Sirfishalot's Blog

February 21, 2012: Below the Grid

Sirfishalot — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:24:45 +0000

Here is a recent image from the light rail Univeristy Station. It was a quick hand-held grab of three 0.7 brackets which unfortunately what the Sony NEX cameras are currently limited to for auto-exposure bracketing. The symmetry of the floor pattern and architectural elements caught my eye in this one.

Seattle, Washington

Sony NEX 5N, 18-555mm/f4.5-5.6

3 exposure HDR, Photomatix, Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, onOne Perfect Effects

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

February 17th, 2012 – Avian Friday: Snowy II

Sirfishalot — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:08:55 +0000

From two days worth of shooting Snowy Owls up in Canada you can image that I’ve got more than a few images of these guys to share.:) In this one I tried a little tone-mapping during post-processing for a different effect.

Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus) Delta, British Columbia

Canon 1D Mark III+ Canon EF 500/4L IS USM

Processed with Lightroom 3, Photomatix Pro, Photoshop CS5, onOne Perfect Effects.

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

February 13, 2012: Not Open For Business

Sirfishalot — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:16:04 +0000

On a recent walk I came across this storefront in Seattle’s International District. I placed the lens right up on the window to shoot it through the glass.

Seattle, Washington

Sony NEX 5N, 18-555mm/f4.5-5.6

3 exposure HDR, Photomatix, Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, onOne Perfect Effects

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

February 10, 2012 – Avian Friday: Snowy Owl

Sirfishalot — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:16:25 +0000

Here in the Pacific Northwest we have had winter with an abundance of Snowy Owls. I had heard reports of them and seeing images taken by several of my photographer friends. Not having seen or photographed one myself I was compelled to try to get out and find a few before they leave for their journey back to the Tundra. Though there have been sightings throughout Western Washington, the highest concentrations of them have been at Damon Point near Ocean Shores and at Boundary Bay in the Delta region of British Columbia. Last week while we had some great weather I finally made the 2 1/2 hour drive up to Boundary Bay to see these marvelous creatures. It was well worth the effort.

Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus)

Delta, British Columbia

Canon 1D Mark III+ Canon EF 500/4L IS USM

Processed with Lightroom 3, Photomatix Pro, Photoshop CS5.

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

February 6th, 2012: Red Rock Panorama

Sirfishalot — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:24:30 +0000

View towards Cathedral Rock from Upper Red Rock Crossing Road

Sedona, Arizona

Canon 5D, Contax T* Vario-Sonnar 35-70mm/f3.4

9 Frame (3 Exposures ea) HDR, Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Topaz Adjust 5, onOne Perfect Effects.

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

February 3rd, 2012 – Avian Friday: Northern Harrier

Sirfishalot — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:01:17 +0000

Northern Harrier (male)

Mount Vernon, Washington

Canon 1D Mark III+ Canon EF 500/4L IS USM + EF 1.4X Rear Extender

Processed with Lightroom 3, Photomatix Pro, Photoshop CS5.

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

February 2nd, 2012: Skagit Fields

Sirfishalot — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:56:58 +0000

I thought I would make a mad dash for the border last week and head up to photograph the Snowy Owls that have stopped over in British Columbia for the winter. Having had a late start and fearing that there wasn’t much light left in the afternoon, I opted instead to check out one of my old haunts in the Skagit Valley to see if there might be any raptors around to photograph. While stopped on the side of the road to set up my super telephoto gear I grabbed this shot of one of the many fields in the valley. I did find several raptors, one of which will be featured on tomorrows “Avian Friday” post.

Mount Vernon, Washington

Sony NEX 5N, 16mm/f2.8

3 exposure HDR, Photomatix, Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Topaz Adjust 5,, onOne Perfect Effects

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

January 27th, 2011: Green-winged Teal

Sirfishalot — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:29:07 +0000

Geen-winged Teals

Here’s another image from the archives since I haven’t had much opportunity to get back out into the field lately. As typical with most of my images of waterfowl, I try to get an at water level perspective for a more intimate view of the bird. Though this is not always easy to do without spooking the birds, a long telephoto lens help compress the perspective when you can’t get right down at water level. The shot of the Green-winged Teals was taken at Magnuson Park at Sand Point in Seattle. The more colorful male is in the foreground.

Seattle, Washington

Canon 1D Mark III+ Canon EF 500/4L IS USM + EF 1.4X Rear Extender

Processed with Lightroom 3, Photomatix Pro, Photoshop CS5, onOne Perfect Effects.

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT

January 24th, 2012: Flagstaff Aspens

Sirfishalot — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:34:27 +0000

Aspen grove off Hart Prairie Road

Flagstaff, Arizona

Canon 5D MkII, Contax T* Vario-Sonnar 35-70mm/f3.4

3 frame HDR, Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, Topaz Adjust 5.

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations. Thanks for stopping by, Jay

January 20th, 2012 – Avian Friday: Great Blue Heron

Sirfishalot — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:31:34 +0000

Great Blue Heron

Seattle, Washington

Canon 5D Mark II+ Canon EF 70-200/2.8L IS USM II + EF 1.4X Rear Extender

Processed with Lightroom 3, Photomatix Pro, Photoshop CS5, onOne Perfect Effects, Topaz Adjust5.

To see a larger version please click on the image.

Feel free to comment below if you like what you see or have any other observations.

Thanks for stopping by,

JayT