Once again, I’ve been chasing cherry blossoms. This year I have given more attention to distinguishing different species of cherry trees. The number of hybrids is rather dizzying but I have been focusing on those that I have seen up close in the northeast United States.
In Boston, the Charles River Esplanade is great place to find cherry trees but I could only recognize some of the different trees. This photo shows one of the trees about which I was very uncertain. Having vaguely guessed it is a Mount Fuji Cherry, my photographs revealed a clue that sealed the deal. The leaves are not merely serrated, but it is exaggerated into projections that look like hairs. That is certainly a Mount Fuji.
That tree has now shed its blossoms. Right now the Kwanzan Cherry trees have bloomed and taken center stage. As a very popular ornamental tree, you can find them in many places in every northeastern state. And don’t forget the crabapple trees and flowering dogwoods which have also bloomed in the past week and are putting on a really colorful show!
When branches are bare and snow is rare … that’s stick season. As nature turns grey and quiet, it’s the worst time of year for nature photographers.
Ski Season
When temperatures will allow snow on the ground … that’s ski season. In northern New England. ski resorts (with snow-making equipment) will typically open in November and close in April.
Love It Or Leave It (a.k.a. Winter)
When natural snow falls and often hangs around for a while … that’s winter. While many people enjoy winter activities such as skiing, snowmobile … many New Englanders dream of sipping cocktails at a tropical beach far away.
Mud Season
When wet soil can suck the boot off your foot … that’s mud season. Late March to early May (possibly until Memorial Day), trails may be closed to hikers, ATVs, off-road bicyclists, and cross-country skiers. The Green Mtn Club annually suggests that people avoid trails during mud season because oversaturated soil is vulnerable to both soil compaction and erosion.
Flower Season
When a flowerless world begins to flower, when trees put on a new coat of leaves … that’s springtime. Crocus can emerge when snow still lies on the ground. When daffodils bloom, then we know all others are soon to follow. Different species will begin blooming at different times, most from mid April through June.
Flowering-Tree season
When flowers adorn the treetops … that’s flowering tree season. Around southwest Connecticut, Magnolia can flower in late March. Then flowering cherry trees; then crabapple. Around northern New England, Dogwood ends the season around the start of June.
Beach Season (a.k.a. Summer)
When people go to the beach and lie in the sun … that’s summer. Animals roam and browse freely; people roam too, with their warm coats stowed away in closets.
Lobster Season
When lobsters are most active and most abundant … that’s lobster season. Though lobster fishing is active year-round, peak catch is between late June and late December.
Dog Days
When temperatures are sweltering … that’s Dog Days Late July to mid August; “dog” days coincides with the year’s heliacal rising of Sirius (in constellation Canis Majoris).
Foliage season
When green treetops are replaced by other colors … that’s autumn foliage “The reason I far prefer the autumn to the spring is because in autumn one looks up to heaven – in spring at the earth.” Soren Kierkegaard.
And of course …
“When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine … that’s amore.”
If one of these parades is located near to you, that is likely the definitive parade to you. Yet there are a more than a dozen notable annual St. Patrick’s Day parades in North America. Biggest can mean size of the crowd or number of participants. Photos here are from South Boston.
In the USA
Boston MA Chicago IL Cleveland OH Denver CO Detroit MI Holyoke MA Kansas City MO New Orleans LA New York City Philadelphia PA Pittsburgh PA Quad cities/Davenport IA San Francisco CA Savanah GA
October 2024, while I was awaiting the next generation professional camera drone in the Mavic series, DJI instead released the Air 3S, which is considered a “travel drone” because of its size and excellent portability. The long-anticipated Mavic 4 pro is now expected to be released in April 2025. We know that the Mavic 4 is imminent because DJI submitted the product plan with the FCC. And currently, DJI has offered sale pricing for Mavic 3, which likely indicates DJI wants to reduce inventory of the old Mavic in advance of releasing the new Mavic 4.
