POW, 1/24/10

[bob-c]

<p>I didn't do much shooting this past week, or more specifically anything worth noting. However, over the past month or so I have been going to Valley Forge National Park with the intent of capturing it in black and white. It will be an ongoing project through the year and I would like to share a few more of those shots.</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

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

[bob-c]

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

[bob_marz]

<p>Excellent shots Bob We did a really neat hike/snowshoe yesterday in the Adirondack High Peak Region. Justin could do this hike in his sleep I'm sure. Beautiful day. 5 Degrees Fahrenheit to start, but NO wind for once. As usual used my K10D with DA 16-45 lens <strong>#1 Snow Tunnel</strong> <em>fl 16.0,1/180,f6.7 @ ISO 100</em> <a href="http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/1-23-2010%20Cascade%20Mt/?action=view&current=IMGP0504.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/1-23-2010%20Cascade%20Mt/IMGP0504.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a> #2 <strong>At the Summit</strong> My bride approaches the summit on a beautiful, bluebird sky day <em>fl 45.0, 1/500, f11 @</em> <em>ISO 140</em> <a href="http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/1-23-2010%20Cascade%20Mt/?action=view&current=IMGP05532.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/1-23-2010%20Cascade%20Mt/IMGP05532.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a> <strong>#3 Perfect Day</strong> I would have preferred an earlier start for better lighting, but who's complaining with views like this <em> fl 23.0, 1/500, f11 @ ISO 100</em><a href="http://s407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/1-23-2010%20Cascade%20Mt/?action=view&current=IMGP05702.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp153/marzrw/1-23-2010%20Cascade%20Mt/IMGP05702.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

[george_c.]

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

[steve_t.1]

<p>Visiting parks this week, eh? These are from my first time hike through a local gem, Afton State Park along the St Croix River bordering MN and WI, at the southeast corner of the St. Paul/Mpls metro area. 30 minutes from downtown and yet you fee like you hours from civilization. Now that I've finally bought an annual state park pass... All with the K20D, 1st and 3rd shot with the Sigma 10-20mm, 2nd shot with the Tamron 18-250.</p>

<p><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p26/stevet_010/K20D7195editBW.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p26/stevet_010/K20D7184editBW.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p26/stevet_010/K20D7296edit.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

[Tony Evans]

<p>This week I was rumaging in a local camera shop and saw a used Pentax 28-200 f3.8-5.6 in almost new condition, both caps & lens hood for $75. Impulsive-Compulsion! I have now learned that it is one of the very few lenses not made by Pentax, is a very poor build of the equivalent Tamron (sinking feeling), has been rated as the "worst pentax lens ever" (disapointment mounting) and has been described by members of this Forum as an outright "dog" (abject remorse).<br>

However, a few shots around the house at wide and tele ends, stopped down two stops & on a tripod really surprised me. At full pixels, nothing to invite critical disdain! I might have some fun with this.<br>

So here are three examples of the "Dog", following today's early theme of parks and local wilderness. All K20D, ISI 100, f11.0 and T/MU.</p><div></div>

[Tony Evans]

<p>Previous the "Dog" @ 50mm.<br>

Now the "Dog" @ 28 mm. Conversion in Power Retouche.</p><div></div>

[Tony Evans]

<p>Finally, the "Dog" @ 50mm, Conversion Power Retouche.</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p>Well, Tony, look at it this way, the lens is a dog. That makes you an amazing photographer. Nice shots!</p>

[jaophotography]

<p>With all the cold weather a few weeks ago, I decided to take a hike to Rainbow Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As you can see, the falls was frozen from top to bottom. According to a hiker, this is about the second time it has frozen in 50 years.<br>

Pentax K10d, Tamron 28-70mm, f/11, ISO 100, HDR of 5 images to keep the white from blowing.</p><div></div>

[jaophotography]

<p>Hiking back, the sun came out as I crossed this creek that was frozen and covered with snow. The shadows back in the woods turned a deep blue, reflecting the pure blue sky.<br>

