Holiday Card with Photographic Theme

First version of a holiday card that I can use on the Camera Club newsletter. Since I only have one camera, I borrowed one for the photo. I think I need some more lights.

Tis The Season

I heard on the news last Sunday morning that they were installing the Christmas Star on Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando. I quickly grabbed some breakfast and headed out the door with my camera to take some shots of the star hanging procedure. I thought I might get some good people shots, etc. I also expected a small crowd of spectators. Turned out, there were three of us down there. One guy was taking cell phone pictures and I was talking pictures with my DSLR.

Veterans Day Parade and Swan Round-Up

This was my first time attending the Orlando Veteran's Day Parade. I thought it would be a good chance to do some people pics. During events people don't seem to be very upset when their picture is taken so I wasn't as intimadated approaching stangers. Most of the time I just snapped the picture and then if they noticed I would smile and wave. Usually they smiled back. As for the parade, it lasted for two hours. Most of the local high schools had either bands or their ROTC members marching. UCF had their band there also. The photography was challenging since the parade started at 11 AM and the light was very contrasty. I tried to find a shady spot but in the background were several light colored buildings that were very bright with the sunlight. Due to the lighting I didn't want to chance my exposures so I bracketed most of the shots. I also pushed the ISO up so I could get the faster shutter speed. As a bonus on the way over to the parade (I walked there from home) the Swan Roundup at Lake Eola was taking place. This is an annual event where they corral the swans for check ups, microchips and even shots! It was fun to watch and see how they pick up the swans. First time I have seen a swan fly across the lake after their release.

Swan Round Up at Lake Eola

West Virginia Waterfalls

Grist Mill at Babcock State Park, WV

Dunloup Falls at Thurmond, WV

We photographed the iconic shot of the Grist Mill three times during our Fall Colors Photography Trip. The third time was the charm since the sky had clouded over and made the colors more saturated. There are tons of waterfalls in the New River Gorge area and we tried to hit as many as we could that were accessible. The trick with waterfalls is to get them when there isn't any direct sunlight on them. Early or late in the day seems to be the best time. This particular falls had some hot spots on the upper rocks and the trees. We waited a while for the sun to go down a little to get the best image.

Keeneys Creek



After a disappointing stop at Cathedral Falls due to the low water condition we got information from a local about Mill Creek Falls. We had to drive down a single lane, gravel road to get to the falls. If another vehicle approached one of them had to back up until there was a wider spot in the road. I am sure glad I wasn't driving. There was a larger falls with a steep descent to water level. The upper smaller falls were much easier to get to. I tried to use a long exposure to get the leaves to swirl.

Mill Creek Falls near Ansted

Mills Creek upper section

Thurmond Station

 

Cowboy Heritage Festival

The Cowboy Heritage Festival was held in Kissimmee, FL. We went mainly for the Ranch Rodeo but got there early enough to see what the festival had to offer. There were several displays of "Old Florida" with people dressed as they did years ago. There was a brisket competition, lots of musicians, whip cracking demonstrations and competitions. I tried to capture the essence of the event and people pictures. I find that at festivals people are more willing to have their photograph made. It was difficult taking photos during the rodeo due to the indoor arena lighting and obstacles in the way. I decided to just sit back and enjoy it.

Bridges and Long Exposure Practice

The fog was very heavy this morning so my plan to shoot some long exposures during the sunrise never happened. However, I got a couple of shots of the delapidated pier on Lake Monroe in the fog. I learned a few things such as you need to cover the view finder to keep ambient light from leaking in. I went home and found the cover so I can use it next time. I also found a long exposure chart online. Second lesson learned was wear my waterproof hiking shoes since the grass can be wet in the mornings. Once the fog burned off, I drove down to the St. Johns Bridge to take a few more shots. I discovered a section of the old Lake Monroe bridge is still there as a landmark. The steel structure is interesting to photograph. I also took some infrared shots of the Seminole trail bridge  over I-4. I hope to get back up there around sunset to get more dramatic skies.

