I didn't have time to do more, but at least I got something.
When this stuff is all lit up, it must be impressive. Fun for the kids.
Of course, I kind of liked prowling behind the scenes.
Way behind the scenes. It would be interesting to put a string of lights on this stuff. That's the sort of thing I would do.
Blue lights would work well.
I had to finish with a telephoto shot of the ruins across from the park, which is now a kind of officially sanctioned art work in progress. Graffiti is welcome here. When it gets too dense, it is painted over, thus creating a new canvas. Next time I'll get back to the usual junk and ruins.
We are still in Santa Land Fantasy Land.
I don't want to believe that INS agents use this vehicle to haul away kids who might not be "documented". Strangers in our land? Oh no! To the camps with them!
What does Batman have to do with Christmas? Haven't figured that one out. For that matter, what does Peter Pan have to do with Christmas? How did Donald Duck get excluded?
The star and the tree-- Celtic, I think.
Maybe this bat symbol has something to do with vampires? Maybe a subliminal warning to the kids that someday, when they grow up, they'll have their life blood drained by mortgage lenders, big banks, and credit card companies? That sort of thing could have something to do with Christmas, since a lot of people charge up credit cards at this time of year, and spend the rest of their lives paying the balances. Vampires and even vultures could have a lot to do with Christmas in America, now that I think of it.
They've got some nice fences out there...
A telephoto excursion.
Props.
Keep out!
Surveillance! Are they using facial recognition systems? Gotta get the kids used to a police state.
A pirate ship! Keel-hauling and bottles of rum, rapine and pillage! Walking the plank! Hangings from the yardarms! It's all part of Christmas it seems. More of this fun next time!
This is the first of what I hope will be a big batch of special Lubbock Christmas pics! I decided to start with SANTALAND! This has been a Lubbock tradition for years. It's been set up in several locations over the years, but for the last few years it's been located in McKenzie Park.
First I exercised the telephoto on the gloomy and cold day I decided to make my visit.
After dark this is all lit up but it is also very crowded, so I decided to visit when there was hardly anyone there.
As you will see, it is all over the map. It's got a little nativity scene, and it's got Disney characters, like the seven dwarfs and Peter Pan. It even has Gotham City and Bat Man. There's a little something for everyone. I'm not quite sure what the Caped Crusader has to do with Christmas, but who cares anyway.
Hey, I don't see Captain America! I don't see Superman! I don't see Spiderman! Where is Douglas McArthur? Where is the Enola Gay? There's a lot missing here. How about the Mayflower? How about Christopher Columbus? And so on.
I was not able to enter, so I walked around the edges and used telephoto when necessary. The Nikon I use has an awesome lens on it. I got the lens on eBay for a fraction of what it would have cost new. The image stabilization is remarkable. Performance in low light conditions is amazing.
On the other hand the camera and lens combo is rather bulky, so I can't use the set up in stealth mode, or shooting out the car window, or in places where the crowds are heavy, or when I have to have both hands free most of the time.
More from this location next time. I have some other locations in mind for Christmas pics.
When this stuff is all lit up, it must be impressive. Fun for the kids.
Of course, I kind of liked prowling behind the scenes.
Way behind the scenes. It would be interesting to put a string of lights on this stuff. That's the sort of thing I would do.
Blue lights would work well.
I had to finish with a telephoto shot of the ruins across from the park, which is now a kind of officially sanctioned art work in progress. Graffiti is welcome here. When it gets too dense, it is painted over, thus creating a new canvas. Next time I'll get back to the usual junk and ruins.
