Theme day - Looking out

Each month, the City Daily Photo Blog community choose a theme and many of us post our interpretation of that theme. CDPB December 2013 Theme Day Click the link for many photos from round the world!

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	9.0
Focal Length	42.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 84.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/125
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

CDPB Monthly theme day - Heights

Each month, the City Daily Photo Blog community choose a theme and many of us post our interpretation of that theme.  This month, the theme is Heights.  CDPB November 2013 Theme Day Click the link for many photos from round the world!

This month is an easy one for me, because I love climbing.  In June and September, I am part of a group of amateur radio operators who set up towers on Mt Greylock, MA as part of a weekend of radio contesting.  And I do a lot of climbing on those weekends!  I was planning on showing the view looking down from the top of 'my' tower, but when I was looking through my pictures I realised I took one with people in it.  I don't often do that, but these ladies knew I was snapping their photo, so I feel OK about it.  I'm about 40 feet up, near the top of the tower as I'm taking this photo.  The view is always spectacular, because I'm above almost all the trees and I can see forever in a full 360 degree arc.

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Advanced Scene Mode	Intelligent Auto (5)
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

All Hallows' Eve

It's a day when corporate America sells us gruesome masks, fake blood, violent movies and worst of all, candy.  I'm taking a moment to remember those who came before us. Even those who didn't live long enough to receive their name.

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Aperture-priority AE
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

A week later...

A week ago, this tree had green leaves mixed in with the orange.  Now they're just blazing orange, and the top has started to shed its leaves.  Taken as I drove by; the windshield needs to be cleaned!

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Aperture-priority AE
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Local peppers

I loved the colour of these peppers at the Greenmarket!

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/80
Exposure Program	Aperture-priority AE
ISO	160
Exposure Compensation	+0.33
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Praying mantis

The little guy raised some 500 mantids from egg cases in the spring.  Many went over to the garden, but he kept some for our yard.  We're still finding the adults even into late October.

Lens	Tamron SP 35-80mm f/3.8 MD
F Number	3.8
Focal Length	About 140.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/100
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Food?

These geese are hoping that the little guy has some food for them. Meanwhile, he;s hoping the geese will take grass from his hand. They're all disappointed!

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/400
Exposure Program	Aperture-priority AE
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Swan & State

This tree catches my eye every year.  I always tell myself that one year I'm going to do a photo a day and then time lapse the lot into a short video, but I never commit to it.  It's not the same every year, either.  This year it has green and red together; more typically it turns red, yellow and brown.

F Number	8.0
Focal Length	28.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 56.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/160
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Changes

The leaves are changing along with the season.  Just a little bit north of here the leaves are past their peak colour, but down in the valley there is still a lot of green.

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	7.1
Focal Length	31.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 62.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/125
Exposure Program	Aperture-priority AE
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Rose Garden

The Rose Garden at Central Park still has many gorgeous flowers.  It always amazes me that the volunteers manage to keep this beautiful place going for so many months of the year.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/100
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	160
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Central Park leaves

Took the youngest biking in Schenectady's Central Park.  While he was walking around the Duck Pond, I sat in a patch of sun among the leaves.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/500
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	160
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Sunset

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.

 

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/100
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Sunset (7)
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Foggy St John's

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	8.0
Focal Length	25.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 50.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/640
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	160
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Leaves on the windshield

It was raining when I went to work the other day, so I had to take the car rather than the motorcycle.  When I left work, the windshield had these beautiful leaves on it, so I took their photo from the inside of the car. 

Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/6
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Advanced Scene Mode	Off
Exposure Compensation	-0.66
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Lance, lounging

Cats love to lay about, apparently relaxing.  But secretly, they keep watch, waiting for a bug to fly past.  Or a leaf to blow up against the window.  Lance is really loving this little couch on the porch.  From here, he can see through the windows - there are birds on the wires, but he's not going to let them know he's watching.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/30
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Theme day - Details

On the first of the month, the City Daily Photo blogging community members choose a common theme that we then post our interpretation of.  This month, the theme was Details.  Click the link to see all the amazing interpretations of this month's theme!

As for me, like most of the theme days, this stretched my comfort zone.  I had literally no idea what to post until out cat Savannah decided to pose, and then all became clear.  Well, not exactly.  She's an indoor cat, a rescue, and she doesn't go outdoors (although she's been known to sneak out from time to time.)  That means taking her portrait indoors.

