A Grand Finale

Spent most of the weekend following the Bellbrook Marching Eagles around the Band of America's Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. Amazing time, and a fabulous venue. Congratulations Eagles on your 4th Place finish in Class A. Below are some highlights from the Finals on Saturday evening. The see more photos of the Marching Eagles in preliminary competition at Grand Nationals click here

Futurama Nikon D750 ISO 4000 280mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Power Quads Nikon D750 ISO 4000 450mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Brass Nikon D750 ISO 4000 600mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Take-Off Nikon D750 ISO 4000 300mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Double Double Reed Nikon D750 ISO 4000 400mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Together Nikon D750 ISO 4000 600mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Soaring Sound Nikon D750 ISO 3200 550mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Grace Nikon D750 ISO 4000 600mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

Encircled Nikon D750 ISO 4000 380mm f/6.3 1/500 sec. 

Time-warp Nikon D750 ISO 4000 350mm f/6.3 1/500 sec.

The End Nikon D750 ISO 4000 600mm f/6.3 1/400 sec.

Battle of the Bands

Saturday was the MSBA (Mid-State Band Association) 2015 Championships, held at William Mason High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here are some of the highlights. To see more of the Bellbrook Marching Eagles, click here.

Leadership Nikon D610 ISO 200 145mm f/3.5 1/2500 sec.

Reflections Nikon D610 ISO 200 600mm f/6.3 1/1250 sec.

Flip Nikon D610 ISO 200 550mm f/6.3 1/1250 sec.

Red Nikon D610 ISO 800 600mm f/6.3 1/800 sec.

Respect Nikon D610 ISO 200 500mm f/6.3 1/1250 sec.

Spirit Nikon D610 ISO 200 420mm f/6.0 1/1250 sec.

Spin Nikon D610 ISO 200 600mm f/6.3 1/1250 sec.

Teamwork Nikon D610 ISO 200 240mm f/5.3 1/800 sec.

Grrr Nikon D610 ISO 200 500mm f/6.3 1/1250 sec.

Grace Nikon D610 ISO 800 360mm f/6.3 1/800 sec.

Steampunk Nikon D610 ISO 200 380mm f/6.0 1/1000 sec.

Long Week - Little Photography

It's been a long week at work. Unfortunately that means less photography at lunch, and the time change means no outdoor photography in the evenings. Cashed in a two-hour vacation today and got to explore my own back yard - literally. Backyard finds includes Turkey Vultures, White Breasted Nuthatch, White-Throated Sparrows, Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxwing and tons more.

Turkey Vulture Nikon D610 ISO 3200 600mm f/10 1/640 sec.

White-Breasted Nuthatch Nikon D610 ISO 3200 600mm f/6.3 1/1250 sec.

Cedar Waxwing Nikon D610 ISO 3200 600mm f/8.0 1/1250 sec.

Carolina Wren Nikon D610 ISO 2000 600mm f/6.3 1/1250 sec.

Band Blast

Another busy weekend - band competitions and Halloween. Shot the Miamisburg Band Invitational Saturday from our seats up in the bleachers. Enjoyed shooting in daylight, but the angle of the photographs was not as dramatic as field level. higher did allow for some better group shots, getting up over the pit. To see all the shots from the Miamisburg Invitational click here.    

Big Band Time

Saturday was big band day at the Bands of America Super Regional in Indianapolis, Indiana. Here is the best of the rest, to see Bellbrook Marching Eagles click here.

Determination Nikon D610 ISO 4000 600mm f/6.3 1/640 sec.

Solo Time Nikon D610 ISO 4000 600mm f/6.3 1/800 sec.

Yes! Nikon D610 ISO 4000 450mm f/6.0 1/800 sec.

Precision Nikon D610 ISO 4000 300mm f/5.6 1/640 sec. 

Struggle Nikon D610 ISO 4000 300mm f/5.6 1/640 sec.

Passion Nikon D610 ISO 4000 600mm f/6.3 1/640 sec.

Glory Nikon D610 ISO 4000 170 mm f/5.0 1/500 sec.

Friday Night Lights

Last home game of the season - Bellbrook wins 26-10 over Mason. 

Senior Night Nikon D610 ISO 6400 f/4.5 165mm 1/800 sec.

75 Yard Kickoff Return Nikon D610 ISO 6400 200mm f/4.5 1/800 sec.

Orbash on the Return Nikon D610 ISO 5000 200mm f/2.8 1/800 sec.

Command Nikon D610 ISO 3200 200mm f/2.8 1/500 sec.

Nolan Nikon D610 ISO 5000 200mm f/2.8 1/800 sec.

Three Moons, Three Nights

Great clear night last night. Love shooting a half moon - great dynamic shadows on the craters. 

Waxing Moon 10202015 21:52 PM EDT Nikon D7000 ISO 100 600mm f/11 1/320 sec.

Waxing Moon 10212015 21:35 PM EDT Nikon D7000 ISO 100 600mm f/11 1/160 sec.

Waxing Moon 10222015 21:29 PM EDT Nikon D7000 ISO 100 600mm f/11 1/200 sec.

Tough Shooting

Been a little while since my last post. This is a great moth my middle daughter Emma spotted today. A Dot-Lined White Moth (Artace Cribraria). 

Dot-lined White Moth (Artace cribraria) Nikon D7000 ISO 200 f/11 1/160 sec. Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 reversed with BR-2 Reversing Ring, off-camera flash with modified soft box. Focus stack of two images.

