Exploration Photography Daily View - August 31, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Every once in a while I will shoot a photo that has a main element that I really want to share with you but also has some things that I feel take a little bit away from it. More often the not so good things keep me from sharing. Today however I decided that the good bits are good enough to go ahead and let you see the finished image. And here it is.

What I don't like: It's a little overexposed and the entire foreground is not evenly focused. 

What I like: The butterfly is crisp and clear. And I love the composition.

Believe me when I say that this one gave me some trouble. And if you saw the RAW image you would see what I mean. But I think taking the time to tweak it was time well spent. After all there is not a large window of time to photograph butterflies in the wild.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Tuesday August 30, 2016

And that will do it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 30, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Getting back to our trip to Black Rock Sanctuary on Saturday I would like to share a photo from along the waterfront. It was a very bright day and I had a bit of a time taming the bright sky but I think it looks pretty good. I really should have used a lower ISO but it is what it is. But just so you know, the sky was actually a lot bluer than it is here.

I created this scene with seven separate photos merged in Photoshop. And if it looks quiet and serene it's because it was. I love shooting at Black Rock.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday August 29, 2016

Have a good one my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 29, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

I was thinking to myself this morning that it feels like it has been a while since I shared a squirrel with you. And it just so happens that I got a few pics the other morning while tending the cafe. So here you go, one of our many squirrels.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday August 28, 2016

Have a great day my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 28, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Yesterday I told you about our trip to Black Rock Sanctuary and about all of the great subject matter I had the opportunity to shoot. And today I was going to show you another one of them. That is until I happened to be in our pool and noticed all of the butterflies, birds and other wildlife that seemed to be very active. So I got out of the pool and ran inside to grab my camera then got back into the pool and carefully made my way back to all of the action. I was very nervous about the very real possibility of dropping my camera and ruining it for good. But fortunately I didn't. I did however grab this shot.

He was all the way inside the flower but made his way out as I was shooting. I think he was in a trance or perhaps a bit drunk off of all of that pollen. At one point he was really covered in the stuff. I must say that it is nice to see bees around here. But I am also sad to say that we don't have nearly as many as in years past. Another side effect of humans messing with the works. I actually still know people who would kill them off. We are going to be very sorry one day. Very sorry indeed.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday August 27, 2016

And that's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 27, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

What does one do on a hot and very humid day? Head right out into it and bring his camera along, that's what! Kim and I took a drive to Black Rock Sanctuary this afternoon for a stroll through it's footpaths and to get a little closer to some of our local nature. And of course I captured a lot of good stuff with my camera. Or should I say cameras.

Last weekend I picked up yet another film camera. But this one is special. It's one that I have wanted for many years. Though it is not an uncommon model it somehow eluded me. But last Saturday I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The camera is a Canon AE-1. And it is super clean and as far as I can tell fully functioning. I won't know for sure until I get the first roll of film developed but I have high hopes.

Okay, this isn't my best picture but it's the only good one I have of my newest find. The cool thing about it is it consists of three generations of camera. The Canon AE-1 35mm film camera in my hand, My Canon DSLR around my neck and the camera I shot this with in my other hand. My Samsung Galaxy S6 camera phone.

So since I haven't developed my first roll of film yet I am sharing a photo from my DSLR. I sot this along a river bank at Black Rock.

One of many dragonflies I saw today. I guess if there is something special about this particular one is that I nearly got stuck in some rather nasty mud while shooting this. And while I didn't get stuck It was sure a mess.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday August 26, 2016

And that's all for today folks. But I have a lot more to share so please be sure to come back real soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 26, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

It's getting late my friends so this is going to be one of my quick posts. So without further delay let's get going shall we? 

For today's photo I would like to share another shot from yesterday afternoon at the Cafe.

Not as much action as yesterday's pic but it is a bit clearer.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday August 25, 2016

And that will do it for now folks. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 25, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

After tending to the Cafe this afternoon I thought it would be nice to set up my camera and see what I could capture. And I must say that it was a very productive shoot. I got lots of good stuff but for today I would like to share this with you.

Sometimes tempers get out of hand but it usually turns out good.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday August 24, 2016

Have a good one folks. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 24, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

The past few days have been pretty dry around here. And the temperatures have been very tame too. But ending the heatwave we had last week involved some nasty rain and high wind. I'm not saying we didn't need it but I would have preferred some nice mild showers. What was nice though was the sunset and sky after the storms. And that is what I would like to share with you today.

And since then the skies have been mostly clear. And that's fine by me!

And now...

Yesterdays View...

Tuesday August 23, 2016

Have a great day my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 23, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

For today's photo I thought I would show you the flower I shared yesterday but in color.

