Theme # 348 "Vapor"

Now this is what I call a "One In A Million Shot", Taken today by me at the Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, NY. Before I go any further here is an explanation of what and why's of this vapor plume.Quote: At sea level a plane must exceed 741 mph to break the sound barrier, or the speed at which sound travels. The change in pressure as the plane outruns all of the pressure and sound waves in front of it is heard on the ground as an explosion or sonic boom. The pressure change condenses the water in the air as the jet passes these waves. Altitude, wind speed, humidity, the shape and trajectory of the plane - all of these affect the breaking of this barrier. The slightest drag or atmospheric pull on the plane shatters the vapor oval like fireworks as the plane passes through it.This plane is a Navy Super Hornet F/A-18F Jet stationed at NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va. I got three shots of this jet with the plume in various stages of shapes and sizes. The actual speed of this plane according to the MC was 2 mph less then required to break the sound barrier. If the pilot was going just a little faster we would have had a lot of broken windows in the area. I wonder what effect that phenomena has on my camera lens glass ?Here's a link (a must read) on what happens but also how lucky I was in capturing this shot.http://www.rense.com/general8/boom.htm There is also a prize winning photo of the plume and my image is almost as good (IMHO). I'll bore you with the details as I am soooo excited. I used my AF-S VR Zoom Nikor 70-300 mm f4.5-5.6 G IF-ED lens. I had my focus set to continuous which means that the camera will try and maintain focus if the subject is moving and believe me the subject was moving. I did not use burst release mode but single -frame release mode. So in essence I squeezed off three shots of this bird in three seconds according to my exif data. The reason I used single-frame release mode is because I shoot in RAW and I did not want a couple thousand shots.

Here is the exif data. Nikon D90 2009/05/23

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 270mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/640 sec - F/11

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-C

The three images above are Photo # 2, 1 and 3 in that order.

Exif data shows the times for each shot are as follow:

Photo#1 May 23, 2009 @ 13:09:35 (Middle photo)

Photo#2 May 23, 2009 @ 13:09:36 (Top photo)

Photo#3 May 23, 2009 @ 13:09:38 (Bottom photo)

Sorry for the confusion but when I posted the images they got out of order and I had all the typing done and I did not know how to fix it up. I like The last one #3.

Theme # 177 "Looking Down"

These swan's are swimming in the Peconic Bay located right behind Main Street, Riverhead, NY. Probably about 100 yards to the right is where the Peconic River empties its water into the bay. This area is affected by the normal tidal action of the bay. This family of Swans were on the other side of the river/canal and I kept calling them softly and throwing pebbles into the water hoping that they would come closer. But they would not follow my lead. I went back to my car to get my big glass (70-300mm) and a bunch of kids came over and started making a whole lot of loud noise and the Swans came right over. The Moral of the story is that Swans are hard of hearing so yell louder. They came to my side and I almost had to look straight down at times as the dock is say 6-7 feet above the canal. Cute little family aren't they?

Nikon D90 2009/05/17 16:50:19

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 22mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/30 sec - F/11

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-C

Theme # 33 "Break the Rule of Thirds"

I was in Riverhead today taking pictures and I spotted this restored 1933 Packard in absolutely mint condition. These old spoked wheels enticed me to take a few shots but here is a good example (IMHO) to break the rule of thirds, golden ratio or the golden spiral. Are not these wide white walls the neatest. I had a 1949 Ford coupe in HS with wide white walls like this. I know I'm dating myself, but I truly love the old stuff.

Nikon D90 2009/05/17 17:27:43

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 35mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/25 sec - F/6.3

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-S

Theme # 199 "No Exit"

The location is Meeting House Creek Dock, Aquebogue, NY.

What you see is a natural tragedy which happens every once in a while. These fish, Atlantic Menhaden commonly called "Bunkers" are on the food chain for Striped bass and Blue fish. The bunkers travel in very large schools measured in area (miles/km's) and most likely were being chased by Blue fish and ended up the creek with no way out/no exit. Due to the size of the school and quantity of bunkers, no exit, no oxygen they die. It is such a shame but sometimes nature in its purest form is cruel. Meeting House Creek empties into the Peconic Bay which is in the upper most part of the image. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_menhaden

Nikon D90 2009/05/17 15:21:45

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 12mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/125 sec - F/16

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 340 "Fowl"

