2014, Day 121 - Meadow

It was scorching today, almost ninety degrees and with only minor air movement.  Still it was nice to get out and see the blue sky and enjoy the shade of the large maples.  Plus the bright light can be an opportunity to fun photography as well.  Here in the Pacific NW we have a giant diffuser most of the time in the form of clouds but direct sun can be a fun challenge.  I like the bright warm spots it creates and the shadows look all the more inviting for their coolness.  Plus the flowers are blooming everywhere as a reminder why we tolerate the long wet winters.  But this won't last, it never does and rain will return again soon giving us a little taste of the summer to come.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
28mm, f5.6, merged layers of 1/320, 1/160, 1/80, 1/40, and 1/20 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 83 - Flashy grapes

I caught these grape hyacinths as the sun cleared top of the house and the lighting was so warm and beautiful.  Normally I would try prevent the flare but with the warmth of the light I really liked the effect.  The isolation this lens creates is beautiful!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/140 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 32 - Fortuitous flare

Sometimes things don't go as you expect but instead of getting upset or throwing away the results you should consider the results.  This is two photos that I took of Vista House and, during one of my first exposures, a car came around the bend and I ended up with half of the structure gone in headlights and some amazing colorful flare in the sky.  So shot the picture a few more times and I took Vista House from another exposure but the sky from the first and combined the two.

Canon 1D X, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, merged layers of 10 and 13 sec @ 320 ISO

2013, Day 330 - Return

After a month on the road this is what I returned home to.  Unfortunately I missed all the best of the fall color again this year.  It makes me a little sad but I wouldn't give up my travels for it, maybe next year I will plan my trip at a different time so I can have my cake and eat it too...

Fujifilm X-E2, Fuji 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/1100 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 210 - Flare

A couple days ago I was taking a walk with my friend Rachel to get some frozen yogurt.  The sun was high in the sky and its rays were hot on your skin, it felt oppressive despite being only a hair over eighty degrees.  As we walked the afternoon light illuminated plants in the most stunning way so I stopped for a few pictures.

I like the warmth in the tone of this image and the bokeh (out of focus areas) is delightful.  The webs crisscrossing the leaflets.  A greater depth of field would have ruined the bokeh but more of the frond would have been in focus.  It was a tough decision and I bracketed the aperture but this is the one I like best.  I supposed I could have done some focus stacking but it would have required a tripod which I didn't have...

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 320 ISO

2012, Day 135 - Controlled flare

Another photo from yesterday's jaunt along the gorge.  I love backlit foliage where you can see all the little veins snaking through the leaves and it is so much better when you can apply a sense of scale.  What is why I enjoy these photos taken from a really low angle.  The trees are towering over us and these simple plants, only half a foot tall, dominate the image.  Add a little bit of sun flare, slightly warmed in post, and you get a lovely little plant that almost seems to be straining for the light it needs to grow big and strong.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
17mm, f4, 1/250 sec @ 200 ISO