November 2, 2009
October 11, 2009
October 3, 2009
September 21, 2009
September 12, 2009
September 5, 2009
August 29, 2009
August 17, 2009
August 16, 2009
July 26, 2009
Sweet Hour of Prayer
This is my first attempt at building a presentation using “Keynote,” the Apple program that’s similar to Power Point. Design, layout, and photos by Rob Vanya. Music: “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” as recorded on the CD “Country Mountain Hymns” by various artists.
July 22, 2009
Floribunda
Hope you enjoy this collection of recent floral photos I’ve taken at various locations. All pix taken with a Nikon D700 coupled with either a Phoenix 100mm macro lens, or a Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4 macro lens. To see high-res versions of the photos, click on the link below –
July 11, 2009
Our Worst Enemy
The Center of the Universe
A short pictorial story that’s sort of funny, and yet at the same time sort of sad –
2008 a Space Oddity
Where did he go? How did he get back?
Click on the link below to find out how Rob was whisked away to a planet 4 galaxies removed from the Milky Way.
July 4, 2009
June 24, 2009
Colorado’s Grand Mesa
Colorado’s Grand Mesa is the largest “flat-top” mountain in the nation. Sandy & I took these pix while driving around on the summit in late May of 2009. The lakes on the summit were partially frozen. The temps were near freezing, and we encountered snow and sleet, and a snow plow clearing ice from the roads. Took the pix of us 2 together by placing the camera on a tripod & setting the camera to the self-timer mode. Notice the stark contrast of the terrain once we started to descend from the summit. In a matter of about 30 minutes, we drove from lush forests of aspen and spruce trees to the barren, rocky terrain of the arid, dessert-like topography that surrounds the Mesa. It was strange, passing from one world into another world in such a short period of time. To see larger, high-res versions of the pix, click on this link –
June 12, 2009
Colorado National Monument
Hope you enjoy this slideshow of pix Sandy & I took when we recently visited the Colorado National Monument, located near Grand Junction. It was stormy and rainy off and on during our drive through the area, which is rare for that part of the state. That’s also why I took some close-up photos of raindrops. Background music: “Carry Me Away” by Govi.
To see larger, high-res versions of the photos, click on this link –
May 19, 2009
Ode to “Ode to Billie Joe”
This post is an ode to one of my all-time favorite songs, “Ode to Billie Joe,” composed and originally performed by Bobbie Gentry. The song was released in 1967 and literally took the world by storm. To me, it exemplefies the songwriting craft at its highest form — a bouncy, simple beat that’s enjoyable to hear without being obnoxious that provides a foundation for absolutely amazing lyrics that paint a clear picture about a haunting and tragic story set in the rural South.
To me, it’s as though the “Ode” takes an entire complex William Faulkner masterpiece novel and condenses it into one mysterious, mystical song. There’s so much mystery, tragedy, and imagry packed into one beautifully crafted tune. No wonder the popularity of the song has endured through the years. The song poses questions that I, for one, have pondered for a long time and have yet to find conclusive answers for. What was it that the girl and Billie Joe threw off the bridge? What exactly was the relationship between the girl and Billie Joe? Were they romantically involved, or was she just a very good friend, someone considerably younger than Billie Joe who really admired him?
Please share your theory about what the girl and Billie Joe tossed off the bridge into the muddy water.
Here are the lyrics, followed by a video clip of Bobbie Gentry performing the song. She was a little ahead of her time. This clip is actually an MTV piece released before MTV became so popular.
Ode to Billie Joe
It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin’ cotton, and my brother was balin’ hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And mama hollered out the back door, “y’all, remember to wipe your feet!”
And then she said, “I got some news this mornin’ from Choctaw Ridge
Today, Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge.”
And papa said to mama, as he passed around the blackeyed peas
“Well, Billie Joe never had a lick of sense; pass the biscuits, please
There’s five more acres in the lower forty I’ve got to plow.”
And mama said it was shame about Billie Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin’ ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billie Joe MacAllister’s jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge
And brother said he recollected when he, and Tom, and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn’t I talkin’ to him after church last Sunday night?
“I’ll have another piece-a apple pie; you know, it don’t seem right
I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge
And now ya tell me Billie Joe’s jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge.”
And mama said to me, “Child, what’s happened to your appetite?
I’ve been cookin’ all morning, and you haven’t touched a single bite
That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today
Said he’d be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way
He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge
And she and Billie Joe was throwing somethin’ off the Tallahatchie Bridge.”
