tree.

tree., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

organize it.

organize it., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Went to the four story Antique shop in the RiverMarket Area of Kansas City.

Had a blast. I could have been there for hours and hours.

moss

moss, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

grow up!

grow up!, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Antioch Park in Merriam, Ks.

I spotted this Fungi growing on this tree.
So Tiny.

:)

lifeless finger puppets.

lifeless finger puppets., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at the Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival 2009.

I went there today. I tromped around and snapped some pics.

It was fun. Too Bad I didn't have any money for food.

:|

chillaxin'

chillaxin', originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

I spied this jumping spider outside the entrance to the Gardens.

I was lucky to have the bright orange flower behind.

Beautiful.

tree frog.

tree frog., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

Another angle of the tree frog.

froggie. camo style.

froggie. camo style., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

When I spotted this frog on the plant leaf I was not aware until looking at the green smudge for more than 3 seconds that this was even anything at all. In passing glance it looked merely like a small leaf resting on another plant.

Whenever I see something in passing that seems slightly unusual in placement for a normal plant I always try to get another angle of the object in question. I always remember: I might just find something cool.

This particular frog could not have been more than an inch and a half in length.
He did not move as I moved my camera around him.

I was surprised that he did not jump.

Bee Killer

Bee Killer, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

I found these creatures today, and I was amazed at how well the picture came out seeing as how I was so "unprepared" to take it.

:)

Spotted Cucumber Beetle

Spotted Cucumber Beetle, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

This was one of my first (IMO) great "macro" shots. I don't have a macro lens. I have 4 close-up filters that I stack when I feel like it. I usually use them with my 50mm f/1.8 lens, but I do have another set that fits my 18mm-105mm lens as well.

I took this image without the flash. only natural light. I am still really shocked at the clarity and depth of the image given the conditions taken with.

:)

flower

flower, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

I took this picture before meeting up with my sister on 39th street in Kansas City. I was walking along the sidewalk, and the tree above me had scores of beautiful blossoms.

I am pleased with how this image turned out.

I like how it almost sparkles.

:)

Shawnee Mission Lake after Sunset

Shawnee Mission Lake after Sunset, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Shawnee Mission Park in Shawnee, KS. I set out last night without any particular plan. I just wanted to take some pictures with the ol' tripod.

Walking past this area, I could not help to not fall in love with this view.

I like the light, but I wonder how it would have turned out if I had zoomed in more and left it out of the frame.

Next time, right?

:)

up from within.

up from within., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

I love these colors. I love the depth of field. I love the details.

I sat down at the bench located near the Monet garden to take a short rest. It is quite hard work to carry around camera + misc gear. The bending and stretching while balancing a camera to get the perfect angle is not exactly simple. When I first tried my close-up filters I was almost exasperated with the seemingly limited choices I had with positioning and depth of field. Combine that with not enough light or a lens that just isn't fast enough.

Frustrating. I took thousands of pictures learning how to shoot (excellent) close-ups. I was trying to learn how to shoot without having to take too many frames of the same image just to get the best focus. I began to have more concentration and a 'steadier' hand.

I still need much much much more practice. I am glad I decided to embrace experimenting with the old flash I had lying around. 'He' is now more than 10 years old, and I am thinking he has seen his day. (I played with the flash at waaay too young of an age, using it just to use it.... not understanding what I was doing.)

stealing the show

stealing the show, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Antioch Park in Merriam, KS.

I remember trying to take this photograph. I remember it was one of those 'annoying windy' days because at times the air would seem still for minutes and minutes (rare for kansas) and then all of a sudden trees and grass and flowers would begin 'thrashing' about. Ok, so maybe not thrashing to an eye without a lens in front of it. The wind seemed to give you just enough of a break to manually focus and decide a focal point - watching your finger press ever so slightly on the shutter-release button. Almost as if it decided to blow just at the wrong time.

After becoming frustrated with this weed getting in my way. I finally gave in. I photographed it.

I was pleased with the outcome.

:)

This plants effort to become the center of the image makes me smile and reminds me of myself. (brat)

he was a bright shade of green and seemingly unafraid.

he was a bright shade of green and seemingly unafraid., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

I spotted this bug while walking around at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. He was a bright shade of green, and patient enough to with stand me photographing him. This small creature intrigued me. I wonder what his name is.

orange flower refraction

orange flower refraction, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Taken at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
I saw the orange sparkle when passing over the flower while I was looking at the droplets surrounding.

