Welcome
Many things have happened in this quarter of the year, and it’s already the third one, which means that the year is almost over. I don't know about you, but when I was a kid, the years seemed like an eternity, especially the months in school, and now they seem to slip by like water through my fingers.
As I mentioned in one of the articles in this issue, I decided to buy the popular Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens. Truthfully, I am very happy with it so far, despite how much it weighs.
At the end of August, my wife and I decided to take a trip to Florida to visit some family members and relax for several days at the beach in Sarasota. The date we chose to travel coincided with the passage of Tropical Storm Fred and we arrived in Miami right in the middle of the storm. Thank God it moved a little to the west and despite everything, the weather was not too bad. The days at the beach were great and we were able to enjoy three beautiful sunsets. Here I'll share some pictures of those sunsets.
Sadly the situation with the COVID has worsened again. We can't let our guard down and we must take all possible care to stay healthy.
This October, God willing, I will be participating in the Photographic Society of America (PSA) Photo Festival in Rapid City, South Dakota. That will be my first time participating in that kind of conference and my first visit to that state. I'm looking forward to the opportunities to take new photos in places I've never been before. I look forward to sharing many of those photos in the next magazine.
For now, I bid you farewell until next time. As always, my best wishes to everyone.
Maquoketa Caves
STATE PARK
In the previous magazine, I was unable to share with you the photos of my visit to Maquoketa Caves State Park located in the state of Iowa due to lack of space. Some of you maybe know this park; I was unaware of it, but I certainly enjoyed the visit and I'll go back sometime.
Maquoketa Caves is probably Iowa's most unique state park. Its caves, limestone formations, and rugged bluffs provide visitors a chance to "step back" into geological time thousands of years. Caves vary from the 1,100-ft Dancehall Cave with walkways and lighting system to Dugout Cave. The remaining caves are all different sizes and shapes. Some can be explored by walking while others can best be seen by crawling. In any case, a flashlight and old clothes and shoes are most helpful.
The park contains more caves than any other state park in Iowa. A beautiful trail system links the caves, formations, and overlooks while providing an exciting hiking experience. Many areas on these trails have seen new construction, making the journey to the caves safer and easier. Trail highlights include the dramatic "Natural Bridge" which stands nearly 50 feet above Raccoon Creek, and the 17-ton "Balanced Rock."
The park has a beauty all its own each season of the year. Spring wildflowers give way to the lush green growth of summer. Fall brings dramatic hues of yellow, gold, and crimson. Snow transforms the park into a winter wonderland. Whatever the season, Maquoketa Caves has something special to offer.
Mississippi Palisades
STATE PARK
Cape Florida Light
BILL BAGGS STATE PARK
The Cape Florida Lighthouse in Bill Baggs State Park is their beloved landmark, and at 95-ft tall, it stands proudly overlooking the grounds, beaches, and crystal clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.
An early lighthouse, 65-ft tall, was built in 1825, and it guided mariners off the Florida Reef, which starts near Key Biscayne and extends southward a few miles offshore of the Florida Keys. It was destroyed during the Second Seminole War of 1836. The Tower and Keeper's Cottage were later rebuilt, and in 1856 the structure was jacked up to 95-ft, the height at which it stands today. It was operated by staff with interruptions until 1878 when it was replaced by the Fowey Rocks lighthouse. The lighthouse was put back into use in 1978 by the U.S. Coast Guard to mark the Florida Channel, the deepest natural channel into Biscayne Bay. They decommissioned it in 1990.
The beautiful Lighthouse grounds and the Keeper's Cottage are open for visitors, and tours are available as well, giving you a bit of the colorful history of South Florida's oldest landmark.
My New BIG Lens
SIGMA 150-600mm CONTEMPORARY
For some months I was considering buying the Sigma 150-600mm lens. I was seeing more and more photographers on social media sharing photos taken with this lens and I thought they looked incredible. I joined a Facebook group that is exclusively for photos taken with this lens and what discouraged me a little was the comments I saw from some who said that the photos were too soft-focus. Others said that you had to calibrate the lens according to the camera you had. Added to all this was the fact that the lens is heavy; according to the specs, the lens weighs 4.03 lb / 1830 g. As for the price, although expensive, I didn't find it too bad compared to a similar genuine Canon lens which is the camera I have.
After turning the matter over and over in my head this past July, I decided to buy it. I'm very happy with it. Despite how heavy it is, I'm happy with the results. I haven't had to use the calibrator, which fortunately was included with the sale, and from the first moment, the photos have been very sharp.
I'm not an expert in this matter of lenses, nor do I consider myself a professional photographer. It's simply a hobby that I enjoy very much, especially taking pictures of nature and God's great creation.
I think I've made a great acquisition and am enjoying it very much. Maybe as I get older I'll find it even heavier; we'll see what happens in the future. I’m sharing some of the photos I've taken with this lens here.
Details of Architecture in Miami
As I've mentioned on previous occasions, I'm a great admirer of architecture and I'm especially fascinated by contemporary architecture with clean lines, geometric shapes, different angles, glass not necessarily transparent, exposure of industrial materials in combination with different textures and coatings, etc. In the next few pages are pictures I took on a recent trip I made to Miami.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to walk along Brickell Avenue and its surrounding streets. It had been many years since I had visited that area, and I was able to take some pictures of details of buildings that caught my attention. There are many new buildings in Miami and other nearby cities like Miami Beach, with impressive architecture which I would've liked to visit, but there wasn't enough time for more. Many buildings were left pending for when I have the opportunity to travel there again.
Here are some of those photos, and in the link, you can see some more: Details of Arquitecture in Miami
Sunset at the Beach
SARASOTA • FLORIDA
In August, I traveled with my wife to Miami to visit some family members, and after sharing with them for a few days, we went for three days to a beautiful beach in Sarasota. There, besides relaxing and having a good time, we had the opportunity to witness three beautiful sunsets.
What is it about a sunset that makes people stop to contemplate it? For me, when I have the opportunity to witness a sunset, it's like contemplating a collection of paintings; they change as the minutes go by until the sky is practically dark. When I contemplate a sunset, I thank God for His creation and the hope of tomorrow.
Not far from the area was Tropical Storm Fred and there was a lot of cloud cover which contributed to making every sunset spectacular. Not all sunsets are spectacular, although they all have their beauty, with the cloud cover the chances increase that the sunset will be more colorful and wonderful.
Those days at the beach were refreshing, we refilled our batteries, and I came back with my hands full of beautiful photos of those days. In the pages below I share some of them and as always in MY PORTFOLIO on the web you can see some more.
And now, as I think about those magnificent days and contemplate the photos, I can only hope that next year we can repeat a similar trip.
In My “Backyard”
HUMAN+NATURE
An outdoor art exhibit entitled Human+Nature is underway at Morton Arboretum. It inspires awe and wonders by connecting people with trees.
Internationally renowned artist Daniel Popper has created five 15-26-ft tall sculptures exclusively for the Arboretum, which are located in various locations throughout its 1,700 acres, taking visitors to areas they may not have explored before. It’s their largest exhibit to date worldwide.
On the East Side, a short walk from the Visitor Center, visitors can step into a huge female figure, as if they were in the heart of nature. Continuing along a walk of less than a mile, they encounter a majestic mother figure as tall as a tree, and a sculpture of various human facial features intertwined with root structures. On the West Side, two hands joined by intertwined roots extend near a grove of old oak trees, and a towering face evokes the interconnectedness of humans and trees. Made of concrete, fiberglass, and steel, each sculpture weighs several tons. The largest footprint on the ground is 28 feet wide and 37 feet long.
Credits:
©Francisco Montes Photography