*POW 5 16 10*

<p>I don't believe I have ever started one of these, so here goes. From the past couple of days.</p>

<p><a href="http://s404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Vault/?action=view&current=Acuterastafariancouple.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Vault/Acuterastafariancouple.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

I met these Rastafarian folks on Friday...there they where toking up a storm. I sat there and listened to them tell me how they where all ready dead and that this was heaven...I said ''OK'' and went on my way.</p>

<p><a href="http://s404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Vault/?action=view&current=IMGP0004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Vault/IMGP0004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

Ran into this fellow while out for a stroll today....Atleast he did not think we where in heaven ;-)</p>

<p><a href="http://s404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Vault/?action=view&current=Aheavynotsogooddiscussion.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Vault/Aheavynotsogooddiscussion.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>

These where at odds with each other...Don't know what about.</p>

<p>I know the subject may seem to be getting old but this whole month of May our group has been traveling from side of the archipelago to another "chasing the light" so to speak. This time we beat the sunrise in Real, Quezon province. Unfortunately, I forgot the 15mm and had to make do with the 21mm.</p>

<p>Mother Ship at Dawn-<br /> <img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/NolsP/Bolinao%20May%203%202010/Real%20May%209%202010/K10IMGP1260AdobeDNG-01red.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<br /> <img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/NolsP/Bolinao%20May%203%202010/Real%20May%209%202010/K10IMGP1261AdobeDNG-01red.jpg" alt="" /><br /> And no, I do not haul my own banca during our shoots. It's just that our inhabited rural coastlines consists mostly of small fishing villages. :)</p>

<p>Javier, love your street shots. My fav is the second one where the dog was looking at his master as if to say - "Yeah, right!".</p>

<p>the USA seem to be full of ..ehr... amazing people... ;) If I had the courage I'm sure I would find them here too.<br /> Lorenzo that's some wonderful romantism !<br /> Ben, I will have to follow your example on of these days...<br /> These pics are 8 days old :<br /> <img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/dorus/zzm5.jpg?t=1274003043" alt="" width="639" height="421" /><br /> formerly the zuiderzee, then the IJselmeer, now the Markermeer (and still poldering)<br /> .<br /> <img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/dorus/IMGP1642b.jpg?t=1274003456" alt="" width="640" height="307" /><br /> and still smoking (herring)<br /> .<br /> <img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/dorus/IMGP0729.jpg?t=1274003587" alt="" width="639" height="438" /><br /> for my selection of bizarre architecture: a scientific museum in Amsterdam</p>

<p><strong>Adirondack Anniversary</strong> / K10D mounted on Ulta-pod <em>f/8 @ 1/90 sec / Iso 100 / fl 24.0 </em><a href="http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/Adirondack%20Anniversary/?action=view&current=AdirondackAnniversarysepia.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/Adirondack%20Anniversary/AdirondackAnniversarysepia.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p>Terrific start, Javier: I love the first two. I haven't decided which of Lorenzo's & Ben's I like most: in both cases both deliver both versions really "work". Dorus first two, too. Anniversary is really nice, Bob--the sepia is a nice touch.</p>

<p>Abe and I (and his boys) joined some other Pentaxians at the Joint Service Open House Air Show at Andrews AFB yesterday qnd had a great time . The brutally bright light was a challenge and, in the interest in going light, my longest lens was the DA 55-300mm. I didn't get good shots of the modern aircraft in flight--next time, I'll take a 300m & TC.</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/867991080_FRYdN-L.png" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/867991943_aTLdy-L.png" alt="" width="750" height="600" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/867995600_SEjFN-L.png" alt="" width="343" height="600" /></p>

<p>Pentax K1000, 35mm Takumar, C-41 400 ASA film.</p>

<p>Photo was made of someone with diabetes in a diabetes prevention, fund-raising, bike ride. She rode in the shortest of the tours, and fell down. We caught up with her at the top of a hill. She kept on going and completed the ride.</p><div></div>

<p>Finally finished up the photos from my India trip in January! Yes, a little late on things... this shot was an unexpected surprise for me because I didn't realize I caught my wife in this photo:<br>

<a title="Stairway to Falls by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1298/4604984043_a610188362.jpg" alt="Stairway to Falls" width="338" height="500" /></a></p>

<p>So far I'm liking Javier's 2nd shot<br>

Lorenzo that first shot with the moon is great<br>

Ben that's interesting putting sunglasses in front as a filter...<br>

Odorus I really like the composition of the 2nd shot.<br>

Bob that's a neat anniversary shot.<br>

Dave those paratroopers look like dolls in that last shot!<br>

John her pose and that blood on her knee make for quite a strong image.</p>

<p>Nice Javier - I love the first two. I've had some interesting conversations with Rastas on a few occasions myself.<br>

Dorus' Herring are really nice! (as are the other two as always)<br>

Lorenzo's Mothership at dawn is great but I agree the 15 could have made it greater.<br>

Bob, Happy Anniversary! Nice photo too. Very atmospheric.<br>

Dave - I like aviation shots. The cluster of dangling soldiers is fun.<br>

.<br>

I've been running around with my new toy (DA 15mm) and got a few I like:</p>

<p><a title="IMGP4551-1 by somedudeus, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4602620401_c142b643dc.jpg" alt="IMGP4551-1" width="500" height="333" /></a><br>

.<br>

<a title="IMGP4431 by somedudeus, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1263/4605197823_66fdb7b779.jpg" alt="IMGP4431" width="333" height="500" /></a><br>

