I'm not here...

... instead I'm over here now.  I failed miserably at the 366, but I do enjoy the challenge and always keeping my eyes open.  So I purchased a new domain which you can visit at www.CloutierPhoto.com which will have my photo gallery as well as a photo blog.  

Layout is a bit different, more customized, and I maintain full control over the site.  Plus I find it much easier to upload photos than to deal with Flickr and Blogger.  This is my last post here, instead you can find me at the new place from now on.

Update (No Photo)

Sigh.... I warned you all I was a lousy blogger. There's been quite a lot going on since my last post in September. The good news is I've continued on with my photography, bought another camera (a Nikon D90), some gear for it (flash, lense, software), took lots of photos, and started a new website strictly for my photography.

On the other hand I've posted very little, uploaded much fewer photos, completely stopped working on my 366 challenege, and commented on virtually no photos that many of you have been thoughtful enough to share.

I miss it though. I miss sharing with you all and seeing the wonderful work you've done which inspires me to do better. I hope you'll forgive me for more or less disappearing for months at a time. I don't mean to. Like so many other people, I just seem to get busy and things like this slide down further on the priority list.

#62 Exotic

Some kind of bug. I thought it was a locust but when I tried to do a little research, I discovered my bug didn't look like any of the locusts. Anyway, he's alien, creepy looking, and rather exotic. My dad swore he would be a perfect fit and I promised I would put him at the top of my update blog.

#141 Forgotten

An old cannery that now sits on a small island with no road access or power. It was flooded out 20? 30? years ago and never reopened. The place has long since been forgotten about and no effort has been made to restore it.

#220 Bridge

This bridge crosses a river somewhere in South Jersey. I liked the perspective from underneath, but unfortunately being in a boat that's rocking and under power makes it somewhat more difficult to get a sharp photo. Which means the photos I had from directly underneath didn't make it.

#91 Lonely

A short moment of time where this old man came walking by and he just seemed so lost in himself. I captured as much of the trail of footprints that I could to emphasize his solidarity.

#23 Water

Unconstrained water. I liked the jumbled, tumbling effect of water in motion.

#135 Surf

We haven't had great surfing weather. I've given up on getting a shot with someone surfing in one of those wave tubes so I made due with a couple of random shots. End of summer surfing. End of summer. Ughhh... Now I'm getting depressed. Let's see what photo I have next.

#32 Rain (and update)

Remember when I warned you I was a lousy blogger? I get busy, disorganized, and forgetful. I work till 6pm, cook, eat, clean and then get too tired to bother doing anything else. I go several days, sometimes a week, without touching computer or camera. You have my apology for slacking, but don't say I never warned you :)

Here's my photo for rain. It's not exactly what I was looking for, but out of the 15-20 pictures I took of rain, it was the only one I felt presentable enough to be posted.

#7 Smile

My friends came down from Michigan to drop by and visit. This is a picture of their 3 year old daughter "A" who can already sing the Star Spangled Banner and knows all her planets (in order). She also always says "Please" and "Thank you" which around these parts is a rarity. An amazing little girl and I couldn't think of anyone better for this theme simply because she made me smile all day long.

Bonus photo below. Doesn't fit a theme but I loved the face she made when I snapped this one.

#31 Boat

This guy sailed by us as we were moving to a new fishing spot.  I've always been fascinated with sail boats and plan on getting one someday.  The city scape behind is Atlantic City, NJ.

#175 Crowd

We spent the day at Long Island Beach yesterday.  This is why I don't normally go on a weekend, but I knew I would get an opportunity like this.  The crowd density actually goes on for a good mile like this in both directions.  

#153 Footprint

One lonely footprint. Imprinted by my wife's foot. We tried a little trail and a couple of other compositions but I kept finding things I didn't like. It was just too crowded (see above) to do much.

#172 - Black and White

Went for a walk around Smithville Park named for an old factory complex that was known for producing quality woodworking machines from the 1870's and on.  They also were recognized as manufacturing bicycles that won numerous championships in the 1890's.

#143 Bird

This little guy was hanging out in a nest waiting for momma to come back and feed him.  

I really wasn't ready to start posting photos but after Helen dropped by and mentioned us on her site, I figured I better get something up for you all to look at.  

A Time to Start

I've never been good at blogging.  I sit in front of my keyboard for five or ten minutes just trying to get the jumble in my head to transform into some kind of recognizable text.  About two years ago I started a blog.  I managed two separate entries in that time and deleted it last week.  I'm a lousy blogger.

A few months ago my daughter picked up a new Nikon D60 and I fell in love with it.  I picked one up just a few weeks ago.  While scouring the internet looking for just about anything photography related I stumbled across the 366 Pictures site.  I was really intrigued and blindly followed links until I came across Dogeared Photos which shows off some truly amazing talent.

I got rather enthusiastic and showed the site to my daughter and we both decided to join in on the 366 Photo challenge.  We're already six months behind and have some catching up to do.. but we're excited!

Now I finally have something worthwhile to blog about.  Here's to a better blog.  I'd also like to just say "Thanks" to my daughter Cassandra for reigniting my passion for photography :)