Photography, Image Processing and Java…
There were a lot of Mallards resting around the open water on the frozen Thompson lake when I visited Thompson County Park in West Saint Paul. I had a lot of fun seeing how good – or poor – my camera focused on the moving birds.
I’m landing here:
That crow just took my snack:
Make way we’re coming on in:
Ready to impact Earth here:
This was all fun. Time to head on out:
After a while of crouching down in the snow and trying to take pictures of the mallards chilling by the open water on Thompson lake and getting sore legs, I stood up, turned around and snapped one picture of the cattails along the lake with the sunset hitting them dramatically. I really like the colors on this one, and I hope that it comes across on your computer monitor.
Shots of the mallards coming in tomorrows post.
Thompson County Park in Saint Paul is gorgeous at sunset. I spent 2 hours walking around there photographing the birds on the lake, and was treated to an excellent sunset to finish off the nice warm end to the day. Thompson has a paved trail around the lake, some walking trails in the woods, a bridge over the highway to Kaposia Park where you can play Disc Golf, and a big grand lodge that I’ll have to go back later and checkout.
Edit 2/24, A second link with more information about Thompson County Park including maps is here.
Time has been short the last few days, so I’m going through some of my past pictures. Took this picture a few minutes before the sun set last weekend.
This was taken at 300mm zoom, and an aperture of F7, which has resulted in the depth of field being very shallow, due more to the 300mm than the F7. Even though the fence is 6-12 inches away it has been blurred out yet the plant is still in sharp focus. The background would be blurred even further by opening up the aperture to F5.6, but my lens performs poorly there and the entire image would be softer. An aperture of F10+ would have resulted in a sharper more in-focus background, but the subject would not have been as isolated.
As always click the picture for a larger version.
I’m inspired by the birds in flight (BIF) pictures I see over at the Nature forum at fredmiranda.com and thought today would be a good day to try it out. The clouds cleared out late afternoon as the sun was setting, and I headed out. It was warm enough that no gloves were needed today.
The BIF pictures must take a lot more experience then I have. Larger slower birds probably work the best to get them flying.
This first image is of a Northern Cardinal sitting in a bush.
I’m not sure what this last bird is. Possibly a Finch of some sort? If you know please post a comment below. Thanks!
3:00PM came, and I’m a little antsy from staying inside and cleaning. I decide that I should go out while the sun is up and test the new fisheye lens again. I brought a few of my other lenses as well, but didn’t end up using them.
I get out of my apartment and have no clue where to go. The cemetery was interesting with my old camera near sun-down, and I head there.
An HDR is always a requirement.
Ooh where does that road lead to that goes down the hill? Over the bridge and to Concord street. I took a few pictures, but subject wise aren’t all that interesting. I’m a far ways away now, since I’ve been going down hill all this time. Time to make my way back.
I follow Concord back to a State street and take a few more pictures.
There is this big mural on State and Cesar that I haven’t taken a picture of yet, so I snap a few.
And the brick house on the corner, all stately and strong watching over me progress up the hill.
I hope you found my walk today most interesting and from a new perspective. A lot more long excursions are in my future as I train for some planned hiking and biking trips occurring this summer.
Managed to get out and take the first few photos with my 8mm Fisheye tonight. These images may be best classified as self-portraits; I managed to get in the picture both accidentally and purposefully!
A dark foreboding shadow appears – oh, it is his own – and the photographer runs away as a car approaches from behind.
I make an appearance purposefully this time!
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a wonderful 2009, and are ready for 2010. 2010 should be an excellent year.
I went to the Judy Collins concert at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Paul on Friday. On the way to and from the concert I thought these lights were very interesting and they reminded me of what I imagined the light post in The Chronicles of Narnia on a cold winter night would look like.
Made a few chainmaille star ornaments this evening. This design dates back to 2002 and was created by Dreamseeker and posted to the The Ring Lord’s Forums. The design has very specific requirements and doesn’t take well to changing wire metals, or winding the wire loosely which will result in changing the diameter of the rings. The anodized colored aluminum rings were purchased from The Ring Lord. The bright aluminum rings were cut by hand from the wound spring with a jewelers saw.
Click the picture for a larger version..