Posted on October 14th, 2009 by Richard. Categories: Photo Flash
So, just to prove that I sometimes get out away from writing posts for IHB and generally sitting in front of the computer, I thought I’d show myself…well kinda…out in the field actually working. Here’s a photo I shot while I was walking around taking interior photos for a home that is just being placed on the market. For marketing purposes, I generally take 35 to 50 photos and then choose from those my favorite 12 that will be used in advertising and on websites. Here I was walking through a Jack-n-Jill bath between two bedrooms and couldn’t resist the classic ”mirror shot”.
After reviewing the photos later, I realized I had taken 135 there. I get really into it sometimes. I never know which one will be better than another until I look later. The more is better approach.
Posted on October 13th, 2009 by Richard. Categories: Market Conditions, Market Watch
Understanding where you have been is a good way of helping to determine where you are going. The real estate activity for the month of September shows continued gains in the number of sales as well as a decrease in the number of homes on the market. Both of these seem to point toward confirmation that the market is strengthening and also is becoming a more balanced market for Sellers and Buyers. Buyers have had a distinct advantage. But in recent months and continuing now, less inventory on the market per the number of Buyers means the market is continuing toward one in which Buyers and Sellers have an equal footing…especially true in middle to lower price ranges.
For more in-depth analysis, charts and graphs with real market statistics, please take a look at my latest Market Watch Newsletter for this month.
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Posted on October 9th, 2009 by Richard. Categories: Just for Fun, Photo Flash
With all the rain we’ve been having the last few days, the streams and rivers were forecast to reach flood stage in low lying areas possibly. And as I drove past White River a couple times today at different spots, it certainly looked like it was a lot higher than normal. So I’m thinking…”Wouldn’t it be a great idea to take a shot of the river today?” Wrong! This may have been one of the dumbest ideas I’ve had for a photo. Not because of the photo itself, which I think came out good (the river looks really high huh?) but because I got soaked literally…not only from the steady rain that was falling, but from walking, sloshing sometimes, through a large expanse of very soggy grassland adjacent to the river in order to take the shot. I had to keep wiping the lens off from the rain…and changing my position in the mud near the bank in order to find the best shot. When I was walking through all the wet tall grass, I kept watching and wondering if there were snakes this time of year? It looked like perfect habitat for Copperheads. It was a really fun experience!
So you see, there is almost nothing that I won’t do to get a good photo for IHB. I had to change my shoes and socks and luckily had enough time to dry out before a client appointment later.
Posted on October 3rd, 2009 by Richard. Categories: Photo Flash
Driving along today and ran across this display at a local fruit and vegetable market. It’s the first one I’ve seen this year, so it was a small shock to my senses. It’s like…OK, Fall is on it’s way. Ready or not, here it comes. One of those kind of days today too where a jacket or sweatshirt seemed appropriate. Don’t get me wrong. I really enjoy the Fall. As a matter of fact it’s probabably my favorite season. But still, I hate to see summer go. I love the Fall weather and colors, but I just don’t care much for what comes afterwards. That is, if I have a choice, which I don’t. The seasons keep rolling.
I don’t know about you but when it comes time to choose a pumpkin to carve for Halloween, I get very picky. It has to have a near perfect rounded shape. One side cannot be flatter…and the bigger the better. So these seemed on the small side to me. I’ll be on the lookout though from now on until closer to the end of the month.
Posted on September 29th, 2009 by Richard. Categories: Nature
The weather is starting to exhibit some Fall characteristics and I thought it would be a good time to post some of these shots of flowers that I had saved from this summer that I liked a lot. The first one I call “frilly-flowers” because that’s what they look like and I have no idea what their real name is. Maybe you could help me out there? They were growing in a flower bed alongside someones home near Fall Creek Place on the cities near north side. I have found out that I have a thing for photographing flowers. Just something about their simple perfection and intricacy that I am drawn to.
The next shot is of some Hollyhocks of course. Again I took the liberty of helping myself to a photo of someones 
garden display. I was walking back to my car from the Talbot Street Art Fair earlier this summer. They had a huge garden area near the corner of their yard by the sidewalk that was teaming with hundreds of Hollyhocks and other flowers. Hollyhocks are very tall and slender and so I’m missing about 2/3 of this one in the shot, but I liked the close-up of the bloom.
The last shot of the pink rose was taken in the garden of the home of President Benjamin Harrison. There is a small but beautiful rose garden on the north side of the home. Just something about roses that are special. It’s amazing to me though of how many different varieties there are. Whites, reds and everything in-between.
