Buzzer Bolt
Buzzer Bolt
We had some friends over after dinner tonight and I decided I had to run out with the 105mm Micro for a bit to catch the last of the golden light, and well, get some shooting in. There's not too much around the apartment to shoot, but when you have a macro lens there's simply no end to subjects. The problem I was running into was that the light was only hitting in a few isolated spots, so I walked to each of the nearby pools of light and found a shot or two in each. This was a bolt on one of the buzzers outside a neighboring building. I love these small mechanical details though, and when they have this much texture...
Kensington Sandhill Crane Family (70-200)
Kensington Sandhill Crane Family (70-200)
We went back to Kensington Metropark for another day of caching and spotted our friends from the previous week -- the Sandhill Cranes. They were just casually walking around in the traffic circle ignoring the traffic. So we pulled over, grabbed the cameras, and started shooting. As soon as we got the telephoto lenses out though we discovered the two babies wandering around at their feet.
Glowy Leaf
Glowy Leaf
We had some friends over after dinner tonight and I decided I had to run out with the 105mm Micro for a bit to catch the last of the golden light, and well, get some shooting in. There's not too much around the apartment to shoot, but when you have a macro lens there's simply no end to subjects. The problem I was running into was that the light was only hitting in a few isolated spots, so I walked to each of the nearby pools of light and found a shot or two in each. This was one of the last images I found, and perhaps the best. I would have liked a little more light so I could have opened the aperture up a bit, but the light was simply amazing.
Kensington Bull Frog
Kensington Bull Frog
At the head of the Kensington Metropark's Nature Trail is a small pond full of frog and turtles. Its fun to stand at the fence and count the numbers of frogs and turtles you can see, but the hard part is still getting a good shot. Would anyone care to buy me the 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor?
Kensington Red Wing Black Bird; Waiting
Kensington Red Wing Black Bird; Waiting
We stopped for a few minutes over the marsh at the far end of the Kensington Metropark to grab a 360° panorama. We were surrounded by Red Wing Black Birds the whole time, but they stayed hidden in the reeds. Finally, this one paused long enough to grab a few frames as he called to the others, then flew off.
Kensington Red Wing Black Bird; The Call
Kensington Red Wing Black Bird; The Call We stopped for a few minutes over the marsh at the far end of the Kensington Metropark to grab a 360° panorama. We were surrounded by Red Wing Black Birds the whole time, but they stayed hidden in the reeds. Finally, this one paused long enough to grab a few frames as he called to the others, then flew off.
Kensington Sandhill Cranes
Kensington Sandhill Cranes As we started down the Deer Trail at the Kensington Metropark's Nature Center we were stopped abruptly by a pair of Sandhill cranes just a few feet from us. We simply stood quietly and pounded off frame after frame of these two cranes (we assume a male and female) as they walked through the trees toward us, then away, very casually. They eventually walked far enough from us that more shots were out of the question. So we moved on having blown more than a hundred frames on these two birds poking through the water looking for something to eat.
Mossy Sprout Forrest
Mossy Sprout Forrest While taking a walk through the Kensington Metropark's Nature Trails we happened across some sprouting moss. The tiny little forrest of these sprouts looks a little surreal through the micro lens.
[D2X_4085] 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor
Round Island Lighthouse
Round Island Lighthouse
While on Mackinaw Island we ran down to the shore just after sunrise (we missed the sunrise by about 20 minutes having estimated the sunrise too late). Unfortunately I didn't have the 70-200mm f/2.8 with me (we packed lighter than we should have to fit onto the bikes) so I had to use the 105mm f/2.8 Micro. With the new, smaller, lighter weight (and less stable) Gitzo tripod I worked the lighthouse and came up with some nice views. I'm anxious to get back in a couple years with the longer lenses and get some tighter views.
Kensington Squirrel
Kensington Squirrel
This very energetic squirrel at Kensington Metropark was bouncing all over the place as we arrived and departed the Nature Center. He was kind enough to pose for about 10 seconds though so I could grab this image.
Spring Blooms
Spring Blooms I'm not much of a fan for macro shots of flowers, but these seemed interesting enough to try. We stopped at a little shelter along the Deer Trail in the Kensington Metropark Nature Center to find a few ripe macro image opportunities. I think one of these days I'll have to go with the strict intention of shooting with the 105mm Micro, macro shots only, and nothing else.
Round Island Lighthouse
Round Island Lighthouse While on Mackinaw Island we ran down to the shore just after sunrise (we missed the sunrise by about 20 minutes having estimated the sunrise too late). Unfortunately I didn't have the 70-200mm f/2.8 with me (we packed lighter than we should have to fit onto the bikes) so I had to use the 105mm f/2.8 Micro. With the new, smaller, lighter weight (and less stable) Gitzo tripod I worked the lighthouse and came up with some nice views. I'm anxious to get back in a couple years with the longer lenses and get some tighter views.
