Uploads from Michael E(xploratory) S., with geodata

Flying in a Stormy Sky

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:11:25 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

After hiking up to the top of Guffy Butte, storm clouds began to move in. As we watched the sun set, and the weather moving in, a solitary hawk appeared in the evening sky. She was beautiful as she hunted up and down the Snake River canyon. It was a spectacular sight.

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec - ISO: 1000

Unknown Wetland Bird

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:51:29 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/160 sec - ISO: 800

Unknown Wetland Bird

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:52:27 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/160 sec - ISO: 800

Unknown Wetland Bird

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:50:30 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/160 sec - ISO: 800

Yellow Headed Blackbird at sunset.

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:44:33 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/80 sec - ISO: 800

Another Yellow Headed Blackbird.

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:43:40 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/80 sec - ISO: 1600

Red Wing Blackbird in the Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:14:53 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

A little more than a week ago, I randomly decided that I would attempt to capture some photos of some of the wetlands birds here in the Treasure Valley. Not far from my work is a wetland reserve park where you can view several different species of birds. I have long loved the red wing blackbirds, with their bright winglets, and sweet songs. I quickly discovered that photographing these birds is very challenging. First off, exposure is extremely tough, especially in the dim light of morning. There is so little contrast among their jet black feathers, it's hard to bring out much detail. The next big challenge is that the are VERY active! They are very skittish, they don't sit still for very long, and they like to hide behind leaves, branches, or anything else to obstruct your view. Getting close shots takes lots of patience. Focusing and composing must be done quickly, when the birds do pose for their picture, they only sit there for a second or two. Over the course of six different trips to the park, I must have taken close to 1000 shots, with none of them coming out as well as I had hoped. Here are the best shots of the group.

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6 G VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/160 sec - ISO: 800

Mother's Day Flowers

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:24:29 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Happy Mother's Day, to all you moms out there!

This shot is taken of some flowers given to my wife by our son. This was my first attempt at using the "In-camera-HDR" capability of the D7100. Can you tell?

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G VR Micro
Focal length: 85 mm - Aperture: f/8 - Shutter speed: 1/20 sec - ISO: 400

Portrait session: Deja

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:15:30 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Portrait Session: Juan

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:17:10 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Portrait Session: Deja & Juan

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:11:42 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Shack - Black & White

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:56:31 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

This shot is the from the first set of photos taken with my new Nikon D7100. This camera is a big step up from my D3100, and I'm loving it so far. I snapped some quick shots of this old shack that sits in a vacant lot in between Meridian and Boise. I was learning to use the exposure bracketing, so I thought I'd create a quick HDR image. The B&W fits the spring thunder-storm weather we've been having around here.

Insidious

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:59:13 -0800

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

My author friend, Ray Ellis, asked me to work on the photo and imaging for the cover of his new crime/police novel "Insidious", and this is the result. The above photo is an HDR image rendered from a bracketed group of five photos. The photos were captured in long exposures in very low ambient light, with brief flashes of an LED flashlight to paint the shadows and accents. Texture and effects were added post processing using Photomatix Essentials and Adobe Lightroom. Composition of the photos require planning, and trial-and-error, in order to get the subjects placed properly and with the right proportions when combined with the other cover elements. The actual photos took a couple of days to capture (accumulating literally hundreds of different shots of these props and others), and I don't know how many hours of post-processing to get something I was happy with, and something the author and his publishing team liked.

The story line of the novel follows a high integrity cop as he gets caught in a series of lies, accusations, and strange circumstances which result in his suspension from duty, and then being the subject of an "Internal Affairs Investigation". My intent with the cover was to capture the dark mood and atmosphere of the moment when a good cop has to turn in his gun and badge, and at the same time, set that moment in the gritty world that often surrounds police work.

You can see the finished cover here if you like. The paperback version of the book is due out in February.

Snow Tree 2

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:56:50 -0800

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

The storm was receding as I left for work this morning, but the light in the neighborhood was too splendid to ignore. Even though it is still dark here in Idaho at 7:00 am, the fresh snow reflected the light from the single street lamp so well, the neighborhood was dramatically illuminated. The lighting conditions and all the "white" gave me fits trying to find the right exposure, and focusing was very difficult. What I captured was not nearly as dramatic as what my eye observed (like normal), but it was still fun to stand in the street with my camera in the early morning, instead trudging off to work.

Nikon D3100, Nikkor 18-300mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED
Five exposure bracket: 25 sec, 20 sec, 15 sec, 13 sec, 10 sec @ f/16; ISO 800, Software: Photomatix Essentials, Adobe Lightroom.

Canadian Dew

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:43:24 -0800

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Yellow Headed Blackbird at sunrise.

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:42:51 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Nikon D7100 - Lens: Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
Focal length: 300 mm - Aperture: f/5.6 - Shutter speed: 1/20 sec - ISO: 1600

Pink

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:02:04 -0700

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

Just a pretty little flower I captured a couple of months ago.

Nikon D3100, Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G; 1/160 sec @ f/3.8, ISO 100
Software: Adobe Lightroom.

Snow Tree 1

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:57:43 -0800

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

This is another bracketed set of shots of the same tree, combined with HDR software, using a different set of settings.

Nikon D3100, Nikkor 18-300mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED
Four exposure bracket: 25 sec, 20 sec, 10 sec, 6 sec @ f/16; ISO 800, Software: Photomatix Essentials, Adobe Lightroom.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:42:36 -0800

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo:

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 140 meters (460 ft) long and 70 meters (230 ft) above the river. The bridge was originally built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer, but is now within a private park with other attractions. Other suspension bridges create "Treetop Adventure", and there are may beautiful pathways to explore.

Waterfront Wheel

nobody@flickr.com (Michael E(xploratory) S.) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:33:34 -0800

Michael E(xploratory) S. posted a photo: