Quote of the Day: 16 November 2020 #QotD

“Why waste time learning when ignorance is instantaneous?” -Hobbes
[In case it isn't clear, this was stated sarcastically. It does seem to be the motivating factor for so many, though.]

#APicADay 2020: Day 320

 I took a walk today, and when I started to go out the light was nice, and the weather agreeable. By the time I was able to get out the door, the clouds had moved in over the sun, and rain had started to fall. After I got back, the weather cleared up, and the light was back. Oh, well.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/550 s, and ISO 3200

Whoops. I forgot to set my ISO back to the base ISO value.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 122mm, f/4.2, 1/120 s, and ISO 160

There. I got it set back to an appropriate level.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 164mm, f/4.6, 1/280 s, and ISO 160

I do very much like the fall colors.

X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/85 s, and ISO 160

I think these are mums.

Quote of the Day: 15 November 2020 #QotD

“The rewards of integrity are immeasurable. One is the indescribable inner peace and serenity that come from knowing we are doing what is right; another is an absence of the guilt and anxiety that accompany sin.” -Joseph B. Wirthlin
 

#APicADay 2020: Day 319

 My wife had made plans with some of her coworkers to go to the zoo this morning. So, we loaded the kids up, and off to the zoo we went. Even though it seems to be raining fairly heavily. Thankfully, it had lightened up quite a bit before we got there.

Today's image:

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/800 s, and ISO 3200   

This could have had either the ISO or the aperture stopped down, but it was toward the end of the day. The tigers usually aren't very active, or in positions that make for good photos. Luckily, today this girl was in the mood to move.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/6.4, 1/28 s, and ISO 250

The mountain goats are right at the entrance. And today was the first time I've seen more than two of them in the same place. Only this one was interested in posing for me, though.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/6.4, 1/2 s, and ISO 800 (cropped)

I really should have bumped the ISO on this shot up a bit more. It was a very dark day. But this black bear was willing to sit still long enough for the shot. I cropped it to square to get rid of some distracting elements on the left side of the frame.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/20 s, and ISO 160

With almost all the buildings being closed, the elephants were put out in their yards. And they were being a bit playful.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/25 s, and ISO 160

This is one of the males. I don't know the animals well enough to know which one, though.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 128mm, f/5.0, 1/17 s, and ISO 160

A wider shot from about the same time.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 181mm, f/4.7, 1/13 s, and ISO 3200

This chameleon was pretty funny. It fell over on its side while trying to climb the enclosure barrier. The lights in this room were a bit warmer than my white balance setting, and the enclosure added a green cast. I had to do some color correction to get it to this point.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/9 s, and ISO 1000

The painted dogs were not being interesting, but at least they were on exhibit today. Unlike last time I was there.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/140 s, and ISO 3200

This cheetah was up and moving. They usually camp out by a window.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/680 s, and ISO 3200

The lionesses, at least these two, were sitting out in the rain. This is shot through the plexiglass.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/220 s, and ISO 3200

The giraffe were not in positions that were interesting to shoot. This was the best I could come up with, and it's not great. I'll need to go back for more giraffe shots.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/750 s, and ISO 3200

This is the beginning of the rest of the series of shots of the tiger up and moving around.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/250 s, and ISO 3200

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/800 s, and ISO 3200

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/800 s, and ISO 3200

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/4.8, 1/280 s, and ISO 3200

I was pleased with the length of the show this girl put on for us. They usually lay down in a corner of the enclosure, right below where the viewing positions for the enclosure are. That makes it really hard to see them, let alone photograph them.

All in all, I'm quite pleased with how the new lens lets me get far tighter compositions on the animals. The XF 18-55 left me feeling too constrained by the focal lengths available to me.

Quote of the Day: 14 November 2020 #QotD

“[T]he thing to do, when one feels sure that he has said or done the right thing, and is condemned, is to stand still and keep quiet. If he is right, time will show it.” -Booker T. Washington

[The story of Mr. Washington's life is inspiring, and there is much in his example that is worthy of emulation. In this instance, he has demonstrated how to effectively deal with cancel culture.]

#APicADay 2020: Day 318

 I loaded the kids up for another walk today. The pup was convinced we were going to go to the park, and when he found out we weren't, he got very upset. He was a little pill through the whole walk. The babydoll, on the other hand, was a delight.

Today's image: 

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 110mm, f/6.4, 1/75 s, and ISO 160

These maple leaves were hanging on on a branch that was otherwise devoid of leaves. It felt like a good opportunity to grab an interesting image, and the light coming through the leaves made even more interesting to me.

Fuji X-T3 with XF 55-200 @ 200mm, f/6.4, 1/550 s, and ISO 200

The oak leaves were similar, in that I liked the way the light shone through them. But I'll have to take a look at my camera's settings, because I thought I hadn't changed the ISO setting.

Quote of the Day: 13 November 2020 #QotD

“Untruth corrupts the soul and the state alike, and one form of corruption feeds the other.” -Jordan Peterson
[Considering the 'character' of the presumptive president elect, be prepared for a period of corrupting influence.]