First light at Tropical Park.
Tropical Park is one of the many popular urban parks here in the city of Miami. I did not know that there was a race track in that same lands that was built in 1931. Here in Miami I knew of the Hialeah Race Track that now is not operational but it was a famous race track in the past.
The park is a very popular spot for families, especially during the weekends when traffic gets tricky. It has numerous paved pathways for the enjoyment of cyclists, joggers and runners.
Tropical Park happens to be a favorite spot for me too. I have shot often its sunsets over the lakes with those beautiful red colors of winter. Landscape photography is part of my enjoyment and the park does not disappoint. There are four lakes within the park, an equestrian center that hosts over thirty shows a year, some of them international. In November through early January a large part of the park is used for what is called "Santa's Enchanted Forest" geared to children and families and hosting a giant Christmas tree and numerous rides for the children to enjoy.
Feeling kind of "rusty" after taking care of my wife for over ten days, who just had the flu I got up early and I was there by 6:30 AM, still dark and instead the parking lot in front of one of the lakes was busy. Across the lake is the Palmetto Expressway always very busy at rush hour and the sun happens to rise in that direction. When I saw the first light I stepped out of my car with my carbon fiber tripod in hand fitted with a Linhof ballhead and headed in the direction of the lake and its surroundings watching for opportunities to photograph. I used my Nikon D610 and two lenses, the 12-24 f4 AF-S which is a DX lens but I use its focal lengths between 18 and 24mm without vignettes. I also used the old 70-210 f4-5.6 from the early 80's that keeps on amazing me with the quality of its images when I have done my part. ISO settings varied between 400 and 800, that dark it was. I use Nikon View NX2 for my initial editing of the RAW data and Affinity Photo for retouching while Topaz Adjust AI is used for enhancement of images when needed. I tend to use presets but I modify them to make the photograph look more natural to the eye.
1- Sunrise over the Palmetto Expressway. 70-210 lens.
2- Moon setting. This was happening to my extreme right from the sunrise. 70-210 lens.
3- Weed growing in the lake at first light with color reflection. 70-210 lens.
4- A warning sign to visitors. I have never seen an alligator there but eventually I will. Note Spanish and Creole (Haiti) warnings. 12-24 lens.
5- An Ibis fishing. They are very common this time of year. 70-210 lens.
6- One of the many paved paths enjoyed by joggers and cyclists. 70-210 lens to compress perspective.
Really nice! And no sign of rust!
yorkiebyte
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR
Very well done! Great use of open space and post-work.
#3 is a fascinating abstract. Love it!
I'm with Linda on this, I really like #3.
I want to thank you all for your interesting and kind comments. No.3 was a gift from God. I did not have to move from my original spot to see the colorful reflection of the sky in the lake.
It was kind of humid and there was not a breeze. I was feeling uncomfortable but I still managed to take a few more shots before heading home for a shower.
This is a shot of the setting moon. I used the palms in the foreground to add to the visual design. 12-24 f4 lens.
Very nice set, but #3 is the star!
A10
Loc: Southern Indiana
Really like the 3rd photo.
Beautiful images, and I especially like the second one!
Really great shots! Thanks!
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