My brother-in-law is an avid bird and wildlife photographer visiting here from Colorado. On the other hand, I am not. So, naturally, he requested my guide services to get some bird images. We spent a bit of time at the Biggar Ponds along the South shore of Lake Ontario in Grimsby, a bird conservation area converted from a water treatment (read sewage treatment) complex many years ago. But lots of birds. I carried a long lense to keep him company and indulge in what to me is a relatively rarely subject area. But, since I was not particularly concerned about getting great shots, I casually approached one the many barn swallows, taking shots as I incrementally closed the distance between it and me. I finally got to about 2 1/2 to 3 metres from this cooperative one and this is the result. It was kind of fun but not up to the results of any serious bird photographer. But my brother-in-law was quite surprised at how I got so close and this is mainly for his benefit. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-04-07
Date PP: 2024-04-16
(c) Copyright 2024 JW Vraets
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Tech Details:
Taken using a hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an Tamron 100-400mm 1:4.5-6.3 DI VC USD lense set to 400mm, ISO720 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/6.3 (wide open), 1/1600 sec with an EV-0.67 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source GIMP from Nikon RAW/NEF file: scale image to 8000 px wide, crop to 4/3 format to better centre the bird in the frame, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, use Tone Curve 2 tool in parametric mode to brighten the shadows (to get the eye), use the Shadows/Highlights tool to bring down the highlight areas a bit, slightly boost Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly boost Vibrance, apply some noise reduction, slightly (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Curves tool to slightly brighten the mid-tones, duplicate the image to a new layer and use that layer to brighten the eye as it was lost in the overall darkness of the bird’s head and then move layer below the brightened original layer add a white/opaque layer mask to the top layer, use a black paint on a soft-edged brush to paint in the eye and reveal the brighter eye from the layer below, very slightly increase overall contrast, slightly sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on bottom, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen, save.
Tags: Grimsby Lake Ontario Biggar Ponds bird sanctuary bird Barn Swallow perched Open Source RAWTherapee GIMP Nikon D800 Tamron 100-400mm 1:4.5-6.3 DI VC USD (AF035N-700)
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During a recent trip to Paisley, Ontario, we went for a walk, taking advantage of a brief break in the seemingly ongoing rain. While walking along County Road #1, I spotted a weathered barn with a green and white painted quilt pattern and red trim, to the south. The barn itself is behind 217 Inkerman St. The dark, overcast, dare I say gloomy conditions, made photographing with a non-stabilized long lense a bit of a challenge though. This was bit reminiscent of some barns in Mennonite country in the Waterloo area. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-04-04
Date PP: 2024-04-15
(c) Copyright 2022 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using a hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1:4.0-5.6 lense set to 210mm, ISO280 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/5.6, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.67 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source file: set final image size to be 9000px wide, enable both Tone Mapping at default levels, enable Tone Mapping at default levels, set colour balance by sampling the white portion of the quilt, very slightly boost Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, very slightly boost Vibrance, sharpen (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Curves tool to darken the bottom half of the tone curve and then pull up/brighten the top part of the curve to brighten the quilt without significant impact on the barn itself, sharpen, save, scale image to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Tags: Paisley barn weathered grey red trim quilt painted green white dark rainy Open Source RAWTherapee GIMP Nikon D800 AF Nikkor 70-2100mm 1:4.0-5.6
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The other day I posted an image of some detail captured from an 1880 George White Steam Tractor on display at the intersection of Bruce Road 3 and Concession 2a a short distance South of Paisley, Ontario. This another such image but with a touch of red. I am partial to red. I love the rusty and crusty details. I do not know if this tractor is still operational but it acts as a 33D billboard for the Bruce County Heritage Farm and the annual Steam and Antique Show. From the look of the engine, I would prefer to stand well back if anyone tried to fire it up, though. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-04-03
Date PP: 2024-04-12
(c) Copyright 2024 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using a tripod-mounted Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 98mm, ISO100, Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Aperture Priority Mode, f/16.0, 1/4 sec with an EV-0.67 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source file: set final image size to be 9000 px wide, darken overall by setting exposure compensation to EV-0.28, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, use the Graduated Neutral Density/GND tool to darken the upper part of the frame and bring its tonality more in line with the rest of the image, increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Curves tool and slightly brightening the darkest tones and then brighten the upper mid-tones a bit, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen, save.
Tags: Paisley Bruce Rd 3 Concession 2A steam tractor rusting detail Open Source GIMP Nikon D800 AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0
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Having to get some supplies, we popped over to the local grocery store in downtown Paisley, Ontario. Adjacent to the North side of the parking lot stands an older building at the rear of which is an attached (what I assume is a) garage structure. Time has taken its toll and the clapboard wall has lost much of its paint as has the door. The window has been boarded up on the inside. But all this has revealed textures and weathering. A few spring daffodils provide a contrast to the poor wall condition. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-04-03
Date PP: 2024-04-12
(c) Copyright 2024 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using a tripod-mounted Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 85mm, ISO100, Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Aperture Priority Mode, f/9.0, 1/30 sec with an EV+0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source file: set final image size to be 9000 px wide, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, slightly darken overall by setting exposure compensation to EV-0.27, slightly increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, use Shadows/Highlights to recover both a little highlight as well as shadow detail, slightly increase Vibrance, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: increase overall contrast, use the Curves tool to apply a bit of an ‘S’ curve and thereby further improve contrast while brightening the white clapboard wall area, slightly adjust the colour balance by reducing both the green and blue components, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen, save.
Tags: Paisley downtown house garage wall boarded up window door clapboard weathered deteriorated textures daffodils Open Source GIMP Nikon D800 AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0
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Taking advantage of another brief break in the seemingly endless light drizzle during our brief get-way to Paisley, Ontario, The Boss and I went for a walk through the downtown. The Teeswater River splits the town into a North and South portion and once we got to the North part, I spotted a pair of doorways fitted into what were likely storefronts in a previous life. These were not as polished in the initial conversion process and, in the period since, have weathered a bit. Here we see the result: 416 and 418 Queen Street North (the main street) in downtown Paisley. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-04-03
Date PP: 2024-04-11
(c) Copyright 2024 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using a hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 27mm, ISO100, Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/5.0, 1/250 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon SOOC JPEG source file: set final image size to be 9000 px wide, crop a bit off the top, left and right to get rid of an intruding window frame on the left and then balance the image while keeping the original aspect ratio, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, darken overall by setting exposure compensation to EV-0.34, slightly increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, slightly shift the overall colour balance a little to the yellow to offset the overcast shade colour cast, use the Graduated Neutral Density/GND tool to brighten NOT darken a strip along the top of the frame, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Curves tool to apply a bit of an ‘S’ curve and thereby improve contrast while brightening the blue wall, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen, save.
Tags: Paisley downtown storefronts doors 416 418 Queen St N blue symmetry Open Source GIMP Nikon D800 AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0
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