POW 8/23/08

Javier, that seems rare to see one that close, for anyone. Especially in what looks to be a populated area, hard to tell from those pictures, tho. I was on the road not long ago, coming back home after a visit to my mother's and saw 10-15 of them sitting on the side of the road chowing down on something, probably a deer that got hit on the highway most likely. I keep kicking myself for not turning the car around and going back to get a shot of them. Was early morning, too, so the light would have been pretty good. Heck, even a camera phone picture of them would have been worth having. I won't be skipping those chances again, that's for sure.

Great shots again as usual! I Finally got out to get some pictures this weekend, and it seemed that all of nature put on it greatest show. None of these shots were posed either:-)

This first one is a young coyote that just walked down the road and came right up. It kinda scared me a little!<div></div>

Does this happen naturally when someone is watching?<div></div>

And of course the normal deer shot...<div></div>

If you're lucky you will usually see on of these in The Great Smoky Mountains. This bear came down out of the tree and made a run at some people standing in its path!<div></div>

Operator error, part deux: I meant my new Tamron lens earlier.

 

Sean - you got up early based on the length of the shadow. An interesting perspective.

 

Haig - I also think the unique gate made the Baltimore Aquarium shot interesting.

 

Duane - Kabul and Moscow, interesting choices for travel. Nice shot.

 

Markus - Sorry you are feeling poorly as you always show interesting views of Zurich. Louts in Zurich? Unglaublich! How did you get the hopper to not hop? Great shot.

 

Robert - I like the lamppost. Your processing enhances it.

 

Dave - you are seeing what we often miss.

 

Doug - you nailed the cicada shot. Is that a different insect or a future mother cicada?

 

Bob - great deer shot. Alternate title: "Junior, hurry up, I need to go."

 

Thomas - you climbed up there? Nice shot.

 

Sommana - is the color exaggerated or is that how it looked? In any case, the strong colors work.

 

Guy - the stone lamp is stunning. How do you get carp to pose? Excellent.

 

Brendan - clever observation.

 

Trent - nice, does your flash have a focus beam you could use?

 

O Shiva - not as abstract as usual, but I like the summer reflections.

 

Miserere - perfect half moon, stunning.

 

Peter - an interesting effect for the romantic.

 

Dave - capturing the polarized light from the glass on the Rockefeller Center deck is superb.

 

Nick - the beach scene is dramatic.

 

Javier - your son did great. I suspect this was a good meal and the vulture was going to stand its ground and feast.

 

R.T - not sure what that fruit is, but nice color and composition.

Thanks Bruce. The mystery fruit in my mis-labeled photo is a rose hip.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_hip

Enjoying all the photos here as usual! I almost got a shot of a vulture with prey in his clutches as well, but

couldn't focus in time..

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Markus - the grasshopper is amazing. Very well framed.

 

Robert - those dead leaves are amazing. A simple subject stunningly captured, very nicely done.

 

Dave - love the texture and DOF on the mesh.

 

Doug - the 'jammin" shot is a great BW available light capture. The motion blur from the slow shutter speed really set it off. Also, no beach just a 400ft drop into the ocean. I'll post a pic with this that gives a really interesting direction...

 

The waiting shot is a keeper - made me laugh, thanks.

 

Thomas - 2 excellent photos - the icy branches are my favorite of the two.

 

Somanna - wow, like I mean WOW. Wonderful color, brilliant perspective, I'm very impressed. Well done.

 

Guy - great fish. Did you pan fry him?

 

Brandon - the Fu Man tree is pretty cool.

 

Trent - interesting night shot. Neat.

 

O Shiva - those are impressive stables. They look like first class accommodations.

 

Travis - unique choice in models, did they give you the silent treatment at all?

 

Sorry all have to run, I'll post a few comments on the rest shortly...

Bruce, actually no, I didn't climb: this mountain has (no joke) an elevator built inside. The elevator is not public but to supply several stations on the summit, including a small <a href="http://www.wendelstein-observatorium.de:8002/wst_en.html">astronomical observatory</a> where I've been observing then. The elevator starts about 150m below the summit, where there is the mountain station of a public rack railway.

@Peter Zack - As for your line break issue, does the paragraph or line break command (<p> or <br> respectively) not work

for you in html mode?

Sean,

 

Awesome shot. It makes me miss those safe beautiful streets of Manhattan.....

 

Robert, Love the shot of Independence Hall

Bruce, It wouldn't have helped if my flash had a focus beam... It would have been blocked by the 43" umbrella.... Also, the

radio trigger wouldn't be able to control the focus light.

Miserere - the "Please Recharge" photo is a very unique and interesting perspective. Nicely done.

