Sunday, February 27, 2011

Exploring Bainbridge Island Marina

Oh those green greens, blue blues and great panoramas: using your camera’s automatic landscape/panoramic mode. Information for beginning to advanced hobbyist photographers.

The Pacific Northwest is incredibly beautiful in autumn.  Maples turn orange, yellow and red against a background of light and dark fir, pine and cedars. I especially like using my camera’s automatic landscape mode to catch the vivid colors of the sunny blue sky and colorful trees. 

Automatic landscape/panoramic mode is designed to capture scenic vistas, city skylines, and other large scale objects.  It’s designed to keep both objects close to the camera and in the distance in sharp focus.  Check your camera's manual for information on setting this mode.


My afternoon spent photographing Bainbridge Island Marina


Bainbridge Island, WA is located in the central Puget Sound basin. It’s beautiful!  It is east of Bremerton, WA and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and west of Seattle.  The Washington State Ferry System runs daily Ferries from Seattle to Bainbridge IslandWhen I take the Ferry across the Sound to Seattle I feel like I’m on a vacation get-away.

The island is approximately five miles (8 km) wide and ten miles (16 km) long. Of the 16 islands in Puget Sound it is one of the largest. 

I always love photo outings on the IslandThere's always something new and exciting to photograph, especially the wildlife. The marina is tucked into the beautiful tree-lined Eagle Harbor Cove


The auto landscape mode does several helpful things when you’re shooting outside.  This mode produces a large area of sharp focus. It boosts colors and contrast slightly.  It also produces rich, bold hues that we want in our landscape (panoramic) photos.  Greens and blues are emphasized.




Bainbridge Island Boathouse







Turquoise!  

As my hubby and I wandered around the marina taking photos we spotted this darling little boat with what I dubbed the lazy daisy boat cover.  My camera’s auto landscape mode really made the colors on the boat cover pop! 


I'd love to own a little boat like this!  It made me think of Edward Lear's nursery rhyme the Owl and the Pussycat. But I settled for taking several photos and we moved on down the dock.



Lazy Daisy

We heard splashing and barking behind us, turned around and saw these adorable little Puget Sound Harbor Seals playing on the dock jumping in and out of boats and the water.  Harbor seals are the most abundant marine mammal in Puget Sound. They are curious but shy animals.


Adorable!

I was able to quickly capture them with my camera before they got away.  Photographing them was a challenge!  They were friendly and let me get reasonably close.  I was using my telephoto lens so “close” was still some distance away. 


Bye Bye, Time For Oyster Dinner

They kept wiggling around which caused some blurring in the photos. Blur was also caused from the dimming afternoon light and using my telephoto lens without a tripod. I could have changed my lens and grabbed my tripod but I settled for the blurring. I was afraid they’d jump into the Sound and swim off for a nice oyster dinner before I could get any photos of them. 


So, the next time you are out photographing landscapes, cityscapes and other scenic vistas remember to set your camera on auto landscape mode.




Seals are protected from killing by the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to hunt, capture, kill, harass or otherwise disturb seals or any other marine mammal.  You may photograph and view from a distance.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a lovely day you had! Beautiful photos.

Veronica said...

I'd love to live in your area of the country! These are beautiful photos.

Mary said...

Cute little sea otters and crazy daisy boat cover. But the first photo is an award winner! Would be great as a book cover or for a magazine article.

Unknown said...

Oh Mari these images are gorgeous but then coming from you I wouldn't expect any less xoxo

Kate E. said...

Great picture Mari- love the otters!

Anonymous said...

Mari,
Thank you for visiting, I have not updated this too much in the past year.
I will have to remedy the situation...Your images of the beautiful part of the world you live are wonderful.

Lizzie

Sneha said...

Wow...it is so beautiful

Unknown said...

Hi I started following you today.. Love the images of Bainbridge WA. We were in Washington twice but never there. Love the Otter shots. http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/2011/02/aarons-journey-living-with-leukemia-my.html

SKIZO said...

Wonderful
work
good creations

JIM said...

God I love Washington.. It really came down to it or Florida for our move and I'm very happy here but will be back to visit !! Great post and images..love the first one.. ( wish I took it)
Jim

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

Jim - my Mom lived in Naples, Fl for years. I loved vacationing there in the winter - perfect in every way with the gulf beaches and weather. The Seattle area in summer is ideal though with our (usually) 85 degree temps and cool Puget Sound breezes. Best of both worlds!

The first photo is one of my best sellers on my photo sales site. Thank you for the compliments.
Mari

Flameheart said...

Great photos. Great post! I love the vivid colours and the gorgeous seals:-) As an amateur photographer, these are truly inspiring...

Unknown said...

Wonderful! I love these photos!!!

Jennie said...

Lovely photos! Thanks for visiting my blog at wanderwoman0001! I will come back read some more. I do like taking photos and would love to improve on it!

Thanks!

Jennie- Wanderwoman0001.blogspot.com

Shannon Young said...

These are great photos! I think boats make such beautiful pictures. Thank you for commenting on my blog so that I could find yours!

goodhealthdiva said...

I love the pictures with the otters! Too cute the ones in the boat! It's sweet to end my day with those images now in my mind! Thanks for capturing

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!

cooking-varieties said...

hi mari, such beautiful photos. the otters look so alive- very sharp details.. need to learn about photography from your blog..have a wonderful day :)

Alida Sharp said...

Your photos are incredible! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am following you on Networked blogs as well!

Dizzydooty said...

Your photographs are simply breathtaking. I really feel like I am there.

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

Thank you all for the kind words. It will keep me motivated. But mostly, I hope you all learn some new tips to help you with your photography.

Unknown said...

Wow, the only animal that is that cool around people where I stay are squirrels. Love the otter picture

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

Xay B.- thank you for the compliment. Your photography is amazing. You have quite a career ahead of you.

Regards - Mari

Gio' e Sandry said...

congratulations for the excellent photographs.
Ciao
Gio'

Gio' e Sandry said...

congratulations for the excellent photographs.
Ciao
Gio'

Mari S. Wilbur said...

Xay B.- thank you for the compliment. Your photography is amazing. You have quite a career ahead of you.

Regards - Mari