I don't know which I like better. This version or yesterday's black and white.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday August 22, 2016

Have a good one my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 22, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Continuing with my mini shoot yesterday I would like to share a photo of the flower I was working with when I looked up and saw the sunshine through the tree.

The black and white was not intentional. The night before I shot this I was working in monochrome and simply forgot to set the camera back to color. But the more I look at this the more I like it. I love black and white but to be honest I usually reserve it for architecture or cityscapes.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday August 21, 2016

Have a great day my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 21, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

It was another very busy and might I add very fast weekend. Again! But I did get a lot in. I even had time to shoot a little today. Not at the Cafe but still at home.

I always say that wherever there is a tourist spot there is also a place nearby where the locals live. And today's photo sort of explores this theory. "Sort of" being the operative words.

When I got up this morning I knew that as the day went on the weather was not going to get any better. It was going to get hotter and hotter and then it was going to storm. And that's just how it went. With a lot of yard work to get done I set out at 8am and worked until about 11am. And I got a lot done. After I finished in the front, where the Cafe is located, I headed out back to help Kim. And when I was done there I grabbed my camera and shot for a bit. And from that shoot I would like to share this with you.

This is one of the trees that serves as a home to many of our birds. It is what many refer to as a "scrub tree". And I have no idea what it actually is. It started to grow at the end of our yard several years back and I just let it go. And I am so glad I did. It provides shade for our pool and like I said a home for our wildlife. I shot this when I was photographing some flowers. I happened to look up and saw the Sun shining through and knew immediately  wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday August 20, 2016

And that will do it for today my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 20, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Today was a good day in my world of photography. And I didn't shoot one picture. I did however get my hands on another vintage camera. Well sort of vintage. It is from 1981. Considering that is 35 years ago I suppose it is vintage. Man do I feel old! But all of this is for another day. After I get a battery for it and load a roll of film I will set out and do some testing. And I'll be sure to report back with the results.

So seeing as I once again didn't go shooting I figured I'd go through the archives and show you something I previously passed over in post processing. And here is what I came up with.

I shot this on May 2, 2015 at Longwood Gardens during their tulip exhibition. One of my favorite times of year to visit Longwood. Though anytime is a good time to visit Longwood!

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday August 19, 2016

That's all for now folks. Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Special Edition - August 19, 2016

Hi and welcome to a special edition of Exploration Photography!

On Sunday April 13, 2014 I published my very first post of what I call Exploration Photography. I wanted to create a place that would be an outlet for my artistic side and maybe even help some others along the way. Or at least entertain them a little :)

Fittingly my first post focused on analog photography. Film that is. It's where my photographic journey began many years ago so I thought it would be a nice place to start a new journey.

In the beginning my posts were rather sporadic, to say the least. But I did what I could. And to be honest I was still getting comfortable putting myself out there for all to see. Not to mention just getting used to the actual designing of and the layout of the blog itself.

Over time I made changes here and there. Nothing big just a bit of tweaking where I thought it was needed. But after some time I felt that if I was going to be serious I needed to make a bigger change. And that change took place on August 19, 2014. I called it the "Photo Of The Day". Now known as "The Daily View". It was my commitment to share a photo with you every day. And I have done so for two years now. 730 posts to be exact. My reasoning was simple. I wanted to improve my craft. And I believe the only way to do that is to get out there and shoot as much as possible. Did it work? I like to believe so. Is there room for improvement? You bet there is! And there always will be. Not only would it be silly to think I have arrived and had no more to learn. It would be sad and depressing. I never want to stop learning. I'll never be perfect but I will get better.

So to celebrate this milestone I would like to re-share a few things from the last couple of years. And to start I am going back to where it all began. Here is the very first photo I ever posted along with a link to the entire article.

Sunday April 13, 2014 (Click For Original Post)

This is actually the second photo in my first post. That is because the first one is a stock photo of the very same camera that I produced this photo with. My 1965 Zeiss Ikon Contessa LBE.

And here is my post from August 19, 2014. My first "Daily Post".

Tuesday August 19, 2014 (Click For Original Post)

Some wildflowers in our back yard. The randomness of this photo kind of sets the tone for future posts. Basically the randomness. Some days or even a for few days at a time I have a theme going on. But a lot of the time it is well, random. It's all part of the "getting out there" part and simply shooting just to shoot and maybe learn something along the way.

Now I would like to share a few photos that I particularly like for one reason or another.

