Since 2009, the retirement home of Shot On Site Photography... the source of the finest sighthound performance images in the world. As of August 1, 2022, the blog will become much more photo-centric. Not only will I post images from the homestead in the foothills of the Little Florida Mountains, and surrounding environs, but also tips about shooting, editing, archiving, software, hardware and more. The political rants will become few and far between (but not eliminated! It is 2022 after all!)
Friday, December 14, 2007
Site Changes
Anyway.. over the past month we've made some changes to the blog. While the general appearance remains the same, we've been able to add a lot of new elements, because Blogger finally made it easy to do.
Starting from the top, you've probably already noticed the slide show. I picked jackrabbits to start, but will probably change the subject matter from time to time. If you want to see a larger version, just click on an image.
Below the slide show, I just added our shooting schedule for the next 2 and a half months. This is much more convenient than doing it in a post and then watching is scroll down, down, down and out of sight (and mind). It's always going to be right there. That big gap between the AAWC trial at Hutto, and the Pack Hunt/Desert Hare Classic, represents our "vacation" in New Mexico. We'll be running jacks, eating green chilis, and drinking tequila. I also may venture into Mexico for some discount dental work and new glasses. And maybe this will be the year I finally meet Steve Bodio face to face! That may mean more tequila.
The next couple of blocks of items remain pretty much as they always were. I should point out a few new links in the "blogroll". First, they're not all "blogs", but that's just a technicality, right? You can now link to both of our Photoreflect sites: Events, for your dog's pictures in action, and the Nature & Art site. You were probably also wondering what's up with the "Life With the Georgia Reiniches". First one not named Reiniche, (or Jenkins) to guess correctly will win a $5 Shot On Site gift certificate. Hint: check their archives.
I also added Fark.com. Yeah, like he needs our help. If you've just crawled out from under a rock, Fark is the number one visited site (OK, occasionally number two) on the internet. Go there and you'll see why. It's addictive.
Last, at the bottom of the sidebar, is the return of the Backwards Bush countdown calendar. Where we're about to go under 400 days!
Dog posts and more puppy pictures coming soon! Just weighed Sandia. 49.5 pounds! Holy Crap! And one other news flash: We now know why Rally has been so slow of late. She's begun a tear of the achilles tendon on her left leg. So she's back on the disabled list for at least two months, according to Dr. Don Hulse of Texas A&M. Thanks doc. :(
Monday, December 03, 2007
Y' Want It?
You can have it. Go on. Take it. You know you want it. C'mon take it. Just try.
I believe I've finally succeeded in capturing Sandia's personality. ;^)
Rally's, too.
More Fun at the South's Expense.
Is it me, or is this just plain weird, since the air dates and time are flashed on the screen during the promos? So who's being protected here? Or maybe it just says something about literacy in the South.. they can't hear it, and they certainly can't read it.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Wilderness.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Patrick gives us a comprehensive background, as usual, on how at least one big government program worked. Maybe too well.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving turkey.
Football.
Steve Hutchinson.
Charles Woodson.
Ian Gold.
Steve Breaston.
Amani Toomer.
Braylon Edwards.
Anthony Thomas.
Brian Griese.
Jim Backus.
These are just off the top of my head... Oh yeah, and this guy...
...and there are dozens more. All stars, or at least valuable role players in the National Football League. What's their connection? Obvious to most sports fans: they all played at Michigan. And were coached by Lloyd Carr. Hmmm. Maybe he was better than the "experts" thought. His 13 year record would certainly lead you to believe it.
Lloyd retired this past Monday after 13 years as head coach. He's been getting a lot of praise this week, much of it from the same fan sites, and bloggers who screamed for his head for the last 4 or 5 years. I'm not going to add to the craziness.. You can find all the good stuff at just about any sports site you wish to Google.. ESPN.com, Sporting News, Freep.com, etc. But I did want to point out a new blog I've added to the blogroll column at the right. MGoBlog is maybe one of the best written blogs- of any genre- that I've read. I've listed it below Bodio's and TerrierMan's blog because, well, because it's just that good. Even if you're not a Michigan fan, you will enjoy Brian Cook's posts. In fact mgoblog scooped the mainstream media on news of Lloyd Carr's impending retirement- almost a week before it happened.
