Sep 16, 2018 | 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.4-5.6 PD-Zoom, 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 7 Image Stories, Action, AF-S 50mm f1.4G, AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II, AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon D300, Nikon D3x, Trains Planes & Automobiles
Trains Planes & Automobiles | a 7 Image Story Hey, it’s all about transportation including boats. First, let’s start with cars; automobiles. This Pontiac is living out its old age in a junk yard turned outdoor museum near Bozeman MT. The snow fell earlier in the day. It adds a certain realism to the plight of the Pontiac.
You can’t travel much through Montana without noticing the trains. Montana is a long state and trains linking the east, midwest, and west travel through the mountain valleys carrying many products from coal to aircraft fuselages. Yes, that’s a 737 fuselage on the car right behind the engine. It’s not a sight you see everyday. Although if you live near the mountain valleys in Montana, you might see it more often. An older train is permanently parked outside the Nevada City train station. The old mining camp of Nevada City started when gold was discovered nearby in 1863. Nevada City was comprised mostly of miners working several nearby mining districts. In the beginning, the mining district was part of the Idaho Territory. In fact, until neighboring Virginia City became the Montana territorial capitol in 1865, there was no law except for the miner’s court. Now, although this old west town has no residents, it’s maintained by folks in Virginia city. It’s a cool place to visit in Montana.
The Straits of Mackinac see boats big and small. A Rooster Tail traverses the Straits of Mackinac; fast through the night! Vacation time provides an opportunity to slow down, relax a bit, and make a photograph outside your comfort zone. The Straits of Mackinac also see some serious ships going by Mackinac Island including a ghost ship making its way through the fog and mist.
It’s time to go back to the golden age of aviation! The Spartan Executive image was captured just before the last rays of sunset light faded on the first day of the fly-in. Notice the line of sunset light reflection cutting through the fuselage. No, it’s not a wrinkle in the aluminum; it’s light reflection on the polished aluminum plane. And, the beautiful Waco made several takeoffs and landings on Antique Field the day I was able to attend the AAA Fly-in. So, what is the Antique Airplane Association? The AAA was first formed in August of 1953 to “Keep the Antiques Flying”, which remains today as their main interest and primary function.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Trains Planes & Automobiles.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Jul 15, 2018 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 7 Image Stories, Action, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Butterflies, Canada Geese, Great Blue Heron, Kayaking on Pleasant Lake, Michigan, Nikon 1 V3, Places, Sandhill Crane, Water Lily
Kayaking on Pleasant Lake | a 7 Image Story Kayaking on Pleasant Lake is, well, pleasant. It’s a relatively small lake without much big boat traffic. Paddling along the shoreline on a relatively calm day makes for a nice serene break from the day’s challenges. During the summer months, several species of water lilies are abundant along several areas of the shoreline. They provide a hint of color and beauty while slowing paddling around them. The water is generally clear enough to see the stems in the sandy lake bottom
The north side contains a large number of beaver dams woven together making a wildlife wetland. Most days a kayak trip encounters some type of wild life and some days it uncovers numerous species. Unfortunately, so far this year, some of my favorite wildlife species have eluded my camera; like the Loons and Bald Eagles. Also, using a kayak enables a photog with patience and a telephoto lens to even capture dragonfly images. When photographing wildlife, I try not to disturb the subject by using telephoto lenses to stay far enough away. Remember, the 300mm lens on a Nikon 1 V3 with a 2.7 crop factor yields 810mm. For another Pleasant Lake kayaking story, see Pleasant Lake Kayaking | a 7 Image Story.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Kayaking on Pleasant Lake.
Click any image below for a slide show!
May 6, 2018 | 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.4-5.6 PD-Zoom, 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, 7 Image Stories, Action, AF-S 50mm f1.4G, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Flowers, Nature, Nikon 1 V1, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon D300, Simple Click Wildflowers, Wild Flowers
Simple Click Wildflowers | a 7 Image Story Of course, a simple click can come anywhere, anytime. My spring walkabouts tend to turn up many simple clicks, particularly when spring wildflowers are in bloom. So, what is a simple click? The term gets used extensively by photographers, but what makes it simple? For me, simple click means a fast shot taken with little or no change to the camera settings. It’s extemporaneous; not much thought is gets put into capturing the image. Just bring the camera up to your face, check depth of field and exposure, and click!
