Monthly Archives: September 2013

8mm Fisheye Lens

Posted by Mike on

I couldn’t help myself. I have seen some very creative images with a fisheye lens and wanted to add one to my bag. I read a some good reviews about the Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 manual exposure lens and was able to get one for a very good price. I still have a little learning to do with the lens but I think it is going to add to my bag of creative tools. Here are a few examples…

Whole New World Nikon D5100, Rokinon 8mm f/3.5, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 100

Whole New World
Nikon D5100, Rokinon 8mm f/3.5, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 100

Ready for my close-up Nikon D5100, Rokinon 8mm f/3.5, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Ready for my close-up
Nikon D5100, Rokinon 8mm f/3.5, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 100

This lens can get some very impressive landscape images as long as you don’t mind the horizon in the middle of the scene or want the curvature very apparent.

At the Start Nikon D5100, Rokinon 8mm f/3.5, 1/40s, f/16, ISO 100

At the Start
Nikon D5100, Rokinon 8mm f/3.5, 1/40s, f/16, ISO 100

I’m already thinking of some images I want to try with this lens when I get to Disney in a few weeks. This will be a great way to stretch my normal repertoire of images and hopefully come home with some unique ‘keepers’. 🙂

Adirondack Color

Posted by Mike on

The fog was very persistent and I was running out of ways to extend my stay. This is the last image I captured in Old Forge before heading home Friday. This was around 10:30am. I am most certain that by the time I made it back home it was a beautiful day up north, I know it was great at my house… 🙂

Adirondack Color Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 70mm, f/16, ISO 100

Adirondack Color
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 70mm, f/16, ISO 100

the best laid plans…

Posted by Mike on

The leaves are changing in the north country. We have some color where I live but farther north the colors are at their peak. I decided to take Friday off and travel north to climb Bald Mountain in the Adirondacks. Bald Mountain is just north of Old Forge and has a great view of the Fulton Chain Lakes. I also checked and the sun would rise right over First Lake in Old Forge so I made sure to get there early to catch the blue hour and then the sunrise.

Well, at least that was the plan. I should have done more homework. Or maybe verify the forecast before I left the house at 5am for the hour drive north. I arrived in Old Forge to see the town shrouded in fog. My sunrise was a washout, but I hoped it would burn off quickly. It didn’t. I waited until 8:30am and hiked up to the top of the mountain with the hope it would dissipate. It didn’t.

I didn’t see clearing skies until I was 20 minutes south of Old Forge on my way home…

Here is my sunrise.

First Lake Sunrise Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1.6s, 21mm, f/16, ISO 100

First Lake Sunrise
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1.6s, 21mm, f/16, ISO 100

Dive Patrol Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2.5s, 19mm, f/16, ISO 100

Dive Patrol
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2.5s, 19mm, f/16, ISO 100

Water

Posted by Mike on

Growing up I always played in the creek. If I wasn’t in the house and you couldn’t see me in the yard, you could count on me being in the creek. I would build small dams and play with stones in the water. I loved how the water flowed. During storms when the creeks would fill it was fascinating to see the power of water. Even today I am amazed at how quickly moving water can transform an area.

I guess that is why I gravitate toward photographing water. A quick look through any of my albums will show a majority of images with water as a component. I love the reflections it can produce. I am intrigued by the patterns and apparent randomness of the flow. Being able to slow down the shutter on the camera and capture an image of water that is truly the some of its parts is the best way to end a hectic work week.

Last evening after work I headed to the West Canada Creek just below Trenton Falls. It is an accessible area with a lot of character to the water. I spent an hour climbing over the rocks capturing the nuances of the creek. It was a great way to end the day.

Torrent Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/4s, 70mm, f/18, ISO 100

Torrent
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/4s, 70mm, f/18, ISO 100

Passing By Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 8s, 70mm, f/22, ISO 100

Passing By
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 8s, 70mm, f/22, ISO 100

Calm Rapids Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2s, 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Calm Rapids
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2s, 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Looking to be Free

Posted by Mike on

Squared – SQ24

Looking to be Free Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/250s, 135mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

Looking to be Free
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/250s, 135mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

Morning Glow

Posted by Mike on

The colors of the sunrise were too good to pass up, so another image from my early morning at Hinkley Reservoir makes it into my stream. This is a 3 exposure bracket HDR image. It was the best way to capture the most light. The sunrise wouldn’t be as interesting if the rocks in the foreground were silhouetted.

Morning Glow Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, {1/4, 1, 4s bracket), 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Morning Glow
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, {1/4, 1, 4s bracket), 17mm, f/16, ISO 100