POTW 3/25/2012

<p>Good morning Pentaxians<br>

This year must be my most productive and creative photographing wise ever and its getting even better any month. I develop and photograph a series of fresh and delicous green and fruit smoothies for the vegan society of Switzerland, took a vegan easter brunch and baking class and started shooting for the first Swiss vegan cookbook beside my usual snaps. I'm now more or less the official photographer for most vegan events in Zurich and will also photograph the vegan participants at the Zurich marathon soon. I therefore have plenty to show and to choose from for the POTW :-)</p>

<div></div>

<p>cool times at the vegan easter brunch baking class.</p><div></div>

<p>photographing my own dinner, a delicious vegan potatoe & spinach & beetroot gratinee</p><div></div>

<p>Spend last weekend in the midtown park,very good warm wether and few pics from.</p><div></div>

<p>final shot on wild catch,..= You should see how small blue gill can bend fisherman rod. Another moment and I probably drop my gear and go to the rescue !</p><div></div>

<p>Piedmont park playground </p><div></div>

<p>I was at a YMCA camp on Lake Wylie, near Charlotte, NC, last weekend and watched a pair of mockingbirds (I think) working on their nest.</p><div></div>

<p>Second shot</p><div></div>

<p>Just like Markus, I'm having a good year so far. I'm seeing some pretty interesting wildlife around Indianapolis. Today it was a hungry American Bittern, a pretty uncommon bird that is usually very secretive, this one was out in the open. The frog shots I got before I was really setup, so they are not super sharp. Anyway...<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/15417273-lg.jpg" alt="" width="496" height="330" /><br>

Pentax K7 with 400mm f5.6 Sigma for both, Indianapolis, Eagle Creek, IN<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/15417272-lg.jpg" alt="" width="485" height="305" /><br>

I saw some loons too in full plumage, but they were too far out for a 400mm lens.</p>

<p>Dave, <br>

Love those Mockingbird shots.</p>

 

<p>We took a one-night trip to Lancaster, PA last weekend. The center of town is Penn Square, seen here the evening we arrived (K-7, FA 24-90):</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/15378575-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="452" /></p>

<p>Close by is "Gallery Row":<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/15378579-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="452" /></p>

<p>One of the shops sells antique appliances and typewriters, all in working order:<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/15378578-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="452" /></p>

<p>More pictures of spring, even though it has dropped 20 degrees overnight. My first shot is a mystery to me since I have no idea how I achieved the effect seen. I did crop out the white/grey sky for compositional purposes, no other processing involved.<br>

#1</p><div></div>

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

<p>And three</p><div></div>

<p>Great bird shots Dave and Douglas!<br>

.<br>

We completed our family spring break trip in the Western Co and SE Utah Desert. Weather was a bit unsettled and we only camped one out of the three nights there and that night was very cold! The dish water froze solid over night!<br>

.<br>

Here's a storm passing over the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction<br>

K-5 & Tamron 28-75 2.8<br>

<a title="IMGP2748.jpg by MattB.net, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7266/7004896553_9730f1cdb9_z.jpg" alt="IMGP2748.jpg" width="640" height="424" /></a><br>

.<br>

Desert bighorn sheep<br>

K-5 & A* 300 f4<br>

<a title="IMGP2615.jpg by MattB.net, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7266/6858830456_83a16dd6ec_z.jpg" alt="IMGP2615.jpg" width="640" height="424" /></a><br>

.<br>

Finally a quick snap from a hike we took. I just liked how it framed up.<br>

K-5 & da15<br>

<a title="IMGP2684.jpg by MattB.net, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/7004947973_f67f1e5e23_z.jpg" alt="IMGP2684.jpg" width="424" height="640" /></a></p>

<p><strong>A shot from the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC at dusk</strong>. (Pentax k5 with 31mm Ltd f/4.5@1/30sec ISO 3200 handheld)<br /> <img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6234/6868267414_1d73133dfe_z.jpg" alt="" width="424" height="640" /></p>

<p><strong>Washington Monument at dusk</strong> (Pentax k5, 12-24mm, @19mm, f/4.5@1/10sec ISO3200 handheld)<br>

<img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6224/6868266106_47ebe4c043_z.jpg" alt="" width="424" height="640" /></p>

<p><strong>#1 Crab Cove</strong> <strong>in Alameda</strong><br>

<a href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6828091580_9c1f5f752c_z.jpg" alt="" /></a><br>

Pentax Auto 110 24mm f/2.8</p>

<p><strong>#2 Fishing</strong><br>

<a href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6828088368_a5135d025b_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a><br>

Pentax Auto 110 24mm f/2.8</p>

<p><strong>#3 Konica TC & Industar 50-2 pancake</strong><br>

<a href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/6865123652_9eba1d8ebb_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>

<p> </p>

<p>I went on a group primitive camping and hiking trip to Death Valley last week. I decided against -- wisely as this was hard for my old body -- carrying the three pounds of my K10 + lens. So these are from my W90. <br>

This is one of a series of narrows in Mosaic Canyon.</p><div></div>

<p>A view from the Dante's View trail (about 5400 feet) towards Badwater and the saltpan.</p><div></div>

<p>Twisted remnant.</p><div></div>

<p>Backyard fun. Making "Goop" with my older daughter and her friend. I used a weather-resistant lens, given the excitement level. :-)</p><div></div>

<p>Markus, your food shots get better each week. I am glad to see your progress. Makes me hungry!</p>

<p>This bush was blooming during the goop making. 18-55 not that sharp close-up, but gets the profusion of yellow.</p><div></div>

<p>@ Douglas & Matt - thanks for the compliments.<br>

@ David M. - nice shots of the monument, especially the second. Almost makes me miss living in DC -- almost.</p>

<p>Travelling for work last weekend in Canmore Alberta, I looked out of my hotel window and saw a herd of elk. I grabbed my camera and rushed out for a couple of quick shots. Otherwise, I had beautiful scenery, but the light was only good while I was in meetings...</p><div></div>

<p><a title="A Moment In Time by John Behrends, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/6998672517_3edbbc54d4_z.jpg" alt="A Moment In Time" width="433" height="640" /></a> A Moment in Time, shot with k200d and 100mm dfa wr</p>