Not Winter Yet...But...

[kamera]

According to the calendar it is not yet winter, but Mother Nature does not seem to know this.

Just a few days ago we had some nice but varying weather and then...that 4 letter 'cuss' word...SNOW!

Well, I got my lazy(since retiring...per my wifey) self out of bed early the first snow we got and was out with my Spotmatic SP II, 55/1.8 and Fuji HG film. I downloaded to Photobucket three pictures...but then had to stop before making this thread on CCG because it was time for football kickoff.

For those of you who do not know, a big yearly rival is between the University of Michigan and Ohio State to the south of us. Now, this is such a big rival that(and this is no lie) the Ohio State coach will not even call our team by its name...it is strictly referred to by him as, "that team up north".

Well it is half-time and we are losing, but I will get these pics posted.

However, first...Ron Herron...fellow Michigander...where are you...I do not hear you cheering loud enough for our team. Now...the only excuse I will accept is that you are out taking pictures...no, no...don't try to convince me otherwise.

Anyway, back to the purpose at hand...I call these pics...
the last few stragglers...referring to the few leaves left on trees. Pics two and three were taken early enough in the morning that you can see the existing fog.

Heeere we goooo!!







The next day which had even more snow, I was out with my Mamiya 645E, 80mm lens and some Fuji Velvia 100. Have not finished off this roll yet and must get it developed at a regular, not mini, lab so will post from that roll later.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[sinedyar]

A few flakes here, but no snow yet. But winter has arrived here in Kansas City. We had mid teen temps the other day. But snow and winter can provide some wonderful photographic opportunities, although I hate winter and cold. :-)

Denis

[PeterW]

I think I like the second and third best, Ron. I like the burst of colour still there among the almost bare trees. Interesting how the early morning light and the slight remaining fog gave a completely different colour rendering of the pictures.

Peter

[Randy]

I like the reds in the leaves on the third shot. While I looked at these I thought I could see my breath in front of me!

[kamera]

Denis,

Fortunately we have not had any temps in the teens yet, even overnight. But I say that with whispered reservation as I know we will get them soon enough. Are you in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas. My wife has relatives in the former city.

Peter,

The fog and coloring is what makes the second two pics my favorites also. And you can really see that fog hanging there in the background. It is funny though, how one can move forth more into the fog and it does not seem to be right around you, but, again, off further from you. What prompted me to take the first shot was the exteme depth in which you could see the shadows of the trees against the snow.

Randy,

What...no 'smart' comment about Ohio State vs. Univ. of Michigan from someone living in the
Buckeye state?? Well, they did beat us again...the 4th. time out of the last 5 times. In the last quarter, Michigans defense gave the game to Ohio.

Yes, aren't those leaves brilliant against the snow, trees and fog. I was there at the right time.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[herron]

Ron:
The third one is nice, but I think I like that second shot best. I like how your eye kind of follows the fence line to the right toward those scrub trees, then follows the trees back left until things disappear into the mist.

I'd say more, but I'm still hurting from the Michigan-Ohio State game, not to mention my alma mater Michigan State and their miserable showing against Penn State. A pathetic football day...something we just are not used to around here!

[sinedyar]

Ron:

I grew up on the Kansas side, but have lived in Kansas City, Missouri since the age of 15. I live in the northern section of the city, north of the Missouri River.

Denis

[kamera]

Hi Gang,

Here are two more pics taken during our recent bout with snow, which now is totally gone.

These were taken with my Mamiya 645E, 80/2.8 lens on Kodak E100G film.

Both were slightly cropped in PS Elements 2. And the second was color desaturated to show up as B&W.





Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[John Parry]

These are all good. Hard to pick a favourite from the first three - 2nd & 3rd equal top I think. Of the last two, I like the colour explosion in the first. The second 'works' in the black & white. Was there much colour to de-saturate though?

Regards - John

[herron]

I really like that red caboose! What a great composition, and the color really pops against the snowy foreground and that soft grey background that the woods become.

Nice shot, Ron!

[kamera]

John,

The 'coloring', if you will in such a scene as depicted, was not much to desaturate but before doing so did have a odd cast to the picture. I really did not care for it, except for the snow on the trees as it is and the detail in the tree bark.

When I printed the pic, I had to do so in 'color' as the editing program I was using(Epson Film Factory) for quick convenience will not, for some reason, transfer an 'all black code' to my Epson printer. Epson confirmed this shortly after I bought the printer a few years ago and said to print in color but add just a +1 or +2 yellow.

Why did I switch editing programs? I at first was not even going to post the b&w tree shot after having desturated it in PSE2 and had closed down my entire digital lab. When I decided to go ahead and post it, I used the Epson program as it is the easiest to quickly do.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[kamera]

Ron,

Thanks...I really like the caboose shot also. And the snow on the fence rails and sliding down over the roof of the caboose adds a lot of character.

Being a fellow Michigander, this will probably interest you at least...

The caboose is at the beginning of what is called the Kalamazoo-South Haven Trail. This trail runs from the west side of Kalamazoo(about 4 miles from my house) 35 miles westward to South Haven. When it opened years ago, a live information person was present in the caboose but now it is unpersoned(note the nongender I used ladies as both men/women were the information person). The parks department does keep it nicely maintained and painted, as well as maintaining the trail.

The trail is for hiking and bicycling, and gets a lot of use. I do not know of anyone who has hiked the full 35 miles, but do know of people who have biked it and have someone meet them at the South Haven end. A friend of ours has biked it there and back; he is in rather good physical shape and the big 'double nickel' age.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI