Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays!

This is the photo I sent out this year as a holiday card.  This is the Gazebo in Ligonier on Christmas Eve - 2009.  The photo itself is a true HDR.  This is one of my first successful efforts of using a tripod, setting the camera bracket settings, using a remote release so I didn't have to touch the camera, aperture priority, manual focus, etc.  I should have used written notes.  After the shot - I didn't know what I had until I returned home and started working with it.  Initially - I had a real had time believing I could get a photo like this without a flash and all the issues that brings up.

I really like how the surfaces of the brick and the rock of the gazebo foundation stand out.  there is enough "light" to see the definitions on the gazebo roof.  The light on the trees is only from the street lamps.

After this shot - I was a HDR convert.

So with this - I say Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays.  Thanks for looking in.

Highland Drive Sunset

Last December at this time, I was in Pennsylvania to celebrate the holiday season.  When we arrived, there was at least a foot of snow on the ground - with the forecast of rain the following morning.  After a few hours of rain, the temperature would then drop below freezing for the next week.  

Now to the photo.  This series was taken the following night - just before actual sunset.  And, this is a true HDR photograph.  Instead of showing all three - I've shown the original RAW image and the final result.  Keep in mind that the photo was taken looking into the shadows and yet I can get some great colors and reflections off of the top layer of ice.

The original 'normal' RAW image:  (The normal image)

 

The Final Image:

 

On RAW images, the file is directly what the camera 'sees'.  It does not get the final enhancement that Nikon wants to present to the world.  But you get the idea.  If I were to do a HDR demo - this would be one of the projects.

On most of my shots, I use the one image workflow.  (I usually don't carry a tripod - and some of my subjects move around.)  So this was a real opportunity to compare both images to see if the three image process is any different than the one image process.  After this, I will carry a tripod more (and maybe use it) .  In a small setting there isn't much difference.  Blown up to screen saver size - the colors are fuller.  There is a difference.  

The four items I really like in this are the greens of the trees, the three bands of light in the sky and the ice of the road and the reflection of the trees on the ice covered snow in the lower right.

(1/20, 1/80, 1/5)   f/4.5

Aperture Priority
ISO 100
Focal length 25 mm (37 mm for 35mm film)

Marquette Loader

With the snow getting ready to fly, I was going through some photos taken last February during some travels through the UP.  This is an ore loader in Marquette - no longer used.  This is one of the largest standing objects I've ever seen.  The theory is that train cars loaded with ore would take an elevated bridge to the top of the loader and dump the ore into holding bins.  Freighters would then come along on either side where the ramps would be lowered and the ore would drop to the ships.  This loader is in the middle of town.  Unfortunately it was closed off - would have been interesting to view the inside.

1/160 f/6.3
Aperture Priority
ISO 100
Focal length 25 mm (37 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Marshall Point Light - Part II

The Marshall Point light as many interesting angles.  Both the house and the light make interesting subjects.  While shooing on location, from the other side is all grass and green.  Here is just the opposite, New England rocky shore.  I like the way the colors in the rocks come out - along with some green on the right.

1/160 f/3.5
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Rockland Breakwater Light

This is the Rockland Breakwater light in Maine.  The sky doesn't tell half the story - it was a miserable day.  This product is a combination of two photos.  In each shot, there is a person who was just strolling around.  Sometimes people add to the shot - but in this case it did not.  Elements has a function that will allow the combining of shots and selective removal of areas.  The location of the person was on the walkway in the middle of the shot.  In one shot, he was in front of the door at the top of the stairs and in the second shot he was on the far right of the walkway - just past the building.  Neat trick.  Instead of waiting for the 'perfect' shot, just took multiple shots.  As far as trying to 'clone' or blur, the door at the top of the stairs would have been very difficult to reconstruct.

