Lake Living Spring 2018Look out Lily, Lake Living magazine may have a new cover girl: Jane!
The set and the props.
The stand-in (to check the lighting). Prep and makeup (flour for the nose.)
"We need more flour in this recipe."
"Pass the towel, please. There is a little drool we have to clean up."
"Quack!" A little diversion to keep our model happy. So simple.
Then a second pose.
"Hooray! We're done." Forty fuss-free minutes. Thanks, Baby Jane. And thank-you to your parents and grandmother. Look for us in the spring issue of Lake Living magazine and see which photo made the cover.
Sabattus in winterWe hiked Sabattus a month earlier this year than last. Still the trails were packed. We wore grips instead of snowshoes to provide traction on the icy spots.
Mount Washington, South and North Baldface, Carter Dome, and a glimpse of Mount Adams(?).
The camera or the photographerAll photographers have heard this: "You have a nice camera." or "You must have a nice camera." And I do, but, let's discuss both sides of this as illustrated by this photo.
Not a spectacular photo admittedly, but it may be the best I'll ever get of a bobcat. This is a very tight crop from the full image (I can post that later if anyone likes). Part 1 - the great camera This was taken with a modern full-frame DSLR with a 70-300 image-stabilized zoom. It is amazing the quality that can be achieved under less than optimal conditions with cameras today. The modern sensor allowed for a high ISO with low noise to get a reasonable shutter speed. The image stabilization helped make up for shooting from a car window handheld. The autofocus almost (it is actually focused a little behind) made it on the second try before the animal turned tail and walked away. Part 2 - the photographer's experience The camera was, as usual, on the passenger seat of the car beside me. As I pulled the camera out of the case, I set the ISO to match the dim lighting (recognition of lighting, familiarity with the equipment) and zoomed the lens. Everything else on the camera was set already (RAW, AF, etc.). Three clicks and the bobcat was gone. Of course an experienced wildlife photographer would have gotten even better results. With a little judicious post-processing of the RAW file the results are something I am very happy with -- not for a large print perhaps. Part 3 - that unknown factor The bobcat happened to stop after crossing the road yet within a close distance. And, I happened to have the right lens on the camera. So, take more photos and keep your camera with you.
Ice & snow
Remember the postings from last year on my trip to Montana? Well I mentioned making a post about Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Instead of a post, I made a regular page about my visit here.
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Ethan McNerney
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