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You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / On the Road and In Your Backyard

On the Road and In Your Backyard

by Alain Chamot (1971-2020)|  December 27, 20175:00 am| 48 Comments

This post is in: On The Road, Open Threads, Readership Capture

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On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.

From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.

Submit Your Photos

Good Morning All,

There are issues with the form; I’ll work on them next week, but I’ve got more consuming and time-sensitive things owning me.

I apparently did something wrong and so my post for Tuesday…didn’t. I blame considerable amounts of cats, food, family, and only part of the Doctor Who Christmas Special. I could have had lots to drink, but a small rum and coke when finally home sufficed – the day was draining enough.

I haven’t written about my mom much yet because I had some family issues to work out first. I’m pleased to say that this process has begun and so hope to share about this amazing, neat woman next week.

Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the pictures!

 

 

I hit issues trying to post Bill’s amazing pics and so, rather than fight, found another submission. My apologies to you, and most importantly, to him. The first picture is a show-stopper, a panorama.  I have another panorama or two, so if I can, I’ll get them set up for next week.

Once we get into the new year, I’ll get the site/this stuff back to normal, then improve it. To explain, because normally I’d be getting this all solved ASAP – now that I’m not as destroyed by my loss emotionally, I’ve got lots of important executor and heir duties, not the least of which is taking care of the family home I grew up in and her two loving cats.

I’ve also had to deal with lots of financial stuff to beat end of the year deadlines. And these new tax laws mean that prepaying sudden-for-me property taxes is smart, as are any other big-tax items I want to write off more easily. So there’s an insane amount of stuff going on until I hit Friday, 5 pm/last pickup, and then it’s a few days of rest and celebration of a new year and an untold future.

Thanks to everyone who’s written such nice things publicly and privately. If I haven’t responded yet, keep your eyes open. I’m finally beginning to reconnect and reply to good wishes, mail, and email. Y’all are good folks.

Ok – picture – ho!

Here’s a dreamy picture from valued commenter Gin & Tonic.

Where: The Wimbachklamm, near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria.
When: August of this year.
Notes: Shot handheld at 1/2 second, late afternoon or early evening.

 

Wow! I love slow exposures but have rarely done well, and never in color/daytime. Thanks!

 

One again, to submit pictures: the form is broken so Send an Email

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Previous Post: « Wednesday Morning Open Thread: The Stories We Tell Each Other
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Reader Interactions

48Comments

  1. 1.

    eclare

    December 27, 2017 at 5:13 am

    That is dreamy, and looks steep! Good luck dealing with everything on your plate. Worry about that, not us, we’ll still be here.

  2. 2.

    Schlemazel

    December 27, 2017 at 5:21 am

    Actually this group has an infinite ability for self amuse and, while we missed the photos, it didn’t stop us from entertaining ourselves. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

  3. 3.

    p.a.

    December 27, 2017 at 5:40 am

    Heh! If I try 1/2 sec handheld it would resemble a Jackson Pollock- but not an the positive sense.

  4. 4.

    Sab

    December 27, 2017 at 5:57 am

    To Alain: When you describe your mother as “neat” I just wanted to cry, in a good way. I lost my mother almost six years ago. She was in her eighties and had a long and good life, but everyone misses her.

    “Neat” was her ultimate compliment, and one we all apply to her. It didn’t mean “tidy”. It meant interesting, curious, kind, creative, dependable, friendly, etc all rolled up into one package. I always thought this was a uniquely Midwestern hick term. Glad to see it used in DC.

  5. 5.

    Mary G

    December 27, 2017 at 6:00 am

    My hands are so shaky I only dream of taking a picture like that – so beautiful and peaceful. Thanks G&T.

    Alain, take your time and do what you need to. We’re always here. Sending you light.

  6. 6.

    Sloane Ranger

    December 27, 2017 at 6:26 am

    Only part of the Doctor Who Christmas Special? Is there a story there? Technical breakdown, unexpected guests, deliberate choice? Have you managed to finish it yet? If So what did you think? Best in years IMHO!

  7. 7.

    Alain the site fixer

    December 27, 2017 at 6:30 am

    @Sloane Ranger: fatigue set in. And I hope to complete it tomorrow when I’m back home. So far, so good. I love the retro aspect and love any and all episodes with more than one Doctor.

