Black and White and Color

I went to see the Shaolin Monestary photo exhibit at National Geographic again. I was inspired to try something new with some pictures that I shot of Charles last summer at the Grand Canyon.

Pop

Working on some more pop to my images ...

Crack of Dawn

On Thursday night I met with my photo sharing group and somehow Lenore convinced me to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning so that we could go to the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area near Poolesville to shoot sunflowers at sunrise. Since sunrise was around 5:50 am, she was picking me up at 4:45 (OK, closer to 5:00) so we could get there for the sunrise. We were the first photographers there - although we were joined by others. We even teased a few asking them why they were "late." Despite getting up so early, the light was wonderful and I got some good shots. Here are some of my images (as always, click on any image to see it bigger):



They all seemed to know which was the sun was going to come from and all turned that way ... except this guy ...



He just seemed to march to the beat of a different drummer.

There were plenty of bees ...



... but they did not bother us and made for some interesting images.



The state plants rows of sunflowers each year - which peak in July - to lure doves for hunting. We did see a few shot gun shells in the fields (no picture).
As we ventured farther into the field sometimes we would get lost in the rows ... surrounded by the sunflower plants. So I shot some macros.



I brought my new lensbaby but I still don't have the hang of it. I guess that I will have to practice practice practice ...



We shot and shot and shot ... from one angle and another ...





I can't wait to see Lenore's shots.



A little Lightroom Preset play.

And as we headed out, we saw a patch of thistles along the path ...



... and had to shoot just a little more. And yes, I cut off part of a leaf in these images but sometimes you need to do that ...



Here is a link to an old Washington Post article about the sunflower fields: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/13/AR2006071301937.html

And here is another link to the wildlife management itself: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/mb.asp

Catching Up

Some images from my Poconos workshop in mid-May. These images are HDR and Orton Effect combined.





Actually, the tractor was not in the Poconos. It was at a farm near Gettysburg, PA on the way back from the Poconos.

Still in the City

I'm still in NYC for work. I've gotten a few chances to take my camera out. Here is what I've shot ...

Twisty balloon sculpture on West Broadway near Ground Zero:



Self-portrait in the sculpture reflection:



Birdhouse in the city ... in a park near my hotel:



City Lights from the office window. I couldn't handhold the camera steady enought for a straight shot ... what a perfect opportunity for a swoosh shot or two:

New York City!!!

I'm up in NYC for work. While I don't have much time for photography, I do cart my camera around just in case I see something.

I am staying in Tribecca. The other day I woke up to what sounded like someone on a megaphone outside my window. When I looked out the window, I saw this ...





It was the Five Boro Bike Tour. 30,000 plus bicyclists riding around New York City and the starting line (of staggered starts) was just up the street from my hotel. I shot these (above) through the glass of my hotel room window. I am on the 3rd floor of a boutique hotel called the Duane Street Hotel (on the corner of Duane and Church Streets).

I shot these on the way to the office.





And here is the view from my office window. Other than the office and my computer, this is what I am seeing these days. Hopefully I'll be able to get out and shoot some more images soon.

Virginia Bluebells

I was hoping to make it to WV yesterday to do some scouting for a wedding I will be shooting at the end of the month, however, mt timing (as usual) was off. Instead, I took a quick ride over the Bull Run Park because my friend Nancy mentioned that the bluebells were blooming. They sure were. Here are some of my shots.



It did not take me long to see the bluebells in the woods. They almost carpeted the forest floor on both side of the very picturesque Bull Run.



Although I brought my macro lens with me, I shot these images with my Nikon 18-200 VR. This is my favorite lens ... although today I got a new lens which folks in the know tell me will be my favorite, a Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR. I'll keep you posted.

I haven't played with any panning recently - not since Death Valley. I thought that the bluebells might be an interesting opportunity. I was hoping for more blue but I guess all the foilage didn't want to cooperate with me. Here are my favorites from yesterday.

Trash People at National Geographic

My day job is across the street from the National Geographic Society buildings. Just the other day, they installed "Trash People," a unique art exhibit featuring 50 life-sized figures made entirely of waste, created by German artist H.A. Schult. The artist's objective in creating the figures is to raise awareness of the volume of garbage left by humans over the course of a lifetime. The figures have traveled to some of the world’s best-known landmarks, including the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids at Giza and Red Square in Moscow. The exhibit is timed to coincide with the new National Geographic Channel film “Human Footprint.”

Here are some images that I shot yesterday of the exhibit:

Spring Into Action

I haven't had a chance to do much photography since my Death Valley trip. The arrival of spring has inspired me a little more.

I've carried my camera into the office several times in the past couple of weeks. I've taken a few pictures and I finally downloaded them all today. Here are a few of those images:

This is from one of the magnolia trees in front of my office. The blooms make me believe that it is really spring.



While walking to the office, I often see interesting scenes and say to myself, "I wish I had my camera with me." On this day, I had it and was able to capture this lady feeding the birds:



Last week we had visitors. Charles' college friend, Dave, and his family came to see D.C. during their spring break. Yesterday we joined them on a trip to the National Zoo.



They didn't have any signs posted identifying which panda was which but I think that this is Tai Shan, the youngest panda.



I love prairie dogs (which aren't really dogs at all). This guy seemed to be looking right at me.



Usually when I see the lions, they are sleeping. Yesterday, however, they were out and about - and were even being playful.



Jacquelyn posed with many of the statues that are all over the zoo.



Charles and Dave.



Every so often, I actually get to be in the pictures.

Trying Something New Grunge HDR

36 satisfactory exposures on a roll means a photographer is not trying anything new. - Freeman Patterson





I'm not sure exactly when I first saw this technique. It may have been on John Barclay's website, http://www.barclayphoto.com/Index2.html. It is called Grunge HDR. I have certainly not mastered it yet but ... it is fun to try new things.