18-MAR-2008
18 Mar
I got out early today so I could go to my oldest's school and have her tell us how she was doing in school. What is called "Parent Teacher Conference" in the younger grades, this one is Student-Lead, with teachers available to answer any questions should they arise.
On our way back, she was telling me about the ice at this one bridge between Eliot, ME and Dover, NH. It was kind of on the way back so we drove out there and walked around. There is a landing near the bridge on the Maine side where you can put in during the warmer months (boats, canoes, kayaks, etc). I pop out to this location a few times over the summer during low tide for photo shoots. My son & I have also gone fishing out here as well.
The bridge was blocking the exit for the ice that wanted to flow south into the ocean. The tide was still going out, as it goes out, the water level drops and the ice cracks. You get this really interesting effect with all the ice jutting out at various angles, stacked upon other sheets of ice that have been blocked as well.
We spent a little while down there getting our shoes mucky and taking a few photos. She told me to make sure I gave her credit if I "posted the pics on my internet thing" so, the credit for today's PaD (and the photos that didn't quite make the PaD) belongs to my daughter Randi. Randi, if you are reading this, make sure you do NOT lose your Science test this trimester!
Here are the photos of the bridge that didn't make the PaD:
17-MAR-2008
17 Mar
Here is the long exposure that I was trying for a few days back. What a difference a 1000X ND filter makes ;-)
This is at noon in bright sunlight and I am able to get a 30 second exposure at ISO 100 & f/16.
It was very windy, but the tripod seems to have held up pretty good.
I like the tones in the water and the fact that there are still reflections off the water, even after 30 seconds of waves.
16-MAR-2008
16 Mar
This started off as an uninspired PaD. I had hoped to check out my 1000x ND filter on a river this afternoon, but we had snow/rain and that would really affect the shot (so I think).
I was walking around the house looking for something and I decided to try some smoke shots. I set up a white background on our kitchen table, broke out the tripod and went to work. I realized early on that this wasn't to be (like 7 shots early). I grabbed a cereal bowl and filled it with water and dropped a blue marble in for a bit. My 10-year-old came by and helped, though she had some trouble tripping the shutter with the remote release cord.
I had two strobes, the 580EX-2 on camera, bounced off the ceiling and my 420EX to camera left with a paper towel wrapped around it to diffuse the light. About 150 photos and 45 minutes later, I had switched to a clear bowl and a black background. This still isn't perfect, but it is much better than the first set. I actually have the timing down quite well, I know when to trigger the shutter/strobe after dropping the marble from a height of about 18".
15-MAR-2008
15 Mar
Love Chip.
My wife really has a thing for chips that are folded onto themselves. Chips that sort of look like tacos. Call it a chip-fetish. I am always trying to find these chips to make her happy. Today, I found the Grand Pooh-Bah of folded chips. Today I found the "Love Chip". Perhaps 30 days late (or so) for Valentine's Day, but, its better late than never.
The Love Chip is proof-positive that there are caring and thoughtful individuals across this planet, united in their support of brotherly and sisterly love. People who care about others, people who are not afraid to turn to their peers and say "I care". And, the best part about it, these people are apparently highly skilled chip crafters, sending notes of love out to the world. Like a message in a bottle, cast from an island, adrift in a sea of unease and wonder. These chip crafters send out their messages, never knowing if others receive and appreciate their work. Today, I would like to tip my hat to these crafters, and show them that I care. I care, and I appreciate this little piece of wonder. This little piece of art, carved from select Potatoes, bathed in oil, and lightly seasoned with Salt and Vinegar.
I presented this work of art to my wife, as a token of my love for her and she simply melted. I believe she shed a tear of joy at being presented by such a fine token of my love for her. Somehow she was unable to find the courage to eat this token. So I setup my camera, my black cloth background, and my tripod in hopes of capturing the feeling that we have been benefitted with today.
I carefully nestled this work of art in a North facing bay window to soak in the natural light and to bring out its inner beauty. Somehow, I did this quick enough to not leave any oil stains on my black cloth background.
When I showed my wife the photo, she actually said it would look good in multiple colors, which I took to mean a Warhol treatment. I think I will be busy in Photoshop this afternoon...
14-MAR-2008
14 Feb
This was going to actually be an SP, but my daughter decided to investigate the commotion in the commode room (we don't have many mirrors in our house).
I flipped the camera towards her and caught her eying her old man (and probably thinking I am a bit senile).
