Category Archives: photography

Losing Battles

Posted by Mike on

52-week Challenge
Week 2 – New Technique

I struggled with this week’s challenge, use a new technique. From the beginning of this photography journey I have experimented with different techniques. I typically stick with the landscape and macro images but have tried intentional camera movement, minimalism, abstract, B&W, square format, etc.

We had a meeting this week for the photography group at work. Our goal was to get ideas for increasing the group, where we would like to go on photo walks, and what other types of “lessons” we would like to share. It was a great meeting and we came away with a plethora of ideas. We decided we needed a goal of meeting at a minimum of once a month. Out of this meeting I got it in my head to get back into my Game Pieces project. I thought maybe I could do something for this week’s challenge.

And then my mind made a left turn…

I picked up Battleship at the store. I could see numerous possibilities for the project. But would that be enough for the challenge? What did I want out of this self-imposed challenge? To push myself. As I walked around the store a concept became clear. Part of me wasn’t going to like it.

I did something way out of my comfort zone last week. How could I plus that? The title of the image was already in my head, it would be called “Losing Battles.” Another self portrait but this time with a twist. I would incorporate the Battleship game. I love a good play on words and/or double meanings.

So, I expanded on what this weekly challenge would be for me. I would follow, as best as possible, the challenges from 52frames.com but was free to challenge myself differently if I so desired. I guess in the long run, whatever keeps me moving forward with my photography is what I’ll do.

Losing Battles
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.8s, 53mm, f/8, ISO 100

Communication

Posted by Mike on

In what ways do you communicate online?

Bloganuary – Daily Prompt

Cloud Cover
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/13s, 29mm, f/8, ISO 100

My initial thought for this prompt was focused on the how, i.e., which sites, apps, online tools, etc. Then I took a breath and thought about the question. The question is not “What sites/tools do you use to communicate online?” It is about the ways I communicate. It is a deeper question than I originally considered. Now, where do I go with it?

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

– Maya Angelou

As a photographer, I communicate visually. But that is not completely correct. I don’t post images alone (not always; some days I get lazy and I do), I write words. Maybe not always effectively, but I share some of me. Thoughts, comments, and intentions, all get attached to the images I post.

I add titles to my images. Some of the titles enhance the image or provide that extra bit of context. The titles can change how the image is communicated. They can influence how the viewer feels about the image.

And then I thought about communication. Where I feel communicate can be a one way street, communication is about an exchange of thoughts. I’m not always the best at communication, especially online. I will respond to comments on my posts but it is typically that, me responding, not initiating the communication.

I still refuse to call it a resolution but I want to be better at communication this year. There has been a lot of support from my online friends for my photography and this experiment I call a blog. I want to reciprocate that support and hopefully improve how I communicate.

Three Sisters

Posted by Mike on

Squared – SQ183
Monochrome Winter

Continuing with the winter scenes as rain is in the forecast for the next few days. I’m struggling with it being the middle of January in Upstate NY and there is barely any snow. What am I to do if I want to build a snowman?

Three Sisters
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/160s, 52mm, f/8, ISO 100

Home 103

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

Work and the short winter days have a tendency to impede my photography. Not an excuse, a simple statement. Those conditions do afford more opportunities to be creative, but not today. I still have a few images to process from a walk on Sunday along the Mohawk River Trail and the quick run up to Delta Lake.

I liked the snow on top of the bird house. I was high on the bank of the pond for this image, zoomed in to isolate the bird house. I thought maybe a landscape view would be better to give a bigger feeling of isolation. To achieve that I walked closer and zoomed out a little. I failed to watch my background, and I lost the separation of the bird house.

The first image is my “reject” and not fully processed. Notice how the bird house is mixed in with the background. It doesn’t stand out as I wanted. The second image separates the areas of the image and has a greater focus on the bird house, my intended subject. In my rush to capture images before I lost the light I didn’t “see” the scene in my viewfinder.

Home 103 Miss
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/15s, 50mm, f/8, ISO 100

Home 103
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/25s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 100

White Caps

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday
Monochrome Winter
Mohawk River Trail

White Caps
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/25s, 29mm, f/8, ISO 100

Color in the Sky

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

There it is!

What?

A little blue color.

Where?

In the sky.

There are clouds in the sky.

No, it is peeking through between the clouds. Look closer. Do you see it?

Stop kidding around. We haven’t seen blue in the sky in a while.

You better look before it disappears…

So, I drove to Delta Lake after work. I was determined to capture a little color. I would have liked a sunset. There was hope for a few minutes, but as I drove to the lake, my chances were getting slimmer. I had to hurry, the sunset was in thirty minutes and the elusive color was fading.

I chose to stay near the entrance of the park. The pond everyone generally passes has provided me with many images over the years. I liked how the clouds were changing as I looked across the pond. There was enough light for hand-held exposures, so no need for the tripod.

I ran around for thirty minutes capturing the color in the clouds. While reviewing images back home I realized I gravitate toward the benches and the trees for my foreground subjects. That’s OK, they work for me. Especially in the winter. They add to the mood.

Sit with Me
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 100

Stand Tall
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/20s, 34mm, f/8, ISO 100

Winter on the River

Posted by Mike on

Mohawk River Trail
Monochrome Winter

We got snow! The predictions I was hearing on Friday turned out to be correct. It started snowing Saturday afternoon. Even though it was coming down pretty good I had planned on going out for dinner, and I intended to keep to my plan (at least for food). When I returned, I shoveled. It was wet snow, and I didn’t relish the thought of trying to move that much snow in the morning.

My divide-and-conquer plan worked. Sunday morning, I only needed to shovel half the snow again. I’m guessing about four to five inches each time. I went about my normal chore routine—laundry, breakfast, and groceries—before settling in for the remainder of the morning.

After lunch, the snow tapered off to the equivalent of a rainy mist. I was going to go for a walk. The city was still working to uncover all the roads and sidewalks, so I thought I would be able to capture a few good winter scenes. I drove over and parked in the lot for the Mohawk River trail.

It was a nice afternoon. Although there was a little snow coming down, it was in the low thirties. I walked the trail back toward my place and was able to capture a few good scenes. There was a path by someone and their dog on the trail, which allowed me to follow in their footsteps. It did make the walking a little easier. I had forgotten to bring my snowshoes.

The bridge over the river provides one of the best views looking downstream. I have captured this view on almost every walk. The wet snow sticking to the trees definitely creates a classic winter scene…

Winter on the River
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/80s, 32mm, f/8, ISO 100

Thoughts in Reflection

Posted by Mike on

52-week Challenge
Week 1 – Self Portrait

Way outside my comfort zone!

I do not like images of myself. Let’s make it worse, as I had to create it myself. What am I thinking?

As I mentioned in another post, I want to challenge myself this year and doing this 52-week challenge is my punishment. I refuse to sign-up in order to post the image so it will only be seen here. I am going to follow the challenge found on 52Frames. The next few challenges will definitely be more my speed. Saying that I will need to find ways to up the challenge rather than fall back into my comfort zone.

Enough babbling… show them the image.

Thoughts in Reflection
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 0.4s, 47mm, f/4, ISO 400

The mirror seemed like the best option for me. The fun part was setting it up (not the best lighting but options are limited) and executing the exposure. Luckily I could connect my phone to the camera through the Nikon SnapBridge app and see what I was doing. I could ensure I was positioned in the mirror properly and set the focus point. Then it was simply clicking the shutter button on the phone.

Nope! Still don’t like images of myself.

This one is in the done pile. On to the next challenge…