When I was in Jersey over the summer, I made it a point to skate along all my favorite bike paths as much as I could. (I kind of did the same thing while I was home this past winter, but unfortunately there were only about 3 days when the weather was appropriate and there wasn't a lot of snow or puddle-age on the ground. The past couple winters were actually unseasonably warm and pretty good for getting outside, but this year, not so much.)

Anyway, this fellow was skittering across the Sandy Hook Bike Path. I managed to chase him away from the parking lot (which, in that area, was contiguous with the path, separated only by a guard rail) back to the beach (which spilled out onto the path, also separated only by a guard rail)--and managed to get only a couple photos while I was at it. Speedy little bugger.



Date: August 2009
Where/What: fiddler crab scuttling along a bike path in Sandy Hook, NJ
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/200
Aperture: f 3.0
ISO: 100

Listening to: Walk like an Egyptian (the Bangles)
Thankful for: the occasional unexpected surprise like finding a scuttling crab crossing your path

Wowie. A month and a half?! In my defense, the end of the semester got really busy, and I haven't really been taking any photos anyway.

But in light of the holiday season, here is a view of Chicago's State Street (outside Macy's, which is famed for its fantastic Christmas displays).



Date: November 2008
Where/What: Uhm... State Street, Chicago, outside Macy's
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/13 (handheld!)
Aperture: 3.5
ISO: 200

Listening to: Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree (Alan Scott)
Thankful for: Not being so financially in the dumps that I have to give up my dog

Soooooooo if you crack open one of your bones, and thoroughly clean it, and let it dry out for a while... this is the network of sponginess (formally known as trabeculae) that you'd find inside.

Don't believe me? Seriously. Try it.



Date: September 2008
Where/What: more bones in my room!
...if you're still wondering about that, we anatomy students get bone boxes, which are rickety wooden boxes with about 15 bones (plus a fully articulated hand and foot) so that we can handle the bones, examine all their bumps and grooves, y'know, get acquainted with 'em.
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/210
Aperture: f 4.5
ISO: 200

Listening to: You Were the Last High (Dandy Warhols)
Thankful for: pipe cleaners. For cleaning my pipes.

co•pa•cet•ic (koh' peuh set' ik, -see' tik) adj. Slang. fine; completely satisfactory; O.K.; nice: This is a copacetic photo of a slightly creepy-crawly yet copacetic bug. [origins unknown]



Date: January 2008
Where/What: A ladybug! Also known as a ladybird beetle.
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/210
Aperture: f 5.0
ISO: 100

Listening to: A Cockeyed Optimist (South Pacific)
Thankful for: bugs that don't bite me. or skeev me out.

ba-nal (bayn' le, beh nal', -näl', ban' le), adj. devoid of freshness or originality; hackneyed; trite. See also sunsets.



Date: July 2007
Where/What: sunset over Sandy Hook Bay (out the back of a moving car window)
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/210
Aperture: f 4.0
ISO: 100

Listening to: Mad World (Tears for Fears)
Thankful for: clean, fresh water!

Okay. Look. I know they're gross enough that you don't really want to carry them around in your pocket, but does that mean you should just THROW THEM ON THE BEACH?! I found these two applicators about 20 feet apart at Sea Girt. Seriously, folks. Grow up.

I am not a "member" of ABC Wednesday, but it restarted its alphabet this week. And Photofriday's prompt today is "awful." With these two concurrent events in mind, I bring you the beginning of Snapshot Optimism's Photographic Alphabet! Stay tuned for ABC fun in upcoming months.



Date: June 2008
Where/What: beach trash in Sea Girt, NJ
Camera: Fuji S700
Shutter: 1/210
Aperture: f 4.5
ISO: 100

Listening to: Come on Eileen (Dexy's Midnight Runners)
Thankful for: having a camera with nifty macro capabilities