Category Archives: nature

Buttermilk Falls – Gorge Trail

Posted by Mike on

I finally made the time to finish some of the images from my exploring around Ithaca, NY early last week. These are along the gorge trail in Buttermilk Falls State Park. I parked at the upper lot and walked the trail down to the main falls. The best images where definitely along this trail and making the main falls a slight disappointment once I reached it.

Pools Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 3s, 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Pools
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 3s, 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Alcove Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.6s, 19mm, f/20, ISO 100

Alcove
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.6s, 19mm, f/20, ISO 100

Cascades Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/4, 0.6, 1.6s bracket), 19mm, f/20, ISO 100

Cascades
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/4, 0.6, 1.6s bracket), 19mm, f/20, ISO 100

Reflection Pool Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/13, 1/3, 1.3s bracket), 17mm, f/20, ISO 100

Reflection Pool
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/13, 1/3, 1.3s bracket), 17mm, f/20, ISO 100

Stairs Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/3s, 32mm, f/20, ISO 100

Stairs
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/3s, 32mm, f/20, ISO 100

Drizzle Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2s, 21mm, f/20, ISO 100

Drizzle
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 2s, 21mm, f/20, ISO 100

Up Close Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 2, 5s bracket), 38mm, f/20, ISO 100

Up Close
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 2, 5s bracket), 38mm, f/20, ISO 100

Layers Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/2, 2, 8s bracket), 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Layers
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/2, 2, 8s bracket), 24mm, f/20, ISO 100

Green with Envy

Posted by Mike on

What a great couple of days! I took my daughter down to Binghamton, NY for her college orientation (did I mention the quiet house in a month!) and spent the two days exploring the gorges and waterfalls around Ithaca, NY. I haven’t had much time to go through the images yet, but this is one of my favorites from Monday. I had an amazing time walking the gorge trail in Buttermilk Falls State Park. The area above the main falls is absolutely beautiful. I had to force myself to keep exploring or I would never have made it to the main falls.

Green with Envy Nikon D5100 Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 2, 5s bracket), 38mm, f/20, ISO 100

Green with Envy
Nikon D5100 Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 2, 5s bracket), 38mm, f/20, ISO 100

Fungus Fun

Posted by Mike on

After I was done running around Pratt’s Falls County Park trying to get images of the falls and my normal floral subjects my daughter was running around in the wooded area next to the parking lot checking out all the fungi. She found quite a lot of different types in a small area of the park. I couldn’t pass up grabbing some images after seeing the amazing colors in the fungus she found.

I Got Your Back Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 100

I Got Your Back
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 100

All in the Family Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 35mm, f/8, ISO 100

All in the Family
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 35mm, f/8, ISO 100

Red Hat Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/5s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 100

Red Hat
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/5s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 100

Conspicuous Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/5s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 100

Conspicuous
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/5s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 100

Field Day

Posted by Mike on

When Sunday was winding down I took the camera into the fields around the house. The wildflowers are starting to fight with the grass for the better views. I had fun looking for interesting subjects until the bugs decided I invaded their space and chased me off. I have to remember to get more repellant at the store…

BFFs Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/11, ISO 200

BFFs
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/11, ISO 200

Family Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

Family
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

From Down Below Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/640s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

From Down Below
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/640s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

Tree Light

Posted by Mike on

Do you see light differently?

The farther I travel along my photographic journey the more I see the world around me differently. The biggest difference for me is light. I see it more intensely. I see how it interacts with the world. I see the play between light and shadow. I know this might sound cliche, but I feel like I am actually seeing more clearly now that everything around me is a potential subject through my viewfinder.

Last night as I was grilling dinner I noticed the sunlight on the trees in the backyard. I think half the time I’m on autopilot as I was out with the camera in my hand lining up the view and I almost forget the turn the burgers! It isn’t a particularly exciting image. It isn’t a grand vista or a spectacularly beautiful flower but I liked the play of light and shadow. And the tractor in the field just felt like a bonus.. lol.

Tree Light Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/250s, 165mm, f/9, ISO 800

Tree Light
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/250s, 165mm, f/9, ISO 800

The Rest of the Walk

Posted by Mike on

I might have mentioned in a few of my posts that I spent last weekend with my parents. I stayed at my Dad’s house since my Mom has her hands full with my Grandpa (he is 97 this year!). I also wanted to stay with Dad since after my last visit in February I pulled him back into photography.

My Dad purchased a Pentax K-1000 and several lenses almost 30 years ago. He hasn’t really done anything with them for quite a long time. I was hoping to buy the system from him but after talking to him I convinced him to keep everything if there was even a small inkling he would be interested again. I found him a used Pentax K10D with a 16-55mm lens which will still accept the old lenses.  This past weekend was our first chance to get together and figure everything out for him.

I have to admit I am a little impressed with the Pentax camera.  I’m not a big fan of the way it handles ISO settings but overall it is easy to use, has in-camera image stabilization and captures a great image with the old lenses.  I was able to get Dad all setup so he doesn’t have to worry about too many settings as he learns about this “digital” camera world.  He wants to be ready for a cruise to Alaska he is taking in June.  I think he’ll be fine.

Even though he wants to understand the camera I kept stressing that the only good way to learn was to get outside and capture some images.  I told him he has to start carrying the camera everywhere he goes so he will be ready when that next image captures his eye.  We did manage to stop last Monday at Long Point State Park which is just done the road from his house.  The park is on the shores of Chautauqua Lake and we had a great time photography by the marina and along the trail all the way to the point.

I have already posted some of the images from that day.  The ones included in this post are more of my favorites…

Buoy, What A Spring... Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1000s, 55mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Buoy, What A Spring…
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1000s, 55mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Oh, The View... Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/500s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 200

Oh, The View…
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/500s, 42mm, f/8, ISO 200

Rock View Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/640s, 17mm, f/8, ISO 200

Rock View
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/640s, 17mm, f/8, ISO 200

Finding My Way Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/30s, 46mm, f/11, ISO 200

Finding My Way
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/30s, 46mm, f/11, ISO 200

Green Tiles Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 35mm, f/8, ISO 200

Green Tiles
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 35mm, f/8, ISO 200