October 14, 2015

September 14, 2015

May 19, 2016

November 15, 2015

August 31, 2015

May 5, 2014

October 13, 2015

And there are many more. I may share some in the days ahead but for now I would like to continue with my commitment to posting a "Daily View". This is something that I have shared more than a few times before but is still unique. This is the only Full Moon that will have ever happened on August 18, 2016.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday August 18, 2016

And that's a wrap my friends. Thanks for reading, watching and looking. Not only today but for the two plus years I have been at this. I really do appreciate you taking a few minutes of your time to stop by and check out whatever it is I am sharing day to day. You are awesome!

As always,

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 18, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Well the weather seems to have let up a little and it's finally a bit more comfortable. So after work I was able to spend a little time in the Garden Cafe to see who might show up. I was hoping to shoot a few pics of the hummingbirds but they didn't seem to be around. Well they were around but they didn't stop at the feeders to drink nectar. I did see a few birds though. And for today's photo I would like to share this one with you.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Wednesday August 17, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 17, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

While we were out and about this past weekend I came across this beautiful lake and made sure to snap off a few shots so I could share it with you. Enjoy!

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Tuesday August 16, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 16, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

For some reason I had a bit of a time trying to figure out what I wanted to share with you today. I guess it was sort of like writer's block but, you know, different. And seeing as I still don't have a lot of new stuff I thought I would show you another fountain shot from the Cafe.

Another one of our feathered friends enjoying some nice cool water on what was a very hot day.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Monday August 15, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 15, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

A while back Kim and I picked up an African Violet during one of our trips to Longwood Gardens. After a few weeks however the flowers died off and all that was left was the plant. Well a couple weeks ago I saw a few buds sprouting and before I knew it I had some blooms. So for today's photo I would like to share this with you.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Sunday August 14, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 14, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

Yesterday I told you that I didn't get out to shoot because of the very hot temperatures we are having here as of lately. So in lieu of something "new" I shared another photo from the Cafe. Well right after that post went live I decided to take a look out on our back deck to see what the sky looked like and to my surprise it was rather clear. For days it has been rather hazy. Also to my delight I saw that the Moon was shining nice and bright. So despite the nasty humidity I set up my camera real quick and shot off a bunch of frames of our closest celestial neighbor. I worked with a few of them and finally decided to share this one with you. I'm not 100% pleased with it but I think it's okay.

I captured a lot of detail but there is just something that could be better. Still though like I said I thinks it's okay.

This morning while the weather was a bit friendlier I decided to set up in the Cafe and grab some video. What follows is just the first part of a longer video. I'll share more in my next post.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Saturday August 13, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 13, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

It was another hot day my friends. And I mean hot! At one point the outside thermometer on our car was registering 102° F (Approximately 38° C). But I will still take it over the cold of Winter. So in light of this pure nastiness I did not get out to shoot a whole lot. But I did set up in the Cafe and shot off a few hundred frames and I think I got some pretty good stuff. And for today's photo I would like to share with you this bird who was trying to make the best of this hot and humid day.

He was one of many that took advantage of our bird bath fountain. Some bathed and some drank. It got so much traffic that I had to change the water four times. But I don't mind. It's a small price to pay for the hundreds of great photo ops they have provided me over the years. And it is also my way of giving back to our wildlife that have had so much taken away due to the selfishness and ignorance of others. Oh I could tell you some stories of things I have witnessed but I like to keep this a friendly blog.

Now onto "Things I have seen". I am still working on this and will be doing some tweaking. And today' photo isn't really weird or anything. It's just something that amused me when I saw it. This was shot yesterday when I was picking up lunch for myself and a few people at work.

This if course refers to the year 2000 when there was an hysteria of sorts caused by the belief of many that  the computers we rely on every day would suddenly fail as the clock struck midnight and the world went from 1999 to 2000. There was concerns that all kinds of bad things would happen such as our power grids going down and planes falling from the sky to people losing their savings because bank computers would erase accounts. Of course none of  this stuff happened and we went on as usual. I never had a doubt :) 

Oh, and to state the obvious this cash register is a manual type that I would guess is fifty or so years old. It has a crank so it probably doesn't use electricity at all. No computer, no problems I suppose.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Friday August 12, 2016

And that's a wrap my friends. Thanks as always for stopping by! And if you like my blog please feel free to share it with others who may also enjoy it. The more the merrier!

Until next time...

Exploration Photography Daily View - August 12, 2016

Hi and welcome to the Daily View!

It's been quite a day my friends. But the work week is done and I hope to get out there and do some shooting. Oh it will be hot but it is Summer so it is to be expected. For today's photo I would like to share another pic from last week at the Cafe. Check out this up close view of one of our House Finches.

And now...

Yesterday's View...

Thursday August 11, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...