Lincoln Highway

Not your usual Lincoln Highway photo.  This Lincoln Highway is a ski run - that hasn't seen any skiers in 5 years.  The sign looks pretty good for being in the weather for that long.  This is a sneaky photo.  The more I see it, the more I like it.  In the original, there are heavy shadows.  With enough post processing - not only could I get dome light in dark places, but great fall color as well.  (And the B&W version is a new screen saver.)

1/640 f/13
Aperture Priority  EV -7
ISO 400
Focal length 38 mm (57 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

RT 381 Fence

I like RT 381 in the fall.  I could almost do a book.  Lots of shadows here and the original is fairly dark.  I tried working on the middle rail of the fence and could not get it right without washing out the whole shot.  (A challenge for the next rainy day!)  As everyone has favorite settings, I'm starting to focus in on fences it seems.  I like the lines.  Who knows, maybe the book will be fences..........

This effect is not quite blown out as some of my other fall shots. This is somewhere between most of my third and fourth shots in the series.

1/200 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 70 mm (105 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Leaf in Sunlight

This was an opportunistic shot.  I was walking along the State road and I saw this red patch in a field of green.  I couldn't tell what it was.  At the time I was passing this, the sun had lit up the small area of the leaf - like a spotlight.  I took a few shots of this and this one is the most wide angle.  This shot can crop out many different ways.

1/80 f/13
Aperture Priority
ISO 400
Focal length 100 mm (150 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Fall Cat Tail

This is from a few weeks ago from the last Pennsylvania trip.  This stood out to me where I could really work with depth of field and not in a gradual way.  The cat tail is elevated above the carpet of other plant life, so I really though the clear subject would stand out.  The colors are just where I like them.  Good fall photo.

1/320 f/13
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 78 mm (117 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Fence and Tree in Fall

After yesterday's photo of a snow covered road - I needs some warmth.  So back to fall.  This is an unnamed driveway off Rt 381 into Rolling Rock Farms.  To remember, this fall provided great weather and tree colors.  Any scene with a wood fence and a tree with autumn leaves will get my attention.

1/100 f/16
Aperture Priority  EV -7
ISO 200
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Highland Road in Winter

Highland Road is only a few weeks away from looking like this.  This was taken in 2008 with the D80.  If I were shooting this today - well I probably wouldn't change much.  The shot was with the AUTO setting.  Now I try to control the photo a bit more.  It probably works because the scene is much darker.  If the sun were out it might not have turned out like this.

1/200 f/3.9
AUTO
ISO 400
Focal length 26 mm (39 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Why I do what I do........

I spend a fair amount of time on my photos.  For the most part, I don't do family photos.  I try to find what I would consider 'interesting'.  And then I try to translate that moment to print.

That's only the first part - seeing and taking the shot.  What comes next is how to 'help' that moment.  As much as I like the equipment, there are some aspects of the shots that the camera itself will not handle.  Even set to make the images more vivid, that still is not enough.  To go along with color management is light management.  Since I rarely have the luxury of waiting in one spot all day for perfect light, my photos have to be 'adjusted' for light deficiencies.  

I came across a photo that illustrates on many levels why I take the time with photos I like to share.

The original:

And my take:

Old Lobster Traps

This was taken along the walkway to the Rockland Lighthouse.  All along the breakwater were old broken and dented lobster traps.  The yellow colors of the 'seaweeds' along with the green(?) of the plastic coated traps made for an interesting sight.

1/25 f/11
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 50 mm (75 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Rt 381 Post

All along Rt 381where I like to shoot are these wood fences that border the fields.  I really like some of the colors that come out of the wood - and the textures.  With the added addition of the great sky and tree colors - this is a pretty good shot.  I thought I'd like the sign a bit better - and maybe in this case less would be more.  Who knows?

1/2000 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 50 mm (75 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Laurel Lodge - Alternate View

This is certainly an effect that either appeals to you or not.  I tried the same effect on the Point Betsie Lighthouse.  Need to look at it more in different scenarios.

