Monthly Archives: January 2016

Interrupted

Posted by Mike on

West Canada Creek

Frequent readers of my posts know how much I love playing in a creek. When I was young it was about building dams and diverting water to watch it flow over different areas of the creek bed. I use to spend hours with my hands in the water adding stones here and there to create a bigger wall for the water.

Now I am fascinated by flowing water. I love that I can capture a different pattern in the same area of a creek just by adjusting the time on my shutter. A second faster or a second slower and the entire scene changes. These water images all about that control over the capture just like my dam building was about controlling the direction the water was taking. I hope I never get tired of playing…

MLCreations Photography: Monochrome &emdash; Interrupted

Interrupted
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/3s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

Pagoda Backside

Posted by Mike on

Japan Pavilion, Epcot, Walt Disney World

Our first day at Disney during the Christmas week was spent at Epcot. That was an unanimous decision as everyone has come to enjoy that park, although for very different reasons. For me it is about the exploring. There is so much to see and do at the park. My favorite is wandering around in all the nooks and crannies of the different country pavilions.

In the Japan Pavilion some additional outdoor seating was added behind the pagoda. I really enjoy how it was blended into the existing landscaping and hasn’t detracted from the beauty of this area. I especially like the red umbrellas used for the tables as they offset the normal color scheme. I tried to capture some of that in this image but didn’t find a spot far enough away to get everything in. Next trip I’ll find a better composition.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Pagoda Backside

Pagoda Backside
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/80s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Wordless Wednesday: Ride the Rail

Posted by Mike on

Future World, Epcot, Walt Disney World

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Ride the Rail

Ride the Rail
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 12mm, f/8, ISO 800

Forever Remembered

Posted by Mike on

Forever Remembered Exhibit, Kennedy Space Center

The first time I visited Kennedy Space Center this year I was so overwhelmed with seeing the Shuttle Atlantis that I failed to see the Forever Remembered Exhibit in the same building. This is an exhibit honoring and remembering the astronauts of the Shuttles Challenger and Columbia. Walking down the hall with the displays of each astronaut was very emotional. Each display had objects from the astronauts life, their hobbies and/or passions, along with a short bio and picture.

Walking down that hall didn’t prepare me for what I saw when I turned the corner. The two pictures below are the displays I encountered as I entered the room. The first is a section of the fuselage from the Shuttle Challenger. The second is of the window frames from the Shuttle Columbia.  I was floored.  It all hit me like a ton of bricks.  I couldn’t move.  I just stood there in silence for what seemed like forever, the emotions from those two days flooding back to me.

I’m a child of the end of the Space Race.  Sometimes I think I was born a little too late.  I remember going down to the gym in school to watch the TV coverage of the lunar landings.  Granted I am not quite old enough to remember the first from Apollo 11 but I remember the last few.  I also remember the Apollo-Soyuz mission as well as Skylab.

I’m also the kid who was building model rockets and launching them into the sky out in the middle of the hay field.  I followed the development of the shuttle and you could say I was obsessed with anything to do with space.  I missed being in Florida for the first launch of Columbia in 1981 due to bronchial pneumonia.  I was listening to the radio somewhere in Pennsylvania as my Mom drove us to Florida for spring break.

I also remember that awful day in January 1986 when Challenger exploded.  I was a sophomore in college studying Aerospace Engineering.  I just returned from class when everyone was talking about the accident.  I didn’t believe them!  I didn’t make it to any more classes that day.  I sat on my bed watching the TV in complete disbelief.

The Columbia disaster hit me just as hard.  Even though I was an “adult” with kids and a job, the kid in me was floored as I watched the news that Saturday morning in 2003.  We left the TV all day.  I guess those dreams of space never really leave you.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Challenger

Challenger
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/40s, 22mm, f/2.8, ISO 1600

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Columbia

Columbia
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/4s, 27mm, f/2.8, ISO 1600

 

I know I will be going back to KSC.  Visiting the center rekindled that passion I had as a kid.  I look forward to what happens next at the center.  The launch and landing by SpaceX of their Falcon 9 rocket was incredible.  Yes, there were a few hiccups along the way, but you can’t deny the accomplishment!  Hopefully next time I visit it will be for one of those launches.

Morning at the Bridge

Posted by Mike on

192 Causeway over the Indian River

We had just spent the last two days at Disney. It was Wednesday morning and I was planning on taking the kids up to Kennedy Space Center. I had time, they were not getting up any time soon. I had just downed the cup of coffee my mother-in-law had made so the caffeine was going to kick in at any time. When I looked out the window I could see the sunrise was going to be beautiful.

The day we arrived in Florida I had taken the kids over to Melbourne Beach.  My Leave Your Cares Behind post was from that little excursion.  It wasn’t a great day then but I didn’t care.  I was in Florida and on a beach.  On our way over to the beach I had spotted a little park right on the edge of the Indian River where the 192 Causeway crosses over.  I had a good feeling the view of the sunrise would be best from that vantage point.

