Reno Fog Photorgaphy

Rare Bear Wheels Up

2011-03-24T22:36:00.001-07:00

Rare Bear Wheels Up, a photo by reno_fog on Flickr.

Wake Up

2010-07-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

It's almost 10PM I have stopped eating and will know stop fluids. I tend not to sleep before major surgery, before the bypass I was up all night writing in a journal. Anyway I will sleep tomorrow.
To all who have sent me good vibes or prayers or good thoughts, thank you so very much.
More to come, Dear reader

Three and a Wake Up

2010-07-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

I was at the hospital today for pre-op testing... Sounds impressive, It is the time you officially step into the waiting arms of the medical system.

I was registered today and drained of what seemed to be a pint of red blood cells and X-ray of the chest performed. So three days and a wake up.
It's beginning to become real now... not unlike a trip to some wonderful place that doesn't seem real until you begin the journey with that first step. I have made the first step.
Tomorow I will take lunch to my Wonderful Wife Terri, then figure something for dinner. Sunday My best friend Bob will be up for dinner and a little Scots Whiskey.
Scarlett will be in there one of the weekend days. Then a quiet Monday and then a wake up.
Thanks for reading this... if you are.

Eleven Day and a Wake-up

2010-07-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

That's what we would say in the Navy... If you were shipping out it meant you had eleven days then departure day.
Well as of today I have 11 days and a wake up. I had my final visit with the surgeon and then had a visit with the cardiologist. My cardiologist feels I am in great shape, also that things will continue to get better. I quit smoking a year and a half ago. Those of you who knew me in high school know that I smoked like a chimney. I believe stopping may be saving my life, but more important not smoking means that the fusion in my neck will heal better and stronger.
I have helped surgeons use the implants that will be used in my Neck. I understand how they work and I know that good people are using them on me.
I am not afraid, I know that's easy to say but, remember I had a quad heart bypass 14 years ago, and two heart attacks. It looks like anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks of recovery and rehab.
Check back soon there will be pictures of the surgery.

Is it real or is it Memorex ?

2010-06-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

I have found that the difference in what you feel vs. what you know can be a long walk. What do I mean by that? Before I knew I had a problem with the vertebrae in my neck all it ever seemed to me was my neck was stiff, or soar or you fill in the blank. Now it hurts all the time just like before but somehow my mind assigns this pain a higher priority. The problem that caused me to seek treatment is very much worse. Some nights I can only get an hour or two of sleep because the spasms that grip my legs or back or hands is quit frankly the worst pain I have ever felt. Like the worst cramp you ever felt and you have to walk them off. If you haven't walked enough and you lay down too soon the whole thing starts over again.
I am looking forward to putting this behind me.. but i'm telling you, this will be the last time... (I hope)

thanks for reading

Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery

2010-06-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

Well, today I start the count down for the neck surgery I am to have. I will be having the surgery on the 14th of July 2010. I still need a cardiac clearance then we will be ready to go. Dr. Pam Russell will be passing the gas on this occasion.
This surgery is called an Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). If you are intrested here is a link describing the procedure. mayfield clinic.com
The symptoms I am having include some arm pain but mostly severe muscle spasms in my legs, back, hands, face... In short everywhere.
I must remind everyone that one should not have spine surgery for "pain" you need surgery for the deficit that the problem creates.
I will let you know how the cradiac clearence works out...
I am a surgical tech and I help surgeons do this procedure. I have confidence in the team that will do my surgery. Last I have confidence in my hospital St. Mary's Regional Medical Center.

So I will add more soon...

Boomers

2010-03-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have been watching "Boomer$" recorded from CNBC.
It's about us and the remarkable journey that we took thru our lives. This program focused on the things that made us what we were then and now...
As I watched this show I wondered what happened to our generation. We had high (both kinds) expectations and lofty ideals. And in the end some would call us self-centered, We as a group fought a very unpopular ( Viet Nam)war. Fought a very scarry war (cold war with the USSR) moved from the grittyness of Viet Nam to the deserts of the middle east.
The boomers are in charge now, and we still ended op in not one war but two... HELLO, how did we F... that up. At least when the troops get home now people turn out to great them. When I returned I was spit on by members of my own generation.
The wound of the Viet Nam war will always be near the surface for us... I colors everything from foreign policy to how we fight a war, and if we don't hurry the lessons of that war will be lost.
Well enough. See this great show if you can... it's worth it.
Peace- out

RAGE

2010-03-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

This is my daughter Tracie. Baby and now.