A year has come and gone since we heard the news ’bout Billie Joe
And brother married Becky Thompson; they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going ’round; papa caught it, and he died last spring
And now mama doesn’t seem to want to do much of anything
And me – I spend a lot of time pickin’ flowers up on Choctaw Ridge
And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge.
May 13, 2009
Tropical Vacation
Let’s take a little tropical vacation. Pix by Rob Vanya. Music: “Swaying Palms” by Govi. Click HQ to view in High Quality.
May 2, 2009
Living Testimony
Compiled some of my favorite floral photos that I’ve taken recently for a slide show. I’m continually amazed at the many different varieties, sizes, shapes, and colors of flowers. To me, it’s just one more testimony of the infinite variety of the living God. Background music: “Forgotten Dreams” by Craig Riley.
April 29, 2009
Around San Jac
Recent scenes from around San Jacinto College, as seen through the lens of my Nikon D700 camera. Background music: “So Kylie” by Acoustic Alchemy. (Best viewed in HQ mode).
April 18, 2009
Up With People
Here’s a slideshow of some of my favorite portraits, featuring people of all ages, some that I took recently, and some that I took on various occasions in recent years. Background music: “Persuasion” by Govi.
April 14, 2009
Soccer Action
From my archives, I retrieved this collection of pix I took at the 2007 NJCAA National Tournament, played in Tyler, Texas. Be sure to view in HQ (if you have that option). Background music: “Espresso” by Govi.
April 11, 2009
Spring is in the air
Here’s a slideshow of pix I recently took while hiking around Mercer Botanical Gardens, a great place to witness the wonders of spring unfold.
If you want to see the pix up close and personal, then click on this link –
Spring at Mercer
April 6, 2009
Enchanted Rock
Random pix taken while hiking around Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, located in the Texas Hill Country near Fredicksburg. Background music: “Garden of Eden” by Govi.Here’s a link to a gallery of more photos of the truly enchanting place –
April 3, 2009
Men of Action
Two of my favorite photo subjects are my VERY active grandsons — Zac and Joshua. Took these 2 pix of the two “men of action” while they were running and jumping on rows of baled hay at Memom’s & Pawpaw Tex’s farm near Bellville. Here’s a link to a gallery that includes more pix of the 2 boys burning off lots of energy –
Joshua Robert Fuller Superhero to the Rescue
March 20, 2009
Zac is 9
The boys are growing up way too fast! Friends & relatives recently gathered to celebrate Zac’s ninth birthday. Here are a few pix I took at the celebration. Zac’s birthday “cake” was a cupcake topped with a chocolate hot dog.
Zac smiles during the birthday song
Blowing out the birthday candle
Water boys at play
Water boys at play
Zac makes a big splash
Here’s a link to a gallery of more pix from Zac’s birthday celebration –
Zac is 9
March 17, 2009
Water Lilies
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All flowers are amazing and beautiful, but water lilies are in a class apart — mystical, intangible, and mysterious; springing not from solid earth as other flowers, but loosely rooted in a creek or pond bed, floating freely around on water. Took these pix of water lilies at Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin.
March 16, 2009
Around San Jac
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Here’s a slideshow of photos I recently took on various assignments at work. Most pix are taken available light, no flash, at high ISO (2000 and above) using my Nikon D700, the King of Available Light Photography.
March 14, 2009
Mix of Recent Pix
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Hope you enjoy this mix of some of my recent photos, some taken at home, some at work, and some on the go.
March 7, 2009
Firehouse Training
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Took these pix of San Jacinto College firefighter technology cadets training at the La Porte VFD firehouse. I admire firefighters for suffering great hardships and regularly putting their lives on the line to minimize property damage and rescue people in danger.
March 5, 2009
Joshua is 7
Friends & relatives gathered recently to celebrate the birthday of Joshua Robert Fuller.
Joshua blows out the birthday candle
Joshua liked his Lego gifts
Karina steals a kiss from her birthday boy
Here’s a link to a photo gallery of more pix from Joshua’s birthday celebration –
Joshua turns 7
March 1, 2009
Good Times
Networking at the WMI Convention reception
This is one of my favorite “candid” pix. Took the photo above serving as the freelance event photographer at Wealth Masters International’s 2008 Marco Island Convention. E-mail me if you’d like to see similar pix.
Firefighters in Training
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I took the photos above of San Jacinto College Firefighter Academy cadets during training exercises. Photo #24 in the slideshow won the 2007 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations Medallion Award in the category of Unmanipulated Color Photography.
