Soft Focus

Soft Focus, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Retreaded for the Monday Photo Challenge and Retread Group. Played with curves, layers, and frame in Picnik.
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Spooky Eyes

Spooky Eyes, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

The Stars and Stripes keep watch over the spooky eyes of the skull. Perfect for the eve of an historic mid-term election!

Ring Toss

Ring Toss, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Just some rusty rings found tossed away, shot in B&W in camera for the Monday Photo Challenge- things that are round, or go round.
I worked on the shot in Picnik to get a grainy feel, like old B&W film.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp

Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

October each year is designated as National breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote breast cancer awareness, share information regarding the disease and provide greater access to screening services.

Twin Morning Glories

Twin Morning Glories, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

These twins vie for the emerging sunlight this morning after a night of rain. The dew is still on them, but they are ready for a sunny day.

Coming on By!

Coming on By!, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I "Ghosterized" this hotrod in Picnik, fooling with curves. In the old days, while out hotrodding, often a "ghost car" would creep up on you and suddenly appear, passing on the left at such a high rate that you couldn't even tell your buddies what kind of car it was!
Retreaded for The Monday Photo Challenge and Thursday Retread Group.
The original- www.flickr.com/photos/nhankamer/4962250228/in/set-7215762...

Zeiss Ikon

Zeiss Ikon, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Zeiss Ikon
Fine lines and wrinkles is our challenge this week, so I got this old Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta down off the shelf where my small collection of classic cameras sits.
The fine lines of these old classics always attract me, and you can see the wrinkle of the bellows. Never mind that I didn't straighten out the backdrop!

Restored Home

Restored Home, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Nice restoration of a turn of the century home in Alvin, Texas. I cropped out the window for The Monday Photo Challenge group windows and doors challenge on Flickr.

Canna Lily

Canna Lily, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I saw this nice lily at the Houston Zoo Thursday.
www.houstonzoo.org/
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Tower Lines

Tower Lines, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

A tower has been under construction on Donaldson Rd just off Hwy 35 between Alvin and Pearland for some years, and I have never seen anyone there to ask about it.

Vintage Baggage Cart

Vintage Baggage Cart, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

This vintage baggage cart is on display at Alvin's Historic Santa Fe Depot.

Perfect Handle Counterfeits

Perfect Handle Counterfeits, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

These are some H D Smith tools that a friend has rebuilt for me. The hammer is a one of a kind. An H D Smith Perfect Handle open end wrench mated by forge welding to a ball pein hammer head. The pipe wrench is a PEXTO mated the same way to a long H D Smith Perfect Handle screwdriver. The two screwdrivers are original except he has put new wood on them for me.
Discussion of these can be seen at www.papawswrench.com/vboard/showthread.php?p=22669&po... on my Tool Talk Forum.

Spooky Bridge

Spooky Bridge, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

It isn't Halloween, but I rendered the original like this for the Monday Photo Challenge and Thursday Retread Group.
The path curves gracefully at the end of the Mustang Bayou bridge on the Tom Blakeny Hike and Bike trail in Alvin, Texas. I've shot this bridge several times, especially in early morning fog.
See more here- www.flickr.com/groups/1091826@N21/pool/

Uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer on 20 May 10, 10.08PM CDT.

Reflection

Reflection, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

"Now to consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk. Such rules and laws are deduced from the accomplished fact; they are the products of reflection."
Edward Weston

It's not a UFO!

It's not a UFO!, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I saw a neat photo on Flickr with some colorful streaks of light, and wondered how it was done. Some investigation revealed it was simply light reflections from a common CD. I took this shot by the light from a compact fluorescent table lamp, the cropped it some. Looks like a UFO!

UP 844

UP 844, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

UP844 approaching the crossing at Liverpool, Texas, April 17, 2010. The train was behind schedule and went by very quickly!

"The road must be built, and you are the man to do it. Take hold of it yourself. By building the Union Pacific, you will be the remembered man of your generation."
— President Abraham Lincoln to Oakes Ames, 1865

Fountain in early Morning Light

Fountain, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Fountain at Joe's Bar-B-Q in Alvin, Texas in early morning light. Posted for Monday Photo Challenge Group. This week's challenge: "shoot something having to do with H2O...whether it's a drop, your favorite watering hole, an umbrella or a bucket"
I shot this fountain in January when it was frozen. Now that Spring is here, I have shot this view, and will revisit it a few more times.

Wisteria Vine and Blooms

Wisteria Vine and Blooms, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Been watching this old Wisteria vine lately, because it is a sure sign that Spring is here when the Wisteria blooms.
Taken for the "Look UP" challenge in the Monday Photo Challenge group on Flickr.

See more here.

Van Tassel's 54 Mercury Custom

Van Tassel's 54 Mercury Custom, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

A beautiful custom 1954 Mercury seen at Brad's Muffler in Alvin, Texas.

File Knife

File Knife, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

This knife was made by my friend Brian Jordan of Phoenix, Arizona. It was made from a metal file and the scales are denim micarta. It will be given away to one of my Tool talk Forum members in a drawing Thursday, Feb. 18th.

Belly Dancer

Belly Dancer, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

A friend and I went to Dan Electro's Guitar Bar for a benefit for the local Pacifica Radio station. The bands were blues and blues rockers and we were entertained by belly dancers between sets.

Fountain in Winter

Fountain in Winter-closup, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

We don't get much real winter weather in Alvin, Texas, but the last few days have been very cold. Joe's Banquet Center -http://joesbarbequecompany.com/catalog/banquet.php left their fountain on and it froze nicely!