Some shots from OBX.

[shaloot]

<p>Hello!<br>

It's been awhile for me regarding sharing photos with you fine folks. Sundays have just turned into me not having any time in front of the computer to upload photos, and then by Monday and Tuesday there's so much stuff I feel I need to say something before posting. Anyways end of September my wife and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary by taking a trip to the Outer Banks, which is only 3 hrs away from Raleigh, NC. We stayed on Ocracoke Island, which technically is not part of the OBX but instead another county. Same thing if you ask me. We also went up the main part up to Nag's Head, checking out Bodie Island lighthouse and Jockey's ridge sand dunes.</p>

<p>As usual, all shots on the k10d and these ones were with the kit lens v.1. Shot in RAW then converted in Aperture.<br>

This shot was taken along a nature trail on Ocracoke Island. It was so thick with growth and trees, I loved it!<br>

<a title="Twisted by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Twisted by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2553/4010457118_5e566ec1a9.jpg" alt="Twisted" width="396" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>This is the lighthouse on Ocracoke, and it was a 2min exposure. Ideally I wanted to be there earlier to have more light in the sky.<br>

<a title="This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine... by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine... by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/4010458728_cfa68cbea1.jpg" alt="This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." width="372" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>A pic of my wife, which she actually likes! Imagine that! Taken during the ferry crossing and with FA50.<br>

<a title="Wind blown Boo by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Wind blown Boo by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/4011981520_cc9b5d0266.jpg" alt="Wind blown Boo" width="385" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>This was taken while walking around Ocracoke. This house had these 3 jeeps all just sitting there. I love these models. True Jeeps!<br>

<a title="Dead Convoy by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Dead Convoy by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4030941914_1685196cd9.jpg" alt="Dead Convoy" width="386" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>This is the Bodie lighthouse. The next day they were to take down the fresnel lens for cleaning, so this will not be operational for some months.<br>

<a title="Bodie by Shaloot, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaloot/4030187961/" title="Bodie by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/4030187961_1b8c407775.jpg" alt="Bodie" width="343" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>Another view:<br>

<a title="Lead Into The Sky by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Lead Into The Sky by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/4030943966_d326a3efa9.jpg" alt="Lead Into The Sky" width="500" height="339" /> </a></p>

<p>These next shots are at Jockey's Ridge on Nag's Head. These sand dunes were huge! I had no idea! Made it hard to believe you were still in NC at the coast.<br>

<a title="Which Steps To Follow? by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Which Steps To Follow? by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/4053958533_a824eefe1f.jpg" alt="Which Steps To Follow?" width="360" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>Can't decide between this one and the previous one with my wife:<br>

<a title="Follow To The Top by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Follow To The Top by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3511/4053960165_c45c8106b3.jpg" alt="Follow To The Top" width="343" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>Just to give you a scale of this place (and in color!):<br>

<a title="North Carolina? by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="North Carolina? by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4054702766_3f41095b6d.jpg" alt="North Carolina?" width="500" height="343" /> </a></p>

<p>This is last shot is one of those I was pretty much going to trash until I decided to play around. I cropped it down, boosted the contrast (and maybe saturation) and then converted to B&W with one of the colored filters. It's I think the only shot into the sun I like:<br>

<a title="Into The Sun by Shaloot, on Flickr" href=" title="Into The Sun by Shaloot, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4053962067_c206fc7aef.jpg" alt="Into The Sun" width="401" height="500" /> </a></p>

<p>Comments are always welcome. Thanks!</p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>Nice series, Somanna. Pretty wicked tree. A thought I had--did you intend the light stripes on the lighthouse to be white or gray? I'm guessing these shots are significantly underexposed because of the bright sky and white stripes.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>I do like the tree and <em>major</em> congratulations on getting an "acceptable" photo of your lovely wife--I know how difficult that approval process can be ;~) I have fond memories of family conventions at Nags Head but it's been decades since I've been there.</p>

[jgredline]

<p>Great series!<br>

my favorite images are as follows.<br>

the image of your beautiful bride is flat, fantastic! What a great smile!<br>

The ''another view'' lighthouse is brilliant. Love the composition. It is different and the skies look good.....BUT the two silhouettes of your wife are <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/fantastico-1-1.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/bravo_thumb-1-1.jpg" alt="" /> especially that last one! The only thing I would do to the last one, is try and take out that flare somehow....Nice shooting.</p>