The Whibal card really helped this one, the lighting in our downstairs bathroom/laundry room is florescent through yellowed plastic light diffusers. There was this god-awful yellowish/pukish hue to the entire photo. The Whibal got it close, but the photo still needed a little tweaking.
13-MAR-2008
13 Mar
I went to a local forestry area (I keep driving by it on my way to shoot cool things). Looks like a great place for photos in about a month when the bugs come out.
There is a small private cemetary a short way in that is surrounded by this wrought iron fence. On the back side is a tree that has impaled itself on this fence. I had a few different angles, but none really give this the correct context. In looking at my shots after the fact, I think this one really needed a wider angle to pick up the apsects of the actual fence, stone fence-posts, etc. It still made for an interesting shot though.
12-MAR-2008
12 Mar
I was walking (OK, Running) out of work tonight, late for my oldest's concert, and I couldn't keep my eyes off my our flag at work. A snowstorm moved through the area during the day and was to our East, the sun was out to our West, lighting the flag beautifully (along with everything else in the immediate locality). I had the camera bag in hand so I snapped a shot. Its a good thing considering I just got home from the concert and have some work work to do as well as some household work to do, I wouldn't have had the time to get a photo in today (and that would disrupt my unbelievable PaD stretch. . .)
11-MAR-2008
11 Mar
Not sure how this is happening, but I have yet another Train-related PaD photo today. Trust me, I am not consciously going out to find railroad tracks, they appear to be finding me. . .
This was taken in Greenland, NH today on my way back from the cleaners. There is a lot of construction going on, a new Target and Lowes coming, and traffic is horrible. I took what would usually be the long way back, (call it scenic) going down a road I don't think I've gone down before. This old train station looks to be inhabited by a tree trimming business, but someone thought it a nice touch to add the baggage cart (either that or it has been there ever since).
This is probably the weakest of the Train photos and might actually signal the last of them for a while (not that I don't like trains, I really like them...). I also left the tripod in the car this time as I was taking the photos from the road. I find it tough to set up a tripod in the middle of a busy road.
10-MAR-2008
10 Mar
The lower deck of the Route 1 Bypass Bridge between Maine and NH. Taken from the Kittery (Maine) side, underneath the auto bridge.
What you can't see from this photo is the incredible wind chill that froze the right side of my face and my right hand. I've never actually stopped under the bridge, I will have to come back in the summer when it is a bit warmer. Perhaps time it to catch the bridge in the up position with a ship coming through.
This railroad track/bridge hasn't been used in years. I believe there is a rough plan/talk to use it as part of the
Eastern Trail but don't quote me on that.
Here is the "quick shot" I took that didn't make my PaD cut, but I really liked when I got back and viewed it in Lightroom.
Hey, this Geo-Tag thing is kind of cool. Yet another whiz bang thing I don't have time for (but will most likely suck a ton of time as I try to locate my images...)
09-MAR-2008
09 Mar
Tire in the river. This photo was a lot more effort than I originally thought. I had to walk into the woods a bit and kept sinking about 2 feet into the snow with each step. I originally wanted to get a shot of the river itself, but this nice old tire presented itself.
This time I brought my step up rings and ND filter. I have to use two step up rings to get my 77mm ND filter to fit onto my EF 100mm f/2.8 with 58mm filter threading lens.
08-MAR-2008
08 Mar
Here is the results of the past 3 weeks of "Rock Tumbling". Basically you turn on a relatively loud machine, put it in the basement, and live with the squeeky noise for 3 weeks.
It was actually kind of fun, my 10-year-old got this last year (possibly the year before) and it sat on the shelf for a while. We finally broke down and did it. She actually has another kit to do one more batch, though I don't know if the rock tumbler will make it (it certainly sounds like it is on its last legs/gears?).
This shot was also a good excuse for me to try out the 055MF3 with the center column aligned horizontally. Here's the thumbnail and link to the setup:
It goes into this postion easier than it looks. I have to get used to setting it up as once the snow finally melts, bug season starts and I can start taking Macros again!!
07-MAR-2008
07 Mar
I spent most of my lunchtime driving around the coast only to wind up about 3 miles from work (and very much inland) taking a picture of these tracks. I found a dam that I really wanted to capture, but the access was on the wrong side of the river. I had to shoot through a fence and some concrete culverts to even have a chance at getting part of the falls. I might be able to try the other side, but we are entering mud season and it was much lower on the other side.
So I found these train tracks. I like the contrast between the snow and the tracks, there won't be many chances to get snow shots as it is warming up and we have more rain on the way.