Week In Review - Idaho Falls, Idaho Area

The weather finally broke enough that I was able to get outdoors and do some much needed photo therapy.  While attending the High Desert Photography Club meeting this week, my photography juices were flowing.  My desire was to be able to capture some new architecture, find some interesting lines and work on my birding skills.
Old architecture is very hard to come across in and around my area due to the fact that I live in a large farming area.  Any piece of ground that becomes vacant is either planted on or grazed.  I am totally envious of all the photographers that have at their disposal the old rustic farm houses and out building.  Someday I hope to take a road trip and find some of my own to photograph.
I've been able to come across some really great restored images of old barns thanks to Pinterest, you can check out my architecture board (which will be continually added to) if you get a chance.  Let me know when and if you drop by.

Now for the reason that you stopped by, to view what I captured this past week.
Life on the Snake Rive is my first photo share.  This time of year the river is packed to the banks with all types of winter migrating birds.  The Canadian Geese happen to be my favorite to photography for two reasons: 1.  they aren't so leery of people and 2.  there are so many of them.  Here's my practice at capturing motion.

Coming In For A Landing
Taken with my Nikon D90 f/4.5 @ 1/1000 ISO 200

Now it's on to practicing my Black and White photo conversions.  There is just something that I find so intriguing about taking the colors from a image. This process is a challenge for me as most times my images come off all muddy and soft looking.  I will have to practice a lot more to get something that has the B&W WOW factor.

  The Big Stretch

 f4.5 @ 1/1250 ISO 200

Summers Final Harvest

Nikon D90 f/11 @ 1/50 ISO 400

Bottles On The Window  f/11 @ 1/30 ISO 1250  Woops note to self ALWAYS check your ISO before shooting. LDS Temple By The River f/9 @ 1/400 ISO 200  See what I mean about B&W images looking a bit muddy when converted?  I am after the crisp definition between the blacks and whites, I want the focal point to really POP of the page.  This is still a technique in search and training. Trumpeter Swans Over The Snake River f/5.6 @ 1/1000 ISO 200 One thing that I've learned while trying to capture birds in flight is you need a very FAST shutter speed, spot metering, long lens and patience. Line Sight Sparrow Hawk f/8 @ 1/500 ISO 200

Country Lane f/10 @ 1/60 ISO 200 White On White f/8 @ 1/1000 ISO 200 +2/3 EV

And Now for my persona favorite out all this weeks photos- Birds On A Wire f/10 @ 1/200 ISO 2100 I was shooting with pure luck having my shutter speed so slow, good thing these guys never attempted to make a move.  I am really liking the brown on brown effect of the Dove against the fall foliage. Well that does it for this weeks photo review.  I still have lots to learn and don't mind sharing what I've learned in the process of photo practice.  If you have a photo question, ask away and I'll go out and pratice the photo concept and come back with the answer. Thanks for dropping by and your comments are always appreciated. Note to self - CHECK YOU ISO before shooting!

Idaho Spring Snow - Idaho Photography

Really? Can we be done all ready?
I have yard work to do. I have plants that need put in the ground. I have cattle that need summer grass!
Enough all ready!
I need some warmth, sunny skies and sun.

Last Snow Ride - Idaho Falls Idaho Outdoor Photography

Last ride, last snow storm and last big adventure.  In the Fall I look forward to seeing winter snow covered landscapes.  In Spring I look forward to seeing the same in Summer covered in green.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

1.12.11 Shoot and Edit: - Winters Fragile

Part 2 of Shoot and Edit weekly photo challenge.  A great way to learn and practice you shooting and editing skill.
This week's suggested photo theme was to 1st capture a shot that in some way says "WINTER". 
Do you recall my first SOOC shot that I posted Monday?  If you missed it, here it is once again SOOC -

Here is how I shot this photo I had placed a black piece of cardstock behind the cluster of snowflakes.  By doing so I hoped to eliminate the distractions in the background and help the details in the snowflakes stand out a bit more.
I know just by looking that this is under exposed, aren't snowflakes suppose to be on the white side?  The white and black through my metering out the window.
So here is my editing procedure to help fix up and bring back the snowflakes details.

• Bring the photo into ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) changed the camera profile to vivid
• Set white balance with eyedropper tool selecting what was suppose to be white
• Pulled up the exposure and added in a bit of fill

Here is what the photo looks like now in ACR

There wasn't much more that I could do in ACR so it was not time for Photoshop CS4.

