Category Archives: reflection

Testing the Water

Posted by Mike on

I have been enjoying the weekend at my Dad’s house. Came out for a visit for my Grandpa’s 97th birthday and to help my Dad with his new camera. He had a 30 year old Pentax with 4 lenses but hasn’t picked it up in years. I found him a used K10d with a 18-55mm lens for next to nothing. I have been showing him how to use a digital camera and we needed to work out how to use the old lenses (which still capture get images!).

After much tutoring and setting everything up we went out today for a nice walk along the lake at the state park. It was great to see him so excited about using a camera again. And to be honest it was great to be out capturing images with someone. Generally I like to go out alone but I know see the advantage of having company.

Testing the Water Nikon D5100, Sigam 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/400s, 38mm, f/8, ISO 200

Testing the Water
Nikon D5100, Sigam 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/400s, 38mm, f/8, ISO 200

Water Lights

Posted by Mike on

I have captured this bridge a few times over the past year and a half but I never ventured out at night. There were a few scenes I wanted to explore last night and although not all of them panned out for me, this image of the walkway bridge over the end of the Black River as it enters the barge canal turned out as I had hoped. There is something about reflected lights on water that just fascinates me.

Water LightsNikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 50s, 26mm, f/20, ISO 100

Water Lights
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 50s, 26mm, f/20, ISO 100

Barge at Sunrise

Posted by Mike on

Some more images from my early morning walk on Sunday. I usually find something interesting when I walk the trails along the barge canal. This barge and tug were docked just beyond a gate into an access area for Utica, NY. I have noticed quite a lot of activity the past few weeks along the canal. I think there is an effort to dredge our section of the canal and keep it accessible.

Both of these images are three exposure brackets combined using Photomatix. I generally start with a simple tone mapped default and tweak the settings to achieve the image I want. I tend to keep the color saturation to a minimum and hopefully create a more realistic, natural image rather than an ‘over the top’ HDR image. Finally adjustments to the exposure and a slight gradient added in Lightroom.

Barge at Sunrise Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/3, 1.3, 5s bracket), 19mm, f/16, ISO 100

Barge at Sunrise
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1/3, 1.3, 5s bracket), 19mm, f/16, ISO 100

Tug and Barge Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 3, 15s bracket), 70mm, f/16, ISO 100

Tug and Barge
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 3, 15s bracket), 70mm, f/16, ISO 100

Icon and Details

Posted by Mike on

Maybe I’m a little home sick for my second home or maybe it is the rainy, dreary weather here in Upstate NY that has me looking at my pictures from Walt Disney World but either way you are stuck seeing more of them. I didn’t capture as many pictures during my latest trip as I have in the past and but I feel the ones I have posted so far have been of a better quality.

The two images below are from the Animal Kingdom, specifically in the Asia section of the park. The first is from the walkway between Expedition Everest and the Finding Nemo show looking back at the Tree of Life, the seating area for the Flame Tree Barbecue and the Everest shrine. The second is a detail image of the temple near the Everest shrine. I think I capture this view on every visit.

Icon and Details
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/320s, f/16, ISO 400


Everest Temple
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/200s, f/16, ISO 400