Did this shot while walking in the streets of Valleyfield P.Q.

The little creatures looked worried, thinking I was about to steal their garbages…

* you can click the image to see its bigger size

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/250
Aperture : f/3.3
ISO: 200
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail, Nik SilverEfex pro and “Output sharpener”

François Meehan

It was just before the snow, back in November.

Two nice dogs belonging to two Flickr members: Natur-elle! and ! titi !

The “beasts” were having fun, racing, sometimes Roméo, playing, was trying to bit Scarlette’s neck.

This picture was taken in Saint-Hélène Island in Montreal.

** Click picture to enlarge

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/500
Aperture : f/6.7
ISO: 400
Focal length : 300 mm (450 in DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3, Nik Silver Efex pro and Sharpener Pro

François Meehan

It gets on my nerves when she does that!

All is still, I take it’s picture, play with the light when without warnings, she shakes her body and I get swamp with wet snow…

Must dry out my equipment, clean the lense, etc…

No respect!

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/3000
Aperture : f/4.8
ISO: 200
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise and detail, Nik Color Efex pro

François Meehan

The morning departure for the geese is a ritual, as Robert explained the “protocol” to me.

They stand by group of 8-10 individuals. At a given moment, the leader stands tall on the water, flaps his wings and start to shout (liberal translation), “Are you ready, are you ready, are you ready…”, the others respond and the volume rises. There is a decibel level to reach; if not attained, the group calms itself, make a few minutes pause and start all over again until everyone agree on departure.

The take off itself is really impressive, the goose is like a “747″, it requires a lengthy runway.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/500
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 640
Focal length  : 185 mm (277 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3, Nik Viveza and Color Efex pro

Once in the air at their cruising altitude, nothing can’t stop them.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/500
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 640
Focal length : 280 mm (420 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3, Nik Viveza and Color Efex pro

So long, have a nice winter..

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/1500
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 640
Focal length : 280 mm (420 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3, Nik Viveza and Color Efex pro

Note:

I rarely have the chance to do sorties with other photographs and I totally enjoyed the experience with “TreborF” (Robert).

I wish to renew the experience with other members of the Flickr. There is so much talent in the community, so many opportunities to exchange about our passion of the image.

Thanks again Robert !

You must really like photography, in order to spend several minutes shooting in front of a mirror windows, just to get the right reflection, while people pass by with a perplex look.

“The story you read is true, only the image was composed in order to protect the identity of the innocents”

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/60
Aperture : f/16
ISO: 200
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3, Nik Viveza and Silver Efex pro

François Meehan

What a special day last Saturday was. I had the privilege to do some shooting in Terrebonne with Robert, or treborf , his user ID in “Flickr”.

For those who don’t know, Flickr is “the reference” on the Internet for photographs to exchange opinion on their art.

After a few exchanges, we decided to go shooting together to catch the “first light”.

That is so cool, I am going to a new place with a guide ! In a few weeks, I will return the favor and show Robert nice opportunities in my region.

Be on site at 7:00, that is the plan, so I had to wake up at 5:00 to get on time to the rendez-vous point, the Tim Hortons at Mascouche.

Robert had the excellent idea for us to start the day at Rivière du parc.

Once on site, we saw hundreds of geese still through the dark. There is even a big 3 floor observatory. Only thing missing was a “Lazyboy”

There is nothing lake the morning colors…

** Click picture to enlarge

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/1000
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 640
Focal length : 145 mm (217 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3, Nik Viveza and Color Efex pro

After a good night’s sleep, the birds are getting ready for departure.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/250
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 640
Focal length : 270 mm (405 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3, Nik Viveza and Color Efex pro

François Meehan

During our last visit at the Ecomuseum, trying to tame my new lensbaby composer lens, I took the opportunity to take this picture of an arctic fox.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/60
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focale length: 50 mm (75 en DX), Lensbaby composer
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail.

It still had its summer coat, soon it will become all white.

Really like the lensbaby effect…

François Meehan

Sometimes when you are doing shots of animals or insects, you might wonder “who is oberving who?”.

