Category: wide
Wide-angle photos. My attempt to show the world without a frame, which is impossible with a photo, but I try.2
Photographers take over St. Paul Como Conservatory
The Camera and Artist Event at Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, St. Paul Minnesota - every few months the Conservatory opens early on Sunday and allows photographers to bring their tripods in. I felt so out of place, I decided to leave the tripod at home and just enjoy my time there. It was such a sunny morning, the tripod seemed unnecessary. If I wanted to use a tight aperture I could have brought the tripod, but if you are familiar with my style, you'll notice I really enjoy the shallow DOF of a big lens.16
Fruit from the Ball Bering Tree
Fruit from the Ball Bering Tree or Wide-angle vs. Wide-angle. I went to the Minnesota Arboretum this Sunday with Matt, Bob and Rob (Mitch, Matt, Bob & Rob ha!). We had a great time enjoying the beginning of the Minnesota summer: a wonderful thing. We are all suffering from LAS (lens acquisition syndrome) and make a good set, 2 Nikon, 2 Canon. It was like two beer drinkers and two winos out for a night on the town without any sober buzz-killers around. In fact, there were cameras all over the arboretum that Sunday morning — like regulars at the hottest club in town. One couple we saw had more gear than us, but were rude in an odd way; the heavy-drinking jerks of the night. So, like any good addiction bender, I eventually ended up face-down on the ground, in front of the Ball Bring Tree. The Ball Bering Tree, as I like to call it, is a big sturdy oak with garden globes scattered around under it. When we saw it, all of us gasped and ran to it like moths to a bug-zapper. This is my favorite shot from the moment; a self-portrait in a way — you can tell it's me by the Smokey The Bear hat. I am actually mere inches from the globe, but with my Tamron 11-18 Ultra Wide Angle lens it's hard to tell. With the over-cast sky, plenty of light was still able to filter in between my lens and the ball, so it still worked out. For those of you who know Matt (Ravsitar from Tips from the Top Floor) you will recognize him in his signature orange shirt on the left by the tulip field next to Bob. So get outside, enjoy the weather and find a new perspective — you might even find yourself.3
Zen Night Watch Tower
If you don't have a fear of heights, this will give you it. Think of it as a bus stop 75 feet in the air. More Zen.5
Sky Light
I haven't figured out what it is about this image, but I can't stop looking at it. There are so many contrasts and the color balance was very tricky. This photo would have been nearly impossible with film — it took me several shots to get the exposure right. What's with the preponderance of green and blue glass on buildings? Is it to keep them cool?6
Got Goat?
Everybody needs a goat. This kid was in the red barn in yesterday's photo. What does it mean when someone's "got your goat"? Horses are nervous creatures, goats are very calm. If you put a goat in the barn with a horse, the horse would calm down. Take the goat, the horse gets agitated. Which is the same reason dalmations are associated with firemen. Fire engines used to be pulled by horses and if you can imagine, a fire is pretty terrifying for a horse, so the dalmation could keep up with the horses and help to calm them down.10