• Crated a duplicate layer (ctrl J) of my background layer.  Ran noise-ware program to get rid of the pixely look in the black areas. Noiseware that I use is a plug in for Photoshop put out by Imagenomics, it's great stuff.
• Rotated image
• Cropped the image to 12x12

The rest can be found by looking at the photo layers file -

• Adjusted color balance
• Adjusted level, pulled the black and white sliders in
• Adjustment Black and White layer
• Adjustment Layer Black to White Gradient Map
• Adjustment Hue/Saturation toned toned down the load colors
• New adjustment layer painted on background color over sun spot
• Adjustment layer levels pulled in the black and white more
• Ran noiseware again
• Added text
• High pass sharpen

All the adjustment layers were added by clicking on the little half black half white ball.
Here is my new after edit photo -

Now let compare all 3 photo one after the othere:

Nikon D90 - 85mm Macro - Manual Mode - CW - Auto WB - f/16 @ 1/25 - 640ISO

1.7.11 Primitive Elegance

While taking a drive up the canyon, I spotted a what is left of the COX family homestead.

I was totally surprised the this cabin/house was even still standing.  Over grown by brush and towered by trees it still stands.   The creek still runs past, ice covered but running.  This must have been really upscale and considered elegant in its day.  Three rooms, a bedroom for the little ones.  Protected by the winter wind and today vandals.  Going to make it a point to go back and take in some more history.
Old buildings, rustic barns, vacated warehouses, abandoned machines, they all have a story and are my most loved photo subjects.

1.2.11 Black and White

Cedar posts and split rails loaded with snow. One can only enjoy places like this if they are willing to get off the beaten track.
And finally Winter, with its bitin', whinin' wind, and all the land will be mantled with snow.
Roy Bean
Day 2 of 365

001/364 1.1.11 One-Two-Three-

How is it that the more things change the more they stay the same?
Let me explain.  A couple years back I was involved in doing a really great 365 photo challenge.  I started out all gunge hoe but as the days and months past, so did the time.  That was all back in 2008.  Then 2009 came around I vowed to start up the 365 photo journal again.  I was going to do much better.  I was going to take my camera everywhere, take pictures and get them uploaded.  Well that soon ended with resolutions broken and the last of the year un-photographed.
2010 came along and the 365 Photo Challenge structure was changed.  I couldn't find the time nor the incentive to get involved, I just floundered all on my own.
2011 comes along and I find that the 365 Photo Challenge is back to the way it was setup in 08 and 09.  Yeah!
Today is the first day of the 365 Photo Challenge, it will also fit in for the letter "O".

One - Two - Three - 

and a bunch and a bunch.

I had the desire to travel up the valley to my families old farm ground.  I new given the time of season that there would be plenty of wildlife to view.  I didn't think that I would see them munching on someones leftover summers garden.  I couldn't believe how many Mule Dear I was able to photograph today, they were everywhere.  Not a care in the world as they didn't even notice when I climbed out of the auto to get up closer.  

This group is mostly the youngsters.  Just up the hill were all the buck and big does.  So exciting to come across some many wild animals in their natural habitat.

Told DH that I was able to shoot more wildlife in one afternoon then he will in a life time.  I counted over 200 in this heard of dear.  I was also able to capture via photos a large herd of elk higher up the farm ground.  They seem to be a bit more allusive. 

What came to mind when I saw all these animals was my childhood memories and learning to count.  You see it was like this one- two - three and a bunch and a bunch.   Interesting what will jog ones memory bank.

How if you are interested in joining in on the 365 Photo Challenge for 2011 HERE IS THE DETAIL LINK

they are caring on the ABC Photo Challenge there this year as part of their theme. 

liven life to the fullest

Are you too busy to really enjoy liven life?  I think not, I love my love and all that I’ve been given. 
My children have classified me as being a bit on the crazy eccentric side.  “MOM!” they say “can’t you just act your age?  Gee Wiz.” 
My grandkids, on the other hand thing they have the COOLEST Grandma ever. 
I’m not afraid to get out and ride the board, where does their dad think he learned to ride.
Not afraid to get out and get dirty, my mud pies are the bomb. 
I’m afraid of a good water fight as long as I get to handle the water flow.
In fact, I’m not even afraid of a little cold weather, in fact that’s what this gal lives for.
I LOVE WINTER!!  You read that right.  Summer heat, can’t stand it.  Spring mud don’t like putting up with it.  Fall, well falls all right as long as I get to go on my week long hunting trip.  But WINTER, winter is what I live for. 
I grew up being a avid down hill skier.  As many weekends as I could get away with, you would find me carving up the slopes.  Not that sissy cross country stuff, no I had to have the black diamond, moguls and powder. 
Now several years later I find that the draw of the down hill has been replaced my the roar of my snow machine engine.  I have replace my k-2’s with a Polaris 700. 
I never dreamed that I would ever be giving up the love of being the first to carve out a train in unmarked powder but I have.  You could blame it on age or perhaps that I have found a new love for unmarked territory that no skier can get to but my skiing days are over.
My new love that of the snowmobile has taken me to areas that I would never be able to get to.  I have been able to witness winter in the REAL back country.  I have seen wildlife as they try to carve out survival in the deepest, coldest of winters.  I rescued the lost.  Helped to find the misplaced.  Listened to real winter sounds and surveyed summer trails now deep in blankets of winter white.
Crazy, yes I must be.  You can not really witness the real winter spirit without being a bit on the crazy side. 