This is the infamous "Big Duck" which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in Flanders, New York. In 1931, Riverhead duck farmer Martin Maurer and his wife Jeule decided to construct a giant duck-shaped duck shop. They hoped to sell the Peking ducks they raised to passing motorists who would surely be drawn to the striking form of a "Big Duck" along Riverhead's West Main Street. The Big Duck roosted at this location till 1936 until it was relocated to Rt 24 in Flanders. Long Island duckling can still be found as a menu offering at the finest restaurants around the world. Here is a little more trivia about Mr. Big Duck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Duck

Nikon D90 2009/05/17 14:53:30

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 27mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/250 sec - F/8

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 154 "Humor"

This one half of a "Tin Man" was found at the junk yard where I took the picture of the VW posted below. As you can see I cropped the lower extremities of Mr. Tin Man off in order to not violate the regulations of posting X-rated material on this blog. Need I explain any further. When I first saw this creation I could not stop laughing. The artist certainly had a sense of humor. It's mounted and chained to a trailer that can be towed by a car or whatever. It appears that he has three kegs of "Beer" hoisted above his head and he is showing off his masculinity, male proneness and strength. I would love to know where this was displayed and what for. My DW said this was x-rated and could not post it. But with my sense of humor I could not help myself and had to just show a portion of the piece of local folk art. I will find out the history of this piece of local folk art and update the post.

Nikon D90 2009/05/06 16:15:27

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 18mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/50 sec - F/20

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 28 "Blue"

This junk yard is right up the street from the old church in Yaphank which I posted below. Nothing special just an Old Blue VW dating back to the mid-fifty's. The battery was still there and it was 6-volts and the tail lamps were the very small ones which dates this VW back to the 1950's. Back in 1960's I had a 1956 VW Bug and used it to commute back and forth to work.

Nikon D90 2009/05/06 16:14:27

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 20mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/50 sec - F/20

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 235 "Place of Worship"

This quaint little old church resides in the town of Yaphank, NY. It is right up the street from the old garage that I posted earlier in April. The little town of Yaphank was settled in 1726.

The Yaphank Presbyterian Church had its beginnings according to church and county records in the late 1700s. In 1817 the local Millville (Yaphank) schoolhouse on Sundays hosted a Sunday School mission of the Middle Island Presbyterian Church. After a number of years of worshipping in homes and in the schoolhouse, the present church was built as a chapel in 1851. In October 1871 the Yaphank Presbyterian Church was officially recognized as an individual church by the Long Island Presbytery.

After days of rain I could finally go outside and attempt something for the blog. This is basically a straight forward shot meaning I just got out of the car,got my camera and took a few shots. I purposely used the tree branches (on top and right side) and the bush on the bottom to sort of frame the photo for me. I used Lightroom for PP and PSE-7 for the frame and also the removal of lens distortion(both vertical and horizontal). I very rarely will shoot a building straight head on as I like to see the perspective and depth of the building. If you have been following my exif data in my posts you will notice that 90% of the time I shoot in Aperture mode and set my f/stop to give me that good DOF. I focused on a spot of grass on the left side in front of the church. That way the bush on the right and the whole church was in acceptable focus. I also used my circular polarizer in this shot and it is quite noticeable.

Nikon D90 2009/05/06 15:53:36

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 18mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/30 sec - F/22

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

Hand Held

Theme # 285 "Silver & Gold"

Well I back to post another one. Have not had the time for an outside shot so since it rained all day I got my home made light box out and snapped a few. This is the result of about four attempts. I tried using some of my wife's jewelery but the DOF is so short that half was in focus and the other half out of focus. The gold cross is thin enough to give me a little play. I used two lights mounted on the sides of the Light Box with 60 watt bulbs. Even with this much direct light the shutter speed as you can see was pretty slow. I also tried putting more lights on the top of the Light Box but this added too much glare. I used a tripod and manual focus. PP in Lightroom and added the frame in PSE-7.

Nikon D90 2009/05/03 21:59:09

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 105mm F/2.8 D Macro

Focal Length: 105mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/4 sec - F/25

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: Manual

Tripod

Light Box

Theme # 148 "Historic Lighthouse"

Well Julie guessed it. The first comment on the image below was from Julie and she asked if I was going to show off the Lighthouse. Well here it is and here is a little trivia about this Historic Land Mark. By the time I got here late last Sunday afternoon it was past 6pm. and we could not tour the Lighthouse but I got a good shot of it from the main parking lot across the street.