Dot-lined White Moth (Artace cribraria) Nikon D7000 ISO 200 f/11 1/160 sec. Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 reversed with BR-2 Reversing Ring, off-camera flash with modified soft box. Focus stack of two images.

Dot-lined White Moth (Artace cribraria) Nikon D7000 ISO 200 f/11 1/160 sec. Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 reversed with BR-2 Reversing Ring, off-camera flash with modified soft box. Focus stack of two images.

Halloween Time

Halloween time equals cemetery walks. Here are some black and whites from Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.  

Eternal Prayers Nikon D7000 52mm ISO 100 f/6.3 1/640 sec.

Dear Lord Nikon D7000 ISO 100 62mm f/8.0 1/200 sec.

Nature's Sculptor Nikon D7000 ISO 100 48mm f/6.3 1/1600 sec.

Goodnight Moon

Quick hand-held grab of the wanning moon this morning. When in a pinch, use what you have to stabilize your camera - in this case I used open trunk lid of the GTI to help me steady the Tamron SP 150-600.

Wanning Moon Nikon D7000 ISO 200 f/11 1/100 sec. 600mm

Fewer and Farther Between

Was able to get out this morning before work for a quick 30-minute photo shoot. The insects are getting fewer and fewer, but I was able to find a few hardy grasshoppers. 

Grasshopper Nikon D7000 ISO 200 1/125 sec. Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 reversed with BR-2 Reversing Ring, off-camera flash with modified soft box.

Camp Mowana Fall Festival

Had a really nice time at Camp Mowana's Fall Festival and Charity Auction. Sold two copies of the Supermoon Eclipse to support camperships. Only had a few minutes to shot one of the waterfalls at camp. 

Camp Mowana Fall Falls Nikon D610 ISO 800 38mm f/22 1/10 sec. HDR

Camp Mowana Waterfall #2 Nikon D610 ISO 800 92mm f/22 1/10 sec. HDR

Spring Lakes Revisited

Had a good week shooting at lunchtime at Spring Lakes in Bellbrook. Not as many small birds today in the heavy wind, but a couple nice opportunities to get close to some water birds.

Wood Duck Nikon D610 600mm f/11 1/800 sec.

Wood Duck Nikon D610 ISO 800 600mm f/11 1/800 sec.

Blue Heron Nikon D610 ISO 800 600mm f/8.0 1/1250 sec.

Blue Heron Nikon D610 ISO 800 600mm f/8.0 1/1250 sec.

Turkey Vulture Nikon D610 ISO 800 600mm f/10 1/800 sec.

Really Need a New Camera

Had the opportunity to borrow a Nikon D610 today. What a difference. While I love the Nikon D7000, it has really reached it's limits with some of the work I do. Here are some samples from the Nikon D610 - keep in mind cloudy day, shooting in low--light area. Very impressed.

Northern Parula Nikon D610 ISO 1600 600mm f/8.0 1/640 sec.

Northern Parula Nikon D610 ISO 1600 600mm f/8.0 1/640 sec.

Female Rose Breasted Grosbeak Nikon ISO 2500 600mm f/8.0 1/640 sec.

Female Wood Duck ISO 2000 600mm f/8.0 1/800 sec.

Good Morning

Couldn't pass up this beautiful moon this morning as I got out of my car at work. Wish the sky was that clear for the lunar eclipse the Sunday. (opps - ISO setting was too high - should have been down at 100 or 200)

Wannng Moon 10012015 Nikon D7000 ISO 800 600mm f/18 1/250 sec.

Thanks Everyone

What a humbling day and wonderful feedback to the Super Moon Eclipse images I shared. Tagged by Flickr's Explore feature and selected as the cover image for a Flickr Flooders. Thanks everyone for the kind notes.

Flickr Flooder's Cover featuring Timelapse Eclipse

Flickr Flooder's Cover featuring Timelapse Eclipse

#Supermoon #Eclipse Sunday

Clouds were nice enough to part, so I could enjoy the Supermoon

20:47:39 Nikon D610 ISO 5000 600mm f/11 0.8 sec.

11:25:12 PM EDT Nikon D610 ISO 3200 600mm f/11 0.8 sec.

23:27:42 Nikon D610 ISO 2500 600mm f/11 0.5 sec

Favorites from Saturday

Just a few of my favorite shots from Saturday

Nikon D7000 ISO 200 600mm f/6.3 1/3200 sec

"Game Face" - Brookville Drum Major Nikon D7000 IS) 200 380mm f/6.0 1/320 sec.

"Patriot" Nikon D7000 ISO 100 175mm f/2.8 1/800 sec.

"Salute" Nikon D7000 ISO 200 185mm f/2.8 1/1250 sec.

"Line-up" Nikon D7000 ISO 640 112mm f/2.8 1/80 sec.

"Skyler's Salute" - Bellbrook Drum Major Nikon D7000 ISO 1600 105mm f/2.8 1/160 sec.

"Flying Solo" Ball State Trumpet Solo Nikon D7000 ISO 1600 200mm f/2.8 1/200 sec.

John LaVange - OSU Drum Major Nikon D7000 ISO 640 120mm f/5.6 1/125 sec.

John LaVange - OSU Drum Major Nikon D7000 ISO 640 155mm f/2.8 1/250 sec.

Band Blast

Great Saturday, volunteering to photograph the 27th Annual Bellbrook Band Invitational. Proud to see so many kids I know put on such a great show. Awesome to see John LaVange, OSU's drum major, perform - what excitement and enthusiasm. Click through the images below.