Rumored features of DJI Mavic 4 pro
Three cameras (similar to Mavic 3 pro)
100-megapixel camera resolution
Video resolution up to 6K @ 60fps
Built-in ND filters
Obstacle avoidance includes LiDAR
6645 mAh battery
Up to 50-minutes of flight on a single battery
Approximate weight 2.3 lbs (a few ounces more than Mavic 3 pro)
Personally, any aerial drone is a flying camera; I’m always hoping for a better camera. However, I do not currently have a need for 6K video resolution. Beyond that, there are a few features here that would immediately render the Mavic 4 pro as “best in class” aerial camera drone ….
Longer flight time is generally welcomed by everyone. The battery capacity is always an important factor in flight time. Because a larger-capacity battery is commonly a heavier battery, achieving longer flight times is a balancing act and more than a small feat.
Built-in ND filters would be very significant. Today, without this feature, we have to land an aerial drone to physically change the ND filter.
LiDAR is important for obstacle avoidance in low light. I’ve seen one report that LiDAR maybe was planned but subsequently cancelled for Mavic 4; which means nobody knows for certain. The Air 3S is DJI’s first drone to employ LiDAR (for forward-sensing only).
Do not confuse DJI Mavic 4 with DJI Matrice 4. Matrice 4 (released earlier this month) is an enterprise class drone that supports thermal imaging, optional spotlight, and can carry payloads up to 200 g.
7:00 a.m. …. From my hotel room window, the harbor is awash in pastel hues of pink and blue.
7:10 a.m. …. A solo paddleboarder glides northward across the inner harbor, toward Bowen’s wharf. Morning sunlight hits the top of the 400-ft-tall Claiborne Pell Bridge.
7:20 a.m …. A fishing boat glides south, then turns west between Newport Harbor island and Fort Adams; then passing Fort Adams, turns south again toward the open sea.
7:25 a.m. …. Fort Adams & houses on Aquidneck Island catching direct warm light of the rising sun
7:40 a.m. …. The outside air temp is 26f while the temp back home is 16f
8:15 a.m. …. Coffee & peach-raspberry scone
8:40 a.m. …. Walking through a residential neighborhood, a pair of DPW workers fill a pothole with asphalt
Canon EOS, EOS M, and EOS R are all interchangeable-lens systems. In some cases, an adapter can be used to put a lens from one EOS system onto a camera body of a different EOS system. In other cases you cannot; the physical characteristics make it impossible.
(1987 – 2004) Canon EOS cameras were SLR film cameras and then DSLR digital cameras; unlike previous camera systems, the EF lens mount is completely electronic. (2012 – 2019) Canon EOS M cameras have EF-M lens mount. (2018 – ) Canon EOS R cameras have RF lens mount.
* Original Canon EOS camera bodies are either 35mm SLR or DSLR with image sensors up to Full-frame (same size as 35mm). EOS camera bodies employ EF lens mount but the lenses have two variations, EF and EF-S. EF lenses are compatible with full-frame/35mm image sensors, while the EF-S lenes are limited to smaller APS-C (crop sensor). EF-S lenses tend to be physically smaller than their EF counterparts.
* Canon EOS M cameras are all mirrorless and support image sensors up to APS-C.
* Canon EOS R cameras are all mirrorless and support image sensors up to Full-frame.
In general, lenses designed for APS-C (EF-S lenses or M lenses) cannot be used on Full-frame cameras. Possibly you might fit an EF-S lens onto an EF camera body, but potentially the reflex mirror inside the camera could physically hit the back of the lens. If that doesn’t happen, you will likely encounter one or two problems. Sharp focus may not be impossible because the distance between the lens and image sensor is incorrect. At wide apertures, the corners of the image may be dark because the lens is designed for a smaller image sensor.
In general, lenses for mirrorless cameras cannot be used on DSLR camera bodies. This is because the distance between the lens flange and the image sensor is shorter and there is no room for the mirror inherent in DSLR cameras.
EF lenses can be used on most any camera body. perhaps with help of an adapter. EF-S may or may not fit onto an EF camera body, but don’t try it. EF-S lenses can be used on APS-C camera bodies, including EF-M and RF with help of an adapter.
