Picture of the Day (Dial-up internet users enter at own risk!)

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Another Shot of Ruby Lake, BC Sunshine Coast

 

[KristinB]

Here are some Ducks from my trip.

Lovely! And just... ducky!

 

[KristinB]

Another Shot of Ruby Lake, BC Sunshine Coast

Steve,

How beautiful and serene! Makes me wish I were there right now...

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Steve,

How beautiful and serene! Makes me wish I were there right now...

Did you see this picture of Ruby Lake I posted a couple of weeks ago? These shots are about 180 degrees different direction (and about two hours difference in time). It was raining when I took the picture with the footbridge, and this vista (the one above that shows the main body of the lake) was pretty nondescript at that time. (I did about four or five setups of the main lake at that time and deleted them all.) Coming back past the lake a couple of hours later, the clouds had lifted a bit and the wind had completely calmed. So the mountains came out, a patch of blue shown, and the lake water reflected it all.

I was on a time schedule (needed to catch the ferry back to Vancouver) and couldn't stick around, but if the clouds continued to lift there was an absolutely spectacular sunset about three hours after I took this shot.

 

[KristinB]

No, I missed it, thanks for pointing it out. I don't visit the thread every day (although I should, shame on me), I'll try to do so more often. That one is stunning!

 

[swift]

I like this one of my son and his two buddies. He is such a ham.

 

[geoand]

Same airplane

 

[Elli]

Did you see this picture of Ruby Lake I posted a couple of weeks ago? These shots are about 180 degrees different direction (and about two hours difference in time). It was raining when I took the picture with the footbridge, and this vista (the one above that shows the main body of the lake) was pretty nondescript at that time. (I did about four or five setups of the main lake at that time and deleted them all.) Coming back past the lake a couple of hours later, the clouds had lifted a bit and the wind had completely calmed. So the mountains came out, a patch of blue shown, and the lake water reflected it all.

I was on a time schedule (needed to catch the ferry back to Vancouver) and couldn't stick around, but if the clouds continued to lift there was an absolutely spectacular sunset about three hours after I took this shot.

What a nicely framed shot of Ruby Lake, Steve. I had seen the previous picture - did you actually shoot it in black and white?

Kristin, I enjoyed your bird pictures, actually all the pictures in this thread are very interesting - I look at the updates of this thread every day.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

What a nicely framed shot of Ruby Lake, Steve. I had seen the previous picture - did you actually shoot it in black and white?

Thanks, Elli. Re the b&w photo, I shot it in color and then converted it to b&w, using a strong orange-yellow filter effect. The filter caused reds and yellow to lighten, while darkening blues. That filter caused the footbridge to stand out more against the water. It also increased the contrast of the mountains in the background - made them stand out better in the mist.

I've not always had a lot of success with b&w conversions, though I was pleased with that one. The references I've read recommend that even if you intend to produce a b&w photo, the process generally works better if you shoot in color and convert to b&w rather than putting the camera in b&w mode when you shoot. Shooting in color gives you more options to select a filter; if you put the camera in b&w mode, your only opportunity to apply a filter is at the time of shooting.

 

[KristinB]

Hi, Elli!

Nice to "see" you on this thread -- it was so nice meeting you and Eric at Morritt's back in 2006! I don't remember if I ever sent you a link to my photos from that trip or not. If I didn't, you can go to my galleries here -- just scroll down a little bit and look for the Grand Cayman album. Oh, and thanks for the compliment!

 

[Lisa P]

actually all the pictures in this thread are very interesting - I look at the updates of this thread every day.

Same here - gorgeous photos and great variety. Thanks for keeping them coming.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Let's Go to Maui

Hana Road

These are from my early digital days.

***********

This is along the Kaupo Coast, on the south slope of Haleakala, and beyond the point where most people turn around and go back on the north side of the island.

To get into the shadows where the tree was, the sky got overexposed. The file is too small to crop out the sky.

********

 

[Elli]

Hi, Elli!

Nice to "see" you on this thread -- it was so nice meeting you and Eric at Morritt's back in 2006! I don't remember if I ever sent you a link to my photos from that trip or not. If I didn't, you can go to my galleries here -- just scroll down a little bit and look for the Grand Cayman album. Oh, and thanks for the compliment!

Hi, Kristin, I don't remember if you actually sent me the link, but I did look at them when you mentioned your photos on other posts. By the way, some great shots of butterflies at that place on Cayman.

If I remember right you are going to the B.I. this year and staying at Paniolo Greens? Eric and I are going in Sept. for 2 weeks and added another week at Kona Hawaiian Village.

Say hi to your hubby - was nice meeting the two of you.

Elli

 

[Elli]

Thanks, Elli. Re the b&w photo, I shot it in color and then converted it to b&w, using a strong orange-yellow filter effect. The filter caused reds and yellow to lighten, while darkening blues. That filter caused the footbridge to stand out more against the water. It also increased the contrast of the mountains in the background - made them stand out better in the mist.

I've not always had a lot of success with b&w conversions, though I was pleased with that one. The references I've read recommend that even if you intend to produce a b&w photo, the process generally works better if you shoot in color and convert to b&w rather than putting the camera in b&w mode when you shoot. Shooting in color gives you more options to select a filter; if you put the camera in b&w mode, your only opportunity to apply a filter is at the time of shooting.

