Welcome !!

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 

Welcome !!

 

This past week, my good friend Dante Herrera, and his family, became naturalized Citizens of the United States of America!  I would like to take this opportunity to say both Congratulations !!, and Welcome !!

 

Dante worked for our company’s Mexico City office, as Sales Manager for Mexico.  But, opportunities for the equipment our division makes were slow in Mexico at the time, so we moved him and his family up to Houston.  From here, Dante still handled Mexico, but also the other Spanish speaking countries, and some special products in the USA.  Later, Dante qualified for and received a ”Green Card” (Permanent Residence status).  Now, his two kids have entered college (at the University of Texas and Baylor), and it became clear that the entire family would like to stay and make the U.S.A. their home permanently. 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 

Early last week, I walked past Dante near my office, and as I usually do, I said “Hola amigo, ¿Como Esta?”  But this time he said, “Well, soon, I will not be your ‘amigo’ any more…soon, I will be your ‘friend’…”  So, I motioned for him to come into my office and explain.  He said that he, and the entire family, had gone through the naturalization process, had completed all the steps, had all passed the exam, and on Wednesday, would be sworn in as Citizens.  Unfortunately, I would be traveling that day, and couldn’t go along to take photos, but I was able to get to the flag store, got him one and hung it up in his office.

 

America is a nation of immigrants.  For the Laughlin family, immigration happened a long time ago, almost 300 years.  For others, it has been much more recently.  It is people like Dante and his family, and like John Laughlin many (many) years ago, who want to make a new home, who want to live in a land of opportunity, who want to make a life for themselves and their families, that not only built America, but who fuel its growth and vitality today.   We all ought to welcome those who come here, follow the rules, obey the laws, and help to build the prosperity that all of us enjoy.

 

By the way, the man at the flag store asked me to give you his “Congratulations” too !

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 

Welcome !

- Mark W. Laughlin

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 

 

 

 

Out the Window...

 

I was talking to an acquaintance of mine the other day.  We lamented that many times, instead of having the time we'd really like, to wait for the right light, the right clouds, the right everything, to take the kind of photos we'd like, we have to be content to snap a quick shot out the window, and get back on our way.

 

So, I thought I'd look through my photos and pick out a few of those quick, out the window shots that came out ok.

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Out the window of a restaurant, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...on a turn-out on Highway 1, California coast.

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...on a "Bad Air Day"...

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 I call this "Top-o-da-World !"

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...from a Shinkansen Train, headed for Tokyo, at 180 mph !

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...stopped in Traffic, in a small town south of Santiago, Chile. 

A memorial to "The Disappeared".

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...from a hotel, St. Louis, Missouri.

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...whipping around a clover-leaf in Dubai.

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...on a bus, near Salzburg, Austria.

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...at a mine, south of Santiago, Chile.

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...riding through the Chilean countryside,

waiting for it to be light enough to see.

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...from the gondola, riding up to Mutianyu Great Wall, near Beijing.

 

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 ...from the Water Taxi, passing under the Brooklyn Bridge, New York.

 

 

 

So, even when the light isn't what you want,

or you don't have time to stop and make the perfect shot, snap it anyway ! 

You never know when you'll get something you like !

Y'all take care,

- Mark W. Laughlin 

Night Time !

 

I had a post a few months ago called "It's all about the Light":
http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-all-about-light.html
 

Of course, to photography, light is terribly important, but sometimes you want to take photos when there isn't much of it.  The biggest challenge, is keeping the camera stable for night shots that have a long exposure time, and are thus susceptible to blurring if the camera moves (even slightly). 

 

Some people lug a tripod around, but if you are like me, just catching photo time when you can, you'll just have to make do, steadying the camera against a tree, a pole, handrail or garbage can, whatever you can find near your desired shooting location. (learned from my father)

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Dubai Marina Area, a walkway around the marina, lined with restaurants

and shops, very pleasant. (handrail)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Jacksonville, Florida.  Another walk area with restaurants.

(another handrail)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Ramp descending into the Seoul Metro.

(holding my breath, being as steady as I could, and taking a couple of shots,

to improve my chances of getting a clear one)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Same bridge in Jacksonville.

(shooting through a window, steadying against the glass)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Protest in downtown Seoul.

(fortunately bright enough that I didn't have to brace...at this point,

I was standing between protesters and police,

and didn't want to hang around long)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

As you drive south from the border with North Korea,

the gleaming lights of the South Korean cities are a stark contrast with the border area.

(in car, stopped in traffic, with several attempts necessary to get a clear one)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 A hillside park and observatory across from one of our hotels in Seoul.

(holding camera outside an 18th story window,

steadying against the window frame)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

(another handrail)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Uspenski Cathedral , Helsinki Harbor area.

(against a light pole)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Balloon burner warm-up, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

(bright, no need to steady)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 Moon through the trees, my own backyard. 

(so I got the tripod out...)

 

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Paris (some things don't need much explanation).

(don't remember for sure, I think it was against a tree...)

 

Y'all take care.

- Mark W. Laughlin