Category: Nature

CategoriesLandscape, Nature

Foggy Morning at Monson Lake State Park

Posted on Posted onBy srm1270

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were able to get away by ourselves for a weekend away. It was a chance for us to spend some time as Steve & Becky, and not Mom and Dad. It was a great weekend but also a bit weird. Prior to this, it had been a few years since we did this and this time we were able to leave our children home by themselves, which was totally weird. It was hard for us to fathom that our kids were now old enough. Our plan, initially, was to camp for the weekend so that we could see Monson Lake State Park, which isn’t very big at all, and then take … Read MoreFoggy Morning at Monson Lake State Park

CategoriesNature

Macro: Life in the Garden

Posted on Posted onBy srm1270

I was admiring my pepper plants earlier this week and noticed this little guy just hanging out. I wasn’t sure if he’d hold still for me while I got the macro lens on my camera and I wasn’t sure if he’d hold still while I got down there with him to try and take a picture of him. I was really trying to get him head on but it just didn’t work out that way. I also noticed, as I was editing the photo, the motion blur in his leg. I need to work on getting my shutter speed faster. Overall, though, I’m still enjoying the moments of practice that I get with the lens.

CategoriesNature

Macro Madness, Part 2

Posted on Posted onBy srm1270

I have to say, I’m really enjoying the macro lens. There is definitely an art to it. I’ve been practicing with it, trying to get better with it. I’ve discovered that there are two things I REALLY want to photograph with it: insects and water droplets. I’ve been practicing with the water droplets. It’s proving to be a really difficult thing to do and I can see the appeal with going with a high-speed trigger and droplet setup. I’m trying to avoid that for now and see what I can capture on my own. A shutter release cable was my most recent purchase to help with this but it’s still proving to be quite difficult. Insects are the other thing … Read MoreMacro Madness, Part 2

CategoriesNature

Macro Madness

Posted on Posted onBy srm1270

So, I’ve acquired a new lens – the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens. I’ve really wanted to get into true, genuine macro photography for awhile now and you can only do so much with all-around lenses. I’m discovering that there is a genuine art to this type of photography but I’m enjoying the challenge of learning it. It’s definitely harder than I thought it’d be. So far, it’s just been me putzing around my yard, but I’m looking forward to getting out more and seeing what I can find hiding in the unseen world…

CategoriesNature

Winter Leaves (2013)

Posted on Posted onBy srm1270

Quarry Park, Waite Park, MN Pictures taken with my D7000 and my then newly-acquired 50mm 1.4 lens. I hadn’t had any experience with a prime lens and was out putzing with it to see what kind of bokeh I could get with it. I’ll admit – I’d never really wanted a prime lens before. My friend, Jacob, had one and encouraged me to pick one up but I was lazy and enjoyed the comfort of being able to zoom in and out with my cheap kit lenses. It wasn’t until I’d actually picked one up, inexpensively, and really putzed with it that I’d realized how silly I was being. Having the lenses has taught me quite a bit, especially about … Read MoreWinter Leaves (2013)

CategoriesNature

The Flower at Quarry Park

Posted on Posted onBy srm1270

Another oldie, taken in 2010 with my D40.  Quarry Park was my go-to spot to go and putz and practice with nature and HDR, once I got into it.  I don’t think I’d had my camera for too long when this was taken.  I was still putzing with Photoshop and working with layers when I attempted to do the whole black & white and color thing.