Thanks for the explanation, Steve. As you mentioned, in b&w the footbridge really looks great.

 

[swift]

I thought this Korean Monument was very well done. Not a great picture photography wise but a good memory.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Lil Miss Heidi

THEN (her pound puppy photo):

NOW:

 

[Timeshare Von]

I've just been told that this photo will be featured in May 08 issue of Dog & Driver Magazine, the official publication of the Int'l Sled Dog Racing Association. This will be my first published photo.

This is Egil Ellis, the winner of the 2008 event. He has won a record tying eight GCI Opens!!

 

[Lisa P]

Von, does that breed always have white toes and tail tip? Looks like Heidi has a french manicure!

And I love the face of the far left dog in the dogsled photo!!!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Trail Islands

Georgia Strait, just north of Sechelt, BC.

 

[swift]

Went to Tilden Park last weekend. Tilden Park is a huge regional park up in the Berkeley hills. I haven't been there since I was a little girl. This is a picture of the little steam engine ride we went on with the kids.

 

[geoand]

Anza-Borrega State Park

 

[KristinB]

I've just been told that this photo will be featured in May 08 issue of Dog & Driver Magazine, the official publication of the Int'l Sled Dog Racing Association. This will be my first published photo.

Von,

Congratulations, that's wonderful! How nice to be recognized!

 

[KristinB]

Hi, Kristin, I don't remember if you actually sent me the link, but I did look at them when you mentioned your photos on other posts. By the way, some great shots of butterflies at that place on Cayman.

If I remember right you are going to the B.I. this year and staying at Paniolo Greens? Eric and I are going in Sept. for 2 weeks and added another week at Kona Hawaiian Village.

Say hi to your hubby - was nice meeting the two of you.

Elli

Elli,

Wow, you have a good memory! Yes, we're leaving for the B.I. on May 10th, but we ended up switching things around a bit -- we're staying one week at Paniolo Greens, one week at the Bay Club, and one week at Wyndham Kona Resort. I'll let you know how we like everything when we get back... And yes, I'll tell Kenny you say hi! Give Eric our best, please.

 

[Elli]

Elli,

Wow, you have a good memory! Yes, we're leaving for the B.I. on May 10th, but we ended up switching things around a bit -- we're staying one week at Paniolo Greens, one week at the Bay Club, and one week at Wyndham Kona Resort. I'll let you know how we like everything when we get back... And yes, I'll tell Kenny you say hi! Give Eric our best, please.

Thanks, Kristin, do let us know which unit you liked at the Wyndham Kona and Paniolo Greens - we are going the end of Sept. and are staying 1 wk at Wyndham and 2 wks. at Paniolo Greens.

I am leaving May 28 for a Med. cruise with my sister, so I'll get back after you return from Hawaii. Have fun! "Talk" to you then.

Elli

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Evergreen Cemetery

Until Then It Was Always Six

I got out of the car and looked around, squinting as my eyes adjusted from tinted car interior to bright outside sunlight. I saw what I was looking for - five chairs set up on the grass, about 50 feet away. Then I looked further, to the horizon. It was a fine early September day in western Minnesota. It was actually cool for the week after Labor Day, and a bit breezy, but the sun was shining brightly amid a few broken clouds. The nearby fields and trees had the dark green hue of late summer on the northern prairies, when the foliage is still robust but autumn is just starting to gain a foothold and harvest is nearing.

I knew that the row of trees a couple of miles away was the near shore of a lake. I laughed to myself, thinking “Fifty years ago today he could have been fishing that lake.” When he was in his 30’s, this was the type of late summer day when he might have gone out fishing for a couple of hours after work. With fall approaching he would try to get in a bit more fishing before he stowed his pole and tackle box for the winter.

Mom got out of the car and grabbed my right arm with her left hand. She clasped my hand, and then buried her head in my shoulder. My older brother came around on her right side. My two sisters came alongside us, and the five of us walked together to the five chairs, following the pallbearers and the minister.

Five chairs. Until then it was always six.

I only half-listened to the graveside service. Instead I continued sorting through events of the last several months. I was glad we were saying our goodbyes, and that the end had come as it did.

Dad really left us a few years earlier. Dementia had been slicing him away for five or more years, leaving him less than a shadow’s shadow of what he had been. Sometimes a big chunk would suddenly disappear; more often it was little nicks and slices that inexorably added up. Finally the last remnants were gone, and that was it. We all missed him, but none of us wanted him back as he was at the end. So it was time to go; actually, it was a good time to go.

I reviewed the funeral again in my mind. Dad loved hymns and sacred songs, so we included his favorites in the funeral service. The five of us had looked through a couple of hymnals from his personal library page by page, as we shared memories triggered by the songs. We remembered, and he was with us again. Though his body was finished, who Dad really was remained with us as strongly as ever.

So, as I sat in front of the grave, I felt peaceful. I realized this was a time of joy for Dad’s life, not of sadness at his passing. This was a time to recognize the richness and grace he gifted us. This was a time to appreciate his love and his life.

I am glad for the treasures he gave us while he was alive. I am glad that he was not snatched from us prematurely and that the agonizing descent ultimately ended gracefully. And I am glad he had reached the Peace he had looked forward to most of his life.​

**********

I visit here every trip to Minnesota. When I took this picture last February, the temperature was -20 F, with a wind chill of -40. That's cold.


***************

See here for discussion of digital darkroom work on this photo.