Laurel Lodge

This building, a ski lodge, hasn't been used for years.  Of all the winter buildings I've ever seen this one has an outdoor fire place which is unique.  The ski area could be open next year.  The building is in great shape for being abandoned and I expect there won't be many changes but this could be an empty spot next year.

I really like how the rock and wood come out in this.

1/640 f/13
Aperture Priority  EV -.6
ISO 400
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Bike in the Woods

This bike has been here for at least three years - probably more.  How it stays upright is amazing to me.  (Or how come a bear didn't take off on it?)  Usually when I've been around, the light hasn't been real accommodating to a good photo.  This time around, there was plenty of light - or enough to get decent DOF.  I didn't have to bump up the ISO too much.

1/50 f/5
Aperture Priority
ISO 400
Focal length 30 mm (45 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Fall Pathway

Fall 2010 is here!  This is from a wonderful weekend in Pennsylvania - where the combination of blue sky and the colors were the best I've seen or been a part of.  This is in Linn Run State Park on the top of the mountain.  It is a gas line path that has been there for years.  When I was a kid - yes I tried to get through there on a (motorized) bike.  At that time it it was mostly a mud pit and if I remember correctly I wound up pushing the bike through the mud.  Now, it looks like a beautiful pathway.

1/80 f/16
Aperture Priority  EV -.7
ISO 200
Focal length 46 mm (69 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Point Betsie Splash

This is just below the Point Betsie Lighthouse - a seawall to keep erosion at bay.  This was taken last March, still a bit of snow around but no ice in the water.  This has a lot of color to it.  I like being able to bring out different blues in the water.  The seawall color is great as well.

1/320 f/9
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 50 mm (75 mm for 35mm film)

Photo Set

Westward

We were returning to Gloucester and passed this fishing boat.  I was captivated by the sunlight hitting the vessel and the oranges.  As it turns out - the hull isn't that deteriorated but this looks great.  We were going a bit faster and I have a number of shots that all turned out well, but the sun was shining on this one.  (A current screen saver....)

1/400 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 92 mm (138 mm for 35mm film)
Photo Set

Winter Waves

This is a breakwater next to the walkway to the light at St. Josephs on Lake Michigan.  This was at the first stop on the Lake Michigan tour last March - and I was instantly captivated by this piece of wood along the rocks.  I have read a number of stories about wrecks off the shores - and I can picture this coming off an old wooden schooner.  (It looks more like part of a pallet - but it is my daydream....)

1/250 f/10
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 30 mm (45 mm for 35mm film)
Photo Set

Old Gloucester Warehouse

Motoring away from Gloucester, we passed this building.  I like this shot but it will probably never see the light of day past the blog.  On the left is a modern house and light pole that just destroys the setting.  I like the writing on the building walls - big block white letters.  The different colors and textures of the roof are interesting.

1/320 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 85 mm (127 mm for 35mm film)
Photo Set

Gulls on Boat

This is a fun shot.  These two were yakking for about 20 minutes.  They were hopping around - just plain showing off.  Shortly after I took this, they departed - probably for another tourist show.  In this shot I like the carvings in the wood - looks busy.  The water came out OK as well.

1/320 f/8
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 170 mm (255 mm for 35mm film)
 Photo Set

Eastern Point Lighthouse

Eastern Point Lighthouse is at the entrance to Gloucester.  The lighthouse itself is mentioned in the movie "Perfect Storm".  It is the last lighthouse seen by any sailor that does not return to Gloucester.  This was taken from the water on the way out to the whale watching area.  Most of the photos I have of this are in the shadows.  Luck  and weather was on my side - as the boat passed, so did the clouds.  I really like how the color of the water came out.

1/1000 f/6.3
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 220 mm (350 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Marshall Point Lighthouse

This is the Marshall Point Lighthouse.  I have posted the light in an earlier post.  Doesn't change the situation - it was pouring rain when I was there.  And truth be told, I was OK with that as everyone probably had a sunny photo of this shot - but I dare to be different.  Post the rainy one.  Another plus - no one else was there!  I like the reflection of the house on the pavement and the light coming from the inside.

