Monthly Archives: December 2023

So Long 2023

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

This year has been a roller coaster ride, photographically, that is…

The lull in picking up my camera that started in late 2022 continued through most of the first quarter of this year. It wasn’t until after a few conversations at work did I consider anything with photography. I started slow late in March and gained good momentum through the summer months.

I managed a couple of trips to Florida, one mostly for Disney and another included a few days on the east coast. I think it was the second Disney trip that started the decline in my interest again. When I returned I wasn’t engaged. I couldn’t “see” the images and didn’t feel satisfied with what I was creating. I turned to my other hobby again…

Until the last day of the year.

It was in no way a great day. Temps around freezing. A cloudy sky with off and on drizzle. But I went to Delta Lake at sunset. Or at least when sunset was occurring, who could tell through the clouds. My thoughts were on creating monochrome images. I felt I could pull some drama out of the clouds and maybe I would be able to convey how the day made me feel. 

You’ll have to let me know how I did…

Cold Beach
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400

Through the Reeds
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 36mm, f/8, ISO 400

The Point
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/15s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 400

Guarding the Point
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/13s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400

The Lake
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/15s, 41mm, f/8, ISO 400

Symmetry
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/10s, 38mm, f/8, ISO 400

Collect the Tables
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/4s, 27mm, f/8, ISO 400

Winter Trails
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/4s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 400

Lonely Sentine
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/6s, 34mm, f/8, ISO 400

The Park
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/5s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400

Going Back Ten Years

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake Dam

Looking through my Lightroom catalog it has been about ten weeks since I picked up my camera. The last few images I captured even feel ‘meh’ to me. I wish I had a better understanding about what happened or switched inside me but I don’t. I wasn’t feeling the photography and turned to other hobbies. It is time to be OK with that…

I received an email through the contact form on this blog from a blogging friend. Someone who has been away from photography for a while and is getting back into it. Asking a few questions about posting images and looking for a little help with WordPress.

The opening statement in the email about me not posting in a while and hoping everything is all right struck at me. I get lazy. I forget how much my online friends contribute to me and how much I can give back. I’m a bit of a loner by nature and I don’t put in the effort I should. It is a two-way street but I usually drive it as a one-way…

I want to be better.

Today might not be the day to pick-up the camera as it is currently raining. We are expecting a little snow (if I am to believe the forecast) and I’m wishing we get a nice white coat for the landscape. I want to explore and grab a some images. Until then, I went back ten years to December 2013 and re-processed this image at the Delta Lake dam. The original can be viewed here. I modified the crop from 16×9 to 5×7. I also chose to go with a faded blue look which I feel conveys the cold a little better on this overcast day.

Oh, I almost forget to say thank you to Karma for sending that email… I’m looking forward to seeing what you will be creating.

A Day to the Dam Redo
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.5s, 28mm, f/20, ISO 100