April 24, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/250
Av( Aperture Value ) 1.8
ISO Speed 100

The Lofts

Not sure why I liked the repetitiveness of these balconies in the downtown loft apartments.


This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

April 16, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/100
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
ISO Speed 100

The Railroad Bridge

Stretching over the Maumee River in Grand Rapids, Ohio, this railroad truss bridge isn't being used. It was fun to explore. Highly illegal, but fun!

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

April 11, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/1000
Av( Aperture Value ) 3.5
ISO Speed 100

The Iron Tree

The tree of life sculpture at the Toledo Botanical Garden - one of my favorite sculptures in the garden. It's three dimensional - almost like a puzzle piece. As you approach the sculpture, the tree changes shape and form as you perceive the two structures from different directions and distances. As with the tree of life, and how you perceive its meaning. To me, the tree of life represents unity.

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

March 27, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/200
Av( Aperture Value ) 16.0
ISO Speed 100

Old Church Steeple

Driving through the country today saw some old charming churches. Thought this would work well in b/w for monochrome weekend.

Some days (like today), I get to feeling like I need to reinforce and keep reminding myself of my faith. I tend to find spirituality in lots of different things, but somehow I always feel the sense that He is near when I am at a church - with steeple reaching into the sky - I have to know that He is always beside me.

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

March 13, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/160
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0
ISO Speed 100

The boatyard

It poured down rain and the wind blew all day. A gray day, but it gives a certain mystery to places like the boatyard. I love the sound of the halyards clanking on the masts.

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

March 1, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/20
Av( Aperture Value ) 3.5
ISO Speed 100

Madelyn Kay - Seven Days Fresh

Today I finally got to meet my friend's new baby girl - she was born one week ago today. I'm not one for portrait photography, but Madelyn certainly deserved the spotlight today. She is beautiful and healthy.

I tried this in B/W. Had some problems with exposure today - for some reason I started out very over exposed. ISO was set much too high, and also it was the first time in a long time that the sun was out. Her crib was right near the window, so light was not an issue. By the time I took this shot, I had the ISO and exposure figured out, but wow... I am out of practice!

February 26, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/500
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0
ISO Speed 100

Objects in Mirror are Closer than they Appear

Is it ever going to stop snowing??? TGIF! It's the weekend, but the snow is coming down like mad. It looks very pretty out the window right now, but the cabin fever is getting me down!! There's no end in sight. {sigh} Meanwhile enjoy my silly self-portrait in the rear-view!

*This reflection is inspired by Weekend Reflections thanks to James at Newtown Area Photo. Click on the link to see other wonderful reflection shots!

February 20, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/50
Av( Aperture Value ) 20.0
ISO Speed 100

High Level Bridge

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

February 16, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/500
Av( Aperture Value ) 16.0
ISO Speed 100

The lonely bench

This is what happens when I go out unprepared... I definitely needed to get out shooting today. Even though it was snowing, and gray (again)... the last few days have been extremely busy with some friends visiting me from out of town.

I ventured out with a camera that was completely out of battery power, and SD card pretty much full. Of course I discovered this much too late, and clicked what was left of my limited resources at Toledo Botanical Gardens in the snow. So this was it! My shot for the day. Next time I will be more prepared, but for now, reluctantly, the lonely bench gets the post.

February 7, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/2000
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.0
ISO Speed 100

Long shadows in the snow

A little cheat - this shot was taken yesterday, although, the weather was almost the same today as it was yesterday - the sun came out, but the snow was still here. This is the Manor House at Wildwood Metropark in Toledo, OH. Not my favorite composition, but I liked the shadows that the trees cast in the snow.

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

January 30, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/1600
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.5
ISO Speed 100

Monochrome Weekend - Toledo Ice Yacht Club

More difficult than being out in the bitter cold was choosing the shots for the post today.

Ice boating is a hundred-year-old tradition on Lake Erie (and other great lakes). There are not many times during the year that the ice is in the right condition to sail, so the ice boating is a very rare and short-lived winter sport.


