The Bus

I went downtown early one morning to photograph holiday lights.  I plan on going back in the evening when there is some activity and more lights on.   There were others out taking photos in the dark which is unusual at 5:30 in the morning.  They were trying to get shots that were less “urban”.  I understand really I do but part of urban photography is vehicles, lights, signs, trash cans, power lines and people.  . . . or maybe a bus speeding right through the photo.

Gold Medal ruins, Minneapolis, MN

I took this one last August when I went out with a photo blogging friend.  My daughter lives near St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis.  It is a fun place to photograph in the day or night most any time of the year.  I will go back for some more when the leaves start changing color and maybe if I am lucky I can talk my daughter into coming with.

Mississippi River Valley

The only reason I am posting this instead of deleting it is because it is a picture of the sunset and I have not taken one like it in months.  The last one I recall was taken in February and it wasn’t in Minnesota.  I don’t like the composition of this shot but I like the colors and the river so I will keep it.

St. Paul Skyline

It is easier to see the stars if you click on the photograph to make it bigger.  I have been asked what I do to make the lights look like stars.  I know there is a filter for that but I don’t use it.   It is the slow shutter speed that creates the affect and it isn’t the same for all lenses.   The slower the shutter speed the bigger the star but they only get so big and the camera has to be very still or you end up with a mess.

I had trouble this particular night because it was windy and my camera strap flapping in the breeze was just enough to make my first shot come out blurry.  I took this photo with my 50mm prime lens which makes the nicest stars.  My wide angle lens makes stars with more points and the kit lens makes stars with fewer points.  The shutter speed for the photo was 49 seconds and it is the view of downtown St. Paul from the top of the Smith avenue highbridge.

In the dark

I took this picture at night.  It was so dark out I could not focus my camera.  I used manual focus and guessed and left the shutter open for 60 seconds so that I could get a picture.  You can see a couple of stars in the upper left hand corner.   The shadows on the tree are caused by the full moon which was behind me.   I did not expect it to come out this way.

stone arch bridge

Another night shot from the Mill District in Minneapolis with the arches of the stone arch bridge to the right in the picture.

Looking down - Stone Arch Bridge

Yet another shot from the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis.  In this shot we have St. Anthony Falls.  You can’t hear it in the picture but it is really very noisy.

Mississippi River

Yes I have taken this shot before and I will likely take it again.  I warmed this photo up a bit but it was taken during the blue hour and the still water look silver.  I love the view from the shore along St. Anthony Main.  I will go back in the fall and take some more photos.

st. Anthony falls

This is another picture that I took during the blue hour of St. Anthony falls from the stone arch bridge.   There was a young man standing behind me with a camera complaining because clouds had rolled in and there was no sunset.  I enjoyed the scene anyway.

Stone arch bridge - Minneapolis, MN

The blue hour, that time between sunset and darkness, is one of my favorite times to take photos.  I took this Friday night on the Stone Arch bridge in Minneapolis.  It was hot and humid out but I have to say I really enjoyed it.