Merry Christmas. Ya'll!

Sunset December 1-2013

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Sunset Thanksgiving 2013 in Alvin, Texas.Thanksgiving 2013 Sunset-

Fall is here and the leaves are changing. We don't get the massive displays other parts of the US get, so we enjoy what we can.

Got up early for  a doctor appointment only to find it was cancelled, so I went out and found some scenes to photograph.
These are at an old dairy that has been closed for years. The barn is sliding down.

Group of Photos taken at Imperial Sugar in Sugar Land, Texas

Pictures from a recent car show-

1939 Chevy Master Deluxe headlight

Hood trim on the same car

                                                                        Side view mirror

                                                             Tail light

                                                 1936 Ford

                                                1936 Ford headlight

Colorful Wisteria blooms are all over Alvin, Texas.

This is my entry in a contest at The Great Photo Race , subject- Cloud formations in greyscale. Photo taken outside the office in Pasadena, Texas.

Rainbow of colors on netting for a "Jumpy House".

It is graduation time!

Magnolias are blooming around Alvin, Texas, and this one is near Froberg's Funeral Home. Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol.

Recent favorites of mine-

I enter a few contests now and then, nothing big time. Trouble is, I don't seem to get very high place finishes often. I have to step back and evaluate what I am doing in photography each time I am disappointed. I have decided that I am a photographer and will continue shooting, because I am really just doing it for myself.
I need to give myself credit and not undervalue what I do, while I have much to learn room to grow.

 

Big thanks to the SnapKnot wedding photography directory for offering this great camera giveaway!

I have entered and hope to win a new Canon. SnapKnot is a great site for wedding photographers.

Beautiful Lilies seen on the way to the dentist Thursday morning.

Saw some fine cars at a small car show Saturday. My favorite was a 1961 Jaguar. Here is the hood ornament.

Old fire plug seen at Stevenson Park in Dickinson, Texas.

A family friend passed away recently. He was a volunteer firefighter much of his life and was honored with a memorial service which included a "Ring the Bell" service. As a firefighter, one is called to the fire by a bell, and as a deceased firefighter one is "rung out" by a Ring the Bell service.
Here is the bell-

Butterfly Flower seedpod

Made a visit just down our street to see Mr. & Mrs. Howard Johnson. Her flowers and his yard work are always great to see, and offer plenty of photo opportunities. Masca gnia macroptera. Butterfly vine seed pods really do look like butterflies.

Under the Oak

Under the Oak, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Cruising Alvin looking at all the big oak trees, I spied this swing and chair under one of the big trees. The house in the background with a flag is a bonus.

Rusty old International Harvester truck seen along FM1462 near the Brazos River in Brazoria County.

Small town America-
As I cruised Alvin, Texas a couple of mornings ago, I spied this chair and swing under one of Alvin's big oak trees. The house with the flag was a bonus.

Sunrise 2-28-2013
The radio was talking about a beautiful sunrise on my way home that morming, but I had to travel 10 miles to a spot without city and freeway messing up the composition.

Froberg Strawberries

Froberg Strawberries, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Froberg Strawberries

Local truck farm has seasonal self-pickings of strawberries. frobergsfarm.com/

Foggy Cross

Foggy Cross, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I have visited this gravesite several times over the years. It is eerie in the fog.

Sunset from Confinement

Sunset from Confinement, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Sunset from Confinement

Stuck in a hospital room at Clear Lake, I did manage some sunsets through the shades.

Clear Lake Sunset in B&W

Clear Lake Sunset in B&W, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Clear Lake Sunset in B&W

I shot this one in B&W for the contrast, No cropping on this one.

Photos taken Friday and today, November 4th , 2012.

 
A mix of old and new. So much stuff has been added to these old buildings over the years! They were built between 1895 and 1904 in Alvin, Texas. One of these doors led to the local pool hall that we as teenagers would sneak into by the back door so town folks wouldn't see us and tell our parents!