JAN 2021 Full Moon Setting Plus

A Bird and Some Blossoms as a Bonus 

Clouds and cold weather kept the recent full moon inaccessible for the past few nights.

Waking up at 3 AM gave me a chance to capture the moon setting this morning.

It was bright, setting in the western sky and I climbed up on the roof with the camera and tripod.

Before an image could be composed, dark black clouds rolled onto the scene.

Leaving everything set up for another try, I went down to the kitchen for a coffee break.

It would be after 6 AM before a (somewhat) clear shot could be made. AT 6:16, here you go!

Before Sunrise - A Hike with Backpack and Cameras

It was windy and cold with temperatures in the low teens Celcius. It felt like Alaska.

There weren't many farmers in their fields and few birds were in the skies.

By 9 AM the sun was warming things but, it was still windy. Time to head for home.

At 9:05 this Blue Rock Thrush appeared in a tree alongside the road.

It would be the only bird shot taken today.

Some Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Encountered Enroute

Had the blue skies and sunshine held up, we may have seen some more birds.

Japanese White Eyes (Mejiro) love these flowers and hang out in the branches.

Clouds blocked the sun and no birds were to be seen in the Cherry Tree.

So, the camera was positioned where a white tiled roof served as the background.

Leaving this scene, the sun peeked through the clouds briefly.

At 9:32 AM a quick maneuver of the tripod and camera captured this scene.

May your January be as exciting (or more so) than mine! 

THE END

3 Peeks at July 2017 Full Moon

Images Taken with a Pentax K1 at 700 MM Focal Distance

A Gitzo tripod and the camera timer were used to take these photos.

The moon is 99.6% full this evening so, I decided it would be best, to get it done, now.

The Lunar Calendar at Time and Date, says the moon will be full July 9th at 13:06.

Well, I don't think we'll be able to see the moon, at that time of day, on this island.

With 700 MM of lens, the moon, doesn't appear this large, through the viewfinder.

During processing, I make different crops, which make the moon become larger.

In my Photo Tip #8 you can learn some basics about cropping images.

Now, I have to hurry downtown, to make sure no lunatics, got loose at the watering holes.

Photography Tips: Creative Background for Flowers

Carry an Inexpensive Backdrop

 

 

Recently, I was asked how dark colors are created in backgrounds of flower photos.

And, I promised to do a post explaining the simple technique, I use.

Being it's St. Patrick's Day, I'm in a bit of a hurry, to get out of the office.

There are things to do, like get the green tux out of the closet.

So, this will be a relatively short photo tip.

Most artists, would probably choose a different color for a backdrop.

When, I use black, it's usually to get the flower standing out, for identification purposes.

Were I making this image to sell, I'd certainly use a different color in my composition.

This photo shows the scene in the background and, my contraption for changing it.

Mounted to a tripod with giant rubber bands, is a clipboard and black background.

The color of the backdrop, doesn't have to be black.  Pink, white or blue, would do, too.

The good part of a clipboard, is you can clip any color you want, to them.

Construction paper would be ideal but, I like to use things that last a bit longer.

The black and white materials, you see, are actually, cheap plastic cutting boards.

One, got donated to me and, I think I paid less than a dollar for the other.

 Ideally, another person, to hold your backdrop, would accompany you for the shoot.

Then, you don't have to go rigging up a tripod, to assist you.

A human, can tilt the backdrop forward, back, left or right, to give you the best light.

And, even help stop the wind, from shaking your subject around.

 Here's the less-than-a-dollar clipboard, lying naked on the pavement, for you.

When, I bought the thing, I thought it was a nice color.  I'd go for blue, next time.

So far, I haven't found any flowers that look good with red as a background. 

Some folks, don't think, I look so good in a green tuxedo so, I only wear it once a year.

Now, you know how to shoot flowers with different backgrounds.

There's no sense, in me hanging around after this gets published.  So, I'll do beer ! 




MORE PHOTO TIPS

A Little Trick I Use to Shoot the Grey Heron in the Eye

Whenever Possible Use a Tripod

 

 

Why does an old geezer like me carry a tripod along with the heavy camera and lenses ?

It helps steady everything when, I'm shooting in rapid fire and, I do that a lot.

The tripod, also holds my position when, I make manual adjustments.

Here's a screenshot taken while processing a RAW file of the image above.

