Honker in the lily pads

CANADA GOOSE, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 50-200 at 200mm
1/500 sec. f9.5
ISO 800

The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of my favorite places for wildlife photography. That can be difficult in the wild even with a long lens -- you've got to sneak up on your quarry and hope it'll sit still long enough for you to snap the shutter. The geese and ducks at the Garden are used to people and paddle by at close quarters, hoping for a tidbit.

Boxcar in the woods

ESCANABA & LAKE SUPERIOR RAILROAD, ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 11, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 50-200 at 125mm
1/350 sec. f11
ISO 400

This may look like a freight car rusting on a forgotten siding, and there are plenty of those in Upper Michigan -- but this one was moving, part of the E&LS "Ontonagon Job" that delivers empty cars to a paper mill and picks up loaded ones. I increased the saturation of both green and orange in Photoshop Elements to give the picture more pop.

Autumn glory

LAKE OF THE CLOUDS, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 4, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 17mm
1/750 sec. f9.5
ISO 400
(Click photo for larger version)

This spot is probably the most photographed in all the western reaches of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I took the picture a week before the autumn colors reached their peak, and boosted their saturation a bit with Photoshop Elements while reducing the luminance of the blue to make the sky darker.

Washington memorial

GEORGE WASHINGTON MASONIC MEMORIAL, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, OCTOBER 23, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55 at 40mm
1/350 sec. f16
ISO 400

I took this view from the platform at the Alexandria Amtrak station while waiting for a train to Richmond. The sun was just right, but saturating the blue sky in Photoshop Elements helped pop out the subject. A distracting light post was also Photoshopped out.

Grackle No. 3

COMMON GRACKLE, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, MAY 25, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma APO 135-400 at 340mm
1/45 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

In truth, grackles don't quite look like this -- in the sun the colors of their heads are iridescent, purple and blue shimmering in a living mix. Photography stops the shimmer and makes the head look bicolored.

Yellow delight

UNIDENTIFIED FLOWER, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, MAY 29, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
1/250 sec. f11
ISO 100

On the day I visited the Botanic Garden I forgot to take along a notebook and pencil to record each variety of flower I snapped, trusting to my leaky memory instead. Mistake.

Blaze of glory

UNIDENTIFIED BLOSSOM, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, JUNE 12, 2008

Pentax K10D
SMC Pentax-FA J 75-300 at 220mm
1/125 f11
ISO 400

Same mistake -- no notebook and pencil. Lovely flower all the same, and I was pleased with its rendering by a plastic zoom lens so light in weight and inexpensive that serious photographers laugh at it.

Morning in the garden

CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, SEPTEMBER 10, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55 at 18mm
1/500 sec. f11
ISO 400

In the original photograph, two people stood behind the woman striding from left to right, about 20 feet in the distance. It took me a couple of hours and a few failed tries, but I was able to remove those distracting figures by using the clone tool of Photoshop Elements 6.0.

Study at the station

PLAIN PEOPLE AT THE AMTRAK DEPOT, LA PLATA, MO., NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 40mm
1/250 f9.5
ISO 100

The people in these and the following four photographs are either Amish or Mennonite, a later offshoot. While, I am told, it is not possible to determine for sure what denomination a Plain Person belongs to, Mennonites do use a bit more blue in their dress than the Amish normally do. These unfailingly polite people do not believe in pushing their way to the front of lines waiting to board trains, but always wait until they are the last.

Patience

PLAIN PEOPLE AT THE AMTRAK DEPOT, LA PLATA, MISSOURI, NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 19mm
1/350 sec. f9.5
ISO 100

Waiting for the train

PLAIN PEOPLE AT THE AMTRAK DEPOT, LA PLATA, MISSOURI, NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 58mm
1/250 sec. f9.5
ISO 100

Will that train ever come?

WAITING FOR THE MORNING TRAIN, LA PLATA, MISSOURI, NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 45mm
1/250 sec. f9.5
ISO 100

Boarding the train

PLAIN PEOPLE AT THE AMTRAK DEPOT, LA PLATA, MISSOURI, NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
1/15 sec. f9.5
ISO 100

Leavings

FALLEN LEAVES ON DECK GLIDER, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
Pentax SMC-DA 18-55 at 55mm
1/90 sec. f8
ISO 400

Gathering storm

STORM FROM THE SOUTHWEST ON LAKE SUPERIOR, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 26mm
1/90 sec. f8
ISO 100

Beyond the wall

TILE SCREEN GARDEN WALL, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma APO 135-400 at 135mm
1/500 sec. f8
ISO 400

Japanese garden

JAPANESE GARDEN, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma APO 135-400 DG at 135mm
1/250 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

Unter den Linden

LINDEN TREES, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 4, 2008 [PHOTO BY DEBORAH ABBOTT]

