Got up for sunrise, but that was a dud. So I went to see what might be blooming in the garden. Not a lot, but the dew provided some opportunities.
Spent ten days with the extended family on the north shore of Oahu visiting Cathy and her family. Got what I could while wandering around with the family to various attractions, and I got up several morning for the early light. The sun rose on the other side of the mountains, so all I had was what was reflected on the clouds. That worked really well as it turned out.
A few of us from the photography group went to the launch of the Friday morning local balloon event. The main event, the Helen to the Atlantic race was launched the previous morning, this was just as much fun.
This being my first ever event of this kind, I had no idea what to expect or what sort of picture opportunities might be available. A few hundred people were waiting as the balloon teams arrived, took their assigned spots on the field and began getting ready to launch. The spectators were allowed to wander freely among the balloons, talk to the crews and poke their noses wherever they wished. So I did.
One fellow calmly walked over to a partially inflated balloon, lifted up a flap, stuck his head in and began taking pictures. So that’s how I got the first couple of shots. Then is was just a wander ’round to watch as the crews inflated and launched.
After about 90 minutes the field was empty but for one balloon which never launched, but stayed so people could have their pictures taken in the basket.
Photographing was tricky since the sun had risen about 30 min before the event began, but the hills still blocked the harsh light. As the time went on, the light got more and more difficult. The balloons headed east after launch (as if they had any choice), so some shots had to be done with the sun behind the balloon to be possible at all.
I chose to walk around, so I did not use a tripod or monopod. A tripod would have been possible only if you stayed off the field and just shot with a longer lens. A monopod would be feasible although no one I saw used one.
I did use all my lenses, 11-16 mm, 18-105 mm and 55-300 mm, as the situation changed.
I used no filters. At the start none was necessary. Later on a CPL might have been useful, but there was no time to adjust one since the compositions were constantly changing.
Did both the scouting hike and lead the actual hike for the Hearthstone Hikers. On the scouting trip, I hauled my light tripod since I anticipated shooting the waterfalls. On the later hike I left that home so as not to delay the group.
The hikes were good although the weather is heating up some. Got good shots below the covered bridge and along the trail. At the dam, we were on the side of the dam not usually photographed. Most shots I’ve seen are from spots along the creek below the old mill building.
And we did encounter one of the larger blacksnakes I have seen. No problems, with the snake. In attempting the photo, I did not get the head in focus, so I won’t post that shot elsewhere.
A few from the native plant garden and one from a hike along Big Creek.
The first blooms are fading, but more will follow. These are the most recent, and quite possibly the last, of the first bloom. Some flowers in my yard, but several are from various trails I hiked during late April and early May.
The Sonny Day Hikers made our annual pilgrimage to the ladyslippers on the Wildcat Creek Trail. Sonny called the time exactly right this year. Along the way we found a variety of other wildflowers. I did not stop to take pictures of every single flower however.
Also, the recent rains made the trail far wetter than years past. Still a good hike though.
These pictures are from late March and early April 2019, and I will update this post as the bloom continues during the rest of April and into May. The pictures are presented in the reverse order of being shot.
Many of the pictures are from my yard and neighbors yards, but some are from hikes in various places in north Georgia.
Most of the shots are done with the 85 mm macro lens, but a few are done with other lenses. Which depends on what lenses I choose to carry on each hike. The yard shots are almost all with my heavy tripod, and I never hike with that. I rarely carry any tripod when hiking. I also rarely use any filter for flower shots. I try to shoot when and where filters are not necessary.
A good hike with the Hearthstone Hikers. We did about 3 miles out and then three miles back, all before lunch. 🙂 Not a lot to photograph, particularly without a tripod or filters (due to a broken lens being repaired.) But ya play the cards you’re dealt.
Two of us Sonny Day Hikers trekked from the north end to the fish hatchery at the south end of the trail and back. No photos on the outbound leg, but a number of them on the return leg. Exposures were tricky due to strong sun and some wind moving the shadows around all the time. Still had fun with fowl, flowers, ferns and fungus.