It’s not literally true but the thought counts: “The best camera is the one you have with you.” I was walking the campus of Hiram College recently when I spotted an engaging scene; it was an autumn leaf-strewn stair leading to a white door set in a building’s dark stone wall. I had no camera but the one built into my Apple iPad Mini. It may not be my best camera but I’m glad I had one with me.
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Beware! The Cheetah is on the prowl!
A recent visit to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo gave us some unusual photo opportunities. The day was partly cloudy and cool and, because we arrived early, the park was lightly-attended. A surprising variety of animals from warmer climates were allowed outdoors and into the cool air. Big cats, Lorikeets, and elephants were enjoying the fresh air. Cooler weather also seemed to make the Cheetah pair friskier than they would be on a warm summer day. The beautiful, long-legged African speedsters were chasing each other around their large enclosure when we arrived. They broke off the chase and one of them performed a beautiful leap into a tree where the cat stood and watched the people watching him. We have seen the Cheetahs tracking human visitors (especially children) from their lair during previous visits and the animal stationed in the tree did just that. The animals gave us plenty of poses and my resulting images generated more “pluses” on Google+ than any of mine have enjoyed before! Pluses are signs of approval from other Google+ users who have viewed an image, similar to “likes” on Facebook. As we left the zoo in the early afternoon, new visitors were streaming in; a fine day for a visit.
Watch your step – You’re being watched!
Full Moon – Pre-Eclipse Test
I really ought to know better but the early signs were positive! I rented a Sigma 150-500mm telephoto zoom lens to try out before making a possible purchase. That model lens has been marked down in price, presumably because Sigma is introducing a 150-600mm lens in the near future. At just under $1,000 the rental lens features APO lens elements and optical image stabilization — quite a bargain, if it works well! So, my pre-purchase trial was to include a nature shoot and, contingent upon a pre-event test, photos of the October 8 total lunar eclipse!
I did some test shots of the Full Moon the night of October 7 and they looked quite good. There was, on close inspection, a light gray “halo” around a portion of the lunar disk but that mostly disappeared in processing. Despite the very bright Moon, there was no color fringing and that’s a good sign of optical quality. The image was acceptably sharp and contrasty. It looked like I’d be set for the next morning’s eclipse!
I rose from bed at 4:45 AM the morning of the eclipse, about a half-hour before the Moon was to enter the central portion of Earth’s shadow, the umbra. The penumbral phase of the eclipse sees the Full Moon dim, imperceptibly to most casual observers, and uninteresting to me. Walking in the moonlight to my car, I noticed the subdued light and by the time I reached my observation point I could see a chunk of the Moon falling into deep shadow — it had begun!
Eclipse Begins – Earth’s Shadow on the Moon – Good Quality
I quickly set up the camera and rented lens on my tripod, focused on the still-bright Moon, and began a long series of photographs, adjusting exposure as the eclipse progressed. Earth’s shadow, with its soft leading edge, crawled across the lunar surface. I shot image after image, checking exposures in the camera’s LCD panel. It looked like I had some excellent shots.
Totality in a lunar eclipse sees the Moon diminished to a dim ruddy coppery-red orb, requiring longish exposure and/or high ISO numbers to record. I could tell I had images but, critically, I could not tell just how good they were. I opted for shorter exposure times and higher ISOs which accounts for the “grainy” appearance of the images; I should have used a slightly lower ISO setting.
Total Lunar Eclipse – October 8, 2014 – Only Fair Quality
As totality continued and the sky began to show signs of pre-dawn twilight, I moved to a secondary location. I wanted to show the Moon as part of a landscape with city lights, trees, homes, something in the foreground or under the still-reddish eclipsed Luna. I switched lenses to my favorite, the Canon 70-200mm f/4 zoom telephoto — best glass I have ever owned. I shot the scenes until the Moon dipped into the morning mists of the western horizon and was washed out by approaching sunrise.
Total Lunar Eclipse – While Neighbors Sleep – Canon 70-200mm Zoom
The eclipse itself was a great experience and something I haven’t seen one since 2008. Despite the chill air, light breeze, and cold-aching fingers, I was enthralled. The Sigma photos were another matter. Later, as I examined the images on my computer, I was very disappointed. The shots of the partially-obscured Moon were barely acceptable and images of the eclipsed Moon were a mess … kind of pretty and interesting, but a mess. I’m not sure the exact cause of the soft focus but it was the lens that was at fault.
Got It! Great Egret Catches Small Fish
That afternoon the wildlife shoot went well and the Sigma produced very good (though not excellent) images. Possibly the best shot of the afternoon was a Great Egret catching a small fish at the Sandy Ridge Reservation of Lorain County Metro Parks. The zoom lens extends when reaching its 500mm extent and, unfortunately, the mechanism is too “loose,” sliding outward when the camera is pointed downward. When being carried, the zoom lock did not work. When zoomed from one focal length to another, the lens did not appear to hold focus. The zoom slipping may have been the cause of loss of focus and my lunar imaging woes. I wondered what corners may have been cut to keep the massive Sigma optic price so low … I think I discovered some of them!