I am REMEMBERING WHEN this photo was taken.  WINTER had hit my part of the area making everything in sight B&W with the exception of a few SELECT COLORS.  Along with WINTER came the WIND.  WINDS that blows the WINTER snow into all kinds of interesting snow sculptures.  The WIND that helps to cover the country side with a WINTER blanket of snow FRAMING areas that would be overlooked had it not been WINTER.  Times REMEMBERED WHEN friends and family had good WINTER times FRAMED by BLACK and WHITE goodness despite THE WIND.

 

86 - 03.27.10 - Nighttime

Nighttime
I have found by doing this theme this week that taking night shots is very hard. Fighting with lots of noise, low light and trying to find something that is photo worth has been a struggle.  Just when I get things figured out it's time to move on to a new theme.

Anyway, I have learned that -
I need to work for on focusing.  That's really hard as night photography has to been done, IMHI, in manual. 
Got to get better and remember my trusty tripod.  Hate haling it around, don't like people wondering what I am up to and asking dumb questions like, "Are you taking pictures?'
I really need to get out more and not hibernate once the sun goes down.

f/4.8 @ .5 800ISO -2/3EV 48mm  no flash used
Taylors Crossing fountain downtown Idaho Falls, ID at night.  Wind was blowing about 35mph and that gives the photo the hazy look, water spray.
Next weeks theme - Green With Envy if anyone wants to play along.  I will be mixing packages and umbrellas.

23/365

Masculine
Trying to rescue some lost and forgotten cattle in the high, snowy, cold, only for snow machine area.
My YouTube video of today find.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgJc6Zus27U

Want to keep up to date on the animal rescue?  I will be posting more videos of Mondays rescue on YouTube.  You can follow the links via my blog, right her.  Should be very interesting to say the least.

22/365

Trio plus one

Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture:	f/7.1
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	400

Just a few winter fowl enjoying the water until I came upon them.

21/365

I was really hard pressed to find anything I thought would make a memorable photo today.  That was until I passed by some of last summers flowers.  They have out lived there beauty for most.  But, if you look close you can still find them beautiful, interesting and full of life.

20/365

Cold

It's snowing again today, has been on and off all week.  I was beginning to wonder if we would get any more for the winter, I was hoping so.  

There isn't as much snow pack in the mountains this year as last.  You're pretty hard pressed to find a good place with enough snow to ride to.  (on a sled that is)

I hope we have enough snow for spring and summer watering. 

Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture:	f/4.8
Focal Length:	85 mm
ISO Speed:	400

18/365

Cold

Cold,
I have issues with my peonies. I haven't decided where there home should be in my garden. I move them about every other month, that is a big no no.
They will be moved again this spring and hopefully I wont change my mind. Yah right.

15/365

Sun

Another sun photo.  I have been waiting all week to be able to get the sun as it is setting in the west.
No I am all caught up with my photos and I hope to stay that way.

13/365

Chaos

Just a bit of chaos around the bird feeder this mornin.

This is a really bad, out of focus, blurry and noisy photo.  But,  I had to get a shot of all my Dear Hubby's birds  that he is feeding this winter.  It take these birds about 30 minutes to empty the feeder.  I am just hoping that my woodpecker, pheasant and turkeys come back this spring.

12/365

Cold
Just to show my family members just how deep the snow is in my back yard.

I love the wintertime.  Love the cold, white and winter activities.  What I don't like is that I am really limited on colors to photograph.  White, grey, black and brown seen to be all that there is around.

11/365

Cold

We finally made it to freezing, 32 degrees.  YEAH!

10/365

Texture
I was finally blessed with some much needed sunshine today.  I needed it anyway.  Ted, pictured below, was waiting for his daily treat of carrots. I find it very hard to go outside when it is dark and dreary, I need sunshine.

So what does this have to due with texture?  Have you ever felt the winter coat of a horse or mule?  Their coats are so thick and soft.  Best winter texture I know of.

2/365

Warning
We drive down the same road, walk the same path day after day. But, do we ever stop to really read the signs?
While traveling down the same old road that I have gone down numerous time before I had never stopped and read the signs. I had more time to think and take in the scenery as I wasn't' traveling down the road using my normal mode of transportation, was on a snow machine.  Traveling this way also gave me more time to stop and really see what was around.

This sign is pretty fitting for the area, time and season. So better take Warning snow is over 3 feet deep and temperature is below freezing.  I wouldn't want to be stuck out here in my track till spring.