This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

January 16, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/100
Av( Aperture Value ) 9.0
ISO Speed 100

A bridge over frozen water

A monochrome, and a reflection! Hey, I believe that might kill two birds... :) Went over to the Toledo Botanical Gardens today. Great things to photograph in here - macro to scenic, they have it all. It was a bit cold, but I tend not to notice the cold when I am inspired.

Unfortunately, I ran out of space on my card... Ooops! It's all okay - today wasn't a very nice day; too many clouds. I am definitely going to return here on a sunnier day!

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

*This reflection is inspired by Weekend Reflections thanks to James at Newtown Area Photo

January 13, 2010

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/15
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
ISO Speed 800

The inevitable haircut

Today was the day that I cut my hair. I've had long hair most of my life - sometimes almost to my waist. I don't think I've ever cut my hair this short. Since I will probably lose my hair, I didn't want the loss to be too traumatic. Little did I know that I would love this short style so much! I should have done it years ago!

The salon was a little difficult - not a lot of light, so I had to boost ISO. I also had my stock 18-55mm today. I thought that it needed a day out since I've been favoring the 50 :) So here's the new me. Nothing is as it was, nor will it ever be; so why not change everything?

December 30, 2009

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/40
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
ISO Speed 1600

Got the shaft

Not sure - an output shaft from either a diesel engine, a hydraulic motor, don't know what the hell this thing is. I think it's a forklift part of some sort. I spent a few hours today walking around a forklift/crane shop. I was a kid in a candy store, and my camera was hungry; so many things to shoot - mechanical things, controls, pistons, gears - things I know nothing about.

I liked this particular object, and liked the way it converted to monochrome with a nice range of tones. Two days monochrome in a row... uh oh. Am I in a rut? Um, no, I think it's a shaft.

December 29, 2009

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/80
Av( Aperture Value ) 1.8
ISO Speed 400

Empty airport; empty heart

Having a hard time leaving PDX today. Going into the great unknown. Delayed flight, already re-routed, will get to Detroit sometime early tomorrow morning. Then the journey begins. I am going to try to find my strength, even if it may take me all over the country; I will find it. I didn't really say goodbye to anyone - just "I'll see you later..."

Until tomorrow... blue skies :)

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

December 20, 2009

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/60
Av( Aperture Value ) 14.0
ISO Speed 200

A rainy day in the gorge

Not a great day for a photographic outing, but it was worth a shot. Spent a little time in the gorge today after a fun night of wedding celebration and Sunday brunch at Multnomah Falls. I stopped at this lookout point - although I have been past this point a hundred times, I never actually stopped here until now. This is looking toward the Vista House from the Portland Women's Forum scenic lookout. Sun or rain, the Columbia river gorge is one of the most special places on earth.


This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Weekend

December 13, 2009

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 0.6
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.5
ISO Speed 1600

World Buddhist Preaching Assn.

It's been a very difficult week to get out and take photos every day. A difficult week in general, I might add. The weather hasn't been cooperative, and I am slacking in my postings!

This shot is a statue outside of the Buddhist Preaching Association in Portland - it was pouring down rain, and light was getting dark. The temple was closed, but a man with a key opened the temple and let me in to take photos when he saw me shooting from the street into the gardens. Light wasn't good, and pouring down rain didn't help. I snapped as best as I could, and decided to go with this scary looking guy. It was a beautiful place with lots of potential for wonderful shots, and I'd like to come back in the daylight and explore some more!

December 6, 2009

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 0.3
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
ISO Speed 1600

Cheryl's Portrait

Sunday night - dinner and wine with some good friends. Cheryl was a sport and let me experiment with some b/w portrait. I put the glass in focus and left her out of focus, narrow DoF, to make for an abstract composition. With little light, the ISO was a bit high making the image a bit noisy, but hopefully the b/w keeps it a little soft and ethereal.