Meanwhile, in the real world of Division II football, where national champions are determined the old fashioned way, with a tournament, my Grand Valley Lakers will be hosting North Dakota this weekend in a second round game. It's difficult to remember back that far, but North Dakota was the last school to hand the Lakers a loss. That was back in 2004! If you haven't been paying attention that's 38 straight without a loss, and includes the past two DII championships. I'm hoping for 39, 40, and 41... and 3... over the next couple of weeks.
Go Lakers!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
We're Global! ...and a mystery
Monday, November 19, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Envy!
Meanwhile, many of our friends have already gotten a couple of hunts under their belts in Wyoming and New Mexico. Blog posts about hunting are showing up here, and here.
And perhaps, the bit that increases my anticipation of getting into the desert the most, was the news from the TCC mixed hunt the weekend before last: The hunt was won by Sandia's sire, Tuxedo; 2nd was his "Aunt" Camille; 3rd was his mother, Gogal. A real "family affair".
So, when you see us over the next several weeks, make sure you buy lots and lots of pictures so we can enjoy our New Mexico trip... at $3.50/gallon. =8^(
Monday, November 12, 2007
Schedule Update.
Next weekend, Nov 17-18, we will be at the greyhound training track in Jacksonville, FL for two days of all-breed NOTRA (oval racing). I've wanted to get to this track since they started running NOTRA events there last year. It's a real track, with a rail lure and sand surface.
This means we will miss the Michigan - Ohio State football game. Given the events of the past weekend, maybe it's no big deal.
The rest of the 2007 schedule:
Nov 23-25 MAWA (ASFA trials) Calhoun, GA
Dec 1-2 OPEN DATE. Call us!
Dec 8-9 AHCA (AKC trials) Lampasas, TX (New field!)
Dec 15-16 ASA/GBSC (AKC/ASFA) Waller, TX
Dec 22-23 OPEN.. Happy Holidays!!
Dec 29-30 AHCGH (ASFA) Richmond, TX
We'll list a couple more Texas trials at the beginning of the year, and then it's off to New Mexico for a month (at least) to show Sandia his first jackrabbits. We will be so ready for that!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
New Album
click below..
Monday, October 29, 2007
Watersports at Windyglen
I wonder how many of the people who were at the ASFA National Greyhound Specialty this weekend knew there was a small pond in the far northeast corner of Don and Sally's 40 acres. Well, "Team Beige" found it this morning, and boy did they have fun! This has got to be good for Sandia's development, and it doesn't hurt Rally's rehab, either.
Other than the pond, water was scarce this weekend. In fact, today marks a whole week since we've seen any clouds! I can't remember that ever... anywhere. It's eerie. Temps in the 60's, light breezes, a full Hunter's Moon at night. Those who didn't come missed the best weather anyone could recall for a running event. I'll post more when we're more settled than we are at the Sherman, TX Sam's Club parking lot...
Thursday, October 25, 2007
You! Yeah You! You Know Who You Are!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Puppy Fix?
After yesterday's bile, I thought it was time for more cute puppy stuff. Brand new today in Santa Anna, Texas. Of course, this was in the afternoon. When he was really ramming around at a high rate of speed this morning.... I didn't have the camera with me.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Hijacked!
I'm a bit peeved, myself. Many trial organizers, when they think about a photographer at all, (which is seldom), make the convenient choice, rather than consider what the exhibitors would prefer. There's a reason Shot On Site Photography has been selected to shoot 11 of the last 12 ASFA International Invitationals, (and have been selected already for '08), the inaugural ASFA National Greyhound specialty and this year's event as well, 9 of the last 10 Saluki Specialties, and... well I could go on, but I think the point's been made.
We're easy to reach: dan@shotonsite.us , or margaret@shotonsite.us ...and the phone number is on our website. In 2008, we plan on being more proactive in setting up our schedule. If you're an exhibitor, and you want us at your trial, tell your trial chairperson or secretary. We want to make up a schedule that makes sense driving a 7 mpg motor home around the country.
