Portfolio

 Each year the Northwest Houston Photo Club host a portfolio review for its members.  This review is one of the perks of membership as it is included in the annual dues ($30.00 per year).  The portfolio is reviewed by 3 to 5 professional photographers.  If you were to go out and pay for a review you could expect to pay $200 to $500 per reviewer, so this a quite a benefit.  

This year I participated with a theme A Stroll Down the Galveston Strand in the Off Season

The following images were submitted for review.

Legend Hot Wheels

Walmart Parking Lot

I saw an ad for a car show to be held in the nearby Walmart parking lot, it said something about Hot Wheels.  Wasn't to sure of what this was all about, but, being close by I thought why not go.  I got there about 20 minutes after it started and the traffic was horrendous.  Obviously it is a bigger deal than I thought.

This is a partnership between Mobil 1, Walmart and Hot Wheels, the metal die cast 1:64 scale toy cars.  This is a global contest offering builders an opportunity to have their passion projects immortalized by Hot Wheels in 1:64 scale.

The winning build that best exemplifies the judging criteria of creativity, authenticity and garage spirit will be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends.

Once selected to be reimagined as a die-cast vehicle the winning fan submission will be available for sale in more than 150 countries around the world.

Here are a few of my shots of the cars I saw, some Legends, some prospective Legends and some just wanting to show their cars.

Legends

Prospective Legends

1st Attempt at Astrophotography

 Evening Shoot

Spent an evening with Kathy Adams-Clark learning about astrophotography.  Not that we have the dark skies for good astrophotography, but, this was close by and did not require an overnight excursion or hours of driving.  We gathered at Warren Lake (about 30 minutes west of my apartment) on the Matt Cook Memorial Wildlife Viewing Platform .  This platform is part of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy (previously the Katy Prairie Conservancy).  Interesting evening as this was my first attempt at astrophotography.

This evening allowed for the timing to shoot a sunset with the moon rising 20 minutes later.

Not over pleased with the result, not museum or publication quality, but, we all have to start somewhere.  Anyway here are a couple shots that I am willing to share.

Sunset (HDR)

Big Dipper (look close in the sky)

Big Dipper II

Moon Rise Over Warren Lake

Moon Rise Over Warren Lake (HDR)

Galveston Get-Away

 Took a few days for a mini vacation trip to Galveston before Betty's surgery.  Just some laid back time with no real agenda.  Here is some images from the trip.

Views from the balcony of the condo we stayed in (lots of pelicans);

San Luis Resort Evening

A trip Down the Strand