Pretzel's learning curve...
- Thread starter Pretzel
- Start date
Pretzel...here's a little tip for ya: if it moves....shutter mode. If it's not moving...Aperture mode.
Seems like I've heard that before.
Today was simply phenomenal. 7 hours on and off the bike, enjoying the spring warmth and colors of Oklahoma in high definition. Wildflowers everywhere... red, pale yellow, dark yellow, pink, purple, white. All simply amazing. We didn't ride for those, though, so I didn't stop to snap any pics, but rather just enjoyed their endless beauty on the way by.When we reached our destination, awe took over.
That's the only way I can describe it. I'm always aware of the following fact, but today made it stick like never before...
Freedom isn't free.
There are so many untold stories contained in the pictures found above, but the stories continue on even after the sacrifices represented by each grave marker. Billions of stories each morning, in fact. I am eternally grateful for the freedom I enjoy today, and the men and women that paved the way for that freedom.
That's the only way I can describe it. I'm always aware of the following fact, but today made it stick like never before...
Freedom isn't free.
There are so many untold stories contained in the pictures found above, but the stories continue on even after the sacrifices represented by each grave marker. Billions of stories each morning, in fact. I am eternally grateful for the freedom I enjoy today, and the men and women that paved the way for that freedom.
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Route 66 Blowout today... SO many people, it was hard to get shots of cars, but I always find one car, every year, that I snap some photos of. This year was a 1957 AMC Rambler Rebel.
1st... I could see this becoming an avatar or a sig pic some day, LOL
...then the gorgeous face of a classic...
...command central...
...and finally, the beast in full glory. Gorgeous, not often seen, classic beauty!
1st... I could see this becoming an avatar or a sig pic some day, LOL
...then the gorgeous face of a classic...
...command central...
...and finally, the beast in full glory. Gorgeous, not often seen, classic beauty!
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Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
Not Chevrolet...American Motors
Michael J.
Senior Member
Here's a couple of shots from around a small local lake...
1st, a couple of plain ol' "grass" with the lake and shoreline blurred in from behind... I enjoyed the color contrast of the background, especially on the 2nd shot.
Then, a couple of "running water" attempts. It seems VERY hard to catch these shots in direct sunlight. My 2 best attempts came when the sun went behind a cloud (below):
Just a shot of the lake in general... more than likely not the right composition, but just showing how lovely the area is. I seem to do better with something to focus on, LOL
...and the last, an opportunity I almost missed. I had just expressed my sorrow at not finding any cattails to shoot, when we saw these as we were pulling away. The "sog of the bog" wouldn't let me get too close, but I got a fairly decent shot.
1st, a couple of plain ol' "grass" with the lake and shoreline blurred in from behind... I enjoyed the color contrast of the background, especially on the 2nd shot.
Then, a couple of "running water" attempts. It seems VERY hard to catch these shots in direct sunlight. My 2 best attempts came when the sun went behind a cloud (below):
Just a shot of the lake in general... more than likely not the right composition, but just showing how lovely the area is. I seem to do better with something to focus on, LOL
...and the last, an opportunity I almost missed. I had just expressed my sorrow at not finding any cattails to shoot, when we saw these as we were pulling away. The "sog of the bog" wouldn't let me get too close, but I got a fairly decent shot.
The class tonight was focused on playing with shutter speed, so we hopped out and messed around with a reverse version of "drive-by" shooting...
The first is at 1/15th shutter speed (kinda looks all jacked up on Mt. Dew), the 2nd is 1/500th shutter speed (he almost looks parked while he enjoys those headphones), then the 3rd is a drop back to 1/30th and panning to follow the truck (makes him look like he's doing more than 35).
After we shot a few innocent folks, we went back in and had an amazing demonstration on using the camera in bulb mode and "light painting". Can't wait to try out some of those shots! I've gotta get a shutter release cable first, though.
The first is at 1/15th shutter speed (kinda looks all jacked up on Mt. Dew), the 2nd is 1/500th shutter speed (he almost looks parked while he enjoys those headphones), then the 3rd is a drop back to 1/30th and panning to follow the truck (makes him look like he's doing more than 35).
