Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Street Music

OK, 3 for today, and only for today.

Schmidt Music Wall on North 6th Street. Schmidt Music relocated to Brooklyn Park, MN, but the wall is still maintained.

Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 59 mm
ISO Speed: 200


Building view of the old Schmidt Music building.

Indoor stairwell across the street from Schmidt Music Wall.
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 76 mm
ISO Speed: 200


Monday, September 29, 2008

Black and White

Edit:
Much thanks to Abraham Lincoln for identifying this bird as the "Black-and-white-Warbler.

This cute little bird was tough to photograph. It rarely stood still long enough for me to get a decent photo. I wonder if Abe Lincoln can identify this little guy.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest at Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit in North East Minneapolis

Polka inside the beer tents

Four 1/2 litres of Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfestbier

Plenty of polka waltz dancing on the dance floor.

Tableside music while we dine.
http://www.gasthofzg.com/Platters.html



German Drinking Songs - Piraten Hits - De Vrijbuiters - Tiroler Polka -

Edelweiss -

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Empty Space


A study of emptiness.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Guitar Hero

Who's ready to play Guitar Hero?


Hard Rock Cafe' Minneapolis is across North 7th Street from First Avenue , seen in the background, on 1st Avenue.


Guitar - Prince

Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble


"Guitar" from Prince's album Planet Earth.

Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Drive Thru

The street seems to pass thru the AT&T building to the upper floors.

Exposure: 2.5 sec (5/2)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Street Market

Fresh home grown produce and stand on the Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis.

Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

AT&T Tower

Close up views of the AT&T Tower - downtown Minneapolis
This is the same tower shown in yesterday's post, Black Tower. I find this intereting how the glass panels change colors throughout the day.
Blue Tulip
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200




Squiggy

Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 79 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Monday, September 22, 2008

Black Tower

Saturday night downtown.
This is the AT&T Tower across the street from the Foshay Tower.
My neighbor MB and I drove to downtown Minneapolis to meet up with Just Roaming the Cities , Mr. J, Snapshutter , and Mitchster for an evening photo walkabout. Most of our time was spent up on the observation deck of the Foshay Tower. We witnessed and captured stunning views of Minneapolis and surrounding areas. The smells of greasy cheeseburger and fries filled the observation deck from the kitchen grease trap as we composed our shots. This proved taxing as hunger quickly set in. We decided dinner and drinks were the much needed remedy. We dined street side at the 8th Street Grill. I recommend their Reuben sandwich.
Thanks to Just Snapshutter and Just Roaming the Cities for putting this together and suggesting the Foshay Tower observation deck.

Exposure: 0.5 sec (1/2)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Two Things Challenge - Product / Label

Gold Medal Flour is the flour of choice for many of us local bakers. Gold Medal Flour is a label I look for and a product I use for baking the artisan style breads I have posted here before.

If you are interested in baking, check out the links below.
http://www.realbakingwithrose.com/questions_and_answers/bread_questions/ingredients/
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/

My Cardamom Braids, similar to my Grandmother's recipe, made with...you guessed it, Gold Medal flour. Almost like my Grandmother used to bake. Almost, but not quite. She had no formal recipe, it was all in her head. A few scoops of flour, a pinch of this, a dash of that. And somehow her cardamom bread was fantastic. I do need work on my braiding skills.



Another Minneapolis icon on the Mississippi River is the Gold medal Flour mill. Now it is in ruins, devastated from a fire. This is the red sign seen on the header page up top. Except shown above, this sign is off, the backside sign is illuminated and reflecting in the river.

This week's 2 Thing's Challenge is Product / Label brings us to the Hennepin Ave Bridge where this sign can be seen. Of course I have used this image from a similar shot back on January 31. This billboard has been standing here since 1940 in honor of the beer that was brewed here.

