Tag Archives: landscape

Back Center

Posted by Mike on

Osler Medical Back Center, Melbourne, FL

When I am in Palm Bay/Melbourne, Florida I generally head toward the Indian River and the ocean to look for my pictures. I have to pass by the Osler Medical building in Melbourne in order to get to the 192 causeway. I always make a mental note to stop and grab a few images of this building as I enjoy the color scheme. One of the last nights of my most recent trip I turned left off of US 1 and headed down to the Crane Creek Promenade to see what I could discover.

Not only is my colorful building visible from the promenade but the train trestle and a private marina were on my areas to explore. Even though it was an overcast evening and the sun was fighting to show through the clouds the building ended up being illuminated well, creating a very nice reflection in Crane Creek.  It took a few tries to get the composition I wanted but I think this view which includes the train trestle works the best.  This is an area I will have to explore more on my next visit.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Back Center

Back Center
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/10s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

Yacht & Beach Clubs

Posted by Mike on

Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

 

MLCreations Photography: Around WDW &emdash; Yacht & Beach Clubs

Yacht & Beach Clubs
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/200s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

Sunset at the Marsh

Posted by Mike on

Utica Marsh

After a very topsy-turvy day with the weather, the evening was looking like it might be OK to go exploring for a sunset. My first instinct was to go down to Delta Lake and see what has changed since the weather has gotten warmer. When I reached the corner I ended up turning left and headed down to the Utica Marsh.

I drove by the marsh the other day and the water level was quite high. I thought maybe it would produce some interesting images if I could find my way over toward the trees growing on the city side of the marsh. I didn’t allow myself enough time as I left the house like I was going to Delta Lake which is only 5 minutes away. I parked the car at the trail head in Marcy and quick walked over to the marsh.

It was a good day as any to go off the path and head over to the side of the marsh I wanted to capture. It also would put the sun in the best location as it set to be over my subjects. This first image includes one of those trees I was hoping to capture. The wind was still strong which ruined my calm water reflections but I liked the silhouette look and the golden colors I was able to get from the growth along the banks.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Sunset Marsh

Sunset Marsh
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/60s, 26mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

If the water had been calmer I would have switched to my zoom lens to isolate the tree and its reflection a little better. My location on the hill leading up to the road was not the best angle for capturing the solitary tree but then I noticed all the other inhabitants surrounding the tree. If you look closely you can spot some geese and at least one beaver lodge.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Surrounded

Surrounded
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/50s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

I worked my way back toward the trail and found a spot where I could get close to the water. There was another beaver lodge and I was hoping to get a close-up view. What I didn’t notice as I was capturing this image were the geese nesting on the top of the lodge. Now I wish I had switched to that zoom lens!

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Home

Home
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/15s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

This last image is the typical image I capture at the marsh. It is from the corner near the trails where I can usually get next to the water. There has been some landscaping being done at this spot and I’m not sure if it was all done by humans. I have a feeling the beaver started something and there was additional work that had to be done to clean up their mess.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Utica Marsh Approach

Utica Marsh Approach
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/20s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

I can’t wait for Spring to reach the swamp. The color changes will definitely improve my sunset images. I’m also hoping to explore more of the area around the swamp as there are a few more trails I haven’t tried.

Boardwalk Joe’s

Posted by Mike on

Disney Boardwalk Area

I think I could visit Disney and spend just as much time exploring around Crescent Lake as I would in any of the theme parks. Between the resorts, Yacht & Beach Clubs and the Boardwalk, and the actual boardwalk area itself there is such a nice relaxed atmosphere that I could get lost in it for a while. Even on my only day visiting Epcot last week I left the park to walk around this area. It removed me from the hustle and crowds of the park that were beginning to wear me down.

I realize that a Disney vacation is something special to most of the visitors. Something that might only happen once in a lifetime. My first few visits were the same way… run around and try to see it all. It wasn’t until I slowed down did I begin to enjoy what was at Disney. The Boardwalk area is one of those slow down and enjoy places.

Although I did not stop at Boardwalk Joe’s and imbibe one of the marvelous margaritas I really like the contrasting colors offered by this stand.  It doesn’t hurt that the background includes my beloved Yacht Club Lighthouse.  I also went with my current trend of including people in my landscape images.  It transforms the image from a static, colorful image to one with life and activity.  I’m beginning to like these more and more…

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Boardwalk Joe's

Boardwalk Joe’s
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/200s, 16mm, f/16, ISO 200

Castaway Point Park

Posted by Mike on

Castaway Point Park, Palm Bay, Florida

Sunday morning I decided to check out Castaway Point Park in Palm Bay. It is at the inlet for Turkey Creek and I had spotted at least one pier out into the Indian River. I didn’t think about it being Easter morning so when I pulled into the park I thought there were a lot of fisherman here! I arrived at the end of a sunrise service. I hope I didn’t interrupt.

