Funny Face

I apologize for the long-winded introduction.  There's some history to the photo.  Sorry to bore you. 

I September of 1976, I transferred from the University of Delaware to Spring Garden College (SGC).  I didn't care for a 'big' school and SGC was definitely a better place for me.  At the time, SGC was a commuter school and had no dormitories.  Non-commuter students could rent rooms in houses or Beaver College, now Arcadia University, made dorm rooms available to SGC students.  I opted for the dorm route. 

Arcadia's campus is located on the estate of William Welsh Harrison and includes a full-blown castle called Grey Towers, built in the late 1800's. I will be posting a few outside shots of it and some of the other original buildings on campus in the coming weeks.  The castle houses both administrative offices and dorm rooms.

A visit to Grey Towers is an unbelievable experience;  living on campus gave my friends and I the opportunity to explore it and the campus in-depth.  What a blast!

This is one of the many gargoyles on the castle.  I have others to post.  This was on the shady side of the castle late in the afternoon.  I love this face.  It's held up very well considering it's 100+ years old. 

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
67mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/50 sec @ f4.0
ISO 800
Curves adjusted

Basil

We have a large whiskey barrel planter in the back yard that grows parsley for the butterfly's and basil for cooking.  Here's what's left of one of the basil plants.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens
Exposure 1/100 sec @ f11 (Aperture Priority)
ISO 800
Curves adjusted

Fence

I shot this at Delaware Valley College last weekend.  It happens to be very close to my home.  Del Val is known for it's agricultural programs and has a lot of interesting photographic subjects.  I used to be a member of the Adjunct Faculty in the Computer and Information Sciences back in the early 90's.

This is a fence (duh) around one of the pastures shot late in the day.  There are sign all over the place warning about the fence is electric and not to touch it.  There is a second fence inside the first and I thought that was the electrified fence.  If you look at the top rail, you can see the electric strap.  I came very close to getting a good  jolt :-(

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
73mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/100 sec @ f11
ISO 800

Best Blog Award

I have been bestowed a great honor by David.  He has selected my blog to receive a "Best Blog Award".  I am very grateful for the recognition, although I know there are many others that deserve recognition before mine should even be considered.

As part of acceptance, I recognize 15 blogs that inspire me, amaze me, or I just like their 'stuff'. Here they are in no particular order. 

Marka's Meanderings in Photos
Glen Goffin Photography
Newtown Area Photo
Chandler A to Z
Marilla's pix
Shot by PJM
Peter Dewitt Photography
My Corner of New Hanover
Capture This Photography
Walk the Wilderness
Photo Phase
Bonjour Luxembourg
posted by pacey
Stephanie's Photoblog
Walking the Crosstimbers

Rules.
To accept the Award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the Award, and his or her blog link.
Pass the award on to 15 blogs you have recently discovered and think are great.
Remember to contact the bloggers you have awarded to let them know they have been chosen for this Award.

Pilgrim Bell

I want to thank James for his most recent 'Weekend Reflection'.  It was a BLAST!  I visited many new blogs and saw some amazing photographs from all over the world. 

This is shot of the Pilgrim Bell at Whitemarsh Memorial Park.  I set the exposure on the bright spot in the sky, then moved to the focus to the bell.  The second shot tells the story of the bell.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/400 sec @ f11
ISO 200
No post processing

'57 Chevy

As I mentioned earlier, I visited the America on Wheels museum this past Saturday.  I've been chomping at the bit to post this, but I've been a bit too busy to get to it.  This '57 Chevy Station wagon was one of many beautiful cars on display.  I love both the year (same year I was born) and color. I wish I was in as good shape as this car is!

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/13 sec @ f3.5
ISO 640
Curves adjusted

Grass bloom

I took lots of photos this past weekend.  I visited the American on Wheels museum in Allentown and will be posting some of those shots soon.  Yesterday, I has a chance to go 'macroing' around the yard.
Here's a shot of the ornamental grasses are going to seed.  Behind this shot is a large arborvitae, giving the nice green background.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens
Exposure 1/125 sec @ f3.2 (Aperture Priority)
ISO 200
no adjustments


Here's a different perspective. The grass is providing most of the background, so no nice color contrast, but you can see a little green back there. 

 

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens
Exposure 1/200 sec @ f4.5 (Aperture Priority)
ISO 200
White Balance adjusted

Fall Leaves

Here are a couple of close-up leaf shots from Peace Valley Park. I really like this wide angle zoom.  Photos taken with it rarely need any adjustments.  This was taken on a very cloudy day.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM lens
22mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/100 sec @ f8.0
ISO 200
White Balance adjusted

Another fun shot.  I like the blur of colors on the left transitioning to the less colored leaves on the right.

 

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/125 sec @ f7.1
ISO 200
White Balance adjusted

South East

A shot of the GPS on my motorcycle while stopped one day.  It just caught my eye.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens

75mm Focal Length

Exposure 1/160 sec @ f5.6

ISO 100

Curves adjusted for contrast

Halloween Pumpkins

I took some shots of our Halloween pumpkins.  I used the tripod and got some interesting shots. 

Here's a shot of the ghost pumpkin.  This is carved from a template.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have *zero* artistic talent.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
55mm Focal Length
Exposure 2.5 sec @ f4.0
ISO 800
Curves adjusted for contrast

Here's the same shot, but I cranked up the black fill in Lightroom.  I think it looks really cool.

Here's Dracula with the the black fill increased. I really like this one!

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
55mm Focal Length
Exposure 0.8 sec @ f4.0
ISO 800
Curves adjusted for contrast

Here's a freehand, done by my wife. I always like the freehand ones the best!

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
55mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/4 sec @ f4.0
ISO 800
Curves adjusted for contrast

Water Fountain

I came across this really neat water fountain at a park recently.  I like the wide angle effect.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f5.0
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

Another foggy morning

I shot this on my way to work one morning.  I've shot this tree before on a foggier (more foggy?) morning.  This morning was different in that the sun was shining brightly, albeit there were clouds. I originally converted this to B&W, but there subtleties that seemed to get lost in the translation, so I left it alone.  I did crop the bottom a bit since I had to aim low to miss the direct sun.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
105mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/200 sec @ f5.0
ISO 200
Curves adjusted