Last week was one of the busiest weeks we had at work in years.  Worked 74 hours in 5 days which of course left no time to update much less read anyone else’s blogs.  The good news is that Marcus’s daughter was just released this weekend from the hospital after being there for 9 days.  This also was really the first time that I got to play with my new 7D which I received a good week ago and I have to say boy am I happy that I decided to upgrade.  I will give more of a review when I have used it for more than a week though but the auto focus system on that camera is fast fast fast!!

Marcus and I finally did get together for a short time this weekend and we visited Loch Raven Resevoir as well as the Historic Hampton Mansion located near Hunt Valley MD.  Loch Raven Resevoir provides most of the drinking water for the City of Baltimore and it was originally built as a Dam in 1881.  The lake also serves as a park for families to enjoy.  On its 2,400 acres you can find shooting ranges, numerous trails and picnic areas.

We were only here for about an hour because it was rather chilly near the water due to the high wind and we were not prepared for the conditions.  Once we decided to call it quits due to our hands becoming a little numb we headed out only to run into a police officer.   His name was mike and it just happens that he was watching us for awhile and he wanted to let us know a little about the numerous birds that could be found at the reservoir.  Turns out he is an amateur photographer and he pulled out his iphone and I have to say he had some of the most amazing photos of birds that I have seen taken on a phone period!!  Granted he is at this park 12 hours a day for 4 days a week but still I could not believe that they were all taken on his iphone.  He mentioned that he has come across the Wilson Storm Petrel, Red Tailed Hawk and a Red-winged Blackbird.  We chatted with him for a good 1/2 an hour and we decided then and there that we would come back when we had a good portion of a day to spend there.

These are just a few of the shots that I took while I was there and I will be posting the shots that Marcus took tomorrow.

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length85 mm
Max lens aperturef/1.4
Exposure1/2500 at f/4.5
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length250 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.7
Exposure1/1250 at f/5.6
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length250 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.7
Exposure1/1250 at f/5.6
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length250 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.7
Exposure1/1250 at f/5.6
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length250 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.7
Exposure1/640 at f/5.6
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length250 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.7
Exposure1/1250 at f/5.6
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length250 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.7
Exposure1/2500 at f/5.6
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length55 mm
Max lens aperturef/4
Exposure1/1250 at f/4
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length85 mm
Max lens aperturef/1.4
Exposure1/2500 at f/4.5
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length179 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.4
Exposure1/2500 at f/5.6
ISO 250

Trying to make a Lexus commercial Canon EOS 7D
Focal length55 mm
Max lens aperturef/4
Exposure1/3200 at f/4
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length55 mm
Max lens aperturef/4
Exposure1/2500 at f/4
ISO 250

Canon EOS 7D
Focal length85 mm
Max lens aperturef/1.4
Exposure1/500 at f/4.5
ISO 250

Yeah I know this does not fit the theme but I thought it was a cool shot of Marcus's ear