I haven't got a studio.  No umbrellas, no multiple flashes, no klieg lights.  I have regular fluorescent swirly lamps that screw into Edison sockets.  I could use the on-camera flash, but that tends to flatten the image.  So I started shooting.  Handheld, since Savannah's patience only lasts so long and then she wanders elsewhere.  And so, I made my own luck by managing an indoor shot that wasn't blurry from my hand shake.  Or the cat moving.  Or the autofocus finding a bizarre spot to make razor sharp.  I did shoot in in RAW and crop it in SilkyPix.  I kind of like how it turned out.  There's a lot of detail in her face!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/13
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Autumn rose

Our roses typically have a flourish of blooms in late spring, then settle down to greenery for the rest of the year.  Occasionally, something will spur the blooming of a flower or two later on.  It might be the cooler nighttime temperatures or the length of the day.  Or maybe the roses can hear the geese calling overhead, who knows?  Somehow though, these precious few autumnal roses seem so special.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/40
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Foggy sidewalk

Another foggy morning.  I can't resist these photos.

Lens	Tamron SP 35-80mm f2.8 MD
F Number	5.6
Focal Length	75.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Wildflowers

Wildflowers in the sun.  I couldn't resist the purple among the green.

F Number	7.1
Focal Length	38.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Peek-a-boo

Huckleberry caught can napping.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/5
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Lance is on the case

Took out my viola to play a bit of a duet with the youngest and Lance took the opportunity to make himself comfortable.  I've always lived with at least one cat who liked to sit or sleep in my viola case.  Lance is by far the largest cat do to do though.  Silly boy!

F Number	4.9
Focal Length	25.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/5
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Harvest moon

The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere.  The story is that farmers used to use this bright moonshine to help them gather the harvest.  Maybe.  All the farmers I know get up early, but it is quite bright; bright enough to cast a shadow and bright enough to walk on irregular fields without tripping every other step.

I took out the old Tamron zoom lens that I used to use on my 35mm Minolta film camera.  Mounted on a tripod, the combination of the Tamron and the Lumix G1 wasn't too bad.  I shot through the opened attic window, used Silkypix to develop the raw file into this jpeg.  I kind of like the abstract look.

Lens	Tamron Adaptall 2 80-210mm f/3.8
F Number	8
Focal Length	420.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Kid

This is Kid.  He's a horse at Winter Glen Farm, in nearby Guilderland.  The youngest has been taking riding lessons, and he really likes Kid.  Who wouldn't?

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Sunset over Bascom Lodge

In September, I go for 5 days to Mt Greylock, MA to participate in a ham radio contest.  When I get back I can hear faint Morse code in every fan and motor.  And it'll take me a few days to use my own call sign on the air after using the contest group's call so often.  It's a good time; familiar faces converge on the place from as far away as Virginia.

This September's contest was a little hard; we had solid rain during Thursday's setup.  It was solid fog with scattered showers on Friday, and Saturday was wet in the morning, clearing into the afternoon.  When, of course, we no longer need to be outside!

This is the sunset on Saturday, 14 Sep 2013.  The building is Bascom Lodge, built in the 1930s.

F Number	5.0
Focal Length	26.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/40
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	160
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Huckleberry

Huck enjoying a very nice late summer day.  I had to attract his attention because he'd rather be looking out the window...

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/160
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	160
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Theme day - Pink

Each month, the City Daily Photo Blog community choose a theme and many of us post our interpretation of that theme.  This month, the theme is Pink. 

Click the CDPB Theme Day link for many photos from round the world!

This hibiscus is growing in a neighbour's yard.  This particular blossom is at my eye level, about six feet off the ground, and that's not the top!  A beautiful plant with beautiful flowers.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Foggy morning

F Number	5.4
Focal Length	31.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/40
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	125
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

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 Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/160
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Vandalism

When I'm in the cemetery, I'm always conscious of the head stones, and don't walk on people's graves.  Then, there are those who deliberately vandalise the stones, knocking them over for fun.  There are cameras in Vale, and rewards for turning in vandals, but few seem to get caught.  This one in particular seemed poignant to me.

F Number	3.5
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/30
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	320
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Trinacria?

The ancient name of the island of Sicily is Trinacria, and the flag of Sicily has a trinacria on it.  My grandfather was born in Sicily, so there's a sort of family connexion there.  Interestingly, the flag of the Isle of Man also has a three legged symbol on it.

Maple seeds typically come in opposed pairs; you can see on in the background.  Very rarely, they form triplets but are not often found on the ground because they stick up and are easily broken.  I've never seen a four leafed clover, but I'm holding a three winged maple seed.

