Central Park - Take 2
Yesterday morning was overcast and misty, exactly the type of weather I am looking for in my new project to photograph nature in New York's Central Park. So off to the park I went with Nikon D800 and an assortment of lenses. This time I covered the area around The Pond at the lower end of the park.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Ow3Eu7PUCOBMGNyQhUxBGEZHwYPymrybJIrrolLSuywYOW7XRA-X_hEY-qsm10QgrPHejdbkcL8Ib5gUVEO5MfCcfTsUusDgqXaEpcjVNNsEbah5gMuWYj1EtOLavSGisgKpA2D2l0/s1600/ti0165141bl.jpg) |
My first surprise was when this heron decided to take off and pass right in front of me. Fortunately, I had the 70-200mm f/4 zoom on the camera and was able to snap off several spontaneous frames. I was lucky enough to grab a couple of nice frames of the bird in flight. This is where I wish I had the D4 with its super fast motor drive. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfU8PjsU2yYm03AJyRaxSMPx1kJxMgOI5bFKE8BKh8tijFfHW4miiQtEnNE6A1coHRcZpNbnQJcuFRiDq5ObFnkndIHIaOgUPzvpbE6OwiaeB_HrFw1VhC1IpoaghPVHIsrK5z7BoemU/s1600/ti0165161bl.jpg) |
The main reason I choose overcast and misty conditions for shooting is
to obtain soft backgrounds and white skies in shots like this. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDSwkIqJleNtvGOaSj7buhA-ARrstx3dkuWWcnpe8G9JgGXhqqgU62QhR3gP7LMgu4Qi8sqI8eo-xQyGGwFzznWNIVPFM8PTq5g66LTySx6Ikxb9c3uLwlgX5E6Fgt4sMBqCnkirjGBY/s1600/ti0165142bwbl.jpg) |
I have been converting some of the images to a platinum monochrome tone
such as this. These I am planning to use in a limited edition book. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv0_DVS6oXcJ07OqzwqaEJ-fiMG9Ehkla4LmtJW9uxv8VDnaaEmyhxtJeYsnU0u_j6VJPGbhrNDtTapHYmGULuZUoVnFTgmhPX8hZSKQKAwsJHEB0L-tvYVYSn6WC8pVkpdlDYoYrWJM/s1600/ti0165145bl.jpg) |
I found this little waterfall at the remote end of the pond, and was able to slow the exposure down to 2 seconds by using a polarizing filter and f/22. The slow speed gave me the flowing water effect and the polarizer helped to saturate the greens by removing specular reflections. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0o4gYTVGj2pfsetpueTk1qg43leI29250u7pcY-aGXAdVFzvZdY0VHwe_ghuq-BR4rpAF-4t2-DO1AvdbUGvJP6m82fzKpO0o9TbSYDVQ88H9mBvU414eGF2kLJvVdZSU7Rgm-__qcs/s1600/ti0165155bl.jpg) |
If you read my previous post, you'll know that I started carrying a Tamron 90mm macro lens with me to have a longer focal length when doing close-ups. I love the bokeh background in this shot achieved with an aperture of f/5. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCjzz1Nl5dVzgXdSMkBwaF6A7OzDkrEYEeaGwG9gKFp_E134bZHvXn5FyDoMZ6xvjXy4rmS_HJ1NZ2ZTu3twbHqdHGTDlV16J2tJM-EjK49nhimJEn3sw3zlbh-Qk5xb5SGXCDquymlI/s1600/ti0165158bl.jpg) |
One reason I like photographing on overcast days just after a rain is for shots like this of water drops on a leaf. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVoTt3fqc-vHDIl_vYbKh8CahvX7wETGQrwaYjCGrraDdX96700tgFjgw77tXzzFBaLbfjpHw4KbPY0NYc1Za95aL62wLRgen23KmMCcbZ7vM7LPIUs00T5oARHaCXy9jYnMIdmSSkFg/s1600/ti0165149bwbl.jpg) |
Craggy trees and large stone outcrops are part of the natural terrain of the park. As I was taking this photo, the sun began to break through the clouds and I called it quits for the day. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYRnzoB0eJZy2iEaSgwwqydSK2E7I0Jx8N6h7Lm6Gd594B1NF112oBayyG2jAu_Y0C3h19R0fKF9aNKwSzGdX7YnaGpXwGi5axqE8Fa_DGj_yvveFfBHG36jR1JAVt0loYW-pF-MBEwY/s1600/ti0165148bl.jpg) |
Late May and early June is my favorite time for shooting woodland scenes. The leaves are full and a lush green and flowing water is usually at its peak. |
Tom, I am loving your Central Park images.
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