Self Portraits - Shane Style

For years now I have taken to turning the camera around and snapping pics of myself whenever someone hands me a camera to take their photo. It all started as a raft guide when guests would give me their camera to take their photos. While they were busying themselves with getting ready for the photo I would turn it on myself and take a quick shot. I've never gotten any of them back though. This is what most of them must look like, although with much nicer backgrounds I'm sure!
I do still carry on the tradition in the House Chamber when a parent or someone hands me their camera for a shot with the delegates. If anyone has one of these photos please leave me a comment and let me know, I would love to do a post of any I receive!

Charleston Area Bloggers Meet

Tomorrow (Wednesday Feb 1), 8AM Taylor Books on Capitol Street in Charleston. Everyone welcome. See you there.

Very Large Group

Photo Taken By Shane for West Virginia Legislature, Office of Reference & Information*

Occasionally I get asked to do a large group photo for one of the delegates. Here's the biggest I've photographed this year. There are 62 people in this photo. That's about 1/2 the size of my largest group last year when I photographed an entire grade school out on the steps of the Capitol.

It's a neat change from the small group photos I usually take. It's tough to light everyone seeing how we're just using camera mounted flash. Anymore people and I don't think I would've been able to get everyone lit.

And can you believe that in this photo only one person had there eyes closed because of the flash! I took about 5 different photos just to get one photo where most people's eyes were open. Thanks to photoshop I was able to take the person's eyes outta one photo where they were open and put them into this one. You'd never know by looking at it either! I love digital photography!

Beautiful Sky Day

Digital Photography Class

John Amos Cloud Maker

A ride home last night during the golden hour revealed this "cloud" as the only cloud in the sky. It's actually a steam cloud from the John Amos Power Plant. This is a view from Charleston and I'd estimate it's about 12 miles to the cloud if you could go straight. I was on the East end of Charleston at the time. It would take a 15 minute interstate ride to get within site of the plant.

Here is a much closer view of the plant, from On Location With Rick Lee.

Charelston Area Bloggers (CAB) Meet

So, I unfortunately had to miss the first meeting but I'm going to definetly be there for the next one. Also unfortunately, I will probably be wearing a tie as I have to wear one for the temp photo gig at the legislature.

Anyway, the next CAB Meet is at Taylor Books on Capitol Street at 8AM on Wednesday, February 1, 2006. See everyone there!

Half Mast Capitol Color

WV Hotdog Blogging

I'm getting in on the act and rating some Hot Dogs for the WV Hot Dog Blog. Since I couldn't figure out how to post directly on the Hot Dog Blog I thought I would post here and then link to there. (feel free to copy this over Stanton if you want)

So, the location for some hidden treasures for hot dog lovers is in the basement of the WV Capitol, West Wing Snack Bar. Don't let my photo scare you off, I was interrupted during the hotdog photo shoot and before I could get back to them, I had eaten them! These hotdogs are awesomely delicious.

The Snack bar is independently run I believe and all the food is home cooked goodness. A hotdog with everything comes with: Ketchup, Mustard, Chili, Slaw and Onions. The chili is mild yet flavorful and the slaw is top notch with a hint of sweetness. The buns are steamed and they are served to go in styrofoam boxes so they can get quite messy if you have a long haul back to your office. Take some napkins with you.

As for price, they can't be beat. The meal you see above (2 Hotdogs with everything and a bag of chips) costs a mere $3.50!!!!!! You'll have to get your own drink, they do have bottled soda for sale and there are vending machines fairly close by.

I live within a mile and half of Skeenies on Route 21 and I have eaten Skeenies Dogs all my life. I think these beat Skeenies hands down, and that's saying something I think! If you find yourself in the Capitol and hungry, stop in and give them a try.

East End Revival

New Charleston Area Blogger!!!

Everyone should check out Brian Canterbury's new blog "Knottydread's Knappy Roots". I have a feeling we'll be seeing everything from WiFi/Techy Stuff to Hiaku Poetry!!!!!

Coal Miners On Our Minds

WV Chopper at the Capitol

Intern Hits the Big Time

Antique Cars

Auto Show - Concept Cars

Auto Show - New Cars

VW3

Cool Rims

WV Chopper

Angles and Curves

Another shot from yesterday....still can't believe it's January!