She has been diagnost with Fibromyalgia
and I am in hell. I can not help her I can't even protect her from this terrible condition.
I offer this for your concideration... and Tracie you shouldn't read this.

Fibromialgia Report
The title of this post is Rage, why rage? Doctors how say they will care for your child and don't. No one cares that Tracie is hurt when her doctor put her on Check this
I seem to be watching the flower that is Tracie's life wither... Why can't anybody help her?

I do not write well

2010-03-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Odd title?
yeah,I agree but so what?
I am likely the only person interested enough to read what I write.
So I begin.
I am a health care professional, at least I'd like to thought be as one. I work in the western United States. Why not just say where? Well someone might be reading this after all.
For the last 13 years I have made my living working as a Surgical Technologist. We pass instruments to the surgeon. Enough. Who Cares?
I am 57 years old and have had in this order... A CABC (pronounced cabbage), Two Heart Attacks with the placement of a total of three stents, American Heart Association. I have a wonderful wife, two grown children and one delightful grand child.

If you do suffer from Cardio Vascular Disease, please book mark me and come back every week or so.
Until the next time.

Self Portrait at the Beach

2009-05-07T15:48:00.001-07:00

Self Portrait at the Beach
Originally uploaded by reno_fog is on the mend

This is the report on the "heart attack" I had last Thursday... It must be told that I was in a car for twelve hours that day, I'm sure that didn't help. In reality I felt just fine until I didn't... I felt pressure in my chest with pain down my left arm and up into my neck and jaw, another manifestation was the "tunnel vision" effect. My wife Terri gave me an aspirin and call an ambulance and off to the ER I went.
Friday, I received a cardiac cath. and two stents. and went home Saturday. I feel fine but wonder if I should take another week off?

NO

2009-05-07T08:58:00.001-07:00

NO
Originally uploaded by reno_fog is on the mend

I use this photo to make a point... The city fathers of San Diego can of course do anything they want too at the beaches of that fair city. The sadness of the reality of that statement leaves you with the rules in this photo.

Which gives the title "NO".

When I lived and worked in San Diego 25 years ago the beaches were wide open and they were interesting and fun. You could smoke on the beach and have a beer and sit on the wall with a cocktail and a smoke and watch the sun go down. We took the kids and had a great time
Now it's a family beach... all the beaches are family beaches... good for families but what about the rest of us???

A little hitch in my get along

2009-05-03T09:12:00.001-07:00

A little hitch in my get along
Originally uploaded by reno_fog had a heart attack

I want to tell you all that quick action saved my life Thursday night... I had a 80% blockage on one artery in my heart and another blockage in a second vessel. Calling for help is what saved my life that night. My wife saved my life that night. This event was bad enough to rate a little morphine sulfate to ease the pain and relax me. A quick trip thru the Emergency Department and a date with the interventional radiologist and two stents were placed in the vessels and things got better fast. I will be taking a few days off, but I do feel much better and I do have a lot of photos to look at from the trip.

Winter at Donner Pass

2009-04-18T08:16:00.001-07:00

Winter at Donner Pass
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

This was a perfect day to shoot... A polarizer was used to get the color right

Good Form

2009-03-20T10:25:00.001-07:00

Good Form
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

My buddy Rudy... He is still a puppy but he sure is fun.

Leaving... On a Jet Plane

2009-03-13T08:07:00.001-07:00

Leaving... On a Jet Plane
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

Almost missed my chance with this photo...

Morning Rower

2009-02-27T12:17:00.001-08:00

Morning Rower
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

I am going to try to work in black and white a little more, several layers were used in the making of this photo. I wanted drama in the image... but I think it and I still need work.

JPG still in business

2009-02-01T09:53:00.000-08:00

I'm very glad to see that JPG web site is still in business... For a long time I hope

Good By JPG

2009-01-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

Today I note with sadness the passing of a great little magazine that tried but failed to say alive JPG was both a web and rag based publication for photographers.

In my case none of the photos I posted were used in the publication but, they could have been. JPG also gave me the chance to try out my writing skills ( or lack there of) and stretched my as a photographer.

In the troubled times we have come through and the tuff times ahead JPG would have been a nice thing to have. Great community, great writing and fantastic photography.

