Picture of Choice

Highway Litter Program
Camera: Canon Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
F-stop: f/10
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 187 mm
Lens: EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS 

Images of the Night

 Guardian of the Night
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual

Shutter Speed: 30 sec.
Aperature: f/5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 18 mm
Lens: EF-18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: No
Tripod: Yes


For this photo, the goal was to capture the lights and the motion of the moving train at night.  The signal, displaying a stop indication, is protecting the movements of the trains on the track, hence the title Guardian of the Night.  A friend and I camped out at this location, just west of Malta, MT, on a cold October evening, counting the trains passing throughout the night, with this signal protecting the movements of every train passing.  The process that I went through was waiting for a train to pass to capture it, the signal, and the night stars lighting the sky.  I set up the tripod, set the camera to the settings above, and waited for the distant sound of a horn or the hollow rumble that only a General Electric locomotive can make.  Having a radio scanner didn't hurt either.  I aimed the lens of the camera up toward the signal (the track was slightly elevated) and opened the shutter as the glow of light to the west grew brighter.  The train carrying containers from China and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma to the interior of the U.S. passed us at 35 mph.  The lights illuminated the signal, the adjacent signal relay tower, and propane switch heater tank, giving this result.

All Clear Ahead
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual

Shutter Speed: 15 sec.
Aperature: f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55 mm
Lens: EF-18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: No
Tripod: No


This was more a photo of opportunity than planned out.  The goal on this night was to capture the motion of the crossing arms with all the lights coming down for the approaching train.  However, waiting for the impending arrival of a train, the sun was setting over the Montana landscape just west of Laurel on this Friday November evening.  The clouds gave places for the last rays of sunlight to poke through, the signal for the approaching train was already lined clear well ahead of time (the green dot in the middle of the photo), and the traffic passing on the adjacent I-90 lit the tops of the rails as the trucks and cars streaked past.  And no, I didn't get the crossing shot I had set out to capture on this night.  But captured this photo instead.

Social Comment

The Overworked and Underpaid
Here is the end result of being overworked, underpaid, and underemployed.  My goal initially for this photo was to be funny and a joke.  But as I examined the picture of my brother sleeping late into the morning (he arose from his slumber shortly after this photo was taken) after working most of the night at Burger King, I realized this stood for more than just a joke.  To understand fully what is meant by this photo, you'll need a little background information.  My brother, Neal, has a Associates Degree in Computer Networking.  He has held several positions with local companies Bresnan Communications and more recently Global Crossings as a technical support representative.  Although these jobs pay well, he was let go by both companies shortly before his benefits package was about to fully kick in.  And since, he has unsuccessfully tried to gain full-time employment in the same field.  Resorting to desparation, he joined Burger King late last year and has risen to the position of shift supervisor in a short period of time.  Whew, with that out of the way, Neal arrived at the house for Thanksgiving Day at 2:30 A.M. Thursday morning.  His shift was scheduled to end at 11:00 P.M.  Mountain Dew in hand, he drove home from downtown Billings to Laurel and went straight to bed.  Still snoring peacefully, I took this photo capturing the essence of what it is to be overworked, underpaid, and underemployed.  All he looks forward too anymore is returning home and sleeping until his next shift.  What happened to the fun, energetic, and rebellious little brother that I once had?  It joined Burger King and all the problems this type of living brings with it.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual

Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec.
Aperature: f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55 mm
Lens: EF-18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: No
Tripod: No

Portrait

The Family Portrait

 Here is the family picture from Thanksgiving Day 2010.  The process that I went through to put this photo together was simply getting all of us in the same place at the same time.  I had to catch Twinkle, our cat, and coax our two German Shepards Monte and Schatze to sit still long enough to take the picture, and of course, they couldn't sit still long enough, even with treats.  The setting is our living room which was very well lit.  The curtains had to be closed behind us, otherwise the picture would have been over exposed.  Here is the end result.  From left to right:  Schatze's head is in the lower left corner, myself, my dad Tom (holding Twinkle), my mom Sue, brother Neal (aka Benny), and finally Monte (not looking at the camera).

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual

Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec.
Aperature: f/3.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 20 mm
Lens: EF-18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: No
Tripod: No
Shot with a ten second delay timer

Nick's Wedding

 Jack Proksch
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/5 sec.
Aperature: f/4.9
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 41 mm
Lens: EF-18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: Yes
Tripod: No

 The Wedding Cake
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual

Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec.
Aperature: f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55 mm
Lens: EF-18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: No
Tripod: No

 Cutting the Cake
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Exposure Program: Manual

Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec.
Aperature: f/5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 35 mm
Lens: EF-18-55mm f 3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: Yes
Tripod: No

Macro Shots

Macro 1
Date: 10/31/10
Camera: Canon Rebel EOS T1i
Shutter Speed: 0.5 seconds
F-stop: 5.6
Exposure Program: Manual
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55mm
Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Flash: None
Tripod: None
 

A World In Motion

 

