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

Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Cycling is a great way to lose weight without thinking about it and you get to see a lot of things you don't normally see while driving. It's also easier to stop if you do see something interesting.
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Most of the ride share bikes are for casual riding positions. Really hard to but your butt in to it.

I hear ya, man! It was built for the "average" rider, too, and only 1 gear... felt like I was riding a 9 year old's bike! We only put in about 3 miles. Now, on the short list, we're looking at bike racks for my xB so we can take our OWN bikes down to the Riverparks. Safer, more interesting and less stressful than riding on neighborhood streets, and already adjusted to our individual body styles. ;)
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Cycling is a great way to lose weight without thinking about it and you get to see a lot of things you don't normally see while driving. It's also easier to stop if you do see something interesting.

That's why I ride as often as I can, on the old Nomad 1600! ;) You experience life in HD as you fly by, but it doesn't seem to help my gut!

Oh, wait... you meant the PEDALING kind. Silly me!
 

wreckdiver1321

Senior Member
Those macros of the flowers are amazing. Very nice job. And I absolutely love that first shot of the bikes. The composition, exposure, and processing are absolutely fantastic. I would hang that on a wall. Really, really nice work my friend. :D
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 104 - Those dandy lions, phase 2

This time it's not the bloom, it's the seed head, catching a beam of light from a couple of different angles. Plus, I'll add that it was the ONLY survivor in the yard after last night's hectic winds and rain.

Day104-1.jpg


Day104-2.jpg


Now to decide whether or not I'm going to try and shoot the blood moon at 2:30 a.m.... *yawn*
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 105 - Sleepy Handheld Shots

It was late (early), I was tired, and the temps were FREEZING, so I just took a couple of handheld shots of the eclipse. The last one was as red as the blood moon got while staying somewhat in focus through shivers. :) I've seen MANY better, but it is what it is.

1st, just a small bite out of the very bright full moon.

Day105-1.jpg


2nd, just like a waning crescent, but no crater detail...

Day105-2.jpg


Just a sliver, and an eerie feel from the edit.

Day105-3.jpg


And now... Viktor von VooDoo. I had a co-worker that went to New Orleans for a 4 day weekend. I sent some cash for a friend from one of the "real" shops down in the voodoo district, and he arrived today. Of COURSE, he had to pose in the back yard for some quick shots... Note the catch light in his eyes in the 1st shot. :)

Day105-4.jpg


Gazing off to some unseen point with that faraway look... He's such a natural.

Day105-5.jpg
 
Last edited:

Deezey

Senior Member
Wait! There was a moon out yesterday?! Where was I?! Oh right...watching it rain....and then snow.....and then I stared up at my ceiling fan as I laid in bed in disgust.....

Love that VooDoo that you do. They gazing off one is great.
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 106 - Parking Lot Boredom

Not a lot of time to shoot, but had to park for a bit while I waited for my son to get out of his Youth meeting, so shot a couple to see what would come out of it.

1 - Hazy signs of Spring... just a hazy sunset (more just a lessening of light, as there were clouds everywhere) as viewed through newly budding branches.

Day106-1.jpg


2 - Hangin' out on the porch. Seems the European Starlings LOVE to build nests behind the storefront signs. This one was just chillin' and watching all the parking lot action in case someone dropped a fry or something...

Day106-2.jpg
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 107 - Cruisin'

Well, really just parkin' at the local burger and ice-cream joint. My photo group from church was supposed to meet tonight, but the chance of rain kept all but two of us home. Most of the regular cars stayed home, too, but I grabbed a couple of cool shots before the sprinkles sent everyone running home to their nice dry garages. The goal/theme was "not your usual angle", so here's what I got.

Best lookin' car on the lot tonight, the big blue Bel-Air.

Day107-1.jpg


Nice '67 Chevelle SS too!

Day107-4.jpg


Here are the "eyes" of the Chevelle.

Day107-6.jpg


Had fun just editing bugs off of this Mustang emblem.

Day107-7.jpg


1936 International!!

Day107-10.jpg
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 108 - WOW

That's all I can say... went out to try and catch the moon, but it just wasn't to be at that time of night, so decided to test my camera at the extremes. Cranked the ISO all the way up to HI2, pointed it down the street and fired a hand held shot. Not bad hands, not bad results!! I used the luminance noise reduction in LR5, but only at 30. INCREDIBLE, and this is just my wee D3100! :)

Day108.jpg


Day 109 - Easter! We made room for the busier services on Sunday a.m. and went Saturday night instead. Took this shot with my iPhone as our band covered the Foo Fighters "My Hero" for the intro song. w00t!

Day109.jpg


Day 110 - Work that MOJO!!!

Viktor Von Voodoo is trying to put some juju on my protein bars and chase the fat away! Not bad for an on-cam SB700 and the stock diffuser, eh? One of these days, gonna get one of those Gary Fong Lightspheres...

Day110.jpg
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
Day 111 - Rare moment of opportunity (plus some fun with borders)

So, I had a request for a portrait session in a "Springy" place, but the park they originally requested has a daily permit fee for "professional" photo sessions which the customer doesn't want to pay, so I was on the hunt for another nice place, and... I spotted quite a few pelicans down in the river that were BEGGING to be shot!

It's rare, this time of year, for them to be in an area close enough to get GOOD shots as the spring rains typically have the river running normal to full, but last year's drought without a lot of catch-up this year has it much lower than usual, so these birds were in the right area AND I had the access to get a bit closer than normal!!

1st, I had to bravely navigate down this, all the while fearing shattered bones and photo equipment. LOL

Day111-1.jpg


When I say really dry, I mean... REALLY dry! You can tell from this shot, pointing toward our downtown area, that I was able to get quite far out on the sand/rock bar. (note: I didn't think about the soaking rain we had for the last day and a half, and what might happen if they opened up the dam upstream)

Day111-2.jpg


This was what had my attention. American White Pelicans.

Day111-3.jpg


Day111-4.jpg


Day111-5.jpg


It's not all pretty when the water is this low, though.

Day111-6.jpg


Day111-7.jpg
 
Top