1/400 f/3.7
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 25 mm (37 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

York Inlet

One of the first 'official' stops turned out to be York, ME.  This is the beach area.  Being on of the first times I'd seen a New England coast, this really got to me.  I really like the buildings along the coast.  After the photo was taken and I could review it - I knew I'd like the sky and how it would turn out in this version.  In most photos I can see crop possibilities - but this one presents problems.  If I remove some sky, I'll lose some of the beach - and I don't want to do that.  Problems - Problems.......

1/320 f/10
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 42 mm (63 mm for 35mm film)
Photo Set

House on Stilts

For the New England trip, one of the shots I was looking for was buildings on the water - literally on the water.  This scene is at the end of a small inlet.  We were looking for Kennebunkport and this was along the way.  In a perfect world I wouldn't have the red house or the more modern house on the right.  Looking at it now - I'm OK with the house - great color contrast.  The house on the right still would have to go.

1/400 f/5.3
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 78 mm (115 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Bunny and Plant

This little fella showed up one day and promptly made camp under the shed in the yard.  Generally speaking, we don't have a rampant rabbit problem and really don't want to have one, but this one is so cute.  I spent two days following him/her (I didn't get that close.) around the house - like I pester the kids.

1/60 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 65 mm (97 mm for 35mm film)

Summertime...................

Well, been away for a while - almost 6 weeks.  Been a great summer so far.  (And truth be told, was burning out a bit...)

Newsletter from photo club showed up yesterday and I sort of got snapped back!  

Not that I took a great number of photos over the past few weeks, but have had lots of ideas.  I'm also viewing scenery as it would appear through my eyes - or after I applied my take on it.

I hung a number of photos in the house.  I'm trying Qimage for a photo print application.  I'm not that disappointed in Elements, but I've read where the algorithms used to blow up photos is different.  I won't say better, but different.  And different is good.

Fritz Henry Lane

One of the first sights (after the shopping district) we hit in Gloucester was the Fritz Henry Lane statue.  The statue is located n a small park dedicated to him and his art.  From this sight you can see much of the harbor.  One hundred years ago - you could probably see more. It was fun working with this photo - trying to keep the beautiful blue sky while drawing out the statue face.  In the original, the face is completely in the dark due to the position of the sun.

1/320 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 38 mm (57 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Cape Elizabeth Splash

I like these splash type photos.  (See the Grand Haven Splash.)  The water action is fascinating.  Getting the photos is an art to itself.  In my opinion - you just don't walk down to the area and snap a photo.  One of the nice features of the Nikon is the speed at which it will take shots.  To get this - I had to listen to the waves - look over the camera to look for waves that would hit and hold the button when the time was right........  There were a lot of photos deleted in this effort.  But you get this - and it is all worth it.

1/1250 f/5
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 32 mm (48 mm for 35mm film)

30 Mile (NY) Lighthouse

The last lighthouse we saw on the New England trip was the 30 Mile Lighthouse.  This lighthouse is on the Ontario shore.  We, again, were a bit early in the season and missed the lighthouse museum. The house is made of stone - like Sodis Point.  The house is in a campground and a very nice area.  On the other side of the house is a 30 foot cliff and not much of a beach.

1/320 f/5.6
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 27 mm (40 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Pin Wheel - 1333

This is a pin wheel fireworks. (Can fireworks be singular?)

This is quickly becoming a favorite.  Every process I run it through is a good shot.  That usually does not happen.  I like the perfect yellow circle with a red exterior.  Of course the red sparks are interesting as well.  You can see the wood grains of the post that held the wheel.  All in all, very interesting.