Good luck to the staff of JPG, I hope you all find great places to work and prosper.

Maybe someday JPG will return.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T05:51:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

Happy Holidays To All

2008-12-20T23:46:00.000-08:00

Winter Storm 2008

2008-12-12T19:06:00.001-08:00

Winter Storm 2008
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

Lenticulars over the Sierra Nevada... Beautiful

jpeg entry

2008-12-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

November SP

2008-12-08T00:11:00.001-08:00

November SP
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

Pain is a real thing. Even the loss of a pet can throw you down a dark road.

Generalissimo Francisco Franco... An Appreciation

2008-11-16T09:49:00.001-08:00

Generalissimo Francisco Franco
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

Franco was a big guy, strong and beautiful sadly this came to an end on the morning of Friday November 14, 2008. As he always did he came into the house that morning to see my wife but she knew immediately there was a problem... His breathing was labored and crackly and he had a faraway look in his eyes. I was dispatched to take to his Vet to see what the problem might be. Two hours of work up then a trip to the Emergency Animal Center where Dr. Kevin Bell rendered a diagnosis. Heart and Kidney failure. The questions began “Yes this can happen with out warning” I’m sorry the prognosis is not good”. With a confirming diagnosis from a Radiologist we realized the worst was going to happen.

So at about 11:30 last night he crossed the rainbow bridge and we are left with the memories and the photos and an empty food bowl.

I know this is a strange place to put and obituary for a cat but as I write this the tears still come to my eyes as I remember this fine animal and his effect on my life and the lives around him.
Teri and I will miss him

2008-11-04T21:04:00.003-08:00

An Open Letter to Barack Obama
by reno_fog | November 4, 2008 at 09:15 pm

Dear Barack,

I call you that now because in a few hours I believe you will be the next priedent of the United States, and then it will not be proper.

First of all congratulation of your victory ( soon to be announced) and the clean honorable way you have run the campaign .

As you know it's been a lousy year and I suspect it will get worse before it gets better. This is the challenge you have taken on, and good luck, you will receive my full support. I am a life long Republican and voted for R. Regan three times in my life. You moved me and for once we had two good candidates for the office, you were the better choice.

Yes I voted for you not because you were the lesser of two evils but the better of two good men. NOW...

I don't have a laundry list of what I want you to do... what you do will be dictated by your heart and conscience.

But I have a wish and here it is... I would like you to consider doing what I think is your most important duty and that's to energize this country as a Democratic President did be for you.

The first President I remember being elected was John Kennedy and he was able to set this nation of the path of discovery and exploration. You can too. We have so many things that need to be fixed and improved and begun. Clean energy is the first... afordable clean energy JFK put us on the road to the moon, can you start us on the road to a clean honorable future?

You want my money in the form of taxes fine, but pleases spend it the right way. I have a grand daughter, I won't live long enough to protect her 20 years from now, will you help me make this a safe clean world for her? Not so the rich get richer, not so she will work all her life only to die unfulfilled.

You hold this country and it's people in your hands, please take good care of all the people those who put their oath in you and those who didn't.

Most of all GOOD LUCK and be a great President.

8:00 pm PST...NBC just announced that you are the new President. Mr. Obama... Mr President Good Luck

With Respect,

John D. Metcalfe

2008-11-04T21:04:00.001-08:00

Vote Yeah

2008-10-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

JPEG Magizene photos... Take a look there are some great photos and stories

The Diamond Close Up

2008-09-16T21:00:00.001-07:00

The Diamond Close Up
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

This was a great opportunity to get some great photos... click on the picture and see the rest

Mendocino Fog

2008-08-31T08:31:00.001-07:00

Mendocino Fog
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

The most serene place I've been in years is Mendocino and the Whitegate Inn B&B.

