I have started to experiment with extreme macro photography. I am still working on my camera technique, but the real challenge is getting your subjects to pose. Does anyone want to guess what kind of insect this is?.

This entire flower is only the size of a match head, and although the focus is much softer than other versions I made of this image, I liked the overall dreamy quality and composition of this particular photo.

Maya’s friend Sarinnagh has been staying with us this week and Nala has been the beneficiary of additional attention.

On the way in to work this morning I noticed that the inspection sticker on the Smart Car had expired so I made a quick pit stop to rectify the situation. I have been enjoying the car since I sold my Audi and feel no sense of urgency to get another. Nicolai, however, realizing that this will be his car to drive when I replace mine is providing constant encouragement for me to pick a new car.

Nicolai made the CCHS JV soccer team which opened their season this afternoon with a 0-0 tie to Acton-Boxborough. The team did not look crisp and was lucky to walk away with the draw. Nico was not at his sharpest either but did set up some dangerous attacks on goal and did a fine job on the defensive clear pictured here.

Jeanine returned from a long weekend getaway at Kripalu just in time to retrieve Nicolai from the Alewife T station and deliver him to a mandatory meeting at our church for youth traveling to El Salvador next year. Nicolai spent the afternoon in Boston visiting with a friend he met while at the Encore Coda music camp two summers ago. She was in town for an audition at Symphony Hall. Nico missed his return train by seconds forcing him to take the T as far as Alewife where his mother was kind enough to pick him up. I felt there would have been a good lesson in having him pay for the taxi drive back instead.

My soccer team came away with a nice 3-1 victory this morning and I was able to contribute with two assists. I will know how my knee fared after all the Ibuprofen wears off.

Maya successfully steps through an attacker to strip her of the ball and then passes up the wing setting up the team’s only goal in their 1-2 season opener loss to Natick. Maya is playing with her friends on the Division One team and looked very strong in her defensive role. She remains smaller than most of her opponents but is tough as nails on the ball and no goals were scored by Natick while she was on the pitch.

I took a half day of vacation today so that I could better prepare myself to photograph my niece’s wedding next month. I offered my services as a second shooter at no charge so that I could practice my skills in a real world setting. Many professional wedding photographers use a second shooter to cover more of the wedding (a 2nd covers the groom getting ready while the primary covers the bride, for example) and to get additional angles on critical moments (nothing worse than missing a must have shot because someone inadvertently stepped in the line of sight). I was fortunate to hook up with a great photographer and fantastic couple which made this both a great learning experience and a lot of fun. I was totally spent when I returned home at 1AM after 5 hours in the office, 4 hours on the road (to/from Falmouth) and 8 hours shooting the wedding. The pro unexpectedly split his tip with me making this my first paid photo gig. I think I will stick to my day job, but it was a very nice affirmation to be paid for my photography work for the first time.

Cool temperatures this morning made it easier to sneak up on this bee, who was moving rather lethargically. There is a definite feeling of fall in the air.

Jeanine consoles Nala as Maya leaves for school.

Nala’s electric containment fence prevents her from waiting at the curb with Maya, so she looks on from her favorite perch.

Summer vacation has come to an end and Maya is looking forward to her first day in middle school. Jeanine and I wait with Maya for the bus.

This evening I shot senior portraits for Kyle and Hannah. These are my personal favorites but the final selections will be made by them.

This morning I fitted Jeanine’s new car with a towing hitch so that we can attach our bike carrier. I was very pleased with the results and I know this addition will be put to good use immediately. I then drove to Schenectady in the Smart Car to visit with my parents. My father continues to struggle with health issues caused by his progressing congestive heart failure. After a very nice dinner we all enjoyed a walk through my mother’s Japanese style gardens before sitting down to a conversation which turned to end of life planning. It is not easy to talk about death with a loved one. At the same time, it was so worthwhile to understand my father’s idea of a good death and for him to realize that he has a voice in deciding what that will look like. Whether he has 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 decades left I am very pleased that he has embraced the idea of planning for a graceful death on his own terms.

On the way home we stopped off in Newburyport where we had a rather disappointing diner at a locally recommended Mexican restaurant called Agave’s. The people here are a little stiff but otherwise it is a very quaint and friendly place.

After a productive morning of organizing around the house, Jeanine and I took advantage of the perfect afternoon and drove to Plum Island where we hiked a couple of the nature trails and discovered the island’s namesake. We finished our visit to the wildlife refuge napping on the beach enjoying the dramatic wave action caused by the recent passage of Hurricane Earl.

Kyle, sporting a new haircut, and his buddies were attracted by the aroma of the broth Jeanine was cooking so we gathered them in for the last shot of the day.

Jeanine is putting the finishing touches on her professional web site and asked me to take a picture of her cooking. We had a lot of fun doing the project.

My Audi A3 sold for the asking price yesterday and today I am feeling a little seller’s remorse. It has been one of my favorite cars but it had reached the age when the financially prudent thing to do was sell. I am in no rush to find its replacement as I really enjoy driving the Smart Car. I am still leaning towards another A3 but have decided to keep an open mind and consider other options.