Pretzel's Snack-A-Day (365 for 2014)

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 112 - Mid-city Woodland Wonder

Can't show any of the portrait pics yet, just in case these who were being surprised happen to be Nikonites (which I doubt, but can't be too careful)

Here was the setting sun, as seen through the trees of the park where we were shooting though. Artistic interpretations, of course.

Surreality in the midst of the city.

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Guardians of the deeper realms?

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Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 113 - Walking the Riverparks

It wasn't a photo walk, but more for our health... but I've learned to always bring the camera (although it was a bit harder to to hold the camera steady after a few miles)

I started out trying to catch a good shot of this wee bluebird. This is the best I could manage, as he was HIGHLY active and didn't want to position himself in the right light. GRR....

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Robins, on the other hand, seem to crave photo opps. This one moved out onto the lighter gravel and posed for me.

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Then ran across this little fellow. He had quite an interesting, albeit short, song... and seemed as interested in us as we were in him. Not sure what kind of bird he is yet... (edit: He's a Brown-headed Cowbird!)

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He was giving me the stare down here...

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Turns out he was trying to keep us distracted from his lady friend... interesting actions, as I've seen birds try to distract from their young, but not their foraging lasses!

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Then, just before we ended our walk, I spotted this stately bird standing out in the middle of the still wet part of the river. This is the best look I could manage, as he was right in the middle of the sunset reflection on the water... love his little cowlick.

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Here's an extreme crop so you can see the cowlick I mentioned a bit better.

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BackdoorArts

Senior Member
You'll never catch a cowbird distracting you from their young. They lay eggs in other birds' nests, tossing out one of the native eggs, and let them raise them. They tend to be larger than many of the birds whose nests they occupy and can be a peril to the others. We're not fans. ;)
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 114 - NEW TOY!

I've always said, the best tool you ever had is the one you have with you. I ordered this little mini-knife for my collection recently, and it arrived just a couple of days ago. It's called a neck-knife, but I really got it to carry ion it's little tin with a mini "sustain me" pack for those times when I'm riding out and about in the countryside, or on one of those long nature walks. Figure with the little knife, a few ibuprofen, some waterproof matches and guaranteed tinder, some water purification tabs, some duct tape, a little wire for a snare, a signal mirror and some paracord (all that will fit in the tin), I could feasibly survive a few days if I were in dire straits. Doubt it will ever happen, but ya never know... and besides, it's what us "guys" do. ;)

When I'm camping, or know I'll be WAY out there, I have a bigger knife and kit, complete with a camp axe, thermal blankets and the works.

Now, without further ado, I present the Ritter inspired RSK Mk5, by CRKT.

In the tin...

Day114-3.jpg


Unsheathed and in full glory...

Day114-1.jpg


With a quarter for scale.

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It's a VERY tough little knife for it's size! Thrilled to add it to my collection!
 

Bill16

Senior Member
Very cool my friend! I haven't had a neck knife myself, but you make it sound like a very hand size to have! Congrats buddy! Great shots! :D

Day 114 - NEW TOY!

I've always said, the best tool you ever had is the one you have with you. I ordered this little mini-knife for my collection recently, and it arrived just a couple of days ago. It's called a neck-knife, but I really got it to carry ion it's little tin with a mini "sustain me" pack for those times when I'm riding out and about in the countryside, or on one of those long nature walks. Figure with the little knife, a few ibuprofen, some waterproof matches and guaranteed tinder, some water purification tabs, some duct tape, a little wire for a snare, a signal mirror and some paracord (all that will fit in the tin), I could feasibly survive a few days if I were in dire straits. Doubt it will ever happen, but ya never know... and besides, it's what us "guys" do. ;)

When I'm camping, or know I'll be WAY out there, I have a bigger knife and kit, complete with a camp axe, thermal blankets and the works.

Now, without further ado, I present the Ritter inspired RSK Mk5, by CRKT.

In the tin...

View attachment 85573

Unsheathed and in full glory...

View attachment 85571

With a quarter for scale.

View attachment 85572

It's a VERY tough little knife for it's size! Thrilled to add it to my collection!
 

SteveH

Senior Member
Looks like a handy tool, and great pictures too!

I bought a Leatherman multi-tool a while ago and keep it in my camera bag. I bought it because we found a sheep that had got its leg stuck in a wire fence, and was struggling to get free - With no farm or buildings for about 4 miles, I had to try and free it by hand while my wife kept the dogs away on their leads. I got it free eventually, but my hands were very sore! lol
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
You'll never catch a cowbird distracting you from their young. They lay eggs in other birds' nests, tossing out one of the native eggs, and let them raise them. They tend to be larger than many of the birds whose nests they occupy and can be a peril to the others. We're not fans. ;)

In the UK its the cuckoo that does that
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 115 - blah...

Short on time, saw an oddly colored bug hangin' out by the porchlight. Shot it with the kit lens.

Day115.jpg


Day 116 - My son's recital day. Found a new way to screw up photos, too. Will see if it shows in the exif info. 1st, my boy with his mom and granny, quick shot before we ran inside.