Fireworks Work Flow

2008-07-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

I was asked by Tom Robinson to explain how I processed the 4th of July fireworks photos. I have also included the camera settings
I use Corel Paint Shop Pro as my photo correction program.
Here is a link for Photoshop to Paint Paint Shop Pro terms Dictonary
If you have any questions please Email me using the link in my profile.
Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 3 sec (3)
Aperture: f/4.8
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV

Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution: 300 dpi
Y-Resolution: 300 dpi
Software: Paint Shop Pro Photo 11.20
Date and Time: 2008:07:05 08:14:42
YCbCr Positioning: Co-Sited
Reference Black/White: 0/1, 255/1, 0/1, 255/1, 0/1, 255/1
Exposure Program: Manual
Date and Time (Original): 2008:07:04 21:38:13
Date and Time (Digitized): 2008:07:04 21:38:10
Maximum Lens Aperture: 45/10
Metering Mode: Spot
Sub-Second Time: 10
Sub-Second Time (Original): 10
Sub-Second Time (Digitized): 10
Color Space: sRGB
Sensing Method: One-chip colour area sensor
CFA Pattern: BLUE GREEN GREEN RED
Exposure Mode: Manual
Digital Zoom Ratio: 1/1
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 57
Gain Control: Low gain up
Contrast: Soft
Compression: JPEG
Object Name (Title): 4th of July 2008
By-Line (Author): reno_fog
Copyright Notice: john d. metcalfe
Image Width: 4000 pixels
Image Height: 5809 pixels

STEP 1
Select Photo

STEP 2:
I use a scripted work flow to Correct the image,Clarify,Remove Noise and run an Unsharp Mask.

STEP 3:
Duplicate the image.

STEP 4:
Change layer properties to Screen. This adds a lot of highlights to the finished image

STEP 5:
Reduce visibility to about 40%. Adjust for your own requirements.

STEP 6:
Turn off visibility of the original layer and check the copy to see if you like the color added to the layer.

STEP 7:
Merge and save.

Final Image
Original:

Final

Oldie But Goodie !

2008-07-03T00:08:00.001-07:00

Oldie But Goodie !
Originally uploaded by Web Cowboy

This is a perfect example of great use of post processing. The photo is not over done and is very believable . Not to mention a great American Motorcycle.
My congrats to Web Cowboy for a wonderful photo

Sky Dancing . . .

2008-06-29T10:40:00.001-07:00

Sky Dancing . . .
Originally uploaded by bebalance

This deserves a note on the blog... bbalance is a rock balancer with out equal best of all he balances in the San Francisco Bay Area, the place where I'm from. So I invite you to look at his work and marvel

Smoke ... What smoke???

2008-06-29T10:32:00.001-07:00

Smoke ... What smoke???
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

The fires in California have impacted us here in Reno... For the last week you can smell, see, and taste the smoke.

Jim McKay

2008-06-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to say something about Jim McKay... I never thought I would feel the depth of emotion for a TV personality like I feel today for this man. This is the guy that showed me there was more to sports that baseball and football. I wanted to know about the guy jumping over barrels in Lake Placid and the huge Russian weightlifter. The many stories and commentaries the up close and personal even music for one particular athlete, all this came from the sports story teller Jim McKay.
To his family and colleagues... I join your sorrow.

Mort

2008-06-04T21:24:00.001-07:00

Mort
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

Meet the devilishly handsome Mort... This photo was shopped in Corel PSPXI. Chair legs and a park bench behind the subject were removed to leave Mort alone with his smile.

Surf Fishing

2008-05-27T21:12:00.001-07:00

Surf Fishing
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

This was taken in Pacifica California... I hope you find it appealing.
I was trying to photograph the peacefulness of the location and the beauty of the moment.
Thanks for stopping by.

Out for a few days

2008-05-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a road trip to the San Francisco Bay area for some food photos and relaxation....

Nissan of Reno

2008-05-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

It is hard for me to say this but, I'm going to say it anyway...

Nissan of Reno.... A wonderful place to by a car...
Mr. Rob Barham ( my sales consultant) was professional and treated me with respect.
He spent our time together helping me by my car not making phony trips to see the sales manager and jacking with the price.
My hat is off to Rob and the finance manager Jon, another great professional.

Reno River Walk

2008-05-16T11:30:00.001-07:00

Reno River Walk
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

This is my first sold work. The RSVCA bought is thru Reno Stock.Com
This photo was taken with these settings
Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 25 sec (25)
Aperture: f/32
Focal Length: 42 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -2/3 EV
Date and Time: 2008:03:17 20:42:49

First jpeg photo essay

2008-05-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Balancing Act in HDR

2008-05-15T10:20:00.001-07:00

Balancing Act in HDR
Originally uploaded by reno_fog

Homage to bebalance, a person who can balance anything

Reno Fog Photography

2008-05-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Reno Fog Photography