Homecoming 2016

Photographing the Centerville post-game show following the Homecoming game. These images show the difference a couple of f-stops make. Being field side, I was able to switch to the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 from the Tamron 150-600mm - allowing me to lower the ISO from 6400 to 3200 and even increase the shutter speed from 1/400 to 1/500 sec.  

Good Morning Kettering

Wow - what a sunrise. Only wish I have is that I had headed back out to the country to capture it over some rolling hills. 

Sunrise Panoramic

Processed a second panoramic below - I think I like this one even better. 

Glowing Clouds

Friday Night Lights - Centerville vs. Springfield

After a short rain delay, Centerville took the field against Springfield tonight. While the game didn't go Centerville's way in the end (20-26), the Centerville Jazz Band put on a great halftime performance. 

Woodland Cemetery

Looking for something different to shoot this Friday at lunch, we visited Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio. Woodland is the final resting place of many of Dayton's greats including the Wright brothers, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the Mead's and Patterson's. Section 302 also marks the final resting place of my namesake and grandfather Marshall Kenton Wood. 

1200mm Tamron Test

Haven't put the teleconvertor on the Tamron in a long time, but I thought I would give it another chance. Out performed the lens at 600mm by more than I thought it would based on my previous tests. 

Waxing Gibbous Moon at 1200mm on Nikon D750

Bugs and Birds

A quick trip to Hills and Dales at lunch. The warblers are migrating, but were successfully hiding in the brush. Right before leaving, this White-Breasted Nuthatch decided to perch 6 feet in front of us. While I don't normally mix birds and bugs, this Robber Fly was HUGE - 3-4 inches, the size of a small hummingbird.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Robber Fly (shot at 600mm) 

Pre-Labor Day Celebration

The hummingbirds have been slow at the feeder today, but I've been successful capturing several photographs. Below are two images of our matriarch (who runs the feeder) and a juvenile male (?) with a few lone ruby feathers on his throat.  

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Loving the Cincinnati Zoo

Early Saturday morning we decided to make a quick trip to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Here are a couple shots from the trip. 

Hippopotamus

Cheetah

Mother Gorilla

Bug Eyes

Great visit to Hills and Dales at lunch yesterday. 

Damselfly

Dragonfly Eye

Dragonfly

Early Morning Glory

No luck finding any insects for macro-photography this morning, but this bindweed or morning glory (Convolvulus Arvensis) at Sweet Arrow Reserve was begging to be photographed. 

Bindweed (Convolvulus Arvensis)

Unexpected

Not much luck shooting macro-photography today, but this barn swallow let me walk right up next to it. Good thing since I had a 100mm lens on the camera. 

Macro-Success

A quick trip to Hills and Dales Metropark resulted in some macro-photography success today. The first shoot is a focus-stack of two images of a mature hover fly on a black-eyed susan. The second image is a damselfly having a little (and I mean little) lunch. 

Hover Fly - Hills and Dales Metropark

Damselfly - Hills and Dales Metropark

DCI Finals 2016

Lucas Stadium hosted the finale of a wonderful Drum Corps International season. Congratulations to all the finalists and grand champions, Ohio's own Blue Coats. Great to see Amy, Greyson, Sheldon, Anne, Sam, Nick and Jordan - represented Bellbrook well.