Taste of Spring

Taste of Spring

NCAR10D-172

March 27, 2010

With yesterday's image marking the final bit of winter here at Wandering Lens, today we usher spring in full force!  The blossoms are ripe among the trees all through North Carolina, fragrant and wonderful.  It is a delight to have warm(er) weather once more, and sunlight sticking around till the evening hours.  Welcome spring, and enjoy on this Friday.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8

Focal length:  200 mm

Exposure: 1/4000 @ f/2.8   ISO 100

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Storm Clearing

Storm Clearing
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August 10, 2010

My apologies for missing yesterday; some unfortunate automobile trouble kept me away for most of the day and the post didn't get up.  And tonight, it stormed, one of those glorious spring storms that crackles with energy, the rain pulsing down in torrents.  I love those sorts of storms, they're my favorite.  I do miss seeing the sky turn green, as it did in Illinois, the sign of major storm-age to come.  This image is after the storm, as the clouds broke before sunset and the skies parted.  It is a refreshing, relaxing image to my way of thinking, just the thing after a long ragin' storm.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  31 mm

Exposure: 1/400 @ f/8   ISO 400

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Spring Cascade

Spring Cascade
NCAR10D-199

April 3, 2010

Starting off the week still in North Carolina, during my first backpacking excursion in the state.  I had found this gorgeous little camp spot next to the river, under the shade of rhododendron trees, and the next morning I got up, filtering water while sitting on a boulder and watching the spring water cascade past boulders.  It was such a peaceful way to wake up and start the day, utterly quiet save the murmur of the water.  If only that could happen every day :).  Enjoy, and have a good weekend.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  135 mm

Exposure: 4/5 @ f/25   ISO 100

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

The Ominous Storm

The Ominous Storm
NCAR11D-321_pan

November 27, 2011

This was the scene while hiking with my girlfriend (now fiancée) Sarah last November.  We were at Morrow Mountain State Park, and had summited the main peak of the area, when we stopped to look around and survey the land.  Fall was dying off, the trees were losing leaves, and a late autumn storm was coming in from the south.  The mood, the ominous feeling of the clouds behind the silhouetted trees made it a great photograph, despite being slightly warped from the wide-angle aspect of the lens.   This is an HDR composite of 3 images, blended first in Photomatix and then finished in CS4.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6

Focal length:  20 mm

Exposure: 1/30 @ f/8   ISO 400

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

A Rhododendron Jungle

A Rhododendron Jungle
NCAR11D-121

May 29, 2011

Hiking through Nantahala National Forest, you go through some pretty incredible and diverse landscapes.  This was Memorial Day Weekend last year, and I was in the middle of a 3-day trek around the headwaters of the Nantahala River.  As I leveled out on the trail, I spent part of the afternoon hiking through these dense rhododendron thickets.  The tangle of trunks, and the lush canopy overhead, was amazing, and it dampened the sounds from the nearby river so that everything was hushed.  I saw less than 10 people along the trail that day, as it was far from day-hiking trails and pretty much only backpackers or AT through-hikers were present.  I like how the panoramic merge helped convey the jumble of the rhododendron thicket, adding to the chaos of the trail.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  18 mm

Exposure: 1/20 @ f/4   ISO 400

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Morning Forest Light

Morning Forest Light
NCAR10D-208

April 4, 2010

Today's image is a bit different from others, in several ways.  First, it was shot on the fly and through the fly.  Waking up in my tent, I decided I liked the angle and just grabbed my camera and snapped away.  Reviewing it in the LCD, I didn't think much of it but left it on the card.  Since then I've grown to like its spontaneous atmosphere, the texture that shooting through the screen gave the image, and the silhouettes of the rhododendrons that surrounded my camp that night.  It is not a technically gifted image, but one that has a lot of elements going for it.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  18 mm

Exposure: 1/125 @ f/3.5   ISO 100

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Lazy Cat

Lazy Cat
NCAR10D-194

February 26, 2012

Ah, Fridays spent in the sun, paws in the air,  without a care in the world.  If only life could be as easy as that.  This cat is loving the afternoon, on a secluded high-rise platform at Conservator's Center in Burlington NC.  Our final submission for this edition of Beast Week, heading into the weekend.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8

Focal length: 185 mm

Exposure: 1/1250   f/4.5   ISO 200

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Thirsty Cat

Thirsty Cat
NCAR10D-171

February 26, 2012

Beast Week continues, and we're still with our big cat friend, the lion.  This adult male lion from the Conservator's Center was roaming around, looking mighty thirsty on a warm day, tongue hanging out from his big maw.  Luckily he just looked thirsty and not hungry!  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8

Focal length: 200 mm

Exposure: 1/800   f/2.8   ISO 200

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Quiet Lion Queen

Quiet Lion Queen

NCAR10D-161

February 26, 2012

Beast Week hits the mid week, and not only is this picture of a particularly cool cat from the Conservator's Center, but it also sums up how I feel this morning... a bit droopy, a lazy cat.  This hunting queen was taking in the afternoon sun, unconcerned about the people staring and gawking at her.  Enjoy.

