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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Cohoes mastodon


We went to the New York State Museum in Albany on Monday; haven't been in a while.  This is the Cohoes mastodon.  It's named for the city of Cohoes, where it was discovered in 1866.  Very few large animal fossils are found in this area, so the mastodon is quite a local treasure.  It turns out that mastodons are not related to mammoths at all.  This fellow was a juvenile, was apparently in poor health and died about 11,000 years ago.

F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length20.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 40.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/20
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO800
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Strawberries


I always look forward to this day - the day the first strawberries are ripe.  The little one does, too!  This plant is in the side yard.  During the winter, it's usually covered in big piles of snow but that doesn't seem to deter it.  Nature is amazing.

F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/500
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO100
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Fire!


We had another local fire yesterday.  It was right next to the warehouse that burnt down almost exactly a year ago.  It is an abandoned house and it seems that no one was hurt - fire fighters included.  I saw fire trucks from Schenectady, Rotterdam and Niskayuna.  The house seems a total loss to these unprofessional eyes - we'll know more in a few days.  Lots of smoke covered the neighbourhood for a few hours.  Since the house was vacant and electricity was cut off, the fire chief has called it 'suspicious'.  Not really a surprise.

F Number10.0
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/640
Exposure ProgramProgram AE
ISO160
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day


Today is Memorial Day in the US.  It used to be called Decoration Day' a day set aside to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead of both sides.  Even today, the graves at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated on this day with small flags.  This tradition has fallen by the wayside for the most part.  The day is more noted as the beginning of summer than anything else.  In one way, that's OK - those who died in the wars died to keep our way of life intact; what's more American than enjoying time outdoors with friends and family?

These roses are in our side yard, and like everything else growing, went from mere buds to full blossoms overnight.

F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/80
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO100
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Friday, May 25, 2012

Skywatch Friday


We were outside enjoying the nice weather; my oldest was grilling up dinner, the sun was going down and the sky was filled with... contrails?  Apparently it was a harmonic convergence of airplanes.  These contrails all point east-west.  Ish.  The plane in progress is moving east.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.
 

F Number6.3
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length21.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 42.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/160
Exposure ProgramProgram AE
ISO200
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Spot escapes!


This is my buddy Spot.  Every spring, he gets a serious itch to get outside, to the point where one can hardly get through the door without him trying to dash through.  Well, he beat me this morning and out like a shot ran Spot.  He doesn't get out all that much, and he stopped at the grass (which has got desperately tall in just a few days) and just... stopped.  Sat in the sunshine and munched some tall grass like a feline Huck Finn.  When he was satisfied he came right to me and we went back in, safe and sound.

F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/125
Exposure ProgramProgram AE
ISO100
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Butterfly rescue


We have a Mother's Day tradition of visiting our local greenhouse and buying flowers (and some herbs and veggies) for the garden.  The little one saw these butterflies inside the greenhouses and it bothered him that they were fluttering at the walls and couldn't seem to find their way out.

So he started capturing them.  And carrying them outside so they could fly away.  I didn't plant the idea in his head - it was all him.  Of course, I helped him get the higher up ones, but he must have rescued at least 20 of these.  All the same species - a species I of course don't know, sigh.  The older I get the more I don't know!


F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/250
Exposure ProgramProgram AE
ISO200
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Friday, May 18, 2012

Skywatch Friday


Our annual visit to Pigliavento Greenhouses for Mother's Day.  Local plants, raised by a local farmer, destined for local gardens!

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.
 


F Number8.0
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/1600
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO200
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Police bikes


The local police departments had a show and tell day at Rotterdam Square Mall.  We went for the Child ID program, and near their table were these motorcycles belonging to the Schenectady Police Department.  I knew we had Harleys, but the dirt bike was new to me.  I wonder how often that gets taken out?

F Number6.3
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/250
Exposure ProgramProgram AE
ISO1600
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Monday, May 14, 2012

Vinca vine


Several years ago, we bought some of this vine (Vinca major) as a decorative touch for the flower boxes at the front steps.  Being a vine, it climbed down the side of the steps and rooted itself into the dirt next to them.  I thought for sure the winter would kill it; snow and ice accumulate exactly in that spot.  Well, the next spring, the vine came back: not in the flower pot, but down below!  This winter we had very little snow, and thus very little insulation on the ground.  I feared the worst for this vine, but to my happy surprise, it not only survived: it flowered!  I had no idea this thing could flower, and here it is, a beautiful purple.

As usual, kudos to my better half who identified it straight away.  I, as usual, hadn't a clue what it's called.


F Number8.0
Lens ID-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/320
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO160
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Friday, May 11, 2012

Skywatch Friday


A couple of rainy days and then... this! 

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.
 


F Number8.0
Lens ID-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/1600
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO400
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Two kinds of blue


Well, blue may be a misnomer, but it makes for a funnier title.  Violets and... I'm not sure what.  It just grows here, unbidden.  I guess that makes it a weed, but I'm not pulling it up.  I think those tiny flowers are beautiful.  Oddly enough, we didn't plant the violets either, so I guess that makes them a weed, too!

F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/125
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO100
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Monday, May 7, 2012

Tara Kitchen


Tara Kitchen has recently opened downtown on Liberty Street.  We've become friends with the owners Aneesa and Muntassim (I hope I spelt that right - I've only ever heard them spoken!) through their presence at the Greenmarket.  Lovely people, wonderful food.  They're not at the Greenmarket during the summer; they have lunch hours at their own place now.  Of course I couldn't resist.  I had a lamb merguez that was bubbling hot and lovely.  The lamb was perfect and I think I'll be having that again.  This photo was taken as I sat at the long counter in the front of the restaurant.  I couldn't resist the beautiful shapes, colours and reflections.

If you're in the Schenectady area, drop in and sample this marvelous cuisine!  I have no financial interest in the restaurant; I'm just enthusiastic about a new small business opening in the city.

F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/25
Exposure ProgramManual
ISO800
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Pileated woodpecker


Walking out of work today I heard a very cool bird, and saw this pileated woodpecker digging bugs out of the ground.  I got a few photos of him, but having forgot to set the ISO high enough for the late afternoon light, they are quite blurry.  As he flew across the parking lot to more distant trees, I followed him.  It's still blurry, but I like how it turned out anyway!  This image is cropped from the larger one.  I really need a fast prime lens for this camera...

F Number5.6
Lens IDLUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time1/25
Exposure ProgramProgram AE
ISO100
Exposure Compensation0
FlashOff, Did not fire
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