Old Lake Monroe Bridge

Infrared of the Seminole Trail Bridge over I-4

Home Sweet Home

Just returned from a trip to visit my dad in Massachusetts. September is a beautiful time to be in New England although a little too early for fall color. The weather was spectacular. The next camera club theme is bridges so I went in search of a few bridges that were pretty close to home. The Memorial Bridge in Springfield has always been one of those things I took for granted. I have driven by countless times and never paid much attention to it. Now I am seeing it in a whole new light. Fortunately the city created a riverside park on the Springfield side of the bridge so my dad and I went down to see what kind of views we could see. Of course, I would have rather had some early morning or magic hour photos of the bridge, but you don't know if there are unsavory characters lerking in the shadows. So, I have to live with the middle of the day shots. The clouds were very favorable against the vibrant blue sky.

Memorial Bridge, Springfield, Mass

Covered bridge in Forest Park, Springfield, Mass

Infrared Photo of covered bridge
 

Infrared in Winter Park

The rain finally cleared out and the day turned out to be quite beautiful after 4PM so I took a
walk in Winter Park with my newly converted infrared camera. I didn't change any settings on it, I just pointed and shot. I opened the files in Lightroom and then used Silver Efx Pro to convert to black and white. The raw files have some color in them and I prefer total black and white.



Small Chapel in Altamonte Springs



Winter Park Institute



Walkway between the Annie Russell Theater and Knowles Chapel



Historic house in Winter Park

Infrared, Finally!

 I

Show Home at Baldwin Park

I finally got an infrared converted camera. I decided to convert a Canon G10 point and shoot for a starter infrared camera. I don't have an extra DSLR laying around that I could convert and I decided I would not want to carry two larger cameras around. I like the size of the G10... not too big and not too small. I have only taken a couple of shots and I think I will be happy with the conversion for now. I had the conversion done at Kolari Vision. The price was lower than the other conversion services and I was a little worried that I may have made a mistake. I can't see any problems with it and the whole process from shipping there and back including the conversion was only 8 days! This weekend I hope to be out giving the camera a full test. Digital infrared is definately easier than the film days of changing bags, worrying about the heat and the processing. More images to come soon.

End of the Season

The Florida Collegiate Baseball season ends this week with the playoffs at Tropicana Field in St. Pete. It has been a blast going to the games and photographing the action. The different fields have varying challenges. Tinker Field in Orlando has the best viewing spots without the netting in front of you and a lower viewpoint. The field at Rollins has the net all the way across the seats and you have to be in the front row to focus beyond the net. I will be looking forward to next February when some college games start and Spring Training.

Diamond Dawgs Double Header, Almost

The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs had a double header on Sunday. Despite the forecast for hot and humid, I decided to attend the games. I was looking forward to shooting some baseball action shots with enough light to have a fast shutter speed. Here are a few of the action shots at the bases. And for the "almost" part, the second game was called after torrential rain and lightning. Too bad, because the Diamond Dawgs were leading, and the temperature had dropped substantially.

Birds and Baseball

The birding season is winding down at Gatorland, but someone forgot to tell the birds. The great white egrets are building their second nests of the year. It also looked like the cormorants were nesting for a second time. The tricolored fledglings are just about gone and only some cattle egret fledglings are left. I went out on Saturday to practice some flight photography. It is still a challenge but getting better.

Coming in for a landing

Wood storks flying in formation

Great Whites in Conversation

 The Winter Park Dawgs, part of the Florida Collegiate League had a Sunday afternoon game. My plan was to take photos with lots of light so the shutter speed wouldn't be a problem. I only got to take a few photos since the game was called after a few innings due to severe thunderstorms. Trying to stay out of the rain, I moved back in the stands but shooting through the netting doesn't work unless you are fairly close to it. Maybe next weekend it will not rain and I can try again. I am really getting hooked on these baseball games.

Pitcher for the Winter Park Dawgs

Pitcher for the Deland Suns