There aren't any cross-hairs present inside the camera viewfinder.

The image is enlarged and the cross-hairs appear when I decide to do some cropping.

They show the exact point, I was focusing on, when the shutter was opened.

The Trick: Use a tripod and, focus on the bird's eye.

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Plenty of Wildlife and Nature Activity at the Nagahama Dam

Six Images of the Grey Heron in Flight

Waiting for Fireworks to Start at an Okinawan Festival

Never Ending Matsuri Season

 

 

It seems like there are too many activities going on to keep tract of, during the summer months.

 In a rush today, preparing for this weekend's nightly events, I discovered something.

A pile of photos from this time, last year, had never been developed.

So, I thought it would be a good idea to show them and explain the rational behind the shots.

Smart photographers, are on the scene, way before the fireworks begin.

The woman, silhouetted in the lower right, of this image, was shooting the setting sun.

Yours truly, got back a little farther and included the moon, in a wide angle composition.

Then, zoomed in to give you a better view.

With, about an hour to kill, before showtime, I decided to take a hike.

The plan was, to get far enough away, to catch fireworks reflecting over water.

The technique, I used, could use some improvement and, I'm working on it this year.

Now, I'm wondering, how that girl in the silhouette (with no tripod) made out !

Related Post: Fireworks Photo: Ogimi Okinawa Japan

Photo Tip: How to Create a GIF with Google+ Auto Awesome

It's a Simple Process and Free

 

Before getting started, there are a few things, you might want to try.

The Auto Awesomenator needs a good series of photos to work with.

Use a tripod or, be sure to steady the camera by some other means.

Five or more photos are needed to create the GIF.

Set your camera to burst or, continuous shooting mode and, fire away.

Identify and prepare the series of images and place them on your computer desktop.

Ten Easy Steps to Get a Motion GIF

 

1. Go to your Google+ Profile Page

2. Hover over the Profile Button (top left) and click PHOTOS

3. On the Photo Page (upper right) click UPLOAD PHOTOS

4. Drag Photos Here or, Open Browser appears

5.  It's easy to drag the photos from your desktop and watch them upload

6. Once you're satisfied with the upload hit the SAVE Button

7. Google will tell you to Hang On a Second.  They are looking for people

8.  If any people are in your photos they will ask you who they are

9. That scares me so, I just hit the SKIP Button and take a break.

Go outside and have a smoke and coffee.

Sometimes, I wonder if a secret agent might be watching me.

Those precious moments are what you should save farts for.

10. Usually, after about ten minutes, you can go back to your Google+ Photos

Click ALL PHOTOS at the top of the page.

If you see a black stars symbol in the upper right of one of the photos, click on it.

Auto Awesome may have created a Motion GIF for you !

MORE PHOTO TIPS AND TRICKS

The March 15th Moon Stood Fairly Still

But the Osprey Was a Fast Mover

 

 

There seems to be some discrepancy about this month's Full Moon.

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, it was tonight.

Farmer's Almanac, says it's tomorrow and other places, say it will be Monday.

Well, I went and climbed a tower to wait for moonrise.

Before the moon showed up, along came this Osprey Flying machine.

That gave me an idea.  

Wait until I could compose a scene with some background in it for that Auto Awesome thing.

 

It took some doing because I don't have any control over where those birds fly.

The plane flying past the red bridge that connects two outer islands was just what I needed.

The Pentax K3 takes more than 8 photo frames a second.

So, I fired off about 10 continuous shots while panning the camera on a tripod.

It was 6:20PM  when this scene was created.

The Full Moon showed up and I took this photo at 6:45PM.

By 7PM, I was out of the tower in Kin Town and, back in my office, downloading the camera.

Have Some Fun After Your Cat Dies

Here's What We Did

 

 

One day, RyukyuRusty came by with one of those dead cat stories.

Well, there's no sense in crying over dead cats. Get rid of the thing.

Don't get another one, either.  It will die, too.

But, you shouldn't waste the dead cat's food.  Find a hungry cat to give it to.

Bring along a camera and tripod.

Set everything up and wait for some action to happen.

Rusty and the Map It Okinawa dude went climbing trails in the woods.

Sometimes, I find other ways to entertain myself.

Just put the camera on burst mode and fire away.

No animals were harmed in the making of this blog.

