I’m still working on getting a great sunset photo. This one’s pretty good, but it would have been nicer if the sky was a little darker. I guess if the sky was a little darker, the parking lot wouldn’t have come out at all, but you can’t have everything.
This was taken from the edge of the parking lot of a hotel we stayed in. It was hard to find, but I think we managed to do it on the second try. The parking lot that you see was for the strip mall that you might be able to make out.
I’ve got a few more sunset pictures on Flickr. I’ve been meaning to get a few more from around my house, but I don’t really want to venture out when it’s getting dark and I don’t know if I can do any better from my yard than the ones that I already have.
I’d welcome any suggestions.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
flower 0355
Ok. It’s time for a change. Here’s a picture I took before the trip.
I got this shot while testing out the macro lens. It wasn’t until I was looking over the pictures that I noticed the little worm-like thing. I don’t know what it is, but it was pretty neat. It’s one of those things that I’m sure someone knows about, but it’s no big deal.
This was an easy picture, considering it was right out in my back yard. I’d like to go out one of these days and get more. It’s kind of hard to do this blog when all I have are pictures of my back yard and North Carolina.
I got this shot while testing out the macro lens. It wasn’t until I was looking over the pictures that I noticed the little worm-like thing. I don’t know what it is, but it was pretty neat. It’s one of those things that I’m sure someone knows about, but it’s no big deal.
This was an easy picture, considering it was right out in my back yard. I’d like to go out one of these days and get more. It’s kind of hard to do this blog when all I have are pictures of my back yard and North Carolina.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Old Salem 0609
I like taking pictures of unusual things. When I went to Old Salem, they had green signs. It’s kind of confusing to see a green stop sign. It sends mixed messages. To see this was just a little funny. It felt like the figures should have been in costume or something.
I like the contrast between two different things. I have another picture of a modern building peeking over the skyline. I think what struck me the most was that Old Salem had so many modern-looking things, including signs and roads.
I know. One of these days, I’m going to get a different set of pictures.
I like the contrast between two different things. I have another picture of a modern building peeking over the skyline. I think what struck me the most was that Old Salem had so many modern-looking things, including signs and roads.
I know. One of these days, I’m going to get a different set of pictures.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Jesus Saves
I know I’m getting a lot of mileage out of my North Carolina trip, but I got a lot of pictures that I want to share. Here’s one that I believe is in Greensboro, North Carolina. At least, my mother does. I’m pretty sure it is, too, but I can’t be absolutely certain. (If someone knows where it is, please let me know.)
I’ve always wondered about religious signs. I can see it being effective in this case because it’s also serving as a beacon for people looking for the rescue mission, but how many times can you see and hear “Jesus saves” before becoming sick of or numb to it?
It’s not that I have anything against religion. It’s just the constant advertising that eventually gets to me. I’m not a religious person and I’m not going to become one based on some signage. Most religions recognize this and some wouldn’t even want you if you could. You really have to want to be part of that religion to become a part of it.
Christianity, on the other hand, seems to like to recruit. “Jesus saves” has become so ubiquitous that it’s the subject of several jokes. (For the sake of not getting hate mail, I’ll refrain from repeating here the two that I know.)
I want this blog to be mostly about photography and not about religion, so I’ll end this post here. I know I’m going to get a few comments as it is.
I’ve always wondered about religious signs. I can see it being effective in this case because it’s also serving as a beacon for people looking for the rescue mission, but how many times can you see and hear “Jesus saves” before becoming sick of or numb to it?
It’s not that I have anything against religion. It’s just the constant advertising that eventually gets to me. I’m not a religious person and I’m not going to become one based on some signage. Most religions recognize this and some wouldn’t even want you if you could. You really have to want to be part of that religion to become a part of it.
Christianity, on the other hand, seems to like to recruit. “Jesus saves” has become so ubiquitous that it’s the subject of several jokes. (For the sake of not getting hate mail, I’ll refrain from repeating here the two that I know.)
I want this blog to be mostly about photography and not about religion, so I’ll end this post here. I know I’m going to get a few comments as it is.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
bus depot 0833
This is one of those situations where I wish I had a wider angle lens. I was trying to get the entire bus depot in the shot, but I was right up against a wall that was behind me and I couldn’t get the entire thing. At least with this, I have a pretty good view of the front, but the widest I could get was 28mm. Even an 18mm lens might have done it.
I don’t know if I would have wanted to go walking around with anything wider than 18mm alone. I was nervous enough as it was. Even though it was broad daylight, there’s always the chance of someone coming up and stealing a bag. Sometimes, I feel a little obvious with such a big camera.
I had brought my Fuji F10 with me on the trip, but I ended up never using it. I don’t think it would have helped here, but it might have been nice to try. Then again, I don’t think it would have been much wiser to walk around with two when one seemed obvious.
If I recall, this was in Greensboro. I had been there a few years prior, but I didn’t think to get a picture back then. Maybe I’ll be back through there a few years from now with a wide-angle lens and a friend.
