Category Archives: DOF

Standout in a Crowd

Posted by Mike on

Standout in a Crowd
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/200s, 32mm, f4, ISO 800

I’m fortunate enough to live out in the country. I can walk out the back door and explore the field for hidden (or not so hidden) treasures. Generally I know it is time to go exploring when I see the field light up as the sun sets. It gets a nice warm glow just before the sun dips below the trees. Other days I just go crawling around looking for opportunities among the wildflowers and grass. This picture was one of those opportunities…

When Daisy faded away

Posted by Mike on
From Monochrome

When Daisy faded away
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/25s, 70mm, f5.6, ISO 100

Floral Macros

Posted by Mike on

I wasn’t sure today was going to produce any new pictures for me.  I had plans to get up early in search of the path around the Utica Marsh but a look out the window at 4:30am changed my mind.  The overcast sky did not look promising so I rolled over and went back to sleep.

The day eventually turned out beautiful but the list of chores was taunting me.  I attended to as many as I could even managing to take a dip in the pool (all in the guise of cleaning it).  Considering tomorrow was back to work for me I thought I would take it easy tonight even though the sunset was producing some wonderful light.

I was exploring Flickr earlier in the evening and joined a group called ‘Floral Landscapes’ which appeared to fit with some of my pictures lately.  I decided to change tactic and save the day!  I switched lenses to my Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0 macro lens and went searching around the yard for flowers I could use for this new group.

My first stop was the flower pots outside the garage.  My wife and daughter had planted them a few weeks ago and the sun was lighting the pansies up which I couldn’t resist.  There was also a cool spider sitting in his web, but that picture is for another day.

The Light Within
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/400s, 70 mm, f/4, ISO 200

I live out in the country with pasture on three sides of my little acre lot.  I generally can find some kind of wild flowers growing next to the fence.  The horse and cows don’t seem to mind me hopping over to grab a few pictures in the field if there is nothing right next to the fence.  Luckily tonight I was able to stay within the yard.

I’m not sure what variety of flower this one is but they seem to thrive right next to my yard.  I usually only have to contend with the barbed wire fence to get a good picture.  I was able to capture this one before it closed for the night.

Hint of Purple
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/200s, 70 mm, f/4, ISO 400

We have a group of hosta plants that line one side of the garage.  Every year I need to break up the clumps and I transplant them to the bank on the edge of my yard.  The plants next to the garage are just starting to bloom but there are a few over on the bank which are further along.  This blossom had already started to close for the night but I was able to lay on the ground and capture the inside.

Blushing Hosta Bloom
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/2000s, 62 mm, f/4, ISO 400

At this point the bugs started to attack!  I attempted to flee across the road to the neighbors flower garden but it was only a temporary reprieve.  I did manage to capture one nice picture before I made my hasty retreat into the house.  I have no clue what type of flower this is but I loved the look of it.  I will say I still struggle to capture flowers with a lot of deep red in them and this one was no exception.

The Crown
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/60s, 58 mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

That was my adventure for the day.  All was not lost and I have a new outlet for these floral macros I have been capturing lately.  It also re-affirms to me that I don’t always have to travel far to capture some pictures. There are plenty of subjects close at hand if I take the time to look.

Day 85

Posted by Mike on

I was determined not to miss the morning sun today.  We ended up getting a dusting of snow last night after the freezing rain stopped.  There really wasn’t enough to worry about but I view it as exercise so I shoveled the driveway.  Actually I pushed the snow from one side to the other with my 4 foot pusher shovel.  Hey, I was out at 7am walking back and forth which is exercise, right?

The sky was full of clouds when I started but as I finished up you could see the sun start to work its way through.  My plan was working.  I grabbed the camera and went for a short walk.  I managed to get quite a few nice pictures and even captured a bracketed set to show off the colors in the sky.  The picture I liked for my project was a macro of the property marker on the corner of our yard.  It is just a rusted piece of rebar but I like the texture and color against the sky.

We are heading down to my wife’s family farm today to visit with her sister and meet her brother to exchange a few things for our nephew.  I usually have a good time down there with my camera so I’m looking forward to a nice day.  I just hope the weather holds.

Day 82

Posted by Mike on

I was still on a macro/bokeh vibe for today and I knew exactly what I wanted to photograph.  Yesterday as I was walking around the yard I grabbed a few pictures of some tiny red berries.  I liked their color but the angle and composition of the pictures I had were not what I wanted.  I got home a little later than I anticipated and walked straight out to the back yard to get my picture(s).

The wind was blowing just a little more than I would have liked but I managed to get the top down view of the berries that I wanted.  The background winter grass was a better color than the white snow, trees and grey sky I used yesterday.  I was able to play more with the depth of field on the top down view which suited what I envisioned.

Just for comparison here is the picture from yesterday that got me interested in the berries but just didn’t work for me.  To be fair I haven’t processed this picture yet.