The park was a lot nicer than I had anticipated. Plenty of locations to get to the shore and grab images right at the water. There ended up being two piers I could use in my images and plenty of opportunities for something unique. I have more images I will be posting from this new location to visit when I am in Palm Bay.

Just as the sun was rising above the horizon I grabbed this first image of some people enjoying the show from the pier.  I always tell everyone that I do not photograph people.  I guess I should modify that statement to be I do not capture portraits.  I have found I do like to include people in my landscape images.  I think it adds a sense of scale to the landscape and also brings a ‘lived in’ feel.  This changes the image from a picture of a place to a picture of park enjoyed by visitors.  If that makes sense?

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Easter Sunrise

Easter Sunrise
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/10s, 14mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

The second image I grabbed from the end of the pier. The sun was creating some beautiful colors in the clouds as it was rising.  I turned the camera on its side to capture the scene in portrait orientation.  I also zoomed in to try and include the buildings along the horizon from Indiatlantic.  This is the little town across the Indian River from Melbourne.  This image is all about the colors.

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Sunrise Over Indiatlantic

Sunrise Over Indiatlantic
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/30s, 27mm, f/16, ISO 200

Sebastian Inlet

Posted by Mike on

Sebastian Inlet State Park, Florida

On Saturday I went to Sebastian Inlet State Park for the sunrise. I had looked online for places close to Melbourne that would have a pier or dock out into the water. What a good choice for the sunrise. I was not alone in the pre-dawn hours. The pier was packed with fishermen and I did spot a few other photographers.

The bridge over the inlet had a nice walkway underneath that allowed me to get an interesting view of the inlet with both piers sticking out into the Atlantic. I played with a few images with a very high ISO setting when it was still basically dark out. As the sun approached the horizon from below I managed to grab this image from the walkway.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Sebastian Inlet

Sebastian Inlet
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 13s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 400

 

I walked out along the pier to grab a few images of the bridge over the inlet. The moon was still high in the sky but I was able to achieve a nice view of the lights contrasting with the deep blue of the sky and water.  It was out here that I realized I was being eaten alive by these little gnats.  Luckily the bait shop opened up so I could buy some insect repellent.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Moon Over

Moon Over
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 8s, 15mm, f/16, ISO 400

 

It is always amazing to me to watch the colors on the sky change as the sun starts to rise. All these images were captured within an hour of each other. The blues of the pre-dawn time are replaced with the orange and yellows as the sun crosses the horizon.  The time was right for the sunrise but the low clouds near the horizon kept it hidden but created a nice display in the sky.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Fishing Spot

Fishing Spot
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.4s, 26mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

I was talking with a fellow photographer Laura Macky earlier this week about an image I had posted. We both tend to favor the grand landscape views with our wide-angle lenses and we always want to capture different views telling a better story. The story elements are generally best captured when you focus on specific items.

With that conversation running through my head as I was capturing images with my go-to lens (12-40mm f/2.8), I switched to the 40-150mm f/4-5.6 to grab a few of those story elements. It didn’t hurt that the sun was starting to break through the clouds and the silhouette of the pier was very dramatic.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Sunrise Fishing

Sunrise Fishing
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R, 1/80s, 62mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Morning Catch

Morning Catch
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R, 1/100s, 105mm, f/16, ISO 200

Melbourne Beach Pier Sunset

Posted by Mike on

Melbourne Beach, Florida

Yesterday was my Florida travel day. I had breakfast with my Mom and Grandpa before heading over to the East coast (Palm Bay) to spend a few days with my Mother-in-law. She has the good (bad?) fortune of living on the coast which allows me to go exploring for sunrise/sunset images of the ocean. I had spent the week before leaving on this trip scoping out locations using The Photographer’s Ephemeris app on my phone/tablet. I have a lot of exploring to do!

Last night my location was the pier into the Indian River in Melbourne Beach. I wasn’t sure what type of sunset I was going to get as a storm rolled through the area about an hour before I was going to go to the pier. I went anyway! I was so happy I didn’t give up on the sunset.

There were still quite a few clouds in the sky and the sun was heading into a large group as I arrived at the pier. It was a little crowded as the fisherman and other sunset viewers were not scared off by the recent downpour either. I managed to get quite a few images before the sun was obscured by the clouds. I didn’t call it a night just yet.

There was still some great light and another storm appeared to be moving through to the South of Melbourne. It was a good thing I decided to stay. There was a small break in the clouds just as the sun hit the horizon. I started running around the pier area grabbing as many different views as I could. The last 15 minutes of the day were the best!

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Melbourne Beach Pier Sunset

Melbourne Beach Pier Sunset
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1.3s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

Temple Sunset

Posted by Mike on

Temple of Heaven, China Pavilion, World Showcase, Epcot

 

MLCreations Photography: Epcot &emdash; Temple Sunset

Temple Sunset
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/100s, 17mm, f/8, ISO 400