Category Archives: A Watering Hole

Sitting Here In Case I Should Cross Over – Alligator

It’s a small canal like strip of water. There are plenty of birds, but none anywhere near him.

Maybe this is what an alligator quiet place looks like.

Sitting Here In Case I Should Cross Over - AlligatorSitting Here In Case I Should Cross Over – Alligator

Good looking fella by gator standards.

Sitting Here In Case I Should Cross Over - Alligator
Sitting Here In Case I Should Cross Over – Alligator

Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG

It’s fun, like shooting a long while ago, but no chemicals or waiting a week for the prints.

I read that you have to learn to see in black and white, plan the contrasts. OK, but I have a perfectly good electronic view finder, much better than back in the day (like there were none).

The OM Systems OM-1 is very customizable, and easy, so I have taken advantage of it for monochrome shots.

Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG

I have my C1 dial set for ;

  • Monochrome (red filter, extra-sharp, high contrast)
  • Single shot mechanical (electronic shutter scans data to the sensor, mechanical hits the sensor in a single pass maybe sharper)
  • Half shutter focus
  • RAW + JPG (just in case I want color too)
  • Shutter 320 sec, not slow or fast, a good start
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG

Editors can still work very well with JPG files. For years I made the mistake of believing an image was cast in stone unless in RAW. Certainly you can do less, but a good editor works fine. RAW editors (like DxO Photolab) only do RAW, but Lightroom, ON1, NIK, Topaz, all work with other file formats too.

Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG
Why I Shoot Monochrome JPG

So, yeah it’s just fun.

 

Balancing Act, Turtle

Somehow they get themselves into odd positions. These are swamp turtles, there’s no tide changes in water levels. No stranding on a ‘bump’ by mistake. These critters climb there with purpose.

Balancing Act, Turtle
Balancing Act, Turtle

Below you can see him balancing, legs out straight. BTW, look at those claws!!

Balancing Act, Turtle
Balancing Act, Turtle
Balancing Act, Turtle
Balancing Act, Turtle

They manage to get out of trouble, but not sure how.

I spotted this one in a local swamp, but not sure what type of turtle it is. What little I see doesn’t look yellow enough for our usual sliders. Not a snapper either.

Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat

While on our trip to Chincoteague Island we were able to photograph the herds from both land and boat.

We had been told the best way to find them was by boat. The better vantage point did turn out to be from a boat, however we did get a good (lucky) afternoon from land in the Federal park too.

Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat
Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat

This is a mare from the islands south herd. We did get to shoot the north herd also, but they kept their distance for the most part.

Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat
Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat
Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat
Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat
Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat
Wild Horse Photographed From A Boat