It was Authorized by the Second congress in 1792, under President George Washington and
Construction began on June 7, 1796 and was completed on November 5, 1796. It was the First lighthouse in New York State and Fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States. The
Foundation is 13'deep and 9' thick and Constructed of sandstone blocks from Connecticut, 8" high and varying in length front 18" high to 44". The walls are 6' thick at the base tapering to 3' thick at the top. The height of the tower is 110' 6" with 137 iron steps to the top of the tower.
The light flashes every 5 seconds and can be seen a distance of 19 nautical miles. My first visit to this place was probably in 1945 or 1946 when I was a young boy. I remember going here on a Sunday afternoon ride with my family. My how time flies by when you are having fun. Here is a good link for this lighthouse if you are interested.

http://www.montauklighthouse.com/

Nikon D90 2009/04/26 18:03:28

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 52mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/160 sec - F/8

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 354 "Water's Edge "

This beautiful scene was taken at "Camp Hero" State Park, Montauk, NY. This is the first time I have been here and it was quite the treat. The Light house you see in the top left corner is the famous Montauk Point Lighthouse located at the eastern most tip of Long Island. Needless to say as you look east you are looking at the Atlantic Ocean towards our friends in Europe. As you can see the coast line here is hilly and rocky. No where else on the Atlantic coast of Long Island is this true. Just a few miles west of this spot the shoreline is beautiful, with sandy beaches famous word wide like the Hampton's where the pompous rich and famous live and have their summer compounds (who cares) with the like of the Kennedys, Speilberg, Billy Joel etc, etc. Camp Hero a former military base was originally a coastal defense installation during WW-II. During the cold war it served as a Antiaircraft Artillery (AAA) training site through the 1950's. It also served as a Revolutionary War Canon site during that era. The Park itself consists of over 400 acres with miles of heavily wooded trails, picnic areas and the historic military buildings. It is a beautiful place to take a long hike on Long Island.

Nikon D90 2009/04/26 17:30:13

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 17mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/30 sec - F/20

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 174 "Local Landmark"

The "Old Hook Mill" is located in East Hampton, NY right on Main Street.

The owners of a post mill at the north end of town commissioned Nathaniel Dominy V to build a new smock mill with two pairs of millstones. The mill was built in 1806 and incorporated the main post of the 1736 Hook Mill. Nathaniel Dominy VII's "Register of Wind, Weather R Doings" documented the mill as being surprisingly active from I887 through I908 when it ceased operation. The Village of East Hampton bought the mill and the lot in 1922 and restored the mill to working order in 1939. It operated seasonally into the 1950's The village made additional repairs in 1984-1985. It is open during the summer months for a short tour.

Nikon D90 2009/04/26 16:41:14

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 20mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/100 sec - F/11

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 55 "Closely Cropped"

On Thursday evenings, in the nice weather, they have a car rally in the local King Kullen parking lot. This has been going on for years and I know some people who display their restored automobiles at these get together's. Yesterday when I took this shot of the 1965 Black Ford Mustang, the 6PM late afternoon sun was burning directly, straight on into my lens. I told my wife "no go", the light is not right, all I will get is burned out highlights and bad reflections with a lot of lens flare. Well she said take a few shots and see what you get because it will probably be raining next Thursday. So I took about ten clicks and and true to my expectations there was a lot of very over exposed highlights. So I went off to the Police Museum to get some other photos(see below). When the sun is a little higher in the sky in late June/July I will go back. Last evening I was playing around with these shots to see what I could salvage and use for the Blog Monster. I'm so far behind I figured what the heck post it. I kinda like it, it's different. The extreme close crop (IMHO) adds to the mystery of what this auto looks like in full view. I'll keep going back on Thursdays and get a good full shot of some of these autos. The original un-cropped version had the sky blown out with pure white pixels and a lot of lens flare off the fenders. I'm getting good look at the shutter speed (1/13 sec.)hand held non-VR lens.

Nikon D90 2009/04/23 17:47:55

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 15mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/13 sec - F/22

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 191 "Museum"

This is the first in a series of images I took at the Police Museum in Yaphank, NY. As you can see it is an old Shell Gas Station dating back to the early 1940's. The Police Wrecker (tow truck) is a 1942 Dodge. The price of gas as seen on the pump was 15 9/10 cents per gallon. The two posts below show one of the gas pumps and the restrooms (little bldg. on right side).

Nikon D90 2009/04/19 13:00:14

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 14mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/320 sec - F/11

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 213 "Orange"

This old orange Shell gas pump dates back to the 1940's. It is part of the Police museum mentioned in the post below. The price of gas at that time was 15 9/10 cents per gallon. What a bargain. But remember that ones salary was much less. I know that in 1951 I worked in a drug store in Sayville, NY and made a whooping 57 1/2 cents per hour.

