Posting daily at 1pm central about all kinds of things. One day it's dating, the next it's TV commercials. I hope you're entertained. Professional photos on SmugMug – https://benwilder.smugmug.com
If you’ve been following this blog, you know I’ve been posting about a nest of goose eggs. While I haven’t been there every day, when I do go I’m fascinated to see how much the mother and father of the four eggs are so protective over the unborn goslings. So on this Mother’s Day, while I could write about the best human mom I’ve ever known (mine, of course!), I think it would be unfair to you all to brag and rub it in. 🙂
So with that in mind, here’s the best goose mom (and dad) I’ve ever seen.
Jon Pardi offers up what might be the country hit of the summer with “Tequila Little Time,” and now there’s a video to go along with it. Comments on YouTube are full of praise for the song and the warm weather vibes throughout the video. Plus, how can you go wrong including a cute pup? Check it out…
Location. It’s not hard to figure out where this video was shot. Flora-Bama, a well-known hang out on the gulf coast right at the state lines of Alabama and Florida, is the backdrop for the video. On the Flora-Bama website, they posted this about Jon stopping by with his band to shoot the project.
Ruff, ruff. One of Jon’s dogs, Cowboy, had no trouble stealing the show with his cuteness. What a well-behaved dog! Sometimes I get jealous of dogs that can behave off-leash. Why? Because I have a beagle. Just check out this story of when she escaped for a few hours of rabbit-chasing freedom.
The love interest. The actress playing the playful yet worried (at first) woman at the bar is model Rachel Raines.
True to her real name, the character she plays is named Rachel, as seen on the “LOST DOG!” poster she puts up at the ocean side club. BTW, don’t try calling the number at the bottom, it’s doesn’t connect to anything… and yes, I tried calling it. 😉
Performance. Jon played this song live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Friday April 16, 2021.
Connect. Take a sec to follow these folks on their socials below and let them know how much you appreciate their work… and if you see Cowboy be sure to give him a good ol’ belly scratch (and make sure he hasn’t run away)!
I was doing some yard work yesterday and the darnedest thing happened. As I worked the weed eater near a bush in the front yard, a robin scurried away, but it let me get really close before it made a move. I thought, “Odd that a bird would let me get this close before flying away. Is there a nest!?” I carefully inspected the bush and sure enough, a nest! I know robins are fairly common birds, but their blue eggs always have me in awe. Such a beautiful color.
So naturally I finished the yard as fast as possible then ran inside to grab my camera. Here are the pictures I got before the rain came. I am 99.9% sure I’ll be checking this nest for the next few days and weeks, so be on the lookout for more pics!
Samuel Adams beer created an ad promoting their product (of course!) but also encouraging folks to get the COVID vaccine. Take a look…
This ad will make you laugh, which is a win for Samuel Adams. But just as mask-wearing and the vaccine have become political, the commercial includes a line that some viewers took issue with. After cousin gets the vaccine shot, the nurse says, “Continue to wear a mask.” Say whaaaa?
Just check the YouTube comments on this commercial and you’ll quickly see that many are asking why the mask is still necessary if you get the shot, some even vowing to give up Sam Adams altogether. Because of this slight misstep in their script and presentation, I’d say the ad misses the bullseye… but not by much.
Controversy aside, the cousin is played by actor Gregory Hoyt. He does a great Boston accent and looks similar to Mark Wahlberg, never a bad thing as an actor!
Location. The ad was shot at Boston’s Fenway Park, as seen on Google Maps– Van Ness Street. Bar scenes are from Bleacher Bar, also part of Fenway Park.
Side Notes. Everybody wearing a hat in this ad is wearing it backwards. Must all be dude bro’s! Each of the staff administering the vaccine and helping with the line of people are wearing a face shield and a mask. Also, the cousin and his friends have all been vaccinated, as indicated by their pins. It’s safe to say they all posted on Instagram about it, too, because that’s what we’re supposed to do once we get the shot.
The nurse is wearing a KN95 mask, which the CDC points out are commonly made in China.
Final Thoughts. Overall, this ad is great. It uses humor to promote its product while also spreading a message of safety. Gregory Hoyt was a great choice for this commercial, perfectly playing the role of a crazy, and also stereotypical, Boston resident.
The only part that seems to be getting pushback is the line about wearing a mask even after getting the shot. I guess it’s a CYA thing for Samuel Adams.
The Socials. Be sure to follow Sam Adams on Twitter. Also show Gregory Hoyt some love by following him on Twitter, as well– @hoytamania
I really LOVE how this project looks. What started out as an attempt to photograph coy in a pond transformed into an abstract, colorful, mashup of shapes and designs. Before revealing the final products, though, here is the original.
The vertical lines filling the bottom right area are railings of a staircase. This pond is in the middle of a townhome/apartment complex.
I’ll admit it’s kind of boring to look at but I really like the way the reflection is in focus and has nice curved lines and lots of potential. Then I sat down at my computer…
It was a rainy day in Nashville so I granted myself time to just sit at the computer and play around with effects, colors, and brush types. This is what came from that.
First round of editingFinal edit: original image in black & white, with colorful additions spread around the piece
Liking this post, or commenting below, is a treat in itself! But if you feel compelled you can check out both of these on FineArtAmerica to see how they would look on a variety of products like canvas, framed art, pillows, and more.
I have loved diving into this creative side, editing photos with no expectations or limits. It’s been so fun!
Out of the Wilderness 