Landscape

While the boys were bailing, I shot a couple pics across the field.  They turned out fine, but I was able to get creative with them in LR.  The clouds were not well defined in the original shot.  I was able to adjust the contrast and clarity.  Then, I was able to add blue hue and darken that.  This really made the clouds show up nicely.  I increased the level of green as well to make the trees look better.  I did the same thing on both images, but I think the first one turned out the best.

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 87.5mm; f/11; 1/1250sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 87.5mm; f/11; 1/800sec

Pat is mixing up the deer feed here.  This was just an experimental shot.  We were in the lean to and it was pretty shaded.  So, the shutter stayed open longer and caught the movement.  I thought it was kind of cool.  I should have worked on manual to speed up the shutter and freeze the motion.  But, honestly, I didn't feel like messing with that today.

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 42.5mm; f/4.5; 1/10sec

And, I have to include one of the cat.  She's trying to keep cool under Pat's car.

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/16; 1/250sec

Hay bailing time....

Pat and Kyle had to bail 4 acres of alfalfa hay on a really hot day.  Kyle's hands were torn up.  It was terribly hot and both of them were exhausted.  Meanwhile, I managed to get some good shots of the two of them.

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 300mm; f/11; 1/500sec

Kyle has no idea what he's gotten himself into and Pat just laughs because this is a job for "the young bucks."

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 150mm; f/14; 1/1250

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 260mm; f/11; 1/500sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 230mm; f/11; 1/400sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 135mm; f/11; 1/320sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 230mm; f/11; 1/400sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 300mm; f/10; 1/320sec

 Kyle needs a break and dad's gonna have to take over the tough job!

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 260mm; f/11; 1/320sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 300mm; f/10; 1/320sec

 Pat is making sure that Kyle knows what he's doing....where to drive, how fast...typical Pat stuff!

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 300mm; f/8; 1/320sec

 He's watching...making sure it's all going well back there.

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 300mm; f/9; 1/320sec

 And, Pat's ready....

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 77.5mm; f/11; 1/640sec

 He make this look easy.

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 170mm; f/14; 1/500sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 300mm; f/11; 1/1000sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 170mm; f/13; 1/400sec

Pat's a little faster at this stuff than Kyle because he's had a lot more practice.  So, he has time for a break between bails.

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 190mm; f/11; 1/250sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 260mm; f/8; 1/320sec

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/9; 1/1600 sec

 And, for fun, conversion to black and white.  I'm still not sure these look as good as pure b&w shot on b&w film....but, it'll do I guess.

Taken June 7, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/9; 1/1600sec

Deer update

The babies were out nursing today and they were so cute.  Their little tails were going crazy.  They would nurse for awhile and then run and jump around.  Of course, I had to get some shots of Old Momma as well.  I was taking pics and she came up and started knawing on my lens cap and trying to eat my camera strap!  She's so stinking nosy!

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/100sec

Old Momma always wants attention.  But, she looks ticked off in this pic....probably mad at me because I wouldn't let her eat my camera strap no matter how many times she tried.

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/100sec

This is one of the times that Old Momma was actually nudging me and trying to lick the camera.  So, I shot this one really quickly and it's a bit out of focus.

June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/40sec

Little one and her babies.....lots of them....

Taken on June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/200sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100 sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/200sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/11; 1/100 sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/200sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/9; 1/100sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/6.3; 1/200sec

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/

And the last deer update.....Old Momma photoboms as I'm trying to get shots of the babies.  She is such a ham!

Taken June 13, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/6.3; 1/200sec

Various different pics.....

I'm playing catch up in terms of posting new shots.  So, here we go......

I'm not sure if this hen is giving me the evil eye or if she somehow got ahold of a bunch of caffeine!

Taken June 6, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/5.6; 1/160sec

This hen is laying an egg and I'm interrupting her.  She looks pretty mad.

Taken May 17, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/5.6; 1/40sec

I love shooting images of fire.  Something about it is hypnotic.  On this day, I shot the grill as Pat was getting ready to grill steaks for us.

Taken May 17, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/8.0; 1/200sec

Taken May 17, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/250sec

Taken May 17, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/6.3; 1/200

We had a couple geese spending their days on our lake for a week or so.  I went out and took so many shots, but was not able to get an image I was happy with.  I tried all of my lenses and I just wasn't happy.  I do like this one and that's about it.

Taken May 23, 2015; ISO800; 300mm; f/7.1; 1/320sec

Gizmo after a bath and chewing a bone.  I had a hard time getting him to be still long enough to take a shot of him.

Taken May 18, 2015; ISO800; 37.5mm; f/4.5; 1/10sec

Prince and his frog.....

Taken May 23, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/6.3; 1/250sec

 Don't let it get away, buddy!

Taken May 23, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/7.1; 1/250sec

 Oh, I've got it!

Taken May 23, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/6.3; 1/250sec

 It's still alive....so, he's still playing with it!

Taken May 23, 2015; ISO800; 77.5mm; f/5.0; 1/250sec

 Oh, but Prince is such a nice guy, he decided to share with Sophie.  She is selfish though and would not give that frog up to anybody!

Taken May 23, 2015; ISO800; 190mm; f/4.5; 1/320sec

And, here's Turkey just hanging out and getting a drink.  She's still around, but goes off into the woods for days at a time.  We're not sure if she's roosting in the trees or just getting lucky.  But, we have three new little friends for her if she would just stick around!

Taken May 17, 2015; ISO800; 32.5mm; f/11; 1/125sec

Just for fun and experimentation.....

Taken June 6, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/10; 1/100sec

These are weeds or something in our woods.  The deer love to lay in it.  They are about one foot tall and remind me of Smurf villages.  For whatever reason, I just think they are really cool.  So, this is a ground level (bug's) eye view.

Taken May 14, 2015; ISO800; 55mm; f/5.6; 1/125 

So, I think I've pretty much figured out shooting RAW in automatic mode.  I feel comfortable with the reminder on exposures, etc.  I now need to start shooting in manual mode and start making my own decisions regarding exposure and speed.  I just need to find the manual for my camera and review how to control the thing manually.  My old Pentax K1000 was simple.  This is much more complicated!!!