F Number	5.3
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	30.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 60.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/40
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	250
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Faded angel

This angel is in Vale Cemetery, on the Steinführer monument.  It's a white marble statue, and the sky was very light the day I took the photo.  I tried several exposure settings, but I sort of like how this one turned out.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/80
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Silhouetted skyline

Thought I'd try a silhouette and got a bonus with the sun setting.  The sumacs almost look tropical like 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 Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/125
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Fishing in Vale

One thing that's interesting: I've seen more people fishing down in Vale than there were before the construction.  There's a wide path down the south side of the east pond, and it makes it much nicer to set up.  You can cast without getting caught in the bushes and trees behind you.

I've seen carp, bass and sunfish in the pond.  The carp tend to school in the middle; the sunnies can be seen hovering over their nests in the shallows, and the bass hang out around the fallen trees.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/30
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Baby American Toad

Walking in Vale on the side of the pond and I heard scrabbling at my feet.  Faint, but distinct.  Looking down, I saw several of these baby American Toads hopping out of my way.  Who can resist picking up a baby?  Not me, and the little creature seemed quite happy (not hoppy!) as long as I wasn't enclosing it in my hand.  It perched here for a good 5 minutes before I placed it gently back on the forest floor.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 80.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/50
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	No Flash

Eiffel tower!

I don't know the story, but the next time I see the people here I'll ask: Why is there an Eiffel Tower on the porch?

F Number	6.3
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Cowhorn creek

I rarely tire of this view.  Down in Vale, the city seems so far away.  I know that the creek comes out of a culvert not more than 200 yards upstream from here, butI can't tell that from where I stand.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/50
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Flowers are back

There was a two week period of scorching heat, and the flowers were not happy about that.  THen we got some rain and just like that, they've recovered.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/100
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

6 feet

The flash makes Spot look... creepy.  But he's really a lover!
It's not easy to get photos of black coloured animals.

F Number	5.4
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	33.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 66.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/30
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	On, Fired

Happy birthday, Bahamas!

One minute before midnight, 9 July 1973, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time in Nassau.  At 12:01, July 10th, the Blue, gold and black flag of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas was raised for the first time.  Today is the 40th anniversary of Bahamian independence from Great Britain.  Why am I interested?  My mother was born in The Bahamas.

I don't usually  delve into politics here, but these politics are more historical than current.  Mom was born on a small island - a cay (pronounced KEE) named Elbow Cay.  Elbow Cay, like most of Abaco, was settled by American Loyalists fleeing the US South after the American Revolution.  Life in The Bahamas revolved around Nassau (on New Providence) since the British suppressed piracy in the late 1600s.  The other islands like Abaco, were lumped together under the rubric 'Out Islands', and many inhabitants felt they were given scant attention by the colonial government in Nassau.

As a whole, the population of The Bahamas is 85% Black, 12% White.  In greater Abaco, it's about 50/50 - primarily because of the descendants of the original Loyalist families.  When Home Rule came to The Bahamas, the Abaconians were't nearly as enthused with the idea as the rest of the Bahamian population.  The Loyalist heritage made Abaconians much more libertarian in their outlook as well as a fond , maybe even romantic, feeling toward Great Britain and suspicious of the central government in Nassau.  So Abaco officially requested to be exempted from independence.  Her Majesty's Government declined to entertain the idea, and Abaco became part of the independent Commonwealth of The Bahamas on July 10, 1973.

The idea of an independent Abaco continued for a few years though, partly fuelled by an American with romantic libertarian ideas and a lot of money.  In the end, the leaders of the Independent Abaco movement realised that they were Bahamian and were going to remain Bahamian, and began to work as part of the Bahamian government.

There will always be a natural tension between the Family Islands (renamed to show the government's intent to be more inclusive) and the large populations on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands (Nassau and Freeport, respectively).  How can one treat Nassau (population 350,000) and Hope Town (population 500) the same?  This is similar to the problem we have in New York, where NY City dwarfs the population and the economy here in upstate New York.  The good news is that The Bahamas have made it to 40 despite the differences between the various islands and cays.  The Bahamas has a big future ahead of them; I'm looking forward to celebrating the 50th in 2023!

Happy birthday, Bahamas!

