A Bad Day Fishing

"A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work!", as the saying goes. The tangled line and bubble left here, make for a frustrating day fishing. I first saw the tree and branch and waited for the fisherman to float into the background to make the picture more interesting. I love to be in the outdoors. I even tried my hand at fishing. I caught two things, a sun burn and some great photos!

Green And Red Canoes

Summertime is passing by too quickly! These are just a few pictures from a day trip I took with my family. I want to go again. Image what this place would look like in the early morning hours. I will have to go by myself, the family is not willing to get up early for the drive.

More pictures of the red canoe will be posted later. I spent about 20 minutes photographing the canoe while the owner was "wooing" his date with wine and cheese! I didn't ask his permission because I didn't want to interrupt. It was just like the movies! Beautiful scenery, romance, and a canoe. To be honest, I almost started laughing when I saw the wine glasses and wine come out of the bag. I thought what next, cheese. Out it came! I am not the only one who has seen too many "chic flicks"! I do wish them luck.

Night Shots At The Amusement Park II

As you enter the amusement park you will see this water fountain. It is one of several. Kids of all ages (18 - 80 year old adults) are running through the water. Some to cool off, others to try and win a bet! As I went in I made a mental note, to stop and photograph this area before I left. It was about 10pm and the park would soon be closing and still there are people playing in the water. Who wants to grow-up? Music plays with the timing of the fountain and bursts of water. At night it is lite up. White, green, yellow, and blue lights give the viewer or participant a little show. Each picture is shot using manual mode and long exposures. Top - f/11, 2 sec., ISO 250. Middle - f/13, 4 sec., ISO 250. Bottom - f/13, 4 sec., ISO 250.

Night Shots At The Amusement Park

The box car or seats, riders loose there dinner in, can barely been seen. I had taken my big flash to use, but didn't check to see if it had batteries! I was not willing to buy them at the amusement park so I worked with what I had. Not on this photograph but others, I used the camera's flash to give me more light and a better ghostly image. It worked but I like this picture better. Nikon D200, Sigma 18-50 lens, on a tripod, 2 seconds, f/11, ISO 250.



I used the bulb setting on my camera to capture this picture. The "SKY RIDE" as it is called, had stopped. With the empty green chair sitting still I quickly captured this shot. I love the colors. The tall tower ride in the background is called the "ROCKET" and is a favorite of my children. You get to choose between a blast off or re-entry style ride. Fun if you like that kind of thing! I am more of a "SKY RIDE" person, but hate it when it suddenly stops and others try and bounce in their chairs. 0.62 seconds, f/5.6, ISO 400 with a tripod.



This is the first hill on a double loop roller coaster. After this downward twisted fall you are thrust into one loop and than another! The bravest of souls keep their hands in the air for most of the ride. Some scream, some gasp for air, others pray and hang on! What a ride! The last few years I have tried to get a photograph of this coaster with on luck. It has been to dark or rainy. I got it and I am happy with it. A little blur to show movement and speed. 1/80 of a second, f/3.5, ISO 250 with some cropping.

Fireworks

This shot comes from the east bench, looking west down into the city of Kaysville. They put on a nice show. Thought it was faint, we could hear the announcer, and music from our vantage point.
I could not get my remote trigger to work so there is a little wiggle in the picture do to my heavy finger. This was the best of the bunch. I am happy with it, but glad another city would be shooting off fireworks on Monday night.
I like firework shots that have something in them besides the burst. Some of the best ones I have seen have been of the US Capital or other major landmark. Think of the New Years celebrations around the world as you watch the news coverage. The Statue Of Liberty, New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France or the Opera House in Sydney, Australia. They look great all lit up by pyrotechnics. I don't live close to any of those spots so I work with what I've got.

These are from Monday night. My wife and girls are in the back of the truck enjoying the view. Three to four thousand vehicles (I really don't know the amount!) parked in an old shopping plaza to jockey for the best view. One might think two hours before the event would be enough time to get a great spot. WRONG! It wasn't bad but not the best.