February 28, 2009
High School Musical
Photos below include a few of my favorites from the pix I took of the recent performance of “High School Musical” by the theater department of San Jacinto College. You can click on any of the smaller pix to view an enlargement, and then press delete or backspace to return to the post. (Tech Specs: Nikon D700 + Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8; available light [no flash]; most pix shot at 2000 ISO and above).
Grand finale: "We're All in this Together"
Grand finale: "We're All in this Together"
Grand Finale 2
Troy & Gabriella falling in love
Thespians in action
Ryan - a ham who loves the spotlight
Troy & Gabriella, a cute couple
A Jock gets a call from a Brainiac
Gabriella declares her love
February 25, 2009
Favorite Recent Pix
This post will include some photos I’ve taken recently, along with some comments and/or technical info.
Tiny Dancer
I intentionally slowed the shutter speed and set the flash to “rear sync” for the photo above in order to accentuate the movement of the little girl, who was dancing all by herself on the dance floor.
Rocking Out
I really like the special effects look of the photo above, which features 3 musicians rocking out at an event I covered on a freelance job. Problem is, I achieved this special effect strictly by accident and I have no idea how to duplicate it. I was firing off pix in rapid succession, and the camera actually malfunctioned on this photo, producing an image that was underexposed, with a very surreal looking white balance, and with the barrel of the lens showing (which is not natural). If I could ever figure out how to duplicate this effect, then I would set it up on my camera in such a way so that I could repeat it as desired.
Belting it Out
Belting it Out 2
Belting it Out 3
Belting it Out
Belting it Out 2
Belting it Out 3
The next three photos were taken at the same freelance job in Marco Island, Florida, when the band was performing at a banquet following a seminar presented by Wealth Masters International.
The band was playing some very upbeat, vintage rock and roll, and they were ON FIRE! So, to give the pix of the lead singer a dramatic, fiery effect, I slowed the shutter speed way down (to nearly 1 second), and set the flash on rear sync, and also intentionally shook the camera as I snapped the pix. The idea was to make the flash freeze the action of the subject, while allowing the theatrical lighting to blur around the subject. The third photo of the series in particular looks as though the singer is enveloped in flames. (Click on smaller pix for enlargement).
Water Boys
The next photo series features Joshua and Zac, who like to swim just as naturally as a duck takes to water. Can you believe, I snapped these pix using my very inexpensive, so-called “consumer” Phoenix 100mm lens ($120). These pix are every bit as sharp as pix taken with lenses that cost 10 times as much. (Click on smaller pix for enlargement). Here’s a link to more swimming photos –
Water Boys 2
Water Boys 3
Water Boys 4
Take a Hike
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Here’s a tapestry of nature and landscape photography I’ve taken during recent years. Turn up the volume and enjoy a virtual nature hike. You never know what waits along the next trail.
February 22, 2009
Lost Maples, a Texas Hidden Treasure
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Here’s a slideshow of photos I took in the autumn of 2008 while tramping around in Lost Maples State Park. Very remote, with no shopping malls, no cellphone service, no crowded freeways; yet it’s a wonderful place to “get away from it all” and enjoy the peace and quiet and rugged beauty of the Central Texas Hill Country. Here’s a link to a gallery that contains more Lost Maples photos –
February 21, 2009
Downtown Houston
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Hope you enjoy these photos I took while roaming around Downtown Houston. Buildings showcased in this slideshow include One Shell Plaza, The Bank of America Plaza, The Texaco Tower, Houston City Hall, and others. Here’s link to a gallery that includes more pix of the dynamic Houston skyline.
Natural Beauty
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If you are stressed out, then perhaps these colorful floral and nature photos, along with the soothing background music, will help you unwind. All pix by Rob Vanya (Nikon D70, D80, and D700 camera bodies; lenses: Nikon 18-200mm DX VR; Sigma 24-60mm f/2.8; Phoenix 100mm f/3.5 Macro; and Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8). Background music — “Romance Dance” by Govi. Here’s a link to a gallery that includes more floral photos not included in this slideshow –
February 19, 2009
Studio lighting experiment
Students who will appear on the magazine cover
Devera, the Modeling Diva
At work, I had an assignment to produce some pix of students who will transfer from San Jacinto College to 4-year colleges. The photo will appear on the cover of Career Focus, a magazine that is distributed to every home in the College District.
The only requirement was that the students needed to wear clothing that prominently displayed logos of the 4-year college.
So, my co-worker aAron and I decided to experiment with some studio lighting ideas we had been tossing around. To begin with, we set up a dove gray seamless paper backdrop. aAron suggested we roll the paper out so that it extended on the carpet so we could position the subjects on the paper. I had seen some pix done with that sort of a setup, but I’d never tried it myself. Turned out to be a very good idea that helped to give the pix a lot of depth and a 3 dimensional look.