UPDATE:
OK, I don't mind missing the BGCC trial now.. I just checked, and it's the weekend of the UM-OSU football game. And I know from experience, there's no TV reception at the trial site... (or for many miles around there, for that matter.) Thanks providence!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Dashboard Bobblehead
These last images are for people who've indicated they needed a puppy fix. Sandia was 5 months old yesterday.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Arkansas
Be that as it may, our overnight stop in Arkansas allows us to do something to the outside of the Express that we've needed to do for some time. I'll try and post "before" and "after" pictures tomorrow when we get to our weekend digs.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Sabbatical
There's much I want to cover, like a whole multi-subject dog post covering things like the puppy's progress, Rally's National Turtle, Randir's "real age", the best shot at the AR movement yet, and more...
So stay tuned.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Oct 20-21 AAWC Hutto, TX
Oct 27-28 ASFA Greyhound Specialty Boswell, OK
Nov 2-4 Cirneco Specialty Cat Springs, TX
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
We're Baaack.
We're back in Jackson, MI getting ready to head on down to Indiana for the weekend. So here's a schedule of upcoming events:
October 6-7 LGRA/NOTRA OB National Racemeets Carthage, IN
October 13-14 MGA ASFA trials Gibraltar, MI
October 20-21 AAWC ASFA & AKC trials Hutto, TX
October 26-28 ASFA National Greyhound Specialty B0swell, OK
November 2-4 Cirneco del Etna National Specialty Cat Springs, TX
November 10-11 ASFA Region 7 Invitational Cartersville, GA
November 17-18 BGCC ASFA trial Columbia, KY
November 23-25 MAWA ASFA trials Les's new place, somewhere in Georgia.
I'll get the name of that town in there when I find out what it is.
EDIT: Calhoun, GA... that's where we'll be Nov 23-25!
Also, watch for an upcoming photo contest, and maybe some pictures of boy and girl dogs being bad.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Another Good Blog
I figured, if Patrick likes it... it must be good! And the post I read today was damned good. All about a more than slightly disengenuous marketing campaign by a well known pharmaceutical company. Good enough to add "Dogged" to the blogroll on the right. There many more good dog-related, (and some entertaining non-dog-related, as well), posts. Check it out.
PSA
Today's Wiki-How To falls into the latter category, especially for dog owners, (who probably make up the bulk of readers of this blog). It's "How to Avoid Foods Dangerous to your Dog".
Most readers I know, are familiar already with most of warnings here, but it's worth reading again. I always used to give Randir a little beer on my finger, (never let him lap directly from the pint, though), and he's eleven years old and going strong so, some things in moderation are OK, I guess. If you know folks less "in the know" than you are, pass this on.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Blatant Commercial Message.
Ideally, they will look a lot like this one of our staghound, Buffy.
Regular price for a 16 x 20 print is $40 + $6 for shipping. If you order by October 10, the price is only $25 for each, and shipping is only a flat rate of $6, no matter how many posters you order. So far, we've sent out about a dozen, and the feedback has been beyond positive.
About 70 messages bounced. If you didn't get one, or if you know someone who might be interested in this special product, pass this post on by clicking on the envelope icon at the bottom. To order, simply send your request to margaret@shotonsite.us. It's as simple as that to get the ball rolling.
See other samples at our event website.
We now return you to our regularly scheduled entertaining blog posting.....
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Super Wide
This above shot is Sandia, on the loose, and having fun. Shot at the 18mm setting, this image has been cropped about 40%, and the puppy was only about 3 feet from the front of the lens, which accounts for the little bit of distortion.
And how good is the VR? This shot was taken in the Express, at 1/2.5 seconds... hand held. Other than cropping so you can see the detail, this picture hasn't been sharpened with Picasa editor. It is as it was. Click the image to enlarge and look at the detail around the eyes. Pretty cool. It helps when you can catch the subject in an abnormally pensive... and still... moment.
And the best difference between the 18-200 and the giant 80-200 f2.8 I've been using for the last 4 years is that it weighs almost nothing.. probably almost 2 pounds less I have to carry around all weekend. I love it!
