A Chance meeting and Infrared images.

 

A couple of weeks ago while visiting my local Best Buy I was approached by a young sales lady and I gave her my canned response "I'm good, just looking", but instead of the typical "My name is ..... please let me know if I can be of assistance", she started to ask me questions.  She asked if I was a photographer (I was looking at photo bags, I'm always looking for the perfect bag), what did I like to photograph most, what kind of camera did I have, what brand was my favorite and so on.  She really opened up a can of worms, once she got me talking she couldn't get me to shut up. 

Needless to say IR photograph came up at some point.  IR can be a bit hard to explain.  I think seeing it makes it easier to grasp so I tried to explain how to get to my web-site (didn't have a card with me).  Afterward I got to thinking about the last time I posted any photos to the site and felt kind of guilty for telling her to visit.  She probably had to search back through quite a few post to find any IR images.

Since then my daughter and I have visited the Gateway Arch and The St Louis Zoo.  I took quite a few IR images at both locations.  So I hope the young lady from Best Buy will check back again and see that I have added some new images.  I would also like to thank her for encourageing me to get out and take some photos.

Thanks

GAW

Arch and Zoo.  May-June 2011

Westward Expansion.

Canon G7 converted to IR.  F4.0 @ 1/100 sec.  ISO 100. Image converted to B&W in Photoshop Elements.

 

 

As part of my daughters birthday celebration we took a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch.  A image taken from the Gateway Arch of the westward expansion.

 

The Birthday girl taking in the sites.

 

GAW

It's been awhile.

It's been quite a while since I last posted an image, I can give you a whole list of reasons why, but that won't  change fact.  So, I was motivated yesterday to take a walk in the park yesterday and I captured several interesting images at Sherman Beach County Park in St Louis County.  Sherman Beach is a favorite of mine it's just a short drive from home, and I can often train photos there also.

This is a composite of 5 images shot 2 stops apart @ F4.0.  I used Photomerge-exposure in Photoshop Elements 8 to combine the images.  Red and Blue channels have also been swapped.

GAW

Canon G7 converted to IR.  F4.0 ISO 100.

Not the half submerged sand dredge.

 

After dropping off my daughter at school I headed to Sherman Beach County Park with the intentions of shooting some IR images in the early morning light of a half submerged sand dredge (map) on the southern bank of the Meramec River.  When the river is down you can walk out to the dredge without getting wet.  Today It was to long of a jump over way to deep, fast running, really cold water,  so I choose to snap the above photo instead.

GAW

Canon S5 IS converted to IR. 1/60 @ F4.0 ISO 100.

Creepy Crawlly in Rockwoods Reservation.

Not sure what it is, but it was quite colorful. Also not sure which end is the front and back. Photos taken at Rockwoods Reservation on Trail Among The Trees trail.

GAW

Canon S5 IS converted to IR. 1/25 @ F2.7 ISO 100.










Color image:
Canon G9, 1/60 @ 2.8 ISO 200

Lily, Surprise

Lycoris squamigera, more commonly known as Surprise Lily. Photo taken in the front yard.

GAW

Canon S5 IS converted to IR. 1/80 @ F4.0 ISO 80.

St. Elmo, CO

St. Elmo, CO is located 16 miles off of U.S. 285 on County Rd-295 near Buena Vista, CO. It is a ghost town that is privately owned with not many ghost. Access is limited to the street so getting an interesting shot is somewhat of a challenge, but I do like this one.

GAW

Canon S5 IS converted to IR. 1/60 @ F4.0 ISO 80. Red and Blue channels swapped.

Rio Grande beginnings.

Looking south from CO 149 near Spring Creek pass at water that will soon be flowing down the Rio Grande river.

This photo and the last couple were taken on my current road trip, feel free to check out Scoot'n Art for more details, link is on the right.

GAW

Canon S5 IS converted to IR. 1/320 @ F4.0 ISO 100. Red and Blue channels swapped.

Farmers Elevator - Jonesburg, MO.

A 1970's International Harvester grain truck collects bird droppings at the Farmers Elevator in Jonesburg, MO. As the small farmer has gone by the wayside so have the small elevators. Although this elevator is still in business across the street, the pictured sits dormant.

GAW

Canon S5IS converted to IR. 1/80 @ F4.0 ISO 80.

