Rural Life

Not really rural but it's plenty of life.  The  Eiffel Tower on Las Vegas's main drag.
I had forgotten all about even taking this photo while I was there, do you ever do that?  This will probably be the closest I will ever get to viewing the real thing.  Taken straight from the Nikon, to computer, to you.

Rurality Blog Hop #6

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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!

Pinterests Inspirations

Most of my fans and friends know about Pinterest, the new age way to bookmark.  I have to admit that I hadn't heard of if until recently, and now I am hooked.  I like so many others use Pinterest for ideas.  Ideas for cooking, home decorating, photo editing, clothing styles.......

I personally use it for photography ideas.  Here is a sample of what inspired me today.

Sunset Vineyard, Santa Maria, California
photo by jefftangen
I love the leading line that draw you into the image, up to the sun and then back.  It's a great way to use the rule of thirds and composition. 

Red Delicious, Japan
photo by Katsumi Oyamada
Red and Green have always been a favorite color combination of mine.  Great use of shallow DOF (depth of field).  The back-lighting helps to frame the red apples making them the center of attention.

Niagra Falls Frozen Solid in 1911
photo via ellishouse

Can you just feel the cold?  This is a great B&W, wouldn't get the same feelings if it were in color.

Mountain Train, Rocky Mountains, Colorado
photo via alcoholo

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the sense of motion. The overpass makes a great leading line as well as the tracks.   One amazing image.

I am not the photographer of any of the above photos, wish that I really was the one that had been there and taken that.  Check out each of the links for more amazing images and get some inspiration of your own.  

Until next time.  Keep your batteries charged and don't forget to remove your lens cap.

Side Note: you can follow my Pinterest Pins HERE.  

It Takes Courage
by Author Unknown

It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

Snow Cones

Snow Cones, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

While snowshoeing up Darby Canyon, yes I said snowshoeing, I couldn't resist the capturing shots of snow covered pine cones.
We have yet to receive our usual amount of snow fall this year, thus allowing for unexpected photo session.
Snowshoeing just happens to be my new found hobby. It allows me now to slow down, look around and see things I might have missed otherwise.

I hope that all my loyal fans and family have a GREAT New Year. I haven't quite decided what the plans are for my photo blog, make a new one, keep and add to this one or just call it quits. Decisions, decisions.

Working on the Wind_2940

Working on the Wind_2940, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Working on the wind turbines up around the summer cattle range.

Idaho Falls, Idaho LDS Temple

_Barb Phillips_DSC_2402_007, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

I tried waiting out the fog bug I got very impatient. I wanted a new LDS Temple photo.
Water was almost glassy calm, Canadian Geese were flying about and I was excited.
I must have taken over 100 shot trying to get the lighting perfect. Shooting white against fog is a challenge.

Barb Phillips' photostream

Barb Phillips' photostream on Flickr.

My Flickr photo's have you visited me there lately? If you have, let me know that you have dropped by by leaving a good word or two

On Attack

Goal for yesterdays photo walk was to capture some flying things. I had in mind something a bit larger like ducks, geese and other flying things.
What I ended up finding and capturing were the smaller types, bees.
I hadn't realized until I downloaded all the images that this bee was on the attack. Don't know if he is trying to remove the ant from his flower, if he eats them or if this ant attacked the bee. Nevertheless it made for an interesting shot.

Just wish that the image didn't appear so grainy. ISO was low, shutter speed was high and the WB was set correctly. I am using my 300mm and getting grainy images is getting to be irritating. Suggestion welcome on how to fix this problem.

Camera Nikon D90
Exposure 1/1600
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 300 mm
ISO Speed 400 (set so that I could get a fast shutter speed)
WB Cloudy

Light Shines Through

Light Shines Through, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Star bursts amounts the forest. I really surprised myself that I was even able to get the shot.