And that's how you foist more puppy pictures on the unsuspecting public without boring them to death.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Shakey Jake.
Word reached us today that Jake died on Sunday. He was 82. Maybe.
I have a picture I took of Jake in 1974, at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival- In Exile. (It was held in Windsor, Ontario Canada that year). How Jake got over the border, and back, is still a mystery to me. Anyway, the picture shows him hawking the Ann Arbor Sun- the counterculture paper of the day. If I can find the original slide when we attack our storage locker Thursday, I'll scan it and put it up here.
HT to Margaret's son, Tony. RTWT- especially the comments!
"I Brake For Jake".
Friday, September 14, 2007
Incriminating Evidence.
An Economic Decision
This wasn't an easy decision. We really hate to make a change- especially a last minute change- once we've posted an event on the blog and at the website. However, we learned that the entry at the race meet and trial would be quite small, while the AKC trial had a good number of pre-entries, including many Junior Courser runs each day. Add to that the fact we can leave the motor home parked where it is, and take the car to the trial, thus putting off buying gas for it until next Friday, and also that I have an early morning VA appointment in Ann Arbor on Monday.. it just made economic sense.
We apologize to the LARC folks, for leaving them in the lurch, and we will return to Oberlin next year. Raisin River Rhodesian Ridgeback Club?? We'll see you tomorrow in Manchester, (where I intend to bug somebody about this club name... as far as I know, the body of water is officially known as the River Raisin. Not the other way around.)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Heinous Crime!
The Top Ten Valuable Things I Learned from SPAM.
Number 9: "you may be eligible for a $1000 Target Shopping Spree'"
Number 8: "thousands of cars are seized by different Government agencies."
Number 7: "You could find a beautiful home that has been seized by the Government"
Number 6: "The second hand moves JUST like the real ones"
Number 5: "People judge your dick size by your shoes size."
Number 4: "Doesn't matter what is the problem - we have pills to cure everything"
Number 3: "A giant progressive jackpot waits to be grabbed!"
Number 2: "ladies like em big"
...and the NUMBER 1 Valuable Thing I Learned from SPAM:
"the average American has 6-10 undigested meals resting in the colon!"
And you all thought it was just useless clutter.... (SPAM, that is, not the meals resting in your colon.)
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Others
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Test dog extraordinaire! Best described a few years ago by Sandra Moore as "the best fixed broke dawg I ever saw!". And still the prettiest dog on the planet.
UPDATE 1: I'm looking at this, and it reminds me of something. What is it? Wait! That's it!!
All Relative.
Above, is Grandmother "Zanda", and below, Grandfather "Xicot", (the tall, dark, and handsome one in the group- pronounced, "Chico".) Click on the link to see some background information, and a list of European titles... most of which I don't understand. Probably show, racing, and lure coursing, but I'm not sure.
Images courtesy Anke Schute, in the Netherlands. Thanks!
EDIT 1: And, just to close a circle here... When I wrote the story of my Galgo "quest" back in August, I mentioned exchanging emails, back in the late 90's, with the "Little Lobitos" folks in Germany about their pending first litter. Well... it happens that in that first litter was a cute little girl... by the name of Zanda!
Small world. (At least in Europe it is...)
As before.. to view Zanda's puppy picture, click on the link, click on "Puppies", click on the "A" litter, roll your mouse over all the cute puppies until "Abizanda" shows up, then click on that picture. For some reason we can't link directly to a specific page on the website; only the home page.
Nature Finds Us.
He/she had plenty to eat this weekend; the mosquitos were quite horrendous. If I had to guess, I'd call this a Grey Tree Frog. Any amphibian biologists out there want to help out, feel free to jump in. It's about 3 inches long, got some serious grippy toes, and was a dull grey with vibrant black and yellow areas under the arms and legs.
Look closely, and you can see the self-portrait of the photographer in the eye!
If You Have to Ask... You Must be Dick Cheney.
William Saletan at Slate.Com reports on a study that shows that "Liberals' brains 'are more responsive to informational complexity".
Where's the news there? I knew that. Didn't you know that?