photography – Bifurcate In The Road

Up On the Roof

September 21, 2012 by kmilyun

This morning I managed to drag my arse out of bed at 6:30a.m. Those of you who know me are aware that me awake and moving prior to 8:30a.m. is nothing short of miraculous. I am a space flight fan – yeah I know some of you are anti space exploration – as a kid I loved anything and everything about the Apollo Rockets and the lunar rover. The grainy black and white transmission from the first moon landing enthralled me as a child. It still does.

The end of the NASA Space Shuttle program – an end to an era – saddens me. So, how could I not take advantage of heading up to a helipad atop on of Sacramento’s buildings? I could not! It is a rare to be allowed access to the top of a city building anymore. The last helipad I was on was atop the Renaissance Tower post 9/11. A few of us returned to our long standing once a week lunch up there only to be interrupted by folks in full Armour because someone from another building called us in as terrorists . … So when the invitation was offered yesterday afternoon I jumped on it! A couple of the folks up there this morning were past co-workers and it was fun to catch up with them. All the surrounding buildings had people on the helipads or on the top levels of the parking garages.

The shuttle came out of the southern horizon flew over the capitol building made a circle and came back from the northern horizon. It still amazes me how something as large as a 747 can fly let alone one with a space shuttle piggy backed on it. I toured the Boeing plant and watched workers building 747’s and came away remembering how huge they were and wondering what would happen if a worker missed a few rivets.

Well around 20 of us courtesy of the building manager sat atop the building and took photos of the people atop near by buildings as they took pictures of us LOL. Then the 747, Endeavour piggybacked, along with the military escort became a faint dot in the horizon.

A few of the shots I took:

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Well, I got up early, made it up the stairs for the last few floors where the elevator ride ended, waited for the Endeavor and it’s 747 ride, I am now headed off to take a nap!

Looking

November 27, 2011 by kmilyun

f/5.6, 1/500 sec, at 18mm, 200 ISO, on a NIKON D7000

I have always been intrigued by patterns. Mathematical patterns such as Fibonacci Spiral nature, the movement of the plants and stars, the weather, earthquakes, and patterns of light and shadow. I like to just sit somewhere and find them – ok nerd.

Nothing else tonight other than a a few snaps from the other night.

Dragonflys, Photography, Cranes, and Jerry

October 8, 2011 by kmilyun

One of the things I enjoy about being involved with photography is all the folks I meet. In the early 2000’s I met my friend Chuck while at the dog park. Later on I became interested in photography and we found ourselves out shooting together. Chuck was the first person who explained how aperture controlled the depth of field. I still use his method to show others how it works.

Chucks next door neighbor, Jerry, is a photographer also – a real photographer – as in he makes money selling is photos and has for years. I really enjoy talking with Jerry and I do not get very many opportunities to so. so Friday I was very excited that I was able to go and talk with Jerry. Just about anything Nikon Jerry usually has the answer or will pretty darn fast.

I arrived exactly on time – I actually sat around the corner text messaging to kill time so I would not arrive early.

Jerry

The purpose of my visit was two fold. One I really enjoy Jerry and looking at all his photos. Two, we both just recently purchased d7000’s and I wanted to pick his brain about settings and what not. And talk we did. I left with a loaner book and a super photo he took of two Sand-hill Cranes. I believe that Jerry has forgotten more about photography than I have even known

The Book

Last night I read and read the photography help book about the d7000. I jotted down a few notes and fell asleep. This afternoon I loaded up my gear and headed out to the refuge armed with some new ideas on specific camera settings. I still have not gotten it all worked out but I did get some better shots than my first attempts and the Sandhill Cranes did fly over head – way up but hey – I managed to grab a few shots of them. Not the best as most were shot at the max of the lens. But, way better than the before my chat with Jerry.

Sitting at a bench a noticed a bunch (what do you call a group of dragon flys? a swarm?) of Dragon Flys and zoomed in on them. I was really impressed at how fast the camera focused and how well it meters. My Nikkor 70-300mm has never taken this clear of a close in (ok I have never taken this good of photos with it).

Some Crane shots:

and these little birds were fluttering all around:

All photos can be viewed larger by clicking on them.

I might upload them to flickr or picasa later on?