Mommy through the Window

Canon 5D Mark III , 24 to 105mm lens @ 67mm, 1/10 second, f-5.6, iso 6,400.

Fiery Autumn

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
-- Albert Camus

Canon 5D Mark III with a 24-105mm lens at 105mm; f-5.6, 1/800, iso 800.
© 2012, Thomas Collins Photography. All rights reserved.

The Blacksmith

EXIF: Canon 5D , 28 to 70mm lens @ 70mm, 1/100 second, f-5.6, iso 200.

Paul Ryan, Candidate

Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan on a visit to his Alma Mater, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, on August 15, 2012

Canon 5D Mark III with a 100-300mm lens at 108mm; f-14, 1/640, iso 640. © 2012, Thomas Collins Photography. All rights reserved. Inquiries: tacollins@mac.com.

Hadley

Hadley on her first birthday.

Canon 5D Mark III with a 70 to 200mm lens @ 200mm; f4.0, 1/250, ISO 2000.

Mr. Rick Parker, President and CEO

Business portrait of Mr. Rick Parker, President and CEO of the Miami University Community Federal Credit Union.
Portrait taken on-location at the credit union offices.

Canon 5D MIII, 24 to 105mm lens @ 38mm, 1/125 second, f-11. Lit using two Photogenic studio strobes, two 580 EX II strobe units, and one silver reflector.

Mackinac Bridge at Sunset

The Mackinac Bridge spans the Straights of Mackinac between the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. The Straights of Mackinac separate Lake Michigan to the west and Lake Huron to the east.

The Mackinac Bridge was completed in 1957 after three years of construction. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, stretching 8,614 feet between anckorages. Today it ranks as the third longest suspension bridge.

This photo was taken from the northern tip of Michigan's lower peninsula at Mackinaw City. I used a Canon 5D Mark III secured to a tripod, with a 24 to 105 mm lens at 105mm. The exposure was shot at f11 for 25 seconds, with the iso set at 100.

Portrait of Yongming and Fengfeng

Wedding portrait of Yongming and Fengfeng, students from China studying at Miami University.

Canon 5D Mark III, 70 to 200mm @ 140mm, f3.2, 1/1000, iso 400

On-Location Portrait of Luke Benfield

I had the pleasure of doing an on-location portrait at the national headquarters of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. My subject was Mr. Luke Benfield, Director of Education for the fraternity.

EXIF:Canon 5D, 24 to 70mm lens @ 35mm, 1/125 second, f8, lit using three studio strobes and two, off-camera 580 EX II strobe units.

Friendly Media Exhibit Open Through May 4

My good friend and talented artist, Jim Brown, and I are having a gallery exhibit at The Oxford Community Arts Center. The exhibition is open through May 4th. We invite you to join us on Friday evening, April 13th, for a reception from 6 pm to 8 pm. Refreshments will be served.

The exhibit is titled FRIENDLY MEDIA. It features Jims’s watercolor and oil paintings, as well as my photography.

Jim’s paintings include landscapes, landmark buildings, wildlife and pets, portraits, Americana, and his favorite subject, Santa Claus.

My photography includes cityscapes (day and night), wildflowers, mountain landscapes, portraits of recording artists on stage, and a few abstract works.

I hope you can join us for the reception on Friday evening, April 13. If you can’t join us then, stop by the Oxford Community Arts Center any day through May 4th and enjoy the exhibit. The Oxford Community Art Center is located at 10 South College Avenue. Oh, and please share this link with your friends. All are welcome. Thank you.

Spring Treat

Canon 7D, 28-70mm @ 70mm, f4.0, 1/320, iso 640
Canon 7D, 60mm macro, f6.3, 1/1250, iso 800

The unusually warm weather in the middle part of the country has brought us early relief from winter's endless gray. I couldn't resist grabbing some of the beauty we've been blessed with this spring.

In Grandma's Arms

Canon 7D, 28 to 70 at 65mm, f5.0, 1/40, iso 640

Water Drop

Canon 7D, 60mm macro, f18, 1/200, iso 200, off-camera flash

A Winning Smile

Canon 7D, 28 to 70 @ 40mm, f2.8, 1/30, iso 3200

My good friend, Jim, gloating over his recent victory in our annual "Stirring the Hot Chocolate" competition. Jim won (for the second year in a row) with his prediction of the lowest winter temperature, combined with the date the low temperature occurred. Last year, Jim predicted the exact low temperature and the exact date of its occurrence. This year, he didn't do that well, but he still won. Congratulations, Jim!

Piano Bar

Canon 7D, 28 to 70 @ 28mm, f3.5, 1/10, iso 3200, hand held

Some great music over a great dinner at the Cincinnatian's Palace. In this photo I wanted to silhouette the piano and players and bring out the vivid colors and bright highlights of the bar. I had no tripod and no way to rest the camera on a solid surface, so I practiced my best technique for hand-holding it steady.

Celebrating Long Distance

Canon 7D, 28 to 70 @ 35mm, f3.5, 1/125, iso 1250

Sean celebrates his birthday with his family, including his brother and his 6-month old niece, 300 miles away.

Fire In the Sky

Canon 7D, 28 to 70 @ 70mm, f9.5, 1/125, iso 640

Waiting Out Winter

Canon 7D, 28 to 70 @ 70mm, f4, 1/90, iso 100

Leaves are Brown Now...