Nikon D90 2009/04/23 18:29:09

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 19mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/25 sec - F/18

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 79 "Doors"

Well this pair of "Doors" belong to a restored Old Shell Gas Station from the early 1940's. It is located in Yaphank, NY and is part of the Long Island Police Museum. It's really a very interesting Museum to tour which I did quite a few years ago. One of these days I will go back and get more pictures. I took this one today as it is outside and not in the museum which was closed today.

Nikon D90 2009/04/23 18:37:08

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: 12-24mm F/4 G

Focal Length: 20mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/60 sec - F/11

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 357 "What's for Dinner"

Well looking at this image I guess you can easily guess what is on the menu.

In 1896 the original restaurant and bar opened for business in the well-known J.J. Sullivan Hotel at its present location on East Main in Riverhead. It is believed to be the oldest continuing restaurant, bar and hotel in the town of Riverhead and the North Fork. Tweed's even continued to operate through the Prohibition by imaginative use of secret doors and dumbwaiters. The mahogany and marble bar originally constructed for the 1893 Exposition in Chicago still stands.

Today named "Tweeds Restaurant and Buffalo Bar" has been totally restored to it's original charm, featuring Victorian chandeliers, stained glass, the original stamped tin ceiling and a beautifully mantled oak fire place. And what Buffalo Bar could be complete without a trophy head of the last bison hunted by Teddy Roosevelt in the Dakota "Badlands." I personally have never eaten here but I here it is excellent and will make a point to visit this establishment. That said the Buffalo you see in the picture are raised on the owners Buffalo farm a few miles north of this restaurant. I have heard and read conflicting reports about whether the Bison at the farm are indeed used for food at the restaurant. Some reports indicated that the Buffalo's at the farm are for breding purposes only while other articles I read claim that the Buffalo are raised for food at the Restaurant. Here is the link for Tweeds and as you can see this place has quite the history. http://www.tweedsrestaurant.com/index.html

Nikon D90 2009/04/18 17:50:40

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 240mm

Exposure Mode: Manual

Metering Mode: Spot

1/400 sec - F/5.6

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 54 "Closed"

This my friends is the infamous Shoreham/Wading River Nuclear Power Plant. The plant itself is located in Shoreham on the edge of the Wading River which you can see in the foreground. It never opened but fuel was loaded for low power testing. The building of this monstrosity was a never ending effort with cost overruns and delays. This is where I live and all the locals voted against this plant but the politicians and Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO) new better. The opposition grew real stiff after the Three Mile Island incident and Chernobyl disaster. Finally because NY Governor Mario Cuomo would not sign off on an Emergency Evacuation Plan the new plant could not get the AOK from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In the end it cost us tax payers over 6 Billion Dollars which we local tax payers are still paying. Here's a good link for the history of this beloved place.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoreham_Nuclear_Power_Plant The setting sun was off to my right as you can see from the magic colors.

Nikon D90 2009/04/16 18:47:12

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 18mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/25 sec - F/16

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 400

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 360 "Who Put That There?"

This is a crazy fun shot. I went looking for a specific image and it did not work out. So I took a little ride and went down to the docks to see what I could find. There was not a boat in the Patchogue town Marina and it was around 7PM and I could tell with the dark grey clouds no sunset was in the coming. So I made a U-turn and on my way out I spotted this owl on the vertical pole. While I was in the car I thought it was real. So I silently and quickly got my camera and put the tele-zoom on and stepped out of the car. It was then I realized that it was a carving. Pretty neat, I've been here many times and never saw it before. These VR lens are great, look at the exposure 1/25Th sec @ 170mm with the ISO cranked up to 640. Hand held.

Nikon D90 2009/04/13 19:10:25

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 170mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/25 sec - F/11

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 640

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A

Theme # 56 "Clouds"

Today was a beautiful spring day with high winds and lots of big puffy clouds. I was up on Bald Hill taking the pictures of the Vietnam War Memorial ( posted below) and figured I would use this one for the theme title. When I took one of the picture of the Memorial I was facing directly into the sun. So I made a left turn (90degrees) put my polarizer filter on and took one shot. The filter really added to the depth of the clouds and color of the sky. I rotated my filter for maximum effect and then just backed off a bit. I find that this gives a more even effect all over the image.

Nikon D90 2009/04/07 12:36:49

RAW (12-bit)

Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G

Focal Length: 40mm

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority

Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern

1/80 sec - F/22

Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

Sensitivity: ISO 200

White Balance: Auto

AF Mode: AF-A