Mt. Davis Make-up Post

Due to a frustrating combination of anxiety and acid reflux – I missed another trip.  This time I missed the one to Mt. Davis – Pennsylvania’s highest point.  I’m somewhat disappointed in missing another trip – although I’ve lived in PA my whole life, I haven’t traveled it much!  This is my post to make-up for the missed trip.  These images were taken as a second set of “urban nature” photos, though they don’t really seem like it.  They were all taken in Point State Park.  The images don’t really have much “urban” to them, except for their close proximity to downtown Pittsburgh.  The day was grey and rainy (as usual, If I need to take pictures, the sun usually flees!), but I think they came out alright.  We’ve been so fortunate with weather that spring seems to have sprung a tad early. There was a lot of green, and trees and plants with blossoms and buds on them.  There was even a lot of bee’s buzzing around!  These were shot the 3^rd of April, so I was surprised that there were so many bugs out – it seems too early! Hopefully they don’t freeze in the supposed snowstorm they keep predicting! I wasn’t really aiming for anything important when I shot these, as I was just tagging along with friends who needed these for other assignments.  I was just shooting what seemed to look good.  Hope you enjoy them!

Phipps

For the shooting on our own assignment, Evan and I decided to go somewhere that was nearby to the city while still being nature.  We were headed to Schenley Park but ended up at the Phipps Gardens.  The amount of flowers that were blooming there so early was impressive.  It was only the end of March and we had gotten a frost the night before, but luckily everything survived the night.  It may not have been the best time of day to go as the sun was way too bright.  It washed out a lot of my shots, but some came out alright. Of all the things we saw, I was most impressed by this bird we found who was nesting in a tree at eye level.  She was so determined not to leave her nest she let us get a little up-close and personal.  I really like shooting wildlife and I’m glad that I’ve been able to in with the bird and the frog I shot previously.  I’m still struggling with my theme though.  I like to focus on the smaller things, and views and angles that we don’t normally look at.  Hopefully I’ll be able to work this all out as soon as possible.

Randyland & Gardens on the Mexican War Streets

For digital photography this week, we traveled to the old Mexican War Streets on the North Side of Pittsburgh.  We visited a really interesting place called Randyland and some of the streets and gardens around  it.

  See more here. 

Edited. Rainflowers.

I had posted this for review for my exposure class, but that was before editing.  Here it is edited.  I like it.

ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/640