Kaw Point Summer

 I've blogged Kaw Point before.  It's one of my favorite spots.  June 26th, 1804 Lewis and Clark landed near here (about a 1/4 mile up the Missouri) and stayed for a few days.  It's now a park, well maintained and easy to get to.  One can walk right to the rivers edges...  the Kaw is on the right and the Missouri is on the left.

 The above view looks Southeast toward the city.  Below, looking north from the same spot.

 I took the above photo for the grammar police.   Tracy?

Muted Fall

A dry late summer, especially September, has stressed the trees to the point that they, in most cases, are just going from green to brown and dropping to the ground. Unlike last year when there was an extended display of color. I also haven't had time to take any fall images.... but here are a few from today. Above, from Scarritt Point looking west .... below a colorful tree next to the Point.... all shots taken with the Nikon D3 at ASA 200, 24-70mm or 70-200mm lenses at varying apertures... processed in Photoshop.





Unfortunately, most of the leaves this year are like the one above... a touch of red and dead.

Penn Valley Hawk

Sometimes you just get lucky. I was just under the Scout statue waiting for the sun to set a little more... when I noticed a hawk in a nearby tree. Birds are notoriously hard to shoot but I always try. As he/she took off I fired a burst or two and got three good shots. Nikon D3, F11 at 250th, ASA 400....70-200mm lens ... they are beautiful in flight.

Samantha

Just one more quarter and my latest subject, Samantha, will be a freshman in high school. She plays violin and guitar, draws, and already knows that she wants to be an architect. At her age I was still in potty training.
We did a few studio shots and then headed to the West Bottoms for more casual shots that match her personality. All images captured with the Nikon D3. Studio shots with the Nikon 105mm macro, 1/250th and F16 at ASA 200. Location shots all taken with the 70-200 F2.8 Nikon Zoom at F8, F11 and F2.8.... ASA from 200 to 800 using the SB900 for fill when necessary.