Week 26, Day 187, October 27, 2009, Gorge Revisted with Zoom Lens

I had all my lenses with me today, so I revisited one of the sites that I had taken a photo about a week ago.   This time I used my zoom lens.  Because of this I was able to capture both the bridge with the local colors, as well as some of the trees on West Hill.

The leaves have changed color in the past week.

I like this photo better than my first one.  I think the beauty of the bridge is highlighted better, and the trees still have some great color.  I also think the sun was more cooperative, and highlighted some of the trees in the gorge.

Lessons Learned:

• Don't be afraid to return to the same site at different times, with different equipment, and look for different lighting.

Photo details: Exposure time 1/125 sec, Aperture f/7.1, ISO 200, Focal Length 70 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 113mm, Lens Canon 70-200mm f2.8L USM, handheld.

Weekly winner in online viewer poll. Monthly winner in online viewer poll

Week 25, Day 177, October 18, 2009, Fall Falls, Winner of the Week in Online Viewer Poll

We are very busy in our daily lives.  We work long hours. We spend time at our children's sporting events. I have a hobby of photography. Were looking with our son at Colleges for our youngest son.  We make dinner. We sleep. We are doing renovations to our house.  The list goes on and on.  I'm sure many of you can relate to this.

Today wasn't one of those days.  My wife and I got to spend some time together. First we went to Hollibeck Cider Mill for cider, and pies. Next we headed to the Ithaca Farmers market.  Third was Ithaca Falls, where I took advantage of my hobby. Finally we ended at the Thou Art Gallery in Groton for a little shopping.

It was a great day, and a lot of fun.  All that other stuff can wait for another day.

Lessons Learned:

• It will be tough to get a winter, early spring, or late fall photo of Ithaca Falls in their entirety.  The Sun is to far south, and the gorge blocks a lot of the sun at those times of the year.

Photo details: Exposure time .6 sec, Aperture f/22.0, ISO 100, Focal Length 70 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 113mm, Lens Canon 70-200mm f2.8L USM, tripod.

Winner of the week in the online viewer polls. Monthly winner in online viewer poll.

Week 22, Day 158, September 28, 2009, Reflection of the Law School, Winner of week 22 in the online viewer poll. Winner for month of September in online viewer poll.

Just before it was time to leave work a very quick storm arrived.  There was thunder, there was lightning, there was wind, there was rain blowing sideways, and then there was sun.  As quickly as it came, it left.  Many of the walkways had a lot of water on them including under the arches at the Cornell University Law School.  The reflections were great, and the stones were starting to dry, and had interesting patterns on them from various degrees of wetness.

I thought it was a great opportunity for photos, and I think making it monochrome helped to bring out the variations in the wetness of the stone.  I hope you enjoy.

Lessons Learned:

• I used to be concerned about getting my photo for the day when it was raining.  Now, I'm discovering all sorts of possibilities, and look forward to the changes in the weather.
• It's helpful to have a daughter who is very creative.  She's a Landscape Architect who is living in Maine.  If you live near Portland, and need a great Landscape Architect, she's your person. I asked for her opinion on this daily photo.  It was between this one, and the brick wall that gives me vertigo when I look at the photo.
  

 Photo details: Exposure time 1/320 sec, Aperture f/5.0, ISO 200, Focal Length 40 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 78mm, Lens Canon EF 17-40mm, handheld.

Winner of week 22 in the online viewer poll. Winner for the month of September in online viewer poll.

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekly

Week 10, Day 69, July 8, 2009 "Just the Moon", Winner of Week 10 in Online Viewer Poll, Winner for the month of July in the online viewer poll.

I really like the photo that I did the other day with the moon, and the framing of the branches of the tree. I've asked many people if they could see the craters on the moon in that shot, and they didn't notice them. I think if it was printed larger than the blog they would be more noticeable. That is why for today's shot I just choose a closer view of the moon.

I enjoy looking at the moon especially when it's full. Yesterday was the full moon, but it was to cloudy when the moon rose, so I didn't get a photo at that time. When I woke up at 1:00 AM it was out, but I was to tired to take a photo at that time. I decided to wait until tonight.

Lessons Learned:

• I tired with and without the mirror lockup, and it didn't seem to make a difference in the moon shots. It might make more of a difference when shooting closeups with a macro lens.

Photo details: Exposure time 1/160 sec, Aperture f/10.0, ISO 800 (I thought that I had it set at 100 but didn't, grrrr), Focal Length 200 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 1477mm, Lens Canon 70-200mm f2.8L USM, tripod.

This was the winner of week 10, and the month of July in the online viewer poll.

Week 9 - Day 62, July 1, 2009 "Working in the Shop at Night" Winner of Week 9 and the month of July in the Viewer Poll

No, I'm not a Peeping Tom. I wonder if people named Tom take offense to that saying. My son knew I was going to take photos of him through the old shop window while he did some wood working.

I'm not sure if this shot works. I like the angle, and having the window in the foreground. I can see the outline of the window, but it's not very pronounced. I think a little light on the window would have a better effect. I also think that I should have my son move closer to the window. I may play around with this setup some more. Probably without my son, so I won't drive him crazy. Then when I have it the way I like it I'll ask him to come back. You may see this one again.

Lessons Learned:

• I also find that the more photos I take, the more particular I become. I think this has a plus side, and a negative side. On the plus side, I'm thinking more about my shots and the subject matter. I'm starting to recall my previous photos and what works, and what doesn't work. On the negative side, it's easier to become disappointed, and frustrated with the process.
  

Photo details: Exposure time 1/25 sec, Aperture f/8.0, ISO 1600, Focal Length 17 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 27mm, Lens Canon EF 17-40mm, handheld.

This photo was the winner of week 9, and the month of July in the online Viewer Poll.