Delicate sound of light

First light this morning over Mrs Duncan's yard. I am becoming quite familiar with her landscape, at all hours of the morning, night and evening. I use her red roof as a framing line, trying to keep it out of my photographs.

Harry and Franken-bike

Yesterday I took the rear V-brakes up to Harry at the Harry's Bike Shop to install on the Franken-bike, so named by Professor Shaun. Fitting, as nothing is working from the parts we took from Rogers bike and moved over to this frame. Here, you can see the Rock Shock Judy red front suspension fork, clashing mightly with the purple frame Roger gave me from one of his trips up to Wisconson.
Harry has been quite patient in the attempt. Not sure when complete, but the cost will probably equal what a new bike would cost.
But, what price are we willing to pay for memory and sentimentality?

Moon and Star

Last evening following the Hors Categorie(Beyond Category) sunset, the moon and star quietly made their appearance. In taking the garbage to the road, i had the camera in pocket as usual. I took the little tripod with the magnet tips and set it on the old rusty stove top plate atop the 'stokes' pole at the driveway entrance and made this 15 second exposure. As is the case, the moon in its sliver was over-exposed, but you get the picture.

Free birds above prisons

On the ride home from getting the PT Cruiser in Olustee, a wonderful sunset unfolded. I was following Jordon in the Pathfinder and did not want to pull over, so I set the Canon S95 up on the little tripod on the dash and kept driving. I put the camera on a one second delay so my pressing the shutter would be eliminated, as enough shaking was already going on. I set the camera on manual with a 2.8 at 80 exposure.
As we were going through the area where the three prisons are, a large flock of birds was circling, getting ready to roost. I had enough time to get one shot as I drove under them. I should have stopped, but didn't. Also, two interpretations of the same shot. Both from Picnik, a photo site from Google that sadly is going away this April. It will be missed by me as it has the signature I like and the framing.

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.