New Context

  Cut that, don't need that, seen that, who cares about that. Editing for me is the hardest part of any shoot. Everything has relevance when you snap the shutter open. In the long run does it ad or subtract to the story you are telling.  I understand after years of the cruel chop that it is not limited to the visuals but to tell a story in a concise fashion with words need the same judicious application of a knife and scissors.
   All of that can change with a different take on a story, so rather than talk about the wonderful day for recognition the dedication of the George W. Bush Library was, I thought I would look at the strange images that come from editing with a different purpose after the fact. Crazy looks, and out of place people make me laugh. Barbara Bush giving President Barack Obama a dirty look for laughing inappropriately. George W. Bush with forlorn look in response to a poignant remark about his presidency, but taken with a cropped frame it like complete befuddlement.

George W. Bush, what does that mean?

Sidewalk just for the press

Don't laugh at my son

Definitely not a shrub back there

LadyBird sighting

I can be a bit dense some times. Stare at something for days and what is right in front of me just does not register. Color is spring and it is not spring till there is color. The blooms around the house have been a bit slow in coming this year. Not that I can blame them with a late freeze happening in parts of North Texas at the end of April. Kind of explains why so many of the flowers have been waiting to show themselves. I am sure that is why the color of the ladybug (known in other parts of the world as a ladybird, since they are actually beetles not bugs) jumped out at me as I passed it in the yard. Definite sign that the color is here, and spring has sprung.

Rookie Debut

   Always loved the sound of screaming race engines, the smell of high octane fuel blowing from hot exhaust pipes, but the site of a guy loaded with testosterone yanking a 200 pound, 200 mph beast around underneath him while he drags body parts all over an asphalt track makes dreams float thru my head. Dreams of flying myself, until the creak in the bones and joints keeps me from tying my shoes as I get up and I realize fast motorcycles are a young mans game.

  So the youngest of them all, Marc Marquez wins his first top tier race on a brand new track. Ripping apart the gorgeous Circuit Of The Americas in Austin, Texas at the tender age of 20 to be the youngest rider to accomplish the feat. Ousting the "fast" Freddie Spencer from the youngest spot by a couple of months. A toast to the kid for one heck of an accomplishment, or at least I'll drink to him since he can't have one himself just quite yet. 

Turn one comes at the top of the biggest rise of any track

The former king Valentino Rossi struggled on this day

The new bull has arrived

Rookie Marc Marquez 

Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez celebrate

The view from the top of Red Bull Tower

MotoGP in Texas

   In the rolling hills east of Austin, Texas they were riding some very different horses. This weekend at the Circuit Of The Americas the rides are made of aluminum and carbon fibre, sport more horse power than any real cowboy would ever need and top end at over 200 mph. The Moto GP circus comes to town and showed the state what riders can do on two wheels. Fast, colorful and oh so european all at a cream of the crop facility in the heart of Texas.

Red Bull Tower view

Marc Marquez scuffs his leathers and still gets the pole

Valentino Rossi the "Doctor" running hot

Angels defeat the Rangers

  The grass is freshly cut to that height that just tickles the toes on a day without shoes. It is warm enough that you get the comforting glow from the suns penetrating rays. After a long winter under sweaters and coats it feels glorious on the skin. Soothing, relaxing, mellow. This needs a cool brew to keep the heat from building.
   In the distance there is a crack like a metronome on slow motion. You can just make out a netting between the hurler with his fluid whip on the mound and a quick snap of the batter on the ball that flies in your direction. Even in batting practice the swing makes you take notice. Quick, solid and unwavering. Later in the day as the actual game wears on that snap from the shoulders makes everyone shudder. That is why manager Ron Washington will decide to throw around him at two of his at bats. The two sets of pitches he does face, he knocked over the fence with deadly accuracy ruining the day for loads of Ranger fans.
  His name is Albert Pujols and he still makes pitchers shudder. Grins like a kid when he makes contact.   As you watch the ball arch it seems to defy gravity. Even the die hard fans of the opposing team marvel at the strength and consistency.
   It is spring and with that comes baseball and big kids like Albert playing a game just for fun. Just too bad for Ranger's fans on this day Albert gets to grin the most.

Albert Pujols celebrates his second home run for the day.

Albert Pujols hits a a two run blast in the first inning. 

Pierzynski tags out Howard Kendrick. 

Angels Peter Bourjas can not grab David Murphy hit.