  8. 8.

    raven

    December 27, 2017 at 6:36 am

    FAA Radar Site on Apple Orchard Mountain, Blue Ridge Parkway, Christmas Morning.

  9. 9.

    opiejeanne

    December 27, 2017 at 6:42 am

    @p.a.: Yes, me too, even though the camera has a lens with an anti-shake switch (can’t think what it’s called, I blame the cold medicine) but I’m becoming a wobbly old lady.

  10. 10.

    eclare

    December 27, 2017 at 6:46 am

    @raven: Very pretty

  11. 11.

    Alain the site fixer

    December 27, 2017 at 6:50 am

    @raven: nice!

  12. 12.

    raven

    December 27, 2017 at 6:53 am

    Overlooking the Great Valley

  13. 13.

    eclare

    December 27, 2017 at 7:04 am

    @raven: Where is that? Love the cloud shadows.

  14. 14.

    debbie

    December 27, 2017 at 7:08 am

    That is a very beautiful photo. I especially love the lines of the composition.

  15. 15.

    debbie

    December 27, 2017 at 7:09 am

    @raven:

    As much as I hate the cold and snow and ice, they do do very beautiful things to trees and the landscape.

  16. 16.

    Raven

    December 27, 2017 at 7:14 am

    @eclare: It’s on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Roanoke and Lynchburg.

  17. 17.

    J R in WV

    December 27, 2017 at 7:15 am

    The page is formatted all screwey for me, but the G&T photo is there, and great. I think we saw that once before, and were all just a wowed by the timing then as we all are now.

    This is my birthday, and when I got up for a short break just now and touched the thermostat, there was a little sparky and all the nice numbers (67) went away. Two new AA batteries appear to have fixed that, so Happy, Happy I didn’t have to build a fire at 6 am !!!!!! New numbers at 68, happy .

    Raven, really nice ridge top in winter shot, and then the Valley, I guess to the East of the Blue Ridge. Nice stuff, guys! Thanks. Enjoy the football game(s) !!

    Since I went to bed after 1, after reading for a hour or two, I’m gonna back to bed.

    But Good Morning, rickyrah !! {{all}}

  18. 18.

    eclare

    December 27, 2017 at 7:18 am

    @Raven: Wow, stunning

  19. 19.

    rikyrah

    December 27, 2017 at 7:19 am

    That was beautiful ?

  20. 20.

    eclare

    December 27, 2017 at 7:19 am

    @J R in WV: Happy Birthday!

  21. 21.

    Raven

    December 27, 2017 at 7:22 am

    @J R in WV: Happy Birthday yo!

  22. 22.

    Sloane Ranger

    December 27, 2017 at 7:29 am

    @Alain the site fixer: Agreed. Let me know what you think after you’ve seen it all.

  23. 23.

    opiejeanne

    December 27, 2017 at 7:32 am

    @J R in WV: Happy birthday!

  24. 24.

    opiejeanne

    December 27, 2017 at 7:33 am

    @raven: That’s pretty.

  25. 25.

    opiejeanne

    December 27, 2017 at 7:33 am

    @rikyrah: Good morning to you too, and thanks.

  26. 26.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    December 27, 2017 at 7:34 am

    Alain, be well, and remember to rest.
    Gin & Tonic’s photo is quite stunning in all regards. Wow.
    @raven: That’s gorgeous; thanks for sharing it.
    @J R in WV: Happy Birthday!

  27. 27.

    arrieve

    December 27, 2017 at 7:45 am

    @p.a.: Me too. And I’m too lazy to carry a tripod. I’ve been known to rest the camera on rocks, balled up sweatshirts, garbage cans, etc. I never get results like this dreamy shot.

    Alain, do what you need to do. We’ll all be here.

  28. 28.

    Alain the site fixer

    December 27, 2017 at 7:58 am

    @J R in WV: happy birthday, my friend. May it be just what you need!

  29. 29.

    Quinerly

    December 27, 2017 at 8:14 am

    @J R in WV:
    Happy birthday! Have a great day.

  30. 30.

    Jeffro

    December 27, 2017 at 8:16 am

    No pic…too busy trying to get through security and boarding at Dulles (site of DIE HARD 2 btw)

    Mrs Fro: I TOLD YOU WE NEEDED MORE TIME!
    Me: “ um, yup, you were right”
    Mrs Fro: (nearly has a heart attack) “…what…what did you just say?”

