I see this windmill everytime I go to my hometown.  I always snap pictures from a distance because its in the middle of someone private land, their farm.  On my birthday, I was going to have breakfast with my mom and dad and I dont know...SOMETHING got into me. 

I HAD to get up close and personal with this thing.

So I drove onto the land.  I drove for about a quarter of mile down a GRAVEL road and just parked.  There werent any shoulders to pull over on...no side streets to park and walk to .  Just...a drop off and then  grass and weeds.  I sat for a minute thinking...okay, YOU wanted to do this so aint sense in backing out now!'  so I got out.

I started thinking about how I would explain to my kids how I got shot in the ass.  My dad is pretty well known so I wondered if I would at least get to say  'I"m Lee's yongest daughter!!!  Dont shoot!.'  So with head down I walked right up to the windmill and started snapping.  Since I knew, I'd probably NEVER get my nerve to do this AGAIN anytime soon, I really focused on composition.  Lighting.  ISO.  I wanted it to be perfect.  And you know what..

ALL OF MY SHOTS STINK.  I mean REALLY bad shots.

I didnt realize how massive windmill's are up close so all my angles were wrong....it was washed out...the flare was NOT a good flare.  Just...it all sucked.  So I did some editing in Picasa and came up with this picture above.

I'm not giving up on my windmill though.  I will find another oppurtunity and I will get the shot I have in my mind.  I dont want it to be 'well I tried'.  Yes I did try and yes I did fail but that doesnt mean I dont try again. 

And that is what my 2013 will be about.