A Sample of Pop’s “Bee” Images
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
A Sample of Pop’s “People” Photo Collection
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Curly Top
For me, the most difficult part of photographing people is capturing an authentic natural expression. Much of what I end up with is nice, but lacking the true essence of the person I’m trying capture.
I’m pretty pleased with the way this one turned out.
(Click the image to see a larger version.)
Fashion and Friends
What little girl doesn’t like “dress up” and stuffed animal friends.
I’ve had the opportunity to focus on a couple of cuties the last few days. This one loves to pose for the camera.
Portraits have not been my strong suit…but I’m working on it.
(Click on the main image for a larger view.)
Kewaunee’s Premium Blend
The best part of waking up… The sky provided a blend of beautiful colors, layered from the red of the sun on the horizon to the blue, high in the early morning sky.
I made my way to the shore of Lake Michigan – to the Kewaunee, WI beach – to catch a 5:40 am sunrise on the morning of Saturday, April 30, 2011.
It’s interesting to see the different transformations that the sky goes through in the course of a half hour sunrise. For a different look of the same sunrise, see my previous post “Morning Beam.”
(Click the photo for a slightly larger view.)
Morning Beam
I got up early last Saturday to take sunrise photos of the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse. This is a photo from the end of the shoot. The sun was up enough that it was out of the frame but you can’t miss it’s power by the prominent beam of light.
More from this shoot will be posted in the next few days. Keep checking back or simply subscribe to the RSS feed.
(Click on the image for a larger view.)
Prelude to Night
Nighttime seemed to be moving in from the upper left-hand corner of this image.
This was the sunset viewed at our rural Kewaunee County, WI home on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. The beauty lasted all of 10 minutes…maybe less.
(Click the photo to view a larger version.)
Spring’s First Blush
After an unseasonably cold spring, we were finally blessed with a sunny afternoon – it was Easter Sunday. We were ready to get outside and took a long walk through a wooded area.
Along the way we stumbled upon a few fresh flowers. These are the very first blooms of the season.
Just a few days ago, the area where we found these spring beauties was under a blanket of snow (nine inches) from a late winter storm.
(Click on either photo for a larger view.)
Crater Face
I’ve been working to get a good shot of the moon. My previous attempts have been OK, but not as sharp as I thought they should be. (See That’s Amore!) I figured out the problem and am fairly pleased with this one.
First I mount my Sony SLT-A55 on a tripod. To get a closer view I use a 300mm zoom lens. Even with the lens magnification, it requires quite a bit of cropping to enlarge the image. I switch the camera to manual focus. My camera also has a setting that allows me to enlarge the image in the viewfinder or LCD screen to really hone in on the focus. I also use the 2-second timer on the camera so that I’m not shaking the camera by pressing the shutter button.
I thought the problem was the inexpensive tripod I was using – that it wasn’t stable enough. I also thought it could be a limitation with the lens, since the one I own would fall under the “budget” category. One other possibility was the UV filter – a clear filter used mainly to protect the lens.
It turned out to be the UV filter. I took a couple of shots with a new, solid tripod and things looked the same as with the flimsy tripod. Then I removed the UV filter and saw an immediate difference. The photo above is the result. Looks like I’ll have to invest a little more in a better UV filter.
The smaller image gives you a perspective of the size of the moon in the actual image the camera captures. Then I enlarge the view by cropping it to fill more of the frame.
(Click on either photo to see a larger version.)
Pops Quick Tip – Keep Your Camera Steady
Being sure to hold the camera close, I also took advantage of this wall to steady my shot.
More great digital photos are spoiled by “blur” than anything else. It’s disheartening to have a wonderful composition ruined by blur. For clear, sharp images it takes a concerted effort to hold your camera steady and avoid “camera shake.” It requires practice and concentration to free-hand it, especially in low light conditions. Still, as difficult as it may be, nearly everyone can improve.
One common mistake is attempting to compose a shot using the LCD screen, holding the camera at arm’s length. It’s almost impossible to hold a camera steady at arm’s length. Instead, use your camera’s viewfinder, holding the camera firmly anchored to your cheek and forehead, using both hands.
For greater stability when free-handing it, keep your elbows firmly against your body. (Your best bet if your camera doesn’t have a viewfinder.) Often, I’ll steady a shot by holding my camera against a wall, a pole or setting it on a solid surface. If you’ve got them, use a tripod or monopod in true low light conditions.
Your trigger technique is also critical. When snapping the shot, relax – don’t tense up. Slowly and gently press the shutter, being careful not to jerk the camera when you depress the button.
Blur is the curse of digital photographers. Employ these techniques to steady your shots. I still fight blurred images, but I’m getting better at it.
Winter Beach
Of all the images you’ll find in my Flickr Photostream, this is one that has been viewed and commented on more than most.
This is a view of Lake Michigan at the the Algoma, WI beach on March 4, 2007. I was heading to the church early in the morning and stopped, as I often do, to snap a few pictures. It was at the tail-end of a snow storm and, though you can’t see it, snow was still blowing quite a bit. I remember it being miserable outside.
If you go to my Flickr Photostream, you can see this same image in B&W. (Click Here)
The panoramic view below – created by “stitching” several photos together – was captured the same morning.
Curly’s Stairway
I overheard a sad conversation the other day. A man was telling the clerk at a convenience store how he was suffering from “Football Withdrawal.” It’s an affliction affecting many people this time of year…especially those who live in the frozen tundra. Although, for Packer’s fans, the onset was a little later this year, since the Packers got to play all the way to the Super Bowl.
In these parts, when you find yourself in the grip of Football Withdrawal you can make a trip to Lambeau Field – home of the World Champion Green Bay Packers. It’s not a complete cure, but it eases the discomfort a bit. There are a variety of historic images, activities, tours, Packers Hall of Fame, the Pro Shop and Curly’s Pub.
This is a view of the stairway leading to the second level of the Lambeau Atrium where Curly’s Pub is located. The guy in the picture is, of course, Curly Lambeau – the founder and first coach of the Packers and namesake of the stadium where they play.
There’s something about this photo that really appeals to me. It’s one of my favorites. (Probably a beauty-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder kind of thing.)
(Click the image for a larger view.)