Our family. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
Our family went to see West Point. It is a remarkable place.
to continue (and see more West Point photos), click the page links to the right
GRANDPARENT’S DAY
Our grandson Drew
Sunday, September 11, is Grandparents Day. Ironically, I didn’t know this until I heard it on the radio yesterday while going to visit our grandchildren. The photos of Drew (above) and Ryan (below) were taken last night, not long after our arrival.
We will have a great weekend visiting our children and grandchildren. If you are a grandparent, you already know that any day spent with one of your grandchildren is grandparents day.
When I was growing up, my mother used to say “When you have children, you will know what life is all about.” When our children came along, my mother would say “When you have grandchildren, then you will REALLY know what life is all about.”
If you are a grandchild, call your grandparents Sunday and say hello. Actually, any day is a good day to connect with love ones.
Wherever you are, have a great day!
Our grandson Ryan
JEWEL-BOX LIGHTING
Helene Center for the Visual Arts, Graceland University.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
“Jewel-box lighting” is a technique for photographing lighted buildings in late evening light so it looks like night but there is some color left in the sky. It works best if the exterior of the building is at least partially lit by flood lights. The technical challenge is to balance the lighting on the building with the deep blue of the sky.
to continue, click the page links to the right
YOU CAN HELP!
CANON 5D vs CANON 20D
The Canon 5D is a great new camera with a full-frame, 12.8 megapixel CMOS sensor and it costs $4,600 less than the only other full-frame D-SLR currently in production (see the post below). It has a a 60 jpeg frames continuous buffer (17 RAW) at 3 frames per second. It adds spotmetering to center weighted, partial, and evaluative metering. It has several major advantages over the Canon 20D which makes the upgrade worthwhile if the price isn’t too big of an obstacle ($3299). The Canon 20D does have some minor advantages over the 5D.
NEW: CANON EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM LENS
One of two recently announced (Aug. 22) Canon lenses is the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. If this lens is up to the usual L series quality expectations, this lens will be a great choice for photographers looking for a lighter weight alternative to the EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens. The EF 24-70 f/2.8L lens has long had a reputation as one of the sharpest mid-range zoom lenses, but it is big and heavy, and costs around $1,140 USD.
IT’S OFFICIAL: NEW CANON 5D
Canon 5D digital camera
It’s now offical. After lots of rumors and a Canon news leak a few days ago, today Canon announced the EOS 5D digital camera with a full frame, 12.8 megapixel CMOS sensor with an expected price around $3300 USD. For everyone who has been wanting a full frame sensor in a less expensive body, this is a huge step in the right direction.
PHOTO OF THE DAY: FALL RIVER ROAD
Fall River Road, 360 degree panorama.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
Fall River Road begins at the west end of Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park and ends at the Alpine Visitor’s Center. This photo was taken near the upper end of the road.
to continue (and see larger versions of this photo), click the page links to the right
MOVIE: MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
PHOTO OF THE DAY – COED, OSU
COED, The Ohio State University. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
A candid portrait taken while walking across campus. Canon 20D. Canon 28-135mm IS lens at 100mm (the equivalent of 160mm in 35mm film terms).
LOST PHOTOS RECOVERED – RescuePRO Software
ANOTHER GREAT SUPERZOOM: SONY DSC-H1
Sony has come out with a great 5 megapixel “superzoom” camera that is arguably the best competition to the Canon S2 IS (see the post below). If you are looking for a superzoom point and shoot, which is the best one for you?
to continue, click the pages links at the right
PHOTO OF THE DAY – DANCER, SPEC
SPEC 2005
SPECTACULAR 2005 group photo. Copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
SPECTACULAR, usually just called SPEC, is going on this week at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Over 1,000 high school aged youth and staff have gathered from all over the world to spend a week of challenge, learning, worship, sports, music, arts, and fellowship. It is a joyful, exuberant week.
to continue, click the page links to the right
PHOTO OF THE DAY – PIKA, TUNDRA, COLORADO
Pika, Tundra, Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
This pika was busy collecting “hay” for the winter. There were several constantly scurrying about collecting food. At an elevation of over 12,000 feet, there is snow cover for 8 months out of the year. They only have 4 months to collect enough food to last through the coming winter. They are about the size of a human fist. This one seemed to have a preference for the yellow flowers in the area. Located close to Trail Ridge Road, several people had gathered to watch. The most frequent comment was “They’re SO cute!”
Canon 20D, 100-400mm zoom lens at 400mm.
PHOTO OF THE DAY – RED ROCK LAKE, INDIAN PEAKS
Red Rocks Lake and Indian Peaks. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
Many of the rocks in Red Rocks Lake really do have a reddish tint, hence the name. It is popular for both fishing and photography. A lot of water lilies bloom in the summer. The Indian Peaks, named for tribes native to Colorado, form the backdrop.
Canon 20, 17-40mm lens at 38mm.
PHOTO OF THE DAY – DEAD TREE AT NIGHT, MORAINE PARK
Dead Tree at Night, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
This is the same tree in the middle of Moraine Park as the one in a prior post, but from a different angle and later in the evening. I positioned the camera so the stars and Jupiter would appear at strategic locations among the dead branches. Once the composition was determined, the photo presented some technical challenges.
to continue, click the page links to the right
PHOTO OF THE DAY – FALL RIVER, HORSESHOE PARK
Fall River, Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
Mt. Chapin is reflected in a calm stretch of the Fall River at the west end of Horseshoe Park. This spot is just west of the Alluvial Fan and on the south side of the road.
Canon 20D. 17-40mm lens at 17mm. Aperture: f/16. Shutter: 1/60 second.
PHOTO OF THE DAY – FISHING, BIG THOMPSON RIVER
Fishing, Big thompson River, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
This stretch of the Big Thompson River flows through Moraine Park. My plan was to do a landscape photo. When I found this family fishing at my preferred location, incorporated them into the photo.
Canon 20D, 28-135mm lens at 80mm.
PHOTO OF THE DAY – DUSK, MORAINE PARK
Long’s Peak at Dusk from Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
The sun had set and the last rays of light painted the clouds around Long’s Peak. A dead tree in Moraine Park provided a frame.
Canon 20D, 17-40mm lens at 17mm. Aperture: f/16, Shutter speed: 1 second.
PHOTO OF THE DAY – RABBIT, HORSESHOE PARK
Young Rabbit, Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
This rabbit was hiding in the grass not far the Alluvial Fan in Horseshoe Park.
Canon 20D, 100-400mm lens at 400mm. ISO 400. Aperture: f/8. Shutter: 1/60.
PHOTO OF THE DAY – ROCKY MOUNTAIN SUNSET
Sunset, Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
This photo was taken from Rock Cut on Trail Ridge Road, just 12 minutes after the marmot photo in the last post. Canon 20D camera, 100-400mm lens at 210mm.
PHOTO OF THE DAY – MARMOT
PHOTO OF THE DAY – RED ROCK LAKE
Red Rock Lake, Colorado. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
Red Rock Lake is west of Ward, Colorado in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. This photo was taken at mid-morning with a Canon 20D camera at a focal length of 21mm.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LENSES
KONICA – MINOLTA 7D REVIEW
Konica – Minolta Maxxum 7D Digital SLR
Mike Johnston wrote a “Rave” review of the Konica-Minolta 7D at the Luminous Landscape website. If you have Minolta lenses for a Maxxum film body and have been thinking about getting a digital SLR, you should read this review.
There is also a review at DP Review where the K-M 7D received a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, the site’s highest.
Pop Photo magazine compared this camera to several similar digital cameras. I published a summary here.
Personally, I would put a lot of weight on the reviews by Johnston and at DP Review. If you already have the lenses and you want to go digital, this is a great way to do it.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE – JULY 4, 1776
Fireworks over Yukon, Oklahoma. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
From the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776. Written by Thomas Jefferson (1762-1826). 3rd US President (1801-09).
To see an engraving of the original and George Washington’s personal printed copy, go here.
to read the entire declaration, click the page 2 link at the right
KODAK DISCONTINUES BLACK AND WHITE PRINTING PAPER
Kodak recently announced that they will discontinue the manufacture of black and white printing papers. This is a sad day for photography. There is nothing quite like the luscious look of an exquisite black and white photo that has been printed well on black and white paper.
to continue, clicks the links at the right
A Great Digital Superzoom: Canon S2 IS
PHOTO OF THE DAY: ORGANIST
Jan Kraybill at the organ, The Auditorium, Independence, Missouri. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
I recently spent several days documenting the World Conference of the Community of Christ in Independence, Missouri. This photo of organist Jan Kraybill is one of my favorites. The photo was taken during one of the worship services with a Canon 20D camera and an EF-S 10-22mm lens set at 10mm ( the equivalent of 16mm on a 35mm film camera). The exposure was 1/60 sec at f/6.3 in manual mode at an ISO of 800.
More conference photos are here (scroll down to the “2005 World Conference” albums). 2004 conference albums are farther down the page.