For these pictures I used the rear-curtain sync to illuminate the truck and the back of the girl's heads. It worked out much better than I thought it would. I even reduced the flash out put. The top picture has the firework burst very sharp and my girls slightly out of focus. The bottom picture is opposite. I think both look good, but I can do better. I have one more chance to get them both sharp on July 24th when Utah celebrates Pioneer Days.

A Few From The Parade

I like the reflection in the tuba! By the time I realized what I had in front of me it was to late to take anything but a horizontal picture. This one is cropped, but I still got it!




This guy was fun to watch. He went by and gave a high-five to those who could reach and a low-five to those who could not! I'll admit I wanted to see him fall, but he is really good at riding a tall wheel!


I have not gotten out much to shoot as of late, thus no posts. I haven't looked at all the post each of you have done either. I hope to do better. I have spoiled my children and spent my time off at the water park with them instead of taking pictures. I will need to stay out late and capture some night shots or get up early and capture the sunrise and than take them swimming! Anyone willing to get up and leave at 4:30 am with me? I'll need the company to stay awake, I'm more of a night person.

Wild Flowers III

These are the last of the wild flowers from my yard. The white flower is the size of a dime or small button. The more colorful flowers are small in stature while blue/violet ones grow tall. It is as if they want to hog the spot (sun) light. I have been unable to get a good shot of the red and yellow flowers so far. I did plant some daisy that will grow tall and give a new color to the flower bed. They will be late summer blooms, however.

Wild Flowers II

The yellow flowers are this years surprise. There is a small bunch, five or six stocks, in the flowerbed. Yesterday, I was admiring them before work and thought I get my camera out at take a photograph when I get home. When I got home they were gone! Like the little blue/violet flowers I posted earlier, these folded up and went to bed. I first thought someone had come and cut them than realized they close up at night. I have three types of flowers that do this and I don't know the names of any of them. I should have keep the package! Duh!! If any one knows the type, name, species please let me know. Shot using a 105mm macro lens with my D200. Some color and levels corrections done for enhancement. ISO 200, f/10, 1/200 sec.

Wild Flowers

It's hard to believe these flowers are about the size of a nickel. Last year, I planted a package of wild flower seeds. The results have been very pleasant. Most of the flowers are of the verity I have photographed. I have no idea what kind they are. The flowers grow to two and a half feet to three feet. At night or early evening they close up to little buds. It is like they have been put to bed. They are a beautiful shade of blue and violet, some are a pale blue almost white. Shot using a 105mm macro lens with some levels adjustment.

Little Hooters

My neighbor took me on a little road trip to see baby owls. There are three in the nest, I could only see two, with mommy owl no where in sight. While out for a drive, he looked through the sun roof in his truck to spy the large nest and its residents. What a find! There was another large nest about 100 to 150 yards up the road. If there were youngsters in it we could not see them. I would hate to be a mouse, rabbit, chihuahua or cat! There are some hungry birds looking for dinner!

It was overcast for the first picture and much brighter for the second. I used a 70-200mm lens with a 2X teleconverter. Some cropping and levels correction was done to enhance the pictures.

Weed

Shot using a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, f/2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200, cropped to virtual, with some levels correction.

Extreme Western Utah

"Go West...!" I did and what is out there for your viewing pleasure? Not much! As you head west out of the state of Utah there is nothing to see but road and large areas of open smelly lake bed. The Great Salt Lake was once larger than it is now and it's hard to believe water covered the road to Nevada.
I had remembered that there was some art work along the highway. The "tree"and a "car hedge" at one time. The car art was not there but tree did not disappoint.
Out in the middle of nowhere on the north side of the road there is this LARGE cement tree. I will have to find out more about it and post a link.
Since I was this far, I went to the Bonneville Salt Flats and set a new land speed record in a truck! Not really! There was water and it made a soft thick mud that stuck to tires and mudflaps for days. I may still have some leftovers hanging on.
The movie Independence Day has some scenes shot out at the salt flats. It is as vast and lifeless as the movies shows. Remember Will Smith dragging the alien in the parachute?
This summer I will have to try and get out there again. One, to drive on the salt flats, two, to capture the the harsh beauty at night. May-be with storm clouds and lightning or a star filled sky.
Does anyone want to come? It is a long drive by myself. Paul thanks for coming with me. Get that camera out and remember to rotate the CPL filter!