Havasu Vacation 2012

Its been a month since I've been back from our family Lake Havasu vacation and I'm finally getting this post put together.  I still have a slide show to get jiggy with, but that a different story and blog post.

Every year on our way to Havasu we stop at Denny's in Blythe for lunch.  This is something my daughter looks forward to each and every year, but this year my daughter didn't want to go and stayed home.  Needless to say this was a little rough on the wife and I since this will be her first time home alone for that long, but we have to let our children grow and I know she's very responsible.  So this shot was taken for her, my SWEETHEART.

Now another thing we do each and every time we arrive at Havasu Springs Resort is to relax in the pool after unpacking.  Other than relaxing in the pool myself I tend to bring the camera and by camera I mean my Canon Mark IIn and the 70-200 f/2.8, and I do get into the water to get these shots.  It is all about the shot - right.

Well what can I say, I am on vacation :)

Each night I hope for partial cloud cover and colorful sunsets, well the first night in Havasu did not let me down.  The next two shots were done in HDR, something I've been learning and playing with.  Well more playing then learning.

This is where we will spend our days during the next week.  Canopy's are put up with a nice screen to give us some much needed shade.  Home away from home.

What is havasu without water sports such as wake boarding, knee boarding, and tubing, which you will see in the shots below

The beginning of Day 2 in havasu

Just something fun

Day 3's sunset

Day 4, fun in the sun and relaxing in the water.

Day 5 - the wify

Sunset for Day 5

Day 6

Our last full day in Havasu.  Now recently I've been seeing people post shots of their feet in the various areas they are, so here are my feet, crooked toes and all.

And yet another tradition, group shot the day we leave.  I love you all and had a great time, see ya next year on the Lake.

Loved the clouds while heading home.

Lake Havasu 2011

First this is late coming, but none the less is finally here.

As most of you are well aware, each year about this time my family, along with my two sister's and their families go to Lake Havasu for a week long vacation. It's all about relaxation, fun, and spending some great quality family time together. For me, it means a week of not having to answer the phone at work - can you say SWEET!

Now I usually post too many pictures and if your thinking I did again well then you are absolutely right. How can I now after spending a week at the lake and taking tons of pictures. So sit back and enjoy the show.

I'm am going to start with a picture of yours truly, which was taken by my daughter (nice job sweetheart, you captured my stuffed muffinness)

A little scenery after leaving Blythe and heading to Parker AZ.

None other than "The Family"

For the general pictures I'm going to start out with various family and fun shots

During our second evening we had a monsoon that passed near-by. This monsoon was giving us a light show so I decided to bring out my camera to see if I could capture some lightning shot, which I haven't done before. I did bring my tripod and a shutter release cable just in case something like this happened. I set my camera to manual (ISO 100, f/11, and bulb). I would lock the shutter open and wait for the lightning to strike. I even left it open to get multiple strikes on the same frame. The first shot shows a single strike, while the next two shot multiple strikes.

During the sixe years my family has come to Lake Havasu we have had some interesting things come to our beach area. We've had a very strange and scary looking sand spider, and two years ago we had a pelican that even came into our canopy's. This year had a few ducks decide to come and visit us. Once I saw that they were staying close I got my camera with the 70-200 f/2.8 attached and got into the water. Once I was about chest deep I positioned myself so the sun was behind me and started taking some shots. This first one is my favorite in the bunch.

Now for some various senery and fun shots along the beach.

"The Ladies of Havasu"

Now for the action. I will start with some wake boarding shots.

I usually don't get on the tube as I'm usually keeping myself pretty busy taking pictures, but I decided (or should I say was talked into) getting out on the water. I had my daughter take some shots and I think she did a wonderful job. Anyone who tells you it's easy taking pictures from the back of a boat while it's turning from side to side to wipe the tupe around is crazy. It's very hard as not only are you being forced / jerked from right to left, but you constantly have to tilt your camers to maintain the horizon, so with this said my daughter did an outstanding job.

I have to say capturing the action of the tube has got to be my favorite. I usually get some great action as well as some great expression, which I'm sure after you view these shots you will agree.

Something that has become somewhat a tridition during the last couple of years is taking portraits of the moms and this year was no exception. I have to honestly say I just wasn't into it this year and I think the pictures show that, but I did my best and feel I left with some nice pictures anyway.

This last group of shots are of my wife, my best friend, and well you know -wink wink nudge nudge. She puts up with me and I love her for it.

I hope you all enjoyed looking through these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. Until next year.