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