Hidden Predator

Hidden Predator

YELL050116

September 2005

Again beckoning from the fabulous Yellowstone National Park, the picture of this coyote while hiking was tremendous.  He was more scared of me than I of him, and quickly departed, but not after I was able to nab this quick image of him in the grasses.  I love how his dun-colored coat blends in so well with the drying autumn grass all around him.  Were he laying or crouching, it is possible I would have trumped on by without giving him a second glance, an enviable position to be in if you are a predator.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Fuji Velvia 50

Lens: Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8

Focal length: 125 mm

Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 

Post-processing: Scanned using a Nikon Coolscan 5000, slight texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4

New Nikon on the Horizon

I just came across this new notice from B&H Photo, one of my favorite places to browse and purchase camera equipment.  And they have announced the arrival of the stunning new Nikon D800 camera!!  Shoooting a full-frame FX CMOS sensor, packing in 36MP of quality, this camera is a beast.  Possibly my favorite feature is that it will accept either FX (film) or DX (digital-specific) lenses, and adjust the output accordingly (though, in DX mode, it tops out at about 15MP).  That is awesome, as it means Nikon users don't have to go swapping out their lenses (yet again) when they purchase this camera.  It does video as well, which is not as important to me, but still interesting.  Only downside?  The pricetag, which is a whopping $3,000, yet billed as an affordable option against the larger D-line models (with price tags in the $5,000+ range).  Check out the new beauty of the line.  Enjoy.

An Ominous Terrace

An Ominous Terrace

YELL050105

September 2005

Today we journey up to the iconic national park of our country, Yellowstone.  My last visit here was in 2005, and the northern reaches of the park hold the tavertine terraces of Mammoth hot springs.  This day, the fog lifting from the geothermal terrace obscured the already dismal view (as the first snowstorm rolled in behind me).  The dark clouds behind the scene compared well with the feel of the place, the decimated trees (killed from the geological activity and hot water constantly flowing) and the fog giving it an otherworldly view.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Fuji Velvia 50

Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 70 mm

Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 

Post-processing: Scanned using a Nikon Coolscan 5000, slight texture,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

Waves of Stone

Waves of Stone

ZION030007

August 2003

Again touring the southwest today, this image comes from the eastern side of Zion National Park, beyond the eponymous canyon.  Here the landscape opens up a little, and the sandstone that marks the red rock of Utah pulls away from the trail in gentle curves.  It looks like a wave, gathering power and height, though we know it will never burst upon us.  Still, a beautiful abstract image for a Thursday.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Fuji Velvia 50

Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 28 mm

Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 

Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000, texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Photographer of Note: Bridget Fleming and downtownfrombehind

Bridget Fleming
"Downtown From Behind"
http://downtownfrombehind.tumblr.com

Photography takes all different shapes and forms, and one thing that is so important to defining someone is a particular project or style or aim, something that I still wrangle with and I know a lot of others do as well.  And then you stumble upon a project that is so simple, yet so imaginative and encompassing, that you have to stop and take notice.

downtownfrombehind is a photographic series that, as the name implies, captures subjects as they ride their bike through New York City from behind.  Bridget Fleming has photographed people riding on some 200+ streets, avenues and lanes in the downtown part of the metropolis.

 It is a whimsical, romantic view of the city, in my opinion, as these bikes become the departure point for a daily look at the streets of New York. The portrait models are a diverse collection of writers, architects, designers, chefs, etc. that inhabit the city and make it so colorful.  So it is a hybrid of portrait photography (although from the rear, which is unique unto itself) and street photography of the less popular avenues of New York.  Still, the imagery is interesting, intimate, and charming, and I recommend checking it out.  Enjoy.

The Lone, Old Tree

The Lone, Old Tree

BRCA030103

August 2003

One of my favorite magazines and blogs, Mental Floss, had a fantastic list of 6 of the oldest trees of the world yesterday.  It highlighted some very ancient trees, including Methuselah, a bristlecone pine that is located somewhere in the Inyo National Forest, on the California-Nevada border.  The location of this tree is actually kept secret by the Forest Service, to protect it from souvenir collectors and idiots who want to carve their initials into it, etc.  But these are very beautiful trees.

This inspired my selection of today's image, a not quite as old pine located in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.  Still, while it not might be as old as the 4,500-year old Methuselah, it has that gnarled, twisted form that still suggests some pretty advanced age.  And for this photo, I love how the warmth of the bark of the tree contrasts with that blue Utah sky.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Fuji Velvia 50

Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 28 mm

Exposure: 1/200   f/4.5 

Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000, texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4