Lonely House

Lonely House on U.S. 63 at McHatton road near Sturgeon, MO.

GAW

Canon S5IS converted to IR. 1/250 @ F4.0 ISO 80. Red and Blue channels swapped.

TEREX TS14

A 1960's era Terex TS14 Scraper sit's at the north end of Wellsville, MO. I believe it has seen more work in days past.

GAW

Canon S5IS converted to IR. 1/125 @ F4.0 ISO 80

Skyward.

Occasionally you should look skyward. Taken today at Sherman Beach County Park in Wildwood, MO.

GAW

Canon G6 converted to IR. 1/500 @ F4.0 ISO 100

Mosquito.

I'm taking one for Art. Yes that is a mosquito having a early supper. Taken today at Sherman Beach County Park in Wildwood, MO.

GAW

Canon G6 converted to IR. 1/640 @ F4.0 ISO 100

Mississippi River and the Moon.

The Mississippi river wanders between Missouri and Illinois, seen from the most southern scenic overlook on Missouri highway 79, near Ashburn. Notice the first quarter moon just to the right of center.

GAW

Canon G6 converted to IR. 1/500 @ F4.0 ISO 80. Red and Blue Channels swapped with Adobe Photoshop Elements.

The Bench

Near the end of a 30 mile bicycle ride on 4/16/09 I stopped at the Bench for a short break and to take some photographs of the rather fresh bouquet of flowers. Some times the challenge to get a good or interesting image is rather difficult. This time I had several to choose from, to see a couple more from this session follow the title link.

GAW

Canon S5 IS converted to IR. 1/100 @ F4.0 ISO 80. Image converted to B&W using Picasa.

Aged 37 years, 8 months, & 27 days.

Suger Creek Cemetery Moberly, MO.

Mary died on September 10th, 1870. She was the wife of William Culp and had "Aged 37 years, 8 months, & 27 days". Having passed away almost 140 years ago I wonder if Mary's family still tend to the grave or does any family still survive?

It seems that when I visit cemetery's be it to lay a loved one to rest or to walk among the departed and look for photographs the weather is rather gray and ominous. Last Sunday was no different. A cold wind was blowing, and a very dark sky was following it.

I believe that infrared photography is quite suited for the cemetery, it help set the mood. You will most likely see more IR cemetery's in the future.

GAW

Canon S5 IS converted to IR. 1/80 @ f4.0 ISO80. Custom WB.

In the Shadow.

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. In the shadow of the Gateway Arch, October 12th 2008.

Canon G5 converted to IR. 1/640 @ F4.0 custom WB.

Leaves and Stones.

Missouri Botanical Garden, January 5th, 2008. Leaves between stones in the Japanese garden.

Canon G3 converted to IR. 1/60s @ F 4.0 AWB converted to BW with Picasa.

The Bench.

This photo was taken on the afternoon of November 27th, 2007. It is a bouquet of flowers left on a bench on the Katy Trail. The bench is dedicated to the memory of young woman. I have taken quite a few photograph's at this bench and this is one of my favorites, it is not really that great a photograph, the 3.3 mp of the G1 leave something to be desired, but I do enjoy the moment it gives me.

Canon G1 converted to IR. 1/160s @ f8.0 AWB conveted to BW using Picasa.

Summitville, CO it takes your breath away.

One of the things I wanted to do on my road trip was to find a ghost town. During my pre-trip research I found some information about Summitville not to far from Wolf Creek Pass and U.S. 160 in southern Colorado. Gold was found in 1870 and Summitville sprouted up, it had 600 people, 14 saloons, and a news paper. By 1883 it was deserted, and was revied in 1935 and produced much copper during WW II. Today There is a land reclamation project going on to clean up the later mining operations. That cleanup does limit visiting some of the town. Summitville takes your breath away, no really it takes your breath away. Summitville sets at 11,500 feet above sea level in the Rio Grande National Forest. I was huffing and puffing as I walked around taking photos. It was a great expirance to see Summitville. As I walked around the town I kept hearing voices, I'm unsure if it was in my head or song birds in the distance. I may have heared voices but I didn't see any ghost. Summitville was a Highlight of my trip. To see the photos follow this LINK. You can find more information about Summitville HERE. GAW