After we shot a few innocent folks, we went back in and had an amazing demonstration on using the camera in bulb mode and "light painting". Can't wait to try out some of those shots! I've gotta get a shutter release cable first, though.
Picked up my official Nikon shutter release cable this evening, so of course I had to get the tripod out and give it a try. Our flowerbed is in full shade by the time I get home, and the Oklahoma "breeze" was stirring the blooms a bit, so setting a wide open aperture was getting shutter speeds too low for handheld shots when combined with the breeze all while stooping over anyway. I set the ISO to 400 (so I could speed up the shutter speed a bit) and zoomed in with aperture at 5.6, locked in and shot. I think the shutter speeds were coming out around 1/50 or so...
1st, my unknown flower has LOTS of new yellow blooms on it (even after the wicked wife washed off the initial blooms when watering), so I had to get shots of one of the only non-red blooms in the bed! I wanted the low aperture, as I love bokeh, so with the wind and these tiny blooms, they still didn't come out quite perfect. I'll want to try again with direct sunlight so I can get the shutter speed up there without having to raise the ISO any more... BTW, anyone know what these are? (wicked wife also threw away the card, LOL)
Then, I caught of the couple of "busting buds" on my daisy. This is the Denver Daisy that has been shot previously in full green, with just bits of color showing through. Now two of the buds are showing more color and promise to reveal full glory any day!
Have some shutter speed and portrait homework now, plus the final project, which promises to be fun! For the final, I have to choose 15 of the following: American Flag, moving water, tail lights @ night, architectural columns, tall building, feather, the color purple, sports equipment, yard ornament, reflection, train, candid portrait, neon sign, something sticky, animal, time piece, person in motion, machine, outdoor statue, musical instrument and/or one of anything of my choice. ALL SORTS of ideas, but only have until Monday to get what I want and print 'em to 4x6. Looks like a lot of FUN to get the work done!!
(BTW, just for the record, the wife isn't THAT wicked... unless you try to mix in blooms other than red in her flowerbed... LOL)
I set the ISO to 400 (so I could speed up the shutter speed a bit) and zoomed in with aperture at 5.6, locked in and shot. I think the shutter speeds were coming out around 1/50 or so...1st, my unknown flower has LOTS of new yellow blooms on it (even after the wicked wife washed off the initial blooms when watering), so I had to get shots of one of the only non-red blooms in the bed! I wanted the low aperture, as I love bokeh, so with the wind and these tiny blooms, they still didn't come out quite perfect. I'll want to try again with direct sunlight so I can get the shutter speed up there without having to raise the ISO any more... BTW, anyone know what these are? (wicked wife also threw away the card, LOL)
Then, I caught of the couple of "busting buds" on my daisy. This is the Denver Daisy that has been shot previously in full green, with just bits of color showing through. Now two of the buds are showing more color and promise to reveal full glory any day!
Have some shutter speed and portrait homework now, plus the final project, which promises to be fun! For the final, I have to choose 15 of the following: American Flag, moving water, tail lights @ night, architectural columns, tall building, feather, the color purple, sports equipment, yard ornament, reflection, train, candid portrait, neon sign, something sticky, animal, time piece, person in motion, machine, outdoor statue, musical instrument and/or one of anything of my choice. ALL SORTS of ideas, but only have until Monday to get what I want and print 'em to 4x6. Looks like a lot of FUN to get the work done!!
(BTW, just for the record, the wife isn't THAT wicked... unless you try to mix in blooms other than red in her flowerbed... LOL)
Or how about a pic that I actually found worthy of putting my watermark on? I was downtown, grabbing random shots of interest and trying to figure out how to "creatively" practice shutter speed without just grabbing passing cars, etc. It was THEN I saw a section of streets blocked off, walked over, and discovered the Tulsa Tough bike races going on.
I've walked up and down the streets of our downtown area, off and on, my entire life. The same old buildings, full of dignity and history, yet after all that time, looking up reveals yet another new discovery. Sad that I've never spotted these fellows before, or glorious because every day brings new discovery? I guess it's all in how you view it... (edited in two different B&W filters... I think I like the "darker" version better)
