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After spending a couple of hours photographing beautiful flowers in the Lincoln Park Conservatory, what really caught my eye was this scene just as I was leaving…
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Nikon D300; f8 @ 1/60 sec, ISO 2200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 18mm 27m EFL); focus distance .79m
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Kinetic: “Of or relating to the motion of material bodies and the forces and energy associated therewith.”
Though the subject was stationary, a strong impression of movement and energy caught my attention in passing.
Typing the exposure specs, I’m wondering why on earth I used f9.5 when there wasn’t much depth in this scene? At f8 the camera would have dropped to a lower ISO to meet my minimum shutter speed of 1/180 sec for hand holding this lens. That, combined with its best aperture setting for sharpness would have led to an even clearer image without post-processing.
I think I got excited, and forgot to check. 😉
Oh, and Happy New Year!
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Nikon D300; f9.5 @ 1/180 sec, ISO 1400 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 95mm (142mm EFL); focus distance 1.12m
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The other day I visited an exhibition of Charles James fashion design at the Chicago History Museum. Though photography wasn’t allowed in that exhibit, it was elsewhere. At some point I realized I didn’t have to absorb the information displays, but instead could simply enjoy the surroundings. This image is of one space that drew my eye.
You have to love a stabilized lens in low light! Too, DxO Optics Pro does a great job of noise reduction during RAW processing.
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Nikon D300; f5.3 @ 1/45 sec, ISO 3200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 95mm (142mm EFL); focus distance 10.59m
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What to say…?
I simply like the energy in this!
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Nikon D300; f9.5 @ 1/350 sec, ISO 200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 112mm (168mm EFL); focus distance 3.16m
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Outside our hotel in downtown Chicago, State Street was deserted after the blizzard struck. Brightly lit store windows beckoned to non-existent shoppers, and streetlights illuminated empty roads. Traffic lights signaled to no one in the night.
This was near the elevators down the hall from our room, #502.
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Nikon D300; f4.8 @ 1/10sec, ISO 3200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 46mm (69mm EFL); focus distance 2.24m
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During Chicago’s recent blizzard, we lost power. With no heat and nighttime temperatures dropping to near zero, we had to evacuate with our cat to a hotel. Built in 1890 by the architect Daniel Burnham, the Reliance Building was a delight to explore with camera in hand.
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Nikon D300; f4.8 @ 1/15sec, ISO 3200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 18mm (27mm EFL); focus distance 7.94m
Fred
(March 31, 1998–January 26, 2011)
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Lumix DMC-FZ40; f4 @ 1/80sec, ISO 160 (handheld);
Focal length: 43.5mm (241mm EFL)
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Fred
(March 31, 1998–January 26, 2011)
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Lumix DMC-FZ40; f4 @ 1/30sec, ISO 400 (handheld);
Focal length: 43.5mm (241mm EFL)
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Photographed early November of last year, Fred was just as sweet as he was handsome. It was a joy to have him in our life, and he is sorely missed.
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Our blue tabby Maine Coon cat Sassafrass. Her fur has grown back from a disastrous trip to the groomer last year.
This was photographed full frame using the Lumix 1:1 aspect ratio. (Love that feature!)
The light was so low I had to use the on-camera flash, but (at reduced power) was surprisingly pleased with the result.
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Lumix DMC-FZ40; f/5.6 @ 1/50sec, ISO 400 (handheld);
Focal length: 25mm (139mm EFL)
[¹]
Who knew there were so many in a “gray” Midwestern month?!
This image is a screen capture from the Light Table layout in Adobe Bridge, showing color swatches pulled from photographs posted the last 30 days.
On reflection, the November challenge was akin to an extended workshop—generating more images than there was time to process, and more ideas than time to pursue. It’s given me much to explore during the coming winter. Cool. 🙂
If you’ve ever thought of taking a similar plunge, I can highly recommend!
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¹Colors of the day: