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Articles tagged ‘Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6’

Palouse, Take Two

Written on June 1, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations

Palouse Tree: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Since my first visit of the year earlier in April, I promised myself a return trip to The Palouse to capture more of the spring greens. This Memorial Day, I fulfilled that promise. Cindy, my friends, and I drove down first to Palouse Falls and then to Steptoe Butte. It was nice to take a break from the constant rain we’ve been having for the past week. While at the waterfall, we hiked down to its base, and I was able to capture a not-too-often photographed view. The image was take at mid-day, but I really liked the wide-angle perspective and the white puffy clouds in that sea of blue sky. I hope you agree.

Looking Up at Palouse Falls: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

We were also blessed with good light at The Palouse. The recent rain had minimized the atmospheric haze and the brilliant spring greens were breathtaking to behold. I tried to stray away from the “typical” shots and concentrated on creating some unique compositions. As the sun went down, the overhead clouds turned a nice shade of pink just before a downpour rushed towards us. All in all, this was a fine day!

Red Barn, Green Fields: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Silo: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Pink Over Green: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

9 Comments

Nicole: I love this one. When I first looked at it I thought I was looking at the ocean... Something about the way the sky looks with the rolling hills... Beautiful.

--> Mahesh: Goldie, thanks for the comment. Long time no see. I really like that image too. That color in the sky lasted for about 30 second, then it was gone.

Ann & Dileep Bhandarkar: beautiful, we loved them all but the silo really grabbed me. what side of Steptoe was that taken? Ann

Ann & Dileep Bhandarkar: Also, I love the falls perspective, where is the trail down? when we were there last October we couldn't find a trail down. thanks, Ann

--> Mahesh: Ann, thank for the comments. The silo shot was taken from the northwest side of Steptoe Butte, about 3/4 way up to the top. As far as the fall, there is a trail leading down from the South end of the state park, by the railroad tracks. On the day we were there, a local volunteer told us about the trail head. The path is a little tricky at a few places, but nothing you can't handle with a little care. Also, there is poison ivy along the way, so be careful.

Anthony Whitmore: Your unamed friends had a very good time : ) Still processing images and fighting it all the way... Hows the new Subaru buddy? Signed, Unnamed

--> Mahesh: Ant (oops, I mean Mr. Anonymous), thanks for the comment. It was our pleasure to show you around our beautiful state, even though the weather was less than ideal. Come back in the summer for the wildflowers of Rainier and the Olympic beaches. :D The Subaru is running great, BTW!

--> Mahesh: Khun, thanks for the comment! I didn't understand a word of it until I visited the site you listed and entered your comment into Google Translate. I appreciate the sentiment. Danke! :D

Tags: Palouse Falls, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic 7-14 f/4, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations, Steptoe Butte, The Palouse

Forest Photography

Written on May 31, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations, Tips and Tutorials

Forest Greens: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

A couple of friends are visiting me in Seattle, but the weather has been damp and dreary. Today we made the best of it by exploring Olympic National Park, including the Hoh Rain Forest. The opening image and the shots below are my favorite forest photos from the outing. A light drizzle can do wonders for forest photography. The colors are richer, there are no harsh shadows, and the venue is typically not very crowded.

I almost always use a polarizer when doing this kind of photography. It will significantly decrease glare from reflective surfaces such as wet leaves and rocks, providing more contrast and deeper colors. Of course, a tripod is a must as the exposure times are often several seconds long. I also recommend taking along a lens hood, if you have one, and a lens cloth. Chances are the wet climate will leave water drops on the surface of your lens or filter. The hood will help minimize this, and the lens cloth can be used to safely wipe off any moisture that makes it on to the lens surface. If you don’t have a “weather-sealed” camera, you may want to take something to protect your expensive gear. A plastic or zip lock bag works great.

I hope you enjoy the images. As always, you can click on the pictures to go to the original gallery. Once there, you can see the images at larger sizes, peruse the shot settings (including GPS coordinates), and explore other galleries.

Inviting Trail: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Mossy Cascades: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Friendly Ferns: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Vertical Forest: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

4 Comments

linda: as always, i love to see the photos of your adventures. the shots certainly convey that feeling of dampness and hidden mystery just beyond the next trees...