I won’t be purchasing that lens.
Hard Times. Rise Above. The scene on a gloomy day in Delphos, Ohio.
Royal $3.50
Oberlin, Ohio is a wonderful place to visit. The city stands in the midst of flat farm country and boasts the excellent liberal arts institution, Oberlin College. As might be expected, the college exerts wide-ranging influences on the town bringing enriched local culture, influences from youth, business, and architectural contributions. Oberlin has a long history with the college but, of course, has its own past. During our late-afternoon visit today I shot mostly architectural details, some made more graphic by the clear, blue sky gracing our day. These two images don’t take much advantage of the deep blue sky overhead but are among my favorites of the day. By the way, you can find and purchase a print of Royal $3.50 image and many others at my portfolio site. Click Here to purchase a print of Royal $3.50.
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Snow Leopard Cub
We made an afternoon visit to the Akron Zoo today and found it to be quite wonderful. It is, as municipal zoos go, perhaps a bit small but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in quality. The premises for both visitors and residents (the animals) were clean and the grounds nicely laid out and landscaped. In addition to the excellent animal exhibits, an impressive formal garden graces the grounds. Most animals are viewed through large expanses of glass with no moats separating visitors from them. When the zoo says, “You’ve Never Been This Close!” they mean it! Of the photographs I shot today including a vocal Bald Eagle, a tiger on patrol, and playful wolves, my favorites were of a young Snow Leopard cub, and a Red Ruffled Lemur. The Snow Leopard, one of a pair born at the zoo April 14, was lounging close to the glass while its mother watched from far back and high above within the terraced enclosure. The lemur looked out and about from its indoor residence with curious and soulful eyes. It was a fine visit and we will be sure to visit again soon!
Red Ruffled Lemur
Bald Eagle at Toledo Zoo
Of the photos I shot on a recent visit to the Toledo Zoo, this one of a Bald Eagle is my favorite. The eagle is actually lucky to be in the zoo as it is a rescued animal … unable/unlikely to survive in the wild due to injury; it is, nonetheless, a beautiful bird and its enclosure suggests the environment it once inhabited.
Gathering Storm 7244
Stormy weather drew me to dash to the lakefront late this afternoon. I’d missed some amazing cloud formations earlier in the day and when a second opportunity presented itself, off I went. Flying down I-71 toward Lake Erie, I could see the weather front was making faster progress than I’d have wanted; I was missing another chance at some interesting cloud structure. Still, I pressed on… Lake Erie vistas rarely disappoint. Arriving at the shore I began shooting images.
Stormy Skyline 7341
There were sights to be seen but looking toward the west, I could see rain coming in. After only a few minutes I dashed up the cliffside stairs and to my car, just in time to avoid being drenched. It appeared to me the western sky was brightening and my iPad weather radar app was showing the main part of the storm receding. I drove to another favorite location: Huntington Beach. No sunbathers there! I was free to stroll around watching dark clouds roll overhead and towards downtown Cleveland. Yes, plenty of drama! A couple of the shots are displayed here, along with another sight I saw.
Cloud Train
As I was beginning my trip inland, I glanced across the lake: there, in a clearing sky, was a train of pretty cumulus clouds. Often, for picture taking, I like stormy weather.
Yellow-Legged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)
Revisiting the Mugrage Park of Medina County Park System, we spent a pleasant Labor Day afternoon photographing dragonflies. She Who Must Be Obeyed wanted her own chance at shooting a Calico Pennant and I was only too happy to return to the pond. Today I also bagged a beautiful Yellow-Legged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) — predominantly red, despite the name! This little beauty, however, posed for a few shots. I also got some very nice shots of a cooperative Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) — a good-sized, bluish beauty with gorgeous wing markings. Among the challenges was a refreshing breeze: nice for a hot afternoon but causing dragonfly perches to sway! There were plenty to choose from and a few very impressive specimens got away! That includes a beautiful, impressively-large, Common Green Darner … always on the move, always a bit too far away. But that’s the way it goes when you’re shooting dragons!
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)
The Great and The Humble
I paid a visit to the Station Road area of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park this morning. Photography was a mixture of nature, textures, and structures. There are two rather photogenic bridges at the location: the Station Road Bridge, and the massive Chippewa Road Bridge. Station Road Bridge is the oldest remaining metal truss bridge in the Cuyahoga Valley, according to an informational sign. It was built in 1881 and kept in transportation service for almost 100 years. It was also noted that, in 1992, the bridge was disassembled and shipped to Elmira, New York for restoration; then it was reassembled at its current location serving the lighter traffic of cyclists, hikers, and horses. The old bridge has beauty in its elegance: slender lines of steel linked to cradle a roadway crossing flowing waters. High above the valley, the big concrete and steel Chippewa Road Bridge spans the Cuyahoga River and the remains of the Ohio & Erie Canal. I enjoy viewing the graceful arches and strong columns of the great structure as it rises from the wooded floor of the Cuyahoga River Valley, holding State Route 82 high overhead. This picture shows a bit of both bridges: the great and the humble.
PhotonStopper 