Hey, I've been to Rock City... in Chattanooga. Have ya been there, Cher? Where is the barn located?

Yup - I was there when I was a kid. The barn is off S41 near Ft. Branch, IN.

Taken with the OLY SP-550UZ:


Contemplation7


Aloft

Something just told me to head back to the old beaver pond area I've photographed many times. Like I said, I was pulled back there by something this evening. Am I EVER glad that I listened to my voice. It was sooooooooo worth it.

wow, those are amazing.

Hey all,
I'm in the market for a new camera. What do you all have? Any other suggestions? I'm only planning on dropping about three bills on one. Thanks for the input. About the only make I've eliminated is Kodak.

And great photos, as always!
J

I really like FujiFilm point and shoot cameras. That's what I used before I got my SLR, and Jeanne uses them too.
And Bill's(as am I) partial to Panasonic Lumix cameras.

Here's a good website to look at before buying a digital camera.

I use a FujiFilm camera. A S7000 to be exact. I love my camera.

Since you have determined how much you want to spend you should determine if you want a pocket camera or something more substantial. I wanted something that felt like an SLR camera in hands.

Good luck!

i'm loving this one. my third lumix and my favorite so far...

Well thanks!

What took y'all so long???

One of my favorite things about the Fujis is that they use AA batteries, so if you're on the road somewhere and you don't have any batteries charged, you can grab some alkalines just about anywhere. But Bill & kylie are right, the Panasonic Lumix are good, too.

I'm still debating on my next camera (and might be for quite some time); I'm thinking digital SLR, but the prices are still a bit too steep for me right now.

If you're looking for zooms, you want higher optical zoom numbers. Digital zoom just magnifies the image and tends to blur anyway. Image stabilization is a good thing; unfortunately, Fuji introduced it into the 5000 series on the 5200, and mine's a 5100.

May I ask why you have eliminated Kodak? For your money, it's the BEST when it comes to color. Honest, nothing beats it. My other digi is a Kodak7590 which I still use and love as well. My other other digi is the newest from Olympus that came out in March. It's an OLY SP-550UZ, 7.1 MP, 18X zoom. Works better than the Kodak in low light situations, but the color's not near as good.

Cher

That's the one thing that I didn't think I'd like about the OLY. However, I bought a rechargeable set of AAs and then another set of four. That way I always have a fresh set when I need it.

Cher

i think that's a great feature too. i had to buy a $40 "backup" battery for the new camera. each lumix seems to use a different battery too.

I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8--which I love---

Here is some info on it and selling for a very good price at B&H Photo:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4836...tal_Camera.html

Canon PowerShot SD750 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)



Canon PowerShot SD750

I got my wife this camera this summer for an anniversary present. With a 2GB card, it was still less than $300. I read a lot of reviews and for the features, this was in the top three of this price point. And you gotta love the 3" viewing screen!

BTW, it will fit in your purse...

Personally, my digital's a little dated now, but it takes good pics still, Olympus Camedia C-5050. I've been drooling looking at the SLR Canons, but $1300 just for the camera body, another $400 for the lens and then you gotta have an 8 GB card... That's like 150 CDs! New camera and no new music next year? Nah, just can't do it...

Hey Cher,
I bought a Kodak a couple years ago and it's been nothing but trouble. Granted, it was an inexpensive model, but I just didn't care for it. Fortunately I had a warranty on it and got it replaced when it stopped working.

At your suggestion, I will look at them again. Thanks!
J

I took a little "photo road trip" today down some roads here in Soutwestern Ohio--beginning with Warren County---

This first photo is of a barn I have been passing for years now along US 42 just north of Waynesville--obviously the owner was fan of Ross Perot when he ran for President back in the dark ages:



These next photos---I just had to take--I had thought that there was no longer anyone raising tobacco left here in Ohio--this is one of the last in this area---but as I headed south and east towards the river, I saw a number of other barns filled with tobacco---I will post a few of those in a bit:





This man is obviously a dedicated tobacco farmer--he has this vanity plate on a Ford Ranger pickup:



Stopping at:


Near Cowan Lake, south of Wilmington in Clinton County for a pop and chips--I made some new friends--Jack and Kate:







In the little burg of Mt. Orab--I found this neat place selling plants and country gifts--with their fall season outdoor displays:







I found a restored, but no longer open for traffic covered bridge in Brown County:

Continuing on southward:

Heading south out of Georgetown on Ohio SR 221--the road snakes its way down the White Oak Creek valley for eight miles down to Higginsport on US Route 52 and along the "Banks of the Ohio"---

Some interesting sites include some cool barns and other buildings, and along a great deal of the route were these great stone walls---and I also saw some more tobacco, curing in a number of barns---this is not far from the river town of Ripley-a place made famous for its importance on the "Underground Railroad" back in the 1800s and it was the site of the last tobacco market in the state of Ohio.















Finally--the Ohio River and the hills of Kentucky-also a river tow makes its way downriver with a load:

Today I was on the road in a different part of the state--up in Logan and Champaign Counties--but fittingly---today's photos were taken about 100 miles north of where I was taking the photos from yesterday---in both cases--- all of these photos on both days were taken within a few miles east or west of US Route 68.

It was a nice Ohio autumn day--still warm, with a tinge of coolness in the air and now--the afternoon and evening colors are really great--saturated with deep, long shadows.

I stopped at this crossroads, high on a rise in Champaign County north and east of Urbana....





This bicyclist chugged up the hill coming from the east and by the time I set up to take a shot of him heading downhill and west--he was down it in a flash..

