POTD - The Shape Shifters

The Shape Shifters, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

I thought this tag was appropriate while I was down at the Graffiti Wall in Downtown St. Louis. The entire flood wall down there has been transformed into beautiful and incredibly detailed works of art. I'd really like to get some more shooting done down there. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Round And Proud

Round And Proud, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

This is the upstairs half of the main lobby/atrium of the Missouri Botanical Garden. The morning light makes the opaque white tiles glow very softly on the round roof. Of course this is looking towards the front of the lobby at our wonderful Dale Chihuly Chandelier. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Stages In View

Stages In View, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

I found this little orchid branch in the Climatron at MOBOT and was very interested. I found it interesting that this plant shows all stages of an orchids life. New buds, a full bloom, and a wilted flower. This purple was a tad challenging to keep under control with the bright morning light. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Dew Drop Orchids

Dew Drop Orchids, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

After the last time I went out to the Missouri Botanical Gardens, I realized I won't be able to go unless I get there right at opening any more. Getting into the Climatron and the Temperate House at MOBOT first thing in the morning is spectacular. It's a little cooler in both houses early in the am, it's not crowded so I could take my time, and the light was spectacular! The backlight I was able to get here really made these dew drop covered orchids something special. This was shot with my Olympus E-PL5 with the 45mm f/1.8 prime lens attached. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - St. Louis Graffiti Wall Panoramic

St. Louis Graffiti Wall Panoramic, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

Here is the very beginning of the St. Louis Graffiti Wall. I composes very nicely with the train bridge going over the river. This was four 5-shot HDR photos merged together to give us this. I'm thinking about maybe having this printed over three 11x14 canvas wraps, so any suggestions or comments are more than welcome. Enjoy!

POTD - Closed Minds Suffer

Closed Minds Suffer, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

Yesterday morning I was watching the news to see what it held for me on my day off. Rain, with a chance it may hold off until the afternoon. That was good enough for me. Since I had this nice little indiscreet camera now, it was much easier for me to decide to head downtown and shoot the Graffiti Wall. This is an old Flood Wall that is about half a mile south of our beautiful Gateway Arch here in St. Louis. It is one of very few legal Graffiti Walls in the country. Stretching over a mile, these walls have been covered time and time again with beautiful street art. From 1999-2001 they had Paint St. Louis where artists from around the country would come and paint.

I chose this photo and this processing for two reasons. It was perfect for the fact that I was out shooting something new for a change, which made me more open minded. With this shot, I tried something I wouldn't normally do in post processing to an hdr. I think, given the subject and the location, it works well in this instance.

Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Young And Strong

Young And Strong, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

Getting to go to the Orchid Show this year at MOBOT early on was a really good idea I think. I really noticed how healthy and strong all the flowers were, even these little guys who were still a bit smaller. Please let me know what you think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Hiding In Shadows

Hiding In Shadows, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

I was talking to my brother about this shot, and talking about the 17mm f/1.8 because he shoots Olympus too. I term I used just off the top of my head, "That thing is so sharp! Those photos give people paper cuts automatically!", and of course he laughed and shook his head at me as usual. This is a perfect example of how stellar this lens really can be. I manually focused here, which always gives better results with these primes. Even with the lower light in the shade here, but I was still able to get this one. If you all couldn't tell, I'm very happy with this lens and the E-PL5 in general. It will definitely keep my photographic appetite occupied until I can get my D600. :) Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Bathing In Light

Bathing In Light, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

This is definitely one of my favorites from the last day of shooting at MOBOT. I loved the light that was coming in the windows and bathing these little beauties. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - 2013 Orchid Show

2013 Orchid Show, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

This years Orchid Show at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis was good for two reasons this year. One, there was a very good variety of healthy and beautiful orchids at the show this year. And two, my new little Olympus E-PL5 with the 17mm f/1.8 attached proved to be unrelenting in their sharpness and color. There are a couple of these shots, including this one, that I can't wait to share. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Lambo Detail

Lambo Detail, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

No Car show, let alone the Saint Louis Auto Show would be complete without the usual couple of Lamborghini's. As many do, I love the lines and angles on these cars. I was actually quite surprised that with the lighting in the space, the oranges rendered quite well. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated! Enjoy!

POTD - 370 Eyez

370 Eyez, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

It was just recently St. Louis Auto Show time here and of course I couldn't resist going to check to it out and snap some photos. This is a more typical manufacturer show, but there were plenty of details and pretty cars to shoot. This was shot with my D90 with my 35mm f/1.8. It's the rich detail found in a Nissan 370Z headlight. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

POTD - Glass, Wood, And Hemp

Glass, Wood, And Hemp, a photo by DisHippy on Flickr.

This is one of the first shots that I'd taken with my new Olympus E-PL5. I was using the 45mm f/1.8 prime lens here to show off just how sharp these lenses are. These are several of my hemp necklaces that I've picked up over the years from different places, friends, and even making some myself. I took this in a single shot, which is this shot, and I took a 7 shot hdr bracket, that I think doesn't look near as good as this one does. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated! Enjoy!