Christmas in Tulsa

Every year, Christmas sneaks up on me — like it’s the beginning of December and in the blink of an eye it’s Christmas Eve. Why is that? Why isn’t November like that with Thanksgiving, my absolute-favorite holiday of all time?

This year, we visited Walt’s grandparents in Tulsa with a few other members of the Rinehart clan. Ever the nerd and pragmatic luggage-packer, I decided to shoot with just one lens and think in black & white for most of the trip. Here are snippets of our Christmas trip, taken on a D700 with the 35mm f/2.

1) Walt’s grandfather; 2) Walt’s younger but taller brother Max (yes, ladies, he is single!); 3) A Fast Eddie’s Burger; 4) catching the game before heading out; 5) eat here, there are good fries.

6) I’ve never seen a sky like that in Austin. Maybe I just don’t get out enough. Midwest skies, why do you tease me so? 7 & 8) A lesson in exposure with Walt.

9 – 13) Presents! Presents! Presents!!

14) Winston (and Christina’s arm); 15) the best Christmas gift ever, given by Walt and myself — Farts Around the World (complete with sound effects)!; 16) Bill’s giant art book; 17 & 18) Walt is a Kindle convert

19 – 21) Ticket to Ride Europe with Donna, Uncle Todd, Walt, & Max; 22) the evening news with Grandma Diana; 23) Grandpa Bill and Winston

24) Grandpa Bill’s old Nikon collection. Some of that glass could fit onto my D700 with no problem. 25) Though the 135mm f/2.8 didn’t. 26 & 27) Shots taken with Grandpa Bill’s old 105 mm f/2.8. 28) Freelensing with an old Nikon 50mm f/1.2.

29) Broken dryer means hanging clothes to dry. 30) Max.

I hope your holidays were warm, wonderful, and full of cheer :)