New Camera Lens

This week I purchased a new camera lens, a Canon 70mm - 300mm IS Auto Focus. I have been trying it out, playing with it, finding the sweet spot, etc. The photo below of the train was taken with it, as was the photo of a hawk that I found sitting on my deck railing. I am also working with a new editing program, Adobe Lightroom 3. The vignetting on both photos were added by me. It's a feature in Lightroom that I don't know if I like or not, but I can play with it.

I have also been doing some work on my Kansas City Icons project and these three new photos to ad to the collection.

Union Station and Block Fountain

The Iconic Western Auto Sign

Bucking Bronco in Barny-Allis Plaza 

Westsiders Dance Team

Last night I had the privilege of attending the Topeka West vs Hayden football game. My granddaughter Lacee preforms with the Westsiders Dance Team and I took lots of pictures. I am sharing three pictures here and the rest can be viewed at betterbill photography. While viewing the pictures keep in mind that Lacee is the prettiest one.


From my standpoint as a photographer this was a great learning experience. I had to continually change camera settings all night long as the sun went down and the day became night. I had to use a lot of combinations of aperture, shutter speed and ISO to get a good exposure and still stop most of the action. Towards the end of the game the shutter speed was slow enough as to blur some of the pom pom action, but I think this added interest to the shot.


I hope you enjoy the photos. You can see more of the dance team photos at my photo sight click on the Lacee 2010 album.

Flint Hills Photo-Cycle Tour

This past weekend I was able to indulge myself in two of my greatest passions, photography and cycling. Emporia, KS cyclist and photographer Eric Benjamin led a group of us on a tour of the Flint Hills and schooled us in photography as well. I had a great time cycling over the rocks and dirt/mud roads in the Flint Hills. This is not the type of cycling I usually do, but really enjoy the change of pace and scenery. I also picked up some things that will really help my photography. Below are some of the shots. You can find more of them at www.betterbill.smugmug.com, click on the Flint Hills 2010 album.

Kansas one room school house

Sunrise over Camp Wood

Nelson-Atkins Museum Of Art with Shuttlecocks

I canceled my planned bike ride for today due to gale force winds. Instead I got up early and went to The Nelson-Atkins Museum Of Art and took some photos. This may take another trip because I am not real happy with most of them.

Nelson-Atkins Museum with shuttlecocks

The Thinker by Rodin guards the entrance to Nelson-Atkins

Kansas City Icons 2

I had some spare time this afternoon so I went downtown to scout out good places to take photos of some of Kansas City's icons. The sun was out wall to wall so not a very good light, but I did find some good vantage points to return to and also took some snaps that turned out not bad. I do think most of these will look better in early morning or twilight/nite.

Downtown skyline with Bartle Hall Space Objects

Space Objects

Sprint Center

I'm Back!

After a three or four month absence from my photo blog I am back and will frequently be posting here. The reason for my absence is a Trans America bike ride. You can find out more about it at my TransAm Blog. I have posted all of my TransAm photos on my SmugMug site, click on the TransAm 2010 album.

I am going to spend more time on photography now and hopefully learn some new things like how to capture good HDR photos.

My first attempt at HDR an photo

One of my new projects is to photograph icons of Kansas City. Images that when you see them you will immediately thing of Kansas City especially if you have spent some time here.

Nichols Fountain on the Country Club Plaza

Close up of a portion of Nichols Fountain

Hey Ladies here I am!

I went to Shawnee Mission Park this morning to find something interesting to photograph. What to my wondering eye should appear but this big tom turkey in full strut. I did the best I could whith my 28-135mm kit lens, but oh how I wished I had a longer lens. I have a 70-300mm zoom on my Christmas list, so watch out next spring big guy 'cause I know where you hang out.

BetterBill