Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
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
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
Sony SLT-A55
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.)
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.)
Winter on the Shores of Algoma, WI
Winter – as presented by Algoma, WI on the morning of Sunday, February 27, 2001. As I often do, I stopped for a moment to snap a few pictures on my way to church that morning.
Algoma sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Beneath the snow, next to the lamppost, is a boardwalk that runs along Algoma’s Crescent Beach. In the distance you see Algoma’s harbor and famous Pier Light.
I can’t decide if I prefer this image in color or B&W (slight sepia tone) so I offer you both. Give each your consideration and and let me know which one your prefer in the comments below.
If you click on either of the images you’ll get a larger version where you can easily flip back and forth between the two.
Lady in White
Here’s another view from a slightly different angle of “The Lady in White.” As in the previous post, this scene was captured on a snowy day in the cemetery at Beaver Dam, WI. The gentle snowfall made this more beautiful and serene than the photo conveys. I’m going to have to practice more on photographing falling snow.
(Click the image to view a larger version.)
Snow Covered Cemetery
The serenity of this cemetery scene was enhanced by the gently falling snow. All the white dots you see are snowflakes. The camera didn’t capture them well.
These photos were taken Saturday, February 26, 2011. While driving through snow, returning from a trip to visit our son in Madison, WI, we made a pit stop in Beaver Dam. There was cemetery just off the interstate. With the gently falling snow, it seemed like an opportune time and place for some interesting images.
I tweaked the tones and contrast a bit, but nothing I could do brought out the true beauty of the above scene. Guess you had to be there.
While driving along the winding snow covered paths of the cemetery, Sara noticed the “Snow” stone. It seemed so fitting, I had to take a photo. I figure, if we could find another one that says “cold,” we might be able to put winter behind us.
(Click the images to see a larger versions.)
Fading Fast
Out of the four worthwhile images I captured in this series, this is the one with the warmest tones. Even the snow-covered field looks a little warmer.
This is the last of the series. Even though all of these images were captured within a half hour on the evening of February 13th, they show a surprising amount of variety. If I weren’t the one who took them, I’d think they were from different sunsets.
Page through the previous posts to see them all. Feel free to pick a favorite.
(Click the image to view a larger version.)
Subtle Sunset
The combination of setting sun and layered clouds create an enjoyable view.
I spent about a half hour on my front porch early on the evening of February 13th and got several nice images.
This is the third of four images that I’ve posted from the series. Page through the previous posts to see them all. I’ll post the last one of the group tomorrow.
(Click the image to view a larger version.)
Serenity Wow
This image strikes me as the perfect end to a peaceful day.
I spent about a half hour on my front porch early on the evening of February 13th and got several nice images.
This is the second of four images that I will post over the next several days. Check back for more beauty.
(Click the image to view a larger version.)
Drama Scene
My thought, while taking this photo was, “My, that’s an angry looking sky.” It looks very dramatic but, in reality, it was a very peaceful finish to a warmer than usual winter day.
I spent about a half hour on my front porch early on the evening of February 13th and got several nice images.
This is the first of 4 images that I will post over the next several days. Check back for more beauty.
(Click the image to view a larger version.)