Saturday, November 29, 2008

ice and snow after thanksgiving

a close up of some ice on some pine needles. Taken with a Canon A550, 1/125, f2.8, ISO 80 in macro mode.
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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Alley Tree

Canon A570IS

A little fall color seen in downtown Petaluma.

--Warren

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A River Runs Through It

Canon A570IS

Gail and I had never been to downtown Petaluma until that day. We ended up there after our day trip up the coast to Tomales Bay. This is downtown Petaluma which is right next to the Petaluma River.

--Warren

1 Comments:

Blogger Lea said...

I love water when it's THIS still! :)

And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone as well!

Friday, November 28, 2008 at 12:27:00 PM PST  

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Monday, November 24, 2008

Trees Please



It was refreshingly sunny one day last week and I decided to get a few tree shots before all the leaves disappear... Quite honestly, I had a very sore neck afterward from all the looking up =P But in Seattle, you have to take full advantage of a November blue sky while it lasts!

I liked this one because the trees to me look like they're in a fantasy land, dancing to some crazy autumn chant... heh.. a tree party.

1 Comments:

Blogger Warren T. said...

Hi Lea, thanks for the view from Seattle, and Happy Thanksgiving!

--Warren

Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 9:47:00 AM PST  

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Sunday, November 23, 2008

Ginkgo Fan

Yes, you could say I'm a ginkgo fan.

I never really noticed their elegant, fan-shaped leaves until I worked in Towson some years ago on a three-month contract. It was fall, and Pennsylvania Avenue in greater downtown Towson is graced with quite a few ginkgo trees. Even then, I didn't notice the leaves until they started to turn color and fall.

The ginkgo tree, Ginkgo biloba, is itself quite intersting. Among plants, it is sui generis, being the only species in the genus Ginkgo, which is the only member of the family Ginkgoaceae, in turn the only family in the order Ginkgoaceae, itself the only member of the class Ginkgoopsida, which is, you guessed it, the only member of the phylum Ginkgophyta.

Even among trees, ginkgos are especially long-lived and have been around longer than any other species - over 200 million years.

For this photo, I made use of a photographic axiom I learned years ago:
"Get close... then get closer."
The macro mode of my digicam (Canon A620) let me "get closer," and some nice late-afternoon sidelighting contributed to make a dramatic image.

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1 Comments:

Blogger Lea said...

Nice! Great shadows and textures :)

I like that axiom.. I'll try to keep it in mind for the future.. hehe

Monday, November 24, 2008 at 7:07:00 PM PST  

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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Tomales Bay


Bessa R, 50mm J-8, Fuji 400
View of Tomales Bay from Nick's Pier.
--Warren

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Fishing Floats, Nick's Pier


Bessa R, 50mm J-8, Fuji 400
Fishing floats are always a nice, colorful subject. These were seen at Nick's Pier, Marshall, CA, at Tomales Bay.
--Warren

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Flying A


Bessa R, 50mm J-8, Fuji 400
A vintage gas pump seen at Marshall, CA, at Tomales Bay.
--Warren

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A Peaceful Place


Voigtlander Bessa R, 50mm J-8, Fuji 400
Sometimes we all need that special, peaceful place to unwind.
We came upon this scene in San Anselmo, CA
--Warren

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Man in Bistro

Man In BistroMy brother Mark and I went to DC Sunday afternoon to have lunch with our cousins before their return to Israel. As we were being seated, I noticed this elegant gentleman deep in thought (or maybe just studying the menu) by the window.

I normally stay away from stealing moments like this, because I'm too slow and fumble-fingered to be a good candid photographer. But this gentleman was an interesting subject, and I really liked the lighting coming through the window, lighting half of the man as well as the bright red shirt behind him, while leaving the other half of him in shadow. So I grabbed my camera and channeled Henri Cartier-Bresson for a minute:

"What is best in photography is that you are catching an instant that will disappear. The photographer is like the voleur, the thief; he steals a moment, a fleeting moment and then he runs away with it in his camera. Being a photographer you have to be quick, quick, quick; you have to be like quicksilver, yes, like a tightrope dancer with death at the end.”
Well, I wasn't quick, quick, quick, but as this gentleman seemed to be concentrating on something else, I was quick enough.

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2 Comments:

Blogger Warren T. said...

Steve, thanks for helping to keep this place alive and posting here. I like the nice diagonal flow of this picture beginning with the glass of water and punctuated by the red shirted guy at the upper right. The line created by the top of the seating also makes a nice counter-diagonal created a sort of X shaped balance to the whole image. BTW, I love HCB quotes :).

--WT

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 8:41:00 AM PST  
Blogger Lea said...

Entertaining narrative for the shot :) hehe

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 10:49:00 PM PST  

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Monday, November 17, 2008

Leaf on 21st Street

Our wonderful Israeli cousins Tammy and Itzik were in Washington this past week, and we drove to DC to pick them up at their hotel and spend the day with them. Mindful of the dictum, "it always pays to schlepp one's camera, I grabbed my Adorama Slinger as I headed out from home.

