You may not know that this former, and long-time, English (actually ESL) teacher will soon be a math teacher!  Indeed.  Each subject (and corresponding teacher) is this year categorized by a sea creature.  Naturally, I am shark.  So I was very pleased to make this HDR image for use in my classroom and as a logo and beacon for the students in the upcoming 2009-2010 school year.

This HDR image was made at John’s Pass in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area.  I was on a photowalk with the North Pinellas Photography Forum.  At this point I was wondering around on my own exclusively looking for interesting and atypical HDR shots to make.  I believe I succeeded with “Shark Dreams of Flight.”

KIT USED:  Nikon D300 with Tamron XR Di II 17-50mm f/2.8 lens, tripod mounted

PROCESSING:  5-bracketed shots (+/- 1 stop) processed in Photomatix Pro 3 and Color Efex Pro 3

I thought I could show Aya how great U.S. fireworks were as compared to Japan’s.  I had boyhood memories of huge extravaganzas of fireworks with the crowds ooohing and aaaahing as we sat on a gentle grassy slope.  I will now have to admit that tonight’s barely 20- minute fireworks display paled in scale in comparison to Japan’s 1-hour plus hanabi.  Not only that, but we were surrounded by smokers just like in Japan!  Both a mother and a father smoking on their two children, one of which was highly disabled in a complex wheelchair.  Where do I have to live to be free of such extreme ignorance?  Where?!

I cannot remember if I used the technique of covering the lens or not to get multiple fireworks explosions in a single shot.  I think I did though.  I had my D300 in bulb mode, focus at infinity (manual) and mounted on my flimsy tripod all the time loosely covering the lens with its cap.  To do this right you of course need a rock solid tripod, a cable release, and a black piece of card paper.  I had none of them.  Still, all things considered (not mention the street lamp in the lower left), I am semi-pleased with the result.

KIT USED:  Nikon D300 with Tamron xR Di II 17-50mm f/2.8 lens and flimsy Velbon tripod

I saw some great sunsets while living in Tokyo, but I always remembered there is nothing quite like a Florida sunset.  I give Aya full credit for me being able to make this image.  She said the sky must be beautiful this late evening, and she was correct.  

We both grabbed our cameras and leashed Kiki (more on who this is soon . . . ) and headed out onto our back patio area.  I started with a different composition than the one one pictured above, before finally settling on this one.  I had been wanting to try an HDR sunset as well.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  

KIT USED:  Nikon D300 with Tamron XR Di II 17-50mm f/2.8 lens mounted on a Velbon tripod

POST:  HDR made in Photomatix Pro, then edited in Aperture 2.0 and Nik Software Color Efex Pro 3 (the polarization filter is amazing)

I cannot say how many times I have visited Shinjuku Gyoen in 6 years of living in Shinjuku, t least 20.  I’ve visited it in all seasons.  Obviously the busiest time is hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season and the autumn foliage season.  However, my personal favorite time may be in January, when even on a Saturday the park is largely empty and I can wonder about its trees and fields of dead grass unhindered by distractions.  I have fond memories of other January visits.  One was the last time I saw a friend and co-worker.  And now, this final January visit, will also be my last visit ever to the park.  It’s my favorite park in all of Tokyo by far and one of the best things about living in Shinjuku (though I wish Shinjuku Ward residents could get in for free).  

About the above photo in particular, the couple in the distance were two of only a handful of people enjoying the warm-ish afternoon winter sunshine in the park that day.  

KIT USED:  Nikon D80 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200m F2.8D lens

EXIF DATA: