Cabinetmaker

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140424_Cabnetmaker by Karl Graf. Canon 5D MkIII, EF24-70mm f/2.8L @ 43mm, f/8.0, 1/40 sec, ISO 6400 (handheld)

Furniture making in the 17th century was limited by daylight.  Each key workbench was located near a window to make use of the available light.  Work could only be done when adequate light was available.  This image is taken in the Cabinetmakers Shop in Colonial Williamsburg.  It is my favorite place to spend time when I visit.  When I go, Karen and my guests usually go somewhere else and meet me after awhile.  This year it was a special stimulus for me as I move from wood machining with power tools to wood working with hand tools.  I learn something new each time I visit.

 

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Jamestown Bells

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140423_Jamestown Bells by Karl Graf. Canon 5D MkIII, EF24-70mm f/2.8L @ 70mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, ISO 3200

Karen and I spent the last day of 2013 exploring the Jamestown museum and settlement reconstruction.  It was a wonderful day of exploring and learning about our history.  Karen and I visited Jamestown back in the mid 80’s when we were living in Fairfax, VA.  Back then there was really just the beginning of the excavation of the site.  So much has changed.  All Americans should visit this museum and settlement site to get an appreciation of the Jamestown Settlement.  It was a day to remember and reflect on.

This image is taken from the inside of the Jamestown Settlement Church.  My objective was to create symmetry and balance between the diagonal, vertical and horizontal elements.

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A Feather in the Milky Way

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140422_Feather in the Milky Way by Karl Graf. Canon 5D MkIII, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS @ 195mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec, ISO 800

I was walking along a Hilton Head Island beach one evening when I looked up and saw this white feather floating above me against the stars of the Milky Way.  I quickly threw up my camera and snapped away.  It was an amazing sight!

Now getting back to reality, I saw this white feather laying on the sand.  Not too much contrast, but I thought it still might make a good image.  A little work in NIK Silver Efex Pro did the trick.

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Wheel

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140421_Bend_Wheel by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, Tamron 18-270mm @ 42mm, f/11, 1/125 sec, ISO 400

This sculpture is located in the Old Mill District of Bend Oregon.  Karen and I spend several hours just walking around and enjoying the day.  I took the opportunity to focus on different shapes of structures around the area.

 

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Easter is a Special Time for the Little Ones

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140420_Kris Easter by Karl G. Graf.

Easter is a special time, especially for the little ones.  It is a time to be thankful.  It is a time to reflect on the gifts and the sacrifice that our Lord has given us.  It is a time to look back on all the wonderful memories that we have had throughout our lives with our families, friends, and loved ones.  It is a time to appreciate all the excitement and smiles that the little ones give us.

HAPPY EASTER!

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Orcas

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140420_Orcas by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, EF70-200mm f2.8L IS with 2X extender @ 225mm, f/10, 1/500 sec, ISO 400

This is what we came to see on San Juan Island last summer.  These beautiful creatures came right in front of us.  My 70-200mm lens with at 2X extender was actually too much for many of the images as the Orcas swam directly in front of us.  There were many images were I could not capture the whales within the frame.  Lesson learned:  Be prepared and have two cameras with different lenses available.

140420_Single Orca by Karl G. Graf.

This guy was only about 50 feet from where were standing on rocks overlooking a kelp bed.  Being so close, I could hardly keep still to take the images.  It was absolutely amazing!!!!

 

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Early Summer Morning on San Juan Island

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140419_SanJuan_SE Shore by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, EF-S10-22mm @ 10mm, f/22, 1/10 sec, ISO 200

Some time when it is cold and dreary, I enjoy looking back through my past images to a more enjoyable time.  We had some wonderful early summer weather on our whale-watching trip last summer.  This image was taken on the SE end of San Juan Island in Puget Sound.  How we miss the beautiful Northwest!

 

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Morning Peace

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140418_SanJuan by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS @ 78mm, f/16, 1/25 sec, ISO 400

Looking back at images from last summer, I recall taking this photo with a thought of peacefulness.  We were on San Juan Island near the Limekiln Lighthouse waiting for Orca’s to come by.  While waiting, I looked up at the hillside above me and saw this scraggly pine and white daisies.  It was quiet and peaceful.  All I wanted to do was sit and enjoy the moment.

In processing this image, I added a little contrast and graduated fog to enhance the peaceful feeling I had.  It was a beautiful day and moment.

 

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Remains From Prior Year

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140408_Spent Cone Flower by © 2013 Karl Graf. Fuji X-T1, XF55-200mm @ 58mm, f/5.0, 1/55 sec, ISO 400 (hand-held)

As new growth emerges from the ground, the flora from the previous year stand above protecting it.  It is a natural progression.  But now is the time when all “good gardeners” remove the old in preparation for the new.  My preference is to let the old and new coexist in a natural environment.  But in our garden, I don’t vote.  I just need to spend more time in the natural areas close to home.

This spent cone flower caught my eye.  I minimized the DOF to keep the focus on the flower head and blur out the ground.  I converted to B&W to further keep the interest on the spent flower.

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