Category Archives: photography

Traipsing Through

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday
Buttermilk Falls State Park

Traipsing Through
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.8s, 31mm, f/11, ISO 100

Colors

Posted by Mike on

Midday, Floral, Macro

I’ve been interested in learning more about color. Especially the impact color can have on my images. I have read a few books on the subject and have definitely kept color on my mind as I look for compositions. I believe I have improved in my use of color but I feel I can still bring it to the next level. Here are a few instances of focused color…

Royalty
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/80s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Curiosity
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/640s, f/3.2, ISO 100

Confidence
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/40s, f/5.6, ISO 100

All in a Day

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor Park
Mohawk River Trail
Delta Lake State Park

I ended up being a lot more lazy on Saturday than I planned. Simple as that.

On Sunday I reversed what happened on Saturday. I started the morning at Bellamy Harbor Park for the sunrise. The fog had other plans but I adapted and incorporated the conditions into an image. I miss the trees that lined the canal walkway and provided shade for the benches but without them this view is more open.

Rest
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.6s, 54mm, f/16, ISO 100

I doubled down around lunch and went for a walk along the Mohawk River Trail. I split the trail in half by parking at the Chestnut Street lot and explored in both directions. I couldn’t resist the black-eyed susans as soon as I spotted them.

If
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/320s, f/3.2, ISO 100

In for a penny, in for a pound. I made it a trifecta by ending the day at Delta Lake State Park. The sunset was going to be interrupted by the clouds on the horizon but I arrived early enough to capture the color before the sun completely hidden. The gulls were enjoying the beach and lake even more than the remaining people. I took a chance at capturing one in flight. I don’t think it turned out too bad…

Free
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/640s, 35mm, f/4, ISO 100

Lil’ Sunshine

Posted by Mike on

Midday, Floral, Macro

Ah, the weekend. She has arrived. The past few days have been busy at work. I’m looking forward to exploring (no particular destination) and soaking in a little sun. I suppose that is what drew me to this image. A lil’ sunshine in flower form…

Lil’ Sunshine
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Sturgeon Moon

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

Tuesday night/Wednesday morning was the full moon. I generally prefer to capture the moon as it sets in the morning due to better timing between the sun and the moon. That is, I want some sunlight in the sky to allow me to expose my image and not lose the moon in over exposed highlights. The moon was setting at 6:30am and the sun was rising at 5:50am… perfect.

Wait! What about work?

Oh, right. Um?

I stopped in to work at my normal start time (5am). Checked on a few things. Told the third shift supervisor I would be back and headed to Delta Lake around 5:20am. Grabbed my images and was back at work by 6:15am. Most first shift people don’t show up until almost 7am. It was a busy day and I ended up staying until 4pm, so I think they got eight hours out of me… 🙂

The Sturgeon Moon. The common name for the August full moon. Other than a layer of fog on top of the lake, nothing really exciting. I still haven’t purchased a longer zoom for the new camera so I used my 105mm macro lens. It did a great job but wasn’t able to pull the moon into the frame as large as I would have liked. Maybe by the blue moon I’ll have what I need. BTW – there is a second full moon in August this year, hence, the blue moon is only 28 days away!

I’ll do some additional research by then and find a new area to capture the moon. Delta Lake is starting to feel a little repetitive to me…

Saving the Moon
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/8s, f/8, ISO 100

Moon Buoys
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/8s, f/8, ISO 100

Something Different

Posted by Mike on

Minimalism, Abstract, Macro

I think I’m complacent. No, that isn’t right. Lazy. That is more like it. Well, maybe not in the traditional sense. Less creative? Stuck in a rut? Forgetting the joys of true exploration?

I don’t know, probably all of the above.

Landscape. Sunrise. Sunset. Macro. Waterfall. Rinse and repeat. Aaaahhhh!

Wake up!

I have been looking through some of my earlier work. Images as well as posts. Wow! When I was beginning in photography I drank it all in. I tried it all. I went in a hundred different directions. Looking at it now, I wonder what I was doing. I cringe a little. I think “I posted that?”. But then I think, yes, and you were excited about it.

As I mentioned in my last post, I did a photo walk with a group from work. We went to the International Sculpture Garden. Everyone started rolling in a little after 3:30pm and by 4pm we headed out. OMG! I had way to much fun. I didn’t capture a single image. I rambled on about everything. I tried to get everyone to think about the image they wanted to capture. I helped a few with their camera. I probably got too excited about how to create an image rather than take a picture.

They want to do it again soon. They created a monster in me… 🙂

But all that talk about seeing differently, looking for different subjects, got me thinking about my own photography. To be truthful it actually started after the lunch and learn session a few weeks back. So, when I walked the sculpture garden trails Sunday prepping for the photo walk I looked for different subjects.

I really liked (still like) minimalism. This is what I found…

Red and Green
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/640s, f/3.2, ISO 100

Linked
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/320s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Mosaic
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/800s, f/4, ISO 100

You can check out one of my earlier posts here on minimalism and the photographer (Tom McLaughlan – Ministract) who got me interested. If you search for “minimal”, “minimalism” or “ministract” on my site you can find some interesting posts, maybe even an idea or two for you next image…