Post and Tree in the Snow

For the Monochrome Winter series…

Post and Tree in the SnowNikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/60s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 800

Post and Tree in the Snow
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/60s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 800

Lookout Silhouette

Went out to visit my family this weekend with my daughter. Although it was a long drive we had a great time. The weather didn’t cooperate so I was unable to go exploring with the camera. I had that itch that needed to be scratched so after we returned home today I went for a walk down around the Utica Marsh.

This is a observation/lookout stand supposedly used for viewing the happenings in the marsh. To bad they do not keep the view cleared that looks into the marsh. The only opening lets you look clearly in the wrong direction. I still liked the outline and shadows created by the structure. I tried a little cross processing in an attempt to add a little to the image. Not sure it worked…

Lookout SilhouetteNikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1600s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200

Lookout Silhouette
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1600s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Black and White or Sepia Tones

Cee Neuner has a weekly photo challenge over on her blog. This week’s challenge is all about B&W or sepia toned images, as you can probably tell by the title of this post.

I have been looking at this particular image since I captured it on Saturday. There is a strong blue sky which definitely accentuates the snow and the pine needles in the strong side light. I liked the detail I was able to capture in the pine cone and the piece of branch. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to process it in color or B&W. The challenged helped make up my mind.

This also makes a nice addition to my Monochrome Winter series…

Pinecone Sno-coneNikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1000s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Pine cone Sno-cone
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1000s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Wordless Wednesday: Hope is Lost

Hope is Lost Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/640s, 145mm, f/8, ISO 200

Hope is Lost
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/640s, 145mm, f/8, ISO 200

Sunset Light

The latest in my Monochrome Winter series…

Sunset Light Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 55mm, f/8, ISO 200

Sunset Light
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 55mm, f/8, ISO 200

The Path to Riches

Well, maybe not the path to riches exactly, but at least it was a path to fishes…

It was another beautiful day here in Central NY and I ventured out in the late afternoon to track down some more eagles. The young one was once again perched on the tree by the Black River but after I scared him away I found my way up to Delta Lake State Park for a little sunset action.

It was a little disappointing in the sky, the colors were more muted than I had hoped for but this view along the snowmobile path out into the frozen lake was cool.  I was hoping for a more contrast between the warm sky colors and the cool ice/snow. I’m not complaining though, I had a great time exploring and just being outside was good. I’m sure I’ll be back before the winter is over…

The Path to RichesNikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/15, 1/4, 1s bracket), 42mm, f/18, ISO 100

The Path to Riches
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/15, 1/4, 1s bracket), 42mm, f/18, ISO 100

Weekly Photo Challenge: Home

This week’s photo challenge from The Daily Post is Home. Check out the original post here Weekly Photo Challenge. There were numerous approaches to this challenge but I settled on capturing images around my home.

When I started this photographic journey in 2011 I spent quite a lot of my time wandering around the house, the yard and the fields surrounding the house playing with my old point & shoot camera. I learned about light, shadows, perspective, composition, depth of field, exposure and everything I use today when I am out exploring with my camera.

I still find I can walk the fields or even my yard and discover images to capture. I love landscape photography and dream of taking the big trips to capture those iconic images I see everyday on my screen, but home is where I learned and these simple images within walking distance of my house will always evoke the sense of home in me.

Lil' Mountain Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/2000s, 165mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Lil’ Mountain
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/2000s, 165mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Remnant Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 90mm, f/11, ISO 200

Remnant
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 90mm, f/11, ISO 200

Cattail Light Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 200mm, f/11, ISO 200

Cattail Light
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/500s, 200mm, f/11, ISO 200

Leftovers Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/1600s, 200mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Leftovers
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/1600s, 200mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

I Found the Eagles!

I’ve heard the stories. I’ve talked to other photographers. I’ve seen the pictures. Until you actually see them for yourself, none of that other stuff matters. I found the eagles!

The winter storm Nemo did not have the reach everyone originally thought. We received about 6 inches of snow starting last night and definitely ending before I awoke at 4am. I went out early this morning to clear the driveway of the white stuff and contemplated exploring with the camera but I needed it to warm up a little before I ventured outside again. The day did not disappoint!

The sun, which had been on full all day, managed to get the temps up to the mid-twenties so I packed the camera into the car and went exploring. I didn’t have a destination in mind but the need for gas in the car prompted the start of my adventure to be a gas station. The closest being over in Rome I decided to go back to Delta Lake dam and poke around in the fresh snow cover.

My intent was to find some new views of the dam or walk the trails along the Black River to see what caught my eye. After grabbing some interesting images of the turbulent exit flow I spotted a couple down the road staring down river. I wanted to check out the opposite side of the dam area so I wandered in their direction. They were watching a young eagle perched high in a tree along the river. Of course I had the wide angle zoom lens on so I continued my original plan for exploring.

On the way back to the car I noticed the eagle was still sitting in the tree. I swapped lenses for my modest telephoto and headed down the trail along the opposite side of the river hoping to get close enough for a few captures. I now wish I had gotten the 70-300mm lens rather than my 55-200mm. I just didn’t have enough reach. Every time I would almost be close enough the eagle would fly further down stream. I pursued!

Luckily I’m a little stubborn. As I chased the eagle from tree to tree I came upon more perched eagles. I still could not get close enough for a good close-up image but now I know where they like to hang out. I will be making numerous trips back to this area and if I’m lucky I’ll be in the right place at the right time to get some more images of these fantastic birds!

Eagle One Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6, 1/1250s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 200

Eagle One
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6, 1/1250s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 200

Eagle Two Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6, 1/640s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 200

Eagle Two
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6, 1/640s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 200

Eagle Three Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6, 1/800s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 200

Eagle Three
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6, 1/800s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 200