the bird

These are from a series of test shots I took this afternoon at the beach. The focal length is 300mm (600mm 35mm eqv.) shutter speed 1/100th aperture F8 hand held with e510 IS in mode one. The conditions were generally unfavorable. The light was jumping two or three stops as the clouds were constantly changing in a cold southwester about fifteen knots buffeting me around making it hard to keep the camera on target and steady as well as chilling me to the bone and making my hands stiff.

I was down shooting in the swamp on Wednesday when one of the park regulars walking by on the trail overheard me muttering to myself while I was navigating through the many obstacles in my path. We got into an extended discussion of photographic issues. He wanted to know what one would need in the way of gear to shoot birds, not serious birding but just for fun. I told him, that birding is a demanding form of photography and those who dabble in birding at least need some very long lenses. A 35mm equiv of something like 500-800mm would be a minimal requirement. I told him the big problem with econo lenses is getting enough light to shoot at F8. My experience shooting wide open at 300mm with the 70-300 Zuiko hasn't been favorable. Great for shooting women and children where you want some softness but not great for birds. On my Wednesday shoot using the the 14-54mm wide open I managed to bring home some acceptable photos shot at 25-50mm at 1/8th -1/15th second hand held in IS mode one. Doing a little rough calculation I decided to see if I could bring home anything at 300mm F8 shooting at 1/100th or 1/125th with IS in mode one. I had never ventured down that slow, always considered anything below 1/200 or 1/250 as a waste of time. So considering all the things going against me on this Friday shoot, the cold gusty wind, etc. I was pleased to see that 1/100th produces something on the order of 40% keepers.

furnace room

This is the rear door of the chapel at Fort Lawton, which is on the high ground above the parade field near the north gate. There is an excellent view of the sound from this spot. Photo was taken late in the day Oct 26, 2008. An hour or so after taking this, just after the sun went down, I walked past the Chapel again and there was a young man their shooting from a tripod with a Canon + a monster lens, I don't recall, perhaps the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2. Huge piece of glass. We talked for about fifteen minutes. He had rented the lens from Glazer's Camera in Seattle

1712 First Ave South

Georgetown - Old Brewery

Cold Storage

Rainier Cold Storage in Georgetown or what's left of it after the recent demolition.

The Wolf of Georgetown

This wolf gets around. I have seen him before in Georgetown guarding other places. This isn't first time I have taken his portrait.

McKenna's Garage - Halloween

This was just before sundown on Halloween. I have photographed this garage on numerous occasions. Some of my friends play tennis just across the street so I drive by and wave at them.

ornamental trees

Before I just throw away these digital negatives I will make another try at post processing.

duck head down #2 and #3

If you missed #1 you can see it here: october mallard

October Mallard

This is a resident Mallard at beach where I walk. No sign of the mate, which is unusual. Perhaps a victim of the predators. Eagles we have plenty of and even a few Coyotes. I shot up almost 300 exposures of this duck, some crows and seagulls. The crows and seagulls are also a permanent presence, along with Blue Herons. I see an occasional Sand Piper which seems to have wandered from its normal habitat, it is not a local bird. You see them at the Ocean but not here. These are the beach birds, walk into the woods and you couldn't begin to list all the birds in the woods.

gear - Fisherman's Wharf

broadside #2 - Fisherman's Wharf

custom charters - Fisherman's Wharf

light, bell & chain - Fisherman's Wharf

cabin light - Fisherman's Wharf

broadside - Fisherman's Wharf

Cutty Sark - Fisherman's Wharf

This is a classic case of not being able to capture a promising subject. No matter what angle I tried -- there were constraints, like not getting wet -- it wasn't possible to frame this one in a manner which did it justice. Probably the boat has sunk by now so there will be no opportunity to shoot it again. A for sale sign was posted but nobody was lining up to make an offer. Fit for a museum perhaps, not for use in the water.

06900 deck clutter - Fisherman's Wharf

Another detail of a fishing vessel from Fisherman's Wharf Seattle.

bracket - Fisherman's Wharf

another detail of a fishing vessel from Fisherman's Wharf Seattle.

The Guardian #2 - Fiserman's Wharf

Another view of The Guardian can be seen here.

the wheel - fisherman's wharf

Another detail of a fishing vessel at Fisherman's Wharf Seattle .

sisters?

net boat

beach hut

industrial #1

first of a series.

authorize personnel only

loading zone #2

5807 4th Ave South

4th Ave South

enchilada & taco salad

loading zone

Same shooting session as sorry we're closed and no parking. Just one block south on a side street.

sorry we're closed

In fact this Enchilada and Taco Salad place is really closed. Closed forever. The windows revealed bare walls and empty floors. I spent the last hour of light shooting on one block of fourth ave and two side streets. Perhaps a mile north of the Duwamish bridge.

no parking

This was taken a little over an hour ago just as the sun was disappearing behind the hills. The location is South Seattle on fourth ave south, north of Michigan St. about half a mile.

the blues

Shot at the Burien thursday market under an overcast sky.

3626 E. Marginal Way

steel

shop window #1

Shot half an hour before sunset under the south ramp of the viaduct in South Downtown Seattle.

Lindmark Machine Works

This was taken this evening less than an hour before sunset in South Downtown Seattle, near the south end of the viaduct. I got permission to shoot at a steel works which was just south of the machine works. Spent a hour there dodging BNSF trains and fork lifts from the steel plant. They obviously have a late shift.

the phone call

Another shot from Sunday evening.

shoot yourself