D4 Mentality

Am I no theologian. I am no authority on spiritual matters. As a photographer, I observe. And what I observe is this: Often, we carry our Nikon D4 top of the line Pro camera's about our necks, bashing those who merely carry little bottom rung point and shoots. You mock the point and shooters, saying they should just shut up. Because they are not able to gather light from total darkness like you can with your D4, you disparage them as false photographers.
And you, who carry such a large camera, what qualifies you to be the authority on photographic matters? Just because you can afford such a large camera? I have been carrying a lesser than a D4 camera about my neck for over forty years now, and still, I do not feel I have attained a level beyond point and shoot. And many of you D4 carriers I have observed toting them less than ten years at best, based upon your youthful zealotry.
I think you have yet to master your D4's controls. On every camera there is an ISO setting. It determines the amount of light that enters the camera. In the old days of film, each brand of film had an ASA or ISO rating of speed. Kodachrome was one of the more finely detailed slow grain films, usually requiring bright sunlight or a tripod to properly expose this ISO film of 25. Tri-X was a faster film for low light situations with an ASA of 400. It is my suspicion that you D4 users are setting your ISO at 3200 and beyond. This washes out everything and causes gross over-exposure in daylight. You are going about thinking you are walking in this bright light, so much brighter than it actually is.
If you would tone your light gathering capacities down a notch or two, you would perhaps once again begin to take proper exposures.
You would no longer see everyone as under-exposed and walking in darkness. There is a light scale friends. Not everyone chooses or is able to walk in the light of Zone Nine or 3200 ISO.
So quit wanting to silence those who are carrying about the point and shoots. Someday they will possibly move beyond that level and will graduate to a D4. If they don't, that is fine. You will always have the poor photographers who struggle so you who carry the D4's can look down upon them and bask in your knowledge of photography. But just remember, one day you carried about a point and shoot.

on the board walk

this is the middle exposure of the three HDR I hope to soon start doing. I am so slow adapting to new technology! HDR is where you combine three exposures into one. The thought is to capture the highlights and shadows where you normally couldn't with just one shot. These work best for sunsets where the sky is exposed one way and the ground another. One will either be too dark or light. This one I am curious as to how it will look as the latitude was not that far apart. We shall see. This is also the boardwalk through the Osceola near Ocean Pond. The blaze on the tree in front of me marks the Florida Trail. The cypress hammock is currently dry. In the past when we came here to look for the Rosebud Orchid, the hammock had water in it. Now when you walk in the understory, you sink down several inches in the soft pine needles.

Bear Scat

Tree stand visit

Today, Tuesday, January 24th was our first forest outing with Nathaniel along. Landon and I went out for him to show me the different deer stands in the Osceola, the meat stand, five points, ect that he and the Popes and Bowens frequent during hunting seasons. I want to frequent them in the off seasons, to hopefully photograph a bear or other wildlife coming through. We took the stroller along and pushed NaNa on the roads, but carried him in the woods, mostly on Landon's shoulders. He is now taking a few steps on his own, so it will not be long before he is tagging along on his own. By the push back to the car, he was asleep in the stroller.

First Light

First light upon the cypress hammock near Ocean Pond. I was here in search of the mist that was here Friday afternoon. I felt for sure it would return Saturday morning, but I was wrong. Nevertheless, it was a good visit. The next day the mist did return, but I didn't. Elusive prey.

Hog Pen

This is Ocean Pond from Hog Pen Landing campsite. This is the location where I found the old wood duck box. This is also the spot I used to take Landon and Jordon to when they were little. In low water, the memory flooded.

Incoming

This is the view I see in the evening from the family room. Usually Rocky the dog is lying on the carpet or the chair in the upper top. The little table holds the books, ipod, watch, tea or whatever is needed at the time as I sit. Here I have the cracked Ipod touch with a photo of Nathaniel.

Scott's Testimony

Scott Hamilton gave his testimony. Shown are Tony Register, Christina Taylor, Vickie and Ken Bowen, Ken being instrumental in Scott's coming to Christ. Scott is the bass player for the 7 Days Band.

Dedication Sunday

This was from Sunday in Christ's Fellowships makeshift church, with Russell dedicating the newborns from left to right Nathaniel, Abrielle and Abigail. Shown from left to right are Landon and Amber Stokes, Tyler and Audra, Elder Tony and Breya Register and Pastor Russell Taylor.

Turkey Trail

Here I sit at Latitude 30.310612, Longitude 82.465385 for those interested in knowing where I was this past Saturday. This is a nice palmetto field recovering from a forest fire a few years back. The forest roads are fairly dry and thus the driving fine. I was in four-wheel drive only through the areas water covered the road, which was only in two places. Ticks though were plentiful.

Wood Duck Box

On the trip up to the cypress hammock at Ocean Pond Saturday, I came upon this Wood Duck box lying in the weeds in disrepair. I took it off the rusted pole and loaded it in the vehicle. I am going to restore it and return it to Ocean Pond soon.

Insect Inside