Armstrong Redwoods...major dial-up warning...

[Adsos Letter]

Hey everyone...the family was boooooored today so we took a drive over to Armstrong Redwoods, which is just outside Guerneville for those of you who are familiar with Northern California...anyway...weather was cloudy and patchy fog and, while I always enjoy the trees (but never manage to do them justice) my focus was more at the ground level this time.

I apologize in advance for the quality of a lot of these shots; I am using my on-board macro on the Sony and it doesn't quite come up to the macro's you guys use (skill level also an obvious factor here) :D ...plus, I forgot the tripod (again) and my hands are a bit on the shaky side... :(

So...a couple of tree/pond shots and then down to the ground.


































:D

[Triana]

1. These macros are great!

I've got a Sony too (fairly new to me) and have yet to play much with macro mode much but I WANT to. The photos in your post are great! I love the detail in them.

If I can get some that look that good, I'll be happy!

[Adsos Letter]

6. Thanks Triana!

You'll get better ones! The Sony DSC-H2 is a nice camera for the price, although I really don't need the on-board camcorder function; if I had thought more carefully about it before purchasing, I would have gone a step higher and ditched the movie function.

Which Sony model are you using? Seems like most of the people here use DSLR's...I'm not into it enough to learn to use one; just a picture-snapper here... :D

:hi:


EDIT...because I can't seem to use the "smilie" function very well, either... :dunce:

[Triana]

7. Sony DSC-W90 8.1 MP

I'm not a SLR user either - just a picture-snapper. I'd likely not know what to do with an SLR camera! HA!

[regnaD kciN]

2. Wonderful close-ups...

As to the other photos, it has nothing to do with your skill as a photographer, and everything to do with the season. Not only do upward-pointing shots need a blue sky (said sky which, ironically, will render every other forest shot a contrasty mess), but winter is not a good time for full-frame scenics. Although it won't be as bad as in a deciduous forest, of course, there's a world of difference between shots taken in spring (where the dark green of the redwoods is set off with the lighter green of newly-in-leaf hardwoods and plants, and winter shots where the latter are merely brown branches and rushes. However you shoot them, brown plants aren't very attractive.

Since you live relatively close, I recommend you try again with the non-macro shots in a couple of months, or whenever the leaves (and, hopefully, flowers) start coming out. Judging by your comp in the second shot, I think you'll come away with some great images to complement your close-ups from today.

[Adsos Letter]

3. Thanks regnaD kciN !

We plan on spending more time there because it is one of the 50 or so state parks our Governor is going to close because of budgetary constraints (not before Spring, hopefully).

Thankyou for sharing your knowledge; your photography is always a pleasure to see (and a bit awe-inspiring, also).

:D

[Blue_In_AK]

4. OOooh, cool. I love fungi!

I sympathize on the redwoods. I tried to get some shots at Big Sure and was totally dissatisfied. They're just tooo BIG.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Thanks Blue!

They aren't nearly as nice as the other macro shots that get posted here, but I'm trying to figure out how to do the best with the Sony...I think it is capable of quite a lot for what it is; I just need to get out and practice more.

Your picture in the February contest sure was beautiful!!!

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Thanks. :)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

9. Wonderful shots ...I love the Wake Robin and the turkey tail fungi

[Maestro]

10. Nice series

The pond image with the mallards is my favorite.