1/6  f/10
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 140 mm (210 mm for 35mm film)

Marshall Point Light

Marshall Point light is one of the more famous Maine Lights.  I didn't know this but this light was in the movie Forrest Gump as the endpoint of Forrest's cross country adventure.  Aside from that point of notoriety this is a unique light - with the walkway.  I bet this is great in the winter - but my luck I had a weather challenged day.  And I was lucky.  I like how the green of the grass contrasts against the gray of the sky and water.  I have a photo of the house that is now a museum - which turned out good.  It will make out here soon.

1/320 f/3.5
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Sodis Point Lighthouse

On the way home from Maine, we drove the south Lake Ontario shore in New York.  We arrived at the Sodis Point Lighthouse just as it was opening for business.  This is a nice little area - and when we visited it looked like it came out of the winter in great shape.  The original light building is no longer visible except for a brick ring just in front of the building.  The museum is one of the nicest I've seen and the staff were very friendly.

1/400 f/6.3
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 30 mm (45 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Portland Head Light

Another of the lighthouses on the New England trip.  This is a very pretty place.  There are paths along the cliffs that provide a number of interesting angles to this location.  This was late int he afternoon and unfortunately the house was just closing.  The tower is open and I would think the sight back to the shore would be incredible.  (Plus an opportunity for a panoramic shot...)

1/500 f/8
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 21 mm (31 mm for 35mm film)

Rock (Well, big Rock)

One of my favorite rocks.  This one is hard to get to.  It is accessible by foot (easiest). bike (hardest) or quad (somewhere in the middle).  This is one of my true HDR shots.  The area is basically dark and shadows are everywhere.  There is very little light - and where it does shine through it will burn out the shot.  I did very little to this as far as enhancing color saturation.  I took three shots here - none of then are any good by themselves.  This is what the rock looks like.

1/4, 1/8, .4  f/5.6
Aperture Priority  EV -0.3
ISO 200
Focal length 18 mm (27 mm for 35mm film)

Butterfly on Flower

I never thought I'd enjoy taking pictures of......  Butterflys.  Over the weekend I was walking at LMV and I saw lots of these creatures.  Taking photos of the butterfly presents a number of issues.  Mostly - they don't 'pose' for you.  Just when you think there is a good shot - they move.  And it always seem to be they will face you.  And almost disappear.  i really like the contrast of color between the butterfly and the foliage.

1/250 f/6.3
Aperture Priority  EV -1.0
ISO 200
Focal length 200 mm (300 mm for 35mm film)

Fireworks - 1342

Fourth of July!  My first effort with really dark area and light.  I have done fireworks from a far away spectator point - but this is first close up.  This is a single bottle rocket.  I found that shooting portrait in this situation, the photos did not come out so well.  In the end, I'll probably look at cropping to a portrait and see what happens - but I kinda like this.  I set up the camera by taking off the auto focus, the VR set to OFF, APERTURE Mode, set the EV to -1 and for a final darkening effort left a polarizer on.  I figured the light would come through - and it did.

10 sec f/10
Aperture Priority  EV -1.0
ISO 200
Focal length 92 mm (138 mm for 35mm film)

Fort Foster Dock

I like docks, or piers.  Lots of great line here - and a bonus of a wonderful sky.  Nothing special or interesting story - just a long wooden walkway over the water.  At the end of the dock there is a notice that says crabs may be caught by fishing line or even by had.  But under no circumstances can you use a trap.  I picture this as modern day horse stealing.  Not looked at kindly.  But didn't see any crabs.  Or horses.

1/125 f/13
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 21 mm (31 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Boothbay Harbor

One of our first stops was Boothbay Harbor.  The morning weather was clearing and provided some great sunlight and warmth.  In the search for lunch, we went across the bay from the business district and were able to find a nice place, right on the water.  Lobsters and clams fresh off the boats were available.  And the location had its own observation deck (outdoor dining area) and dock.  In the bay were a number of boats - looked like the fleet was in.  If this was a Monday morning, when does the fleet go out?  Anyway the sight of a full bay of boats in various sizes was fairly impressive.

