Arch Creek 2283

Arch Creek 2283
Originally uploaded by Brian Kuhl

I had a chance to go to the Arch Creek Park today and take some pictures. I even had a few that turned out pretty well, like the one I’m posting today. This was mostly an attempt to test out the Sigma 10-20 lens that I bought last week.

The distortion is visible with things that are easy to judge, like grids, boxes and faces. For things like grass, it doesn’t show up so much. It’s also odd looking through the viewfinder, then taking it away. From what I’ve read, the angle is somewhere around 102°. That’s pretty good.

If you’re thinking it’s a great way to get a picture of someone without them knowing, bear in mind that you do notice distortion in the corners. The trouble with a lens that wide is that it‘s going to be a fisheye or close to it. Yes, you can correct for this, but it’s not always that easy. I’ve been messing around with a few pictures and some turn out better than others.

It’s also an f/4-5.6, which means that it’s not so good for indoor shots. Here, it’s at 5.6. I got some nice lighting from outside, but it still came out a little dark. (The onboard flash didn’t help much, which is why I should make my next investment an SB-600.)

I’d like to go to some other area parks to get some more shots. Depending on my days off and the Miami weather, I may do just that. I just have to make sure to bring someone with me.

Do cool photographers use a polarizer indoors?

trees against sky 1770
Originally uploaded by Brian Kuhl

Here’s a picture I took in my back yard. I was trying to see what a circular polarizer could do. For those that don’t know, a polarizer acts like sunglasses for your camera and reduces glare. A circular polarizer rotates so that you can change the amount of polarization by rotating the outside of the lens.

Here, I was able to put the sun behind the trees. I got a nice silhouette effect from it and the sky looked a little darker. Without the circular polarizer filter, the sky would have looked a lot bluer. (Click on the picture and check out the surrounding photos.)

A circular polarizer definitely has its uses, especially here in Miami. The sun can be very bright. I’d live to get a chance to really try it out. I think this weekend, I’m going to go to a local park and see what I can do. I ordered a new lens, but it probably won’t arrive by then. I can always hope, though.

Pepper 1616

Pepper 1616
Originally uploaded by Brian Kuhl

I commented at dinner tonight that I like taking pictures of my cat. She seems to have this interesting look on her face here. Sometimes, she seems bored. Other times, she’s more than happy to be playing with one of her toys. Here, she was just sitting around looking at the room. There wasn’t anything in particular that she was looking at. If you go to Flickr and look at the picture before and after this one, you’ll see that she was just looking around.

I really like her pose here. The only thing I would have changed was the crossed front legs, which I didn’t even notice until I was writing this. She has a very alert look on her face, which she makes sometimes. It’s as if you asked her caught her off guard with some random question.

I’d love to get some more pictures of her. She’s always up to something. She’s either peeling the wallpaper off or climbing around the chairs. I almost thought of doing a blog just for her, but I don’t know if people would come back for that. There are a lot of cats out there and they’re all special. (Not as special as mine, mind you…)

That being said, I’m going to try for some variety here. Maybe tomorrow or Friday, I’ll be getting some more pictures to post.

flowers from table 1635

flowers from table 1635
Originally uploaded by Brian Kuhl

My mother loves to get flowers. I felt that I should get a picture of them at least once. I think these were used for Christmas, but I’m not sure. I really just wanted to see what I could do with my lens. Flowers are kind of easy to photograph because so many people like them and they sit relatively still for long periods of time.

What makes for a good subject? I mean, the same could be said of naked women. Many people (mostly men) like them. On occasion, they’ll sit still long enough for you to photograph them. As much as I’d like to photograph them, though, I’d like to refrain from posting any adult-oriented photos here. I’m hoping to keep as much of a family-friendly look to the pictures.

Right now, I’m just photographing what’s convenient. That means taking the camera out when I can so I can get stuff that’s not normally convenient, hence yesterday’s photo. I’m going to upload some more so that I can get some different pictures on here. (I can promise all those parents out there that there are no naked ladies in the pictures.)

Krispy Kreme sign 1946

Krispy Kreme sign 1946
Originally uploaded by Brian Kuhl

I know it’s been a while. I haven’t had many pictures to post that weren’t from my North Carolina trip. Well, over the course of the past month or so, I’ve been able to get some new pictures. One is of the Krispy Kreme by my house. I think this is the only one in Miami-Dade County. I know they opened one down south, but I can’t find it on the web site. I think it might have closed.

The one on 6th Avenue and 167th Street is pretty close, but it still requires a bus trip. I was able to get a ride from a friend, which is the only reason I brought my camera. I got a bunch of good photos that night, but not as many as I’d have liked to get. A lot of the photos from Steak ‘n’ Shake didn’t even come out.

I would have liked to go out a little longer. We went to Krispy Kreme, Steak ‘n’ Shake, then back home. I had to be up for work the next morning. There are all sorts of pictures around Miami I’d like to take. One of these days, I’m going to take them.