Night Photography

Most of my photo time so far this semester has been spent taking pictures of people and events and it not really something I want to share on my blog yet. I am learning alot from the class, but want to refine my technique a little more before I share it with all of you.

I did play get the chance to take some night shots of a really cool moon and also of light and shadows at night a couple of weeks ago and will share some of my favorite from that session.

Really loving the fact that I can capture the moon and the textured clouds around it. That's one of the best parts of  the wintery weather -- the cloud cover and the way if affects the moon. 

Really liked the angle and the texture of this one -- just could not get away from the power lines ....

Really really love this one -- the fact that I have the cloud texture and all the detail on the moon itself -- I got it at just the second when the clouds parted giving it the especially spooky glow ... 

I walk home each night on an overpass that gives a fun perspective of the street below. I love how the lights look kind of smoky -- I took this shot through one of the windows in the overpass. 

I took this one from one of the open areas by the stairs -- see how much clearer it is. I love the mix of red, white and green and then the natural elements of the tree on the right and snow on the left against the cars and the road ... 

This is the side wall and lighted ceiling of the overpass. I love the uniformity of the lights and all the reflectiions in the glass. I enjoy all the shimery colors and textures in the reflection of the buildings which are across from the overpass... 

I also walk past this bike rack everyday and love the shadows that the overhead lights create-- the snow just adds to the contrasty feel and probably why I am drawn to it. I actually used my flash for this one which helped to eliminate some of the yellow but not all of it -- I kind of like the affect. 

Another angle of the same bike -- definitely used the flash on this one -- you can see it reflected in the handle bars of the bike and it really accentuates the greenery in the front. Almost gives it a magenta feel. I love the shadow texture and the lines created by the bike racks .... 

And still one more angle of the bike -- did not use the flash for this one -- see how yellow the snow is ( I know eww yellow snow) I like this photo for all the shapes and textures -- the spokes in the bike wheels, the shadow of the branches and the footprints in the snow.. 

A little storage shed on my way home . I was trying to get the moon in the picture too but the  couldn't get the focus right and chose the fence and show instead. 

Loved how the moon is just peaking over the roof of this church and how the light sparkles off of the steeple. The lines and color contrast are fun too 

These roof tops and chimnesy with the moon peeking in were fun. The colors and lines and the snow all caught my eye. I love they symmetry between the two brick chimneys and the pointed white roof. 

One final moon peeking in shot. I really like the bricks on this building and the contrast between them and the snow . 

I really had fun diong this night photography and would like to do some more, Unfortunately it has been too cold or wintery too be outside for too long with the camera. I have mostly relied on available (street) light and not long exposutes to take these. Maybe I'll add some long exposure stuff to my summer to do list. It keeps getting longer ... Thanks as always for sharing my photos with me. 

Snow Snow Snow and Birds, Birds, Birds

On Sunday/ Monday I was at my sister's house in Beach Lake Pa and we got over a foot of snow. I took lots of pictures of the snow and birds at my sister's feeder -- here are some of my favorite that I took from the day.

Marley, my sister's dog could not wait to go out in the snow. She always digs in the snow . I loved the contrast of black against white -- plus the snow on the nose .... 

The view from the top of the hill to the bottom of the main road below. So pretty and peaceful 

the trees on the hill -- just loved how the snow coated them 

little sheds at the neighbor's house. I just love how pretty the blue looks in the snow and they have some pretty nice pine trees 

The frost on the door at my sister's house. I loved the pattern it made 

The twin's tire swing. So pretty and made me feel like a kid again -- plus I love the shadow the tire made in the snow and the lines created by the trees 

burdocks in the snow across the road . I loved the texture and how the snow sparkled on them 

This one is about the light and the colors and the shapes -- the best of all three -- again reminds me of childhood and what playing in the snow is all about 

the moon on Saturday night before all the snow. I took a bunch but chose this one because if you look closely it looks like there is a smile on the moon... 

Sunday evening as the snow was falling. I love the color of the sky -- and having the snowflakes out of focus really gives an idea of how much was falling. It was pretty -- I shot this from the doorway to protect my camera ... 

Snow falling and blowing -- this was Monday morning and again I was inside -- this time looking through the window. My sister has such a beautiful back yard, its pretty easy to capture a beautiful shot like this. 

Looking at my mom's house and deck from the back door. I love all the lines created by the trees and then the liles of snow on the deck and roof -- plus you can see the flakes falling... 

And the front of my mom's house -- you can see from her car and the jeep that is covered in the foreground just how much snow we got -- I think it was about 8 inches at that point... 

And now for my bird shots -- My sister has a bird feeder in the back yard -- I took these shots through the window with my telephoto lens. I bet I spent over an hour looking at out the window and taking pictures of the birds swarming the feeder. 

I'm so happy I got this shot -- I love that you can see the wings -- I snapped at exactly the right moment -- using a shutter speed of 1/500 of a second ( A year ago I would not have known how to get this shot) 

I took a ton of shots of the cardinal. I love this one because he is looking right at me -- and the little gold finches are not even phased by him .... 

This is a shot of the cardinal waiting in the tree that is behind the feeder. I really love how the snow almost sparkles in the tree and he is right in the middle of the branches commanding attention. I had the lens zoomed out to the 200 focal length 

These birds looked like they were kissing. I can't remember now if I saw that before I took the shot or if I just got lucky to catch the perfect second. I also love how the chicadee on the right is peeking at them. 

I love the way that the wings are spread and angled on the bird on the left -- and if you look closely you can see the seed in its mouth --

The cardinal again -- I chose this one because it looks like he is yelling at the birds on the left -- almost telling them don't you land here -- and they do any way 

Again its all about the wings on the left -- and I just love the placement of all the birds -- such nice symmetry -- and so pretty with the snow falling 

This one for me is all about the bird in the middle of the roof and the way its diving -- so fun

And last but not least -- I love how the birds on the left are flying up to the feeder -- and then the 2 on the right seem like they are talking . 

I really had a lot of fun practicing and capturing the snow and the birds. I took probably 200 shots to get all of these but I could not stop watching them -- and I am so excited that I understand enough about shutter speed to be able to get moments like these -- its not easy and it takes patience and timing. I might have to get a bird feeder of my own so I can continue to practice. Always learning and growing and so happy to get this kind of results ... 

Thanks as always for sharing my photos with me.