Tag: Canon 5D

Black and White Weekly Photo Challenge: Toys

I follow a blogger from South Africa at Sonel’s Corner and you may have read some of her lovely comments on my blog.  She hosted Flat Ruthie and introduced FR to the Vervet  Monkeys  .  You can see what a Vervet Monkey looks like at Sonel’s Corner blog post on B and W weekly challenge of Nature here.

She’s started a black and white challenge and I’ve been thinking about participating but kept missing the deadline. The Black and White Weekly Photo Challenge  theme this week is TOYS.  Here I am in Ohio,  visiting the grandchildren and there are plenty of toys.

I shot these toys today specifically for Sonel’s challenge.

Then I converted them into black and white in Aperture and am posting a few from today’s effort. Shot with Canon 5D -50mm 1.2 L series lens. I used the cable remote to avoid camera shake.

My DIL Erika’s Grandmother Marion (Marlene’s mother)  crocheted this doll dress, bonnet and undergarments for this doll I took down from the high shelf in Anna’s room.

Caught the afternoon light on her through the dining room window. I asked Erika if she had a name and she said no.  Crocheted doll clothes were “in”.

Erika's Grandmother Doll

 

Mark(from Aunt Bobbie) and Erika’s Teddy Bears.  Mark’s Brownie on the left and Erika’s Teddy on the right. Presently residing in their daughter Anna’s room on the high shelf, not getting any “play time”.

Teddy Bears

 

First DollThis  little doll was given to Anna in 2003 by my dear friend G. Anna’s first doll.  Maura popped into the photo shoot.   She is also in charge of tending this dolly now. I knit the old cotton dishcloth pattern extra large for a dolly blanket. They drape so nicely.

 

Found the missing puzzle piece today.  Ooops, the puzzle was discarded a long time ago. (this one shot with the iPhone) Always liked those knob puzzles.

missing puzzle piece

Thanks to Sonel’s Corner for the Black and White inspiration.

by Categories: Childhood, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 14 Comments

The Wilds, Cumberland Ohio

Mark and Erika called Saturday night and suggested we meet up at The Wilds.   Cumberland Ohio.  I took the New Concord Exit on I-70.

I said, sure I’ll meet you there! I was excited cause it was unexpected.  And who knew this place was so interesting?

It was about 130 miles for me to drive there and they drove about 90.  We took a 2 1/2 hour bus ride tour throughout the 10,000 acres and saw lots of wonderful animals.  Most are endangered in the wild and this conservation facility(non-profit) gives them the protected place to reproduce.  It was a beautiful day.

Bactrian Camel

Bactrian Camels- Mother and Child     (Yes, this was photographed in Ohio)

Przewalski Wild Horse

Przewalksi Wild Horse- a female

Sichuan Takin

Sichuan Takin

Zebras

Zebras- Buck and bray a bit while the one looks on

Bison

Bison running away from our bus

IMG_9157

25 cents in a machine and you can get food for the catfish.  They act like they have never eaten before or will they ever eat again. I know these were Jack’s favorite.

catfish close up

The catfish are not particularly attractive to me.

Rhino

Rhinoceros family time.   Our guide says there skin is really soft. A group of rhino is called a CRASH.

All photos taken with a Canon 70-200 mm L series lens on a Canon 5D

IMG_9405

Our knowledgeable guide Rob.

Ordinary Rabbit

And an ordinary rabbit.  Not endangered.

 

 

 

And if you want to travel with us on the bus, Anna captured a two minute segment of the tour!  Thanks Anna for the videoing,

by Categories: Family, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 12 Comments

Pittsburgh Marathon Photos – Almost Mile Twenty

I got down early to catch the first marathoners in the wheelchair division. It was a perfect day for a marathon.

There was a street sweeper operating at the intersection of Highland and Bryant when I got down.   I knew the wheelchair participants started about 6:45 AM and I calculated when they’d arrive at almost mile twenty down the bottom of our hill.  I didn’t have too long to wait.

When I witness their effort, a catch forms in my throat.  It’s inspiring.  Accompanied by a bicycle escort, they “run” the course with determination and hard work.

I am dividing the post into galleries.  The first shots I stood across the street from the local coffee shop – Tazza D’Oro.

DICK’S Sporting Goods flew about 3 dozen marathoners to Pittsburgh from Boston so they could run the marathon.  These runners were ones who were unable to complete the marathon due to the attacks.

There were thousands of runners today for the Pittsburgh Marathon so this is just a small sampling of the day.  Perfect weather!

Here’ s the first gallery-

The Wheelchair Participants

The first marathoner in the Wheelchair Division
Way to go. He gave me a smile!

The lead runners just flew by, almost effortlessly (well, it seemed easy watching them)  Soooo fast.  So smooth.

There were lots of dogs in attendance today.

And then there were the fun runners, the monkey, the man with the trumpet.bugle?, the guy in a kilt and sandals, women wearing tutus who were texting, and some wild hair and outfits.  Many patriotic displays and one guy running backwards.  A man wore a Chicago Runs for Boston shirt.

