tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81425913547740131442011-11-27T17:51:53.383-06:00This photo-blog is devoted to the city of McKinney, Texas, and vicinities in Collin County as my eyes see it (primarily) in the hours around sunrise and sunset. I love the subtle changes in light and color during these times, and I try to capture the familiar in slightly less familiar ways. My equipment is a Nikon D40 SLR with a 18-55 lens, Sunpak Flash, polarizing filter, and Targus Tripod.Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-60908833177714774972009-04-13T22:40:00.002-05:002009-04-13T23:13:03.963-05:00

One of my recent activities is that I became a SKYWARN storm spotter and licensed ham radio operator. Sunday night about 10:15 pm , the local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)was activated as a hailstorm moved through the northern part of our county. I was watching the storm on radar at home and was anticipating that a Severe Thunderstorm Warning would be issued, so I had already driven

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-63677111679698215242009-03-19T06:52:00.004-05:002009-03-19T06:58:15.688-05:00

The Texas Senate in SessionNorth entrance to the Capitol

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-43900325325851915702009-03-12T12:00:00.003-05:002009-03-12T12:07:30.825-05:00

Inside the Texas State Capitol RotundaMe Waiting in Vain to Testify in the SenateTuesday I was at the State Capitol for the day to attend a House Subcommittee meeting and offer testimony, then attend the Senate debate on a voter ID bill, where several of us from Collin County were going to testify. The Senate ended up meeting all night and never got around to any witnesses other than invited

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-16636837641587347142008-12-26T11:04:00.001-06:002008-12-26T11:06:55.320-06:00

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-73105648576332434442008-12-21T06:42:00.009-06:002008-12-21T07:59:09.164-06:00

Tucker Hill is a Master Planned Community on the north side of McKinney, with a nostalgic, small-town feeling. The community is so far about 20% built-up. The fountain is the centerpiece of the community. I was out Friday while shooting some pics for our real estate website....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-37641349904010297002008-12-20T21:25:00.001-06:002008-12-20T21:27:37.267-06:00

Living/Artifical I (2008)Rough/Smooth I (2008)I came up with the idea for this series the other day while walking along the Wilson Creek nature trail as the sun was setting Friday afternoon. I will post more from this series as I edit them.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-38492535380772798392008-12-19T06:28:00.004-06:002008-12-19T07:45:14.087-06:00

Here are some more pics from my Tuesday trip down the street to the Towne Lake Recreation Area and Nature Trail. Along the trail, the squirrels (pronounced a little like "squiddels" if you are English, which will throw you off a little bit if you are an American hearing it for the first time...) were out in force, including one who seemed to be having a bad fur day. You could hear them before

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-60591907220160299162008-12-18T15:05:00.005-06:002008-12-18T15:18:52.606-06:00

I love infrared! To those who may not be familiar with it, it is a form of film sensitive to both visible and infrared light that produces images like black and white, but with a far more ghostly or surreal appearance. They are often used with colored filters to block out different wavelengths of visible light to produce different effects.Infrared can be simulated in Photoshop or PSP Photo,

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-35511391680721499532008-12-18T08:28:00.003-06:002008-12-18T08:37:39.246-06:00

Never one to be deterred, I noticed that the heavy fog that was supposed to roll in last night had arrived, so I put my camera in the car and headed out after taekwondo class to return to the decorated house and the Dairy Queen. This is a few of the shots I captured.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-52144293899910805472008-12-17T07:16:00.008-06:002008-12-18T01:05:13.052-06:00

.....of course you grab the camera, hop in the car, and go take photographs. Doesn't everyone? I was actually hoping to catch a nice view of a Christmas decorated house, sitting across a pond, in the (32 degrees) early morning fog. The house was on Eldorado Parkway just before US 75. I had noticed the house last night on my way to Half Priced Books to do some shopping. Wouldn't you know, that

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-6693747340330698062008-12-16T17:22:00.003-06:002008-12-16T17:35:56.342-06:00

A light coating of sleet, ice, and snow dusted McKinney last night and into this morning. I decided to take the camera out to Towne Lake Park and these are a couple of the shots. More to follow tomorrow.....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-7722694655264287102008-12-16T13:02:00.001-06:002008-12-16T13:05:26.687-06:00

I think the title says it all. This is a building in downtown McKinney.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-57546011132865886072008-12-12T19:24:00.003-06:002008-12-12T19:36:30.060-06:00

Lavon Lake at Sunrise, taken about one month ago.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-30699387122458254582008-12-11T02:31:00.002-06:002008-12-11T02:43:31.155-06:00

At the recent Dickens' Christmas in downtown McKinney, I snapped this shot of the sign above the food vendor I got a cheesesteak from.....it was very tasty as well....the cheesesteak, not the sign.....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-57103485799971087352008-12-10T06:34:00.002-06:002008-12-10T06:35:59.367-06:00

From the storms Monday night/Tuesday morning...

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-74765801045800043822008-12-09T00:53:00.007-06:002008-12-09T10:11:02.283-06:00

Tornado sirens went off last night about 11 pm for a severe thunderstorm that formed southwest of McKinney and was moving to the northeast at about 40mph. That part of the storm passed just to my southeast, which is the view from my balcony in the bottomphoto, just after the sirens went off and the National Weather Service issuedthe Tornado Warning.After I saw the storm was moving off to the

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-11828074625808022432008-12-08T21:49:00.006-06:002008-12-08T21:57:57.740-06:00

Downtown Dallas lies about 25 miles to the south of McKinney. Here are a few photos I took while I was downtown for the Christmas parade.....the bottom photo is of Reunion Tower. I have lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area long enough to remember when the tower was the tallest building in Dallas.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-73706710240660535962008-12-07T04:39:00.004-06:002008-12-07T04:48:56.489-06:00

When I was looking over and doing my computer "developing" of the photos, the top photo immediately reminded me of two boxers standing in their corners with the refereee standing in the middle. I wonder who the oddsmakers would favor in a Frosty vs. Santa match-up?Also I think Frosty has been watching the first "Karate Kid" movie....he looks like he's about to perform the Crane move on Santa....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-55676542510854452992008-12-06T19:32:00.006-06:002008-12-06T19:43:57.617-06:00

For the second year, I was up very early this morning to serve as a "Giant Inflatable Handler" for the 21st Annual Neiman Marcus/Adolphus Children’s parade. The parade, presented by Capital One, benefits Children’s Medical Center, and is Dallas’ largest outdoor event. Ebby Halliday, Realtors, the broker my mom is an agent for, sponsors a balloon, and so the company asks for volunteers to carry

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-45238686467630159032008-12-05T08:56:00.005-06:002008-12-05T09:23:51.413-06:00

For the past 13 years McKinney High School's Choir Department holds a Feast of Carols Madrigal Dinner at First United Methodist Church in McKinney. Both my niece Ashley and nephew have participated. This year Ashley is participating, but my nephew Alex is now at Baylor. It's quite a fun evening. The lighting is very low, so I had to make do with ISO 1600 and shutter speeds that risk camera

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-20015794201871105182008-12-04T05:06:00.002-06:002008-12-04T05:10:48.797-06:00

Last Saturday night, while I was out shooting the Dicken's Christmas, I noticed this adorable kitten sitting in the middle of the blocked off street. As only a cat can do, he/she seemed wholly unimpressed by the evening's festivities....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-91383369991575232162008-12-03T05:51:00.005-06:002008-12-03T06:16:38.738-06:00

This is the water tower just off the Town Square. I like water towers, what can I say? Maybe it is because of my lifelong interest in the space program....something about the towers remind me of the launch towers for the old Saturn V rockets and Space Shuttles.....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-24624758631643603972008-12-02T05:01:00.004-06:002008-12-02T05:10:36.985-06:00

While I was out Sunday afternoon in McKinney Town Center walking back to my car I came across this.......I'm not sure but is that a cheeseburger he's carrying on is head? Have I stumbled upon the mythical "Kip's Big Boy as a Small Young Boy" statue......hmmmm.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-13593304564958173502008-12-01T21:36:00.005-06:002008-12-01T22:03:47.320-06:00

Well, this time I decided to stick with the color shots. I have included some that I included earlier in platinum or albumin, so you could compare....if you area person who is interested in such things.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-42604396372320747412008-12-01T06:31:00.004-06:002008-12-01T06:44:16.361-06:00

I was headed out yesterday to run some errands and go back to the Town Square for some more picture taking, and had to stop by the office for a few minutes. I saw the fence post (top) up a small hill directly behind the rear entrance to the office. After leaving the office I dropped by my mom's house, and was headed over to Towne Lake Park to see if there were any pictures waiting in the nature

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-37344244137072874252008-11-30T06:11:00.011-06:002008-11-30T07:29:50.709-06:00

Here are more pictures from Saturday night in period processes like daguerrotype, albumin, and platinum. The child in the top photo (I didn't catch her name...) asked me to take her picture while I was ordering a cheesesteak from at one of the food stalls around the square (my father's side of the family is from Philadelphia, so I inherited a taste for cheesesteak hoagies). She was an absolute

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-34066694517671158212008-11-29T23:05:00.010-06:002008-12-01T07:35:50.967-06:00

More photos from the shoot this evening. It amazes me sometimes how many things I can find to photograph. I think one of the reasons I have this blog is to show people you don't have to travel far to find interesting photos....there are enough things in your own backyard to keep you busy for a lifetime.Landon Winery (bottom) is a nice local winery that gets its grapes from California; LaMisha

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-76794572014212726872008-11-29T21:55:00.008-06:002008-11-30T07:34:35.331-06:00

November 28, 29, and 30th is A Dickens' Christmas in downtown McKinney. I went down there this evening to shoot some photos. In keeping with the occasion, I have used Albumin and Platinum effects for the shots...techniques around the time of Dickens (and Daguerrotype would have also been a possibility) . I would also like to thank Charm of Alternative Furnishings, and Jennifer and Sherri of

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-42561797642274571072008-11-29T09:44:00.007-06:002008-11-30T07:35:49.324-06:00

I usually use Paint Shop Pro Photo XI to crop, edit, and tweak photos....my philosophy towards this to change or enhance in the same manner as you would if you were in the darkroom developing prints yourself....the fact is, for anyone who thinks that this is "cheating", no amount of photoshoping can make bad photos good. The bottom photograph, by the way, is completely untouched, and unenhanced.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-41097177317050639842008-11-27T18:48:00.004-06:002008-11-27T19:27:12.626-06:00

A few Thanksgiving photos from this morning....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-34139776482783248942008-11-23T12:25:00.007-06:002008-11-23T21:25:28.479-06:00

Just to the east side of downtown McKinney (east of McDonald Street) is the older industrial/agricultural area of the city, much different than the expensive subdivisions of the west side. I went out just before dawn this cloudy morning to shoot some pictures. The middle picture is from the loading dock of a vacant building, and the bottom photo is from an old Flour Mill. All three were

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-51591684327129863732008-11-22T11:19:00.004-06:002008-11-22T11:32:04.579-06:00

Here are more photographs from Pecan Grove, this time in Black and White.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-13170679572686197792008-11-21T02:46:00.005-06:002008-11-22T11:57:24.003-06:00

Established in 1870 the Pecan Grove Cemetary, still in use today, is one of the oldest cemetaries in North Texas. It is the final resting place of many Confederate veterans of The Civil War, and many prominent residents of early McKinney, including the Throckmorton family.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-30130373385196007112008-11-18T09:07:00.007-06:002008-11-22T11:57:39.282-06:00

