It has been a minute-but here is a new one of Mercury

I was taking a few pics in my basement studio when I noticed a spectator.

I cloned out some distractions an added the vignetting so the eye was drawn to this guy.

What do you think?

olc

Here are bunch of pictures

Hey all!

I was going through the hard drive trying to make room and rediscovered an old folder entitled Blog Posts! So here are some that have been sitting around for a bit.

I may have posted this one before, but I really like it. I think I used a polarizing filter for the first time. I got lucky.

I worked pretty hard to get this image. It is an acrylic frog and I wanted to get a glow under  the bottom. How do you think I do you think l did?

I went to  one of the early drum circles this year and saw this really cool study in color!

 I have started a project photographing various old things I found around the house.

I think this is a female Eastern Bluebird. At any rate, I call this image "WHAT what???"

And then there are Humming birds

I have been trying to stop the wings from being blurry. They beat so fast. Well, even though the fasted shutter speed is 1/8000th of a second that is not fast enough. I did a little research and learned that if i used a flash unit, I could freeze those wings.

It turns out that a flash unit sends a set amount of light per flash. The difference is how long the light stays on. Well, my flash sends a beam of light at 1/32000 of a send. This is strong enough to over shadow the ambient light and mostly freeze those wings. 

Another Pretty Lady in Asheville

So, here is another in the series I am building for portrait backgrounds. I took this one day after I was at Beaver Lake, with the new Tamron lens. I was walking around downtown Avl looking for interesting locations when this very nice lady asked me if I had gotten any interesting photos. I said it is easy to take fun and good pics here. Then I went onto talk about my friends' pending portrait shoot and how I wanted get used to this lens and how it reacts in different situations.

In this pic, I used my 24-105 Canon lens. I like the way the background is blurred, while the subject nicely tack sharp.

What do you think?

Later, olc

Pretty Lady at Beaver Lake

I had just gotten a new lens and I wanted to try it out. And a friend may want me to take some pics of her and her boyfriend. I decided to to go to Beaver Lake at sunset. While walking around I saw this lady and asked her if she would mind if I took a couple of pics of her. Graciously she said, "Yes."

Pretty and Nice! Pretty nice!

Yeah I know, that is so Junior High school. But those who know me...

At any rate, here she is. And thank you mystery woman!

Later all! olc

About the 365 Project

Haw Creek At sunset.

I was doing a project where I took an image every 60 seconds for an hour to see how the "quality" of light changes during that time period. Of course the most beautiful light was later in the hour. This image was taken about 20 minutes after the sun went below the horizon. For those who know this overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, they will notice that the image has been reversed. I do not usually do this kind of editing, but I felt the mood was better. It kinda shows the transition from a cloudy and fractured outlook to a clearer future. Yeah I know, a little too Philosophical for me, but there it is.

OK, to all of those who like to look at my photos, especially the 365 Project. Life keeps throwing unexpected, and for the most part unwanted “challenges” at me. I guess we all get funny jokers thrown in our life mix, yet some are easier than others to deal with.

In my case, I have been dealt a hand that is life changing. I am embracing the challenge. I am way far out of my comfort zone in this challenge, yet I am beginning to feel and reap the benefits. Lemons to lemonade, if you will. However, my photography has suffered. Truly, I have not even picked up a camera for a couple of weeks, much less made a conscious effort to work the 365 Project. This has been weighing heavily upon my shoulders and I plan on getting on that bandwagon again soon. Refocusing if you will, on learning and experiencing through my camera.

As a matter of fact, I answered an ad for a photographer the other day. He wants me to take some pictures of his music editing studio for his web site and other advertising media. I’ll write about that opportunity as it unfolds.

I have gone through my shocked, “deer eyed-car headlight” stage of this challenge and am starting a  new routine in my world. Either this week or next, I plan on creating and learning how to create new and better images. Soon after, I plan restarting the 365 Project discipline.

Humm, thinking about that last statement make me wonder…  

olc

Week 15

Well, I am back, again. For reasons I cannot explain well, I have not been doing so well with this Project. I plan to get up to speed starting NOW!

With no further ado, here we go...

Mom and me taken by The Runtyun.

How do cats find so many places to be comfy?

This is taken from the front yard right around sunset. Truth is, I tried to light it up with a flash, but I did not like what was coming through, so I just used natural light.

I went to a road house Friday night which had a band featuring Hurricane Joe. This is one of the images which came out well. I'll post some more in a bit.

And then there is Nova.

Yeah, I know there are a couple of days missing this week. Let's just enjoy what we have here.

Later! olc

Week 15

Well, I did it again. Yep, I missed posting on my Picture-a-Day Project. I have the images, I just need to work them a little.

