a few days late

I don't often post pictures of my friends or family on this blog, but I think this one is called for. My dear friends Bubba & Liz were expecting when we went for a walk in the woods at Rock Creek Park in the District. The fall colors were beautiful. This week, they welcomed their son to the world with open arms. Congratulations!
(ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/30s)

hangin' on

Some of the leaves refuse to loosen their grip on any remaining chlorophyll. Upon reflection of the background, other deciduous brethren provide a colorful argument against that course of (in)action.

(ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/200s)

channeling norman rockwell

As we loaded up the car to head back to D.C. that weekend, I couldn't help myself from snapping off a few photos of those who'd come to enjoy a picnic in the woods awash in autumnal shades. The scene of these two older women setting the table, gingham tablecloth and all, was too picturesque for me not to take a guerrilla shot at them.
(ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/80s)

munchkin in motion

As I tried to take static photos of the fall colors with a crash pad on my back and a day pack across my chest, a toddler "ruined" my shot. His parents apologized profusely for the "intrusion". I smiled slyly, knowing that the photo he'd joined had far more character than what I was attempting. Can't you hear his laughter echoing through the hillside?
(ISO 100, f/11.0, 1/4s)

bouldering playground

The road into Coopers Rock State Forest is often populated by daytripping hikers and topropers. We boulderers tend to stay a bit longer, especially with weather and foliage like this. How could we not!?
(ISO 100, f/ 8.0, 1/60s)

real live fall

The leaves had changed quite a bit in the three weeks that'd passed since I last was in West Virginia. I'm looking forward to them in D.C.
(ISO 800, f/3.2, 1/10s)

reflected in the lens

Last weekend, I headed off to Coopers Rock State Forest again in West Virginia. While waiting for the campsite to get moving, I took the Nikon out. My eye caught a reflection yet again.
(ISO 800, f/7.1, 1.0s)

quiet contemplation

Climbing is my religion. It is in the woods where I see God's grandeur most clearly. I know I am not alone in this feeling.

(ISO 800, f/3.5, 1/400s)

a new blur

A new (for me) take on static landscape photography. Slow the shutter speed down, and drag the lens downward/upward while the shutter's open. Dreamy.

(ISO 100, f/9.0, 3/5s)

in the weeds

"I've never seen that pond look so pretty!" she says. Thanks, friend.

(ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/400s)

experimenting with photoshop

I spotted this leaf in the fall. It caught my eye from 15 feet away, and I wanted it to catch the viewer's eye too. There was no way I could get close enough to it for a macro view without soaking myself or my camera. Picasa's focal black & white didn't capture my brain's perception. So, my better half gave me a crash course in Photoshop trickeration yesterday, and this was the first result. Thoughts?

lunch in lafayette square

For such a gorgeous day, there weren't a whole lot of people out and about in Lafayette Square. The A. Litteri subs we got were best enjoyed with a warming filter from a worm's eye view. The White House gawkers were an entertaining bonus.
(ISO 400, f/11.0, 1/25s)

purity in fall

It's not often that I find flowers worth photographing in the fall. These didn't seem all that worthy, but sometimes the shutter sees things differently.
(ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/400s)

a forgotten memorial

Obscured by trees and rarely visited, the World War One Memorial is often overlooked by tourists looking for the WWII, Vietnam, or Korean War memorials.
(ISO 800, f/4.0, 1/13s, eV -1.00)

a field of fall

I deemed this field to be perfect for bocce ball. Unfortunately, the neighbors take their dogs out here. I'm not wild about playing bocce and trying to avoid lawn mines.
(ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/50s)

a different perspective

I climbed out of the creekbed, screwed on the new prime, and added a warming filter before clicking the shutter. All I had to worry about was a car pulling into the parking spot.
(ISO 200, f/1.8, 1/800s)

welcome to tampa

It's been a few months since I've been to Florida. Laying on my stomach with a camera isn't what I used to do by the pool's edge. I forgot my board shorts anyhow.
(ISO 200, f/14.0, 1/30s, eV -0.33)

watching leaves die

Or so Kevin Nealon would tweet, "Ah, Autumn...there is nothing more beautiful than watching the slow death of leaves."
(ISO 200, f/4.5, 1/100s, eV -0.67)

from the creekbed

Pretty, ain't it? You'd never know that this drainage creek is clogged with empty beer cans and malt liquor bottles. Well, except that I just told you.
(ISO 200, f/20.0, 1/40s)

maiz de colores

I've never quite understood why maize is such an integral decoration in the fall. I'm pretty sure it's barely edible. I much prefer the squash family or summer corn. Yet another photo that'd make a pretty good puzzle.
(ISO 400, f/5.0, 1/30s)