~ 244/365 Crazy Lights in the Sky ~

244/365
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Driving home I saw I could get my 244th pic of the year by pulling off and shooting some Northern Lights.  Thankfully I had a tripod with me.  Going to be nice sleeping in and waking up knowing my 365 is done for the day. -Randy

~ 235/365 Leaving the Badlands ~

235/365
© www.randypond.ca
Packed up the camp and headed for home.  Stopped to take this shot at a lookout not far from where the campground was.  Great few days of adventuring around the badlands snapping photos. -Randy

~ 234/365 Badlands ~

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234/365
Went to the badlands, haven't been there in a LONG time.  Went down for a night and did some shooting with friends and had a good time.  Was fun to revisit this spot, last time I was here I didn't know much about photography.  I feel I did it more justice this time than my last visit. -Randy

~ 231/365 HDR Sunset ~

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231/365
Went out for some groceries and decided to try a landscape shot for my 365....considering I have been shooting so many cats and portraits....wanted to mix it up! :)
-Randy

~ 182/365 HAPPY CANADA DAY ~

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182/365
This is Canada Day, a day where the temperature ruled.  It was over +30 and just super HOT and really one I just wanted to stay cool in the basement.  I hope everyone enjoyed the day.  I was going to just post a pic of the thermometer but felt I should try and get out and shoot a landscape.  So here it is, had to hand hold this shot since I forgot the tripod adapter at the house. -Randy

~ 120/365 Morning Snow on a lovely Spring Day ~

120/365
I don't understand the hate of snow and winter.  I have lived around it all my life.  It's a season and I happen to love seasons.  The transition between winter and spring is not gradual.  Like this morning when I walked out the door I was greeted with this.  On the weekend it'll be double digits.  Love the seasons and love the place on planet earth I call my home. -Randy

~ 70/365 ~

70/365
Decided to get out and explore a bit now that it is warmer.  Wanted to shoot a sunset.  Also decided today to stop branding my photos.  So from this day on I will be posting work as pure as I can without a logo.  I think it makes the work look better. -Randy

~ 30/365 Cold Winter Day ~

Today was a cold day, didn't feel like going outside and exploring, so only went out my front door and shot a quick HDR picture.  Sometimes 365's can be really tough to find a shot that is awesome, I am still pleased with it, even if it's REALLY similar to my previous day 10 pic. :D  Hoping 20 days later people won't remember it as much.

-Randy 

Random Friday Thoughts

Well, it was a really tough week for me and here I am on Friday feeling kind of sad.  There are some amazing things for me to feel happy about, but I am just feeling a bit down and out and gut kicked.  Definitely need to do something soon to get myself out of this mood.  I really think a photo shoot would do that but sadly I don't have any plans to shoot this weekend.  I think I will venture out at some point with my camera and shoot some nature/life.  Even if it just the cats.  I think I might be in a strong need of stepping away from portrait work and just do more nature/life for awhile.  I am having a hard time dealing with people lately.  Just feeling under appreciated from people these days.  I know it is just the mood I am in, but I really feel like moving in to a cabin in the wild and ceasing contact with people....hehehhe.....I just think I am almost at a breaking point with my patience.

The good news is it's Friday and I can work out my issues and hopefully get re-focused and ready to rock with a more positive attitude for Monday.  I am excited for some upcoming photography work and new people to work with.  I am fortunate to have some amazing friends and yet it's the flake friends and shallow people that I am allowing to drag my feelings down.  I need to put my blinders on some days and FB and ignore some of the things I see.  Either that or delete some "friends" that do not fit the true definition of a friend.  Sad part is if I deleted all the FB "friends" I might be only left with 5 or 6, hehehhe and I do like to share my photography with people so I'd be losing that enjoyment I get over sharing my work with people.  I guess there are lots of other places to share my work and maybe I should consider having an extended break from FB in an attempt to re-gain some of my sanity from dealing with some of the craziness there.  In a world where everyone is connected with social media and technology it seems strange a person can feel so alone.  I think I am in that boat lately and it sucks.

Okay, enough of this pity party blog......I'm going to switch on positive mode now and put my smile on even if it's a tough act.  I'll post some recent pictures taken out in the local country side.  :) Enjoy and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :) :)

~ Alberta Scapes ~

Today I was thinking about my life and thinking about how over time I've seen a few close friends just drift away. It sure has been tough, the last 3 years I taught at a school with an all female staff. I made a few friends there but no one I'd say is a really close friend. A few guys I have taught with have drifted away as friends. One of my really close friends is basically a complete stranger to me now and I don't really understand why. I guess it happens. Anyway, I have been attempting to make some new friendships. Some photography related but those have not really worked out either. Maybe it's tough because I live pretty far away from most people. Vegreville is not the most friendly town to live in. Also I don't drive a big 4x4 rig rocket....so tough to fit in here. I am going to try and play hockey again this winter. Maybe I'll meet some peeps there to be friends with.

So I'll throw it out there on my blog: WANTED: A friend!! :) My interests are photography, video games, computers, movies, nature, sports, comic books, good food, art in general and lots more. If you play tennis even bigger bonus. Contact me today if you'd like to hang out....I am feeling friendless this summer. :)