Tag Archives: monochrome

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

Posted by Mike on

The Daily Post at WordPress.com offers up a weekly photo challenge. This week’s challenge is unique. It can be an image of something unique, a unique view or take on a common item, someone unique in your life, etc. You can read about the challenge here: Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique.

This is the first weekly challenge from The Daily Post in which I am contributing an image. Although I have a great group of regular visitors I found participating in these types of events helps me in a couple of ways. One, it gets me thinking and seeing differently when I am out exploring. And two, it gets me exploring outside my comfort zone. Writing more within the post, viewing a bigger pool of blogger’s work. Pushing myself to comment on other’s contributions. I promised myself I would be less of a voyeur online and more of a participant.

I thought this image of a tree remnant in the middle of a frozen swamp was quite unique. Typically, the trees are standing tall or if they have fallen they still remain straight and true. This gnarled, contorted tree stump or root has a lot of unique character. I wish I could have been about a foot higher in elevation to isolate the subject a little better. I’m thinking of going back with my telephoto lens and searching for a better vantage point that will help me remove a few of the distractions.

Unique Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200

Unique
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200

Power of Water

Posted by Mike on

Non-typical January day in the Oriskany Creek. The past couple of days have been full of unseasonably warm weather and rain. The snow is gone and the water is making the dash to the low lands. It is hard to believe but I was in the middle of all that exactly one week ago photographing the snow covered creek in below zero temps. I wonder what tomorrow will be like?

Power of Water View from the top

Power of Water
View from the top

Power of Water In the heart of the action

Power of Water
In the heart of the action

Power of Water The ice chunks moved out of the waters way

Power of Water
The ice chunks moved out of the waters way

Power of Water Low view of the action

Power of Water
Low view of the action

Is This Pose Good?

Posted by Mike on

I live out in the country. My neighbor has a farm but mostly for a few horses and show cows. The current horse, Sonota, has been a favorite subject of mine although it is rare I get an image I truly like. Yesterday she posed for me as I was walking past her enclosure. This is probably the first image I have of her that I am very happy with.

I ended up trying to process this image as a black & white too. I’m not sure it is any better than the color version but I thought I would give it a try. I kept the processing very simple by only working in Lightroom for the conversion. I thought I would overdue the processing if I tempted myself with Topaz Labs B&W Effects.

Is This Pose Good?Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/160s, 150mm, f/8, ISO 200

Is This Pose Good?
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/160s, 150mm, f/8, ISO 200

Is This Pose Good? Monochrome Version Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/160s, 150mm, f/8, ISO 200

Is This Pose Good?
Monochrome Version
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/160s, 150mm, f/8, ISO 200

Water Flume

Posted by Mike on
Water Flume Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/3s, 17mm, f/20, EV -1.3, ISO 100

Water Flume
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/3s, 17mm, f/20, EV -1.3, ISO 100

Layers and Ice

Posted by Mike on

I received an Ansel Adams 2013 desk calendar for Christmas and have not been able to put it down since I opened it. It has increased my interest in monochrome images, so I thought I would try exploring this year’s winter in monochrome. This is the first image from the creek in the backyard.

Layers and Ice Nikon D5100, Sigam 17=70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 35mm, f/16, ISO 100

Layers and Ice
Nikon D5100, Sigam 17=70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 35mm, f/16, ISO 100

Forgotten Hero

Posted by Mike on

I decided yesterday that I was going to get out of the office during lunch and go for a walk with the camera. It had been over a week since we had any time together. Of course, as soon as I walked out the door it started to snow but I didn’t let that stop me.

I headed toward the town park which is only a quarter mile up the road from the plant with the hope of finding a few image possibilities. It didn’t have to be anything majestic, I was just looking for a few clicks of the shutter. Just about half way to the park I passed a very old cemetery in the woods across the road from the walking trail. I noticed an old flag fluttering in the wind and couldn’t resist exploring.

The fenced in area wasn’t any bigger than 30′ x 30′ and looked like it hadn’t been visited in years. The trees have grown so large that their roots have disturbed the headstones. You could see where some attempts had been made to support them but it was obviously a losing battle. The flag that caught my eye was a memorial to a war veteran. Upon closer inspection I noticed it was for a Revolutionary War veteran. The information on the headstone had been all but polished away by the elements over the years but someone has tried to keep this veteran’s service honored.

I never did make it to the park…

ForgottenNikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/15s, 38mm, f/8, ISO 400

Forgotten
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/15s, 38mm, f/8, ISO 400

Snowball Preview x2

Posted by Mike on

Another image from my little excursion yesterday afternoon. I like the original (first image) because of the splash of color from the tree in the upper left corner which ties in to the slight yellow/brown center of the ‘snowballs’. The B & W conversion works for me because the fluffy snowball like main attractions seem to stand out better against the background.

The first image was processed using Lightroom with a few minor adjustments, i.e., some contrast, clarity and a little vibrance. The second image started from the first and converted to monochrome using Topaz Labs B&W Effects. I really like the Platinum Collection of presets for the overall tone they create.

Which do you prefer?

Snowball Preview
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 35mm, f/8, ISO 200


Snowball Preview – Monochrome
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 35mm, f/8, ISO 200