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8

Focal length: 200 mm

Exposure: 1/2000   f/2.8   ISO 200

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

The King

The King

NCAR12D-156

February 26, 2012

Another image for Beast Week today on Wandering Lens.  Returning to the Conservator's Center,  this regal lion male was making a loud howling, chuffing noise.  It reverberated throughout the whole center, and was described as a way for the pride to keep track of each other and coordinate movements.  While it was not a full-on roar, the noise was very loud, intimidating, and awe-inspiring.  It showed why these guys are labeled 'kings of the jungle.'  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8

Focal length: 200 mm

Exposure: 1/1250   f/2.8   ISO 200

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

The Alpha Female

The Alpha Female

NCAR10D-148

February 26, 2012

This week is a sort of Beast Week.  A week ago, I got a chance to visit the Conservator's Center with my awesome fiancee Sarah.  This site helps rehabilitate and care for abandoned animals, mostly predators of the canine and feline nature.  And for a small modest fee you can walk around with a guide who will show you the magnificent animals that call the center home.

To kick things off, we have one of the 4 wolves that the center houses, this one being the alpha female of the pack.  She looks very vicious, a true wolf.  And she kept a firm grip on the pack, taking care of the younger two wolves.  And she is beautiful.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8

Focal length: 185 mm

Exposure: 1/500   f/2.8   ISO 200

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Hunter

Hunter

NCAR10D-425

August 2010

Moving back closer to home, this is a beautiful red-tailed hawk from the Carolina Raptor Center.  These rehabilitated birds are given homes, as well as an opportunity to educate the public.  He is so graceful looking, but you could tell from the way he moves and acts that he was a hunter, able to snatch treats out of mid-air if you tossed them high enough.  I don't usually do a lot of wildlife photography, due to a lack of lenses and big gear, but this center gives a unique opportunity to engage with these birds of prey on an intimate level, especially during the daily viewings.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8

Focal length: 200 mm

Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 

Post-processing: Slight texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Ready for the Trail

Ready for the Trail
NCAR10D-183

April 3, 2010

I'm getting impatient for spring to arrive, and want to get out on the trail again.  This isn't the most artistic image, from my first spring in NC when I went off-trail in Pisgah National Forest for a couple days near Easter, using the smallest reasonable pack I had at my disposal.  I've since gone back to my normal bag, an REI Valhalla, knowing that with the equipment I bring (especially for photography), such a small backpack isn't really feasible.  I'm anxious to be out on the trail with this weather, with my girlfriend and wonderful hiking partner Sarah, to show her some of the fun of backpacking in the wilderness.  Even on the East Coast :)  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length: 105 mm

Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 

Post-processing: Small toning and curves adjustment in PS

Spring Blossoms

Spring Blossoms

NCAR10D-236

April 10, 2010

Today's image comes because I am impatient for spring.  The winter here has been nothing short of disappointing.  It has been cool, but not cold, with no snow to speak of.  It is just a succession of chilly days with brown, decrepit leafless trees.  It can be quite a bummer.  I am looking forward to spring, when some semblance of life takes shape again.  This was taken at the Sarah Duke Gardens on the Duke University campus.  The Asian section of the garden has a lovely arrangement of small shrines by the water's edge, and on the far side the flowers were blooming.  I loved this image, as simple as it was, using the flowers as a veil over the stone shrine to frame the image and add some addiitonal complexity and mystery to the image, as that better conveyed my feelings on how the shrine and garden should be portrayed.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens:Nikon 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length: 100 mm

Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5   ISO 400

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4 (the border edge is a bit much, but I couldn't find the original file in time to remove it, so you get a soft dropped shadow courtesy of late nights with PS4)

Winter's Shadows

Winter's Shadows

NCAR10D-30

January 31, 2010

An apology for missing yesterday's postings, and we continue on with the theme of winter this week.  This stark panorama was taken in Raleigh, along my favorite Lake Johnson, after an unusual snowfall my first winter here.  I like the low angle of the winter sun and how it plays against the white snow, making deeper bluish streaks from the naked trees.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-4.5

