Yesterday, a photog friend and I stopped by Babcock State Park, likely the most photographed location in West Virginia. Dense Sunday crowds made it challenging to make an acceptable image of the grist mill without lots of people in the frame. A bluebird day with harsh midday sun didn't help either. But a Breakthrough Dark CPL/6-stop ND filter helped mitigate the latter and a little patience let me grab a quick image with no people in it. Steve
ILCE-7CRE 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071 lens48mmf/5.01/3s100 ISO+0.7 EV
A little experimentation with light painting in a graffiti-covered concrete tunnel. Using colored LED lights and a red headlamp during a 3–4 minute exposure, I created these sweeping curves by walking backward through the tunnel.
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens29mmf/13.0226s50 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens29mmf/13.0228s50 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens29mmf/13.0270s50 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens29mmf/13.0162s50 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens29mmf/13.0283s50 ISO0.0 EV
Following tips from Douglas I went back out in the morning to hangout with 10 or 15 other early risers...I think I was there 2nd but maybe 4th or 5th to get a spot (because I talk too much) 😉 The light was just okay and we didn't really get any more color than yesterday. I'm okay to not return due to the sheer pandemonium at that place as Ratherfish pointed out with his photo from yesterday. I hope I wasn't one of the yahoo's ruining his comp. 🤣 Packed up and took off to the Smokies to see what's going on down there...
I spent a few days hunting fall color in California, didn't really find anything superb but had fun exercising the new gear. Here's a selection, a few similar I have posted in B&W already.
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens65mmf/8.01/200s100 ISO-0.7 EV
ILCE-7RM6TAMRON 12-20mm F2.8 A084 E lens12mmf/10.01/50s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens25mmf/8.01/400s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6TAMRON 12-20mm F2.8 A084 E lens17mmf/8.01/160s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6TAMRON 12-20mm F2.8 A084 E lens14mmf/8.01/320s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6TAMRON 12-20mm F2.8 A084 E lens14mmf/11.01/80s100 ISO-0.7 EV
This is an homage to my good friend, Guy Mancuso, who many of you knew via this Sony forum. Guy passed too young last year. I first saw this house when he and I were scouting areas for a possible workshop about 10 years ago. It was in a little better shape back then, but not by much. He took several pictures of it, then started laughing, grabbed one with his cell phone and immediate texted his wife with it, saying, "Hi honey, I finally found a house in California we can afford." Had to love his sense of humor -- I miss him. RIP Buddy!
(The second shot is a tiny house across the street he said might even be better )
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens39mmf/8.01/320s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens38mmf/8.01/100s100 ISO0.0 EV
ratherfish wrote:
Yesterday, a photog friend and I stopped by Babcock State Park, likely the most photographed location in West Virginia. Dense Sunday crowds made it challenging to make an acceptable image of the grist mill without lots of people in the frame. A bluebird day with harsh midday sun didn't help either. But a Breakthrough Dark CPL/6-stop ND filter helped mitigate the latter and a little patience let me grab a quick image with no people in it. Steve
Very nice, Steve! I don't think I have seen this much water there before. I need to go back there next year.
From a local lake this morning.
ILCE-7RM6FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens100mmf/8.01/15s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM5FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens25mmf/10.01/15s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens146mmf/5.01/100s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM5FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens42mmf/10.01/15s100 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7RM6FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS lens265mmf/4.51/200s100 ISO0.0 EV
Jack Flesher wrote:
I spent a few days hunting fall color in California, didn't really find anything superb but had fun exercising the new gear. Here's a selection, a few similar I have posted in B&W already.
The Tamron 12-20 sure makes lovely sunstar, IMHO. I may grab one in couple months
Douglas L wrote:
The Tamron 12-20 sure makes lovely sunstar, IMHO. I may grab one in couple months
I have to say that it’s seeing a lot more use than I expected. I like the optics a lot, near GM quality, and it handles very similarly to my other Sony zooms. My only complaint is there are times I wish it went to 24, but it is what it is.
James Burden wrote:
Following tips from Douglas I went back out in the morning to hangout with 10 or 15 other early risers...I think I was there 2nd but maybe 4th or 5th to get a spot (because I talk too much) 😉 The light was just okay and we didn't really get any more color than yesterday. I'm okay to not return due to the sheer pandemonium at that place as Ratherfish pointed out with his photo from yesterday. I hope I wasn't one of the yahoo's ruining his comp. 🤣 Packed up and took off to the Smokies to see what's going on down there... ...Show more →
James - Unless you were shooting selfies with a phone, you were definitely not one of the people jumping in and out of my frame yesterday Pandemonium is indeed the best word to describe what was happening at the grist mill. I have visited Babcock many times over the years as I live only a couple of hours from it. I have stayed in the cabins there with family and have hiked and photographed all over the park and have always enjoyed a relaxed experience doing so. Never have I experienced crowds and traffic jams like those I saw yesterday. As I said, it felt like a major theme park. Like you, I grabbed a shot and beat feet for the exit. Sorry your experience was like mine. By way of partial explanation, part of the crowding on Sunday was perhaps due to the fact that The New River Bridge Day, which draws thousands, was just the day before. At any rate, as a retired WVDNR Biologist, I know many places in West Virginia that still offer uncrowded, relaxed photographic opportunities (see below). And, on a limited PM basis, I do share them. BTW, I like your photo! Steve
NEX-5N---- lens1/160s400 ISO0.0 EV
ILCE-7FE 35mm F2.8 ZA lens35mmf/8.01/60s2000 ISO-1.0 EV
ratherfish wrote:
James - Unless you were shooting selfies with a phone, you were definitely not one of the people jumping in and out of my frame yesterday Pandemonium is indeed the best word to describe what was happening at the grist mill. I have visited Babcock many times over the years as I live only a couple of hours from it. I have stayed in the cabins there with family and have hiked and photographed all over the park and have always enjoyed a relaxed experience doing so. Never have I experienced crowds and traffic jams like those I saw yesterday. As I said, it felt like a major theme park. Like you, I grabbed a shot and beat feet for the exit. Sorry your experience was like mine. By way of partial explanation, part of the crowding on Sunday was perhaps due to the fact that The New River Bridge Day, which draws thousands, was just the day before. At any rate, as a retired WVDNR Biologist, I know many places in West Virginia that still offer uncrowded, relaxed photographic opportunities (see below). And, on a limited PM basis, I do share them. BTW, I like your photo! Steve...Show more →
I particularly like the impressionistic reflections on the last one.
And Doug's and Jack's selections (among others) makes me think I should have decided a bit longer drive instead of a more local but relaxed get away a few days towards the end of the month.
)