Pentax *ist DS
Sigma 17-70 at 60mm
1/500 sec. f5.6
ISO 400

Mallards No. 6

BREEDING MALE MALLARD, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma APO 135-400 DG at 400mm
1/500 sec. f6.7
ISO 400

Mallards No. 5

BREEDING MALE MALLARD, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma APO 135-400 DG at 135mm
1/1000 sec. f6.7
ISO 400

Affairs of state

NOONTIME FRISBEE ON THE MALL, WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 22, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55 at 55mm
1/4000 sec. f8
ISO 3200

House on a hill

VICTORIAN MANSION, NORTHEAST WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 22, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55 at 50mm
1/750 sec. f8
ISO 200

Supersonic pioneer

BELL X-1, SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 22, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 50-200 at 80mm
1/125 sec. f9.5
ISO 1600

Washington Metro No. 2

L'ENFANT PLAZA METRO PLATFORM, WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 22, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC-Pentax DA 18-55 at 35mm
1/15 sec. f4.5
ISO 3200

Washington Metro No. 1

ARCHIVES-NAVY MEMORIAL METRO PLATFORM, WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 22, 2008

Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55 at 18mm
1/4 sec. f4.5
ISO 400

Call to prayer

PRIEST, ST. JULIANA CHURCH, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, OCTOBER 19, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
1/60 sec. f8
ISO 1600

Churchly light

DETAIL, STAINED GLASS WINDOW, ST. JULIANA CHURCH, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, OCTOBER 19, 2008

Pentax K10D
SMC Pentax-DA 50-200 at 50mm
1/90 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

Black gold

OFFLOADING COAL FROM SHIP, ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 24, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 135-400 at 230mm
1/1000 sec. f11
ISO 400

Overtaken by nature

DECAYING HOUSE IN THE WOODS, GREEN, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 9, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 40mm
1/1000 sec. f8
ISO 400

Deserted farm

DESERTED FARM, U.S. 45 NEAR BRUCE CROSSING, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 11, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 34mm
HDRI composite at f13
ISO 400

Rack and ruin

CRUMBLING FARMHOUSE, U.S. 45 NEAR ROCKLAND, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 11, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 45mm
1/1000 sec. f8
ISO 400

Pulpwood on the hoof

PULPWOOD CAR ON E&LS SIDING, ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 9, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 23mm
HDRI composite at f11
ISO 400

Abandoned barn

ABANDONED BARN, U.S. 45 NEAR ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 9, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 58mm
HDRI composite at f9.5
ISO 400

Johnny's Bar

ABANDONED TAVERN, ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 9, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 17mm
1/250 sec. f11
ISO 400

Spavined

SAGGING RUIN OFF U.S. 45 NEAR ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 9, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 40mm
1/750 sec. f8
ISO 400

Presque Isle River

PRESQUE ISLE RIVER, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 5, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 34mm
HDRI composite at f16
ISO 400

Click photo for larger version

The laker and the lighthouse

JOHN G. MUNSON CALLS AT ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 3, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 53mm
1/1500 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

Clouds in the evening

VIEW TO THE NORTHEAST ON LAKE SUPERIOR, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 17mm
1/45 sec. f8
ISO 100

Stone prow

PRESQUE ISLE RIVER, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 5, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
1/180 sec. f13
ISO 400

Snag against fall colors

DEAD PINE, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 4, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 58mm
1/350 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

Stone sentinel

LAKESHORE CAIRN, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 5, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 58mm
1/3000 sec. f4.5
ISO 400

Sunset No. 26

SUNSET ON LAKE SUPERIOR, GREEN, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 2, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
1/45 sec. f8
ISO 400

Trespassers will be violated

NEGLECTED RECREATIONAL TRAILER, GREEN, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 2, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
1/250 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

Maple leaves

MAPLES, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 28, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 45mm
1/20 sec. f16
ISO 400
(Photograph by Deborah Abbott; image processing by Henry Kisor)

Sunset No. 25

SUNSET OVER LAKE SUPERIOR, GREEN, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 1, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 21mm
1/30 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

Roadside ruin

ABANDONED HOUSE ON TOWN LINE ROAD, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 28, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 17mm
HDRI composite at f16
ISO 200

Palette of autumn

CARP RIVER, PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS STATE PARK, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 28, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 45mm
HDRI composite at f16
ISO 200

Apples and ruins

DERELICT HOUSE IN DESERTED ORCHARD, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 28, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
HDRI composite at f16
ISO 200

Aftermath of a fire

FIRE RUINS ON RIVER STREET, ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 28, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 17mm
1/125 sec. f13
ISO 200

Sunset No. 24

SUNSET OVER LAKE SUPERIOR, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

Pentax K10D
Sigma 17-70 at 70mm
1/500 sec. f9.5
ISO 200