Focal length:  20 mm

Exposure: 1/40 @ f/16, ISO 100

Post-processing: Stitched in PS4, with contrast and tone adjustment, sharpening in PS4 & LR1.4

Frozen Pond

Frozen Pond

NCAR10D-44_HDR

January 31, 2010

Continuing on the theme of winter this week, as I get more excited about the trip to Colorado which will hopefully yield some snow and some winter pictures, this image comes from my former backyard.  My first winter, Raleigh got an appreciable amount of snow, which precipitated two things: 1) everyone freaked out over the 2-4" of snow that was blanketing the ground, even though it wasn't that much snow to begin with, and 2) some lovely shots from around Lake Johnson.  I spent a delightful day wandering around, finding little places to visualize the rare winter wonderland of Raleigh.  This image was a small pond, with water trickling down but still having a frozen sheet over the top, as well as a smattering of late-fall leaves that stuck around.  Constructed from 3 images in Photomatix, I feel it shows off some of the benefits of the HDR world... I got decent shadow detail in the left side and right hill, while keeping the color in the tree leaves and detail in the snow.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6

Focal length:  11 mm

Exposure: n/a @ f/25, ISO 100

Post-processing: HDR image created from 3 images using Photomatix, final image cropped down with contrast and tone adjustment, sharpening in PS4 & LR1.4

Through the Golden Haze

Through the Golden Haze

NCAR10D-512

November 7, 2010

Our last homage to autumn this morning, as the cold has made its presence known and there is no going back, at least for a couple months.  The leaves are all gone, the grass is all brown, and Christmas music is pumping through Starbucks.  Yup, winter is coming!  This shot was taken last year as I hiked through Umstead State Park near Raleigh, right before Thanksgiving break.  The leaves were in full color by this point, and it was a pleasant park to wander though.  My only nit pick was the constant sounds of the airport (Umstead butts up against the RDU airport, so there are plenty of comings and goings during the day), but overall a good place to get away from the city for a spell.  Enjoy!

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6

Focal length:  10 mm

Exposure: n/a @ f/8, ISO 200

Post-processing: Cropped down with contrast and tone adjustment, sharpening in PS4 & LR1.4

The Last Leaf Falls

The Last Leaf Falls

NCAR10D-504

November 7, 2010

While November has been kind, and unseasonably warm, winter is coming around the corner very quickly, and the leaves are shedding from the branches quickly (those that are left... most of the storms have stripped the trees bare already).  And the cold chill is not far behind.  So, to finish this week we end with some images of fall, before winter comes through in the last month of the year.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 80-200 f/2.8

Focal length:  105 mm

Exposure: 1/4000 @ f/2.8, ISO 200

Post-processing: Cropped down with contrast and tone adjustment, sharpening in PS4 & LR1.4

The Dark Forest Paths

The Dark Forest Paths

NCAR11D-254

October 23, 2011

Wandering through the forests of the Birkhead Wilderness, part of Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina.  These deciduous trees were crouched overhead, menacing in a way, as they tried to block the way through the forest.  Even the sun, slipping behind a cloud, lent a dark, ominous feeling to the trek.  I felt that this image, with the heavy shadows in the foreground, and slightly dingy, dun colors, accurately represented this trepidation.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  26 mm

Exposure: 1/20 @ f/8, ISO 400

Post-processing: Cropped down with contrast and tone adjustment, sharpening in PS4 & LR1.4

Fall in the East

Fall in the East

NCAR11D-245_pan

October 23, 2011

We don't get fall like this in the West.  There are large swaths of evergreen forests, that withstand the change of seasons, stalwart, imperious, until winter comes to blanket it in snow.  They hold their verdant green, and we slip from summer to spring easily, quietly.  But in the East, there is no such subtlety.   The cold snaps and slanting sunlight jolts the trees to change, and they do in sweeping motions, trading their summer productivity for capes of gold, orange, crimson, maroon.  The trees, sometimes rail thin and nicely spaced, erupt in a cacophony of celebration for the changing of the seasons, and practically beg you to see them.  This image, captured while hiking in the Uwharrie National Forest, is a panoramic image stitched together, for there was too much for any one lens to take in.  The colors run the whole gamut, and spark a wondrous portrait of autumn in action.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135 f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  18 mm

Exposure: 1/20 @ f/8 ISO 400

Post-processing: Assembled from 10 images in PS 4, minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.