Συλλογή 036: DC Spring 2024
After a very long pause, I finally started again. I have quite a backlog so I decided to start with the the easy collection. By easy, I mean fewer pics.
Last spring, I decided to take pictures throughout the season, from different DC locations. The pictures here are mainly from the US Arboretum and the Anacostia River Trail. The latter became my weekend ritual for long walks and biking. Very underappreciated.
Also, I got to try out my new lenses, a telephoto zoom AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR and a macro AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED. And as always, more pics and high res can be found here.
Kicking off with a macro shot. It was early March, the day was overcast and the light was optimal. It helped bring out the color contrasts. My apologies, forgot to jot down what kind of tree this is.
For this picture, I used the same settings as above.
Here I had more light, all the same as above, except exposure time was 1/100. Slower risked “bleaching” the picture, thus taking away the detailed features of the dried flower petals.
I went back to the Arboretum two weeks later. It was getting busy, since the cherry blossoms were near peak. Also, magnolias were in full bloom. Keeping with the season’s theme, here are some cherry blossoms.
Here, taken with the same settings and lens as above, I tried to bring out all the contrasting colors, the pink blooms, blue sky and dark grey trees. But at the same time, I wanted to emphasize the blooming branches.
This excursion, honestly, was not about cherry blossoms. I wanted to try my new telephoto zoom lens on some birds. Walking past the conifer section, I looked up and saw this little fellow. It’s an Eastern Phoebe. Full disclosure, I had no idea what t was at the moment. Still learning my birds. It is found in open woods, clearings, and yards. There is a yellow hue on its belly. It is one of the first migratory birds in the region, one would say announcing the beginning of Spring.
Nearby I came across a Tufted Titmouse, same settings as above. If any of you own bird feeders, you may have seen this frequent visitor.
The next two photos are of, I think, an female Eastern Bluebird. I chose two different exposure times, the top at 1/1250 and the bottom at 1/500. Same aperture (f/7.1) and ISO (400). While the longer exposure time brings out the colors, a faster one is my favorite; darker, brings out some colors especially the brown in the belly, while at the same time the bird blends into its surroundings.
Near Kenilworth at the Anacostia River Trail, I spent some time watching this Cooper’s Hawk try to hunt and then eventually fish. We had one hang out at our alley in Capitol Hill. Plenty of rats there…
The azaleas are coming soon and the Arboretum has an incredible collection. Here, I used the telephoto zoom as a macro lens. While most use them for distance shots, telephoto zoom lenses can be excellent macro lenses for subjects that are not very close, like in many nature trails where it is expected to stay on the trails to not disturb the ecosystem. It is also useful for macro insect shots where some distance is always helpful.
And this is from the roof deck, both of us waiting for the storm to hit…
Thank you and more to come. As always, more pics and high res can be found here.