Twisty Tree

Since today is sloppy gloppy outside, I'm posting another image I took on Friday. As I was looking around down by Harriet Island, I saw this tree. I thought all the twists and turns of the branches were very interesting. I would have been happier if there was less brush in the foreground, but I guess I can't have everything.

Techie Corner
The sky was very drab that day. Even using my Circular Polarizer didn't help much. I did a lot of Lightroom and Photoshop post-production to punch up the colors and make the image more interesting. To get an idea of how drab and washed out everything was, here is the original image.
Shot at 1/45 Sec @ F22, ISO 200

A View of Downtown

I made it out of the house for a little while again today. I drove around our neighborhood and ended up at Harriet Island. As proof that I actually did get out of our yard, I submit the above photo. To anyone not familiar with this area, it may be a little deceptive. It looks like you can stroll down the path and into downtown St. Paul. That would be a little tricky since the Mississippi River is in the way.

That's it for this week. See you on Monday!

Techie Corner
It was a very washed-out sky today, so I used my circular polarizer on my big lens. Post-production work was done in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Shot at 1/45 Sec @ F22, ISO 200

Sunning Kitty

I actually got out of the house today and I was going to find something different to photograph. But I ran out of time, so it's time for the cat again. This is a picture of a kitty sunning herself and mildly tolerating picture taking.

This is a kitty who is fed up with picture taking and thoroughly done with the whole process.

Techie Corner
It was really difficult to get a good exposure with the bright sun. I used a reflector, but it was still really hard to light the dark side of her face. I tried flash, but that just blew everything out. Used post-production to add a fill light instead.
Shot at 1/1500 Sec @ F2.8, ISO 200

Creeping Charlie

I am convinced that weeds are invincible. As soon as the snow melts--there they are. The unwanted, but persistant, perennial. I'd never seen Creeping Charlie growing outside until we moved to St. Paul. This stuff is more invasive than major surgery!

Techie Corner
Used my +2 close-up filter. Post-production in Lightroom and Photoshop, including a lot of cropping.
Shot at 1/60 Sec @ F16, ISO 200

Birdies

I was doing some indoor photography today, but looked out the window and saw birds hanging out. I decided that was more interesting and immediately switched gears. I was trying to get a shot of the cardinal, but a sparrow flew by just as the shutter clicked.

Techie Corner
I maxed out my big lens trying to shoot the birds. The image was hopelessly blurry because of that, so I decided to switch it to watercolor instead.
Shot at 1/90 Sec @ F16, ISO 800

Hippity Hoppity

I wanted to photograph something besides snow today, so I decided to make a portrait of my cute little bunny.

Techie Corner
Bunny is being lit by window light. I used my +2 close up filter to get a tighter shot.
Shot at 1/10 Sec @ F2.8, ISO 200

Snowy Lamppost

Well, I'm finally back after a long hiatus. I know this--I hate being sick!

It was officially the first day of spring yesterday, so we promptly got a snowstorm today to celebrate. At least at this time of year, the snow doesn't last long. My camera isn't weather proof, so I took today's picture from the front door.

Happy Easter and see you on Monday!

Techie Corner
I've been having trouble getting non-blurry pictures with my long lens. After several severely blurry pictures, (even with timed release and tripod) I got out my biggest tripod. That did better than my everyday tripod. Added a little sharpening and some edge vignetting in Photoshop.
Shot at 1/90 Sec @ F16, ISO 200

Red Poofball

I went outside because I could hear a bunch of crows, but found this little guy in the yard instead. We've always had a multitude of Cardinals around our house. They're such pretty birds. It was a bit chilly outside today, and I don't think this little guy could have poofed up any fuller to keep warm. I was able to get remarkably close to the bush he was in before he got nervous and flew away.
I like this picture better, but I didn't get his tail in the picture, so it's not as strong of an image. Must pay attention to details!

Techie Corner
Even though I was able to get pretty close to him, I still had my "big lens" zoomed out to 480mm digital equivalent. It wasn't feasible to use a tripod, so there was no way to get super sharp pictures with that kind of zoom.
Shot at 1/250 Sec @ F5.6, ISO 200

Vintage

In keeping with the antique theme from yesterday, does anyone know what this vintage contraption is? Or what the modern day equivalent would be? They were popular in the 1950's, but we were still using this one in the early 1980's. Techie Corner The lighting was a real pain on this one! Finally ended up shooting the flash through an umbrella. Used a reflector with light shining from behind it as a backdrop. Shot at 1/60 Sec @ F2.8, ISO 200

Turning Back Time

Tuesday's post is woefully late. I decided to photograph a camera today. I got this lovely old camera a few years ago from a nice man at my church. It's a Poco Telephoto A camera which was made by the Rochester Camera Company. I did a little googling and found that this model was made in 1895 and 1896, so it is over 100 years old. The lens is from a later date.

Techie Corner
I wasn't using a flash, so I patiently waited through numerous long exposures. I probably should have arranged the background a little better, but I really wasn't feeling up to par, so I didn't mess with it.
Shot at 8.0 Sec @ F 8.0, ISO 400

Laugh at Winter

Well, at least a polar bear can laugh at winter. We went to Cabela's on Saturday and this big fella was mugging for the camera. My, what big teeth you have!

Techie Corner
They had some weird fluorescent lighting that was hard to adjust. Did quite a bit of post-processing to try and get rid of the funky color cast.
Shot at 1/180 Sec @ F2.8, ISO 800