Author: Tim McMurdo

 

This is the first intentionally planned image from the new Sony a55 camera. When I initially took the image and uploaded it to flickr, I was pretty pleased with the image. The plant's bloom was more subtle and not nearly as bright. You can see the original uploaded version below. 

 

 

My BPF (best photography friend) Renee offered up some constructive criticism by suggesting that I should make the flower brighter. Renee was right. I popped the image into PhotoShop and tweaked the brightness in an adjustment layer. The result? The flower really pops. What I originally thought of as subtlety turns out to have been an image that was simply too dark.

Lesson learned? When you have somebody who's opinion you implicitly trust on the matter at hand, listen to them. In this case, what did I have to loose? If I didn't like the brighter version, I could just keep the darker one and stick my tongue out at Renee and say nanny nanny boo boo (not that I would ever do that to Renee).

While we are discussing good advice, hats off to my Uncle Eddy for suggesting the a55 over the a33. I think the camera and I are going to be good friends.

Listen to your friends, you never know, they might be right. Stranger things have happened. 

 

 

 

Whenever you obtain a new camera, there is inevitably a honeymoon period when you point the camera at anything that will stand still long enough to get a focus lock. You play with the new buttons, trying to get a feel for where they are located and how the new functions work. Thanks to my generous parents, I am in the honeymoon phase. Yesterday evening, my wife and I shot our animals, flowers, house, each other, etc.

 

 

The new camera is a Sony a55. You know me, I like to be the odd man & wanted to avoid Cannon and Nikon if possible. My uncle shoots with Sony and after some web research and a call to him, I settled on the new body and kit lens to get me started.

 

 

My web research included a hunt for the best online price. I then visited my local photo shop and tried out the camera & got them to match the online price and give me half off on some accessories like a clear filter and extra battery as well as an 8Gb SD card.

 

 

Did you know that you can negotiate with your local dealer? This is a skill that I have seen my wife put to good use many times during our marriage. She will always ask for a discount or some free loot, even at the big box stores. She is a negotiator by trade and has no problem asking for the manager. I tend to pay what they ask but in this case, I decided to give it a go and get as much bang for my buck as I could. I think you could say that Jodi has been a good influence on me.

 

 

Rest in piece my good friend. We had so many good times together. I will miss you. You were always sharp, a little slow but, sharp.

Now to determine if the camera body survived the fall in one piece. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

 

A sure sign of spring around these parts is the appearance of the kayakers on Leffel Creek ( The name is creek, but it really is a river). The kayakers spend the warm months here on the river and then head south to breed during the cold winter months.

 

 

I've learned a lot about kayakers as a result of watching them. First of all, kayakers are a social species. The participants arrive in flocks and leave in gaggles. They also talk a lot. Only one yacker (as they are locally known) can be in a hydraulic wave at a time, so there is plenty of time for the others to chat and otherwise visit with each other.

 

 

Secondly, there are two types of yackers. The alpha group is all about the action and hovers around the hydraulics, darting in when it is their turn, spinning and performing tricks. The omega group just likes to sit in their tiny little boats and look pretty. They don't care so much about the sport as they do being seen, thus the very colorful plumage.

The last tidbit of information gleamed from my observations of the kayaker is that they spend an inordinate amount of time with their heads under the water. Unlike their water fowl cousins, the ducks and geese, these birds don't seem to be looking for something tasty to eat.

If you get the chance, spend some time observing your local kayaker's in their natural habitat. You won't be disappointed. They are sure to entertain you.