 

[jgredline]

<p>By the way, everytime I have posted a picture of my wife and she has seen it, she has shot me with the ole eye, <em><strong>guys, you know the look..... So either your lucky or brave ;-)</strong> </em></p>

[miserere_mei]

<blockquote>

<p>A pic of my wife, which she actually likes! Imagine that!</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You have a better track record than me—over 8 years taking pictures of my girl, and I'm still to shoot one she likes. I, on the other hand, like many of them :-)</p>

<p>Now, Somanna, while you did a great job with these (I especially like the tree, jeeps, 2nd lighthouse and 2nd dunes), I am going to take two guesses:</p>

<ol>

<li>You are working on an uncalibrated monitor.</li>

<li>Your monitor is too bright.</li>

</ol>

<p>All these photos look overly dark to me. Go <a href="http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/cal.htm">here,</a> <a href="http://photographerusa.com/screencheck/index.html">here</a> and <a href="http://photographerusa.com/screencheck/calibration.html">here</a> for a quick check.</p>

<p>PS: Did you get my e-mail earlier today?</p>

 

[hagar]

<p>What a nice set Somanna... The tree and the jeep look a bit dark to me.. but then maybe my monitor is too bright as well. <br>

It's great getting the stamp of approval :-) but that's a pretty neat shot with the wind whipping her hair around..<br>

I like the lighthouse shots, and lightening them a bit would be good I think. <br>

The first shot of your wife silhouetted at the sand dunes, is I think not great only because of the way she's standing.. otherwise pretty good.<br>

Thanks for sharing! :-)</p>

[bob-c]

<p>Somanna, I want to add my congratulations on capturing an acceptable shot of your wife. It's a beautiful picture. I like all the others as well. BTW, thanks for that link to the K20D seller. It did eventually work out. After I sent him the money, however, I didn't hear from him for over a week. I was getting very anxious, especially after my wife discovered what was going on! Turns out he was down with the flu and everything worked out fine. </p>

[wtlwdwgn]

That is a truly stunning shot of your wife. As for the rest, I'm always a sucker for seaside shots and I can sense the warm salty air from here. Unless the next earthquake sends California into the ocean, Montana isn't likely to have a coast line nearby anytime soon! 8~)

[chune_hoong_pong]

<p>Throughly enjoyable series, Somanna.<br /> Excellence in a very subtle manner.</p>

[shaloot]

<p>@Andrew - I'm not sure I follow what you mean by "light stripes" to white or gray? The light coming from the tower? They are suppose to be white-ish...<br>

@Javier - I have another photo of that same shot where I cropped out the flare, and couldn't decide between the two until.... <hold on to something>.... my <em>wife</em> came in and said she actually liked the shot with the flare!! Uhm... my wife giving me input plus it's on a photo that <em>she's</em> in?! of course I said "you know what, you're right, I do like that photo more" Yes, it was a special weekend; I have 3 photos of her that she likes!<br>

@Mis - I just saw the email, and I think it's the same lens I have anyways. Thanks for thinking of me though. And I have never calibrated my monitor, but the 1st 2 links you put up I see what I'm suppose to see, and the 3rd link when I followed the instructions my screen looked really bad... I do know the first, 2nd, and 4th shot were somewhat dark on my screen, but I guess they are really dark on others...<br>

But my screen at work things look ok... hmm...<br>

@Haig- I bumped up the contrast in the lighthouse shots to show up the clouds, and it did darken the photo some, but looks like it appears darker to others... I too am not thrilled about the her pose, but really like the rim-lighting effect on her hair... maybe if I crop the bottom out...<br>

@Robert - so glad it worked out for you! I hoped I hadn't led you onto a bad deal or scam... must have been rough when your wife found out! Mine gets nervous if I talk to people locally on craigslists for stuff!<br>

Thanks for the comments everyone else!</p>

[les_lammers]

<p>Very nice set. I really like the tree.</p>

[rparmar]

<p>Number 7, with your wife on the beach, has a great look to it -- something about the posture of the body and the silhouette look. Nice!</p>

[thomas_lozinski]

<p>Those dunes at jockey ridge are lots of fun to photograph. </p>