Pentax K10d, Tamron 28-70mm, f/8, ISO 200.</p>

<p>-Jon</p><div></div>

[michael_elenko]

<p>All that snow, and cross-country skiing, I miss it. Our average temperatures are 7 degrees above normal. The Winter Olympics in Vancouver just north are freaking out, and they're going to spread the man-made snow they've stockpiled. We have dandelions popping up, camelias blooming, and baseballs being thrown outside.</p>

<p>Still, I've tried to capture our fast fading dorment season here.</p>

<p><strong>Remnant Hydrangea</strong></p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/771854063_dKkqF-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>K20D, DA 35mm Ltd Macro, f 6.7 @ 1/180, ISO 100, + Sigma Ring Flash</p>

<p><strong>Winter Clematis</strong></p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/771854017_7VJ6w-L.jpg" alt="" /><br>

K20D, DA 35mm Ltd Macro, f 6.7 @ 1/180, ISO 400, + Sigma Ring Flash; B&W conversion in Lightroom</p>

<p><strong>Fungi on Cut Log</strong></p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/771853993_sz3jk-L.jpg" alt="" /><br>

K20D, DA 35mm Ltd Macro, f 4.5 @ 1/125, ISO 400, + Sigma Ring Flash;</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p> </p>

[debashish]

<p>For Robert Colameco. The third picture, though the least dramatic, is probably the best. <br>

My effort is an interior with snow outside. As I found that B&W did not change the picture appreciably I kept the coloured version. Samsung GX20 16-45/f4 Pentax DA; f7.1 1/50th at ISO 500. Overexposed by 2 stops for the snow which then had to be pulled back slightly in PS (Shadows/Highlights setting).</p><div></div>

[mountainvisions]

<p>Well, I came home early because of forecast of impending doom, I am usually in the Adirondacks or NH Fri-Monday afternoon for the last few weeks. 45F, rain, and the resultant flash floods and ice jams that occur when 3-4 ft of snow and ice melt off overnight. At least the week is supposed to end with seasonable cold, some snow, and hopefully a reformation of the ice that will come crashing down today and tomorrow.</p>

<p>Nevertheless yesterday was a good day, beautiful sunshine, windless summits, and a nice 12 mile hike up and around the Wolf Jaws. It's rare for it to be so clear you can see perfectly the Green Mountains in VT over 50 miles from my location. Hike out after dark was amazing, I wished I had my tripod to try some star trails over Giant Mountain coming down the ADK Range Trail. Unfortunately nothing photographically interesting was captured.</p>

<p>This is from last weekend, when conditions weren't quite so ideal to end the day.<br /> <a title="Stormy Sunset Over Keene Valley" href=" title="Stormy Sunset Over Keene Valley"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/4004/4287521346_6f9c709146_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a> <a title="Stormy Sunset Over Keene Valley" href=" title="Stormy Sunset Over Keene Valley"> </a> <br /> <em>Pentax D, DA 21mm, ISO 200, 1/10th second at f/8. Tripod, cable release and mirror lockup. 3 stop GND.</em></p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>@ Bob Marz,</p>

<p>Is that Cascade...when I started up the Wolfjaws it was 6F, but within an hour it was so warm I was hiking in my short sleeve DuoDry top, wishing I took my full zip pants so I could unzip the thighs down to my gaiters. I don't know what the high was, but when I got back to my car it was only 15F, the lack of wind made it feel very warm.</p>

<p>BTW, I do my best hiking in my sleep, and in 2008, I think I did hike Cascade in my sleep (pre-sunrise summit). In 2010, my best hiking is definitely done while sleeping and dreaming of hiking, I, unfortunately was in pretty bad conditioning following a great October hiking but not much else since May 2009.</p>

<p>Got some nice trips planned next month and in March, so I'm on schedule to be somewhat fit by then with a few more 3 day weekends lined up.</p>

