Exposed

This old piano sits in Bucer's Coffeehouse a great little cafe' in downtown Moscow, ID. After getting our son Kurt moved into his Uof I dorm we strolled downtown and stopped for some drinks...the Italian sodas and cappuccinos are great. Near the shop front window sat this great piece and I really wanted to capture it with the natural light coming in. This would be challenging late in the day and I did not have my monopod. I went as slow as I could go(1/15 sec) off hand and still keeping sharpness then adjusted the rest of the settings to compensate. Using Canon 50D and Sigma 18-250mm lens f/4.5, 1/15 sec, ISO-400 at 35mm focal length. It felt a bit sketchy at the time but the camera's histogram indicated it should be alright. I was pleased once I got this to the computer. I captured great brass tone and rich wood and still got great detail in the strings and mechanical parts. Its one of my favorite character type shots.

Color Explosion

Gibson Park in Great Falls, MT is a fantastic place for floral shots. This was shot with Canon 50D and Sigma 18-250mm lens. f/13 aperture, 1/40 sec shutter speed,ISO-100 at 18mm focal length. Shot free hand.

Thistle in bloom

Wavyleaf Thistle blooming near west bank of Missouri river in Great Falls, MT. Shot taken with Canon 50D and Sigma DC HSM OS 18-250mm lens. f/10, 1/320 sec, ISO-100 at 120mm focal length. Shot off hand.

Benton Lake Preserve 2

Dusk provided a great lighting op. for capturing marsh grass silhouette. Canon 50D and Sigma 150-500mm lens, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO-250 at 500mm focal length , Benro monopod used. Sunlight white balance and center weighted metering.

American coot and young skirting the grassy edges. f/8, 1/100 sec, ISO-250, 439mm focal length. Truck window used as rest.

Duck on water, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO-250, 500mm focal length.

Benton Lake Preserve

Soft textures of early summer provide great opportunities for shots. The wild grasses sprouting g were an exercise in subtle detail such as the fine thread like wisps. Shot taken with Canon 50D and Sigma APO DG OS 150-500mm lens. f/8 aperture, 1/400 sec shutter speed and ISO-250 at 439mm focal length, sunlight white balance and center weighted metering. Benro monopod was used.

primarily a marshy preserve with water and other open prairie birds, Benton Lake Preserve does provide a good hangout for white tail deer as well. This doe stopped long enough for a paparazzi shot. f/8 aperture, 1/320 sec shutter speed, ISO 250 at 500mm focal length, sunlight white balance and center weighted metering.

Ryan Dam

The dams along the Missouri river open wide during late spring and early summer...Ryan Dam is no exception. This shot was taken the last week of June 2010 using Canon 50D camera and Sigma DC HSM OS 18-250mm lens. f/20 aperture, 1/400 sec shutter speed, ISO 200 at 1mm focal length shot off hand. Just enough rainbow showed up to add a bit of color to the shot as well as rich blue sky even without the aid of my crl Polarizer filter. The falls at Ryan dam are what Lewis and Clark dubbed the "Great Falls" as the gazed upon this intimidating obstacle....It now sits tucked outside of town nearly unnoticed by outsiders to the area...a real same considering what a beautiful spot and nice park that is at Ryan Dam.

New Growth

Cross post fence overtaken by early summer Goldenrod on Black Eagle dam Island.

Green

I caught this Violet-green Swallow taking a rare rest near Black Eagle dam in Great Falls, MT. Swallows always provide a challenge for me since they seem to fly nearly non-stop. I used Canon 50D camera with Sigma 150-500mm APO DG OS lens set at f/14, 1/200 sec exposure, ISO-200 at 340mm focal length, sunlight white balance and center weighted metering. Benro monopod was used.