Ryan: I recognize "Mossy Cascades" as the creek on the Sol Duc Falls trail. No waterfall photos this time?

--> Mahesh: Linda, thank you! That was the message I was trying to convey with these photographs...damp but certainly not dreary. I glad you enjoyed 'em.

--> Mahesh: Ryan, thanks for the comment. I did take some waterfall picts, but wasn't terribly happy with any of them. I may post them at a later date when I blog about how to do waterfall photography.

Tags: Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations

Painted Hills and Bruneau Dunes

Written on May 16, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations

Color in Crevices: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

A few friends, Cindy, and I made a whirlwind tour of Painted Hills, OR and Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park, ID over this three day weekend. Boy, what fun we had! We left Seattle 9:30 Friday morning and arrived in Mitchell, OR 6 1/2 hrs later. We set up our tents near Painted Hills and headed out to explore and photograph the area.

Painted Hills Unit is one of three components of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. These colorful hills are located about nine miles northwest of Mitchell, OR. The varying hues and tones of the hills are best seen in the late afternoon, but early light can offer dramatic backlit compositions for the creative photographer. The yellow wildflowers were in full bloom, and lined several cervices, as seen in the opening image of this blog. Below are three more images of this beautiful, ancient wonder.

Wild and Beautiful: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Painted Hills in the Distance: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Painted Hills, Painted Sky: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

The next morning, we shot the sunrise at the same location and headed out to Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park, ID, another 6 hrs away. We arrived in the late afternoon, set up camp and headed out to climb the largest single Sand Dune in North America, rising 470 ft above small surrounding lakes. It was a short but tough hike. Below are two of my best images from there.

Bruneau Dunes Reflected: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Late Light on Bruneau Dunes: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

The next morning (Sunday), we slept in and drove back to Seattle, 9 1/2 hrs away. By 8 pm, I was post-processing and uploading images.

16 Comments

Jeremiah: Third image is one of the most unique Painted Hills photos I've seen. Very Nice!

--> Mahesh: Jeremiah, thanks! The 3rd image was taken from the top of the Carroll Rim Trail. It's a less popular but equally beautiful hike, IMO.

Victor: I love seeing what my little GF-1 is capable of! Keep it up Mahesh!

Chris Budech: Great Photos and an area I wasn't familiar with. Is the GF- 1 an slr?

Aaron Cowan: That's quite a trip heading all the way over to my neck of the woods for Bruneau Dunes. I really like the reflection shot of the dunes...all the painted hill shots are very cool too.

--> Mahesh: Victor, thanks for the comment! The GF-1 is a little wonder. The more I use it, the more I love it. The quality Panny lenses deepen my love evermore!

--> Mahesh: Chris, thanks! The GF-1 isn't quite an SLR and it's not quite a point and shoot. Some have dubbed it an EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens) camera. It's small, lightweight, and thoroughly enjoyable.

--> Mahesh: Aaron, thanks bud! I didn't know you lived out there. Next time, I'll shoot you an e-mail before heading out.

Conrad Tan: Nothing less that spectacular Mahesh! These images are stunning! The painted hills are my picks. Woo hoo!

Anthony Whitmore: Wow what a kewl shot Mahesh!! Great landscapes and I may have to put this on my List of "Things to photograph" for a future trip!! See ya in a few weeks my friend Ant

Chris Budech: Thanks mahesh. I've had SLRs in the past film era. But have only had small Canon's in the digital era. Maybe the GF-1 is the way to go? Enjoy your photos very much. You get to some very cool places. Chris Budech

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks bud! When you come up here, and if we have enough time, we'll visit the Painted Hills. You won't believe your eyes!

--> Mahesh: Ant, thanks for the comment, bud! See ya in a few weeks. The Palouse and the Olympic coast wait for us...

--> Mahesh: Chris, no worries! I think you would enjoy the GF-1 very much. It's my preferred camera for travel and landscape photography where I have hike/backpack.

meg parisi: Unbelievable!!! Your photographs make me want to visit ths area immediately, if not sooner. Keep up the great work.

