Where I lived most of my life

A VIEW OF NORTHEAST EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, TOWARD LAKE MICHIGAN

DJI Mini 2

4.49mm DJI lens (24mm in full frame format)

1/500 sec. f2.8 

ISO 100

This drone shot, taken from 397 feet directly above Three Crowns Park, the retirement community where I live, shows the Baha'i Temple, the hospital where both of my sons were born, Northwestern University's Ryan Field, one public school I attended, the church my parents attended, and the commuter rail line that took me to work every day for more than 40 years. Flying a drone is a good way to review the landmarks of one's life.

Autumn colors at Three Crowns Park

THREE CROWNS PARK, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

DJI Mini 2

4.49mm f2.8 DJI lens (24mm full frame equivalent)

1/800 sec. f2.8

ISO 100

Compare this fall colors shot with the summer-greenery photograph taken July 16. I continue to be impressed by the image quality of the 12-megapixel wide-angle camera on a drone that costs less than $500.

N Scale Pocket Line Passenger Train

KATO POCKET LINE TRAIN, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, OCTOBER 26, 2021

Sony A7R3

Tamron 28-200 at 68mm

18 stacked images, 1/15 sec. f11 +1EV

ISO 100

The Japanese model train manufacturer Kato issued this little gem in N scale, and it's a true crowd-pleaser on a small layout.  I'm pleased with the versatile Tamron walkaround zoom lens' capability for close focus with a 10mm extension ring.

N scale EMD GP7 Locomotive

GP7 LOCOMOTIVE, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, OCTOBER 23, 2021

Sony A7Riii
Tamron 28-200 at 50mm with 10mm lens extender
1/10 sec. f11
ISO 100

This is the result of several experiments in macrophotography with a new "light box" that has a built-in array of LED lamps on its ceiling. The N scale model locomotive is only 4 1/4 inches long, but it took electronic stacking of 13 separately focused images to produce one photograph that is sharp throughout the depth of field. I used two LumeCube mini lamps to provide light from either side.

Great Blue Heron

GREAT BLUE HERON, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, AUGUST 22, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Tamron 28-200 at 200mm

1/320 sec. f8

ISO 800

I've taken countless photos of these herons, uncommonly common at the Botanic Garden, and think this is one of my better efforts, although it is a static one. The blue-gray of the bird contrasts nicely with the green background, and the S curvature of its neck adds further interest.

Blue Jay

BLUE JAY, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm

1/160 sec. f8

ISO 1600

September is the month for jays to return from other climes to raid local feeders for the long flight south. They're here for a week or so, then suddenly disappear.

Somehow the fading afternoon light of an overcast sky enhanced the blue coloration of this jay's feathers.

White-breasted Nuthatch

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm

1/1250 sec. f8

ISO 1600

Photographing these birds on a feeder is not as simple as it might seem, for these birds are fast snatch-and-go artists that spend only split seconds gathering sunflower seeds to carry off to a distant tree to eat.

Pine siskin

PINE SISKIN, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Sony A7Riii
Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm
1/640 sec. f8
ISO 800

Siskins, close cousins of goldfinches, are common in the North Woods. They can be identified by their sharply pointed beaks, streaked bellies and yellow-tinged wing edges.

Red squirrel

RED SQUIRREL, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Sony A7Riii
Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm
1/200 sec. f8
ISO 800

Despite its ineffable cuteness, the red squirrel is a destructive pest, especially when it gets into North Woods summer cabins. This one is lucky I shot it with a long lens rather than a .22. 

Gray squirrel

GRAY SQUIRREL, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, MARCH 9, 2021

Sony A7Riii
Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm
1/1250 sec. f8
ISO 400

Nice of the squirrel to pose for a formal portrait. He (presumably) reminds me of a Civil War general who doesn't quite know what to do with his right hand while holding steady for long seconds.

Ontonagon Lighthouse

ONTONAGON LIGHTHOUSE, ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

 

DJI Mini 2

 4.49mm DJI (20.7mm full frame equivalent)

1/100 sec. f2.8

ISO 100

The Ontonagon Historical Society, owner of this restored 1866 lighthouse on the shore of Lake Superior, is hospitable to drone pilots. This is the best of several views captured one fine September morning.

Mama and her babies

COMMON MERGANSERS, GREEN, MICHIGAN, JUNE 3, 2021

Pentax K-3
Pentax 55-300mm at 300mm
1/1250 f8
ISO 800

My spouse Debby took this shot with the old Pentax from the front porch of our cabin on the shore of Lake Superior. In early spring the female mergansers take their considerable broods out on the water, the little ones sticking close to mama and sometimes catching a ride on her back. 