For our lighting setup, we decided on a four-light combination (all Nikon gear). The main light (key light) was one SB-800 Speedlight shooting through a 15” x 15” Alzo softbox. The key light was placed at about a 45-degree angle to the left of the camera, firing about directly at the subjects, at about eye level, and placed at a distance of about 5 feet from the subjects. The secondary (fill) light was provided by one SB-800 Speedlight shooting into a reflective umbrella (facing away from the subjects) to provide indirect lighting. The fill light was placed a little to the right of the camera and about 2 feet behind the photographer. The backlight (hairlight) was provided by one SB-600 Speedlight shooting through a Honl gridspot. The backlight was suspended from an Alzo boom and lightstand, behind the backdrop and in such a position as to be directly above and slightly behind the subjects, aiming a pool of light at the backs of their heads and at their shoulders. To complete the setup, we placed one SB-600 Speedlight close to the ground on a tripod to act as a background light. The light was raked across the backdrop at an angle. The blue effect was provided by one of Rob’s Do-it-Yourself ideas — a small piece cut from a thin blue plastic chopping mat. The piece was cut to fit snugly over the front of an SB-600 Speedlight, to act as a color gel. aAron achieved the tight blue ray of light by wrapping a Honel flexible snoot around the background light.
aAron held the camera, while I patrolled around the setup, making adjustments to lights as needed, straightening out the subjects’ shirts, trying to get them to produce natural-looking smiles, etc.
I think the photo that turned out to be the “keeper” has a nice, eye-catching effect and ought to look really great on the magazine cover.
The other subject in this post is a photo of Devera, who works as an administrative assistant in office next to our Marketing office. She just happened to walk by as aAron and I were setting up our portable studio, so we “recruited” her to stand in as a model while we ran some light tests.
February 8, 2008
The Good Old Days
Ah, what aroma
I remember talking to Granny Moudry one day (when she was still alive) out on her front porch. We were sitting together on the swinging bench, just swaying back and forth and looking out on the cattle grazing in the pasture and the chickens chasing bugs around the front yard — just generally enjoying the view of the countryside. She lived in an old house on 50 acres located about 8 miles west of Bellville. She was a sure-enough country girl. Born and raised on a farm and the only work she ever knew was farming.
I said: “Granny, tell me about the good old days.”
“What good old days?” she replied. “Nobody on this farm ever knew about any good old days. The only life we’ve ever known is nothing but a lot of hard work. For six days of the week — Monday through Saturday — all I ever did was work, work, work — from the crack of dawn until dark (and sometimes until after dark). The only rest day we had was Sunday, and that was because you were so worn out that you just had to rest. I hear some people talk about the so-called good old days. I don’t know what they mean. I’m glad I’ve got an electric washing machine and a gas-burning stove and indoor plumbing and air conditioning and a car. I don’t have any desire to go back to any good old days. They were not good old days.”
Granny passed away some years back, but that little chat I had with her about the “good old days” remains as a vivid recollection. Recently, I mentioned it to my wife (who is Granny’s granddaughter. Granny Moudry was not my real grandmother, but I claimed her as my granny anyway). My wife said: “I remember visiting Granny when I was very small and when we would stay a few days we would take our baths in a large washtub. There was no indoor bathroom and no bathtub, so we had to bathe in a washtub. The water was heated up in her old wood-burning stove. It was a real chore to heat up water for bath time, so we had to use the bath water as long as possible. I remember how cold and dirty the bath water was whenever I was the third or fourth person to take a bath. I also remember having to go to the outhouse. I hated that.”
Unwelcome outhouse guest
That brought to mind once when I was just a child and we visited some kinfolks who lived out in the country up in Rusk. Mother Nature made her call and I went through the house looking for a bathroom. Ray, the man of the house, informed me that the bathroom was outside. That was my first encounter with an outhouse. It was February and, naturally, the outhouse was not heated. I’m here to tell you, it was frigid inside that outhouse. The “toilet paper” was a Sears catalog and the one memory that stands out in my mind was the scare I got when I discovered (while seated on the hole) that there was a wasp within spitting distance, just studying me very carefully. I did not like the icy air flowing around my fanny. I could not stand the gagging stench of the place. And I sure did not like that wasp eyeballing me. All in all, it was not a very pleasant experience.
So, I think I sorta see what Granny meant when she said she did not want to go back to the “good old days.” There were certainly a lot of things about those good old days that were not very good at all.