January Day???

Geez, can you believe this weather. This was taken during my lunch break today and it was approximately 58 degrees or so!!! Man, what a beautiful day.

PS: Heidi got a better paying job today!!!! Wooohooooo! (It only took 6 months of hardcore searching)

New Charleston Area Blogger!!!

Welcome Clayton Spangler to the world of blogging. Clayton is a local photographer/educator/technician who just started "The C Spot". You can also check out his website at ClaytonSpangler.com.

Hopefully we'll see him at the next Charleston Area Bloggers Meet which I hear is happening on Febuary 1st, 2006 at Taylor Books in Charleston. I am going to do everything in my power to make it to this one!!!

Kids in the House!

Every now and again in the WV House of Delegates they have different types of presentations. Today was one of the best ever. There were about 20 daycare kids who led "The Pledge of Allegiance" and then sang "God Bless America"!

Sometimes as a photographer, you just have to get in the floor.......

Photo Taken By Shane for West Virginia Legislature, Office of Reference & Information*

They knew every word!....

Photo Taken By Shane for West Virginia Legislature, Office of Reference & Information*

Typical Day at the Legislature

Here is an example of the types of shots I take at the Legislature. These kids were special guests today and led the House in "The Pledge of Allegience".

Photo Taken By Shane for West Virginia Legislature, Office of Reference & Information

Even more common are Page Photos. Everyday of session I take photos of the days pages with their delegates up on the podium. Then I go to the dungeon and print the photos and then they are mailed out to each page. It's amazing the quantity of photos we produce on a busy day.

The "Dungeon"......

Half Mast and Pillars Redux

Here's a little closer to what I was going for in the post about the flags at half mast, except the WV flag is no longer at half mast. Just goes to show you that sometimes, I mean usually, Mother Nature just doesn't go along with what you have in mind!

Here's a link to the original post where I was trying to get the WV State Flag at half mast in honor of the fallen coal miners.

BEAR!!!!!

So, I was walking the halls at the State Capitol today and barely made it past these wild beasts. They have free reign around the Capitol complex since they are the state animal.

State of the State

I had to cover the State of the State Address last night. It's actually kinda fun, here's just a few of the shots I took.

This first one is blown out on the left from my flash but I kinda liked the effect....

Photos Removed Upon Request

Miner Statue

Keeping with the miners theme of the day. Here's a photo of the statue from the Capitol complex, by the Cultural Center entrance.

Half Mast and Pillars

I was trying to get the WV Flag that's in front of the Capitol at Half Mast. It's flying at Half Mast in honor of the 12 miners who were killed last week. Unfortunately mother nature would not cooperate and blow the flag out for me so it's folded down by the mast. This is from the front "porch" of the capitol.

Legislative Interns

Interns for the State Legislature, are they crazy or what? These girls and guy, 3 from WVU and one from Marshall, took on a job with long hours and low pay working for the State Legislature FOR CLASS CREDIT!!! At least they got in with a good department! I'll try and do an interview at the end of session with them to see we'll see how it went.

Serendipity Cafe

A gritty back alley scene, gotta love them. This is an entrance to an old coffee house in Beckley called the "Serendipity Cafe". That's what the lettering on the green board at the top of stairs say anyway!

Sad Indians and Wild Horses

I was in Beckley for a quick photo job today and across the street from the shoot was a shop that sold sculptures of horses and Indians. The expressions on the faces were remarkably lifelike. Didn't catch the name of the shop but it's on Neville Street in Downtown Beckley.

Mission Control

This NASA looking workstation is actually my corner of the home office. Currently on the screens is my new obscession, "Freelancer". It's a space based flight game with trading and piracy and the whole bit. Quit interesting if you're into that sort of thing. I am currently playing at a server called "Top Freelancers" as a space pirate! Arghhhhh

Happy 2006!

Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't been keeping up with the blog the past couple of weeks. I decided to take an end of the year vacation that was MUCH needed. I have been concentrating on not concentrating and the house. I will be getting back into the swing of things this week.

Happy 2006 to everyone!!