Most of this section of Dowlen Street is new construction during very recent years . The city has grown ten-fold in this direction. These pictures probably don't show half of the businesses and doesn't even begin to show the homes. Businesses, strip centers, residential communities -- they're all in a constant state of progress. This area has become the hub of the shopping center for the city, and with so many residential areas cropping up, it seems the city has for all due purposes moved north.

Had it not been for Hurricane Rita ripping through my hometown of Beaumont Texas, and scattering all citizens to the winds (ah - a pun) - I would never have made a trip to Little Rock. To be honest, picture-taking was not high on my priorities for this trip, but the day was cool and gorgeous, and so, a short drive and a few snaps did help to lighten the mood. If times were better, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this city. It's so friendly and pretty and simply fantastic! Wish I had been more of a heart to do it proper justice.

This historic cathedral has practically become a home away from home. I've been visiting since May, and never cease to come away with a special blessing. Today, the 23rd, they had a special mass for viewing a Monstrance that had been specially blessed by Pope John Paul II. I have been wanting to take pictures inside, but never felt it appropriate to do so, but with the special occasion today and a couple of other people snapping pictures I got a few - though I'm not thrilled with them photographically speaking. Maybe another time when I'm not so self-conscious I can get some better ones and add to this collection. This cathedral was just recently remodeled.

Just a day's outing, got a couple of shots of the air traffic control center of Jefferson County Airport, then on to Port Arthur and stumbled on the shrine of Queen of Peace, the Vietnamese Parish on 9th Avenue, a Buddist Temple, a few shots around Pleasure Island, and even the old Kansas City Southern train engine. The zinnias in the Queen of Peace gardens were quite colorful and a little bee was flitting around and didn't seem to mind my taking his picture.

The season for the flowers is almost over. Most of them were well past their prime, but a few were still hanging in there.

For some reason, everytime I have a chance to go on a picture-taking session, the weather doesn\'t want to cooperate. Windy, cloudy, rainy. I have trouble with my lighting at the best of it! lol But it was fun anyway.

This was more an exercise of Photoshop than photography. The day was too gray, everything is dead. I thought it prudent to put the white balance on cloudy - lol - mistake. Also probably had shutter speed to fast. So, had to do a lot of adjusting! But it was at least a pleasant day.

Don\'t let the word \"winter\" be misleading. Here in S.E. Texas, \"winter\" only means bare trees. Not a soul in the park, only a few birds that were too quick for me. But at least it was nice to be taking some pictures again, such as they are.

Being late in the season, the gardens were not looking too perky; so I didn't spend too much time there, just a quick walk-through.

These little sweeties are the best!
NOTE: March 10, 2005: Sadly, Jan 28, 2005, Hilda disappeared. After ardent searching and lost notices, not a clue. She never ventured far from home and never missed a meal. I kept hoping she would turn up, but I guess not. All I can do is just hope that someone liked her and took her home with them, but that's not really very likely. She was a real joy; and I miss her. At least I do have Quincy, her offspring. And he's quite character.

I spent the day in the backyard, just looking for things that might make a nice photo, and then playing around with cropping and editing some of them. There are some I had taken in the past few days I added to make up my collection. Amazing what you can find just looking around. Of course, I couldn't leave out my devoted little helpers, Tommy and Hilda.

Gosh, sun was so harsh, heavy shadows. Even with polorizing filter, most still looked faded, so a little enhancements in PS.

Caught a pretty nice sunset tonight. Guess I might just build this collection of sky images.
NEW PICS - 09/23/04 - Added 9 at end of collection

First fireworks - first night shots. Some mistakes for sure. Set up at first at 100 iso, f8 1 sec shutter. Too hard for timing; changed to 100/f8/.5 sec. Better, but should have shortened shutter more. Used monopod, another first! Took 140 pics in 20 minutes. These are all I kept.

While in Houston, we decided to check out the Forbidden City, but got there too late to go inside so only got a few on the grounds. On the way home stopped by the bird sanctuary in Wallisville. The birds weren't "home," but I did see a gator.

Pretty much self-explanatory, used the polorizing filter. Didn't want to zoom too close to people but rather have them part of the setting. Comments of course are most welcomed.

Used polorizing filter for this set. I applied the standard PP enhancements on most of them.

I deleted these, and then retrieved them again, played around with USM and shadow/highlight tool. Composition could be better, but had little time and was concentrating more on the zoom capabilities.
Landscape shots: used for some PP technique practice.

The historial marker is posted for the ship - basically it's the first destroyer built in Texas (it's in Orange, Texas). But I was trying out my new 2x lens, and can't see any difference! The wide angle seems to be okay. Tried a few action shots at the river.

Again, some harsh sunshine and hard shade, but this time I tried utilizing the live histogram, which helped. Also used both continuous focus and single focus and really don't see an obvious difference.