Saturday, March 25, 2006

Lichen

I was back out at the Georgia Botanical Gardens walking along some of the trails there I missed the last time I was out that way and was disappointed to see that most everything that was just blooming out two weeks ago isn't as vibrant or colorful as it was then. The recent cold snap we've had seems to have turned everything back into shades of winter brown and green.

I guess we're still a few weeks away from spring. This was the only shot I took that I liked.

Tv: 1/100
Av: 11.0
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 35.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Minnehaha Falls/Lake Rabun - Rabun Co. GA

The following 10 or 15 pictures were taken at Minnehaha Falls in Rabun County, Georgia.Not to be confused with a waterfall in Minnesota by the same name, Minnehaha is 60 feet high bordered by steep slopes on either side.

Finding the place isn't nearly as difficult as I made it. I missed the road the falls are on and ended up ascending a mountain I never thought would end. Eventually, I decided to descend and retrace my steps and finally figured out which road I was supposed to take to get to the trail leading to these falls. The trail is about 1.5 miles down a dirt road...and the trail itself isn't a bad hike at all. However, getting to the top of the falls is a bit tricky. It's virtually straight up in some places and you have to hold on to branches and tree trunks to pull yourself up. I was hoping the view at the top would be a little better than it was, but it is covered in dense forest at the top with no really good overlooks. Despite that, the falls are beautiful and seems to be a popular place; I met no fewer than 15 people hiking up to look at the falls in the short time I was there.

Here's a link to info on Minnehaha Falls:

http://georgiatrails.com/trails/minnehahafalls.html Posted by Picasa

Minnehaha Falls VII - Rabun Co. GA

Time-lapsed black and white view from the foot of the falls.

Tv: 0.4
Av: 29.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 25.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Minnehaha Falls VI - Rabun Co. GA

The view from the foot of Minnehaha falls.

Tv: 1/200
Av: 3.5
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Minnehaha Falls V - Rabun Co. GA

A narrow black and white view of the falls.

Tv: 1/100
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Minnehaha Falls IV - Rabun Co. GA

A black and white view from the foot of the falls.

Tv: 1/160
Av: 3.5
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Minnehaha Falls III - Rabun Co. GA

This is the top of the falls in color. Taken in the same spot as the one just below.

Tv: 1.3
Av: 22.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Minnehaha Falls II - Rabun Co. GA

Top of the falls in black and white.

Tv: 1.3
Av: 22.0
Exposure Compensation: +1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
White Balance: Shade Posted by Picasa

Minnehaha Falls - Rabun Co. GA

This was taken at the very top of Minnehaha Falls. It's a steep little climb to get to the top and this was about the best view that one could get without going over the edge. I was safe, though...on dry land.

Tv: 1/125
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Bridge II - Lake Rabun, GA

This is another perspective shot I liked. I think it turned out better than the one below as far as quality goes. I still didn't capture it like I wanted.

This is a little one-lane bridge just below the dam on Lake Rabun.

Tv: 1/200
Av: 18.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 54.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Bridge - Lake Rabun, GA

This one didn't turn out like I wanted it, but I really liked the perspective. I cropped it a good bit and tried to get the light like I wanted, but it just didn't turn out. There's too much noise in the picture, but that could be because of the ISO setting.

Tv: 1/250
Av: 11.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 27.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Alyssa Grace II

This was a "drive-by" photograph. I was playing the part of the paparazzi as my niece, Alyssa, was pulled in her wagon in front of my lens.

Tv: 1/60
Av: 9.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Alyssa Grace

This may be one of my favorite photographs I've ever taken.

Tv: 1/200
Av: 5.6
Exposure Compensation: +1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 48.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Alyssa Grace and Tango

This one was taken outside my parents' house on the front porch.

Tv: 1/80
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 47.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Georgia Botanical Gardens - Athens, GA

The following 21 photographs were taken at the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia.

You can find out more about the Gardens at the link below:

http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/ Posted by Picasa

Statues II - GA Botanical Gardens

Bronze statue in front of visitor's center.

Tv: 1/60
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 34.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Statues - GA Botanical Gardens

Bronze statues by the visitor's center.

Tv: 1/160
Av: 10.0
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 22.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Dry stream bed - GA Botanical Gardens

I've taken so many photographs of rivers or streams or water lately, so I thought I'd take one of a dry stream bed.

Tv: 1/13
Av: 18.0
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 27.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Trail - GA Botanical Gardens

I took this picture a little too early, I think. It'd be better if the flowers were in full blossom instead of just opening up like they are here.

Tv: 1/30
Av: 11.0
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Sprouts - GA Botanical Gardens

First of all, I have no clue what these are. I call this picture "Sprouts", but that's just the first description that came to my mind. They were just growing on the ground beside the path, but they were really green and healthy looking, so I too a picture!

Tv: 1/500
Av: 7.1
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Grass - GA Botanical Gardens

A bit of a variation on your normal, everyday landscape shot. I wish there were more leaves on the trees in the background as it seems every photo I've posted on my blog to this point has been of trees with no leaves!

Spring is nearly here, though.

Tv: 1/400
Av: 5.0
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 33.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Birdbath II - GA Botanical Gardens

Same picture as below, but in full color and with a wider focus.

Tv: 1/400
Av: 4.5
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 34.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Birdbath - GA Botanical Gardens

This is kind of a freaky looking little birdbath on one of the trails. It scares me a little.

Tv: 1/250
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 34.0 mm Posted by Picasa

Flowers VIIII - GA Botanical Gardens

I'm going backward as I post these online, but as I explain below, I was trying to work with a few close-up shots.

Tv: 1/1000
Av: 6.3
Exposure Compensation: +1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Flowers VIII - GA Botanical Gardens

I've been taking pictures at long distance for a while and I decided to do a few macro-photography shots to find out how well I could capture detail and color.

Tv: 1/1000
Av: 5.6
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0 mm
White Balance: Daylight Posted by Picasa