Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone a New Year filled with Peace, Joy and Health. Its hard to believe how fast the year goes by, but there is always a new adventure ahead. Thanks to everyone who took time to look at my blog. I hope to keep it going in the new year as my photography journey continues.

Food, Fun and Fotography

This months Camera Club field trip was to the awesome Sweet Traditions French Bakery in downtown Winter Garden. It was fun photographing the pastries. There were three stations set up with lights and various goodies. We took turns at each set-up to take some shots. I also did a couple HDR shots of the overall bakery counter. I definately would like to learn more about shooting food and the lighting set-ups that make the best shots. When we were done shooting, we shared all of the goodies. Yummm!

Shot with Lensbaby at f4.0

Avian Reconditioning Center Field Trip

Orlando Camera Club held a field trip on Saturday to the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka, Florida. The day started out cool and slightly overcast which was good for the photography of the birds of prey. They brought out several birds at a time and set them up on various posts and perches so we could get the best shots. The people at the ARC are very accomodating and do every thing they can so we could get great shots. They flew a barn owl at the beginning but I never got an in-focus shot of it. Need lots more practice with birds in flight.

Swallow tail Kite, beautiful in flight!

Barn Owl

Festival of the Masters Chalk Artists

Every year at the Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney, the chalk artists are demonstrating their skills. There seemed to be a few less this year. I love to photograph the artists working on their art because of the unusual varied positions they have to be in to work on their pieces. I try to get down low, but I think its easier for them than me. There are some extremely talented chalk artists here. The weather also was perfect for the art festival this year.

Concours D'Elegance

Last Sunday was the Concours D'Elegance car show in Winter Park, Florida. This is an annual event that brings in some beautiful antique cars, unique cars, and all of the rather expensive and pretigious cars. Park Avenue is shut down and the automobiles take center stage. The weather was close to perfect with only a small amount of spitting rain on and off throughout the day. This was a chance to work on some car photography. I got there early since the crowds get a little overwhelming as the day progresses. I started taking some shots with my lensbaby lens and then later switched back to my regular 18-200mm lens. With so many people it is easier to concentrate on detail shots. I also tried to get down low for more dramatic shots.

Next year I will make a note of the make of car!

St. Augustine Safari

I was so looking forward to the weekend in St. Augustine and being able to photograph at sunrise on the beach and at St. John's Pier. All in all, the weather wasn't too bad with intermittent rain but early on Saturday morning it poured, so no sunrise shots. At least I had another day on Sunday to try again. I was at the pier way before the sunrise to find a good location. The surf was pounding and the winds were fierce and there were clouds on the horizon. I think the shots before the actual sunrise were better with the lights on the pier. I used Color Efex Pro to intensify the color somewhat on the sunrise shot since you couldn't see the sun as it came up. It was good practice and I used a polarizing filter to lengthen the exposure and blur the rough surf.





About a half hour before the actual sunrise

Inlet near St. Augustine Light

Early morning on the beach at Anastasia State Park

The Pier at Vilano Beach, north of St. Augustine on A1A



Brooksville Bike Race

Finally a bike race to practice my photograhy on. I have been wanting to try some panning shots although I won't count this as completely successful. This time I used a neutral density filter so I could slow down the shutter speed. That seemed to  help and now I just need to get the speed of the pan smoother.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

Dolly Sods at Sunrise

Five days in West Virginia, Canaan Valley photographing the fall colors and waterfalls with members of the Ohio Valley Camera Club and Orlando Camera Club. We seemed to have a touch of all four seasons up there including some remnants of snow on the day we arrived. We arrived on a cold and rainy day which was OK since we had to drive around five hours north of the airport in Huntington. Our first day of shooting was still cool with intermitant drizzle and fog. The forecast was to clear the next day and from then on the weather was near perfect. As we drove up Dolly Sods for the sunrise we drove in and out of fog but it was clear when we arrived at the top. It was also windy and cold but the sunrise didn't disappoint. After breakfast we drove to Cass where we explored the factory ruins and then rode the Steam Train up to Bald Nob.

Old Sawmill and Water Tower at Cass Historic Steam Train

Typical View along West Virginia Country Road

Douglas Falls

The best day was the day we shot the waterfalls. We went to Douglas Falls in the morning and then got back together in the afternoon to shoot Elakala Falls in Blackwater Falls State Park. Getting to the best vantage point required some agility and careful steps down slippery rocks to the waters edge. I believe it was worth it. I have learned that the key to getting the soft, flowing water is to use either a polarizer, or neutral density filter and a long shutter speed.

Douglas Falls HDR shot



Douglas Falls f/11, 1/4sec.



Lutheran Church in Davis, W. Virginia

Small and large farms of West Virginia

Ohio Farm and fall colors