Yesterday on the way to the gym about 4:30 PM I stopped at the Ridgeview Cemetary, just off US 75. I had noticed it before. As one of my many interests is cemetaries, both new and old, I envisioned some possible shots in the sinking sun. Yes, some may think it morbid, but there is a peacefulness and as you walk among the markers and I cannot help but wonder about all of the life histories that

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-91302709292537567282008-11-17T08:55:00.004-06:002008-11-22T11:58:06.687-06:00

I shot this photo yesterday evening about 5:45 PM. It is a ski sports shop just off the Town Square. I have always thought it a bit odd McKinney has a ski shop, since the nearest skiing is about 800 miles away!

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-85439415534771597792008-11-16T09:00:00.002-06:002008-11-16T09:08:28.190-06:00

This is a late dawn shot of the old courthouse (now used as a performing arts venue) sitting in the center of McKinney's traditional town square and now historical district.  The statue in the right corner of the courthouse is of William Throckmorton, one of Collin County's early settlers.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-27751028040942118262008-11-15T14:50:00.003-06:002008-11-15T14:52:42.342-06:00

I live not far from Towne Lake and its Baseball/Softball Complex.  I took this about two weeks ago at sunset, in case you missed the title.....

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-80247315722732587692008-11-13T20:03:00.006-06:002008-11-15T14:56:58.905-06:00

Yes, we do actually have seasons in McKinney, Texas.  Although the fall and winter are not as long as more northern climes, we do actually have leaves that change color. The top two pictures were taken near Valley Creek Elementary, where I had worked as an Election Clerk the day before.  As for the swing picture, this was taken just after sunrise one morning in Towne Lake, and I happen to like it.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-51281497959840462822008-11-11T19:28:00.001-06:002008-11-11T19:33:19.089-06:00

This is a shot from one of last week's shoots.  It is from the fire station near the town square, and has a wonderful retro style to the design.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-77993636402087184922008-11-10T20:10:00.005-06:002008-11-10T20:17:20.849-06:00

These pictures were taken in the twilight to dark hours of Wednesday, November 5th.  I have realized I seem to have some themes developing of signs, towers, and of vertical objects.  I have no idea exactly why, or that I could easily explain in words,  except that I find them interesting...

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-61975785389823158562008-11-05T23:38:00.007-06:002008-11-05T23:49:10.897-06:00

Sunday when I went out I noticed the First Baptist Church around the corner from my apartment, and thought it would make a nice subject with its white spire as the light from the sunrise hit it.  I had also noticed the main McKinney fire station near downtown and decided to go out Monday morning and shoot a few shots.  I saw the school zone sign near the church and thought it might be interesting

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-87402256479785820582008-11-05T07:57:00.006-06:002008-11-05T08:05:57.097-06:00

Here are a few more pictures from Sunday's shoot.  The sunrise shot was taken over Lavon Lake The pictures of the McKinney Old Courthouse and town square were shot around 6-7am without flash or filter and exposed about 1-2 seconds at around f5.6-f8.  There was a light fog and a lot of dew that morning, which is why there are star and halo effects around the lights.

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-49175946030438122332008-11-03T05:26:00.003-06:002008-11-03T11:55:52.057-06:00

From yesterday's shoot.  This is a shot of the old Smith's Drugstore in the Town Square. It is the oldest pharmacy in all of Texas reportedly, and unfortunately now closed.  The current owners are appealling to the community to try to save this historic building.  My mother thinks perhaps it could be turned into a Pharmacy Museum...

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8142591354774013144.post-15102059798522506812008-11-02T21:37:00.001-06:002008-11-03T11:57:03.888-06:00

Due to the end of daylight savings time, I was up quite early, so I decided to go out on an early morning shooting expedition.  I saw this at an antique shop close to the Town Square.  I decided to call it "Lonely Frog"  It was about 8 am...

Joseph Martin IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763993000151719945noreply@blogger.com0