I found this neat old church and cemetery--according to the historical marker--there are people buried here who were veterans of the Revoluntionary War, as well as more modern ones---it has been in continous use since just before 1800-- there are burials as recent as the past few months.

You're more than welcome.

What a GREAT series of photos! Thanks for sharing your road trip with us.

Cher

Thanks Cher--so glad you like them.

I was back on the road again--this time to do a story about tobacco farming down in the southern reaches of Ohio---I got some close ups of plenty of tobacco, including the inside of a tobacco curing barn. I also have some photos of a true paddle wheeler heading down the Ohio, several shots taken at a riverside winery/restaurant and of a nice, Methodist church located near the banks of the Ohio amidst the hills of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky.

This weekend is Fall Parents' Weekend here at VU. Of course, there are MANY activities planned ... one being the Annual Tube Race on the Wabash. It's an institution of itself. I'm not sure how many years it's been held, but I've been here 20 years, and it wasn't new when I first started working here. So yeah, it CAN be considered an institution.

What follows are a few photos from today's race. Our team, the "River Rats" were the 1st to launch and the 1st out of the water. However, it's a timed race, and we placed 2nd after another residence hall team. Our objective was to beat the Nurses' team, "The Hot Shots" who, had they won this year would have taken it for the 12th time. So, we didn't mind losing to another res hall team. Actually, there was only a matter of seconds (someone said something like 4) difference between the 1st 3 places (there was a tie for 3rd between the Hot Shots and an all-faculty team called "Weapons of Mass Instruction." The River Rats also took home a trophy for best decorated. Woot!


Mohawk On the Wabash


America's Cup
Gotta love this professor's sense of humor. He was part of the "Weapons Of Mass Instruction" team.


Pre-race Jitters
This is Sonia who was a part of the River Rats. She was a bit nervous before the launch.


River Rats
And here they are!

All taken with the OLY SP-550UZ.

If you'd like to see more, follow this link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctb57/sets/72...036757807/show/

Dang it, double post. Sorry!

Here's a sample of some photos that I've taken the past couple of weeks.


White Gourd

Rather than post so many here, you can view more by visiting this link.

All taken with the OLY SP-550UZ>

Thanks for looking!

Cher

Great photos Cher-----it is fun to ramble about and find such scenes---thanks for posting them and sharing---it looks like the students had a good time taking part in the race--what river is that??

just one for now.
goodbye, summer-time.

The Wabash River. Thanks! They have a blast.

Lovely, Kylie.

Here's a couple that were taken tonight at Red Hills SP near Sumner, IL with the OLY SP-550UZ.


Turtle & Friend
I know it's a bit blurry, but I kept noticing this dragonfly buzzing 'round (the orange blur near the turtle's snout). I can't decide if the turtle was hoping for a meal, or if they're just friends!


Deer3

Thanks for looking!

Cher

very nice.

I agree completely---great photo!!

thanks folks.

the clouds were crazy beautiful that day. i couldn't help but take a detour off the ol' highway and get some photos of this here mid-west.

holy crap. makes me wish you made postcards ...

Taken with the OLY SP-550UZ:


Caught


Sassafrass

Thanks for looking!
Cher

Just a few photos I took of some native flowers found growing at Pioneer Village at Caeser's Creek State Park:

For the Apple American history buffs we may have in the Orchard--the Pioneer Village at Caeser's Creek Lake State Park--between Dayton and Cincinnati--is a collection of real pioneer era buildings found in various locations throughout southern Ohio that were slated to be destroyed but were saved---here are a few photos below of one such buidling--an old log cabin believed to be among the first in Ohio:

These 2 were having fun working on a sand castle Friday afternoon on our sand volleyball court.

Taken with the OLY SP-550UZ:


Building Castles

Thanks for looking!

Cher

i liked this one, thought it was more than just a "concert" photo...


tim easton @ st francis, louisville 10.01.2007

I would have known that shoe anywhere. Very nice photo, Bill. Would you be interested in selling a copy? I'd love to see it in B&W as well. I'm serious about whether or not you'd sell a copy - I really do like it. I was thinking possibly 11"x14"? PM or email me would yah?

Cher

sell? no, don't be silly. but, i'd be more than happy to e-mail (a high-res copy) it to you tho...

Why thanks, Bill, but I would be more than happy to pay you for it.

Cher

Fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I love the colors, the scents, and, well, the 'feel' of the season.

Taken with the OLY SP-550UZ:


Autumn Bounty1


Autumn Bounty2


Autumn Bounty3


Autumn Bounty4


Autumn Bounty5


Pumpkin Patch

This has probably got to be the oddest thing I've ever photographed:


Death

When it caught my eye, I thought at first it was a bat hanging from the line, but I couldn't figure out why a bat would have been hanging out in the open. As you can see, both feet are firmly attached to only one line, so I'm thinking it wasn't electrocuted. I sure haven't a clue, and as I said it's pretty odd.

Taken with the OLY SP-550UZ.

One more:


Waning Moon

Taken with the OLY SP-550UZ.

Very nice photos as usual Cher--and autumn in the countryside does provide for some great photogenic scenes---I also do like Bill's pic of the musician and his case---that viewpoint tells more about the scene than if he had simply taken a photo of the musican and nothing else---

I have not been out taking photos lately--I need to get back out there---

Thanks! Yup, get back out there. I went 4 days last week without be able to get out, and by the weekend I was more than ready to do some trampin.'

Thanks again.

Cher

i found this on a memory card that i had slipped in my camera case and forgot about, i kind of like it...

off broadway




it's from the trip to nashville to see OtR early last month

ACK.

You people are ridiculously talented.
Out.
J