Flying Hinckley

Hinckley Reservoir and the West Canada Creek

Monday morning was a good time for a drive up to Hinckley Reservoir. I hadn’t been for a sunrise over the reservoir in over a year. I also wanted to get in a little early morning flight along the West Canada Creek. I wasn’t positive about the scenery but at least it was an open fly zone.

I started at my favorite spot next to the dam about a half hour before sunrise. The four concrete pillars in the water offer up a nice foreground subject and a bonus for me was the moon had risen about four hours earlier adding a little surprise to the morning sky. These first two images were captured with my trusty Olympus…

Watchmen
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 3.2s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 100
Quartet
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 4s, 15mm, f/11, ISO 100

Next I broke out the drone. There is a parking area below the dam and I thought it would be good to attempt a few images and maybe a video. Still not happy with my video abilities. As much as I try the movements are very mechanical and I’m not happy with the results. I also have been struggling to find a good video editor that isn’t overly complicated but allows me to adjust the result similar to what I can do with the images.

This next set of images are actually backwards in time but show the approach to the dam along the West Canada Creek. I didn’t plan this excursion as much as I should have but I’m learning there is a different thought process needed when working with the drone. The sun only rises once a day and I can’t ask it to try again to correct my missteps.

Meander
DJI Air 2S, 22mm f/2.8, 1/160s, f/2.8, ISO 100
Hinckley on the Rise
DJI Air 2S, 22mm f/2.8, 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 100
The Dam
DJI Air 2S, 22mm f/2.8, 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 100

I moved down to the boat launch area which is at least a half mile below the dam. I wanted to explore the area around a smaller dam which I assume was built to divert water toward the Trenton Falls Hydroelectric Station (more research required). You can see in the last image the nearly dried creek bed below the dam. I wonder if hiking is allowed (I doubt it). It is interesting to see the difference in the color of the sky in these next images. Looking west, away from the sunrise, the colors are more magenta.

Heading West
DJI Air 2S, 22mm f/2.8, 1/50s, f/2.8, ISO 100
Approaching
DJI Air 2S, 22mm f/2.8, 1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 100
Power Dam
DJI Air 2S, 22mm f/2.8, 1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 100

Americana Mornin’

Rivers of America, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Americana Mornin’
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 17mm f/1.8, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 200

A Life Worth Living

Floral, Midday, Macro

A week ago I took a walk around the building during lunch. It was as much about enjoying the sun as it was escaping the office. It amazes me how a thirty minute walk around the building exploring the edges of the parking lot with my camera can change the whole day. It is my therapy…

As I was photographing the fresh blossoms I chanced upon a few daisies on the backside of the bloom. There is a different quality, beauty to these images that captured my attention. I was on a mad hunt to capture all I could find. Their story wasn’t over…

Mulish
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/6400s, f/2.8, ISO 200
Perseverance
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/1600s, f/2.8, ISO 200
Intransigent
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/1600s, f/2.8, ISO 200