot in those short three weeks. The company is staffed with fantastic dedicated people that are focused on the job of helping others. That kind of attitude is spread throughout the organization and is embedded deeply within their culture. A prime example is the big party they threw for me. The entire office was invited, all 150 of them.
Sure they called the event the company cookout, but that is just because they knew I would be embarrassed if too much focus was placed on me. See how caring and thoughtful these people are? I feel really lucky to have landed among such gracious folks.

I was part of the grilling team, a dedicated group of people with mad cooking skills. These people wanted me to be comfortable and ensured that I was the tallest person in the group. Isn't that nice? Being just over 5'9", I felt like I was a towering giant.

There were speeches, dancing ladies, ice cream, singing, and prizes. Yes sir, that was quite a party. I sure like working with these folks a lot. What a great welcome aboard… oops.. I mean, what a great company cook out. I can't wait till next year. They are so thoughtful that they will probably through an anniversary party around the same time of year!

morning walk

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

Saturday morning, I woke to a foggy morning and decided to go for a walk before the sun burned off the cool mist. Walking in the fog is one of my favorite experiences. I love the muted colors and the way the fog shrouds the lights.

I love the lack of echo. The moist air seems to absorb the sounds and even the noise of the gravel crunching under my feet doesn't go far.

I love the cool air. Even when the day has plans to become hot, the morning fog provides a cool damp blanket.

The fog is full of surprises and even familiar paths give you opportunities to pause and experience something new. I think this is because the fog focuses your sight to the object close to you.

I can't wait till Saturday morning. I am planning a nice morning walk. Maybe I will tell you all about it.

r.i.p. barnaby millstone

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

It is with great sadness that I must inform you all of the death of our beloved Barnaby Millstone. Barnaby was the Egg Production Manager and a real fixture at Carriage Hill Farm. Many of you remember that he was a rare bird… a friendly rooster. Part of Barnaby's good demeanor was probably due to the fact that he was all but blind and probably didn't know you were standing so close to him. Still, he was a fine handsome old rooster. We will all miss him dearly.

If you would like to read our original interview with Barnaby, you can read it here: Interview With Barnaby Millstone

ioof

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

IOOF sign on a radio tower in downtown Springfield, Ohio. I believe that IOOF means the Independant Order of Odd Fellows, an international organization that I am not very familiar with. Evidently they are faith based and dedicated to doing good things for others. Is that odd? Are only fellows allowed or can gals help too? So many questions…odd.

finally! a decent shot downtown

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Tim McMurdo

I have been trying to get a decent shot of this view in downtown Springfield for a long time. Many mornings over this summer, I would walk the street, knowing that there was a good picture here, but without any good results. What changed?

I finally walked out into the street. The morning sunrise lit the building on the right and high lighted the strip of metal attached to the scaffolding on the left. Those high lights combine with the lines in the road and the street lights to draw the eye down the street. I think it works pretty well. What do you think?