<p>From my 2008 sleep walk:<br>

<a title="Wonder Dog Waiting On Me Like Usual" href=" title="Wonder Dog Waiting On Me Like Usual"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/2290/2195098142_ddee883c46_d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a> <a title="Wonder Dog Waiting On Me Like Usual" href=" title="Wonder Dog Waiting On Me Like Usual"> </a></p>

<p>@ Jon Reid, that HDR works for me. Although I am not sure you needed it unless the lighting is a lot more contrasty than it appears. But, nevertheless, it's a really pleasing rendition, and it brings out the color of the ice nicely. The only thing I'd change is give it a slightly warmer hue (or at least reduce the green cast by giving it a few notches of magenta).</p>

<p>@ George love the lighting and tonality, great capture!</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>That first one is freakin' gorgeous, Justin! </p>

<p>Well, in addition to the pursuit of birds, I've been shooting basketball--with similar frustrations. This was a particularly bad week--both for the photography and the team, which lost both games ;~( I tried shooting with my newly-acquired Tamron 28-75mm f2.8: it's a very nice lens but my trusty F 50mm f1.7 is considerably better in terms of low-light AF. </p>

<p>I've taken (at least some of) Justin's advice this year and stopped down a bit: I shoot in TAv (1/400s & f/3.2 or 3.5) with wide open Auto ISO. I get tons of noise, of course, and manage it in a heavy handed way with Neat Image: it gives the photos a kind of waxy feel but that's less of a concern in this context than it is with the birds. Here are some from this week--not my best shots of the season but a representative sample from a bad week. <br /> <br /> Here's Clara getting ready to face off against her friend at another school. Have I mentioned that those lighted scorer's tables are an abomination?</p><div></div>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Clara's got to work on her shooting technique, too ;~)</p><div></div>

[hinman]

<p>I tried out the monochrome filter in K-x along with IR filter with experimental settings. My family visited a local park after the rain and I used DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 along with K-x.</p>

<p>#1 we saw rainbow<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4301045469_82deee4c53_b.jpg" alt="" width="638" height="960" /></p>

<p>#2<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4301043559_dfc099df15_b.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>#3<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4301040139_6a71b8bba9_b.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p> </p>

[hagar]

<p>I think there's altogether too much snow in this thread! lol. Us Arizonans are quick to feel the cold.. <br>

A shot from my trip to Sedona last year</p><div></div>

[hagar]

<p>One from Florida last month</p><div></div>

[hagar]

<p>This last one is the Emerald Princess departing St Thomas on December 31st.</p><div></div>

[wtlwdwgn]

<p>Sorry Haig, here's more snow. We received 9 new inches of the white stuff over the weekend and there were some cross country skiers and snow shoers (?) making tracks. K20D + A 70-210 f/4.</p>

<p><img src="http://wtlwdwgn.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Paths/Rvr-Fnt-Park-Path-VI-223878/772552093_8xF4B-L.jpg" alt="" width="449" height="600" /></p>

[jgredline]

<p><strong>Nice work folks. I especially like George C's, portrait, Justin's landscape and Tony Evans cold horses...</strong></p>

[jgredline]

<p>As for me, still not quite well enough to go out shooting, SO here I am still with this slow stuff that I am actually enjoying. My wife took me to the beach to check out the 35 to 40 foot waves that are rarely if ever seen here in Los Angeles. To see these waves crashing over a beach where my kids usually go swimming in is pretty amazing. The power of nature in full force. I have also never seen so much rain as we had last week in all 45 of my years living here..The San Gabriel mountains are covered in snow which is also pretty rare. There was even a snow flake or two at my home. Also discovered the roof in my house is leaking and the estimates to retile the roof is between 45k and 50k depending on how simple we want it...So I decided to pay $300.00 and have the roof tarped figuring my two weeks of yearly rain is not worth the crazy money for a roof...Ok, but I digress....<br>

Here are my snap shots taken with the K20 with DA*50-135.<br>

<img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Landscapes/IMGP8182.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Landscapes/IMGP8235.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/jgredline/Landscapes/IMGP8263.jpg" alt="" /></p>