The truth is I went on the my version a Walk-About. I just got the bike working and needed to spend time riding. Oooppps! During my short Ride-About, you know the one I took instead of editing my photos I sure did have fun shirking that commitment.

The good news is that I did get some pics that should help to round the out week. So, please have a little patience and I'll post in a day or two.

The other good news is that I got inspired to write another blog post for A Daddy Grows up. That one will be ready soon too.

Thanks!!!

olc

Week 13 and 14

Week 13 kinda got lost in the noise of life. I had a lot going on with the family and found it hard to create moments when I could pull out the camera. This week was a little better, but the truth is some of the pics are not up to even my standard. I am on track again though and hope to get back up to speed.

With that said, here is weeks 14 and a little of 13!

I think I got only this one image for week 13. Female cardinals seem to have this severe look. Their heads are cocked and the eyebrows make them look crossly at me. Do you think I am personifying, or transferring a little here?

There photographers out there that have only distain for geese. Me? I take pictures of interesting moments, and when I see cute fuzzy babies out there...

I rented a Canon 70-200 zoom over the weekend and took this image of my mother. The shawl is a gift from my wonderful sister and in Mom's hands is the card that came with it

Hummer at the feeder.

This is a Woodpecker, I think, but I am not sure what kind. Any Ideas?

If you look carefully at the right side of the image you will see a blur. Let me tell you, Humming birds move FAST! My intention was to get the speed demon while flying out of the frame...

OK, mocking birds live everywhere and make a lot of noise. This guy was almost directly above my head and singing away. The wind calmed for a minute and the next thing I knew there was a big ol' plop and I had to clean up a little(big) mess. I wonder if the bird knew what he was doing? 

So I got this Hummer, but they are so small it barely fills the center of the frame. I guess I'll need to get a little closer. Hope that does not spook them.

I have had the Camera body for some time, but just acquired the monster lens on Friday. 

So we have week 14 in the can. I guess I'll have to ad another week to the project, making it 53 weeks. Please leave a comment and enjoy!

olc

Prom 2018

My beautiful daughter went to her first prom last Saturday. Her friend Haley wanted to celebrate with The Runtyun and they asked me to take a few pics of them and there buddies. This is the first time I have done this and the lighting was kinda harsh for one set. I used a fantastic lens though, a Canon 70-200mm 2.8. OMG, even this GWC in that horrible light got a couple of usable images.

With no more  wasted time and words, here we go.

Had to get the pretty black cat and pretty Black Dress in this set.

Now we see some of the fotos we took in the front yard. This is where I had a real challenge with shadows

Oh, my beautiful Daughter. 

 The girls spent a lot of time on their nails, so I tried to do them a little justice.

It looks like there evening started off really well!

Later, olc

Finally, the Car Show at Harley Davidson of AVL

When I got to the show there were about 10 cars there. One of which was an incredible green GTO. I would love to spend some real quality time with it around sunset on the Parkway! Also, there were a couple nicely done Rat Rods! Those vehicles are so cool they can be photographed any time of the day. Also, the really good shots were on the inside of the cab. Though, I did take one or two images that may be OK.

I will have a couple other pics of that show. Specifically a refurbed Jeep and a couple of a really nice Harley that was not in the show at all. But it was beautiful.

Leave a comment here and let me know what you think!!!

olc

Can't believe it is week 12

My wonderful sister had a vaca in someplace really exotic, Ireland. While she was there, she remembered my beautiful Runtyun and purchased this beautiful pendant. I think I know what could make it better, do you have any ideas?

 More in the series of lighting and learning. This one was taken with only ambient light.

 This one had the flash at a low setting and off to the left.

I really wish I had a longer lens than this 100-400 on a Canon 70D so I could get closer to these two. Truly, I was about 40 feet and 15 feet below them.

Again, I wish I had a longer lens. A female Cardinal. 

More on the series of lighting. This one is, of course is ambient light. Truly, I spent more time on this one than the flashed image because I was trying to make everything disappear but the subject. No luck. Does anyone out there have any sugesstions?

This one is the silhouette. Again I am having problems with the dark side of this image.

I went to to Beaver Lake, my stand-by place, and found this squirrel napping in the middle of the morning. Truthfully, it was difficult to get any pictures due to a school project to clean up the park. The kids were doing a Community Clean Up project and they did a wonderful job, but they were having a loud and fun time, so it was a challenge to find a bird to photograph. As a photog, I have learned to find images in places that I may not have thought about.

A female Hairy Woodpecker in the backyard.

It is becoming a little more difficult to find time for this project.  Honestly, the lack of feedback is a little discouraging. While I am doing this project for my learning, it takes a few minutes to post these pictures. I really want to know what you think about these photos and how they could be better, yet I am getting very few comments.

What can we do to make this blog more interesting?

olc