I don’t know if I would have wanted to go walking around with anything wider than 18mm alone. I was nervous enough as it was. Even though it was broad daylight, there’s always the chance of someone coming up and stealing a bag. Sometimes, I feel a little obvious with such a big camera.
I had brought my Fuji F10 with me on the trip, but I ended up never using it. I don’t think it would have helped here, but it might have been nice to try. Then again, I don’t think it would have been much wiser to walk around with two when one seemed obvious.
If I recall, this was in Greensboro. I had been there a few years prior, but I didn’t think to get a picture back then. Maybe I’ll be back through there a few years from now with a wide-angle lens and a friend.
Friday, November 30, 2007
The cat's meow
Before I went on vacation, I had been testing out my lens. The best subject I had was my cat, Pepper. I desperately wanted to try out a macro lens that I had just gotten and I couldn’t think of any better way to test it out than taking pictures of my cat.
If you take a look at the photos that I posted with this one, you’ll see that I made several attempts with varying degrees of success. (I also posted one that I had taken earlier when Pepper was waiting at the door.) This one is my favorite of Pepper’s face.
The light half is in focus while the dark half isn’t. You’re still drawn to her eyes. You kind of wonder what she’s looking at, especially when you consider that cats usually seem very interested in what you’re sticking in their faces.
Fortunately, she’s past the stage where she swats at things. Yes, this is why I keep UV filters on both lenses, but I’d prefer not to have to replace them at all.
Cats are very difficult to photograph. I have plenty of pictures of her tail and stomach when I was trying to take pictures of her face. I have lots of pictures of her walking out of the frame. I even have a few attempts with her not in the frame at all.
I’ve found that in photography, success tends to come with failure.
If you take a look at the photos that I posted with this one, you’ll see that I made several attempts with varying degrees of success. (I also posted one that I had taken earlier when Pepper was waiting at the door.) This one is my favorite of Pepper’s face.
The light half is in focus while the dark half isn’t. You’re still drawn to her eyes. You kind of wonder what she’s looking at, especially when you consider that cats usually seem very interested in what you’re sticking in their faces.
Fortunately, she’s past the stage where she swats at things. Yes, this is why I keep UV filters on both lenses, but I’d prefer not to have to replace them at all.
Cats are very difficult to photograph. I have plenty of pictures of her tail and stomach when I was trying to take pictures of her face. I have lots of pictures of her walking out of the frame. I even have a few attempts with her not in the frame at all.
I’ve found that in photography, success tends to come with failure.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
outside at night with new lens 0321
I took this picture with the Nikon D50 a few days before I left for North Carolina. I had wanted to see if I could take pictures when it was getting dark. It was a little hard, since the darker it gets, the longer of an exposure you need. Since there was a little light, the exposure was relatively short.
It was long enough that I got some blur. I made many attempts at this photo, many of which didn’t work. I even took a few facing another direction, none of which are really worth mentioning. It’s hard to do nighttime photography without a flash. I’d imagine it’s not easy with a flash, as it’s usually not a good idea to draw attention to yourself when you’re carrying expensive photo equipment.
There are a lot of good opportunities to take photos in Downtown Miami, but I’m not yet crazy enough to go downtown with a camera and lenses that I spent hard-earned money on. It’s not worth risking life and/or property on a few shots. If I can get a few people together, maybe. I’m not going downtown alone.
I’d definitely like to take more nighttime photos, though.
It was long enough that I got some blur. I made many attempts at this photo, many of which didn’t work. I even took a few facing another direction, none of which are really worth mentioning. It’s hard to do nighttime photography without a flash. I’d imagine it’s not easy with a flash, as it’s usually not a good idea to draw attention to yourself when you’re carrying expensive photo equipment.
There are a lot of good opportunities to take photos in Downtown Miami, but I’m not yet crazy enough to go downtown with a camera and lenses that I spent hard-earned money on. It’s not worth risking life and/or property on a few shots. If I can get a few people together, maybe. I’m not going downtown alone.
I’d definitely like to take more nighttime photos, though.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
candle 1542
I was eating Thanksgiving dinner and I just had to take out the camera to see if I could get a picture of the flame. My big question was whether or not I could get the camera to focus on something like a flame that ‘s constantly moving and not really solid. I had assumed that no flash would be ok, but I was wrong. I had to use the flash to get a shot like this.
I couldn’t really get much in the background. You can see a flower, but that’s really it. I would have liked to have seen a little more. I guess that’s the price you pay. I’ve sent the photo into the Critique pool on Flickr to see if anyone has any suggestions on that. Maybe someone can give me some advice.
I couldn’t really get much in the background. You can see a flower, but that’s really it. I would have liked to have seen a little more. I guess that’s the price you pay. I’ve sent the photo into the Critique pool on Flickr to see if anyone has any suggestions on that. Maybe someone can give me some advice.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Old Salem 0679
I like to take pictures that show two totally different things coexisting. When in Old Salem, I saw this scene and I knew I had to have a picture. I don’t imagine people in Old Salem had modern cash registers.