Canon 7D, 28 to 70 @ 70mm, f9.5, 1/125, iso 640

Hanging on to Daddy

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 35mm, f4, 1/30, ISO 1000

Moon Rising Over Navy Pier

Composite photo:
Navy Pier; Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 24mm, f18, 20 seconds, ISO 250, camera supported on a concrete retaining wall.
Moonrise; Canon 5D, 100 to 300 @ 300mm, f11, 1/400, ISO 800, camera on tripod.

It was not possible to get both the moon and the light trails from the headlights on Lakeshore Drive and the taillights on Wacker Ave. in the same exposure. The moon was so bright as to require a short exposure (in this case 1/400 second), while the light trails required a long exposure (20 seconds). So I photographed the moon separately and merged the two exposures in post processing.

Fingers and Toes

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 105mm, 1/13, f4.5, ISO 1600

Square Deal

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 105mm, 1/320, f14, ISO 500

I shot this through two sets of windows, one quite close, the other across the lobby of the building. I was outside looking through the close set of windows. Both sets of windows were square and they were adorned with small frosted squares. This made an interesting juxtaposition of squares within squares within squares.

You Can Sit Here in the Waiting Room, or You Can Wait Here in the Sitting Room

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 28mm, 1/13, f4, ISO 1250, hand-held

People Living in Glass Houses

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 67mm, 1/320, f14, ISO 500

Coming and Going

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 24mm, 1/60, f18, ISO 320

Bowl on the Dinning Room Table

Canon 5D, 70 to 200 @ 70mm, 1/13, f7.1, ISO 1000, underexposed one stop, on tripod

You Lookin' at Me?

Canon 5D, 70 to 200 @ 200mm, 1/200, f3.2, ISO 1000

Backyard Visitor

Canon 5D, 70 to 200 @ 200mm, 1/200, f10.0, ISO 1000

Ice on Pine Needles

Canon 7D, 60mm macro, 1/6, f9.5, ISO 640, under exposed 1/2 stop, on tripod

Winter on the Lake

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 24mm, 1/8, f20.0, ISO 100, hand held

Let the Chips Fall

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 100mm, 1/15, f5.6, ISO 500, hand held

Can't Get the Car Started

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 32mm, 1/50, f9.0, ISO 500

A Night Out

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 35mm, 1/2 second, f5.6, ISO 1000, camera supported

Let's Visit the Apple Store

Canon 5D, 24 to 105 @ 24mm, 1/5, f20.0, ISO 1000, carefully hand-held

Twiight through the Front Door Glass

Canon 5D, 100 to 300 @ 110mm, 1/400, f4.5, iso 1000, on tripod

First Snow

Canon 7D, 20 to 35 @ 35mm, 1/125 f4.5, iso 160

We finally got our first accumulating snow of the season yesterday. When the storm tapered off, there were some very beautiful sights, but I put off taking them because the wind was so fierce and the temperatures so frigid. I thought I'd save the winter wonderland for the morning. Instead I took these simple snow-covered stems and scampered back to the warmth inside. When I went out this morning to capture the winter storm drama, all the snow had been blown off the branches.

Lesson learned: A snowflake on the branch is worth two on the ground.

Reflection

Canon 5D, 70mm , f6.3 @ 1/8, over exposed one stop

Elevator Ride

Canon 5D, 28mm , f7.1, composite of three exposures, two @ 2.5 seconds and one @ 1.0 second, on tripod

For today's picture, I made a composite of three shots so I could show the movement of the elevator. The first shot was taken as the elevator traveled up, the second shot while it was stopped, and the third as it continued on upward after its stop. I used long exposures to blur the elevator lights as it traveled its path.

Moonlight through Clouds

Canon 5D, 70mm , f7.1, 13 seconds, on tripod

Steve and Ann's Surprise Party

Canon 7D, 24 to 105mm @ 32mm, f6.7, 1/30, with on-camera flash bounced off ceiling

Congratulations to Steve and Ann who celebrated their 30th anniversary (and some special milestone birthdays) at a surprise party put together by their incredible daughters.

Winter Grass in the Wind

Canon 7D, 200mm @ f5.6, 1/4000.

I first took these long grass strands using a 24 to 105mm zoom, but found that even at 105mm, the background was too much in focus and therefore distracting. So I switched to the 200mm lens and shot the grasses again with a much better bokeh effect.

Santa's Way Station

Canon 5D, 20mm @ f3.5, 1/20, on tripod

Our good friends (let's call them Mr. and Mrs. Santa) have been honoring the Christmas season for more than 30 years by decorating their home inside and out, and inviting the community to visit during an annual open house. Over the years, the display has become more elaborate, as they added new elements, ornaments and lights.

One item they have put out each year has been a special mailbox where neighborhood children can post their letters for Santa. Mrs. Santa responds to each child's letter with a handwritten, personal note. Our friends then save the childrens' original letters and, when possible, give them to their parents in later years.

Mr. Santa asked me to preserve their efforts with a photo of the outside light display. I took the photo from across the street, standing on the bed of Mr. Santa's pickup... er, sleigh. I used a low ISO to avoid digital noise, and slightly underexposed to preserve details in the highlights while allowing the dark night to go fully black.

Self Portrait

Canon 7D, 60mm macro lens @ f4, 1/4, on tripod