Tag Archives: trees

Short Lens Project

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Almost never do I remove the 55-300mm zoom lens from my camera. Primarily, its dedicated purpose is for photographing birds, so the long lens is always welcome. Sometimes 300mm is still too short! Using the long lens crops out a lot before the image is even framed, and so from time to time I’ll put the short lens on the camera. It’s an 18-55mm zoom, and gives me a very different perspective in the viewfinder. I will often see things I want to capture, and I am tempted to put the long lens back on, but I’m forcing myself to use the broader format sometimes, to add some variety to all the close-cropped images. Also to keep my mind’s eye open to the creative prospects of a new view on old things.

 

Horse Farm
Sea Of Blooms
Azalea
Fishing Engleville Pond
Bison Grazing
In The Glen
Road To The Farm
First Cutting
Weeping Cherry
The Tulip Tree
Farm Gate
Farm Gate 2
Caballo y Burro
Out To Pasture
Planting
Freshmen
Lilacs
Apple Blossoms
The Old Orchard
Orchard Morning

Joshi Daniel has a blog called “The 28mm Project”. It is almost always head shots of more-or-less candid portraits. We can see that Joshi must get in close to his subject to fill the frame. I think that’s the idea. To get really close and make an intimate portrait. I did that with some of the floral shots. I still have the short lens on the camera, and look forward to continued practice. I may even break out the focus doublers and do some macros.

That is, unless I see a bird that really needs its photo taken.

Keep pointing and shooting!

 

Paz

Springing

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A March sampler from around the town and trails. Click any image to start a full-size carousel.

 

Grovenors Corners
Red Tailed Hawk
North Loop Trail
In The Pines
Spring Woods
Remainders
Mohawk Valley
Down From Winter Yards
Moon, Mars & Venus
Down The Lane
Geese At Engleville Pond
March Sunrise
Sunrise On Schoharie
Boney Breakfast
Sugar Shack
Fog In The Glen
Turkeys In Corn Stubble
Deer And Turkeys
Dogwood Flush
Spring Sun
Turkey Vulture
On The Widowmaker
Deer In The Yard
Last Of The Snow
Green Moss
Kite Season
Easter Egg Hunt
Egg Hunters
Eggs? What Eggs?
See You Soon!

 

Gotta run. Trout are calling.

 

Paz

A Winter’s Day

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Downy Woodpecker
Dogwood
Poms
The Pumpkin Field
Wild Flamingos
Pine Stand
Evergreen Ornaments
South Loop Trail
Glazed
Glass Grass
Patience
Nuthatch
Catbird?
Boughs And Blue
Tundra
Browsers
Caravan
Feeder Friends
Mourning Dove
Thursday Trail
Glitter
Lookout
Unruly Sun
The Wonder Woods
Blizzard
Pines And Snow
Southbound
Geese In The Corn Stubble
Sunrise Fisher
Ridge Runner

Winter Walk

Posted on by Standard 2

We donned our snow shoes and headed for the woods, Ryan and I. He had visited a few days before to check out the trail and break it. It was fairly cold, mid-20’s. The overcast skies would sometimes part enough for a brief wash of sunlight, and were otherwise true to their grays of winter. We stopped at the lean-to for coffee, and stopped from time to time to shoot a photo. Mostly, we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the woods, the snow, the sky and the breeze.

Welcoming Woods
New Snow
Off-Season
American Beech
Beech Detail
Unbroken Trail
Leaf Pool
Snow And Sky
Lean-To Coffee Break
Cat Tails
Winter Rose
Snow On Sumacs
Snow-capped Tree Ears
Hiking Buddy
Coyote-eye view
Overwhelmed
Falling Snow
Winter Reeds
Bird Art
Sun And Snow

Though it occupied barely an hour of our Saturday, it was the highlight of the weekend. New snow, the wind in the woods, and my favorite hiking partner, son Ryan. One hour of perfect peace. It doesn’t get any better than this. 

 

Paz

December Gallery

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A little sampling for December.

I found it quite interesting when reviewing the Trailcam photos, that the Trailcam decided, on its own apparently, to take a lovely snapshot of the quiet wood at sunrise on New Year’s Day 2018.

It also caught a great shot of a Barred Owl, the moment it landed on its prey.

I was pleased to get my own shot of the owl. 

I’ve also included a shot of Rock Doves, which we all know as Pigeons, taking off from the farm fields of our rural area. This is for Ellen Jennings at Passing By Photo, who told me she’s never seen pigeons outside of an urban environment. Truth is, Ellen, that even in the country, these birds hang around people, their farms and livestock. It seems their favorite place is perched on the silo.

 

Barred Owl
Black Caps
Hello
Chickadees & Titmouse
Red Breasted Nuthatch
Morning Buck
Snowy Dawn
Deer Dash
Thanksgiving Bounty
The Pumpkin Patch
Colors of December
Varsity Max
Hard-charging Lizzy
Trailcam Buck
Down the Lane
December Trail
Bambi, is that you?
Ridgeline
Dinner Conversation
Preening
Finch
Doves for Ellen
“Wild” Pigeons
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestral
Starling Flurry
Thursday Trail Christmas
Trailcam Barred Owl
Posing
New Year’s Dawn

Grandson Max moves up to Varsity Basketball this year, and provided us with exciting game pix. Younger sister Lizzy is right behind him, Captaining the JV Girls team. Their game was a real nail-biter. Tied, overtime, and a loss in just the last eight seconds!

We did the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count last weekend, and my prize was a shot of a Pileated Woodpecker. I see them from time to time, but this is my first photo of one. It’s quite obscured by a branch or two, and flew off before I could shoot a second frame.

May peace find you and keep you throughout the New Year!

 

Paz

June Gallery

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What? August? Okay, so here’s the June Gallery. Three shoots really occupied me in June. First, granddaughter Ellie graduates from Pre-Kindergarten. Many pictures for Grampa to cry over. They grow so fast! Kids at that age are always photoworthy and touch the heart. Then, a trip to Forked Lake with son Ryan and pal Carl. Clouds rolled over Blue Mountain, and I sat and shot dozens of frames. Worthy of its own post, watch for “The Many Moods of Blue Mountain” as a Photoshoot post. The other biggy: Daughter Kerry surprises us with an impromptu wedding, as she makes an honest man out of her long-time beau (and domestic partner) Kenyon. A unique wedding by a unique couple, the whole thing took place right there on the farm, the reception in the barn. Without a doubt one of the best weddings I’ve ever attended (being Father of The Bride had no influence, I’m sure). I’ll do a Photoshoot post for that, too. It was a great time with some great pix, and some trix and pointers.

-Paz

Click any image to start full-size carousel.

Blue Mountain
Hole In The Sky
Sunset In camp
Firewatchers
Chuck Wagon
Ryan
Hangers-On
At The Edge
Elusive Sparrow
Opportunists
Lone Loon
Osprey In Flight
First Catch
Carl
Shore Dinner
Fire Boat
Shadows
Wild Turkeys
Kingbird
Sunflower
Self-Portrait In Harley
Graduation Day
Post Graduate
Party Lights
Backlit Sunflower
Lily Garden
A Box Of Light
Dubious Nieces
Flower Girl In The Rain
Many Moods Of The Lake