When going out for sunrise pictures it is always best to arrive early.  You want to be there at least thirty minutes if not an hour before the sun is suppose to break the horizon.  The reason for the extra time is two-fold.  One, you want to be able to search out a good location (if you haven’t done so already).  The second is the light before the sun rises is actually the best.  The time just before sunrise and/or just after sunset is known as the blue hour.

During this blue hour the sky takes on an extra deep shade of blue, fading as the sun nears the horizon.  If you are lucky enough to have a few clouds in the sky, the sun will color those shades of red and orange as it rises.  This is what I was hoping to capture this morning.  I got lucky…

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Morning Bridge

Morning Bridge
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 25s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 400

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Shoot the Middle

Shoot the Middle
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 30s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Going East

Going East
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 25s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

Lonely Path

Posted by Mike on

Two Paths

Saturday morning started out beautifully. It had snowed during the night but it was the fluffy, light snow which I enjoy shoveling. I look at shoveling as the exercise I need during the less active winter months. I’m not above using the snowblower when needed though, I’m not totally crazy.

The ground was covered in a white blanket and the clouds were sparse enough to let the morning sun cast great shadows across the snow. As soon as the sun made its appearance I grabbed the camera and went out walking along the road to see what pictures await me.

I didn’t have to venture far before finding this deer path through my neighbor’s yard. The setting was perfect. Tracks through the fresh snow. The sun just breaking through the clouds. Still an orange glow in the sky. I grabbed a couple images and then as I normally do I turned the camera and grabbed a few more in portrait orientation. It is a practiced I learned from Bryan Peterson’s Understanding Exposure book. You will also hear him repeat this practice if you watch his videos on his website or at Adorama TV.

The reason for the title of this post is I processed this image two separate ways. The first image, which I actually processed second, was done entirely in Lightroom. The second image I did my normal tweaks in Lightroom and then finished the image using OnOne Photo Suite 9. There are really only slight differences in the images.

The first image has not been sharpened as much, there is a slight softness to it. The second image has stronger colors in the sky.  I also lightened up the shadows more in the second image.  The more I look at both the more I favor the first image.  It feels more real to me.  It could also just be my morning coffee talking…  🙂

I would love to hear what you think of the images.  Which do you prefer?

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Lonely Path

Lonely Path
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 27mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Lonely Path

Lonely Path
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 27mm, f/16, ISO 200

Barbed Flakes

Posted by Mike on

Squared – SQ81
Monochrome Winter

The first day of the new year was very unclear of itself. There was snow. There was wind. The sun showed its face. And there were a few moments of calm.

During one of those calm moments I ventured outside with the macro lens. It has a very long lens hood which would protect the front of the lens from the elements. I also wanted to see what I could capture of the new snow. I ended up behind the house pointing the camera at the fence since it was the only thing not swaying in the wind.

Frequent readers of my ramblings will know my penchant for the barbed wire fence around my yard. It didn’t disappoint me yesterday. The snow gathered on the barbs and if you look closely you can make out the individual flakes. As I often do, my winter images end up as B&W. I like the clarity it brings to the image.

This is another entry in my growing Squared series as well as the first installment this year for my old Monochrome Winter series.  The MW series did not receive any love from me last year and I hope to correct that going forward.

MLCreations Photography: Squared &emdash; Barbed Flakes

Barbed Flakes
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/200s, f/5.6, ISO 200

Big Rocks

Posted by Mike on

West Canada Creek

Although the last day of the year was an overcast day I took the opportunity with the recent rains to go play in the West Canada Creek. The area just below Trenton Falls is a favorite spot of mine and always provides me with great views for images. I was also trying out my adapter ring to allow me to use my old 77mm circular polarizer with my 12-40mm lens. I can’t use the lens hood with the filter but on a day like yesterday, a hood wasn’t needed.

There was a light coat of snow on the rocks around the overflow area which made for some slippery footing. My biggest fear was ending up in the water! Luckily I avoided that concern with some good balancing maneuvers.

I’ve mentioned before that capturing the water flow is a balancing act in itself. I don’t want too long of an exposure and completely smooth out the water, but I also do not want to freeze the motion with a quick shutter either. For this image an almost 1 second exposure produced the water flow I was looking for. The polarizer did not help a great deal with the shine on the rocks but I think the shine adds a nice contrast to the water.

These water images always look better in black & white.  I also do not do as much sharpening on these water images as I like the look of the water with the long exposure.  After all processing is done, I add just a slight silver tone to the image which is really just a personal preference.

Staring at the image I can still hear the water rushing past…  it is very hypnotic.

MLCreations Photography: Monochrome &emdash; Big Rocks

Big Rocks
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.8s, 25mm, f/16, ISO 200