In Photos dot Org

The lonely swan

A solitary swan swims on the calm waters of The Lough as the sun disappears at the end of the day.

Believe it or not, this is a 10 second exposure that turned out much better than I could have hoped! I balanced my camera on the edge of the Lough, set it to Aperture priority mode at f/11, dialed the exposure down two stops, flipped up the camera flash and took the shot.

How does this work?

By setting the aperture to a fairly high value little light is let into the camera sensor.
By setting the exposure down two stops the whole scene will be underexposed but bright areas will be exposed mostly correctly.
Given the above settings, any dark moving objects will be completely invisible so when the flash fired it picked out the swan swimming past and even created a nice reflection in the water.

Hope that helps!

Aperture	ƒ/11
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	10s

Where’s the water?

Where’s the water?

The water is just underneath the pavement in this image made in Blarney last month.

What do the initials SV stand for? I don’t know, it’s too early on a Monday morning to figure that one out.

Aperture	ƒ/5
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/50s

Doneraile Park Stream

Doneraile Park Stream

Water flows through Doneraile Park on a cold November afternoon. Despite the late season, leaves still cling to the branches of nearby trees although they’ve turned golden-orange and make a beautiful covering on the ground.

I was quite surprised that the Wikipedia page for Doneraile didn’t mention Elizabeth Aldworth, one of only three female members of a regular Masonic Lodge. Doneraile has quite a claim to fame!

I’ll have to get a good shot of Doneraile Court next time I’m down there. The sun was setting behind the building on my last visit so an early trip is necessary. The house is also surrounded by fencing making access impossible but hopefully those repair works will be completed soon!

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/6s

The gull and the flag

The gull and the flag

Two teenagers watch a seagull on the way back from Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. The US flag flutters in the same breeze that keeps the gull aloft, who no doubt is hoping for food from the boat full of tourists.

I’m going to be shooting at a fund raising night for Cope Foundation tonight. It’s an Eighties Night in the Ambassador Hotel here in Cork. It starts at 9:30pm, tickets are €12.50 on the door, and there’ll be spot prizes throughout the night! All are welcome, especially if you can get out your 80’s gear again. Time for big hair, leg warmers and shoulder pads?
If you’re there, watch out for me and say hi!

Aperture	ƒ/16
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	20mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/320s

Water Drops in Cobh

Water Drops in Cobh

Water drops from a railing in Cobh after a particularly heavy rain early in the day. That day’s shooting in Cobh was quite successful and by the evening there was a beautiful glow from the setting sun.

I took these firework photos from a spot on the right of this image.

PS. Happy Australia Day!

Aperture	ƒ/7.1
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	20mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/50s

Alcatraz Cell Painting

Alcatraz Cell Painting

Could these be the paint and artwork of Doc, a character in the film Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood?

This was only one of a number of cells with personal belongings in them.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/13s

What will the Canon 40D be like?

Should I add a “Rumour Mill” category? The Digital Photography Show reports that a Canon 40D may be on the way. Digital Photography Blog posted links to Canon’s website, but those pages have changed to Canon 400D pages! Speculation about features includes the following:

We’re hearing a lot of different rumors and guesses about the Canon EOS 40D specifications.

Among common guesses include that it will have anti-dust features, DIGI III and either a 10.2 or a 12 megapixel sensor.

I would love if the new camera had anti-shake features built into the camera but that will never happen. Canon charge a huge premium for their Image Stabilizer lenses. Why kill off a cash cow?

Will the Canon 40D be as revolutionary as the 20D? Sounds like upgrade time…

Tourists on the tram

Tourists on the tram

Tourists on a tram in Chinatown, San Francisco. I got lots of smiles and waves from the passengers when they saw my camera pointed at them!

Aperture	ƒ/9
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/160s

The couch on the street

The couch on the street

A couch rests against a pole on a street junction in San Francisco. That’s a novel way of getting rid of unwanted furniture but I wonder who’ll pick it up? For all I know, it could still be there with a family of squirrels living in it.

The same happens everywhere. Here in Ireland bed frames, mattresses and other other furniture can sometimes be seen dumped by the side of the road, usually in the country away from the watchful eyes of the authorities.

John Harrington posts about cuts among staff photographers at major US publications. Not a good time to be working in the “old world media” in some places.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/200s

The 15-Hour Photographer

If you’re reading about this here for the first time then you’ve got just under a month to enter The 15-Hour Photographer. During one day take a photo every five minutes and try to make 225 shots. You don’t have to but if you’re really trying to outdo yourself, do it in one day! Submit your best five shots to Popular Photo and a winner will be drawn on Feb 23rd.

The International shoot all the time day is the same competition by another name. I might try it. Next weekend?

If that isn’t enough for you, check out Photo Competitions.com where you’ll find lots more competitions to enter! (via)

Later .. Popular Photography has an update on the competition, with feedback from those entering. It’s not too late to enter either, the first rule says, “To enter, contestants must submit five photographs of any style, subject, or topic you wish. Entrants are not required to take a total of 225 photographs or take photographs on International Shooting All The Time Day.”

Alcatraz 2E 53 45

Alcatraz 2E 53 45

A vintage 1940’s truck with the license plate number, “2E 53 45” sits under an archway on the Island of Alcatraz. It’s a beautifully restored vehicle that attracts the attention of all tourists as they walk past.

Here’s a few more pictures of the truck but I’m surprised nobody has posted the registration plate of the truck! I love the variety of textures in this image.

First snow of the year fell today! It’s not sitting on the ground, but it’s nice to watch from inside. It’s not so nice walking about in it. Even Oscar didn’t want to go out, but the call of nature won out on his reluctance!

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	800
Shutter speed	1/15s

Bay Bridge Reflections

Bay Bridge Reflections

Light from the Bay Bridge in San Francsico shimmers in the waters of the harbour. To the left one of the fire fighting boats of the SF Fire Department can be seen.

Posting this landmark of San Francisco today as most of the rest of Automattic make their way to Mexico. Here’s another shot from another night near the bridge.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	2s