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On the 4th of February

Camera specs; Canon EOS Rebel XS fitted with a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 lens, f4.6 @ 1/4 a second, ISO 640 at 75mm.

My February submission to Jason D. Moore Photography’s On the 4th project.  Last month I went into DC to take an advanced look at an upcoming photowalk route near the Memorial Bridge.  With temperatures in the low 20s and winds around 20 knots it was an extremely frigid evening.  I didn’t spend as much time as I wanted there as the wind off the Potomac cut right through me.  I could barely keep my tripod steady in most spots.  I did manage to take a few shots I liked though.

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DPChallenge – Free Study 2009 – January Entry

I may not have made it an official resolution this year but taking more photos was definitely a goal.  To assist this and force me to stay on track I’ve signed up for a number of projects like Jason D. Moore’s On the 4th, Picture a Week, and also attending more photowalks like the ones hosted by Aaron Brazell and Shawn Duffy.  The end result is not only having fun but obtaining more experience both in the taking of the shot and the post processing experience.  The best side benefit is it forces me to interact more with the community and creates more online and real life relationships with others that share a love of photography.

Another project I’ve taken on is the monthly Free Study challenge at DPChallenge.com.  Unlike the Picture a Week project, which I also found at DPChallenge, the Free Study images are graded by the membership there.  Members vote on the entries using a 1 to 10 scale and also are provided a way to leave comments for feedback, criticism and advice.  I was told when I first joined that I should have thick skin as at times the feedback and scoring can be rough. That was good advice.  Images I thought would do well have tanked while others I thought were so-so did better than I expected.

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PaW 2009 Week 8 – Deer at Lake Fairfax

Camera specs: Canon EOS Rebel XS fitted with a 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 lens, f6.3 @ 1/100 seconds, ISO 320, 300mm focal length, hand held.

I felt it fitting after this weeks Spotlight post on wildlife photographer Steve Creek to have a wildlife shot of my own.  Not on the scale of Steve’s work yet but I’m still working on it.  My wife and I took a drive through Lake Fairfax Park and spotted a group of deer grazing in a field.  Unfortunately I spooked them early and we didn’t get many shots.

PaW 2009 Week 7 – Spooky Moon

Camera specs: Canon EOS Rebel XS fitted with a 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 lens, f14.0 @ 2.6 seconds, ISO 400, 300mm focal length, tripod used.

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PaW 2009 Week 5

Camera specs: Canon EOS Rebel XS fitted with a 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 lens, f5.7 @ 1/320 a second, ISO 800, hand held on a couch. Continue reading »