One man ran the whole marathon blindfolded,  tethered to a co-runner.  He did this to raise awareness and to experience what his 7 year old daughter must experience in life- she’s legally blind.   To read about his efforts click here and another article about this father’s running the entire marathon blindfolded-  here

All things Scottish!
Running for a serious cause
BACKWARDS!!!
Oh say can you see
A monkey
A tutu
Texting in Tutus?
Tutus were popular this year
Chicago Runs for Boston
The last two marathoners after they reopened the streets

A few more runners

man juggles running marathon

And all the volunteers and the workers who made it all possible

The street sweepers, the garbage collectors, the police, the paramedics, the course marshals, the volunteers who passed out water and picked up the cups from the course. The bus who came to sweep up the runners who needed to ride for the remainder of the course.  All photos shot with a 70-200mm Canon L series lens on Canon 5D SLR camera

Preparing the course
Pittsburgh’s Finest
The Media Truck
The Media Truck Close-Up
Volunteers arriving
Water Station Volunteer
Volunteer picks up paper cups
you never saw such an expedited clean-up
Sweeping Bus

And the partiers, the cheering section, and as neighbor Mike coined the term the CHAIR-ATHONERS.  for further coverage you can go to the Post-Gazette

Old Three Rivers Stadium Seats
Barbara’s table
The Walking Taco Station
Highland Avenue Partiers
by Categories: marathon, Photography, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 16 Comments

St. Michael in a Sunny Window

The Weekly Challenge is My Neighborhood.  But I am not in my neighborhood today.

The only available photo of my neighborhood is a snow filled park with the benches piled high with snow.  I figure I’ll wait until I get back home.

I saw the sun streaming into the window over the door and the backlit St. Michael the Archangel statue along with the deep blue sky and fluffy clouds. Continue reading →

by Categories: Family, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , 10 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Merge

This week’s challenge was something to think about on my trip from Pittsburgh to Columbus Friday afternoon.  Sorting through images I had in the archives. (in my mind, obviously)   Nothing jumped out.  And then-

an opportunity presented itself, right in front of me. Standstill traffic.  On Route 70 West, Friday afternoon.

A 3 1/2 hour trip took almost SIX hours to drive today due to congestion from road work and merging to a single lane and perhaps a bad accident that was cleaned up by the time I got to the site.

I saw police and emergency vehicles driving the other direction with lights and sirens.

A truck reflected the sky AND an old fashioned airplane is in the left door panel.  It looks like a bird. The sky seemed to merge with the reflection in the shiny truck.  Nature and machine-made merge.  I waited to merge to the left single lane. Other interpretations of merge are here

by Categories: Photography, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: , , , , , , , , 20 Comments

“It’s Annoying Now, But Later You’re Glad”

Laura’s 29th birthday.  She says it is her FIRST 29th birthday.  The family gathers on the front porch because most of them are nearby.

This year I didn’t run around and get in the photograph. Just wanted them.  I’ll put it on the fridge.  Look at it until we’re all together again. In the middle of winter I’ll glance at this August evening, celebrating Laura’s birthday and be glad I have the picture.

Not too many people really want their photo taken. Maybe a few.  The family allows me to photograph them one more time.

They’re gracious and they love me and they know it’s what I like to do.

They probably wonder when I’ll get tired of wanting to photograph them but they don’t complain. Much.  Photographing them while they ignore me is easier.

Of course, I want the shot where everyone is with me and looking pleasant on this occasion.  Ha. Erika says to me, “Good luck with that!”

I get it the best I can.

Don’t want to drag it out too long, make it quick, Just SHOOT!

Thanks family.  Matthew is the one who said to his friends at his college graduation ” This is what my mom does.  It’s annoying now, but later you’re glad.”

Penny the Golden Doodle with Lala and James on their front porch.

And Maura and Murphy pose for Mark. Caught them from the side as he got them to look at his phone.

by Categories: Airedale Terrier, dogs, Family, PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 26 Comments

What I Shot as my DIL drove- 3 Pickup Snap, Pig on a Pole & a Message-

Sunday afternoon. We’re doing family things. Gathered together for lunch.

We had just left the Northstar Cafe on High Street and instead of turning to get on the Interstate, Erika drove north on High Street which was definitely the scenic route.

I enjoy being the passenger and thought there might be something interesting to photograph on the way home.  Stopping and dilly dallying was not an option with four kids in the back of the van and the high temp outside. (Stef, I was like Quick Draw McGraw)

More like snapshot time and a slice of the scene around Columbus.

Everything a bit tinted by the van windows shading. Makes the photo quality poor and a bit retro.

Two out of the three Erika called!

I was too busy looking to see.

This is not my usual method of photographing for the blog, subjects and scenes usually just present themselves and I don’t go out to hunt for material.

Remember  Erika found the men painting the water tower almost a week ago.

The pickups stopped at the intersection were first.  I shot right through the glass window. The GoodGuys Rod and Custom Association Car show was this weekend in Columbus at the Expo Center.

Then she said “Look at the pig.”

I’d gotten the local Dairy Queen before and I know PIERCE Cleaners was a subject for signage at night time once on the blog.  One of my followers and longtime friend Mary Corbett used to say this exact message on the sign at the cleaners.

Pig and another American flag.

by Categories: PhotographyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 8 Comments

Night Game- Pirates 5 – Mets 4 – PNC Park – Pittsburgh PA

 

It was a beautiful night, capturing the sunlight as the sun went down.  And it ended up being an exciting game with a win by the Pirates.  A few fireworks.  Perfect weather. They close the Roberto Clemente Bridge for pedestrians to walk across to the Park. Reggie Howze is the saxophonist standing on the bridge.

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by Categories: Light in the City, Photography, Pittsburgh Photos, Pittsburgh RiversTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 14 Comments

Unretouched, But Who’d Believe It?

Sunlight in January.  Blue sky.  Although predictions for the tonight and morning are snowfall, we are not convinced.  Everything has been mild and though some wet, it has felt almost like Spring.

I caught the sunlight on this  garage as I pulled out of the school parking lot and it was just aglow with the sun.  It was a one shot chance from the car window.  I know it looks like I increased the saturation on the red.  But I didn’t. This is how it looked.

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Flat Ruthie is a VW Hood Ornament on Cardboard Me Travels 

It looked like a jewel to me.
by Categories: Light in the City, Pittsburgh PhotosTags: , , , , , , , , , 17 Comments