First all day outing with my new D300

[spinetnglr]

Today I finally got to go out and spend some substantial time shooting with my new D300. Since I got it about 2 weeks ago I haven't had a lot of time to shoot so today was a real treat for me. I am pretty pleased with alot of the shots I got today. My knowledge about the camera and its capabilities is still in its infancy but I welcome any constructive criticism anyone has on these first real efforts.
My first stop was a local farm pond that attracts alot of geese, ducks and gulls.

After I left the farm pond I went to Staples and got another CF card bc I had a feeling I was going to need it. Upon leaving Staples I headed for the Gettysburg Battlefield which is just a little over a half hour drive for me.

Statue of Longstreet

One of the many farms located on the battlefield grounds

This is at the top of Devils Den and the sun was beginning to set directly behind me so it was casting an orange hue on the rocks and tree.

Another sunset shot. The sun was setting to the left and side lit this cannon.

And one last shot before the sun disappeared below the horizon.

I have alot more pictures to go thru. These were just some I picked out at random when I got home.

Thanks for looking
Karyl

 

[jann1033]

i like the way the light hits the cannon in the canon with the sunset, that side light gets me every time . a few yrs ago i went to Gettysburg and i have to say it creeped me out( know it's history and all but all that violence and me don't mix well) but some of the memorial statues are really incredible...and the proximity of the fighting to the farms really shocked me but it does make for some very interesting shots

 

[spinetnglr]

i like the way the light hits the cannon in the canon with the sunset, that side light gets me every time . a few yrs ago i went to Gettysburg and i have to say it creeped me out( know it's history and all but all that violence and me don't mix well) but some of the memorial statues are really incredible...and the proximity of the fighting to the farms really shocked me but it does make for some very interesting shots

I know it creeps alot of people out when they think about what happened in those fields during the Civil War but you are right its a part of all of our histories. The photo opportunities there are endless. I was surprised to see how many people were there for February. I would say there were people at all the major memorial sites and lots in their cars doing the auto tour. All in all I had a good day and didnt get creeped out too much. Devil's Den and Little Round Top are probably the most thought provoking parts of the area. The landscape there is incredibly different from where I live and its only a half hour away.

 

[Quicklabs]

x

 

[Quicklabs]

Such nice work for only your first day out with the new D300. That shot of the cannon at sunset is really lovely. I've been to Gettyburg only once and it is hard not to feel the place deep on one's heart, IMO. Wish I could have captured it on film as nicely as you did.

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Great shots Karyl. I really love the one of the farm house and also the cannon.

 

[spinetnglr]

Such nice work for only your first day out with the new D300. That shot of the cannon at sunset is really lovely. I've been to Gettyburg only once and it is hard not to feel the place deep on one's heart, IMO. Wish I could have captured it on film as nicely as you did.

Thank you for your comments. It wasnt the first day out with the D300 but when I was out before it was only to try and grab a few shots here and there. This was the first time that I spent an entire afternoon just shooting with it. Having the D40 for a year and half helped some but the D300 is WAAAAAAAY more camera with WAAAAAAAAY more buttons, menus and the like. Gettysburg is only of those places you do feel deep in your own heart. Especially when you take the auto tour and stop and visit all the different memorials erected for all the different regiments from all the different states. And the fact that the memorials are there for all soldiers .. Union and Confederate ... rememberances for those who fought for the north and those that fought for the south.

Great shots Karyl. I really love the one of the farm house and also the cannon.

Thank you !! I am sure I will be going back again as there were many things I saw that I would like to try and capture and some of the shots that I did take that didnt quite come out the way I'd hoped they would.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Very nice! I'd like to get down there one of these days. Haven't been there since I was a kid.

 

[spinetnglr]

Very nice! I'd like to get down there one of these days. Haven't been there since I was a kid.

Its actually the first time I have been there to visit the battle grounds in a long time. It was a popular field trip destination when I was kid and I have been there a few times as an adult but never with a camera. I saw lots of cameras, tripods and long lenses there this weekend. I was really surprised to see how many families were there spending the day exploring the grounds.