 

Peter - Holy crap! Your wedding shots are amazing. That soft hazy look is phenomenal. The salt water / lighthouse backdrop in the second defines the beauty of Atlantic Canada.

 

Dave - like the hazy feel to the WTC pic.

 

Nick - cool Sky Tower.

 

RT - love the first shot, accidental post or not.

 

Jon - Super photos. Which lens?

 

Todd - the one wing Vulture capture worked out beautifully. Nice detail.

 

Javier - Vultures in the street? Wow.

 

Bruce - I like the drummers. How was the sound?<div></div>

Duane-I used the Tamron 75-300mm F/4.0-5.6. On the coyote shot, I think it was only at around 180mm, as he was so close. The rest were probably around 250-300mm. BTW where do you find signs like that? I've never seen any except in pictures.

 

Miserere-I love that moon shot. I did one like it about a year ago, but it never turned out very sharp. I was using an old, old 500mm lens with a 2x converter.

 

Nick-It was well worth not have all 'approved electronic devices' shut off!

Woweee! Great stuff folks. Sorry - a little too busy at this time to get around to PP. Have thousands of shots waiting on portable hard drive. Next week maybe.

<P>

My favorites this week are:<br>

Haig - Couple at water's edge - great, but the border may end up being a little too funky!!! By the way, got your email, will answer when I can breathe again!<br>

Markus - The hopper. Great dof and clarity!<br>

Bob Colameco - wow! Dead leaves and the lampost are awesome!<br>

Dave - love the grate.<br>

Doug Robinson - rugby in Illinois! Yeah baby!! Now you're talking!<br>

Bob Marz, love the three heads!<br>

Thomas - love Ice.<br>

O Shiva - free world is freaky. Nice!<br>

Mis - mirror, mirror, mirror! Get ready for the mirror thread next sunday in casual conversations!!<br>

Peter Zack - my wife wants to get married again!<br>

Nick - nice beach scene - great sky. That may be the perfect shot for a very slight HDR, or a split ND grad - just slightly more foreground detail would make for a really captivating shot!

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Lot's of wildlife this week! Great stuff. Gotta go!

Thanks for the info Jon. The signs are located on Signal Hill in St. John's Newfoundland. Not quite the most easterly point in North America (that would be Cape Spear) but the most eastern city on this continent.

Thanks Garry! Here's the cheesiest HDR attempt the world has ever seen. I do NOT have the software to do it right, but I like the original enough anyway.<div></div>

Over the past weekend, I brought my camera along to a friends' house. Her garden is full of tasty veggies, and some of them were ready for picking. :)<div></div>

and another ...<div></div>

and a bit different...<div></div>

one last because I was really proud of this... I picked the flowers, made the arrangement, and took the picture. I'm so talented, it's hard to be me. :D<div></div>

Another week of outstanding "work" (for some, play for others).

 

<UL>

<LI>Sean, I recognize it. Rarely any pedestrians around there.

<LI>Duane, 'Emily & Duke' is nice, I can imagine that one being treasured by the subject's family.

<LI>Bob: Three heads is amusing, particularly with the curious onlookers in the scene.

<LI>Peter, really nice wedding work.

<LI>Brendon: I dig Fu Man Tree. Good eye!

<LI>Todd: Vulture convention?

<LI>Ben: Like the wild finch

<LI>Nick: Nice lighting for Brightened Beach.

<LI>Rose: The mighty cuke is the most appealing to me. I don't know why.

</UL>

 

<P>This was actually a pretty quick snap of my wife in the backyard but I was pleased that the on-camera fill-flashed worked fairly well here.

 

<P><a href=" title="Angela trimming backyard boxwoods by Captain Fannypack, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/2798851242_e092cf596b.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Angela trimming backyard boxwoods" /></a>

<p>You should be proud, Rose, beautiful colors on those flowers.

 

<p>A few more from the latest trip to Canyon Lake.

 

<p><img

src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/brendon.l.meyer/SK_d6M0p5-I/AAAAAAAAChA/z-2xGTXGwI8/cactus_unbloomed_3.jpg?imgmax=576"><br

/>Morning<br />

<img

src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/brendon.l.meyer/SK8QtUq210I/AAAAAAAACQ0/X_XwPTqhaLw/cactus_bloomed_zoom1.jpg?imgmax=640"><br

/>Mid-day<br />

<img

src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/brendon.l.meyer/SK8qON6G8NI/AAAAAAAACf8/mcZLTJtJ0es/cactus_halfbloom2.jpg?imgmax=640"><br

/>Late Afternoon

 

<p>You'll want to be careful when picking these flowers. ;-)

Thought I would throw this in for the POW. Hopefully I can get some photos while I'm in San Francisco to contribute for next week's post. Cheers.<div></div>