Falls...Prospect Point

Stopped by the Falls yesterday to see how all the new construction is coming along. Construction is everywhere and dosen't show any signs of finishing up soon. Checked on the trilliums and they need about two more weeks to peak bloom. I will be back in a week to check again. Here is a 5 image pano from Prospect Point just cropping out the construction on the left. It's all rainbows in Niagara Falls, New York.

First Dance

This is an image from Jeff and Janelle's first dance. Because the dancers move around the dance floor I had my assistant stand about 12 feet behind them with a flash at 1/4 power and told her to keep the dancers between us. This way we adjusted our positions as the dance moved along the dance floor so she was out of sight of the camera. Again be careful not to overpower the rim lighting. I also used on camera flash bounced off the ceiling at 1/4 power and another on a light stand from my camera left pointed at the dancers at 1/4 power. Nikon D3, iso 2000, f-9 at 1/60th sec.

Beautiful Bride

Janelle looks beautiful on her wedding day. This church pose was easily accomplished. We posed Janelle halfway up the isle and off to the right as to include the altar and stained glass window in the background. I used a remote triggered flash on a guerrilla pod attached to a pew at 1/4 power about 12 feet behind her. I've had years of practice doing this so judging the distance comes naturally but you'll need to experiment with your equipment. You want to make sure the flash just adds a kiss of rim light and not over power the veil of the bride. Fill light flash on camera was bounced off the ceiling to match the ambient room light. Nikon D3 iso 3200, f-4.5 at 1/60th sec.

Friday Wedding

Congratulations to Jeff and Janelle. We did some nice environmentals on a rainy wedding day by the Niagara river and north Grand Island bridge.

First Communion

A selection from todays photo session with my grandson Nathan's first communion. I used off camera flash with two 1/4 cto gelled Nikon SB 600 speed lights attached to a mono pod with a white shoot thru umbrella to offset the harsh afternoon sun.

White Egret

Great Blue Heron

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) wading in the creek by our house.

Bonus Bird

I caught some nice images of this male downy woodpecker working the tree line. They will make a fine addition to my woodland bird series.

Wedding Season

Congratulations to William and Rebecca and a most beautiful wedding.

In a Galaxy far far Away

With some artistic creative license freedoms and a dab of photo manipulation a galaxy far far away is imagined.

Downy

A nice female Downy today. A good catch considering it rained most of the day.

Red Rocks

A re work of the past. Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Finished with Aurora 2017.

Sparrow

This sparrow was foraging for food on a concrete sidewalk. The dark shadow gives the sparrow nice separation. Otherwise the subject would completely blend into the background and not produce the 3D effect we desire in our images. Always be aware of your backgrounds and use them to your advantage.

First Day of Spring

Spring is here. Spring flowers will soon be blooming. This black and white image is from last years batch of trilliums on Goat Island. I hope to catch this years new blooms soon. Trilliums are Ontario's official provincial flower and a protected flower so use caution while photographing them and never pick any.

King of Queens

Three image pano of the east river and Queens.

New York

Two image pano stitched together in Photoshop CC and finished up in Aurora 2017. Upper east side, New York city.

Bridge in Fog

Along the bike path the fog was low under the Grand Island bridge. The water was fairly calm and the reflections were very good for the Niagara river. I originally wanted this to be a 5 image panorama stitched together but I didn't notice my bike mounted tripod had shifted to much so I had to make due with a single image cropped 16:9.

Red Belly

Red bellied woodpecker intensely inspecting this tree for something tasty.

Red Bellied Woodpecker Feeding

Nuts Hatch

The world looks much better upside down.

Woodland Bird Series by Gary Muth

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Nice profile of this red bellied woodpecker on a tree. What a magnificent bird. This one appears to be a female.

Wood Wood Woodpecker

Breakfast Time

Early morning breakfast with a Nuthatch on our feeder. Shot with Canon Powershot sx50 hs. Iso 400, f-8 at 1/1600 sec.

Woody

Downy Woodpecker

Downy

Young Female

Young female downy woodpecker feeding.

Out of the Woods

Female downy woodpecker.

Big Red

Red bellied woodpecker ( female ).

Red Head

Female red bellied woodpecker.

Big Pecker

Male downy woodpecker.

Ahhh Nuts

Nuthatch eyeing me up.

Woodpecker Outdoors

Snow today. The wild birds are busy looking for any nourishment they can find before the snow gets to heavy.

Anti Gravity Nuthatch

Evening Meal.

A female downy woodpecker inspecting a tree for an evening meal. Canon Powershot sx50 hs. Iso 400, 1/320 sec. at f-6.5

Just Walk In

Virginia Vista

View from Skyline Drive, Virginia.

Light it Up

Valley of Fire.

People Portraits

Shooting outdoors in any weather is easy. I used a nice snow covered surround of pine trees to frame this couple on their outdoor engagement session. A 36 inch white reflector adds fill light to the front of their faces. Nikon D3.

Jamestown Cemetery

Spirits of the first settlers of the Jamestown colony rise from the depths during a full moon in Virginia.

Battlefield Panorama

Gettysburg battlefield panorama processed in Aurora 2017. I found quite a difference moving up from Aurora HDR Pro to the newer version Aurora 2017. I do prefer to experiment with my own settings instead of the preloaded presets that come with both programs.

A Pinch

Copenhagen snuff container light painting.