F Number	5.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	26.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 52.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/100
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Rainbow

I am a sucker for rainbows!  This one was very late in the day, which is why it is so low on the... the horizon I guess I'll call it.  It's been rainy here.  Rain almost every day.  West of here, the Mohawk River is at or above flood stage and it's quite high here, but not flooding over her banks.  Had 3 separate thunderstorms move through, and this was after the second one.  The rain had moved east of here, as most weather does, and the sun was shining brightly while the trailing edge of the storm still put sprinkles on Albany and Troy.  I couldn't resist.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/2000
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	125
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Smoky

Smoky is a street cat; there are quite a few around.  We think we adopted a relative of his.  We don't have room for all of them though...  Smoky is very friendly.  He lets you pick him up, scatch behind his ears and he'll even sit in your lap until a bug or a leaf catches his eye.  Yesterday, he decided to sleep under our hydrangea, which is quite crowded with wild violets, alehoof, flatleaf primroses and a milkweed plant.  It's very shady under there and it was a warm day - over 90F (32C) again - so he was enjoying the shade as well as a position where he could watch the street.  Clever boy!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/100
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Kitty in the window

Huckleberry enjoying the morning sun.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	4.0
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1/400
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

Yesterday was the Fourth of July.  In the US, it is officially called Independence Day but I don't know anyone who actually says that.  The 4th has somehow become a day of outdoor grilling, picnics and at dusk... fireworks.  Fireworks are illegal in the state of New York, and theoretically, only specially licenced fireworks technicians are allowed to put on shows.  And there are a lot of shows in the area, the biggest one being at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

We didn't go there.  Lately, downtown Albany has been too much of a madhouse to go there so we've been going to East Greenbush, which overlooks the Plaza.

We didn't go there, either.  It was a long, hot day - over 90F (32C) and we were hot, tired and cranky.  The kiddo insisted on seeing fireworks though, and he and my better half headed off in the car.  The neighbourhood had been popping, sparking, booming and BLAMming for days, so it's no real surprise that they stopped just a few streets away to watch the locals doing their thing.  He was very happy, which made us happy too.

In the mean time, the people on the State Street end of our street were having a show of their own.  Remember, this is all quite illegal - imagine what would happen if one of these rockets landed on a roof and set the house afire.  Their show went on for about a half an hour, and there were literally people on all sides of me doing the same thing.

This is one of those shots.  I was using the Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4 wide open for photos before this one, but I didn't like how blobby the photos were turning out.  No matter where I put the shutter speed, between 1/4 and 1/10 of a second, the rocket's were just... blobs of colour.  Nice colour, but still blobs.  So I stopped the lens down to f/4 and used one second exposures and rather prefer the results.  Thought I'd share that in the hopes that I'll be able to look it up next time I want to know what worked :-)

Today is Friday, and that means it's Skywatch Friday.  Please click the link to see the skies from round the world.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	4.0
Focal Length	50.0 mm
Exposure Time	1
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Monthly Theme Day - Façades

On the first of the month, the City Daily Photo blogging community take a theme, interpret that theme and post the results.  Please visit the portal and see the amazing photographs based on the theme of Façades.

This is the front of City Hall, on Jay Street.  Technically, it's not a façade; it's just part of the front.  But this part is a historical marker of sorts, and is unique to Schenectady so I felt justified posting this.  It reads:

Schenectady
Founded in the wilderness beyond feudal control inherits the spirit of liberty and progress.
Here our forefathers established a college free from sectarianism.
They helped to develop the steam railroad and inland water transportation that carry through her gates the commerce of our nation.
In places of business in workshop and laboratory her citizens still labor to promote the advancement of civilization.

Lens	Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4
F Number	8
Focal Length	50 mm
Exposure Time	1/200
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Catalpa flowers

Catalpa trees seem like the last ones to get leaves, the last to get flowers and the first to lose their leaves.  The USDA has a write-up for those interested; I knew these as 'bean trees' when I was a boy.  It's late June, and the local catalpas are in bloom.  I was thinking of cropping this, but I sort of like the context.  On the left are sumacs (considered a pest in the city), in the middle are the catalpas and on the right are maple trees.  My guess is that only the maples were intentionally planted.  Something I learnt while researching this tree: catalpa is a mis-transcription of the original First Nation word catawba.

F Number	7.1
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Mulberries

When we moved into the house, there was a very large, very old maple tree in front.  It was close to the end and soon died.  The power company cut it down before the dead limbs could bring down the power lines.  There was a bare stump there for a few years, and then this tree began to grow.  It's a mulberry tree, probably growing from seeds left by a bird.

Well it's ten years on and that mulberry tree is tall and it has a lot of fruit on it!  Not only do the birds like it, but the neighbours (and their kids) do too!  It's not uncommon to see 4 or 5 kids and a grownup or two picking the berries off the tree.  They aren't overly sweet, but they're pretty nice when fully ripe.  The only thing that's missing are the silk worms!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 80.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/13
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire