I only made it to one of the local parks to shoot this week. I’ve shot there often before and know it presents some good photographic opportunities at certain times of the year. However, even before I went I knew this wasn’t to be one of those times.

The majority of the leaves have all fallen off the trees and the colors that are left are washed out. There’s still beauty persent but it’s harder to define and capture. I’ve often looked back through the trees and admired the winter ready forest, but have never been able to do this particular scene photographic justice. I seem to lose the feeling of the forest among the trees.

I’m perhaps a little closer to delivering what I see with this shot but am still not satisfied.

In a non-related topic, one night this week while taking our dogs out I witnessed a small burning fireball traversed much of the visible night sky. It appeared to give off sparks at a couple of points and didn’t look like most shooting stars I’ve seen, unusual. Ummm…what day did NASA lose that tool belt on the space walk?

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Post tags: forest, Photography, photos

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Maps app got Google Street View capability and public transit directions and the performance of Safari is reported to be faster and more reliable.

There were also a number of enhancements to the iPhone to decrease any issues with dropped calls. The updates can be installed via the standard iTunes update methods.

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Post tags: iphone, iphone 2.2, ipod touch, ipod touch 2.2, ipod+touch, updates

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I have mixed feelings regarding the purposed bailout of the U.S. big three auto companies. I worked at an automotive supplier for over 18 years and I understand how wide an impact bankruptcy and layoffs could be.

It will extend well beyond those who directly work for one of the auto-manufacturers.

If the big three declare bankruptcy tier-one suppliers will either not get paid or will be paid late or only partially for parts already sold. These tier-one suppliers may have to close their doors, declare bankruptcy themselves or began layoffs as a result of the sudden lack of cash-flow, even if only temporarily. Then there are the tier-two suppliers that provide parts and materials to tier-one suppliers.

These tier two suppliers will be faced with the decisions…closing down, bankruptcy or layoffs. Lucky suppliers will have enough Japanese or European transplant business to see them through but with current car sales being already down twenty to thirty percent the negative impact will still be great.

And so it goes…

On the other hand, I detest granting taxpayer money to companies that show no signs of accepting their onus of the situation they find themselves in. Executives continue collecting huge salaries and enjoying perks while Unions continue to suck the life blood out of the very companies they purpose we save with billions of dollars.

Where’s the sincerity? Where’s the remorse for destroying what at one time was the pride of U.S. manufacturing? Who’s responsible?

Pouring our money into sick and failing companies, no matter how large, without first curing their illnesses (and mismanagement) can only prolong the inevitable.

It does seem Wall Street and the Banking Industry received special treatment. I dare say if it was still pre-election we’d be witnessing a different tack by Congress in its approach to the automotive industry and the large number of industry voters who could be affected.

As they say, timing is everything!

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Post tags: auto, big-three, Business, Observations

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This latest version of firmware included a few new features and some minor bug fixes. The new features included:

• streaming music to any Airport Express or other Apple TV in the house;
• mixed audio and video format playlist; and
• the ability to use third-party remotes.

As a side photography related note, an Apple TV does an excellent job of displaying prized photos with selected background music on your TV for viewing by family and friends.

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Post tags: apple, apple tv, apple+tv, firmware

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“Life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things, blue waves whitened on a cliff, soaring fire that sways and sings, and children’s faces looking up, holding wonder like a cup.” - Sara Teasdale

A seagull soars beneath a sunset sky with the setting sun glinting off the bright feathers of wings edge.

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Post tags: bird, Photography, photos, seagull, sunset

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As I become a bit more skilled with Adobe Photoshop I find myself using it as a tool to dissect and analyze my photos…at times selecting a photo which in my judgement “missed-the-mark” and making it a pleasing creation.

I crop and cut, experimenting with over-all composition. I play with exposures, curves, filters and overlays to determine what works and imparts the impact I’m looking for. I ask myself questions about my perceptions and the boundaries of my preferences and taste.

To impart my vision I may apply artistic styles which make my shots more or less then photos, depending upon your point of view and how much of a photographic purist you are.

While all this artistic “fishing” is being done post-process, it’s clear what I’m learning is beginning to feed directly back into the front end of when I take photos.

I’m also closer to understanding how some photographers can spend hours post-process working on a single photo to get it just right.

© Earl for Meandering Passage, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: fishing, Observations, Photography, photos, photoshop, pier

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It started off as a cold morning but by afternoon had turned into a nice day with temperatures in the mid-50’s.

Wanting to be out and about I spend my afternoon raking leaves, mowing yard and removing dead or dying potted annual plants from the porch…chores required each fall after the first frost and most of the leaves are off the trees.

I’m going to take one day this week for photography but I haven’t decided exactly where I want to go. It would be nice to visit a new location even if this first trip turns out to be more of a scouting trip. Often when I first visit a place it’s about scouting out the “lay-of-the-land.” Then I adjust my next visit to make the most of the location.

Oh, the photo has nothing to do with fall chores…I just liked it.

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Post tags: beach, bird, Observations, pelican, Photography, photos

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One of the afternoons of our recent visit to the beach was spent at Brookgreen Gardens located along the coast south of Myrtle Beach, SC.

Brookgreen Gardens was established to preserve native flora and fauna and to display objects of art within a natural setting. This 9,200-acre property represents the natural landscapes surrounding the site since its establishment in 1931 and was a functional rice plantation in the 1800’s.

Today, Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and a display garden with the most extensive collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world. - History of Brookgreen Gardens

The gardens and natural areas are extensive and include a Children’s Garden/Statue area, Zoo and Arboretum.

They were in the process of decorating and stringing lights for their Christmas “Nights of a Thousand Candles” festival in December, which would no doubt would be fantastic.

Our afternoon visit only scratched the surface of the property I’d like to see and photograph. If I lived closer I’d pursue a membership and be a regular visitor.

You can view more of my photos from Brookgreen Gardens here or by clicking the “PhotoGallery” tab at the top of this page.

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Post tags: brookgreen gardens, Photography, photos, sc

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Normally you’ll see people walking along a beach either early morning or late evening. It seems these seagulls had the same idea on this particular evening.

I snapped this photo using my general purpose walk-about zoom lens, a Nikon 18-200 VR DX, with a Nikon D300. A few years ago capturing photos in similar conditions would have required a faster lens but with newer cameras, a f/3.5-5.6 lens is more then fast enough ninety percent of the time.

The combination of modern low-noise/high-ISO cameras and Vibration Reduction (VR) lens lets you take handheld shots like this without loosing data in the dark areas, blowing out the light areas, having a high noise level or giving up DOF and sharpness. In my opinion, it’s the most significant improvement in the latest generation of digital cameras and lens.

Now that’s not to say I don’t have a wish list for faster lens…I certainly do!

© Earl for Meandering Passage, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: beach, myrtle beach, ocean, Photography, photos, sc, sea gulls, sunset

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“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.” - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

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Post tags: beach, ocean, Photography, photos, sea coast, sunrise

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