--> Mahesh: Meg, thanks! Always nice read your kind comments.

Tags: Bruneau Dunes, Painted Hills, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic 7-14 f/4, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations

Cactus Chronicles

Written on May 10, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations

Star Trails Over Joshua Tree, Panasonic GF-1 & Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Last week I was down in San Diego for another Radiology conference. After the conference, my buddy, Joel, and I decided to visit Joshua Tree National Park for the weekend. The Park is about a 3-½ hr drive northeast of San Diego, and offers some of the most beautiful desert landscape terrain in the world. In this blog, I’ll share with you my favorite shots from the short visit.

Home to picturesque, twisted trees and massive rock formations, Joshua Tree is sandwiched between the Mojave and Sonora Deserts. Joshua Tree National Monument was established in 1936, and the Desert Protection Act upgraded it to National Park status in 1994.

We drove to Twentynine Palms, a gateway town to Joshua Tree, located just north of the park. As an interesting bit of information, this town is home to the largest Marine base in the world.

We arrived late Friday afternoon and explored the park from the comfort of our air-conditioned car. When the outside temperature became more bearable, we took a nice stroll through the Hidden Valley nature trail, where we saw fascinating rock formations and labeled desert vegetation. Below is an image of a particularly interesting rock, which to me looks like the “Flying Elvis” logo found on the New England Patriot’s football helmets.

Flying Elvis Rock, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

We then headed up to Keys View. Unfortunately, the visibility was poor and much of the distant mountain ranges were obscured by haze. However, I did manage to capture an image of a photogenic lizard with a multi-colored underbelly, basking on a warm rock.

Joshua Tree Lizard, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

That evening we headed over to the White Tank Campground and hiked the easy Arch Rock nature trail, where I captured the image below of Arch Rock.

Arch Rock, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

The next morning we awoke before sunrise and headed back into the park. The light was spectacular, and below are my attempts at capturing it.

Joshua Tree Silhouette, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Standing Proud, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Two of a Kind, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Later that morning, we found ourselves in the Cholla Cactus Garden capturing wildflowers and Teddy Bear Cholla cacti.

Teddy Bears and Wildflowers, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Backlit Cholla Cacti, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

While at the Cholla Cactus Garden, a long-eared denizen popped out to pay us a visit. She eyed us suspiciously for a few seconds, wiggled her nose, and hopped away.

Desert Jackrabbit, Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400mm f/5.6L

By 8 am the light was getting harsh, and we headed back to Twentynine Palms, grabbed some breakfast at a local diner, downloaded our images, and took a well-deserved nap. We awoke in the afternoon and headed back to Joshua Tree. Around 5 pm we began a moderate 3-mile hike up to Ryan Mountain where we ate dinner and photographed the sunset.

Ryan Mountain Sunset, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

We then headed down the trail with headlamps illuminating our path. On our way back to town, we pulled off the road to photograph star-trails. We watched a 1 hr 40 min movie on my iPad while our cameras captured the celestial movements above Joshua Tree. The opening image of this blog was the product of this long exposure. I combined one hundred consecutive 1-minute exposures. During the first minute of exposure, I used my headlamp to illuminate the foreground. The camera was set to manual exposure at f/4 and 60 seconds on “burst mode”. I attached a cable release and locked down the exposure button.

The next morning we slept in, packed up and headed back to San Diego to catch a plane to Seattle. I hope you enjoyed these images and thanks for visiting!

8 Comments

Barb Michieli: I went rock climbing here back in the early 90's. Your photographs brought back memories of this beautiful place!

Conrad Tan: Dude looks like you had a rockin time at J-Tree man! You're 400mm is looking like its shooting sharp as well! Great landscapes as always bud!

Linda Lin: Beautiful!! My fav is the rabbit :)

--> Mahesh: Barb, thanks for the comment. It looks like you've been everywhere! I saw a few rock climbers and was wondering how hot it must be for them!

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks bud! The 400mm is a real gem...much easier to hand-hold than my other Canon "monster."

--> Mahesh: Linda, thanks! That little one is pretty cute, huh?

Ray Still: Hey Mahesh, awesome captures I can smell and feel that dry desert air, very cool takeaways and awe ha you are the one that bought Henry's 400

--> Mahesh: Ray, thanks for the comment, bud! Ya, I got Henry's 400. It's a beaut! Tack sharp and in superb condition.

Tags: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400mm f/5.6L, Joshua Tree National Park, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic 7-14 f/4, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations

Pike Place Market in the Morning

Written on March 21, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, 14mm (28mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1.3 sec.

One of Seattle’s most famous icons, Pike Place Market is a photographer’s paradise. Neon lights, charismatic people, beautiful views of Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier…you name it, The Market has it. I like to arrive especially early in the morning, preferable after a rainy night. The wet, slick brick road leading into the market will give off beautiful reflections of the colorful neon signs, and hopefully there won’t be many parked cars to spoil your foreground. The traffic this Sunday morning was especially light. I was able to set up my tripod in the middle of the road and snap a few shots. I suggest you stroll up and down the market and surrounding neighborhoods. Take your time, walk slowly and look for interesting compositions. After you’ve finished shooting, stop by a local cafe or restaurant and grab a little breakfast. There are also beautiful flower arrangements throughout the market. Why not buy some for your home? This morning, I ate at Lowell’s restaurant while enjoying views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 20 f/1.7, f/1.7, ISO 400, 1/125 sec

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 61mm (122mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1.3 sec

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 109mm (218 mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1/10 sec

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 180mm (360mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1/8 sec

10 Comments

Bev: These are really cool. You have an excellent artistic ability; what are you doing in radiology? I love the booth picture but especially the black/white and red bridge photo. Inspired! Bev

--> Mahesh: Bev, thanks for stopping by and commenting! It's tough to make a living as an artist. Radiology pays the bills. :D Seriously though, I love both photography and radiology. I can't see myself giving up either one.

Nicole: So classic. It seems everyone should have these images ingrained in their brains if they call themselves Seattlites. Thanks Mahesh!

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Nicole! Ya, many know Pike Place Market as a place for great shopping and dining, but it's also a wonderful venue for photography. :D

mariann: Great pictures! I have never seen the market empty like that. I guess that's what you get when you go early!!

Barb Michieli: Dr. Thapa ~ Such brilliant colors . . . even our eyes can't see! Your photography makes the market look even nicer than it is! You talent is truly a blessing to us all. Thank you so much for your continued sharing.

--> Mahesh: Barb, thanks so much for the lovely comment. I'm so glad you enjoyed the images. Pike Place Market is always a great place to visit, but I find it especially wonderful early in the morning, without the crowds. :D

--> Mahesh: Mariann, thank you! Sorry I didn't notice your comment till now. The market is like a ghost town before the sunrise. :D

Carol Baldridge: WOW!!! "Sustenance for the Soul" your photographs certainly are. Thank you so much for sharing with us. Your work is truly inspiring (and inspired!).

--> Mahesh: Carol, thanks for the kind words. It's my pleasure to share my photography. :D

Tags: Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic 20 f/1.7, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations, Pike Place Market

520 Bridge and Olympics

Written on March 18, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations, Tips and Tutorials

On a nice day, I love driving on the 520 floating bridge in either direction. You have beautiful views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, the Olympics and the Cascades. I especially love clear winter or spring days, when the mountains are still snow capped. On the east side, there is a road/bridge that crosses above the 520 and offers a wonderful view of the distant Olympics with the floating bridge in the foreground. Last Sunday morning I went to this point and shot the picture you see below. If you want to capture this scene, here are a few pointers:

