Category Archives: monochrome

Hold Me Close

Posted by Mike on

Floral, Midday, Macro

Hold Me Close
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/1250s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Release Yourself

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday
Floral, Midday, Macro

Release Yourself
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/1250s, f/2.8, ISO 100

Over Troubled Waters

Posted by Mike on

Monochrome Monday
Chittenango Falls State Park

Over Troubled Waters
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, {1/13, 1/5 & 0.5s bracket}, 26mm, f/11, ISO 200

Cindy’s Morning Shine

Posted by Mike on

WDW in B&W – WBW42
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

I’m still in the middle of my love/hate relationship with Walt Disney World. The 50th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is October 1st. It is 31 days away! When the other anniversary milestones came I didn’t do anything special (to be fair neither did Disney on a couple of them). But I thought the 50th would be something spectacular and I would be there. I currently have no plans.

What I do have is more images from my trip this past May. As much as I might complain about Disney, and Walt Disney World in particular, I did have a few good times on my trip. Unexpected early entry into the parks was one of those times. The Magic Kingdom was scheduled to open at 8am but as soon as I arrived cast members were letting guests into the park. OK I thought, they probably have a rope at the end of Main Street holding everyone back until the official time. Nope! The park was open to us. While everyone was running off to any open ride, I was running around capturing as many images as I could.

I was on my way to Frontierland for sunrise-like images along the Rivers of America. Passing over the bridge from the hub presented this harsh view of Cinderella Castle which I could not pass up. Upon my first look at this image back in May I didn’t see anything special. I liked the sun flare but there were too many flare spots. Although I love shooting into the sun, there were to many spots to overcome in post-processing. While cruising the trip’s album in Lightroom last night this image jumped out at me. I needed to work on it.

It might be a cheat to convert it to monochrome but it did alleviate my problem with the sun spots. The other great affect of converting this image, it removes the new color scheme Disney used for the anniversary. I mentioned in a post back in May that the new scheme has Cindy looking like her sibling in Disneyland. I’m still undecided about the look for her but this version helps me forget. I think it fits nicely with the other images in my WDW in B&W series.

Cindy’s Morning Shine
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 17mm f/1.8, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 200

Canal Reflections

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday

Canal Reflections
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/60s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Side by Side

Posted by Mike on

Macro, Monochrome
Haiku

As someone who had to mow the lawn on a weekly schedule during the grass growing days, I hated dandelions. I never put the effort into “weed” control like my neighbor so my yard would eventually invade his, much to his chagrin. But the moment I started “seeing” the world around me as I began this journey with photography, the dandelion has been a constant and sought after subject.

I have photographed dandelions in every stage of their life. One of my favorites has been hanging on my wall for years (check out Dandie from this post back in April 2016, Grass). When I first moved into my current apartment I’m sure my neighbors wondered about the guy on his stomach out in the grass pointing his camera at the weeds.

I’ll continue exploring the dandelion. I am fascinated by its detail and structure. I wish to never lose my fascination with this weed…

Take Flight

Side by side they wait
Wind to free their hearts one dream
New journeys take flight

Side by Side
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/160s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Sunrise Blues

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor

Bellamy Harbor has not been a sunrise destination for me in quite a while. After the city placed the fences around the canal control gates I didn’t want to up my frustration for the missing harbor view. I get it. I understand why. Still annoys me.

I did go Saturday morning though. I was half hoping the fences would be down (they are not). Maybe there would be a way for me to get my favorite view of the harbor (there is not). I’m sure there is another view that will be “the view” (nope).

I still enjoyed my time at the park but it was related to being there. The sound of the water rushing over the spillway. The call of the ducks as they paddled through the water. The rustle of leaves in the trees. Aaahhh! Good morning…

Sunrise Blues

Mornings unhindered
A state of serenity
Hear the sunrise blues

Sunrise Blues
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1.3s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 200