With the exception of our recent Shutterbug Excursions outing to Great Falls, I hadn't taken any decent fall foliage photos... and no fall close-ups or macros at all. But after I dropped my gang off at the hotel and parked my car around the block on 21st Street, I found this classic autumn leaf laying around in the curb. Moving it to the nicely-bricked sidewalk, I saw this ready-made frame and snapped a few shots.

This may have to do for Fall 2008. The leaves are still colorful on the trees, but there aren't too many left.

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1 Comments:

Blogger Warren T. said...

The center/base of the leaf sure has a fiery glow. Nice.

--WT

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 8:42:00 AM PST  

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Friday, November 14, 2008

"Help Me!"

Voigtlander Bessa R, 50mm f2 J-8

Unintentionally artistics swirls!

--Warren

1 Comments:

Blogger Steve Rosenbach said...

I love this kind of "found artwork." Good eye, Warren, and well-executed!

Monday, November 17, 2008 at 7:29:00 PM PST  

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A Bus Ride in Puerto Vallarta

Yashica T4, Tri-X

Gail reviewing a shot on her digicam:



Fellow passengers:



Local scenery:





Singing for tips:





Cold stare:




Fast Food Poster:




--Warren




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1 Comments:

Blogger Warren T. said...

I'm puzzled... I thought some street shots from a local bus in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico would get a rise out of someone. Are these not interesting at all? Just wondering...

--WT

Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 5:09:00 PM PST  

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Saturday, November 08, 2008

Announcing Viewfinder - SF

Hey folks, I embarked on a new project. I decided to create a "true" photoblog and use it to focus on my San Francisco pictures. True photoblogs are the kind that show one picture per day (vs. gallery style or text blog style). So the focus is on the pictures. I chose to use aminus3.com which is a free Photoblog service that is international in scope.

Link:


Since I just started a few days ago, there are only a few pictures on there. Let me know how you like the format.

--Warren

4 Comments:

Blogger Lea said...

Looks nice! Big photo display. Clean. Does this mean you're closing this place down? :O

Monday, November 10, 2008 at 10:49:00 PM PST  
Blogger Warren T. said...

Thanks Lea. No! I'm NOT closing this place down. I just wanted to work on something a little more focused (San Francisco only)and in more of a true photoblog format, when this forum becomes slow like it is now. I am also planning to build up a portfolio of my best SF shots. There is a handy portfolio feature on Aminus3 where I can designate selected photos to be displayed under a Portfolio tag. It's easier to give someone a link to that page then to have to compile a set of images by hand.

I appreciate that you still drop by here once in a while, Lea. Thanks!

--Warren

Monday, November 10, 2008 at 10:57:00 PM PST  
Blogger Lea said...

Ah I see. Can't say I'm too surprised, as you had mentioned starting one up earlier. So *cheers* for getting it going!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 11:17:00 PM PST  
Blogger Steve Rosenbach said...

Ah, this is great, Warren! And you've already got a set of excellent photos that really show off your skill & vision. My favorites so far are Alien Onion, Bridge to Nowhere and Window Pane Mosaic, but all are really good.

I'd like to do something like this in addition to my photo blog, as it's a better way to show off your work.

Monday, November 17, 2008 at 7:34:00 PM PST  

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Thursday, November 06, 2008

Sunday Bridal Group

Nikon FG, 50mm f1.8 E, Fuji 400

This couple could not have picked a more beautiful October day in San Francisco to get married outdoors.

The ceremony took place at the public beach at Crissy Field.

--Warren

2 Comments:

Blogger Lea said...

I like the bare feet of the girls and this sort of feeling of blue marching towards MORE blue (it kind of looks like they're headed towards water.. maybe those mountains in the back are tricking me but that's what it looks like). ANd i love the wind in the dresses, i think maybe that's what makes it feel like a ritualistic march for the beautiful open sea... ah, i kind of like that theme..

Great shot Warren ;)

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 1:19:00 AM PST  
Blogger Warren T. said...

Thanks Lea!

Yes, they were about to walk out to toward the beach (and water). Since I was just a public bystander, I didn't want to be overly obtrusive. I tried to wait until the right moment where all the girls were in approximately the same position, and where the wind blowing just right.

--WT

Friday, November 7, 2008 at 3:44:00 PM PST  

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Sunday Chat Group

Nikon D100, Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AF-N

The lake side was calm and serene until I came upon this group of Russian folks having a lively but friendly conversation in front of the closed Stow Lake Boat House.

--Warren

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Lonely Trike


Nikon FG, Nikon 50mm f1.8 E, Fuji 400
I saw this classic little red tricycle sitting there all by its lonesome at the beach. I didn't know where its owner went.
Did any of you ever have one of these when you were a kid?
--Warren

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Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Mazatlan


Canon A570IS
Inside the cathedral in Downtown Mazatlan, Mexico.
--Warren

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Tres Gatos - Acapulco


Canon A570IS
These three cats were camped out at a fishing pier waiting for some fresh fish from the fishermen. We saw them as we walked out near the cruise terminal in Acapulco, Mexico.
--Warren

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Chinese Pavilion at Stow Lake, Nov. 2008


Nikon D100, Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AF-N
I've been out to this location countless times, and I enjoy the challenge of creating a new, unique take on a very familiar scene each time I go there.
You may remember seeing some of my previous photos of the pavilion that I posted here. If you want to see those, do a search on this blog for "Chinese Pavilion" or "Nikon L35AF".
I was hoping to be able to show you some pictures from a newly acquired Canon T-70 35mm slr that I was testing at the same time as when this picture was taken. I talked about what happened in this post on my personal blog.
--Warren

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2 Comments:

Blogger Ted M said...