Kensington Sandhill Cranes
Kensington Sandhill Cranes As we started down the Deer Trail at the Kensington Metropark's Nature Center we were stopped abruptly by a pair of Sandhill cranes just a few feet from us. We simply stood quietly and pounded off frame after frame of these two cranes (we assume a male and female) as they walked through the trees toward us, then away, very casually. They eventually walked far enough from us that more shots were out of the question. So we moved on having blown more than a hundred frames on these two birds poking through the water looking for something to eat.
Lighthouse
Lighthouse While on Mackinaw Island we ran down to the shore just after sunrise (we missed the sunrise by about 20 minutes having estimated the sunrise too late). Unfortunately I didn't have the 70-200mm f/2.8 with me (we packed lighter than we should have to fit onto the bikes) so I had to use the 105mm f/2.8 Micro. With the new, smaller, lighter weight (and less stable) Gitzo tripod I worked the lighthouse and came up with some nice views. I'm anxious to get back in a couple years with the longer lenses and get some tighter views.
West Bluff Details
West Bluff Details
While looking for light to capture at West Bluff on Mackinaw Island, I found this bud just begging to be photographed.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
When we were last at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse two years ago work had just started on turning it into a museum. As we passed through this time, the grounds and building were closed for some off-season renovations. The grounds were still torn-up but they certainly appear to be heading for something nice. The new roof on the lighthouse is really bright though and stands out on such a gray day. I have to wonder though if this is actually the type of roof (metal I think) they would have installed on the lighthouse while it was in operation.
Natural Muck
Natural Muck
We hit the Nature Center at Kensington Metropark on May 5th to do some shooting of whatever caught our eye. On the way out we passed through a field of muck. Between the growth through this whole area was a very shallow bed of water and a very brown algae. It looked cool and as if it could rise up at any moment to suck in those who dare venture off the path.
Big Mac & a Tree
Big Mac & a Tree
Following the weekend on Mackinac Island, we stopped back at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse to grab photos for a geocoin that wanted photos at that lighthouse. It was getting colder that morning as the clouds rolled in and the occasional drop of rain fell. I turned around and popped off this single image though of the bridge with the lone pine tree which just struck me at the time. Had I not been in as much a rush I would have worked the image a little more, likely getting a but lower, and come back with a few more options.
Mossheads
Mossheads
I'd like you to meet the Mossheads. We stopped by for a visit while in their neck of the woods (the Kensington Metropark Nature Trails to be precise).
Sugar Loaf Rock
Sugar Loaf Rock
While on Mackinac Island for the Spring Fling on Mackinac Island we hit a number of Geocaches including the Sugar Loaf Earthcache. This is a close-up of the stone that makes up Sugar Loaf taken with the 17-55mm lens. Its not the right lens for the job, but it worked pretty well since I wasn't about the haul the whole camera bag down and back up the stairs.
Sugar Loaf Crack
Sugar Loaf Crack
While on Mackinac Island for the Spring Fling on Mackinac Island we hit a number of Geocaches including the Sugar Loaf Earthcache. We had attempted to log this cache a couple years back but were too new at that point to have figured out how to correctly do an Earthcache. So this was our first opportunity to hit this Earthcache. It is basically just a massive chunk of rock, but a pretty neat looking chuck of rock.
View of Sugar Loaf
View of Sugar Loaf
While on Mackinac Island for the Spring Fling on Mackinac Island we hit a number of Geocaches including the Sugar Loaf Earthcache. We had attempted to log this cache a couple years back but were too new at that point to have figured out how to correctly do an Earthcache. So this was our first opportunity to hit this Earthcache. It is basically just a massive chunk of rock, but a pretty neat looking chuck of rock.
Sugar Loaf Fence
Sugar Loaf Fence
While on Mackinac Island for the Spring Fling on Mackinac Island we hit a number of Geocaches including the Sugar Loaf Earthcache. This fence with its great lighting really caught me eye as we stood at the overlook and enjoyed the views of the big rock.
Arch Rock View
Arch Rock
While on Mackinac Island we stopped by to do the Arch Rock Earthcache. We ended up spending some time here acting more like tourists than Geocachers.
Arch Rock Tree
Arch Rock Tree
While on Mackinac Island we stopped by to do the Arch Rock Earthcache. We ended up spending some time here acting more like tourists than Geocachers. Drie really loves these trees that grow out of the rocks, so I did my best to get a good shot of this one.