    Off to Park City! ✈️
    Hopefully I’ll be up for at least a little skiing ⛷
    (Take THAT, pneumonia!)

  31. 31.

    Amir Khalid

    December 27, 2017 at 8:23 am

    @opiejeanne:
    “Image stabiliser”?

  32. 32.

    opiejeanne

    December 27, 2017 at 8:39 am

    @Amir Khalid: Something like that. Because I am not so stable these days.

  33. 33.

    Amir Khalid

    December 27, 2017 at 8:56 am

    @J R in WV:
    Happy birthday.

  34. 34.

    Miss Bianca

    December 27, 2017 at 9:32 am

    @J R in WV:happy birthday, J R!

    @raven: amazing how much that looks like CO to me at this time of year!

  35. 35.

    Benjamin Mays

    December 27, 2017 at 9:35 am

    @raven: We were geographically close on Sunday morning. We spent the night at the lovely Hotel Roanoke.

  36. 36.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    December 27, 2017 at 9:41 am

    @J R in WV: Happy b-day.

    @raven: Saw the weather on the local news, the European model is predicting rain for New Years here, the American model is predicting dry conditions; USA, USA.

    Nice pic from G and T, I went there when I was 19, but my pics from there suck.

  37. 37.

    Sloane Ranger

    December 27, 2017 at 9:49 am

    @J R in WV: Happy birthday. Have a great day!

  38. 38.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 27, 2017 at 9:56 am

    Huh, didn’t realize that would post today. Thanks, Alain.

    I sent that pic in a while ago. Yes, I may have posted it before, but I think that was in a late-night thread, when people weren’t necessarily expecting photos the way they are in this morning thread. I’ve always had a thing for the long exposures of moving water, but this trip wasn’t primarily for photo purposes, so I didn’t have the tripod with me, and only one lens and had to make do. I braced myself pretty solidly against the side of the trail and hoped for the best. The lens does have VR; it was a Nikkor 18-300.

    The trail up there is steep, but well-maintained and mostly boardwalk/stairs. You have to pay to go up, don’t recall how much, maybe 1 Euro per person.

  39. 39.

    Another Scott

    December 27, 2017 at 10:18 am

    @Gin & Tonic: I remember your posting a link for that shot before, but it’s much nicer when one doesn’t have to click on a link. ;-)

    I looked for it, but my google-fu is failing me this morning. I did find this comment with a link to a shot in Jasper. Excellent, also too!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  40. 40.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    December 27, 2017 at 10:35 am

    @Gin & Tonic: My camera has a special mode for waterfalls, but a tripod is still quite helpful.

  41. 41.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 27, 2017 at 10:38 am

    @Another Scott: Here’s another. This is from somewhere in the northern portion of Olympic National Park, near Port Angeles. I used a tripod for this one.

  42. 42.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    December 27, 2017 at 10:41 am

    @Another Scott: Scott, in that comment you were talking about a Graduated ND filter and G&T was talking about a non-graduated ND filter. G&T is right about using a ND filter to “make folk disappear”, you can also take several shots and use photoshop(or similar program) to combine them to make folk disappear. With programs like Lightroom and Photoshop and shooting RAW the need for graduated ND filters is really eliminated, you can reduce highlights in the sky in post(and do a much better job at it).

  43. 43.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 27, 2017 at 10:41 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Oh, of course a tripod is helpful. I just didn’t have one with me in Germany this summer.

  44. 44.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    December 27, 2017 at 10:50 am

    @Gin & Tonic: Know the feeling, I had that problem last Saturday @ The Huntington.

    ETA: One problem you do have, even with a tripod, is if you have a breeze on the long exposure. It really helps(and you need a tripod for this) is to take additional shots at a regular exposure to eliminate movement in foliage and combine in post.

  45. 45.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 27, 2017 at 11:25 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: At the opposite end of the spectrum, this was shot at 1/6400.

  46. 46.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    December 27, 2017 at 11:37 am

    @Gin & Tonic: Looks like a pretty wide aperture too. Nice shot.

  47. 47.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 27, 2017 at 11:39 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Yeah, f2.5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

  48. 48.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    December 27, 2017 at 11:56 am

    @Gin & Tonic: Reminded me of this pic @ Sepulveda Dam, though your’s caught the wing action. I was trying close-ups with my fisheye.

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