Yesterday and Today

As we straddle February and March, I await the completion of my trade-in transaction with MPB which will bring me a like new copy of the RF 24-105mm f/4L lens in place of the RF 28-70 f/2.8 and RF 85mm f/2 lenses. It's really not much of a sacrifice, though, to be out and around with the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM lens. I used to think that a 50mm lens would be my choice for an only prime lens but lately I'm thinking that a 35mm lens is a better choice. 

Here are some scenes from yesterday at the Saratoga Battlefield and from this morning in Waterford, NY.

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/125 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 200

Schodack Island State Park

One of my galleries with the fewest images is Schodack Island State Park in Schodack Landing, New York. The island straddles the border between Rensselaer and Columbia Counties, underneath the Thruway bridge over the Hudson River (seen in the first photo.) It is bordered on the west by that river and on the east by Schodack Creek which is really a tidal bay of the Hudson at that point.

I've mentioned it's not the most photogenic park. The trails do not run along the edges of the island for the most part and views of the waterways are limited, especially when the leaves are on the trees and shrubs. It has great trails, but there are seven state and national parks within 30 miles of home and Schodack Island is the second farthest.

The gallery can be viewed at https://www.trulandphotography.com/New-York-State-Parks/Schodack-Island-State-Park. Here are some photos from yesterday.

Hudson River
RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

Schodack Creek
RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

Schodack Creek
RF 35mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

These are made with the RF 35mm f/1.8 macro IS USM lens which is currently the only lens I have available, except for the old Minolta lenses. I decided to trade in my most recent combination of the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM and 85mm f/2 macro IS STM lenses for an RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens (again) at MPB. The STM lenses were shipped out on my way to Schodack Island yesterday and the L lens won't arrive until next week. This is a cash neutral trade which gives me additional focal length on the short and long ends and will eliminate me having to decide which lens to have on the camera. 

Saratoga Spa State Park

I visited Saratoga Spa State Park this morning in the hopes that the warmish temperatures would leave a reflective sheen on the ice rinks but they were still frozen and not very reflective. I guess the one day I visited earlier this winter while they were hosing down the rinks is as good as it gets.

The park gallery can be viewed at https://www.trulandphotography.com/New-York-State-Parks/Saratoga-Spa-State-Park. Here are some shots from this morning.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 35mm, f/11, 1/125 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 37mm, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

RF 85mm f/2, f/2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100

RF 85mm f/2 IS STM, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 33mm, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200

Oneonta Day Trip

I've been desperate for a day with decent weather to get somewhere different for photos. Today was the day and the destination was Oneonta, NY, where I spent the middle 1970s at Hartwick College. 

Here are some shots from the campus as well as the Wilber Mansion which was built in two phases, 1875 and about 1890. Interestingly, I have owned two houses, both of which are older than this one, albeit not by a lot.

Also interestingly, all of these are at 28mm, the widest focal length on the zoom lens. Of the very few options for digital cameras dedicated to black and white, which do not record files in color at all, the best option is the Leica Q2 Monochrom which has a full frame 47 megapixel sensor with a fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens. The more I find myself using 28mm, the more interesting the Q2 Monochrom becomes.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

Wintry Mohawk River

Here are some scenes of the Mohawk River below the Cohoes Falls. The vantage point is from Cohoes looking across the river at Waterford.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 35mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 45mm, f/11, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

Saratoga NHP

I haven't been spending a lot of time at Saratoga National Historical Park lately. I visited Schuyler House and the battlefield yesterday, however. I'm not sure whether I'll formally be a park volunteer this year or not. We'll see how the next couple of months goes.

I'm thinking of sending one of my EOS R8 bodies and the 100-400mm lens in to MPB for cash before too long. I can do pretty much everything I want with the 35mm, 85mm and 28-70mm lenses. 

The gallery for the park can be viewed at https://www.trulandphotography.com/Saratoga-NHP. Here are some scenes from yesterday.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/30 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 39mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 38mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 39mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

Projects and Focuses

The B&W Sprouts project has been getting a lot of my attention and now has over 100 images. I anticipate that it will continue at a slower pace with different images being added as seasons and events unfold. I expect it will wrap up at the end of autumn to complete a year of photos of the area. 

One photo from the beginning of the project got me thinking about something new, scenic photos with a human element in the scene, but not dominating the scene. I have made some of these over the years and yesterday I went a few years back through old RAW files and processed some for a new gallery. 

The current galleries are limited in location or date, or both. This new gallery will not be. You can view the new gallery at https://www.trulandphotography.com/HumanTouch.

Here are some samples from the older photos.

EOS 5Ds, EF 70-300mmL at 188mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec., ISO 400

EOS R, Minolta MC 58mm f/1.4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 400

EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 29mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200

EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200

EOS R8, RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 56mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200

Bodies and Lenses and Bags

Gear Acquisition Syndrome [GAS] is a well known malady among photography types. Like the flu, it is especially prevalent in winter. There can also be an outbreak when anticipating a trip or event. One method of keeping GAS in check is to spend a lot of time using the gear that you already possess, hence the winter time prevalence. I've found that even a short outing in frigid or inclement weather can help reduce the symptoms.

I've also found that it really only applies to gear that you use making photos. For instance, I really do need another backup storage solution but I can not bring myself to spend money on a new portable hard drive or SSD. I will wait until almost every gigabyte is used up on the five I currently have for that purpose.

Here are some photos from some quick visits across the river since my last blog post.

RF 35mm f/1.8, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 35mm f/1.8, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

Snowy North Country

Here are some wintry scenes from an old mill along the Kayaderosseras Creek in Rock City Falls in Saratoga County and Northampton Beach State Park in the southern Adirondacks. 

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 31mm, f/11, 1/45 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 40mm, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 35mm, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 47mm, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 32mm, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 61mm, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 28mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 200