For example, take this magnificent grasshopper, her ” friends” were avoiding me as if I was a monster (from their perspective, I probably was . None of them would let me approach within 5 feet with my equipment. This one had a totally different behavior.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/60
Aperture : f/22
ISO: 400
Focale length : 105 mm (157 en DX)
Integrated Flash with Gary Fong’s Puffer and a Nikon SB-900 flash with Warm gel et diffuser in remote mode.
Aperture, Nik’s Viveza, Topaz Denoise 3 and Adjust.

I was able to approach it within 1.5 foot, took shots for a good 10 minutes with 2 strobes. It slowly moved on its plant, allowing me to try different angles.

At a certain point, I was wondering if it was not “analyzing” me, it felt weird…

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/60
Aperture : f/22
ISO: 400
Focale length : 105 mm (157 en DX)
Aperture, Nik’s Viveza, Topaz Denoise 3 and Adjust.

For the occasion, I used the built-in flash with a diffuser (Gary Fong’s puffer) and a remote SB-900 flash in remote mode equipped with a warm gel, also with a diffuser, hand held, no tripod.

François Meehan

Sunday afternoons are often the time for me to go hunting for images. I take my bike and photo equipment on my back, and I hit to road. No precise plan in mind, photo opportunities are coming my way naturally…

Two weeks ago, on such outing, I met Éric and his superb german shepherd dog: Shooter, at Terrasse-Vaudreuil.

I could not resist, when I saw the beast, had to ask Éric permission to take pictures of his dog, while Shooter was playing in the water.

It was a short shooting session, I am really proud of the outcome.

Shooter is still a young dog. At one year and a half, he is full of energy.

As usual, don’t forget to click on the images to see them in their full sizes.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/2000
Aperture : f/4.5
ISO: 400
Focal length : 70 mm (105 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail.

Taking no break, Shooter chase the little piece of wood, again and again…

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/3000
Aperture : f/4.8
ISO: 400
Focal length : 112 mm (168 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail.

A canine race boat

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/3000
Aperture : f/4.5
ISO: 400
Focal length : 70 mm (105 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail.

What a good looking dog…

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/1500
Aperture : f/5.3
ISO: 400
Focal length : 195 mm (292 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail.

Éric could have played fetch with Shooter all afternoon long, the dog always asked for more.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/1500
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 400
Focal length : 300 mm (450 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 et Detail.

François Meehan

Last Saturday, while being in Montreal to attend the annual Podcamp, I went to my favorite Photo equipment store to get a Lensbaby Composer.

This lens is very particular, it allows selective focus while doing the shot. The lens can be tilted in all directions. While composing a picture, you just make sure the subject is in the “sweet spot”. It creates an artistic blur around it.

As a note, this lens is not easy to operate and requires quite a bit of testing before yielding good results. It only works in manual mode, the aperture is set by inserting a small disk on top of the lens. You must select your exposure, so it is constant trial an error.

And it is pricey: $320 before taxes. Nevertheless, it truly has an amazing artistic potential.

Here are my first tests, as usual, don’t forget to click on the pictures to see them in their larger sizes.

Ma belle Lise:

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/180
Aperture : f/2.8
ISO: 400
Focal Lenght : 50mm (Lensbaby Composer)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Nik SilverEfx .

Rubis, my faithful dog:

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/250
Aperture : f/2.8
ISO: 400
Focal Lenght : 50mm (Lensbaby Composer)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Nik SilverEfx .

The picture was taken trough a screen door, this explains the lines on the left side.

Sunset from the dock of Place Datura at Ile-Perrot:

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/30
Aperture : f/2.8
ISO: 1000
Focal Lenght : 50mm (Lensbaby Composer)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Nik SilverEfx .

In that picture, we clearly see the focused area on the lower right side, this has the effect of directing the eyes toward that part of the picture.

I also bought the “plastic optic” module, the Lensbaby is a modular lens and there are a couple of different effects available. This one is pretty drastic, I will use it sparingly. Jessica is the model:

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/60
Aperture : f/2.8
ISO: 1000
Focal Length : 50mm (Lensbaby Composer with “Plastic Optic”)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail .

To resume, I am convince that this lens will be a good addition to my arsenal, all I need to do is to practice…

François Meehan