My Favorite Place ( yet again)

 Trying out the new camera.   Last new one was five years ago.  I like to take the new one and do shoots I've done before to see if operationally things have change much.   They haven't... except I have to be much steadier with a higher pixel count.    Kauffman Gardens beckoned today.   It was suppose to be sunny all day but clouds were the norm when I arrived this morning.  

 All shots taken with the Nikon D800.  Closeups were with the Nikon 105mm Macro, wide angles with the Nikon 14-24mm, and medium shots were with the Nikon 70-200mm.  Most all were at ASA 800 to allow for very high shutter speeds as I was hand-holding everything.
Very first picture is multiple images (5) stitched together in Photoshop.

 Love the detail in the new camera.   It has a 36 megapixel, full-sized sensor which means medium format quality in a 35mm body.   It also means it doesn't like camera shake.

 Above, a duck dropped in.... literally.

 Asian Poppy above.

Kendra

 Kendra won Miss Photogenic in her pageant last weekend.   Congratulations....  she is also an aspiring photographer who would like to pursue that as a career....  after high school and college of course.

 Top two are studio shots.  The one below was in my backyard, available light only.   Others were taken at the Colonnade here in Northeast and were also exclusively available light.

 Nikon D3, top two Nikon 105mm Macro,  the rest Nikon 70-200mm.   Indoor shots ASA200, outdoor shots ASA 800.

Chalk Walk 2012

Northeast Arts once again put on Chalk Walk at Concourse Park in Historic Northeast today.  It also runs tomorrow if the weather will cooperate.   Above, the fountains are off and the chalk is going down.    Left, the Henggeler family, John Francis, Geoff, Jen, and the newest, Simon.

 Above, the newest Stalder looking suspicious....  i.e. normal.

 Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences faculty and students were on hand to take vitals.   Below, I think I'd start at the other end of the steer....

 Above, the finished product, below, chalk and plans.

 Above, kite flying demonstration had cooperation from the wind.  Below, EL Bryan notorious  famous local cartoonist with his contribution ....

 Really good weather and lots of fun.   All photos taken with the Nikon D5000 and 18-200mm lens.  ASA 400, aperture and shutter various.

Flower Break

 The rose bush is loaded this year.   I trimmed it back last year so no blooms...  certainly making up for it... and early.   I usually use these blooms for Memorial Day... not this year.  Someone crawled out from under a petal for this shot.

 All shots with the Nikon D3 and 105mm Nikon macro.  ASA 200, F5.6 to F16.  Minus 3 exposure compensation to account for direct sun.

Gardens on a Monday

Had a few minutes before visiting the Kansas City Young Matron's today so I stopped by Kauffman Gardens. Always something new. Perfect weather.
All these were taken with the Nikon D3 and 24-70mm lens, ASA200, F16, multiple shots sandwiched.


Lots of new flowers and benches in the "greenhouse"... didn't see Crazy the Cat though, hope she's alright.



The roses are already underway... about two weeks early I think.... but I'll leave that guess to the experts.