Tag Archives: delta lake

Fade Into Night x 3

Posted by Mike on

I wish itching to get out with the camera today. I went during lunch but had very little success in the full onslaught of the midday sun. I did manage to capture one image that will work for a friends photo assignment. The last few days have been full between work and my daughter’s tennis matches so when the opportunity arose to sneak out after mowing the lawn I didn’t look back.

There was a great sunset developing and windless conditions so I headed back to Delta Lake State Park to capture some images after the sun dropped below the horizon. It is always a race against the clock as they start kicking you out soon after sundown since technically the park closes at dark (but that is always open to interpretation!).

The first image is the short exposure from my bracket set which has only been manipulated in Lightroom. Version 4 of that software allows for some great control of the image. The second image is the HDR version of the same scene. I have mixed feelings about this one. I like what I was able to pull out of the rocks but I think the sky went a little too far for me. The last image is a composite image using the first two. I brought them both into Elements and manipulated the portions I liked from each into a single image.

I’m curious as to which image works for you. Let me know in the comments. Thanks…

Fade Into Night – Adjusted
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.8s, 26mm, f/22, ISO 100


Fade Into Night – HDR
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (13/3/0.8s bracket), 26mm, f/22, ISO 100


Fade Into Night – Composite
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 0.8s, 26mm, f/22, ISO 100

Dam Bloom

Posted by Mike on

The storm was on its way but I wanted to get out again with the camera. Maybe it was just I wanted to go to my happy place after a long day at work. I took a chance I would find some opportunities back at the Delta Lake dam.

I also realized I definitely have a tendency for a single foreground subject with a blurred recognizable background. I noticed that method worked well for me on my last Disney trip too. Is that a style? Have I found my style? I’ll keep looking though just in case…

Dam Bloom
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/100s, f5.6, ISO 400

The Challenge

Posted by Mike on

I decided to go exploring at Delta Lake State Park again after dinner. The temperature hit around 90°F today but after polishing off way too much food I needed the walk. I hadn’t been out with the camera in a day or two so I had to capture some pictures. I swear this photography addiction is worse than my chocolate addiction!

The sun was producing some brilliant orange light as it set through a slight haze which allowed for some great colors tonight. The dry spell we have been experiencing has lowered the water level in the lake so I was able to walk along the rocks and reach a few new places tonight. Luckily for me most of the day visitors had already gone home so I practically had the place to myself.

I decided to leave my 55-200mm Nikon lens on the camera. Normally I would use my wide-telephoto lens but thought it would be interesting to see this familiar setting through a different lens. It challenged me to find different compositions and I ended up focusing on more of the details rather than the grand vistas.

Here are a few of my favorites…

The Line
Nikon D5100, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/200s, 86mm, f11, ISO 200

Buoy Jam
Nikon D5100, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/100s, 150mm, f16, ISO 200

Speeding
Nikon D5100, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/160s, 200mm, f5.6, ISO 200

Prehistoric Find?
Nikon D5100, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/125s, 105mm, f4.5, ISO 200

Sentinel Posts
Nikon D5100, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/125s, 160mm, f16, ISO 200

Silhouette in Orange
Nikon D5100, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/125s, 90mm, f16, ISO 200

Delta Lake Dam

Posted by Mike on

I finally made the time to finish processing my pictures from the two days of exploration at the Delta Lake Dam.  I posted two images previously but wanted to put together a single post with all the pictures I captured.  I had a great time searching around the foot of the dam and I really hope we get some rain so the water will flow over the top of the spillway.  I will definitely be heading back to the dam when that occurs.

The construction of the dam began in 1908 and was eventually completed in 1912.  New York State constructed the dam as a water reservoir for the expanded barge canal system being built to replace the original Erie Canal.  Unfortunately for the village of Delta, NY, the construction of the dam required the relocation of the residents and the eventual flooding of the village.  You can see pictures and more info about Delta, NY at http://www.nlford.com/history/delta/.

Delta Lake Dam – Overview
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/80s, 17mm, f11, ISO 200

Delta Lake Dam – Spillway
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/160s, 50mm, f11, ISO 200

Delta Lake Dam – Old Bridge
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/60s, 17mm, f11, ISO 200

Delta Lake Dam – Rock Patterns
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/80s, 17mm, f7.1, ISO 200

Delta Lake Reservoir Dam
View from the bridge
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/30s, 17mm, f5.6, ISO 100

The next two images I created using a 3 bracketed set for each image. I used Photomatix Pro to tone map the three images and then finished processing the result in Lightroom 4. I like the ability of the HDR (High Dynamic Range) technique to ‘bring out’ more of the image. I try not to ‘over do’ the processing so the image (especially landscapes) still looks somewhat natural.

Delta Lake Dam – Spillway
3 bracket exposure (-2 / 0 /+2 EV) HDR
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/13s. 17mm, f11, ISO 200

Delta Lake Dam – Spillway
3 bracket exposure (-2 / 0 /+2 EV) HDR
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/5s. 19mm, f16, ISO 200

I’m trying to avoid too many trips back to this area until there is some change.  Like I mentioned above, if the water starts flowing over the spillway, I’ll be there.  When the autumn brings some nice color to the leaves, I’ll be back.  It is a little sad to me that this great area is roughly 10 minutes from my house but I have visited it more in the past week then I had in the past 20+ years of living in Central NY.  I dream of taking trips to those wonderful areas of the US that I see pictures of everyday online, but then I find areas so close to home that I know I need to discover in my own back yard too!

If anyone has suggestions for photographic trips here in Central NY, leave a comment.  I’m always looking for new areas to explore and things to photograph.

Yesterday’s Path

Posted by Mike on
From Landscapes

Delta Lake Reservoir Dam
View from the bridge
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0, 1/30s, 17mm, f5.6, ISO 100