My Favorite Tree with My Favorite Lens

Last night, restless and wanting more camera time, I had the idea to go out and take a night picture of my favorite tree, near a local shopping center, with the 50 mm. It's not a super big tree, but it has so much character and just sits stoicly with all the retail and activity around it.

Boogieman drove and we listened to all the sports talk radio after the big Redsksins victory over Dallas. We first drove to Lake Whetstone, to scope out how to get shots of the lights reflected in the lake. Those shots are too blurry, even with the 50 mm, and I want to re-do those when my tripod gets here.

I want to re-do this tree shot too, to get it more crisp, but it is a cool enough shot for me to post here, and then compare later when I get the tripod. I actaully wanted to shoot it from the other side, the view that I'm most familiar with, but Boogieman insisted on driving around to the *closer* parking lot. Much bickering ensued until I looked out the car window and saw the perspective of the tree atop the slope with a light to its right. I shut up and apologized.

I love how eerie the night shots with the 50 mm are.

This shot is unprocessed:


f/1.5, 1/2 SEC, 50 MM, ISO-800

Here is a version post-processed with auto levels, contrast, and color; and then shadows lightened and mid-tone contrast boosted:



I can't wait to try it again with the tripod.

Location: Montgomery Village Shopping Center
Time: 8:30 PM

Night shots with the 50 mm

This little lens has some gusto. It's so fast that it can capture more light than is seen by the eye -- as is evidenced in the last two photos, from my neighborhood on Christmas, and the night of a full moon.

Christmas Light Drive



Full Moon (my family allowed me out of the car for ONE shot!)



Bokeh Smile (traffic light and lamp post)



Drive by Gas Station



Drive by Moon



Around da 'hood



Our home, looking cozy and well lit!



Location: Surrounding Neighborhoods
Time: 8 PM-ish, full moon

It Rains

From yesterday, at dusk, in our store's parking lot. The rain and reflections and lights were too much for me to resist. I'm getting better with night shots. I did not use a tripod on this one and got away with it.


f/4.5, 1/20 SEC, 47 MM, ISO-800

And I really like what the Ink Outlines filter produced, it makes rain reflections so striking.