.<br>

<a title="IMGP4614-1 by somedudeus, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/4611939288_bf99e86560.jpg" alt="IMGP4614-1" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>

<p>Very enjoyable shots this week; comments later.</p>

<p><strong>Leaves and Light</strong></p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/861171824_PWVFe-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>K20D, Voigtlander 125mm, f 5.6 @ 1/15, ISO 200</p>

<p><strong>Fire in the Flower</strong></p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/868481698_Ng6ZY-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>K20D, Voigtlander 125mm, f 5.6 @ 1/350, ISO 200</p>

<p><strong>Purple Violet</strong></p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/868482931_K7jtb-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>K20D, Voigtlander 125mm, f 8 @ 1/6, ISO 200</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>Michael, I love the flowers.<br /> I took (lots of) pictures this week, for the first time in a while. It was fun. I pulled these few out. The first is a picture I took while Chaparoning a trip to DC. Its a shot taken from the WWII memorial up towards the Jefferson memorial around sundown.<br>

<br /> The second is a shot I took while wandering the town I work in. This is the corner of the porch of an old, decrepit house. I believe no-one lives there, based on the yellowed bulk mailings in the mailbox, but who knows. While taking a few pictures of the house, I became aware that someone was standing in the doorway across the street. Never have I felt like such an outsider.</p>

<p>Trying this again. Issues uploading the images....</p><div></div>

<p>And for the second.....</p><div></div>

<p>Once again some beautiful pictures by all. Will comment later. I'm still dealing with Macro Madness so forgive me all if I've been repetitive with my photographic technique.<br>

Red leaf<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/4612225973_9972cce7bb.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="335" /></p>

<p>Tree bark fungus<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4612225777_3c643b04dd.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="443" /><br>

Unfurling fern<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4612879694_a447e370e7.jpg" alt="" width="335" height="500" /><br>

And if anyone can help me ID this plant, much obliged. I know they flower in early June and don't last long but in our yard so many grow that it reminds of Sci Fi pods, it gets a little weird.<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4612879890_18c1a23527.jpg" alt="" width="335" height="500" /></p>

<p>There are already a lot of really nice shots here this week, and it's early yet. Javier's first shot stands out, as does Dorus' herring, Matt's cyclist, and Michael's purple violet. I almost feel bad trying to pick only some to comment on, since I really like several of the others as well equally as much.<br>

A few of us from a local photo club got together for an evening of night shooting in Balboa Park on Thursday. Here are few of my shots.<br>

<img src="http://frankbaiamonte.smugmug.com/San-Diego/Balboa-Park-Night-051310/IMGP0587/867261992_m2srW-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://frankbaiamonte.smugmug.com/San-Diego/Balboa-Park-Night-051310/IMGP0607/867264007_EcRw6-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://frankbaiamonte.smugmug.com/San-Diego/Balboa-Park-Night-051310/IMGP0601/867263368_Wd5X4-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

<p>It's been raining again, so it's back to the woods for me. Got up Saturday morning at 5:15, but it turned completely overcast with a slight drizzle. I only took two pictures. This was the better one.</p><div></div>

<p>Today, my son and I went to the park, which is very wooded. The first time we went, it was raining too hard. So we came back an hour and a half later. By then it was merely overcast.We heard the train coming so I set up the tripod about 6 or 7 feet away from the tracks, prefocused and let my son take the shots.</p><div></div>

<p>This pathway is also in the park. It's always very dark at this point, even on bright sunny days. After it stopped raining today, the skies were bright and overcast. There must be an opening in the tree canopy. Believe it or not, it doesn't stand out like this on sunny days.</p><div></div>

<p>Very nice set, Steve! My favoite is the first but the third is nicely done as well and reminds me of the C&O tow path.</p>

<p>Javier, what a great start. I love that first shot of yours, the second is not too bad either, but that first one is just great.<br>

Lorenzo, I would have to cast my vote on #2. It may be an old subject.. but a pretty picture is still a pretty picture :-)<br>

Ben, power lines typically bug me.. but they compliment your shot nicely.<br>

Dorus, Maybe I am feeling hungry, but those smoking herrings look darn good :-)<br>

Bob, that's a great shot..sepia looks good. I might have made the foreground rocks a bit darker maybe.. and have one of your good looking fish on there? lol. Just kidding about the fish :-)<br>

Dave, that's too bad you didn't have anything longer.. I would have loved to be there. Nice ones considering your equipment.<br>

John, nice story and image1<br>

Somanna, you really need to see that shot larger to appreciate how good it looks!<br>

Matt, love your first wo shots..the first one especially with the clouds in the background<br>

ME, you've decided to really torture me with that Voightlander! I especially like the first two. You did a great job with the first one... really nice tones<br>

Trevor, good to see some shots from you.. your first one is very well done.<br>

Julio, those are great, but my favorites are #2 and #3. Nice detail and lighting<br>

Frank, I looked at the rest of your shots too.. of this set i like the first one best.. it is less busy than the others.<br>

Steve, pretty neat shot of the train..but I like your third one best.<br>

As for me.. a few shots from the Desert Botanical gardens in collage form. Shot with the k20d and the DA*50-135. Larger versions are on <a href=" </div>

<p>#2 Also k20d + DA*50-135</p><div></div>

<p>This next one is from Bartlett lake</p><div></div>

<p>This last one is a bit of an experiment in PP and selective sharpening</p><div></div>