Fall colors at Lake Mingo

I wasn't sure I would be up to a 7 mile hike today, but I was determined to try.  To make it more difficult, I was determined to carry my 200-500 lens.  I wanted to capture fall colors in smaller fields, rather than the wider angle shots from the 17-85 lens I've been using for my last couple of photo walks.  I also hoped I'd have some chances for some real long range closeups.  I only ended up actually using the high end of the zoom for a few shots.  Perhaps it would have made more sense to carry the much lighter 75-300 lens.  I got the big gun for bird photos and I wasn't expecting to have many opportunities to shoot birds in the middle of the day.  I did get full use of the high zoom for a few shots, and if I'd been able to zoom out to 75, I might not have been as disciplined about taking the smaller field pictures I wanted to concentrate on.  Most photographers don't think a 200mm lens (on a 1.6x digital body) is the right choice for fall colors; this is how I hope to get pictures that most photographers wouldn't take.

I made it all the way around the lake feeling pretty good, though my legs are a bit sore.


The Lake Mingo trail isn't actually that good for seeing the lake; in most places there are enough trees between the path and the lake that you can only partly see the lake.  But there are some places where it opens up and the colors on the other shore are visible.  This picture is representative of what the trees look like today.

( many more pix inside )

2009 EFRC calendars

It's that time of year again, the time of year when I try to get everyone to buy calendars to support the cats I volunteer with and love at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center.  This is a high quality 8.5x11 sized calendar, printed on heavy glossy stock with a spiral binding and containing lots of stunning photos by Stephen McCloud, EFRC's official photographer.  (Yes, I take a lot of photos of the cats too.  Yes, some of them are good.  No, none of them are in this year's calendar.  This is because Stephen is well organized and has his images ready when it's time to make the calendar; I'm not and I don't.  Please don't feel slighted on my behalf.)  The calendar is very reasonably priced at $15, and all the money goes to support the cats.

You can order one of these calendars by mail from the web site.  On the plus side, you can use PayPal.  On the minus side, you have to pay for shipping, and Jean has to actually mail you a calendar.  As a public service, if you're going to be in the same place as I am sometime between now and when you want your 2009 calendar, you can get one from me.  This includes OVFF, Windycon, Chambanacon.  I will have a bunch of calendars with me, and you can probably just get one, but it's always possible I could run out, so if you want to be sure you get one, or if you think our paths will cross somewhere other than the cons I mentioned and you want to be sure I bring calendars to that, please reply here.

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