ABC Wednesday - O is for Overflow

O is for Overflow............







The overflow at the dam was really flowing with all the extra spring water and melting snow a couple of weeks ago.

There are two overflow areas at this dam, and this is the active one. It is usually just a small stream, especially in the summer when the water levels are lower.

Only once in all of the 26 years that we have lived here have I seen the overflow on the other side with any water in it.

Actually the water that was in it at that time wasn't flowing. That spot must act as a holding area for this overflow so the whole dam can still hold back what it needs too without being overtaken.

This dam is part of a whole system of dams and waterways that run through our state, into the next, and finally out to the ocean.

It's kind of neat how they control all this water and keep us all safe too.



This is the fourth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Yellow Berries for Green Thumb Sunday

Yellow Berries for Green Thumb Sunday







Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday



Another shot from last fall's visit to the ocean.

I found tons of these yellow berries growing on a tree and there was nothing around eating them.

I was hoping at the time that it was because they were just not ripe enough yet.

Or perhaps they are just for decoration only.

I can just imagine how that tree is doing now - with the amount of berries it produces, it must be bursting with blossoms.

I don't foresee an ocean trip in the near future, so I won't get to see the flowers, but there is always another spring to catch them in their full glory.

Friday's Photo Tip - What the Term Bokeh Means

Friday's Photo Tip - What is Bokeh







Bokeh

Have you ever heard the term or wondered what it meant?

The "bokeh" in the above photo is very apparent, and since the lens is doing such a great job, it has made it almost non-apparent.

Now that I have totally confused you - check out the background behind the dragonfly.

What do you notice about it?

First, it is not distracting.

Second, it has an overall out of focus smoothness to it.

And lastly it enhances the subject.

When a lens is said to produce a nice "bokeh", it means that it has the ability to blend the light with the background and give it a blurred or out of focus quality that does not distract from the subject.

On to the next question - do all lenses do this?

My answer is yes, they do, but some do the blending part much better than others. And I bet you can guess what determines that. The more money you spend on your lens, the better quality of glass you get. And the better the bokeh - and everything else for that matter.

But even with the standard lens that comes with any camera, including the point and shoot varieties, you can produce a pleasing bokeh too.

The trick is to use a shallow depth of field so that just the subject is in focus. The rest of the image gets blurrier as the distance gets farther away from the subject.

And how does one use a shallow depth of field?

Without getting too much into a DOF discussion, you use a smaller number on your aperture or f-stop setting.

The smaller the number, the more shallow the DOF.

Practice changing the DOF with your digital camera, and look at your results as you go along.

Depending on the lighting conditions, it is pretty easy to get a good "bokeh" when it is most needed to blend away those annoying or distracting backgrounds.

If you click on the photo above it will take you to my website where you can click on it again to view a larger image. The bokeh is more apparent in the larger view.

ABC Wednesday - N is for Nature on this Earth Day

N is for Nature on this Earth Day............







Nature

A perfect word for this Earth Day 2009.

My favorite subject to photograph no matter the season.

Enjoying Mother Nature's beauty is one of the great gifts we have in this life.

Respecting and protecting it is one of the greatest gifts we can give to this planet.

Happy Earth Day!



This is the fourth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

A Bit of Last Autumn for Green Thumb Sunday

A Bit of Last Autumn for Green Thumb Sunday







I am not sure what kind of flower they are, but I found them quite interesting when I visited a local garden last autumn.

They look sharp and spiky, but they really are not.

Even their solid, round shape is odd for a flower.

I don't know if they open up, or if this is the mature plant.

The color was quite striking - even their stems are red.

If any of my readers know what they are, please don't hesitate to leave a comment.

I thank you in advance!

Friday's Photo Tip - Auto or Manual Focus

Friday's Photo Tip - Auto or Manual Focus







Even though today's DSLR cameras use auto-focus lenses, have you ever switched it off to do the focusing yourself?

When I became interested in photography, there was no such thing as an auto focus lens.

When they first started making them I was skeptical, and I stayed with my manual ones.

In fact, the first AF lens I owned was when I purchased my DSLR.

And I have to say, I keep my camera set to the "manual" focusing mode even on this camera.

At first I thought it was going to be great, this auto focus feature.

But then I started in with my macro images, and the lens would never quite get the correct spot in focus that I wanted.

And many times, if the light was insufficient, or the object too close, then the lens would just keep hunting for the focal point, and pretty much driving me crazy.

Just about the only time that I use the AF is when I am shooting an action shot.

Taking the above image was just about impossible without the AF.

The boys moved way too fast for me to manually get them in clearly, but the AF lens would follow them around and keep them in focus at all times.

I am a real stickler for depth of field (DOF), and the AF lens has no idea what I want.

This is my main reason for using the manual mode - I want the control.

So, do you use the manual or the auto focus on your camera?

ABC Wednesday - M is for Mists

M is for Mists............







There was just a slight breeze on this hot summer day at the park.

The air currents were just enough to stir up a light spray of mists off the top of the splashing water fountain.

I have walked in this park many times, and this fountain always draws my attention each time.

This was the first time I had seen these mists though, and I am sure glad I was there at the right time to capture them.

I used back lighting for this photo, and it worked to darken the background and make the mists more visible.




This is the fourth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.