[M_Six]

10 miles? Now that's a heck of a walk. Cool pics, though.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by allachie9

Thanks Dave, no filter, just taken on the little G1X.

Here's another from this afternoon, on our way back home.
Again taken on the G1X.

I haven't reached for my polarizing filter in years.

Shooting in Raw, I can get the contrast and color I want without much problem. Of course, I don't usually shoot into the sun, unless I want flare and a sunstar. I suppose there are some water shots, shooting at 90-degrees to the sun, or thereabout, where it may make sense.

Dave

[Itsed65]

Great shots Alan!

[Itsed65]

Ran into this friendly fellow munching on some sweet grass at about 7,000 feet last weekend.

Hi There! by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[M_Six]

Very nice portrait, Ed.

[dcstep]

Snowy Egret Flying To A Resting Spot by David Stephens, on Flickr

[Weebl]

ooooooh.
I like how it is "perched" on the green background.

[M_Six]

Cool shot, DC.

[allachie9]

Great shot Dave.
White bird + white background = exposure nightmare, but you've managed to keep detail where it's needed.
Well done !

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by allachie9

Great shot Dave.
White bird + white background = exposure nightmare, but you've managed to keep detail where it's needed.
Well done !

Manual Mode is your friend in this situation. Notice the treeline right at the wing tips. The shot before this was all white BG and the shot after was all green BG. The meter would have killed me in Av or Tv modes. It's very unusual for me not to use M Mode for all BIF shots. I use Av Mode for almost everything else and spin the wheel to adjust EV up and down.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Weebl

ooooooh.
I like how it is "perched" on the green background.

Thanks Kevin. That's actually why I picked this pose over the one before. The wings hadn't moved much, but this BG is more interesting and gives a nice contrast.

Mark, I see you there, thanks.

[allachie9]

I had a walk today along the old railway trackbed (now disused) between Lossiemouth and Elgin, about 5 miles. The wild flowers and butterflies were so colourful, and it's such a peaceful walk, well away from any traffic.
I spotted this, which I think is a Dark Green Fritillary, although the experts may correct me here

Butterfly_3840 by Alan Butterfield, on Flickr

On my way back the peace was shattered when this 2 seat Typhoon (Eurofighter) flew over, after circling the local fighter base before landing.

2 Seat Typhoon by Alan Butterfield, on Flickr

Very much a walk of contrasts.

[dcstep]

Love the butterfly and flower, Alan.

My primary nature sanctuary is also on a flight path, with lots of corporate jets and a war bird every one in a while. I often shoot them, just because they're there, but I seldom process them. Next time I see a fighter, I'll process and post it.

[M_Six]

Stellar butterfly shot, Alan.

[Itsed65]

So I just got home from a mini vacation. When my friends and I booked this weekend in wine country little did we know there would be raging wildfires nearby and it would endup beeing the hottest weekend of the year with temps in the 105 range. So the air was full of smoke and it was really really hot! Luckily I had brought a cooler along, and all the purchases were placed in it for safe keeping, and it all ended up in my room, so I took this fun shot. All of this is not mine (just some of it!)
A weeend of Tasting (and Buying!) by itsed65, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

So I just got home from a mini vacation. When my friends and I booked this weekend in wine country little did we know there would be raging wildfires nearby and it would endup beeing the hottest weekend of the year with temps in the 105 range. So the air was full of smoke and it was really really hot! Luckily I had brought a cooler along, and all the purchases were placed in it for safe keeping, and it all ended up in my room, so I took this fun shot. All of this is not mine (just some of it!)

Looks promising. What was you top find of the weekend?

[M_Six]

Dark reds on the left look tasty. Wifey does those shots with her book hauls when we go to Book Expo.

[Itsed65]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Looks promising. What was you top find of the weekend?

Originally Posted by M_Six

Dark reds on the left look tasty. Wifey does those shots with her book hauls when we go to Book Expo.

Well with it being so dang hot, the chilled Rose's and Sauv Blancs were a popular choice as many of the wineries are running out right about now, so I did restock on those. The coolest new finds were a place called Frick and MacRostie, and they couldn't be more different!

Frick is pretty much a one man operation, with all the grapes grown on the property, and the tasting room is run by the owner and only open on weekends. MacRostie is obviously a high doller operation and you can see the picture of their brand new building on my Flickr page.

The Goldrock Ridge Pinot was amazing and I am sure won't last very long, and the Frick Counoise is a rare varietal that was different and very tasty.

From thier website:
Pronounced coon-wahz. This is an obscure Rhone variety with large dusty colored berries and soft tannin. Rare –
To illustrate, in the entire state of California there are only 56 acres Counoise compared to 39,610 acres of Pinot Noir.

New Finds by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[Weebl]

I wish I could drink, all those bottles of mine from the 80's are wasting away in my cooler.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Weebl

I wish I could drink, all those bottles of mine from the 80's are wasting away in my cooler.

Kevin, Ed's not far away. Maybe he would be interested in some of your stash.

[Itsed65]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Kevin, Ed's not far away. Maybe he would be interested in some of your stash.

A nice thought, but I have bought so much lately I have zero room for any more! I need to stop tasting and start drinking

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Another wall-hanger. Great, dramatic sky.

Dave

Originally Posted by allachie9

Yep, my thoughts exactly, a great panoramic shot.
Dmitriy.
I've just had a pack of panoramic paper delivered today, so I'm going to start and print a few panos.

Thanks guys!

Here's one from a different angle, down in the valley in a foggy creek, after sunrise. This is near the Fontana Dam off of US 28, known as "Moonshiner" hehe. A beautiful, scenic road.


Creek of Fog by Dmitriy David Khaykin, on Flickr