{click image to view large}

Another image photographed in hard light around 1 p.m. The bright white and strong graphic elements jumped out at me while walking with my mother through the River Arts District in Asheville, North Carolina this past December. She was carrying her Lumix.

●●●

Nikon D300; 19.5 @ 1/500 sec, ISO 200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 95mm (142mm EFL); focus distance 1.12m

{click image to view large}

Seen in a parking lot while running errands. Having a camera on hand makes daily chores a lot more fun!

●●●

Nikon D300; f9.5 @ 1/60 sec, ISO 1400 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 55mm (82mm EFL); focus distance 2.66m

{click image to view large}

Noticed from the corner of my eye, this scene caused me to do a double-take in passing.

The first captures, attempted by shooting over a fence, were marred by an intervening snowbank. I got lucky with clear skies again the next day, and was able to return at the same time to discover a better vantage point—without trespassing too far. 

●●●

Nikon D300; f9.5 @ 1/1000 sec, ISO 200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 65mm (97mm EFL); focus distance 4.73m

{click image to view large}

Revealed in snowmelt, about a week after Chicago’s one major snowfall this winter—so far!

●●●

Nikon D300; f9.5 @ 1/90 sec, ISO 200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 55mm (82mm EFL); focus distance 1m

{click image to view large}

Photographed near high noon, this capture reminds me there are delightful possibilities in hard light between the hours of dawn and dusk!

●●●

Nikon D300; f9.5 @ 1/75 sec, ISO 200 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 46mm (69mm EFL); focus distance 1.68m

{click image to view large}

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!

●●●

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

{click image to view large}

I’m constantly amazed by how things appear to change even as they largely remain the same. “Simplicity №1” was photographed in this location back in May. Returning some weeks later, I was annoyed by new “No Parking” signs affixed to the wall. Yesterday, the signs were still there—but so were a number of parked cars. 

●●●

Nikon D300; f9.5 @ 1/180 sec, ISO 1400 (handheld);
18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 75mm (112mm EFL); focus distance 14.96m