Groundhog Day 2011

The upper midwest is getting hammered with snow today. I looked out the door from which I usually leave the house every morning only to discover that drifting snow has pinned the door closed. I will post photos of the digout and from anywhere I can get in our community as the day goes on. Snow plows have not been able to get through as the storm keeps coming.
Groundhog Day has been cancelled as it is highly unlikely that they will even think about diggin' out to see their shadows.

rrrrr, Come Walk ME Plank!

The Coveted Stylish Blogger Award

So, It's a fact.
I am the worst blog award accepter in the world! So many of you send me these kind of thingys to place on NikonSniper. I usually just thank you for mentioning NikonSniper and for dropping by to see the photos.

Generally speaking, the awards are kinda similar ... however, it's just the rules to receive the awards that seem to vary greatly.
Some want you to tell your life story in a short form novel. Preferably in paperback form.
Some want to play word association games. When I say "PeeWee Herman" ... you say?
Some ask for your birthdate, social security number, recent photo and your bank tracking records.
Some ask for 3 things about you, 7 things about you, 9 lies you've told, etc.
Some ask you random questions like Potato(e) or Rice?

OK, … I gotta nuther award. This time it came from Child of God. So thank you Child of God for passing on the coveted Stylish Blogger Award that has eluded me for years. I would often lie awake in bed wondering why this one award kept dodging me. Is it my style? Is it the black background on the blog? Is it the Sniper part of the name? So, Child of God, congratulations on your Stylish Blogger Award and for being willing to pass this wonderful treasure along to me. I will certainly sleep easier tonight!

NikonSniper Stylish Blogger Rules
1. Tell your readers 10 things about yourself that indicate exactly how weird you really are.
2. Select one bloggie to give the award to so they can have their 15 minutes of fame.

So here are the 10 things you might know (or might have assumed) about me:

1. I ate "A LOT" of lead base paint chips when I was a child.
2. I spent many years of my youth handcuffed to a water fountain in a Texas grade school.
3. My favorite movies are Uncle Buck and What About Bob.
4. I would like to see every member of the House of Representatives and Senate defeated by a newcomer in EVERY election.
5. I have a crazy psycho large jazz collection. I decided to buy this instead of college education for my children. To me, it was basically a good decision because man those CD's sound good.
6. I would like to take all my bloggies on a field trip to Australia for a serious photographic field study.
7. I fell out of the front of a trailer being pulled by a tractor when I was 10. The trailer wheel went over my head while I was on the ground. Thanks for stoppin’ Gramps!
8. I spent time doing standup comedy on a dare in Canada in my mid-twenties. I didn't find myself funny enough when the big guy in the front kept shouting, "That's Not Funny, ... I Said, MAKE Me Laugh".
9. My father was a pastor in Canada during my most trying teen years. That was his bad luck not mine.
10. I am amazed every day of my life by God’s mercy, grace, love, and provision for me.

By the way, ... those lead base paints chips still taste good.

And now … ending my short-lived fame, I would like to bestow the coveted Stylish Blogger Award upon MontanaGirl. I have always enjoyed viewing her photography blog and the wildlife in that beautiful part of the country. Congratulations MontanaGirl.

All the best to you. I hope you all have a great weekend!

NikonSniper Steve

Some People Think I'm CrAAAzzzzY

A Powerful River In Spring, A Trickle In Fall

Tired Dog Needs Rest

So, … Do you ever get that blahhhhh feeling in the middle of the winter? Maybe not if you live in the far South. Like, … it sure would be great to wake up every day in Sydney, Australia right now.

I feel like life is taking me through a quiet season. Things have been very tough in this business climate. I am honestly just thankful I even have a job. I feel like I am hearing God speak to me more these days. Maybe He wants to move me somewhere else. Maybe not!

Sometimes when I feel exhausted or discouraged, it helps for me to meditate on the fact that two seconds after I kick the bucket, … none of these day to day trials will matter at all to me.

The Bible teaches us to be careful as to exactly what we hold important in life.
In Luke 12:15b-20, it reads …

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
After reading this, I know I need to chill and rest in the fact that I am God’s child through faith in Christ and that nothing is more important in this life than seeking FIRST the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:25-34).

