Palm Coast piccies

wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
edited January 2, 2005 in Wildlife
I spent Xmas at my sister's in Palm Coast, Florida. What was once a small community has now burgeoned into what had always been planned - an expanding development that's swallowing up the trees.

Fortunately, there's at least one state park in the area, so some natural coastline and habitat is being preserved, albeit a very small amount.

I wandered out one midday (hence the contrasty light) to get some exercise and photos at the Washington Oaks State Park.

They have a half mile and one mile nature trail loop. The half mile trail ends with a long tunnel of trees that leads back to the parking lot.

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As I was driving in a bright red flower caught my eye. When I walked over, I saw something I've noticed before. When looked at with the sun shining directly onto the petal, the red flower is almost dull. But when you backlight the petal, with the sun shining through the red, it looks really saturated. Obviously, that's a tough shot to get right. Here's my attempt, rendered as a 'high key' image.

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When I first got to Palm Coast, the weather was quite cold and the sky was overcast. Too cold for golfers, so I broke the rules and wandered around on an empty course. A large duck was huddled on one of the tee boxes. Remembering advice posted here by Larry, I went into my "Larry Crab Walk", patiently stalking the poor bird. I got to within six feet before it untucked its head and started looking agitated. This is with the 70-200 at 200, f2.8, ISO 100. Even with the overcast sky, I was surprised to see that the neck looked overexposed, so I made a darker layer to bring it down a little. I guess this is more evidence of the narrow dynamic range of even the most advanced digital cameras. :dunno

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Sid.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au

Comments

  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,948 moderator
    edited December 30, 2004
    I love the flowers. That first one really leads you into the row.

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • DoctorItDoctorIt Administrators Posts: 11,951 moderator
    edited December 30, 2004
    I really like the bird - great detail! You can tell he's lookin at you with a "whatchu doin" expression :D

    I also really like the first photo... probably cause I took a very similar one in Virginia last spring (so it even has similar trees). I won a contest with it too. I love scenes that lead you somewhere.

    3612946-M.jpg
    Erik
    moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]


  • NirNir Registered Users Posts: 1,400 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2004
    Nice shots Sid!
    __________________

    Nir Alon

    images of my thoughts
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2004
    Thanks guys. Eric, you're right, he was really giving me the eye. It was kinda funny, he was even giving me the beady eye when he appeared to be "asleep".


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    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2005
    One more to add. Let's call this guy "The Drunken Duck"!

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    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • MitchellMitchell Registered Users Posts: 3,503 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2005
    wxwax wrote:
    13426684-L.jpg
    This one is beautiful. thumb.gif Nice shooting. The weather here in Florida has been tough these past two weeks!

    mitch
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2005
    Thanks Mitchell, I appreciate it. The weather warmed up a couple od days after Xmas - at least Xmas felt like Xmas, with the cold wx down there!

    One more of a defensive duck who wanted to be huddled against the cold, not worrying about me.

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    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
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