1/160 f/18
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 120 mm (180 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Cape Neddick (Nubble) Lighthouse

This is the Nubble lighthouse, the first lighthouse stop on our trip.  There is no direct access to the building as it is on land separated by about 50 feet of water.  That makes this an interesting sight.  The weather was beautiful.  While we were there, a Miata car group show up - with around 20 cars of all different colors.  there were lots of other tourists and small gift shop.  (And like all first gift shops, it was tough to not buy the place out.  Pace yourself......)

1/200 f/14
Aperture Priority
ISO 200  EV -1.0
Focal length 46 mm (69 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

New England Shipyard

While driving through Rockland - I passed this site twice.  I didn't know if it would turn out but finally stopped to get this.  To me, this is just awesome!  Reds, greens, blues - it is all there.  The sky has a lot of definition.  The background is just right.  The subject is just what I thought of all the time I was planning the trip.  The size is going to be a challenge - I'm not used to 'tall' objects.  I'll still be able to jam this into a frame.

1/125 f/11
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 42 mm (63 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Owls Head Coast

The New England Trip put me in environments that I was not used to - that is the first few stop on Sunday were really crappy.  But as I am getting used to saying - everyone has photos on nice days......

This is the part of the coast around Owls Head.  (The lighthouse is going under massive maintenance - so there won't be a photo in the near future...)  Going to the lighthouse you can not drive up to it - there is a short walk involved.  And on that day - it was a wet walk.  I was trying to figure out how to carry the camera under a raincoat that wasn't bought two sizes too big.  (The answer is to not use the front zipper - just use the Velcro.)  Anyway on the way back, along the road were a few short - 10 to 15 feet - paths to overlooking the coastline.  there were a few of these observation points and even on a questionable weather day - it really had a beauty of its own.

1/160 f/3.8
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 25 mm (37 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Lobster Traps on Dock

One of the first places where we stopped was a working area in Porpoise Cove.  Like most places on coves, there were a number of lobster boats and thus a few traps on the dock.  The traps and buoys are all very colorful.  Docks, or any wood built structures respond well to the processing.  Tough to tell, but the Goat Island Light is in the background.

1/250 f/10
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 27 mm (40 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

Lobster Shack

Since the New England trip was planned, this is one shot I was looking for.  Looking for what I thought would be a 'typical lobster shack'.  Not sure if this is typical - never saw another one like this, but I like what I see here.  Lots of colors!  Each of these buoys belongs to a specific fisherman - it is how lobster lines are tracked.


1/125 f/14
Aperture Priority
ISO 200
Focal length 100 mm (150 mm for 35mm film)
Photo set

York, ME Coast

First photo of many to come from the NE trip.  Our first stop was the town of York and the is the left side of the bay.  What took me by surprise - and why I don't know - is the difference in the shore characteristics between Maine and Michigan.  The Michigan shores for the most part are smooth in a gradual transition.  This Maine coast is not smooth at all.

1/400 f/10
Aperture Priority  EV -0.7
ISO 200
Focal length 78 mm (117 mm for 35mm film)

Lobster Cloud

Back from the New England Tour.  A great time was had by all.  Although the primary reason for going was to attend the graduation of a niece, the travel included to not so direct routes from Michigan to Maine and back.  Lots of East Coast Lighthouses and general sight-seeing got in the way of a timely arrival in Augusta (missed the graduation dinner - but did get there in time for the award ceremony!) and a quick return.

So to open the subject of the New England Trip - I put up this.  We did a Whale Watching cruise and while out on the Atlantic - I saw this cloud formation.  It is the lobster - a great sign!

H/D Doggie

This is a fun shot.  As part of the visit to Frankenmuth Balloon Fest - there was also a Doggie show in the area.  Doggie lovers everywhere.  Lots of breeds of Dogs - including the Harley Davidson breed.  This little guy was tooling around the shops like he owned the place.  He could have been elected mayor - he always had a crowd!