Pagodas in the Forest

Panasonic DMC-G1, Industar I-26M 50mm f2.8

The I-26M is a 50 years old lens made in the FSU (Former Soviet Union).

--Warren

Dramatic Clouds Over SF Bay

D100, Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AF-D

Yesterday was the first nice day since the beginning of daylight savings time. It has been raining like winter lately even though we're now in spring.

This was taken from Crissy Field.

--Warren

When I grow up, I want to be...

D100, Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AF-D

A Simple Bird Picture

D100, Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AF

I think Dolph posted one like this a while back. This must have been what Simon was feeling like on his tour of the Bay in the Cessna. :)

I was out with my D100 this afternoon at Crissy Field, and took this quick snap of a gull flying overhead. I don't think it would have been possible to focus as quickly with my Micro 4/3 cameras. It was a no-thinking quick, follow and snap of the shutter, letting the D100's AF do its thing.

--Warren

I recently bought a monopod and tested it with my Konica Minolta Z2. It works pretty well as long as I can hold my breath. I uploaded a couple results (Chinatown Gate on Grant Street & Contemporary Jewish Museum) here.

Fred from Canada

This is Fred, a photographer from Western Canada. Fred purchased a vintage Canon lens from me, and showed me some recent street photo images from the Occupy protests from Vancouver. The images were excellent, and I'm hoping he got them published or shown somewhere.

Was taken with a Bessa R, with Fuji Superia 400 color (converted to b/w in Picasa), with a CV 21/4 lens.

Bird's eye view of Bay Area

Early this month I was given a rare opportunity to fly in a Cessna. The flight was captured on mini DV. Here are some of still images from the video.

I am sorry for my long absence. But I has not been able to capture images worthy of this forum. I do regularly check in and admire all your photographs and wonder how you did it.

From the Sacred to the Profane

I figure I should strike while the iron is hot! Here's one I took on my trip to NYC last December and forgot to post here...

Emerging from the quiet of St. Patrick’s Cathedral around sunset, I was greeted by this pre-Christmas rush as I looked across Fifth Avenue.

Vaux's Folly

No, I’m not trying to say that Calvert Vaux, the co-designer of Central Park, was foolish; perish the thought!

In architecture, a folly is a building designed and constructed purely for the delight of those who behold it. Belvedere Castle is exactly that, and has delighted visitors to the Park since 1869.

Strictly speaking, an architectural folly is built for no practical purpose, but since 1919, the National Weather Service has operated a weather station at Belvedere Castle. You can just about make out some of the instruments, above the peak of the main turret, in this photo. So next time you’re in New York City and here a radio weatherperson says, “… and the temperature in Central Park is…”, you’ll know where it comes from.

Belvedere Castle is a major stop on my Central Park photo safaris, as the view from its ramparts is stunning. Also, the Castle itself, perched high on Vista Rock, is photo-worthy both from below and close-up.

This post is in honor of our friend and blog founder Warren, whose "everyone check in" email reminded me I haven't posted here for a while. Thanks, Warren!

Cute Dog

Nikon D100, Tamron 24-135mm

I saw this cute dog in Half Moon Bay. He was impatiently waiting outside for his owner while making pathetic whining and whimpering noises, which of course, drew my attention.

I post these pictures because I was pleased with the images and impressed (I know, again) by the performance of my 9 year old Nikon D100 and Tamron zoom lens. And I can't resist a good looking pooch :).

I made these images extra large (1500 pixels wide) so that you can see the quality for yourself when you click to see the original file.

At this time, I want to ask all our contributors to do our semi-regular check-in. Let us know that you're still out there, at least looking at and enjoying the pictures even if you're not actively contributing at the moment. What have you been up to? Are you interested in starting up our "Project of the Month" again?

Please let me know if you no longer plan to contribute to our blog and I will remove you from the contributors list. You can still be subscribed to our notification system via Google group email if you just want to keep up with viewing our progress (and not contribute images).

I'm looking for a few new contributors to our blog. If you know of anyone who might be interested in our private photoblog concept, please tell them about us, and hook us up.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you who are still active here. I really appreciate that you spend the time to participate. Our photoblog started out as an experiment 7.5 years (!!!) ago, and it somehow managed to survive all these years. I hope that it continues to be a viable and enjoyable place for us to share our photographic passion.

Well, that's it for now. I'll have more thoughts to share with everyone in the near future. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

--Warren

Moonrise Over the East Bay

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 45-200mm

Here's that moonrise that I mentioned in my previous post. This is a 3.2 sec. exposure at ISO 200.

Bay Bridge at Night

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 45-200mm

I rarely do night shots, but one night last year, I felt like shooting a moonrise and the Bay Bridge was nearby so I photographed the bridge as well.

This was taken at ISO 100 with a tripod.

When I have time, I'll post some moonrise pictures, but it really wasn't that good a night for moon pictures because it was a bit hazy over the Bay.

--Warren

Evening Scenes at GG Park

Yashica T4 Super, Fuji Superia 400

A patch of irises in front of the De Young Museum caught my eye.

These two young artists were drawing the magnolia tree.



"The Red Jacket"... I saw this boy zipping along on his scooter and caught him in the middle of this scene.

17 mm

That's Where

Shimmering Light

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 45-200mm

The sun reflected off the waters of Richardson Bay.

--Warren

Rocky Shore

Lumix DMC-GF1, Lumix 14-45mm

Al In His Home Studio

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

This seems like an opportune time to post this. Al graciously allowed me to practice my environmental portrait skills with him in a session at his home studio last year.

If you're interested in seeing the full set of pictures, go to my gallery page on ViewfinderSF.com.

--Warren

sony shooter

A Spotted Towhee

Panasonic DMC-G1, Lumix 45-200mm

This guy was seen in Marin, and I had fun researching his name because I don't remember seeing one before.

It's a handsome bird with vivid, orange/red eyes, and a jet black colored head.

Lea, was this bird in that Audubon book that you saw at the library? :)

--Warren

The Making of: "Washed Up"

Nikon D100, Tamron 24-135mm

A behind the scenes series on how the "Washed Up" post was made.

--Warren

Ferry Building at Night

Lumix DMC-GF1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

Another view of the Ferry Building taken at the same time as Dan's photo.

--WT

Barns

I loved the placement of these barns in the hills. Convex and concave horizons.

On a drive to the coast with my hubby, checking to see if it would be a bike route we could do sometime. I think so :)