If I could reach out and hand you anything I have … it would be His peace. Jesus loves you and wants to give you eternal life. Say yes to Him. (John 3:16).

I just believe this is the most important thing I can say to you today. I wouldn’t intentionally try offend any of you.

God bless you all. Thank you for your kind words left on this website.
NikonSniper Steve

The Weekend Will Soon Be Here

Washington Highway Scenery

Little Red School House

Red-Winged Black Bird In Full Decoration

Down On The Farm

Watering The Lawn

Oh Look, He Has That New Nikon

Let's Bring The Big Screen TV Next Time

American River

The Shaping Of Our Coastline

Los Angeles: We Have Our Eyes On You

AND the Winner IS ....

We finally hit 3333 followers on NikonSniper!

Congratulations Teri of Greenwood, California. You are the winner of the drawing for for the 1TB Hard Drive. I hope you enjoy.
God bless.
NikonSniper Steve

Thanks to the rest of you for entering the contest. Stay tuned for more drawings. You can enter the NikonSniper 4000 Drawing here.

Thick Forest

Buck Buck Bwok Bwawwwwk

Corn Belt At Rest

Indian Corn

Mondays Make Me Feel So Tired

Olympic National Park

Watching The Waterbug Races

Farm Animals ON STRIKE, The Sit In Begins

Our Twin Granddaughters

Memories! Here are our darling twiner granddaughters, Kellyn & Kiara. They turn 10 years old this week and they still have this smile when they see us. So, I guess it's still cool to be around poppy when you're 10.

Time Out On Top Of Chicago Skyscrapper

Thanks For Coming To NikonSniper

Sudden Death

Reflection Of Light

Road To Nowhere

Sleeping Orchard

Wild West Bed & Breakfast

Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down That Wall

Somewhere On This Planet

Somewhere on this planet
I'm sure you'll soon awake
to find your face on your Daddy's blog
and think for goodness sake.
Though we seem so far away
and all around is weird
The God who made both you and I
can hold us when we're a-fear'd.
You know I'm not a poet
but at least I took a try.
Just know we love and miss you and ...
awe geeez another tear is in my eye.
Love you Tara, Pops

Chicago On The Move

Water Sculpting

Melting Ice Stream

Toothpick Delivery Service

The Chore Of Writing

I absolutely HATE writing. Sometimes the writing chore makes it all the way up to "just OK".
I guess I really don't like commenting on every stinkin' photo. Most of the time I would rather not say anything other than post a name on the photo for reference purposes. I don't like a lotta yadda yadda yadda about what the photo means to me ... so as not to influence what a photo might mean to you.
I guess I just don't want NikonSniper to be some kind of personal diary.
I think this scene from Dances with Wolves accurately portrays what I think of keeping a diary.
Hope you enjoy this clip as much as I do.
NikonSniper Steve

Dangerous Illinois Sidewalks

Getting A Fresh Start to 2011

This photo and other similar variations were taken using cameras we purchased for our three oldest granddaughters for Christmas. Kellyn, Kiara and Kyla have been exploring the new world of digital photography during their school break.
I think that the earlier they learn the general photographic rules, the earlier they will learn to effectively break every one of the rules to produce cool photos of their own. I only wish I was with them when they caught this treeline with their Dad a few days ago. I think I would have shot about 300-400 rounds at this setting. This one was captured by Kyla, our 8 year old photo buff. Imagine being a bit jealous at 53. I thought this photo had kind of a fresh feel to begin the new year off right on NikonSniper.
Hope you enjoyed the shots from 2010 and I also hope you have been enjoying shooting your own world a little more. I can't wait to see what God drags in front of me to photograph this coming year.
NikonSniper Steve

Happy New Year from NikonSniper

Happy New Year to all from NikonSniper. Be safe as you travel.

God bless! NikonSniper Steve

Merry Christmas 2010

Well, folks, it's that time of year again. I am shutting down till January 2nd. So that's it for 2010. Your comments will be displayed here as usual but there will be a few days without any new postings. I need to just soak in the time with family.

