POTW 12/4 2009

<p>Being an hour ahead of the New Englanders, I guess I can kick off this week.<br>

The weather has been so so here and we're expecting 20Cms of snow tomorrow. Whent for a little walk around the back alley ways of Charlottetown this afternoon.</p>

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<p>Great shot! Vivid colors and clarity!</p>

<p>These guys don't stand much chance if we do get the 20Cm's</p>

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<p>Thanks Kathy, Post some pics yourself!</p><div></div>

<p>Well my POM is also my POTW....</p>

<p>1st Church, Bennington, Vermont. About a scenic 40 minute drive from where I live. It's not quite spring yet here so I said to my wife, want to take a drive out to Bennington walk around and scout some locations (3 covered bridges, the monument, 1st church, and scenic small town USA Bennington).<br>

<a title="First Church - Bennington, Vermont" href=" title="First Church - Bennington, Vermont"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/3658/3419405916_ac0eee66a9_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a> <a title="First Church - Bennington, Vermont" href=" title="First Church - Bennington, Vermont"> </a><br>

<em>K20D, Sigma 10-20mm.</em></p>

<p>This shot is from way back in September or October 2008. Had these sitting on my HD ready to go for a while but they got buried. Beautiful 3 day weekend for me. Friday I drove up to the Adirondacks, paddled about 15 miles and drove home, Saturday we went to the Adirondack Balloon Festival, and Sunday we went camping on the Cedar River Flow overnight.</p>

<p>The weather looks a lot worse than it was, I'd say typical Seattle, looks bad, but no rainfall. Mostly mist, a few sprinkles, and occasional sunshine....<br>

<a title="Paddling the Cedar River Flow with Heather" href=" title="Paddling the Cedar River Flow with Heather"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/3637/3431927609_2f4bf82325_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a><br>

<em>Pentax K10D, Sigma 10-20mm.</em></p>

<p>And my wife, the fire starting cave woman...as my sister said, "whoa, she can start and fire and she's good looking...keeper!" Agreed!</p>

<p><a title="Paddling the Cedar River Flow with Heather" href=" title="Paddling the Cedar River Flow with Heather"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/3544/3431926979_5dacb31c6e_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a></p>

<p>And a different perspective to show Caney is a valued part of camping life, no doubt he keeps the campsite free of food scraps that could invite small destructive rodents, or much larger and equally destructive Ursa.<br>

<a title="Paddling the Cedar River Flow with Heather" href=" title="Paddling the Cedar River Flow with Heather"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/3537/3431926011_f57c82ee33_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a><br>

<em>Pentax K10D, Sigma 10-20mm, ISO 800.</em></p>

<p>Good Day everyone... Bennington. That is extremely close to one of my fishing holes Justin...Really nice shot. Early morning drive to the trout environment... <a href="http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/4-5-09/?action=view&current=MorningSky.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/4-5-09/MorningSky.jpg" border="0" alt="Drive to the Stream" /></a> I truly intended to NOT post as many fish pictures this year as last year, but it really is hard fishing in April in New York State and when you get lucky, well, you feel somewhat obligated to share your good fortune so to speak. Mis, I am not vegetarian although I do consume more organic produce than ever before, but inexplicably due to the Trout Unlimited mantra, I release all of my trout to swim another day. Please forgive my one vice. Fish pictures. <a href="http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/4-5-09/?action=view&current=brown.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/4-5-09/brown.jpg" border="0" alt="BROWN" /></a></p>

<p>Nice shots.</p>

<p>I'm continuing in my EBay posts. Yesterday I got the Super Takumar 200MM F/4.</p>

<p>It's heavy, built like a tank and has fine qualities for a 40year old lens. From what I see, it isn't nearly as sharp as my SMC-M 200MM, but it's not far off. It doesn't have the fantastic 3D feel that the M-Series does. And it has more problems with rose colored CA's at 100% crop in high contrast shots.</p>

<p>But I bought this lens for $30 US dollars. It is in great shape. I just prefer my M-Series 200mm.</p>

<p>But this old thing still strikes gold when it wants.</p>

<p>All my shots are with this lens.</p><div></div>

<p>Beautiful day in the city, today.</p><div></div>

<p>Heading to the City Market...</p><div></div>

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

<p>Avocados, City Market, Kansas City. MO</p><div></div>

<p>Grapes</p>

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<p>Back home in Blue Springs, Missouri.</p>

