Tuesday at the Park

Delta Lake State Park

Come on!

This way!

It will be fun. Stop dragging your feet.

Tuesday was a gorgeous day! Tuesday was why I jumped at the opportunity to work the early shift. Tuesday made it all worth it.

Temperatures approaching 80 degrees. A slight breeze. A few clouds in the sky. Definitely time to go to Delta Lake and explore the trails within the park.

I raced home from work, changed my clothes, grabbed the camera and was in the park before 2pm. Yeah, I know, midday sun isn’t ideal. Says who? Images were waiting for me and I was ready to find them. The muddy colors of spring have finally turned to the greens of summer. I’ll find images to capture.

And you get to come along…

I avoided going to the beach. I walked back toward the front of the park to photograph the area near the park station. The sun was high but the trees around the water still provided shadows.

Blue and Green
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/400s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

There were a pair of blue jays (I think) working on one of the houses around the water. I attempted to get a good image but my lens only went to 100mm and every image seemed too small. That is what I get for only walking around with one lens. I had left the camera bag in the car. Maybe next time. I did like the bench though…

A Place to Relax
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/160s, 38mm, f/11, ISO 200

I walked toward the boat launch area as I knew I could hop on one of the trails. I thought there might be something worth photographing near the launch ramp but nothing caught my eye. After a short time the people putting their boats in the water were probably wondering what was up with me. Time to hit the trail.

This Way to the Trail
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/6s, 35mm, f/11, ISO 200

Not a lot to photograph but I did capture these two views of the trail. One with the sun to my back and the other shooting into the sun. Quick side bar…

There is a young professionals group at work. I know and work with quite a few of the “kids”. I do my share of picking on them, mostly in the “teaching them the ways of the force”. To be fair, they put up with me, and that makes them good in my eyes. I was asked to do a lunch and learn for the group. Any topic, doesn’t have to be work related and a few of them know of my photography. I captured these two images to demonstrate the importance of shadows to an image. In my head I was saying “light highlights, but shadows define.”

Go North?
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/15s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 200
Go South?
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/30s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 200

This trail brings me to the beach eventually. I captured a few images but my real goal was to get to the other trail on the opposite side of the beach. This body of water is lake adjacent. Not really part of the lake but the water rises and lowers as the levels in the lake change. On Tuesday, it was a sheet of glass and I cannot ignore a good reflection. Remember that little patch of yellow tree on the right. We’ll return to that on in a minute.

Reflecting?
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/160s, 17mm, f/11, ISO 200

The trail eventually came to a dead end (due to high water) so I backtracked to work my way toward the car. I almost didn’t get this next image. I started to walk between the trees and the image was finally processed by my brain. I walked back a few yards to capture the “X”.

“X” Marks the Spot
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/60s, 21mm, f/11, ISO 200

And now I’m on the opposite side of the water in the “Reflecting?” image.

Wow! An even better view. I stand and stare, taking it all in for a few minutes. And then I remember I’m supposed to be capturing the view. Do you remember the little yellow tree? It is now on the left. I’m fascinated by it, so obviously I need a few different views.

Reflecting 2
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/160s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 200
A Little Yellow
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/160s, 31mm, f/11, ISO 200

It was a great day for exploring. There are more trails to walk but it was getting close to dinner for the “boys” so I told myself I’ll be back to explore even more of the park.

When I reached the dead end of the trail (before the “X” image) I took a few pics with my phone so I could text my kids and gloat about being out of work already. I processed one using a few apps I have and then finished it with an app called “Prisma”. I’ll end this post with the one I tortured my kids with…

Friday Walk

Mohawk River Trail

It was a long week! The new hours at work are not a problem but there was a Lean Leadership event this week. I was only a participant in one of the events but I was at work until almost 4pm most days. By the end of the event on Friday I was determined to leave on time.

I got home, changed into some walking attire and headed for the trail along the Mohawk River. Temps in the low 70’s, sun shining and a slight breeze. A great way to unwind!

Hopefully you will enjoy my walk as well…

Mohawk River
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/320s, 21mm, f/8, ISO 200
Secluded
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/100s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200
Winding Through
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/400s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200
Slow Flow
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/400s, 16mm, f/11, ISO 200
The Way Back
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/60s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Defender

Midday, Dandelion, Macro

I’m still get accustomed to going in at 5am for work. Getting out of bed isn’t the issue as I’ve always been up early, it is not having that extra hour before work to post my images. I need to get everything ready the night before…

I’m still working through the images I captured on my walk last weekend. I took a small break during the walk to search an area for a dandelion. I wanted one that was not fully opened. My added bonus was a small spider…

Defender
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 200

Seek the light

Midday, Macro

A little something I found along the trail last weekend. I’m looking forward to exploring this weekend if the weather holds out…

Seek the light
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/1250s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Dreams of Summer

Midday, Floral, Macro

The recent return of cooler temperatures have only increased my dreams for summer. The walks last weekend have me anxiously awaiting the arrival of more floral subjects. Yes, landscapes are my thing but I still find the search for an interesting macro image very satisfying.

Dreams of Summer
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/640s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Another Walk

Mohawk River Trail – Heading North

Late Sunday morning was the perfect time for another walk. This time when I left my apartment I headed North along the Mohawk River Trail from Olney’s Flower Shop. This section of the trail has not been paved yet (not positive if it will be) but it is a section that follows the old Black River Canal.

On the left of this image would be the Mohawk River and on the right is the remains of the canal. I know, you can’t really see those features but trust me, they are there… 🙂

The Path
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 200

The subjects for my camera were not as plentiful along this section of the trail. I did find a great area which has been populated by daffodils. I’m not positive if the homeowner up along the boulevard created the area or if it naturally occurred from the large flower beds behind the house. Either way, it allowed me to grab a quick pic or two…

Daffodil
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/3200s, f/2.8, ISO 200

I have a few more images to share but I’m running out of time this morning. I’ll save those for another day…

Fade Away

Midday, Floral, Macro

Another beautiful day in Central NY. I wasn’t going to let the day pass me by so I grabbed the camera with the macro lens and headed out the door.

I wanted to walk the trail along the canal again. I know it is a good five mile round trip and I definitely need to be active. Lazy is easy… 🙂

My focus was finding subjects for my macro lens. Should be easy. I walked the entire path and barely stopped for an image. At the end (the end where I turn around) I found a few small flowers and interesting dried up ferns (?). The minute I found these small yellow flowers, I couldn’t stop seeing them. On the walk back to the apartment I noticed everything I missed initially.

How?

I was looking, I swear.

Now I’m thinking I was off in la-la land as I was walking. It amazed me what I missed.

Fade Away
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8, 1/1000s, f/2.8, ISO 200