Day116-1.jpg


Then, a shot of him tickling the ivories. Can't decide if I like it more in color or B&W, although I'm leaning toward B&W...

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Yup, it shows in the exif... had to doctor each of these photos by increasing the exposure PP. In manual mode, to adjust the shutter speed, you just spin the dial. To adjust aperture, you hold a button by the shutter release and spin the dial. Well, apparently, there another button up there that I've never used before, but if you hold it and spin the dial, it adjusts in-camera exposure compensation. Noticed my camera metering was WAY off, so kept trying to find a good fit, thought I had a repair issue coming up. *sigh* At least I know, now, what it was and have corrected the issue, although it was after a night of shooting. Will there EVER be a day when I will have sorted out all the dumb mistakes and don't make them any more??
 
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Lawrence

Senior Member
Like both the piano shots. Very cool
Now what button are you talking about that changes the exposure compensation.
I have a different camera but the layout is similar "up there" :)
 

nidding

Senior Member
Pretzel, what mode are you shooting in? On my d3100 the aperture adjust button is the same as the exposure compensation button. In manual mode it works as apperture and in priority modes it sets exposure compensation. The other button up there just toggles the info screen on the back of the camera.

...and now we're at it. What have you set your Fn button to? Mine is set for ISO adjustment so the exposure triangle parametres are always at hand, but I'm curious what other people do :)

Good pictures by the way :)

Overall I like the B/W piano picture the best, but your son's face is a little too bright for my taste (this could be my laptop's monitor, as it has a hard time with the light greys... )
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
Pretzel, what mode are you shooting in? On my d3100 the aperture adjust button is the same as the exposure compensation button. In manual mode it works as apperture and in priority modes it sets exposure compensation. The other button up there just toggles the info screen on the back of the camera.

...and now we're at it. What have you set your Fn button to? Mine is set for ISO adjustment so the exposure triangle parametres are always at hand, but I'm curious what other people do :)

Good pictures by the way :)

Overall I like the B/W piano picture the best, but your son's face is a little too bright for my taste (this could be my laptop's monitor, as it has a hard time with the light greys... )

I was trying to shoot manual, but... I think I was trying to adjust aperture by button accidentally in aperture mode, but didn't realize that 1) I had different control in aperture mode. 2) Was clueless as to what happened until getting back home and fiddling a bit.

I should've dug out the manual, but this will stick with me for longer. LOL

My FN button is set to ISO too, so I can adjust on the fly. Hate having to bounce into the menu, and I usually shoot auto white balance in RAW, so that was the natural selection. :)

As for the blown out face, here's a very quick touch up in LR. The lighting on the stage was VERY uneven, so I switched to matrix metering to try and help me get as close as I could.

I might try to go back and use the burn tool in PS for a cleaner adjustment. It's either that, or drop the overall compensation and dodge a bit in the darker areas... maybe just adjust by way of the shadow tool.

What ya think?

Day116-3(edit).jpg
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 117 - BBB (Bad, but Beautiful?)

1st, a shot of the instant SLC (scary looking clouds) that popped up as we were on parking duty at church. From that misty pea-soup consistency of clouds to this in about 2 minutes tops. The clouds were barrel rolling and twisting in on themselves as it formed... and this is the system that went on to devastate eastern OK and Arkansas later in the day. iPhone pic...

Day117-2.jpg


Found this fella on the back porch later that same day. He's quite colorful, but a nasty nuisance... you see, he's a bag worm.

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Day 118 - One of my favorite blooms of all time... the Straw Flower

Day118.jpg
 

Vixen

Senior Member
Cools shots. That storm sure caused some devastation :( When you see the clouds boiling like that, you know it's going to be bad :(
 

nidding

Senior Member
I was trying to shoot manual, but... I think I was trying to adjust aperture by button accidentally in aperture mode, but didn't realize that 1) I had different control in aperture mode. 2) Was clueless as to what happened until getting back home and fiddling a bit.

I should've dug out the manual, but this will stick with me for longer. LOL

My FN button is set to ISO too, so I can adjust on the fly. Hate having to bounce into the menu, and I usually shoot auto white balance in RAW, so that was the natural selection. :)

As for the blown out face, here's a very quick touch up in LR. The lighting on the stage was VERY uneven, so I switched to matrix metering to try and help me get as close as I could.

I might try to go back and use the burn tool in PS for a cleaner adjustment. It's either that, or drop the overall compensation and dodge a bit in the darker areas... maybe just adjust by way of the shadow tool.

What ya think?

View attachment 85938
Yup. I like that a lot better :) Great edit!

I've found myself looking at my camera in utter frustration, until I have realized that the mode wheel had turned to Nightshot or similar. I'm sure you will remember to check that from now on :)
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member

I like what it does with the piano and the wood, but I'm not digging what it does to the shirt and pants - almost makes it seem like hard plastic. It's actually a very cool edit, almost sketch-like, it that's what you're going for. But if you want a bit more realism then maybe soften the structure/contrast/clarity in the clothing just a touch, and in the pants in particular - or maybe just selectively darken the trousers?
 
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