Updates and Happy Holidays

I have been busy with the last few months dealing with school, and professional work. But by next month (or in this case year), I will finally have some free time for more photographs. I am looking forward to an equipment upgrade in the near future, which may certainly help with providing photographs. However during the times of professional work, I have gotten some photographs worth while of posting. I shall provide my next photo update no later than New Years Day. I wish everyone Happy Holidays!

Tilt-Shift Lens Trials

I had the opportunity to experience with a Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 II lens in the two major cities that surrounded me. This is a member of Canon’s Tilt-Shift lens series. First, I took the lens with me to the Grand Central Station in New York City. I always saw this station as an impressive example to old fashion architecture, and setting. Not to mention, perfect lighting for photography, allowing great ambient lighting as long as the photographer can keep the camera steady! There used to be another station like this New York, Penn Station. Unfortunately modern design turned it into non photogenic. 

Next I went to Philadelphia and photographed two icons located and the “X” intersection of 9th and Passyunk Avenue. This is the birthplace of the famed Chesesteak, a Philadelphia dish and icon. This intersection is dominated by two Chesesteak giants; Pat’s King of Steaks which started it all, and Gino’s Steaks, which claimed to have perfected the recipe. 

This interesting lens offers a new perspective. It gives a unique depth of field, making objects appear distorted and look like toys. It is a fun lens to use, but not recommended for the beginner. It is manual focus only, and requires a good eye. Finally, it is not something to overuse, or else something supposedly exciting would quickly become boring. In addition, the distortion cannot be corrected if one desires to reverse it. Overall it is one of the specialty lenses that would be used only on very rare occasions. 

Happy July 4th!

Finally got back from the Jersey Shore (How New Jerseyites call the beach) celebrating Independence Day. Here is my best shot of the fireworks display there. Happy birthday to the United States of America! My home sweet home!

Barn Swallow

It took me a while to identify this bird. I did not want to guess it to be an Eastern Bluebird with a black mask. I'm glad I finally found the sources to help me do so. I highly recommend these sites.

http://www.whatbird.com/

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189

Well I think I should take a break on birds. But it has become instinctive lately; birds are such magnificent creatures. As for the American Robin family under my balcony, the chicks have grown and the nest has been abandoned. Although I will miss them, now I can finally cut my grass in peace; not that I like to cut my grass in the first place. In fact, I HATE CUTTING MY GRASS!

Robin's Nest Below my Balcony (Update)

So I decided to do a follow up or "behind the scenes" of the recently discovered nest under my balcony including the exact setup.

This shows the location of the nest bellow my balcony. Note that there is little head room; just enough for a bird to fly and maneuver in.

Here is the "peep hole" for us humans to get a look at the nest.

I decided to get involved an help out. I took a nightcrawler from our worm keeper (we are outdoors people and therefore go fishing), and tossed it under the balcony. The mother took notice and "accepted" my gift.

Gummy worms anyone?

It is often reported that parenting birds can and will attack suspected intruders including people who come too close. So far I have been spared of any attacks, but they have yet to get used to my presence when I do my yard work duties and get too close. They flee when I come near or start the lawnmower. 

Robin's Nest Below my Balcony

I noticed a robin or two flying out from bellow my balcony every time I mowed by lawn lately. I looked up and noticed a nest. The nest was positioned on top of one of my air conditioning pipe making little head room from above. This makes excellent defense against birds of prey (I once witnessed a Red Tailed Hawk eat chicks right out of two nests that were made the open. I did not have my camera at the time). Viewing the nest is impossible without its removal; something I did not want to do even though the nest was only seven feet above the ground. However on top of the balcony, the nest was viewable through one of the segments on the deck. You have to peek through with one eye, but you are just mere inches away from the miracle of life in the bird's world. Photographing is of coarse also difficult, but I got my macro lens, placed it as close to the opening as possible, then manually focused. This is what I got, though perhaps the next time, I will photograph the nest overall, though UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL I EVER TOUCH THE NEST. Stay tuned......

Picking up the camera again....

Finally for the first time in 2012, I am posting something. I have been busy with work and shooting on demand, that I have had no time shooting on a leisure basis. But finally on a day in May, I had my 100mm macro lens and ring flash attached while hunting for butterflies or dragon flies. Frustrated, I began to look down upon the flowers and stumbled upon this creature. I instinctively photographed it since there was nothing else to capture. If there is one thing this find did, it motivated me to look forward to 2012, a year of great photographs to take and memorably objects that deserve preservation. Hunting season has started for me and my weapon of choice; the camera!