Why am I repeating this image? Three reasons;
1. I enjoy this icon of Minneapolis.
2. I really enjoy the colors.
3. After this ongoing media circus behind the real American Idol two years of un-ending hot air election campaigning nonsense, I'm going to need this product. 44 days left of this tiresome blitz, I don't think there is enough beer to ease the pain.
-
For more information about 2 Things Challenge;

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Misty Waters


Light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories...
OK, that's about enough sap for me. How about you? Teary eyed, yet? I know I am, I'm not a big fan of Barbra Streisand, not a fan at all. It's a nails on chalkboard thing.

Anyhoo, I typically type what pops into my head. And while I was photoshopping this photo into black and white, for some crazy reason, Baba's tune "The Way We Were" popped into my head. Must have been the memories of summer at the lake. Memories of summer that is turning to autumn. Misty colored memories of this past season of the way we were.

Here I was messing around with both the ND2 and ND4 filters stacked onto my lens in the bright morning light. I wanted to lengthen the exposure. A fast shutter speed would have stopped the wave action crashing into the rocks. With this longer exposure, I created a misty look that adds interest to this otherwise unimpressive composition. The longer exposure gives a sense of emotion, don't you think?

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 4
Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 56.0 mm
Image Quality RAW
White Balance Mode Daylight
Photoshop conversion to black and white

Friday, September 19, 2008

So Long Margaritaville

The frozen concoctions that helps me hang on
Summer's last margarita.
Now where did Mrs. DL put that shaker of salt?

Summer is almost over. C'mon, sing along!

Nibblin on sponge cake

Watchin the sun bake

All of those tourists covered with oil

Strummin my six-string

On my front porch swing

Smell those shrimp theyre beginnin to boil

Chorus:

Wastin away again in margaritaville

Searching for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that theres a woman to blame

But I know its nobodys fault

I dont know the reason

I stayed here all season

Nothin to show but this brand new tattoo

But its a real beauty

A mexican cutie

How it got here I havent a clue

Chorus:

Wastin away again in margaritaville

Searchin for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that theres a woman to blame

Now I think

Hell, it could be my fault

I blew out my flip-flop

Stepped on a pop-top

Cut my heel had to cruise on back home

But theres booze in the blender

And soon it will render

That frozen concoction that helps me hang on

Wastin away again in margaritaville

Searching for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that theres a woman to blame

But I know its my own damn fault

Yes and some people claim that theres a woman to blame

And I know its my own damn fault

By: Jimmy Buffett - 1977

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Bike Lock

Outside the Guthrie Theater. Yes, another bicycle photo. Sorry, I enjoy bicylce photos.
Exposure: 6 sec (6)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Rose Red Lamp

A touch of the Orient.
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 0.4
Av( Aperture Value ) 9.0
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 61.0 mm
White Balance Mode Tungsten

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Silhouette Sunsets

Autumn approaches, the angle of the sun dips low.
The sky brightens, colors from paiter's palette flow.
Daylight falters, winter on the horizon looms.
Fade to darkenss, black and white consumes.
Change looms on the horizon.
With Polarizing filter
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

The outcome is always the same.

With Polarizing filter
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 41 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Monday, September 15, 2008

Golden Fields

Autumn colors are taking over the landscape. This is a tiny view of Elm Creek Park Reserve .


Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Saturday, September 13, 2008

The Point

This time the long exposre was a mere 10 seconds with the hoya R72 infrared filter.
Exposure: 10 sec (10)
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV


Friday, September 12, 2008

Misty Shores


Rocky Shoreline
My apologies, I forgot some information. Here I used two Neutral Density filters, ND2 and ND4. I wanted a long exposure. The lake surface was wavy, with a long exposure, I all but eliminated the wave action and created this faux "misty" look. Long exposure photography is interesting. You can make moving objects disappear, as shown here, I made the waves disappear.

