Monthly Archives: March 2025

Light in the Dark

Posted by Mike on

Callaway Resort & Gardens

Callaway Resort & Gardens is in the middle of their Celebrate Spring Festival. I’m fortunate enough to live only twenty miles from this wonderland. I spent about four hours Sunday morning exploring the trails and searching for subjects for my macro lens. It was great!

Unfortunately, the azaleas were not in full bloom yet so I will be heading back up soon. I did find quite a lot to point my lens at along the trails but spent a good chunk of time at Cason’s Garden. In the garden I found the tulips (images coming soon). I was a little early for the festivities at the garden so I’m thinking I need to stay longer next time to enjoy the food, music and activities of the festival.

As I was walking along one of the trails I came to a spot where the sun was shining through a break in the woods and lighting up a small clearing. The flowers (I think azaleas) were beautifully backlit and I scampered all over getting as many different views as I could find. It didn’t hurt that we had a storm come through the area Saturday night and everything had a layer of water droplets.

This one is my favorite. I decided to see what it would look like as a B&W too. I love the how the color stands out against the dark background but the B&W lets the details show through better, IMO… let me know what you think.

Light in the Dark
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Light in the Dark B&W
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Think Big

Posted by Mike on

Flat Rock Park

Well, maybe not big, but at the very least I was thinking. I’ve had this image in my head few a while. There is an area at Flat Rock Park where the rock formations are in a large semi-circle. Typically, this area is occupied by other visitors, i.e., kids climbing on the rocks, groups of people gathering near the tree in the center of this view, etc.

But, the sun rises behind the semi-circle. Last weekend I attempted to get this image but there was nothing but clouds in the sky. Yesterday the conditions seemed good looking out my apartment window so I grabbed the camera before heading out for my weekly grocery run. It was a good morning. Low 60’s, no wind and best of all, no one in my view. Oh, and the clouds were just right.

I played around this area for about 45 minutes. I tried different angles, different compositions and especially waiting for different colors in the sky. This is a 7 image panoramic view about 20 minutes before the actual sunrise. By the time the sun breaks the horizon there will be a lot more orange tinted light in the sky. The 7 images cover about 140 degrees of view which contributes to the changing color in the sky.

Typically I use the tag #SilentSunday for images I post at the start of the week, mostly because it allows me to be lazy. Today I wanted to share a little more about this one… wishing you the best for today.

Think Big
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 2s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 100
{7 image pano}

We Interrupt This Broadcast

Posted by Mike on

Mike’s Ego

And by we, I mean me.

Can I call this a public service announcement? Probably not. Self serving ego-inflation? More appropriate.

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted via IG messaging by someone at the Oneida County Tourism department. When I lived in NY, it was in Oneida county. This person had seen one of my images of Bellamy Harbor and asked if I would be interested in submitting a few images to their Erie Canal photo contest (Capture the Canal). Of course I did!

I was contacted this week and informed that one of my images was select for second place in the contest.

Woo hoo!

It has been difficult to not topple over due to the inflation of my ego. I’ll be the first to admit it has boosted my interest in photography (which has been on and off of late). Before we go too much further, let me share the selected image…

Reflecting Bellamy 2
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 2s, 56mm, f/11, ISO 100

Of the images I submitted, it is of my favorite view of the harbor, so I feel it is a fitting selection. The person at the tourism department even asked if I had additional images of Oneida county I would be willing to share. So, I sent off a few more for use on their social media sites. I’m curious when/if I’ll be able to see them online.

Back in 2017, I submitted a few images to a photo contest for the Rome Canal Fest. I didn’t win the popular vote back then but I did snag a chairman’s choice ribbon for one of my pics. I should probably state that I don’t create images for others, but every once in a while, recognition (even the comments posted here) really do boost my confidence. Oh yeah, the chairman’s choice image I mentioned…

Erie Barge Olympus OM-D E-M10, M. Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, 1/80s, 14mm, f/7.1, ISO 200

OK… ego trip is complete…

Psst, buddy… over here

Posted by Mike on

Frontierland, Magic Kingdom,
Walt Disney World

Psst, buddy… over here
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8, 1/30s, f/8, ISO 100

Make an Impression

Posted by Mike on

Flat Rock Park

Uh!

What?

Feeling a little redundant.

Why?

Another image of the water at the park. Viewers are probably getting tired of these same ol’ scenes.

Do you like it?

Yes.

Then go for it.

Make an Impression
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.4s, 37mm, f/11, ISO 100

Slippin’ Down

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday

Slippin’ Down
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.6s, 33mm, f/11, ISO 100

Oops… and a couple more

Posted by Mike on

Flat Rock Park

It didn’t start off as the best day. Well, I had to go to work for one, but that isn’t what I meant. Weather was iffy. Until the sun works it way back to rising at a proper time being in the dark an extra hour in the morning is not ideal. But, the day turned it around by the time I decided to get off the couch.

It would have been easy to remain on my butt after dinner. I’m glad I didn’t.

As I’m sure you have figured out, I went to Flat Rock Park. Although it was a beautiful evening, the cooler temps, or maybe because it was a Monday, kept most people away. I had the area around the waterfall basically to myself. I explored…

I don’t remember this image happening. I assume it was during a switch from landscape to portrait orientation on the tripod. It was a nice surprise when I loaded the images into Lightroom. This is the first one I processed last night. I’m really liking it and I am thinking I need to create a few more like this…

Oops
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/8s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 100

I moved further upstream then I have explored before and was rewarded with this view. Yes, these are the same set of trees I have been including in most images at the park. They are such camera hogs, practically begging to be photographed.

Picturesque
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.5s, 30mm, f/16, ISO 100

What trip to the park would be complete without some flowing water. I’ll admit the recent rains helped, but the light on the trees (yes, those trees) is what really jumped out at me. Come on, admit it, you would have captured this view too… right?

Striking
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1s, 44mm, f/16, ISO 100

I suppose I should get ready for work. I know, I would rather be out with the camera too, but I do like my toys.

Later…

Market or Sweets

Posted by Mike on

Silent Sunday
Asia, Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Market or Sweets
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.5s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 6400