Directions: If you’re traveling east on the 520, take the 84th Ave NE exit and turn right. Take the 2nd right onto NE 24th St and drive about 1/2 a mile to 76th Ave NE/Evergreen Point Rd. Turn right on this road and you’ll arrive at the bridge in about a 1/3 of a mile. Just before the bridge, there is a park and ride on the right side. Here are the coordinates: 47.637248,-122.238659. See map below.
Clear winter or early spring mornings are best, especially after a rainy day. The precipitation tends to “wash away” the haze. Snow capped mountain tops always look better than the bland peaks we see in the summer and fall.
Bring a long lens. Recently, there has been construction on the 520 bridge. Ugly metal bars have been placed above the road, and florescent orange construction signs litter the foreground. A long lens will allow you to exclude these distracting elements. It will also give a great “compressed” effect to your picture. By this, I mean the distant mountains will appear much closer to the bridge. My photograph below was shot at 400mm.
Use a polarizer to minimize glare from the surfaces of the bridge and water. It will also increase contrast and give better definition to the mountains.
Black and white or color is personal preference, but for my shot, I liked the look of black and white better.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 200mm (400mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1/200 sec

View Larger Map

2 Comments

mariann: BEAUTIFUL as usual. I have taken lot os pictures of the Olympic's and the Cascade's, but nothing like this picture.

--> Mahesh: Mariann, thanks! Hopefully some of the suggestions I gave on the blog will help you take a photograph you'll be happier with. When you do, I'd love it if you'd share it with me. :D

Tags: 520 Bridge, Black and White, Olympics, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations, Tips and Tutorials

Silver Falls State Park and Tips on Waterfall Photography

Written on March 17, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations, Tips and Tutorials

Today was a vacation day for me. It had been several years since my last jaunt to Silver Falls State Park. It was time for a revisit. The venue is located about an hour and a half southeast of Portland. One of the largest parks in Oregon, Silver Falls State Park is home to ten gorgeous waterfalls. Fall and spring are probably the best times to visit, as summer can attract a lot of foot traffic.

The day was overcast with light drizzle, perfect for waterfall and forest photography. I left home at 6 am, grabbed a quick bite at McDonalds, and was at the park by 10:30. I left my car at the North Fall parking area and did a relatively easy 3 1/2 mile loop that took me to Upper North Fall, North Fall, and Winter Fall. I came across very few people and took my time enjoying the hike and views. I don’t think I captured anything spectacular, but today was more about the journey and hike. I stopped over in Portland and had dinner before heading back to Seattle. By 8 PM I was downloading and post-processing the images from the day.

Here are a few tips and personal preferences for waterfall photography:

I love overcast days for waterfalls, as the light is diffused, with no harsh shadows or overly bright sunlit areas.
If at all possible, I try to not include a lot of sky in my images, as gray skies are dull, uninteresting, and often show up as bright, overexposed areas in my pictures.
My favorite shutter speed for waterfalls is between 1/4 and 3/4 second. Any slower, the water looks too much like shaving cream for my taste. Any faster than 1/4 second, and the water isn’t blurry enough. This is all personal preference, of course.
I like to use a polarizer when shooting waterfalls, because it significantly reduce glare from things such as water surface and wet leaves.
Because you’re working with such slow shutter speeds, a tripod is a must. Don’t be lazy; carry a tripod. I also recommend using a cable release and enabling mirror lock-up if your camera has the feature.
Proper exposure can be tricky, as waterfalls are very white while the surround foliage, rocks, etc. are much darker. I always exposure bracket my shots about 1 to 1 1/2 stops on either side of 0. I then combine the exposures later in post-processing to get the perfect balance between highlight and shadow detail. In the near future, I’ll write a tutorial describing how I do this.
I often find myself getting very close to waterfalls, and keeping my equipment (especially the front of the lens) free of water droplets is a real challenge. I carry a small lens cloth which I use to wipe down the front of the lens (or polarizing filter if you have it on) between exposures. The trick is to have everything set up (eg, composition, f-stop/shutter speed/ISO values) first. Then wipe down the lens and snap the image (or bracketed images). A lens hood helps, as does a portable umbrella.

Here are a few shots from today’s trip.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6 lens, 26mm (52mm equivalent), f/18, (2/3 and 1 1/3 sec exposures), ISO 100

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6 lens, 23mm (46mm equivalent) f/8, 8 sec, ISO 100

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6 lens, 132mm (264mm equivalent), f/8, 1/13 sec, ISO 100

4 Comments

Michael Rupp: Mahesh, this is great! I am trying to learn how to do photograph. Where did you learn?