You can't really see the droplet because it is focused so deep within.

:) this has got to be one of my top faves.

caterpillar

caterpillar, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

i loved this creature!!! his 'hairs' were great. perfect like they were styled at a salon in paris. if you go to the photostream you'll see a few more of mr. caterpillar and his hairs.

sun sparkles.

sun sparkles., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

I am learning how to photograph refractions. Trying to understand how to manipulate the existing light along with the flash light. I enjoy getting the distance the in the refraction. I like fine details in the refraction. I feel it is more difficult to get a decent 'droplet skin' photograph because of the requirements my imagination has along with it. I think I will be able to take a good droplet skin photograph when the sky is painted how I dream.

time to clean.

time to clean., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

Bored and walking around the apartment, trying to find something to entertain my eyes. I located the scrubber, since not looking completely disgusting, I thought it would make a good image.

playing with the food.

playing with the food., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

one afternoon (in an attempt to humor my creative curiosity) i decided to make the hamburgers square, not round. this motivation was inspired by my lack of ability to make hamburgers round and flat. and the correct size. mine usually come out looking just slightly flatter than meatballs, and one might not know what to think. sometimes the fiancee would slice the meat in flatter pieces so that it would fit inside the bread a little better.

once i made the square patties i decided that i should cut the bread to match. and getting carried away waiting for him to arrive to eat lunch, i also cut my pickles into squares/rectangles.

i should have been doing something more productive with my time such as cleaning off the island, or doing laundry.

but this entertained me quite well, and i was pleased with my awkward looking but great tasting square burgs.

=)

scaley

scaley, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

i just want to post this. i dont want to think right now. i just like looking at it.

takin' a swim

takin' a swim, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

i love this image. i love the reflection on the bottle i love the condensation. i love how the bottles are floating in the water. i like how the ice is melted almost completely, but still has quite some life left.

i like the deep colors in this image,

to the root of it.

to the root of it., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

i love this image with the low light, the fine details, basic and raw.

shadows and bits of light.

simple.

dark. i love the DoF that i was able to capture.

hey there lil' guy.

hey there lil' guy., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

he is just a baby. baby mantis. praying there.
looking at me - dead on. wondering what that round black shiny thing is.

i got lucky that i even saw him on my walk.

daisy

daisy, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

flowers in a field. simple beauty. not perfection. as you may notice the bugs on the flower i focused on. beauty with flaws, and without the flaws, it just might not be interesting enough to catch my eye.

hanging on

hanging on, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

this image is not one that i would think i would take in locally. for absolutely no good reason in my mind this image feels like it should be taken somewhere more exotic than a city park.

this feather stuck on a twig. hanging upside-down. promotes a feeling of adventure, growth, and new beginnings to me.

of course i would shoot the qwerty.

of course i would shoot the qwerty., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

whenever looking at any keyboard through the eye opening of a camera i find myself looking at the phrase 'qwerty'. i am strangely attracted to the phrase. maybe because of the slight awkwardness it portrays and i somehow relate.

captured within

captured within, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

here is a castle and you can just barely see the king.
i saw this lovely plant swaying back and forth ever-so-slightly when i noticed the intricate details that this little spider created. if he started this with a host of ants on the inside, he'll be eatting well for quite a while. This photo was taken around 95th and Renner in the Olathe, Ks area.

rise and shine!

rise and shine!, originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

i took this one morning while staying with my sister in kansas city. i had walked her dog and couldn't get over the clouds and the bright sun bursting through. I had to trot back to the house to get the camera. i still need quite a bit of practice at shooting the sky. it usually takes me a try or two to figure out what fstop or shutter speed to use.

let us go our separate ways.

let us go our separate ways., originally uploaded by mjkimmel.

trying to see deeper meaning in what i am naturally attracted to.
although the DoF is shallow there is quite obvious depth to the object.
the outer layer here is portraying the most detail, but also giving way that there are more layers that you possibly could know behind it.

i am attracted to the free-flow form of the stems on the plant. seeming to do whatever they desire while following the 'rules' of their plant.

almost free will. or free will with boundaries. for their protection. as they would find it difficult to survive without their base