Christmas Service, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, 12/25/2004, Nikon D100, 50mm f1.8D, 1/60 f3.5.

Notes: I always bring one camera or another to our annual attendance of Christmas Service at Grace Cathedral. This year, I happened to have the right combination of sitting position, camera, and lens to produce this picture. The light streaming through the stained glass provided some appropriate, atmospheric color to the wall above. I didn't want to be too obtrusive so I only took a few shots, and I 'm glad that at least one of them turned out the way that I hoped.

--Warren

Market Street - 2003

Here's a photo I made a couple of years ago for my final project in a photo class at City College. Made on slide film, 1/2 sec. exposure, handheld with a Leica and a 35mm lens. I panned the camera during the exposure.

Duck Fly-by at Lake Merced, Nikon D100, Nikkor 85mm f1.8D, 1/250 f8.

Notes: The challenge was to get some decent shots at Lake Merced on an overcast, flat day. I followed this duck along the bland shoreline until he got to this interesting point. It kind of reminded me of some shots I took at a Blue Angels airshow. --Warren

Easy relaxing on an office chair, Nikon D100, Nikkor 85mm f1.8D, 1/80 f1.8.

Notes: I think I'm going to really enjoy this lens. I just unwrapped my brand new Nikkor 85mm f1.8D. Of course, I had to test it on my most handy test subject. This shot was handheld and the lighting was just the natural ambient lighting in the room. The speed of the lens make it great for natural light situations and for working with shallow depth of field. I like the smooth look of the out of focus areas. --Warren

Waikaloa Sunset, Big Island, Hawaii Nov 2004

Notes: Nikon D100/AF-Nikon 24-120 zoom at 70 mm

I returned to this same location a year later. This time, my goal was to create passion - make you feel that you are there. I selected a location closer to the beach, waiting for people to come out for the sunset. With the shorter lens, I found this couple at the ideal location, and zoomed to frame the palm trees and the changing sky colors. Underexposing allowed me to silhouette the palms and people, and not let the sun blow out. I photographed 27 shots in about 2 minutes, picking this as the best composition. However, another shot had the subjects in a better position, with the head tilts just right to increase the romantic aspect of the image. But the composition on that one, along with the sun exposure and position, was not quite what I wanted. Maybe next time I'll get both together!

Dennis

Waikaloa Sunset, Big Island, Hawaii Nov 2003

Notes: D100 w/AF-Nikon 180/2.8

I had been to this location in 1994, and have seen variations of this shot in many travel magazines. My goal was to create a sunset photo that could make the viewer feel the warm gentle breezes at the beach. With the 180 on the digital Nikon, the "effective" angle was similar to a 270mm using 35mm film. I picked a location well back of the beach to allow the palm trees and sunset to both be in focus with the long lens. Setting up my tripod, I took one photo for exposure, then adjusted to underexpose, which would saturate the sky colors and throw the palms into a silhouette. This also gives me a better chance of NOT blowing out the sun.
As I was still shooting in daylight/dusk, I could not see and study the LCD screen well. So I bracketed exposure just to be sure. Back in the hotel room, I evaluated and felt I got the shot I was looking for.

Dennis

Lake Turtle, Foggy Morning at Spreckels Lake, Golden Gate Park, Nikon F4, Tamron 24-135mm, Kodak Ektachrome (E100SW).

Notes: Spreckels Lake at Golden Gate Park is where Gail and I attend a Tai Chi class every Sat. and Sun. morning. We've been doing it since Sept. 2003. I also bring my father there for walks around the lake, so I know this lake and its features pretty well. This turtle island is sometimes full of turtles sunning themselves on a warm day. On this cold, foggy morning, there was a solitary turtle on the island and a solitary seagull in the background. The fog, mist, and overcast sky made an interesting scene. I also liked the way the gull was sitting in the wavy area in contrast to the stillness of the foreground.

--Warren