Exposure: 4 sec (4)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Aster Cafe on Main Street

Just a few shops down on Main Street from St. Anthony MainTheater is the Aster Cafe'.
http://www.saintanthonymain.com/
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Main Street

Big bold letters
St. Anthony Main

Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Jurasic Stump

Thanks to blogger and the scheduled posting.
On Saturday morning, we lost all connection to the outside world from the internet. We had a frustrating day spent troubleshooting the problem. However, this was short lived as we spent a wonderful time at a friends home for dinner. The six of us enjoyed a wonderful evening on the porch with a nice fire listening to the rain. (I think we drank them out of house and home, sorry Mr. and Mrs. Kakeroo. And thanks for the wonderful evening).
Sunday, was spent purchasing a new modem and reconfiguring the ISP addresses to get both the work PC and home PC up and running. By 11 PM, little success as we figured out our our router also was not working. Yet another day offline. This afternoon, the PC troubles are now repaired; much thanks to Mrs. DL who managed the configuring on the telephone with tech. support. (I have little patience for such things).

The beauty of wood and moss.
Exposure: 3.2 sec (16/5)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 24 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Monday, September 8, 2008

Northwoods Cove Revisited

OK, I have posted this image before. I'll let you go back and search for it if need be. I was disappointed in how the first image turned out. I am a bit happier with this one. But still, I'd like to try again. My aim was to capture more of the stars in the sky while showing some definition in the foreground without pitch black background.
Exposure: 30 sec (30)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Two Things Challenge - Music / Note

This week's 2 Things Challenge is Music/Note. Here are a few photos of Mrs. DL's clarinet from her high school band/orchestra days. The antique Clarinet music book is dated from 1847.







Sing Swing Sing - Benny Goodman

Goodbye - Benny Goodman

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Rock, Paper, Scissors


Trusty Rock never fails.
Lake Vermilion's shoreline in late summer.

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 10
Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 24.0 mm
Image Quality RAW
White Balance Mode Daylight

Friday, September 5, 2008

Woodland Reflection

My 10 year old niece pointed out this "baby lilly" with the neat reflection in it. She is quite artistic already. I think we have another photography in the family. Which is always a good thing. I sure hope she grows up to become a Canonite rather than a Nikonian. Not that there's anything wrong with that. If she becomes a Canonite, I won't have to buy so much equipment; I could just just borrow camera equipment from her...like a new remote flash. ;-) Ha!
Exposure: 0.5 sec (1/2)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 66 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV


Thursday, September 4, 2008

Industrial Gold

The locks at St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure - Tv( Shutter Speed ) 8 - Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6 - ISO Speed 200 - Focal Length 33.0 mm - White Balance Mode Tungsten

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Salmon Horizons

Lake Vermilion sunset
Shortly after sunset as the stars begin to show; this is the perfect time to capture some evening photos. But the window of opportunity is short.
Exposure: 25 sec (25)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Oceans Eleven

Actually, the Lake at 11:00 AM.

The lake was boiling, a perfect time to capture it's power. I used both ND2 and ND4 Neutral Density filters to knock down the bright sunny light from the cloudless sky. With this set up I was able to get the shutter speed down to 1/15 of a second. I was hoping for more to obtain that silky smooth flowing water off the rocks. I think I now need an ND6 filter too. If anyone has a spare ND6 filter, I'd be willing to accept it as a gift. ;-)

Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 235 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

Monday, September 1, 2008

Dog Days of Summer

Today we in the States celebrate Labor Day. A day for most of us to take the day off from work and relax. A pleasant warm, humid, and sunny day.
It would seem that even the squirrels are recognizing our National Holiday. This little fellow is taking a siesta in the eve of our neighbor's shed.

Hot and humid, every critter is relaxing in the shade today.

Sammy Squirrel joined us on our deck for an afternoon in the sun. An afternoon snack of peanuts and gin and tonics. Sammy scored a peanut that I had dropped. Friendly little fellow. Of course our fearless watchdog, Winston was napping in the house while his deck was overrun with squirrels.


I hope you are enjoying your day off.