Portrait of a bunny

COTTONTAIL RABBIT, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, APRIL 27, 2021

Sony A7Riii
Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm
1/500 sec f8
ISO 1250

I was sitting in the little waterfall garden of Three Crowns Park, the retirement community where we spend our winters, when this gentleman hopped within view just a few feet away and sat uncommanded for a formal portrait.

Just before dawn on Lake Superior

ONCOMING DAWN, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Tamron 28-200 at 28mm

1/6 sec f8

ISO 1600

Sometimes a "barenaked" dawn suddenly becomes more interesting with a little low cloud scattered in the proper place.

 

Ontonagon Harbor entry

 HARBOR ENTRY, ONTONAGON, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

DJI Mini 2

4.49mm DJI (20.7mm full frame equivalent)

1/100 sec. f2.8

ISO 100

A small boat chugs up the Ontonagon River from Lake Superior in this drone shot from 250 feet above the ground. It's one of the better landscape photos I've taken with the drone and I'm pleased with the colors.

Three Crowns Park

 

THREE CROWNS PARK, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, JULY 27, 2021

DJI Mini 2

4.49mm DJI (20.7mm full frame equivalent)

1/100 sec. f2.8

ISO 100

This is where I live in the winter, a retirement community making up a city block in a Chicago suburb. It was taken from 350 feet above ground early in the morning on an overcast day, resulting in somewhat flat colors but good shadow detail. The structure with the mottled roof is the original 1905 building and soon will be demolished for a new addition. This is the first drone shot I took of the community.

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

MALE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 26, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm

1/5000 sec. f8

ISO 1600

I have spent countless hours shooting hummers through the plate glass window of our cabin on Lake Superior, waiting until they approach the feeder out of sight. This is one of my better captures. I just wish the sun had been in a different position so that the bird's throat would appear ruby red rather than black.

Spotted sandpiper

 

SPOTTED SANDPIPER, GREEN, MICHIGAN, MAY 22, 2021

Sony a7Riii

Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm

1/1600 sec, f8

ISO 1600

This is a heavy crop of a grabshot through a plate glass window, taken in a hurry as the bird, common but elusive on our Lake Superior shore, stepped out of view. A little careful work with Lightroom brought out the details and turned a failed photograph into one acceptable on the computer screen if not in print form.

New camera drone

LOOKING WEST ALONG LAKE SUPERIOR AT GREEN, MICHIGAN

DJI Mini 2

4.49mm DJI (20.7mm full frame equivalent)

1/1000 sec. f2.8

ISO 100

In the last few years inexpensive (sub-$500) hobbyist drones have become quite sophisticated. The DJI Mini 2 takes 12mp photographs as well as 4k video, comparable to an upscale smartphone. This is an early attempt at landscape (and lakescape) photography with a new drone. It was taken from 350 feet above ground level at our little log cabin on the lake shore. Click on the photo for best detail.

They said it was squirrel-proof, but . . .

CHIPMUNK, GREEN, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Sony A7Riii
Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm
1/400 sec. f8
ISO 1600

One has to admire the industriousness of these little ground squirrels at defeating efforts to serve only birds at the feeders. 

Fat Boy

CARDINAL, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, APRIL 15, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm

1/1250 sec. f8

ISO 400

It's probably just the long lens, but this specimen of a cardinal looks rather high on the body mass index.

Sir Cholmondeley

 

HOUSE SPARROW, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, MARCH 6, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Sigma 100-400mm DG DN at 400mm

1/1000 sec at f8

ISO 400

This is a 1640 x 2412 pixel crop of a 7952 x 5304 pixel full-frame shot. It is usable at that tiny size thanks to the new Enhance Details feature in Lightroom and Photoshop. Owing to the snooty upper-class pose, I'm calling him Wing Commander Sir Cholmondeley Housesparrow DFC KBE.

Cardinal

MALE CARDINAL, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, MARCH 9, 2021

Sony A7Riii

Sigma 100-400 DG DN at 400mm

1/1250 f8

ISO 400

Having gone from Pentax APS-C size to Sony full-frame  format, this is one of my first efforts with the new Alpha A7Riii camera and a new Sigma 100-400mm full-frame zoom lens. The scene is the sidewalk under the bird feeder in the waterfall garden at Three Crowns Park.