Winnetka Growler

52 Frames - Week 7 - Unexplored

There are several public beaches along Lake Michigan in Chicago's northern suburbs. Lloyds Beach is one I have not previously explored.

With temperatures moderating a bit, ice is beginning to break apart from the frozen lake edges.

Sony A7Cii @ f2.8 | 1/1000 | 40mm | ISO 125

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic (adapted)

Photographed 2/13/26

Damn, I Dropped It!!

52Frames - Week 7 - Unexplored

I interpreted this prompt to explore a place I've never been rather than create an image that conveys not being explored.  To that end, I visited a forest preserve literally 2 miles from my home that I've driven & cycled by hundreds of times yet never previously entered.

Furthermore, in preparation for my Africa trip later this year, I wanted to further explore use of the 50-400mm lens.

For true "birders", I know this image is cheating due to the feeder, but it provided a good opportunity to play with settings and burst mode.  A couple of things I learned: 400mm is not long enough for birds (but I'm not buying another long lens) and 1/1000 sec is not fast enough for handheld (will try monopod + faster SS next time).

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/1000 | 400mm | ISO 2500

Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 2/16/24

Rube Goldberg

52Frames - Week 7 - Unexplored

Photo this week represents two explorations; one being the Fire Sprinkler Control Room in our condo building and the other being a new camera device I backed on Kickstarter, Arsenal 2.  The room is an array of pipes, pumps, valves and gauges and the brand new camera device provides a wrath of AI-based functions including exposure, focus stacking, time lapse and others.

The first image in the diptych is a single “foreground-focused” shot and the second is a composite of 6 shots automatically triggered and composited by the Arsenal 2 device.  While not my first choice on how to approach this week’s challenge, I still chalk it up as a successful streak-saver.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/45 35mm ISO 3200

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Arsenal 2 w/ focus stack mode

Sony A7C @ f4 1/2 18mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Arsenal 2

Photographed 2/19/22