Day 90 - Nice & Steady?

So do you guys remember that picture i took back on January 4th - Day 4?  Well, I thought I could do the same thing but in the middle of traffic  =(   yea that did not go so well. Apparently I could not hold a steady hand but I love the way the picture came out none the less. 

Day 89 - Lying in the Street

Day 40 - Waiting & Watching

Device: Nikon D3100

Lens: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal Length: 48mm

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/2 sec

ISO Sensitivity: 200

SW: LR3

Location: São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brasil

I was at the praça de São Francisco just playing my harmonica, smoking a cigarette and just watching as people passed me by, without as much as a second glance. I asked myself, what was it that they were thinking? Where were they going? Had they been productive today or had they wasted it away? Did they laugh, cry, or even feel anything at all today? I always found it interesting that, as part of the human condition, we are consumed by our problems. As big or as small as they may be we let them suffocate us. Some people do not understand my tattoo, Cedo Nulli; they think it is some cocky, arrogant, prick move when I tell them it means I yield to no one. To me it means so much more, it is empowering. I refuse to become a victim of circumstance, the past cannot be changed, and I will not let it control my future, I will not stop because someone tells me I cannot do it, or because there is something in the way. I once read that every interaction is an equation S+R=O (Situation + Reaction = Outcome), and if you do not like the outcome of any given one then the power is yours to change it. You cannot change a situation but you can change your reaction.  And by changing your reaction you change the overall outcome. I know I may be boring you with this rant of internal locus of control but, grrrr, it just irks me when people find ways to blame everyone else rather than taking the reins and changing their course. Today’s picture is not really aesthetically pleasing but for me it is pensive, all these thought were running through my head at that precise moment.

Day 26 - Tiradentes

Device: Nikon D3100

Lens:  50mm f/1.8

Focal Length: 50mm

Aperture: f/1.8

Shutter Speed: 1/13

ISO Sensitivity: 1600

Location: Tiradentes, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Have you ever woken up and not known what day it was? Well today I went about my business thinking it was Wednesday. It was funny I kept telling everyone “yea we’ll go one Thursday” or “Thursday we should go drink here/there.” Any who I went to Tiradentes today and there is this sort of Film Festival thingy going on –really cool I like it. It is a very old school colonial town but since it is setup for the festival I did not take any pictures of the city street level. I went up a very steep hill and caught this beauty – I would not believe this was a real picture if I had not taken it myself. Yea yea, I know it is a little out of focus but I did not take my tripod so this is the best I could do given the circumstances.

Day 19 - The Iconic Capitol Building

Device: Nikon D3100

Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G 

Focal Length: 22mm

Aperture: F/3.8

Shutter Speed: HDR - Multiple exposures

ISO Sensitivity: ISO 1600

SW: CS5

Location: Austin, Texas

Went to bed last night at like 2:30-3am and woke up at 6:30. I had to go pick up a friend from the bus station by 7:15. Drove all through morning rush hour traffic and made to the station about 15 min late. To my surprise, the bus was running late, it would not arrive until 1pm. Wow so much fun! Of course, trying to create a good habit I took my camera with me. Because of my early rise this has been one of the longest days of my life. I took my friend and his lady around town to show them the sites here in Austin. I got loads and loads of great shots. However, I can only pick one and here it is…The Iconic Capitol Building.

P.S. I have been up since 6:30am and I am still up, just got home and barely staying awake just to post this for you! See how much I appreciate you! =P

Posted at 12:45am

Day 14 - Midnight Stroll

Device: Nikon D3100

Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G (

Focal Length: 55mm

Aperture: F/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec

ISO Sensitivity: ISO HI 2 (2 EV over 3200)

Location: Burnett, Texas

Today was the second part of my trip back to Austin. That being said I had fully intended to wake up early and hit the road, needless to say, that did not happen. By the time I got on the road, it had already begun to get dark and the sunset was truly beautiful. However, since I had already taken a picture of a sunset I was waiting for something else. The last few nights I noticed that the moon came out a few hours after it got dark; there is also a bridge that I was to cross about the same time. I was imagining how the picture was going to look, how I was going to setup the camera, and how I was going to frame it. Sadly, when I got to the bridge the yellow moon was nowhere in sight. I was so upset. And so, I continued driving to Austin and as I passed the Burnett I spotted a smaller bridge with ducks and quaint little lights.

P.S.

The stupid moon came out 40 minutes after passing the spot where I wanted it.

(I took a picture of it but it did not make it on to the blog. It will be on Facebook in an album labeled “Runner-ups”.)

Day 13 - Starlit Silhouette

Device: Nikon D3100

Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G

Focal Length: 18mm

Aperture: F/3.5

Shutter Speed: 30 sec

ISO Sensitivity: ISO 800

Location: Guadalupe Mt., Texas

I finally got what I came for, so now it is off to Austin I go. I was driving all through the night and pulled over in the middle of nowhere to gaze at the stars. Ah - how they are beautiful! They twinkled, sparkled, and glimmered and I wanted to catch that. The best part about it is how the came out different colors.

Day 8 - Naked Trees

Device: Nikon D3100

Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G

Focal Length: 18mm

Aperture: F/3.5

Shutter Speed: HDR - Multiple exposures (15 sec - 1/1.3 sec)

ISO Sensitivity: ISO 800

Editing SW: CS5

Location: Austin, Texas

Today was kind of a lazy day, being that it was all gloomy and rainy outside. I did not do much nor go out of the house. I decided to run down to the duck pond again for today's picture. It was nice dark and I wanted to see if I could get some nice nighttime HDR images. It really did not come out how I expected but I hope with practice I perfect the technique.  

Day 3 - Patriotism by Night

Device: Nikon D3100

Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G

Focal Length: 48mm

Aperture: F/5.3

Shutter Speed: 8 sec

ISO Sensitivity: ISO 400

Location: Austin, Texas

An average home on an average street in an average city in the good ole U.S. of A.