And, there's no chance I'm quittin' on ya. I hope I can shoot and post photos for the rest of my life ... but a rest is good for the mind too. I want to thank you all for your kind wishes at this season. I hope you have a blessed Christmas with your families. May God bless you with His mercy and grace. Wise men still seek Him today.
Catch you in a few days.
NikonSniper Steve

NikonSniper ... Needs for 2011

I am a photographer. I have discovered that I need a professional website builder with limitless ability and creativity to help recreate www.NikonSniper.com in 2011. I want NikonSniper to be a ministry for Jesus Christ and I need a complete redesign in order to open up so many other areas of support. I want the website to include regular devotional encouragement, hope and support for those hurting in this world.
I am not a wealthy man ... so I need a Christian volunteer. It would be even better if you lived in Northern Illinois but beggers can't be choosers. Gee ... is that too much to ask? I believe if God wants this to happen he will provide a way. In fact, He is able to provide beyond all I ask or think. If you are interested, please write to nikonsniperguy@aol.com. Please title your email "Website Pro". Thanks. I look forward to this next year with the website.
NikonSniper Steve

San Diego Fall Shades

What A Wonderful World

I am still basking in the new joy and excitement of another granddaughter (Javey Elizabeth Baird) born earlier this week. Have you ever heard the song "What a Wonderful World"? I love that song more and more the older I get. Louis Armstrong's raspy voice is beautiful when he sings it.

I know, I know ... it's very clear that the world is flawed. We earthlings have problems on the horizon everywhere.

I used to watch TV but for the most part ... I quit doing that. I guess I got tired of being told in every commercial and TV show that I wasn't good enough to own this car, that house, this boat, these vacations, this body, that portfolio, this lifestyle or that career. Crime is rampant and it is advertised moments after it happens in gruesome detail. It seems like bad news is broadcast wider than anything good. Any given day you can encounter stories telling us that we are heading to disaster with the O-Zone layer, famine, poverty, the destruction of human life and on and on and on.

So I shut it off.

It's not hard to see a very gray world. I just gotta stop! You may think I have put my head in the sand when I say this ... but this old boy can't deal with that picture anymore. I am not invincible ... as I once believed. I am older. I looked at my skin up close with a high power microscope and wow does that look scarey. I really am living under a curse. Nobody gets outta here alive!

This is why I photograph anything beautiful. I want people to see the remaining beauty in this world that is everywhere ... and it is screaming for our attention. When I take these pictures I feel incredibly blessed. I can also worship the creator God who breathed these things into being. I see God when I look at Javey's perfect little hands.

I celebrate the majesty of His creation. I am humbled by His willingness to provide a way for me to find Him personally. I am a very flawed man. Just ask anyone I work with or live with ... but in Christ alone I have been given great hope for eternity. Do you know Him?

One day, Jesus will repair this earth and it will be even better. Yes! Better! Can you imagine what it looked like thousands of years ago? One day I will have hands that look like Javey's again. Everything will be restored again. What a wonderful world. What a wonderful God! What a wonderful Savior IS JESUS my LORD!

Rejoice and be glad!
NikonSniper Steve

Hey There Sunshine

Welcoming Javey Elizabeth Baird

On December 13th, we welcomed our newest family arrival into the world. Javey Elizabeth Baird arrived a little early to Joel & Chelsea Baird of Woodstock, IL. She is now our 6th granddaughter. Javey has made her self known from early on to be quite a kicker. We can now embrace her softly in our hands while she catches up on her sleep. Javey and Chelsea are recovering well and we are grateful to God for her safe arrival.
The surprise arrival of Javey this year makes the Christmas season especially exciting for her five girl-y cousins who live across town.
Javey is a tiny 5lbs, 6oz and is something to see. She is a beautiful miracle that God has allowed us to hold.
In Ephesians Chapter 1, we learn that we are eternally known by God. We learn that we were in fact known by Him prior to the foundation of the earth. What an awesome plan! God's love, grace and mercy have once again been bestowed upon us. We thank Him for allowing us the full joy of another safe arrival. I am such a blessed poppy.
Atta girl Chelsea! May God be glorified in Javey's life and through yours as you and Joel begin a house of three!

Cutting Grass 24 Rows Wide

Christmas River Dining

River Center Mall At Christmas