It looks like as much as possible has been preserved, but I would think that a few liberties may have been deliberately taken. For instance, I don’t think they had modern cars in Old Salem, either. One can walk around and see people in clothing that would be appropriate to the era, but no one in character really comments on modern clothing.
From what I can find, the first cash register was invented in 1883. Old Salem was founded about a century earlier, but the time period that Old Salem tries to portray could include the first cash register.
I know it’s not a major detail in the grand scheme of things. Most people wouldn’t even think of it and it didn’t ruin the trip for me. Still, it caught my attention.
It looks like as much as possible has been preserved, but I would think that a few liberties may have been deliberately taken. For instance, I don’t think they had modern cars in Old Salem, either. One can walk around and see people in clothing that would be appropriate to the era, but no one in character really comments on modern clothing.
From what I can find, the first cash register was invented in 1883. Old Salem was founded about a century earlier, but the time period that Old Salem tries to portray could include the first cash register.
I know it’s not a major detail in the grand scheme of things. Most people wouldn’t even think of it and it didn’t ruin the trip for me. Still, it caught my attention.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
strange building
I saw this building on my trip to North Carolina. It was around the R. J. Reynolds estate. I don’t know what this kind of building is called, but I liked it. It served as an entryway to a garden, if I recall.
Overall, I’m happy with the photo. I got the building centered pretty well, but it looks like the path is a little off center. I think that if I had taken a few steps to the side, it would have been a better shot. However, it’s not something I really noticed until I got home and took a look at the picture.
There’s no telling what the picture would have looked like if I had moved over, so it could very well be sour grapes. Anyway, I still like the picture.
Overall, I’m happy with the photo. I got the building centered pretty well, but it looks like the path is a little off center. I think that if I had taken a few steps to the side, it would have been a better shot. However, it’s not something I really noticed until I got home and took a look at the picture.
There’s no telling what the picture would have looked like if I had moved over, so it could very well be sour grapes. Anyway, I still like the picture.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
First invite
I actually had someone invite me to post this photo to a group in Flickr. I don’t know if this is something that happens a lot, but it’s a big deal to me. The picture was taken around the R. J. Reynolds estate in North Carolina on a trip up there. I was taking pictures of the flowers and decided to try taking macro shots. This particular one was taken with a Sigma 28-90 lens that has a macro setting.
I’ve been trying it both with and without the macro setting and I don’t really notice much of a difference. When I had taken this photo, I hadn’t really thought to leave the macro off, so everything that I’ve taken around this time period was with the macro. I have to really try and see if I can find a situation where it makes a big difference.
It seems to have worked here.
I’ve been trying it both with and without the macro setting and I don’t really notice much of a difference. When I had taken this photo, I hadn’t really thought to leave the macro off, so everything that I’ve taken around this time period was with the macro. I have to really try and see if I can find a situation where it makes a big difference.
It seems to have worked here.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
CSX building northbound 0466
Sometimes, you get a good shot of something while trying to take a shot of something else. I was trying to get a shot of the CSX building on a recent trip. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized that I had a good shot of the railroad bridge. I know it’s not a great shot, but it’s a pretty decent shot and I still got a good shot of the building.
I did get some better shots of the building, in case you’re wondering. Part of the problem is that I was using a wide-angle lens when I should have been using a telephoto. I was expecting to be on a different road that would have put me much closer to the building. Instead, we took I-95 and I ended up way too far away to get a close shot of it. By the time I got the telephoto lens on, it was too late. The best I could do was a similar shot of the other side of the building.
I did get another chance on the way back, but my pictures weren’t much better. I’m hoping that the next time I’m going through Jacksonville, I’ll have another chance.
I did get some better shots of the building, in case you’re wondering. Part of the problem is that I was using a wide-angle lens when I should have been using a telephoto. I was expecting to be on a different road that would have put me much closer to the building. Instead, we took I-95 and I ended up way too far away to get a close shot of it. By the time I got the telephoto lens on, it was too late. The best I could do was a similar shot of the other side of the building.
I did get another chance on the way back, but my pictures weren’t much better. I’m hoping that the next time I’m going through Jacksonville, I’ll have another chance.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Reflections
I’ve been meaning to start a photo blog for a while now, especially since I have a digital SLR. I think the epiphany was when I took this photo at work. I thought to myself that it was something worth sharing. I don’t claim to be a photographic genius, but I do like to take photographs and I also like to write. Why not start a photo-related blog?
This photo was taken as I was shutting down the store last month. When I saw the reflection, I debated getting a camera, but I realized that I may not get the chance again. It’s one of those things that may happen once a year. (I have yet to catch that particular reflection again.) So, I grabbed a D40 and took the picture.
There it is in six megapixels.
This photo was taken as I was shutting down the store last month. When I saw the reflection, I debated getting a camera, but I realized that I may not get the chance again. It’s one of those things that may happen once a year. (I have yet to catch that particular reflection again.) So, I grabbed a D40 and took the picture.
There it is in six megapixels.
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