Exploration of a Sugar Maple Tree

Because the global pandemic has kept me working remotely, I am "seeing" this maple tree for the first time.

Under normal circumstances, at this time of year (fall) and at this time of day, I would be in my car or on a train on my way to work or already at work. By the time I return home from work, it would be dark outside. Because the global pandemic has kept me working remotely, I am "seeing" this sugar maple (Acer saccharum) tree in my backyard for the first time. I read that Sugar maples have a fall foliage colour range from yellow to orange to red, but this specimen is mostly yellow.

Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 41.4 mm | f/9.0 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation
Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/8.0 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation
Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/2.8 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation
Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/2.8 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation
Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/5.0 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation
Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/4.0 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation
Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/9.0 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation
Wednesday 11 November, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | f/6.4 | Fuji Velvia Film Simulation

Submitted for the 100DaysToOffload project.

Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 2: Velvia

Ritchie Roesch recently announced his Film Simulation Challenge, which requires that the photographer load her camera with one film simulation recipe, capturing either 24 or 36 frames before changing settings. The photographer is forced to shoot with that one "roll" of the film until that roll is completely exposed. Ritchie's post from today reminded me that I had not yet submitted an entry.

My first roll for the challenge I used a roll of Kodachrome II while walking around the main street in Hightstown. But this time, I used a modified version of Ritchie's Fujifilm X-T30 Velvia Film Simulation Recipe. The Fujifilm X-T2 lacks the Color Chrome Effect setting that is available on the Fujifilm X-T3/X-T30. All of the images in this post are straight out of the camera. I love how the colours of the flowers and the fruit "pop." Next year, I'll make a note to use this recipe to shoot the early spring foliage and flowers with an additional mental not to use it this fall for foliage.

I captured some photographs at the Montgomery Farmers' Market then drove to Hollow Road, where I parked my car and walked down to the rock bed of the Rock Brook. As usual, the sound of the water rushing over the rocks and the wind blowing in the trees set me at ease. I was relaxed, noticing how green everything was and the lack of flowers. The occasional bright yellow butterfly floated by on the wind, too quick to photograph. I followed their flight through the trees into the distance.

The silence was broken by the sound of my iPhone, a call from my sister-in-law, inquiring how my wife was feeling after her surgery yesterday. We chatted and made plans to take my nephews out for a wander in the woods to my photographic hideouts. On my way home, I stopped in at Hobler Park. I captured some images of art installation and the yarrow flowers, the only thing in bloom at this point in the high heat and humidity of August.

Here are the keepers from my roll of 24. I used a 10 stop neutral density filter to capture the images of the water on the Rock Brook.


Other entries in this challenge series.

Frame 5, Tomatoes, Montgomery Friends Farmers' Market, Skillman —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, 0.003 sec at f/3.6, ISO200), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 6, Rock Brook, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (16 mm, 8.500 sec at f/8.0, ISO200), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 8, Rock Brook, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (16 mm, 0.017 sec at f/8.0, ISO200), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 11, Rock Brook, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (27.4 mm, 8.500 sec at f/8.0, ISO200), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 12, Rock Brook, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, 13.000 sec at f/8.0, ISO200), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 14, Rock Brook, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, 0.018 sec at f/8.0, ISO200), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 19, Rock Brook, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, 0.000 sec at f/8.0, ISO8000), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 22, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (37.6 mm, 0.000 sec at f/8.0, ISO8000), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 20, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (29.2 mm, 0.000 sec at f/8.0, ISO8000), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 23, Hollow Road, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (37.6 mm, 0.000 sec at f/8.0, ISO8000), © Khürt L. Williams
Frame 31, Hobler Park, Great Road,, Skillman, Montgomery Township —FujiFilm X-T2 + XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, 0.000 sec at f/2.8, ISO200), © Khürt L. Williams