--> Mahesh: Hi ya, Mike! Great to hear from you, and thanks for the kind words. I'm what you call a self-taught man. :D I've had no formal training, but I have spent countless hours on the internet studying great photographs and reading articles on photography and photoshop. I also participate in several photography forums on the web. Some great ones include dpreview.com, fredmiranda.com, and dgrin.com.

Deborah: Great forest shot! Those are some of the hardest subjects to pull off from being so busy, but you've got a great s-curve path that leads the eye right in. Makes me want to ditch work and go for a hike in the rain.

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Deb! This was my favorite shot of the day. This morning I looked back on all the forest shots I've taken, and I think I like this one the best. Part of it is how beautifully greens turned out. In my other shots, they don't seem to be as vibrant. Anywho, glad you liked the image. :D

Tags: North Falls, Oregon, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations, Silver Falls State Park, Tips and Tutorials, Waterfall

UW Cherry Blossoms, Take Two

Written on March 15, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations

I was on call yesterday (Sunday) and it just so happened to be the first day of Daylight Saving. I woke up extra early and looked out my bedroom window. Noticing the nice quality of the developing light, I packed my gear and headed back to the University of Washington’s main campus. I arrived just after sunrise and pretty much had the place all to myself. The colors were excellent, and I snapped away happily. By 45 minutes, I was satisfied with what I captured and headed to Children’s Hospital, refreshed and “eager” to start call. That last part is probably stretching it a bit.

Anywho, here are a couple of shots from the outing. If you look carefully at the first image, you can see the Space Needle in the distance. I really love the pink hues on the blossoms. I hope you do also. Let me know what you think.

Panasonic GF-1, 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, 20mm (40mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, (1/15, 1/30, 1/60 second exposures)

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 45mm (90mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 second exposures)

8 Comments

Robert Livingston: Glad I am on your mailing list.

Katie: You are a magician. It's amazing to get to see what you see. It must be fascinating, and perhaps frustrating, for you to watch other people see your vision, and see how they interpret your vision. SO many times, when I've looked at many of your photographs, I've not just seen but also felt a moment in time. Captured but freely happening. Other senses are pulled in because the visual effect is so striking, real, imaginary, and perfectly arranged. I think I occasionally see some of those moments in time like I should, but I can't replay them for others by photographing, writing, speaking, showing, singing, or dancing (the singing and dancing could be particularly disturbing). So wonderful for you to be able to show your work to others, so they get a chance to see through your eyes. Please start making a book. You could even create a system in which people you trust can create an ibook by you, choosing their favorite masterpieces, the ones that speak to them. This would be an incredible treasture.

--> Mahesh: Bob, thanks for the comment. I'm glad you haven't asked to be taken off the list. :D

--> Mahesh: Katie, Wow! Just saying thank you seems woefully inadequate to the eloquent compliments you gave me. You have such a way with words. I read your response several times with a grin on my face that extended from ear to ear. I love your idea of an ibook. I'll have to see how feasible that is. If you belong to Smugmug, they have what's called a "collect" feature which allows one to grab favorite images from other Smugmug members (if those members allow it, that is) and sequester them in a virtual on-line album/gallery. That may be a good first step toward creating an ibook.

Nicole: I love that you have added the Google map to show the location of where you took your picture! It adds a new dimension to your photography and I love it! It seems like you've found a new outlet for your passion for photography; like a next chapter- that of teaching via your web site and offering additional information beyond just the image itself. I think that is really unique and interesting... Thank you for sharing all your hard work and talent with all of us! -It's very inspiring...

--> Mahesh: Nicole, my heart-felt thanks for your beautiful and thoughtful comments! You've figured me out completely. What good is keeping knowledge of such fantastic places and photography techniques to one's self? I want more people to enjoy the beauty all around us. As it has done for me, I'm hoping that some basic photography and photoshop skills will encourage other to get out there and explore!

Jeremiah: Excellent photos! Was the first taken from INSIDE the art building?

--> Mahesh: Jeremiah, thank you very much for the comment. Yes, the first shot was taken from inside the 3rd floor of the art building.

Tags: Cherry Blossoms, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, Panasonic GF-1, Photography Locations, Space Needle, University of Washington

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