EF-M and EF-R lenses cannot be used on camera bodies with EF mount (regardless of the image sensor size) EF-M lenses can only be used on M-series camera bodies. Technically, an M lens could work on an EOS R-series camera, but no such adapter exists. (As Canon never made many lenses for the M system, likely no adapter will ever exist.) RF lenses can only be used on R-series camera bodies. (Considering the possibility of an adapter to put an RF lens on an M-series camera body, it seems not possible because the physical diameter of the RF lens mount is larger than EF-M.)
ISO is a property of recording photography; it represents sensitivity to capture light. Before the days of digital cameras, all photographic film was categorized with an ISO rating. Digital cameras have an adjustable ISO. Increasing digital ISO is primarily a matter of increasing the gain of the electronics signal. As with most electronics, gain increases not just the signal but also signal noise (stuff you don’t want). However, many digital cameras today have excellent signal-to-noise ratio.
In the days of film cameras, photographers might “push process” film to achieve higher ISO. ISO 400 was commonly pushed to ISO 800; that’s a difference of 1 f-stop.
Today, using digital cameras, 1-stop is child’s play. Digital cameras can provide 6 f-stops or more …. ISO 51,200 or better. The results can be cleaner (less noise) than the old ISO 400 film pushed to 800.
I shot the image here at ISO 5000 … that was ten years ago.
(Intonition Band, at night under a tent at Fraklin County Fair)
Two new Canon camera bodies have been long rumored to be released soon. For several months, rumors have further suggested the release announcement will coincide with the Summer Olympics 2024. I can only guess this is because some photographers will be shooting the new camera – or cameras – at the Olympics.
Latest rumor suggests Canon will announce one or both cameras on July 17.
The name designation “1” indicates a flagship camera, the best Canon has to offer. That’s the EOS R1.
The EOS R5 mark II is an expected refresh of the very popular EOS R5 that was released four years ago.
As some flowering cherry trees bloom early and some bloom later in the season, Kanzan Cherry is king of the late bloomers. (Also known as Kwanzan Cherry.) They are just now beginning to bloom in eastern Massachusetts. Though they appear as quite small red flowers today …. by Monday or Tuesday they will look like bold pink carnations.
The opening photo here is a past year at the Charles River Esplanade in Boston.
And here is what they look like today, about 15 miles north of Boston.
What I want: To create awe-inspiring photo, preferably unlike the images other people have created of the same subject.
Equipped with a guide book that helps to locate known waterfalls, I was surprised to discover that the access road was marked: No tresspassing for any reason. However, while the dirt road was apparently verboten, there seemed to be no prohibition to approaching the river a bit further downstream and then walking upstream. Walking upstream seems a simple proposition, but more often is difficult or impossible. On this day, I found my way, but did step upon a dirt road that may have been private property. I did not linger, but simply moved quickly away.
Arriving at the falls, I found concrete, ropes and a step ladder; not exactly the pristine wilderness that I had hoped for. Furthermore, access to the falls was limited to a single rocky ledge with very few options for camera shooting angle. Without risking gross tresspassing and without risking my life climbing down the cliff, I resigned myself to creating a rather documentary photograph and not spending extended time at this location.
A week later, I had three days in the Port Angeles area just outside Olympic National Park. The popular attraction here is the road to Hurricane Ridge, attaining an elevation of 5200 feet. The season being mid springtime, I anticipated a view of the Olympic mountains with snow-capped peaks. But clouds dominated the skies for the entire duration of my 3-days. From dawn til dusk, the great view of the mountains never materialized.
As the song says: You can’t always get what you want … but you might get what you need. Setting aside what I want, what do I need?
A walk outside with sod under foot and an eye toward the weather. My camera equipment must function A documentary photo, not perfect Survive the exploration without injury (slipping on a wet rock, or worse)
So, during my trip, it happened more than once. I did not get what I wanted … but I did get what I needed.
