POW - June 7, 2009

<p>Well, it has been a while since I last participated, or even posted anything anywhere here - just too many fingers in too many pies :). Here is a shot that I took a few weeks ago, but I just got around to editing it and giving it to the subject a few days ago. K20D, Pentax F 100mm Macro, ISO 200, 1/320 sec, f 4.5.</p><div></div>

<p>And here is a shot of a very different subject, but also very contemplative, in a more "I'm hungry, you'd make a meal that would never run out!" kind of way :). This chappie was about 8mm across. Shot with my K100D and my old homemade 2x macro and frankenflash. For some reason, the camera was in jpeg mode. I think it was after having lent it to a friend, and then I forgot to put it back to RAW. Anyway, heavy saturation is in-camera, no post processing.</p>

<p>Oops, the shot:</p><div></div>

<p>Ok, here are mine... </p><div></div>

<p>and then this one...</p><div></div>

<p>And because I can't help myself... this is where my head's at. (how's that for bad grammar?) :)</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Maria, I agree with Dave, excellent shot of the little guy. I also really like John-Paul's South Tyrol and Mark's Old Track. This is really a good group of pictures - well done, all.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your nice comments and your high quality contributions this week and the weeks before.<br>

I hope you don't mind that I see the POW more of a "no words" forum. I still would love to give you an idea of whats happening in my photographic life during the week with several photos instead of just "the best 2".... </p>

<p>Terrific late additions! <br>

Welcome back, Garry--I was wondering where "you was at" as we say around here. Two very nice portraits there. <br>

Nice flowers Rose! I like the lilies best--the other two are a bit too subdued for my taste.</p>

<p>Oh and I'm with Ben, Maria: keep the color!</p>

<p>thanks Dave, I'm becoming quite the gardener these days - All I seem to be able to think about is plants - I tell you - you can't take me anywhere - I go to the grocery store - and I'm visiting the plant section. I see roadside plant stands, while on a drive to visit some friends in the country, I order plants online. - What the heck can I do with more plants? I rent a 3rd floor attic apartment with no great light-source - so winter is going to be crazed with my potted garden coming indoors... <br>

I live in new england - and I ordered a zone 9-10 - vine ... that's going to grow 20-25 feet tall... imagine that one potted and indoors... I may need to cut a hole through the roof... :)<br>

Yes, it's all about flowers - and I finally got my gumption together to put some of my plants into the ground. Yesterday, I broke dirt - cutting through the landlord's nicely growing lawn - and planted what will soon be a nice looking raised flower bed. The Columbine, and the red lilies are part of my now planted garden. What a great inspiration - it got me to put my 100mm macro back onto my k10 - and take photos of my happy plants... :) I admit it - I've not touched my camera as much this past month, as I should have. But the inspiration is there again. Yeah! Yahoo! hehehe! :) (High on fertilizer?)</p>

 

<p align="center">with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro limited</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photo_net_pow/3605752309_966fc18b02_o.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

<p align="center">with Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 in Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g192/hinioman/photo_net_pow/3602956017_11183fd48b_o.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Patrick - outstanding soapbox captures. Did you pre-focus?</p>

<p>Dave - the juvenile grasshopper is very well captured, I like the prominence of the antenna in the image.</p>

<p>Prasanth - excellent lighting in downtown TO. The first image with long shadoes is my favorite of the two.</p>

<p>Jon - that 28-70 looks like a great lens. Nice color contrast.</p>

<p>Roger - that observatory looks spectacular. Thanks for posting.</p>

<p>Ben - thanks. The cropped foot drove me a little nuts because I took a second shot after backing up a pace but then my son was aware of the camera and the decisive moment was gone. The challenges of preferring primes!</p>

<p>Mark - very nice atmosphere in the old track photo. Kudos.</p>

<p>Heather Doland - nicely done. Great capture.</p>

<p>Nick - the rainy daisy's are well captured with good DOF.</p>

<p>Steve Dean - wow, those shots look terrific but must take patience to set up.</p>

<p>Maria - love "daddy napping". Would you also post it in B/W? I'd really like to see how it looks.</p>

<p>Garry Ian - creepy bug superbly framed and captured. Kudos.</p>

<p>Rose - three great photos. The roses are by far the lovliest of the bunch of course:-)</p>

<p>There are so many fine photographs of such varied subjects that it makes my focus on birds as art seem more than a bit narrow. Believe it or not I've never posted in the POTW. As always the K20D and Da*300 are my weapons of choice with some use of the Sigma 50-500.<br>

<img src="http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/552075589_PQVdF-L.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />A stack of turtles<br /><br>

<img src="http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/558247324_YKcyi-L.jpg" alt="" /><br />THe original with No PP. Trying for something different in cropping.<br>

<img src="http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/558246695_kVYi7-L.jpg" alt="" /><br />Cleaned up the white specs in the green stuff being really tricky, i.e. no cloning.<br>

<img src="http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/558246974_kTmKs-L.jpg" alt="" /><br />I Thought the blue lines brought out the rule of thirds aspect.<br>

<img src="http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/558247632_74nNe-L.jpg" alt="" /><br />Again, trying to get off center.</p>

<p>Nice work, Brad. I do like the composition of the swift shot. I wish it were a bit sharper (I've had a lot of practice wishing my own bird shots were sharper ;~)</p>

<p>@Dave Hollander,<br>

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, hey..nourishment is important! lololol<br>

Aviation has always been my great passion, and since now I graduated, and found a job within a month, despite this crisis. It's a miracle.<br>

I had my first day today. Weird stuff, nothing to do with college. But those 9hs went flying by... It was gooood!<br>

So, in the next weeks I hope to post some aviation pix. Or some dirty mechanic's stuff here and there =)</p>

<p>Dorus:<br>

Shiva at the dentist: Wow. Like something from the old Life magazine.<br>

BK</p>

<p>K10D and Sigma 10-20 lens. HDR by Photomatix</p><div></div>

<p>And this one, same gear but without HDR treatment</p><div></div>

<p>A little late to the party this week. I found this bull elk grazing in Yellowstone last May. Its antlers are still fuzzy and stubby but are likely full grown and pointy by now. K20D and Sigma 100-300 f/4 + 1.4 TC. Too bad I have to go back for a week long photography class next week. Sigh. ;~)<br>

<img src="http://wtlwdwgn.smugmug.com/photos/560574289_ieduf-O.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="618" /></p>

<p><img src="http://wtlwdwgn.smugmug.com/photos/560574194_PzZAD-O.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="618" /></p>

 

<p>Two more flowers for the week</p><div></div>

<p>and #2 - color of flower not adjusted!</p><div></div>

<p>Haig, fabulous shot of the bird. Sharpness AND depth.</p>

<p>Some people have been asking about the 3D effect of some lenses. You got it here.</p>

<p>Even if it ain't a Pentax.</p>

<p>Right on.</p>

<p>Thanks Steve.. I had a good model, and the light was decent :-)</p>