Out of Focus Project

Another project I've been working on involves images where nothing is in focus. The idea is to have diffused colors and shapes, whether the actual subject is recognizable or not. 

This is very much an experiment. The 45mm f/1.2 lens is the necessary tool as the f/4 minimum aperture of the zoom lens will not produce the desired result.

I can adjust the look by altering the aperture and degree of close focusing. The way I have my camera set up, I can see the end result in real time in the viewfinder as I do the adjustments.

Here are some early samples and I have included a photo of each scene for context. The project gallery is located at https://davidtruland.smugmug.com/Color/Projects/OOF.

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/1.4, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/1.2, 1/8000 sec., ISO 50

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/1.2, 1/8000 sec., ISO 50

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/1.2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 50

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/1.2, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

Primember Project

I've decided to use only the 45mm lens for the months of November and December. There will be a gallery you can view at https://davidtruland.smugmug.com/Prime-Galleries/Primember. 

The Think Tank Photo SpeedTop 15 shoulder bag will hold the R6 Mark II with the 45mm lens, UV, CPL and 3 stop ND filters, an EL-100 flash, batteries for camera and flash, and other necessaries. Here is how that looks.

Here are the first additions to the gallery from a visit to the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve.

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

Imitating the Southwestern U.S.

This must be what's like to live in the southwestern United States. The weather every day is the same. Clear and Sunny. It's great for this never ending season of fall color but I'm actually getting tired of the same conditions every day. The first chance of showers appears to be next Thursday, five days from now. After that rain, if it actually happens, the leaves should be pretty much gone.

Here are some of today's scenes from Waterford.

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

Color Before and After

This morning's outing to the Waterford Flight of Locks had a double header of color. The pre-sunrise sky had some color and the post sunrise light on the remaining fall foliage did also. Here are som samples.

A reminder all this year's lock E5 sunrises are located at https://davidtruland.smugmug.com/Color/Projects/Lock-E5-Sunrises-2026 and all this year's fall foliage images are located at https://davidtruland.smugmug.com/Color/Projects/Fall-Foliage-26.

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/4, 1/30 sec., ISO 1600

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 47mm, f/4, 1/30 sec., ISO 800

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 35mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 47mm, f/22, 1/350 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/500 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 92mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400

Elevation Matters

While the fall colors at Grafton, with elevations over 1,500 feet, are waning, they are still vivid at lower elevations nearer the Hudson River valley. Halloween displays are also of abundant as we approach the drab brown and gray season that is most of November and December.

Here are some shots from yesterday.

RF 45mm f/1.2, f/1.2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100, CPL

RF 45mm f/1.2, f/1.2, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100, CPL

RF 45mm f/1.2, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, CPL

RF 45mm f/1.2, f/16, 1/250 sec., ISO 200

RF 45mm f/1.2, f/16, 1/30 sec., ISO 200

RF 45mm f/1.2, f/4.5, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 45mm f/1.2, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

Nearing the End of Foliage Season in the Hills

This has been a very colorful and long fall foliage season in my region. Adequate summer rains and the lack of very cold nights and heavy rain have combined to make it so.

I drove out to Grafton Lakes State Park this morning expecting to see the color largely gone and while it is certainly past peak, good color remains. Long Pond is it an elevation of 1,501 feet above sea level compared to the 40 foot elevation of my home near the Hudson River. It makes a difference, particularly when there's mixed precipitation in the winter.

Here are some images from Long Pond, Second Pond and the Shaver Pond trail.

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 40mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 72mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 28mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 25mm, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/15 sec., ISO 100

Catching Up

I've been out several times since the last post and am posting a couple of images from each of the outings. Captions will contain the location in addition to shooting data.

Saratoga National Historical Park
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 40mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

Saratoga National Historical Park
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/90 sec., ISO 200

Oakwood Cemetery
RF 45mm f/1.2, f/16, 1/60 sec., ISO 50

Oakwood Cemetery
RF 45mm f/1.2, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100

Lock E5
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 42mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 400

Lock E5
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 35mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec., ISO 400

Lock E5
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 27mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400

Lock E5
RF 24-105mm f/4L at 39mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400