Amtrak #8, The Empire Builder, Savoy, MontanaCamera:  Canon Rebel T1i;
Exposure mode: Manual;
Shutter Speed:  1/1000 sec.;
F-stop: f/6.3;
ISO Rating: 200;
Focal Length: 35 mm;
Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS;
Tripod: No;
Train Speed: 79 MPH;

Pacing alongside BNSF C44-9W 4678
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i;
Exposure mode: Manual;
Shutter Speed:  1/4000 sec.;
F-stop: f/10;
ISO Rating: 800;
Focal Length: 24 mm;
Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS;
Tripod: Yes, inside moving vehicle;
Train Speed: 50 MPH

Warning!  German Shepards' at Play!
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i;
Exposure mode: Manual;
Shutter Speed:  1/500 sec.;
F-stop: f/5.6;
ISO Rating: 200;
Focal Length: 55 mm;
Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS;
Tripod: No

Yellowstone National Park

The Moonscape with the Moon
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i
Date: 9/25/2010
Time: 7:59 A.M.
Exposure Mode:  Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/500 seconds
F-stop:  4.5
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length:  70 mm
Lens:  EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Black Sand Geyser Basin
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i
Date: 9/25/2010
Time: 3:51 P.M.
Exposure Mode:  Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/1000 seconds
F-stop:  4.5
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length:  23 mm
Lens:  EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Black Sand Geyser Basin
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i
Date: 9/25/2010
Time: 4:00 P.M.
Exposure Mode:  Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/1000 seconds
F-stop: 10
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length:  23 mm
Lens:  EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

The Group
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i
Date: 9/25/2010
Time: 2:59 P.M.
Exposure Mode:  Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/1000 seconds
F-stop:  4.5
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length:  33 mm
Lens:  EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Mammoth Elk
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i
Date: 9/25/2010
Time: 6:18 A.M.
Exposure Mode:  Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/60 seconds
F-stop:  4.5
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length:  55mm
Lens:  EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Beartooth Landscape
Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i
Date: 9/25/2010
Time: 7:35 A.M.
Exposure Mode:  Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/500 seconds
F-stop:  5
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length:  131 mm
Lens:  EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Too Close for Comfort

Camera:  Canon Rebel T1i
Date: 9/25/2010
Time: 10:21 A.M.
Exposure Mode:  Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/400 seconds
F-stop:  14
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length:  55 mm
Lens:  EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Riverfront Park

Camera Make:  Canon

Camera Model:  EOS Rebel T1i

Exposure Settings:  Manual

ISO Speed: 200

Shutter Speed:  1/80 sec.

F-stop:  f/20

Lens:  55-250 mm

Focal Length:  55 mm

Date 9/14/2010

Time:  9:53 A.M.

Tripod:  Yes

Self Timer:  2 seconds

Camera Make:  Canon

Camera Model:  EOS Rebel T1i

Exposure Settings:  Manual

ISO Speed: 200

Shutter Speed:  1/800 sec.

F-stop:  f/5.0

Lens:  18-55 mm

Focal Length:  40 mm

Date 9/14/2010

Time:  10:26 A.M.

Tripod:  Yes

Self Timer:  2 seconds

Camera Make:  Canon

Camera Model:  EOS Rebel T1i

Exposure Settings:  Manual

ISO Speed: 200

Shutter Speed:  1/100 sec.

F-stop:  f/5.0

Lens: 18-55  mm

Focal Length:  40 mm

Date 9/14/2010

Time:  10:10 A.M.

Tripod:  No

Self Timer:  None

Camera Make:  Canon

Camera Model:  EOS Rebel T1i

Exposure Settings:  Manual

ISO Speed: 200

Shutter Speed:  1/800 sec.

F-stop:  f/5.0

Lens:  18-55 mm

Focal Length:  40 mm

Date 9/14/2010

Time:  10:27 A.M.

Tripod: No

Self Timer:  None

Flower Project

Moms Front Flower Garden
Cosmos

Photo Date: 9/4/2010, 9:45 A.M.

Camera:  Canon EOS Rebel T1i

ISO Speed Ratings:  200

Shutter Speed: 1/640 seconds

F-stop:  f/5.6

Focal Length:  55 mm

Old Fashioned Single Rose
Photo Date: 9/4/2010, 9:47 A.M.

Camera:  Canon EOS Rebel T1i

ISO Speed Ratings:  200

Shutter Speed: 1/4000 seconds

F-stop:  f/5.6

Focal Length:  55 mm

Pink Beauty Peony Climbing Rose

Photo Date: 9/4/2010, 9:50 A.M.

Camera:  Canon EOS Rebel T1i

ISO Speed Ratings:  200

Shutter Speed: 1/200 seconds

F-stop:  f/10

Focal Length:  55 mm

Self Portrait

Photo date:  August 17, 2010

Location:  Everett, Washington

Camera:  Canon EOS Rebel T1i

ISO: 640

Exposure Time: 1/400 sec.

f-stop:  f/5.6