<p>The dog's filthy, filthy toy....</p><div></div>

<p>Spring seems to be my theme this week, it is busting out everywhere.<br>

First up is a experiment with backlighting. I used a remote flash behind the flower and had varied natural lighting as there was about 50% cloud cover. Lots of shots taken with different amounts of natural light and flash, this was my favorite with some pretty strong sunlight.</p><div></div>

<p>A little kite session with my brother and son.</p><div></div>

<p>My son doesn't have it right yet and asks when the Easter mouse is coming.</p><div></div>

<p>Empty marina.</p><div></div>

<p>Choo-choo train.</p><div></div>

<p>The nerve of this guy, taking a picture of me.</p><div></div>

<p>Well...I hope I cant get more shots. Didnt do ANYTHING during the week. This is a shot that I came up with in about 5 min...looking at my pencil box...</p><div></div>

<p>Well, this is certainly promises to be a great POW.. <br />Awesome start Peter with that red wall and staircase..<br />Justin, love your shots.. wish you would post them a tad larger :-)<br />Bob, I think you should post a fish picture every week! The colors and light on that little guy are just super. <br />Steve, those are some great shots with that lens.. I like how the chimney turned out best. As an aside, the consensus was to try and limit your POW posts to 3 or 4. Thread gets too unwieldy otherwise..<br />Andrew, the Daffy certainly looks pretty, I think I would like it better if it was slightly darker. The easter mouse will have a field day if you leave him some peeled eggs :-)<br />Leo, the train and the boat are pretty darn good shots. The train certainly has more pop with the colors and the clouds.<br />Arkadiy, we need to get you a 'get out of jail' card :-) Even your shot looks like you're behind bars .. lol.<br />I had the good fortune to tag along on a professional photo shoot for one of the local magazines.. I pretty much stayed out of the photographer's way, and did not use my flash so as not disrupt any of his shots. Looking at some of my photos from that afternoon, I have this sudden urge to get into Pro photography! All shots taken with the DA 50-135.<br />#1 A shot of some Flora first</p><div></div>

<p>#2 The cacti are blooming</p><div></div>

<p>#3 And now the fauna</p><div></div>

<p>#4 We shouldn't ignore the fauna in the water..</p><div></div>

<p>It's been an interesting week. Three this week with one bonus shot on the Sony A350.</p>

<p><a title="Palm trees and Sunsets at Dockwieller Beach by Jemal Y., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackfist2k2/3421884500/" title="Palm trees and Sunsets at Dockwieller Beach by Jemal Y., on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3421884500_07ec04e6f3.jpg" alt="Palm trees and Sunsets at Dockwieller Beach" width="500" height="334" /> </a> <br /> <strong>Palm trees and sunsets"</strong></p>

<p><a title="I didn't hear your black power speech, my hair was in the way. by Jemal Y., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackfist2k2/3423272658/" title="I didn't hear your black power speech, my hair was in the way. by Jemal Y., on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3423272658_35f15644a8.jpg" alt="I didn't hear your black power speech, my hair was in the way." width="500" height="335" /> </a> <br /> <strong>I didn't hear your black power speech, my hair was in the way.</strong></p>

<p>and one shot with the 135mm f2.5<br>

<a title="Electric by Jemal Y., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackfist2k2/3433895692/" title="Electric by Jemal Y., on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3433895692_5ae38af727.jpg" alt="Electric" width="500" height="334" /> </a> <br /> <strong>Electric</strong></p>

<p>and the plus from the Sony A350 cause it only comes around once every 28 years....<br>

<a title="Birkat Hachamah - Blessings at Sunrise - April 8, 2009 by Jemal Y., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackfist2k2/3424840473/" title="Birkat Hachamah - Blessings at Sunrise - April 8, 2009 by Jemal Y., on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/3424840473_6f3d6feb82.jpg" alt="Birkat Hachamah - Blessings at Sunrise - April 8, 2009" width="500" height="333" /> </a> <br /> <strong>Birkat Hachamah - Blessings at Sunrise - April 8, 2009</strong></p>