And, if that cat would have eaten all that food, it would be no problem.

There was another bag up in the bicycle basket.

If you don't feel like having fun after your cat dies, send the food over my way. 

Auto Awesomenator makes my day !

Surprise: We Got to Shoot Seven Sanshin All in a Row !

It wasn't the instruments lined up on the shelf that surprised me.

The location and, the fact they let me take photos, made my day.

This was in the Okinawa Prefectural Museum.

There's just enough redneck left in me to avoid places I can't take my cameras.

Several (formerly) reliable sources had told me "No Cameras Allowed" in there.

So, for years, I avoided going in.

Why would I want someone to take my money, if I can't shoot ?

 

 It Doesn't Hurt to Ask

 

Wednesday, we decided to give the museum a try.

It was one of those days where no outdoor photography would happen.

On a cold, wet morning, Doc Graff and I, both promised the women, we would stay indoors.

As we approached the museum, in Naha, we carried our cameras.

At least photos could be taken, right out in front of the joint.

We took a few shots, then holstered the cameras.

Inside, I walked up to the ticket office and, asked if cameras were allowed.

 

 

Ya Hu Hu Hu Cameras Go Right Through !

 

There are a few restrictions, though.

Some areas, are off limits, for photography.

And, you can't use flash, anywhere.

That was enough to make me run back to the car and, grab all three cameras.

Then, I went and bought a 400 yen ticket.

We hit one little snag, after that.

The lady selling admission didn't mind the tripods.

The gal taking tickets at the entrance, minded.

No tripods are allowed to be used inside the museum.

She let us check them in at the counter and gave us receipts.

Here's how I made the shot of the seven sanshin:

Using a prime 50mm lens at ISO 100  f/1.8  1/15sec we gotterdun.

How do you keep the camera steady when no flash or tripod is permitted ?

Eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep and, don't drink cheap booze !

More at Okinawa Prefectural Museum 





Cattle Egret Shot While Hanging Out the Car Window

Not the Preferred Method

 

 

 

This photo was taken back on July 15, 2013 at about 5:30PM.

Riding along with RyukyuRusty, I spotted the bird in a field below the Kin Bridge.



Normally, I'd make a shot like this, using a tripod and, the big 500mm lens.

 

This photo was taken with a Pentax KD10 and the 18-250 lens at 250mm.

All I did was lean out the window and spot focus on the bird's eye.

Three quick shots were made using burst mode.

Then, I told Rusty, "Close the window.  It's hot out there"  !

Seawater Spray Can Kill Your Camera -- Not Mine

Catching Big Waves Can Be Fun

 

 

The problem with salt water is, it will corrode cameras and lenses.

Yesterday wasn't the first time the ocean came in contact with my gear.

It happens to me lots of times.



 

Luckily, there was an outdoor shower at a beach nearby.



 

The tripod and camera fit nicely in there.

When everything was properly positioned,  the valve got cracked wide open.

And, the camera got a good five minute, cold shower.

Once we all get dried off, it's time for Photography Tip:  Cleaning Your Camera

 

Note:  Pentax Cameras Are Made For This Kind of Treatment

 

If you use a Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus or, iPad:

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Another option:  Don't get too close to the ocean when you're taking pictures.

MORE PHOTO TIPS

Viewing Hedo Point After Typhoon Wipha

The typhoon breezed on by Okinawa without causing much harm.

Driving to the far north of the island we noticed some big waves at Hedo Misaki.

Setting up a tripod near this monument, seemed like a good idea.

We were standing, probably, 60 meters above sea level.

The winds were strong enough to send salt water, spraying in our faces.

So, I picked this spot where the wind would hit my back, not the camera.

Sea water isn't something you want to get on your DSLR or, the lens.

The little guy in the red shirt kept running through the scene.

You know, I'm Santa Claus, sometimes so, I have to be patient with the rascals.

Today I happened to be wearing a red shirt, too.

Well, Santa Claus, isn't supposed to be cussing around little kids.

So, I just kept whispering, "Dammit" to myself.

Finally, I caught one shot, where the kid disappeared behind the rocks.

By the time we left Hedo Point, Doc Graff and I had salt water all over our cameras.

Come again, sometime, and I'll show you what we do to fix that situation.

Meanwhile, put them all together and what have you got ?