Category: Thoughts and Reflections

Three Feathers: A Pixel And Technology Comparison Revisted

Yesterday I published a post with three photos of feathers. Each photo was taken as a Macro and I used a different camera on each one. I will introduce each camera below the corresponding photo. My hope is to show people who think you must have the “latest and greatest” that they are truly missing out on the simple joy of photograph.

I took this photo with my Minolta Dimage S414
I took this photo with my Minolta Dimage S414 (Click on picture for better clarity).

The 4.1 mega-pixel Minolta Dimage S414 was released in early 2003 and is a fun camera to use. The controls seem “wonky” compared to today’s cameras but none the less it is a solid piece of technology.  Or as Minolta put in the press release: “The new DiMAGE S414 combines high quality images and automatic features, allowing users to obtain the best photographic results with easy camera operation,” said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of Marketing, Minolta Corporation’s Consumer Products Group. “It’s the ideal digital camera for a variety of applications and users — personal or business, from novice to enthusiasts.”

I purchased this camera online for around twenty bucks with shipping. Back in 03′ the camera listed for $399.00 so twenty bucks was a bargain, No?

I took this with my new-to-me Nikon D60.
I took this with my new-to-me Nikon D60 (Click on picture for better clarity).

As the caption states on the above photo I have a new-to-me camera. It is a Nikon D60 and I took this “Macro” using the long end of a 55-200mm zoom lens without a tripod or mono-pod!

The D60 was released the early part of 2008 and has a10.2 mega-pixel sensor. Since this is a true DSLR it is feature rich and to my mind a lovely piece of photo technology. The down side is the auto-focus will not work with all Nikon lenses due to the motor being inside the lens’s themselves.

I bought this camera off craigslist, and I had a great experience…this time, for three-hundred dollars. It came with to lenses, battery charges, owners manual, USB cord and two batteries. The Nikon D60 was released as a one lens kit back in 08′ for around $750.00.

This was taken with my Nikon Coolpix E5600
This was taken with my Nikon Coolpix 5600 (Click on picture for better clarity).

The Nikon Coolpix 5600 is an interesting camera in so much as it’s size not it’s abilities. The camera easily fits in the palm of my hand yet renders amazing results when used to its full potential. It is a solid little camera all around.

Nikon released the 5.1 mega-pixel Coolpix 5600, and it’s little 4.0 mega-pixel sister in early to mid-2005. It features 16 Scene Modes and 5 manual White Balance modes as well. There was several sites that set the list price at $399.00.  I found two sites that priced it in the ” real world at around $280-290.00. I bought this one and had it shipped to me for  thirty-five dollars.

Just a side note: Though I will be using photos I take with my D60 from time to time the majority will still be of photos taken with my point and shots. I feel it is the walk, the communion with made and created things and the joy of sharing that is important. Truly it is not the equipment but the journey. And remember my number one rule: (When its’ safe and legal) simply Take The Shot!

First New Shot of the Year

With daylight savings time and Winters arrival now living in our house, and the grey and short days that they bring, I have had little opportunity to take pictures of the things I love most. For those new to my place those things are usually the green things. The bright and colorfully things. The new life things. Or under the microscope of the here and now maybe it is better put as thus: The-things-I-do-not-freeze-my-bum-off-while-I take the shot  things!

With that said I have tried for the last several years to search for nuggets of not so green things and dare to see what treasures I can find. In that spirit here is my first new shot of the year. Enjoy!

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My Favorite From 2012

I love the contrast between the hardness of the rusty post and the soft touch of the flowers.
I love the contrast between the hardness of the rusty post and the soft touch of the flowers.

The journey for me and my Family in 2012 was a difficult one. Not that it was impossible, or worse than all others, yet it was a crazy ride. The one thing that keep me going was my Faith. For me if there is not  bigger picture then this life seems rather silly and unfair. Unfair not to me but to those men, women and children in this world who live with unbelievable hunger, are used for profit and  many other situations of repression.

