Things became very hectic around the middle of October, with the arrival of my music buddies, and my Website was relinquished to a back burner. Then there was working up to our concert, thorough cleaning of the whole place for the visit of CD, Squiddy, The Pebbles, and Little Fish, and then the rebuild of my computer which is at last (big sigh here) practically complete. There are more things I’d like to share from this time, and they will probably take several posts to catch up. So here’s a new start. Let me take you back to around a month ago…
krikitarts 
Another nice series but love the opening shot of the Oak leaf. …..and you got a sunset! That is one natural event we have had so few of this year and I have not been able to a single capture one
I nearly wrenched an ankle getting that shot of the oak leaf–it was on a verrry steep slope and footing was extremely perilous. It was worth the effort, though. So glad you like it!
I agree with David. They are all beautiful shots, but the oak leaf is my favourite :). I love the background and how the colour of the leaf just “pops”.
I did some minimal and very subtle HDR work on this one with my Photomatix program to bring out the details in the shadows and the highlights, and I’m really pleased with it, too. The gentle luminance of the leaf was an added bonus.
Another series of beautiful images.
Love the frog – or is it a toad – I don’t know the difference (except that toads are ugly and frogs turn into Princes). Whatever it is – I really like the DOF.
Umm, be really careful about loving a frog…heh, heh… Generally, they are actually quite easy to tell apart: Toads typically have dry, rough (“warty”) skins and are usually rather slow-moving, although they can hop short distances. Frogs typically have smooth, moist skins (but those that live not in close proximity to water are drier), and many are capable of very impressive leaps. As for my DOF, the toad was in shadow, it was late in the afternoon, and I didn’t have a tripod with me. It was cool, so he didn’t have a lot of energy and stayed put while I lay on my stomach and crept to within about two feet for this portrait. I pushed my ISO to 200 for a reasonably-fast shutter speed (1/320) with an aperture (6.3) a bit above the minimum, because I zoomed in at a focal length of 200mm. I generally try for a wider plane of focus, but having just the eye really sharp works here. BTW, you don’t really think this fellow is ugly do you?
Thanks Gary,
I’ll keep that in mind if I see one.
Beautiful photos.
Hi, Lilly Sue, and thank your for visiting and leaving your mark of approval. I’ve had a first look at your website in return, and am very favorably impressed with your last report of Minneapolis possibilities. I am noting them, as we visit that area with some considerable frequency, and I’m eager to follow up on some of your suggestions. Thanks a lot!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! Let me know how you like the places I reviewed…I got a list of some others as well but unfortunately was not there long enough to try them all. I would definitely try Hell’s Kitchen!
I don’t know when I’ll be back in that neighborhood again, but I’ve noted the places that you recommended and I’ll save them and pass them on. Thanks again! -Gary
Such beauty, Gary…even in the grumpy-looking frog…. What a lovely world we live in…and well captured in your photos. Thank you….
To me, the facial “expression” looks smug, rather than grumpy, as if he’d just manged to catch some late-fall morsel to fill the last space in his stomach before secluding himself for the winter’s estivation. I wish him well and will look for him again in the spring.
More appropriate, somehow…and yes, I share your hope that he returns in the spring….
Great pictures, Gary – I love the toad, and the sunrise/set, the last shot, is beautiful! Adrian
I was very pleased to find the toad that late in the year and even more so to find that he was willing to sit still for me for a little while. Love it when that happens!