The Wondering Lenz of olc: A day at the NC Arboretum

It all started out so well, the sun was going away and the rain would not start for awhile. Perfect for taking pictures outside mid-day. I have not been able to get out and take any pictures for a while and my shutter finger was getting itchy.

The Runtyun was awake and making plans to "do stuff." I loaded my kit into a different bag because I wanted a few choices for the Bonsai at the N.C. Arboretum. In the kit I had the 28-75, 17-35 and nifty fifty. Also, I packed a flash and macro tubes...one never knows. I packed my tripod, too.

With all this packed on the Grinner I started to roll on. Finally, I made it to the bonsai garden and pulled the camera out and remembered the batteries were charging---at home. AW SHIT!

Finally, I got it all together and started shooting. I quickly figured out that I would not be able to get close enough to anything to utilize the Macro tubes. But this O.K., I guess. However this meant the Nifty 50 was added weight.

I think I got some pretty good shots though. The Tamron is a pretty nice lens with the right range of zoom for this kind of shoot. The most difficult part of the shoot was trying to find the angle to get the best shot. Which one is best, your opinion?

I spent a "minute" lookingat each subject, trying to figure the best shot and perspective. Most of the time the straight on angle was boring. I could not get above the plants without exposing to the world my levitation powers, so I decided to go low. Actually, I liked that angle in many cases because I was able to find lines for eyes to follow. But in some cases, I felt like I was looking up some ones skirt.

I was getting hungry. I had a grilled artichoke sub. It was good, but they could have cut the 'chokes a little smaller.

A couple of years ago, the N.C. Arboretum set up a model train exhibit ( what it has to do with its plants, I am not entirely sure, but it works for me). So! I went down and had a look. The exhibit, was pretty elaborate, it looked like a little town around the turn of the 19th to 20th century, except for Thomas the Train. There were 2 trains, the other was a standard style train called The Number 9.

This is not my best picture ever, but I wanted to to post here for all the kids out there who read this fine blog!

For the Model train geeks out there, it turns out these train were remotely controlled and battery powered. I asked the Conductor what would happen if the skies opened and rain, mostly I was wondering about shorting of exposed wiring. He brought the trains over and pulled the top off the car which would hold the coal. This exposed a battery pack and sound system. So Cool!

We talked a minute minute longer and I found out that the town was supposed to be an interpretation of a turn-of-century WNC town. However, from a geeks point of view, I was more interested to learn that the trains were independently powered with their own power pack and remote control.

Well finally the rain came in earnest and the trains were getting put up.

Here are a couple other pictures I was able to get.