Hi Warren, the photos from your 28 and 50E look great! I was going to comment that the saturation and color looked very DSLR'ish, then read a bit more and yes it is! ;)

I don't have any experience with the Nikon lenses you have, but have some older ones - my MF 28/2.8 .3m version is sharp and has very little flare, but it seems to have more SA distortion than the RF 28mm lenses I've owned - Zeiss 28/2.8, CV 28/3.5, CV 28/1.9, but from what I understand, the next newer Nikkor MF 28, the 28/2.8 with .2m close focus had a redesign and is much better than my older 28 .3m. I'd guess the AF ones just got better and better.

Your photos from the 50/1.8 "E" are also great. I've always heard the same thing, that the optics in these were as good as any, but they were built with a bit more plastic and all. My favorite Nikkor 50 is the "H" 50/2, it just has the retro built like a tank feel, but also has some flare.

Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 9:19:00 AM PST  
Blogger Warren T. said...

Ted, thanks for the comments. I find it interesting that even after a very brief experience with the 28mm AF, I already feel that it is better than my Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AF in terms of sharpness and contrast. I wonder if my particular example of the 24mm is just not up to par. Yeah, the "E" series were supposed to have more plastic, but that was compared to the AIS versions. The AF versions have even more plastic than the E, for obvious reasons. :)

--WT

Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 10:06:00 AM PST  

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Open for Business


Nikon FG, Nikon 50mm f1.8 E, Fuji 400
Neon red is the predominant theme of this scene.
--Warren

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Crissy Field Beach

Nikon FG, Nikon 50mm f1.8 E, Fuji 400

It was a perfect, crisp, and warm Sunday in October in SF.

--Warren

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Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Marina Blvd., San Francisco


Nikon FG, Nikon 50mm f1.8 Series E, Fuji 400 film
This is looking east from the end of Marina Blvd., in San Francisco's Marina Disrict. The steps in the foreground lead to a small beach that overlooks the boats docked at the St. Francis Yacht club.
I took my newly acquired (free!!!) Nikon FG out for a test run. The Series E 50mm f1.8 lens is very compact and seems to be very sharp. While the Series E lenses were known for being the "economy" line of Nikon lenses, I find that its build quality seems superior to the modern Nikkor AF lenses. As a bonus, I think this is Nikon's most compact 50mm lens.
This FG was supposed to have a stuck or jammed shutter. I believe this was Nikon's first slr body with Programmed auto exposure. It turned out that all it needed was new batteries. I had no problems wth the shutter while shooting this test roll.
--Warren

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Monday, November 03, 2008

Halloween!

My fav of the night...
It's peanut butter jelly time!!!

1 Comments:

Blogger Warren T. said...

Did you pull them apart? (banana split, LOL :) )

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 8:40:00 AM PST  

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Sunday, November 02, 2008

Sunday Ride in the Park

Nikon D100, Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AF-N

I used to ride here when I was a kid!

--Warren

1 Comments:

Blogger Lea said...

looks like a nice trail! :)

Monday, November 3, 2008 at 12:46:00 AM PST  

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Pavilion Roofline

Nikon D100, Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AF-N

I simply liked the shape of this, so I photographed it :).

--Warren

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fall colors

This vertical landscape shows some nice autumn colors from an afternoon walk. The weather folks had predicted rain, so it was a pleasant surprise to be able to photograph some dry fall areas in Eastern Washington before the rains and snow.
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2 Comments:

Blogger Warren T. said...

Nice, subtle color layers, Ted.

--WT

Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 10:15:00 PM PST  
Blogger Lea said...

wow.. certainly does look dry! and that red bush appears almost as fire! good shot! :D

Monday, November 3, 2008 at 12:48:00 AM PST  

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Stone Bridge, Stow Lake, GG Park

Nikon D100, Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AF-N

I went out to do some shooting with a couple of pieces of new equipment today. The first is a Canon (gasp!!!) T-70. It's a 1980's vintage 35mm Canon film slr. The T series was the last of the manual focus slr bodies that use the old FD mount lenses. I'll tell you more about this camera later.

This was taken with a newly acquired Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AF-N that I got free! This is a non-D Nikkor lens. It's one of the first AF Nikkors, and it did not include the D feature (distance data). I've been missing a 28mm Nikkor ever since I stupidly sold my old, 28mm f3.5, which I later found out was one of the best of the 28mm Nikkors.

Anyway, I really like this lens so far. On my D100, it gives me a very useful and just a tad different 42mm fov.

--Warren

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