364: Misty morning

I was up and out early this morning, taking another barefoot walk through the dewy grass.  Although it is still technically summer, the autumn mists seem to have settled in as our morning greeter.

Just after sunset last night.

I took a series of really awful shots this morning.  I would have posted them as examples of what not to do, but I’ve become very efficient at deleting.  With all the photos I’ve been taking due to my outdoor commitment, I’ve had to learn to be ruthless to keep from overloading my computer.  I don’t have to do that quite so much with the new computer.  Yet.  Best to get on with it right away rather than have to go back and thin the herd.

Detroit at night. From the 57th floor of the Marriott.

The reason for this morning’s series of bad photos is related to last night’s just-after-sunset capture.  I have not explored night photography very much.  Partly because I don’t think my camera can handle it well.  Mostly because I don’t have a clue as to what I’m doing.  Every now and then I give it a try, and something works (such as the shot taken from our hotel room of Detroit at night).  It is not the best nighttime cityscape I’ve ever seen, but it isn’t the worst.  I deleted a bunch of those.

A couple enjoying Sammy Figueroa & the Latin Jazz Explosion on the J.P. Morgan Chase stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival.

So last night I took my camera and tripod outside to see what the camera can do.  I tried all sorts of things, including long exposures.  Most of it was, to put it bluntly, crap.  I jacked up the ISO, and then forgot about it.  It was the forgetting about it that caused the series of awful photos early this morning.  Eventually I noticed the high number in the right hand corner of the viewfinder, lowered it, and continued on.

This morning's view of the pond.

I don’t think nighttime photography is my niche, so to speak.  It is fun playing around with it.  Early morning, though, is my favorite time of day for photography.

I did not see any praying mantises today.  Either they are blending in better than usual or they are hiding out deep in the meadows.  Yesterday I found a pair of them mating.  Or just about to mate.  Or just finished mating.  It’s hard to tell.

Whatever the case, I interrupted them and possibly saved the male from being devoured.  He dashed off quickly after the female let go.  I don’t believe she was very happy with me.

The dragonflies are scarce now.  The Queen Anne’s Lace is almost finished blooming.  Autumn is moving in.

There are still plenty of flowers in bloom.  The goldenrod, of course, and the asters are going like gangbusters.

Others have gone to seed.

The asparagus ferns are just beginning to turn yellow.

See what I mean about the misty mornings?  The light is incredible.

That’s about it from the Bogs for today.  Thanks so much for dropping by and joining me on my rambles.  🙂

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