Piperbarb's 2013 Project 365

[piperbarb]

Very nice series Barb!

Pat in NH

Pat, thanks. It must have been a size issue. Glad they displayed properly for you.

I had a lot of fun photographing these guys. After about 10 minutes, they totally ignored me, so I was able to get really close to them. I was probably about 20 to 25 feet from them when I took these photos. Didn't crop anything, either.

 

[piperbarb]

3-31-13:

When I looked out the window this morning, I noticed that a section of my front lawn exploed in mole hole mounds. The moles were very busy last night, that's for sure. Below is a sampling.

Mighty Mole Mounds

 

[piperbarb]

4-1-13:

Over the weekend I dug out a Tamron 80-210 zoom lens (non-autofocus) I bought during the dark ages of the last century. I purchased this lens way back in the early 1980s when I was working in a camera shop while in graduate school. I used it a lot before, but haven't used in over 3 years. I never used it with the D3000 because, even in manual, metering is a pain. I decided to see how it would work with the D7000. The only weird thing is that the metering does not show accurately what the f-stop is, but I could pretty much figure it out. Exposures came out okay. All were shot at ISO 400. None of the images were cropped, and only the photo of the crow in the tree, and of my Spousal Unit, Gary, had much post-processing, mainly contrast or exposure adjustments.

I was very surprised how well some of my photos came out. Below are a few samples.

This one of the crow was shot at f/5.6 or f/8 and 210 mm.


This dead tree was was shot at 80 mm, but I am not sure what the aperture was, but most likely f/8.


This one, of Spousal Unit was hand-held, wide open (f/4) at 210 mm. I did have to tweak exposure and contrast somewhat to get it to look like I wanted it to. I focused on the corner edge of the rim of Gary's glasses.


The next 2 were of the same moss (yes, green stuff is growing!!!) and f/6.3
210mm


80mm


Comments gladly welcome.

 

[piperbarb]

4-1-13: Addendum

A little while ago, I looked out the window and saw our happy group of deer munching away on who-knows-what in the backyard. I grabbed my camera (D7000) w/ the 80-210 lens on it (see today's post, earlier) to see how it would come out. It was dusk, the light was a little funky. This shot was taken hand-held.


Setting:
ISO 800 (totally out of my comfort zone, I like ISO 100 - 200 usually)
f/4
1/125th sec
Focal length 210mm.

The only thing I did was sharpen it just a touch.

Who? Me?

 

[piperbarb]

4-2-13:

One of the nice things about being on spring break for a week is that I can go out and take pictures any time. I am not stuck in a classroom on a nice sunny, but windy and chilly afternoon.

This first one is just disturbing. I'm sorry, but it is already April. Seeing this just should not happen:
April Icicle


I just liked the way the sunlight lit up Creature's fur.
Herself


When I take the back way home, I pass this one house with large pond out front. There is also an island in the center of the pond with a large pine tree growing on it. Unfortunately, there was a red car parked near the pond so I had to scrap the island. I did get, what else, geese!
Am I Missing Anyone?


I then went tromping around the woods behind our house. It's amazing what nature does without interference from humans.
The Bend


I just liked the pattern the broken branch stubs made on the moss-covered trunk.
Long Dead


We have a lot of very busy pileated woodpeckers around here. They made this hole at some point, but something is/was living in it. Any suggestions from the bird experts?
Knock, Knock, Anyone Home?

 

[Marilynne]

4-2-13:



I then went tromping around the woods behind our house. It's amazing what nature does without interference from humans.
The Bend
View attachment 31685

I like this. Looks like a snake. Bet it would scare me at night!

 

[piperbarb]

I like this. Looks like a snake. Bet it would scare me at night!

That's what I thought, too, when I first saw it. Thanks.

I love noticing the sometimes bizarre things nature does.

 

[piperbarb]

4-3-13:

The sun has been popping in and out from behind the clouds all day but that didn't stop me. I decided to take a ride way uphill this afternoon and came across these.

At the very top, on an appropriately named road, Ridge Road, is this wind turbine. It was put up by whomever lives in the house (which you cannot see from the angle I took this at). I am sure they generate way more electricity than they use, which means the local utility company has to buy back the excess. Anyway, this wind turbine is new. I don't remember seeing it last year when I went up this road. Renewable energy! I love it!!!
Blowin' in the Wind


Someone definitely has a sense of humor with the following one:
Bottle Tree


Finally, this one is being added to my photo collection of Bad Barns of Broome County.
Once Upon a Barn

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

The last two looks like they could have been shot down south near me.

 

[piperbarb]

The last two looks like they could have been shot down south near me.

They were actually shot on top of some of the higher hills around here.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

My first wife was from Buffalo and my present wife was born in Schenectady which is not to far from where you are.

 

[piperbarb]

My first wife was from Buffalo and my present wife was born in Schenectady which is not to far from where you are.

Nope, Schenectady is about 120 miles from here. Just about a two-hour drive to the north & a little east.

 

[Rick M]

My first wife was from Buffalo and my present wife was born in Schenectady which is not to far from where you are.

