Category Archives: photography

Out for the View

Posted by Mike on

Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, FL

 

On the last morning of our vacation I headed out toward the beach with my daughter in tow to grab some early morning and sunrise images. She had wanted to go to the beach but we had been so busy getting ready for Christmas and running around we never made it over previously. My first stop was at Riverside Park which is on the Indian River side of Indialantic. I love grabbing images of the pier at the park with the 192 Causeway in the background. That image is coming so I’ll warn everyone now… LOL.

With 30 minutes to go before the official sunrise we headed over to the beach to grab some of the pre-dawn colors. I was not disappointed! People were starting to gather on the beach to watch the morning show and I also found there were a lot of birds on the shore waiting as well. Before I ventured to far on to the beach I grabbed this silhouetted image of people waiting. There is something interesting about the silhouettes against the morning colors that has me shutter happy!

 

MLCreations Photography: Florida &emdash; Out for the View

Out for the View
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 35mm, f/11, ISO 200

Overwatch

Posted by Mike on

Cocoa Beach, FL

On Christmas Eve day I went back to Cocoa Beach for the sunrise. My hopes were high after my cloudy attempt last time I was in Florida. I arrived plenty early to grab some pre-dawn images around the Pier. Luckily that plan was very fruitful. As the day marched toward the sunrise the clouds covered more of the sky and dashed my hopes for the idyllic Florida beach sunrise.

The pier uses quite a few spot lights to illuminate the sand and surf. At first I thought the bright lights would ruin any image I tried to capture. There was still a lifeguard stand on the beach and I thought possibly it could be used to hide the obnoxious lights. Although I initially captured multiple exposures the slightly underexposed image turned out to be all I needed.

  

MLCreations Photography: Florida &emdash; Overwatch

Overwatch
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 13s, 23mm, f/8, ISO 800

Enjoying the Sunrise too

Posted by Mike on

Castaway Point Park, Palm Bay, FL

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Enjoying the Sunrise too

Enjoying the Sunrise too
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 8s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

Sunset Reflected Silhouette

Posted by Mike on

Melbourne, FL

Christmas in Florida is becoming quite the tradition for me. I love it! After a long drive from home we arrived in Palm Bay/Melbourne around 2:30pm on Thursday. I was able to sneak out for a sunset and thought it would be easiest to haunt my favorite places around the 192 Causeway. As I was looking for something different I found the sun setting behind a building on the Indian River shores in Melbourne. I loved the strong silhouette and reflection off the glass building to the right..

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Sunset Reflected Silhouette

Sunset Reflected Silhouette
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

Outside Looking In

Posted by Mike on

China Pavilion, World Showcase, Epcot
Walt Disney World

I’m down to a handful of days before I set out on another adventure to Florida. I’ll be driving down for the Christmas holiday and I am hopeful I will be able to find some more of those beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I did not make any plans to visit a Disney Park although I am thinking of making a tour of the monorail resorts (Polynesian, Contemporary and Grand Floridian) to view the holiday decorations. I will also be trying to hit up Disney Springs for a little shopping and food.

I guess I am drifting to my Disney place which brought me to this image from my October trip. Frequent readers know my fascination/appreciation for the China Pavilion at Epcot. I’m always looking for different views or angles to capture the architecture and wonderful details of this pavilion. The time right after sundown is typically the best as the sky is not yet black and the lights do not over-power everything in the area.

This view is from a small walkway on the right of the pavilion which is seldom used by guests. I was able to setup the tripod and work my scene to get the composition I wanted. I loved the light illuminating the plants in the foreground while the trees and taller plants created a couple of natural frames for the buildings in the background.

In order to capture the range of light and be able to highlight the details I wanted, I used three separate exposures. I combined the images using Photomatix to create a well balanced image that is technically an HDR image but not as intensely processed as HDR images can be. I have learned over the past few years that shadows are as important as light to an image. 🙂

To finish off my processing I use OnOne’s Photo 10 software suite. The Effects module allows me to ‘tweak’ the image with a plethora of controls. This ‘pluses’ the image and helps me create the picture I have in my head .

  

MLCreations Photography: Epcot &emdash; Outside Looking In

Outside Looking In
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, {0.6, 2.5 & 13s bracket}, 12mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

Winter Falls

Posted by Mike on

Monochrome Winter
Backyard Creek

Sunday afternoon started out as a lazy day lounging on the couch reading my book. The sun kept peaking through the clouds but would quickly retreat whenever I thought I should go out exploring. The last time it ducked back behind the clouds creating the diffused light I like for waterfall images I knew it was time to get myself up and go outside.

The new snow blanketed the ground hiding all the brown muck from the rains. Combine all of this with a fairly good water flow in the backyard creek and I knew I had a chance at capturing something. I decided to venture to the other side of the road because I was hoping the little waterfall would be worth a look.

I generally have to work my way into the image I want to capture. There are definitely more ‘practice’ images than there are ‘keepers’. The first image is the long view back upstream looking at the little waterfall. I was planning my approach with this one. There is definitely something to be captured. I walked closer.

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Winter Falls I

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

 

The second image is a possibility but I am still looking for more. What I like about this image is the scene setting that it does. You can see how the stream comes though the road and snakes its way toward the little dam created by the fallen tree. I see a shallow area on the right that will allow me to get closer to the waterfall. I move in.

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Winter Fall II

Winter Falls II
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 2s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

The third image is my attempt at my keeper image. I switched to a portrait orientation to increase the apparent height of the water. I’m using my 12-40mm lens and at the wide end I can get close to the water to exaggerate the perspective. Still not quite what I am looking for. I like the white flow in the stream starting at the base of the waterfall. I also want to see more of the ice built up on either side of the water. Maybe if I change my angle.

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Winter Falls III

Winter Falls III
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1.3s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

Switching back to the landscape orientation. I got the ice. I got more water flowing. I got more of the white flow in the stream. I think this is the one I want. Besides my fingers are starting to get cold. My boots won’t let me get into deeper water to change my angle again. This is the one. Time to walk back to the house.

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Winter Falls IV

Winter Falls IV
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1.6s, 15mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

I did stop at the upstream area I usually play in on the other side of the road. Not too many opportunities. Too much ice has built up and I wouldn’t be able to get much of the water flowing. Now my fingers are really starting to complain. I’ll have more winter to explore again. I haul my butt out of the creek and head back to the house. It was a good afternoon!

Where did I set my book down?