This photo sings to me of the difference between people, places and the human journey. For me, as this picture simply works because of the differences, I hope we as the Human race can work it out as well.

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Ten Random Pictures From 2012

As a new season of life begins I look into the mirror of the past. I reflect on  “that which has been” and all the questions it brings with it. One of the questions is simply why do I enjoy photography so much. On the surface I must admit I simply want to be in the moment. Upon further reflection I believe this is counterbalanced by another dynamic: The need to share with others.

In that spirit here are Ten Random Pictures From 2012. Enjoy!11-16-12 S700 DSC_0026 DSC_0045 IMG_5316 IMG_0134 IMG_0045 DSC_0184 2012 03 11_1946 IMG_0017 2012 03 11_1917

Just Words

I have been blessed in this life with many wonderful and amazing things but the gift of words is not one of those things. Just because one is not gifted in something though does not mean that we not should try things that are not our “thing”. Sometimes jumping off our self built plateau of comfort can bring many rewards….as well as some personal discomfort! With that said into the shallow well I dive! Here are a few things I have seen that camera cannot capture and only the brush of words can paint their picture.

Picture number one.

The rock faced guardians that line the side of the road, left by those who dug and blasted the way for our major thorough fares, have the effects of time etched upon them. Many of seasons have pasted since the time the hills were carved out for the advance of man. The once bright and radiant stone has faded but still has retained its noble lines.Yet not only has it aged with honor but trees and things green have found a home among their time and weathered aged stoned face. With Autumns approach the trees leaf’s changed from green to red and orange. The living past slips into sleep so the torch of life will be passed on.

After Autumn was well upon us I was driving along one of these fine stretch’s of asphalt. It was the day after a long, rainy night and the Sun was making a cameo for the first time in several days. As the Sun broke through the clouds the soft light of dawn danced across one such face of rock as I have mentioned above. I noticed that under the trees the rock was different than the rest. It had been changed to reddish-orange hue with just a hint of the ancient weathered grey showing. The water that had seeped out the rocks had over time left mineral deposits down the face of the rocks. I was struck suddenly by a beautiful yet moving observation: It is as if the color covered Autumn trees were crying for the season past and the tears had left a stain time cannot erase upon the rocks’ face.

Onto the next picture.

Just past our place the road rises slightly and then bends out of sight over a small crest. On the other side of this stretch of road is small stand of trees nestled in perfect harmony with the road. In the Autumn they turn into a wonderful combination of the orange,red and a mix of the two. As I was walking The Boy one day I paused to enjoy the Sun as it set. As it fell toward the horizon there traces of magenta flavored colors pushing it along its journey. I turned around to finish walking The Boy and a thing of wonder had appeared: The Sun was setting one-hundred and eighty degrees from where it should have been. I thought that this could not be but it was there right before me! As the last traces of days rays hit the small strand of Autumn tinted trees they reflected the light and seemed to catch fire to match the retreating Suns majesty!

Picture two is complete.

I now look forward to making the space needed each Autumn to enjoy those moments, though brief, to be filled with a sense of awe. I hope you do as well and may you find wonderment were you can and add it to the canvas that is your life.

Layers Part II

The old Sycamore on our place is very old and losing limbs to storms at an alarming rate. This limb came from that tree and the layers in the limb I found to be quite beautiful. I was taken back that I found broken things beautiful but really we are at times broken if one is honest. I guess it not that surprising since I look at my mom and her failing health but yet I see the her beauty deep within. It reminded me that true beauty, which we all have, truly is from within.

Bridge To A Better Place

This shot is somewhat of a departure for me. Not in the sense of what I shoot but in what I post. Yet now I feel compelled to share it. The why is fleeting yet not so much as it may first seem. The reason(s) are personal but not unique to me nor are they unexpected. As I looked at this picture tonight I saw it in a different light, though not more seriously, than the day I took it. My Mom is fighting the final outcome and in this reality I look for hope. Not hope for a selfish yet human desire for her to be healed, cured or pardoned but for a better tomorrow for her. My hope is she and all cross the bridge to a better place.