A few practices will help increase the odds of a simple click. First, walkabouts or hikes make it easier since you are already on the ground with the camera in your hands. Second, always have your camera settings the same so you don’t need to think about them or change them. For example, when on a walkabout, my camera is almost always set to auto iso, aperture priority, and -.03 exposure compensation. Spring flowers also help. They are standing still, just waiting for you to click. Watch out for the wind; it makes flowers and leaves move faster than you might think. A little breeze can easily create blur. Of course, you can always set your camera to auto or use a point and shoot. The breeze might still blur!
Even if no critters show up to be photographed, the walkabout is still a success; just because of the wildflowers. Always, enjoy the beauty of the day, the smell of spring in the air, and the moment just before the click!
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Simple Click Wildflowers.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Apr 1, 2018 | 7 Image Stories, Action, AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED, AF-S TC 2.0 E III Tele-converter, Nature, Nikon 1 V1, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon D200, Nikon D3x, Nikon P7000, Spring Walkabout, Walkabout
Spring Walkabout | a 7 Image Story Hey, it’s spring. After a long winter, spring walkabouts bring a fresh perspective. Color slowly begins to reemerge. Sure, rain and snow showers make for muddier boots. Does April snow bring May flowers? Enough with the snow, already! Time for some warm weather, green grass, and nice calm lakes.
More critters begin to appear. The leaves have not come on the trees yet. It’s possible to find larger birds like hawks and owls on the tree branches. After missing its prey, the Barred Owl perched in a tree along the walkabout trail. It really blends into its surroundings. Without bins, finding a Barred Owl in a forest is nearly impossible; even with bins, it’s difficult.
Each spring, a flock of American Pelicans spends a couple of weeks on a slough along my walkabout path on their way up north. Spring is clearly here when they arrive. They are great fun and such clowns to watch.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Spring Walkabout.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Feb 4, 2018 | 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, 7 Image Stories, Action, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Dogs, Events, Faces, Husky, Husky Dogsled Party, Nikon 1 V1, Nikon 1 V3
Husky Dogsled Party | a 7 Image Story Each year in January or February, the Free Spirit Siberian Rescue organization hosts a Husky Dogsled event in northern Illinois, with Huskies galore. Jake and Elwood have gone for the past several years. They love to run and play in the snow. They would rather be outside running, playing, working, or just taking a nap in the snow than anything else, except possibly eating. Elwood has different colored eyes, a fairly common Husky trait. Although grey and white colors are common in Huskies like Jake, they really come in many color combinations including pure white.
Although it was a beautiful day with intermittent sun and snow showers, the trail had not been groomed like they typically are for races, so the dogs had to break a new trail in the snow. Rescued Huskies coming to the event can run as part of a dogsled team. As natural sled pullers, Huskies instinctively know they should pull the sled with other Huskies in their new pack. When the harnessed dogs are being attached to the sled, they are very excited; barking, jumping, and talking “Husky”. As soon the musher calls “mush”, the dogs all become quiet and start pulling the sled. As soon as the sled stops, they go back to barking and howling.
Several dogs in the team were newcomers to dog sledding. That’s Jake and Elwood in the center of the pack. This outing was their first time pulling a dogsled and they ran beautifully. Of course, they were in the middle of the pack. The lead dogs are the most experienced and the specially trained to be lead dogs. What many folks don’t know is that the last two dogs are specially trained to be the “wheel dogs.” Of course, wheel dogs are also the primary view for sled riders.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Husky Dogsled Party.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Nov 12, 2017 | 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.4-5.6 PD-Zoom, 7 Image Stories, Action, AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II, Daily Image 2017, Fall Walkabout, Illinois, Landscape, Nikon 1 V3, Walkabout
Fall Walkabout | a 7 Image Story This walkabout turned out to be my last fall color walk through the local woods before the leaves all fell signaling winter’s impending arrival. Upon entering the woods, soft afternoon light revealed a path covered with freshly fallen leaves. In fact, so many leaves had fallen, it was sometimes difficult to differentiate the path from the forest’s floor. The leaves crunched beneath my feet as I walked along the path.
The sound seemed bit louder with a calm wind. Although it was quite a distance, the white-tailed deer easily heard me walking. Upon seeing the deer, I stopped to change to a telephoto lens. The deer just stood its ground. After the deer went on its way, a tree trunk provided a nice rest and a place to change the lens again. Off hiking again, I lost the trail several times and walked off through the woods until stumbling over fallen branches. The stream runs along the eastern edge of the woods and really only flows after a significant rain. Wildlife use the stream as a pathway through the woods and surrounding area. Looking back from the foot bridge near forest’s edge, I promised myself to come back in the winter’s snow. This week’s posts will showcase on these seven images.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Fall Walkabout.
Click any image below for a slide show!