Good choice, I've heard the Schenectady ones are better

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Good choice, I've heard the Schenectady ones are better

Yep.
Buffalo 1 to Schenectady 37

Don't know how it happened. By the time I married the second one I had never been in the state of New York

 

[piperbarb]

Yep.
Buffalo 1 to Schenectady 37

Don't know how it happened. By the time I married the second one I had never been in the state of New York

Have you finally made it to New York? Upstate and downstate are two entirely different worlds. Downstate is Metro, upstate... well, there are areas that are right out of the movie, Deliverance.

I grew up downstate, Long Island, actually. My parents moved upstate to get away from all the people when I was a senior in high school. I went to college in Binghamton, and stayed. I liked the area, the people, and the fact that it is not overly populated.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Have you finally made it to New York? Upstate and downstate are two entirely different worlds. Downstate is Metro, upstate... well, there are areas that are right out of the movie, Deliverance.

I grew up downstate, Long Island, actually. My parents moved upstate to get away from all the people when I was a senior in high school. I went to college in Binghamton, and stayed. I liked the area, the people, and the fact that it is not overly populated.

Have been to NY city several times. Went through Upstate once on my way through to Quebec. You are right, upstate reminded me of many parts of the south. Backwoods redneck. That surprised me. I think some Yankees are surprised when they visit here and find out we have teeth and wear shoes.

I am about as Southern as they come and I don't like country music, I don't hunt or fish, and I don't like Nascar. Surprise.

 

[piperbarb]

Have been to NT city several times. Went through Upstate once on my way through to Quebec. You are right, upstate reminded me of many parts of the south. Backwoods redneck. That surprised me. I think some Yankees are surprised when they visit here and find out we have teeth and wear shoes.

I am about as Southern as they come and I don't like country music, I don't hunt or fish, and I don't like Nascar. Surprise.

My mother used to call the really woodsy natives, "chipmunks." She could never think of calling them "woodchucks" like everyone else did. It's a bizarre area to live, but I think that is what I like about it. Actually, I live about 2 miles from the PA border, rural PA, that is. Now rural PA can be like entering an alternate universe. Very weird.

 

[Eye-level]

Now rural PA can be like entering an alternate universe. Very weird.

Yes that is kind of like Oklahoma and Texas...entering Texas is like entering an alternate universe. Very weird. LOL

 

[piperbarb]

4-4-13:

Today was a wonderful, sunny almost 50 degree day!! I love days like this.

To demonstrate that spring can actually arrive in upstate NY, I present a photo of...... drum roll......
CROCUSES!!! Yes, in full bloom!
IT'S SPRING!


Then I wandered around Endicott while my spousal unit was at an appointment.

I seem to keep going back to the former IBM North St Lab building. Another clock tower view but at a different angle this time. I just liked how the angles and lines came out.
TIME WILL TELL


Then went around to the front of the building and noticed the designs in the front railing. One side had an hourglass, while the other side had an abacus. Unfortunately, it was not designed to be functional. I had to take it at an angle because it would have gotten lost in a background of window and brick.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF CALCULATOR


I then wandered on to a different area of town and found the remaining building from a gas station/convenience store that was demolished several years ago. The land parcel is considered brownfield because it still has the fuel storage tanks underneath.
WRITING ON THE WALL


I then wandered off down near the river. Of course, I saw the most populous bird in Broome County. Yup, geese... again....


Now, the next photo is for Pat. One day he posted a photo of power lines. Here is my contribution to our national grid:
LINES & LINES


When I was all done, I went to wait for my spousal unit, who wasn't ready. This is what happens...
YOU KNOW YOU'RE BORED WHEN...

Yes, that is part of the dashboard of my car. And, no, it was not an oops shot.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

4-4-13:

Today was a wonderful, sunny almost 50 degree day!! I love days like this.

To demonstrate that spring can actually arrive in upstate NY, I present a photo of...... drum roll......
CROCUSES!!! Yes, in full bloom!
IT'S SPRING!
View attachment 31857

Then I wandered around Endicott while my spousal unit was at an appointment.

I seem to keep going back to the former IBM North St Lab building. Another clock tower view but at a different angle this time. I just liked how the angles and lines came out.
TIME WILL TELL
View attachment 31858

Then went around to the front of the building and noticed the designs in the front railing. One side had an hourglass, while the other side had an abacus. Unfortunately, it was not designed to be functional. I had to take it at an angle because it would have gotten lost in a background of window and brick.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF CALCULATOR
View attachment 31860

I then wandered on to a different area of town and found the remaining building from a gas station/convenience store that was demolished several years ago. The land parcel is considered brownfield because it still has the fuel storage tanks underneath.
WRITING ON THE WALL
View attachment 31863

I then wandered off down near the river. Of course, I saw the most populous bird in Broome County. Yup, geese... again....
View attachment 31864

Now, the next photo is for Pat. One day he posted a photo of power lines. Here is my contribution to our national grid:
LINES & LINES
View attachment 31865

When I was all done, I went to wait for my spousal unit, who wasn't ready. This is what happens...
YOU KNOW YOU'RE BORED WHEN...
View attachment 31866
Yes, that is part of the dashboard of my car. And, no, it was not an oops shot.

Ok, "TIME WILL TELL" LOL You really were bored. I really like the dashboard shot.