This fall was a bit of a bummer around here this year. I got out last weekend and got some shots at Blackhand Gorge, a state nature preserve in Licking County, OH. I took my bike to move about, so I took my cheapest lens, the 28-80mm Nikkor. This was so I could have a decent zoom but still be mobile and worry free of damaging it. Also this gallery is not presented in chronological order like the others.
Blackhand Gorge has an old railroad line running through it that has been converted to a bike path. Although it is only about 4.5mi long, it provides a casual ride and scenic views of the river and cliff faces.
Bike Path, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 4:42pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 20-80mm zoomed to 44mm.
Auto mode chose 1/200th@f10, ISO400.
All the bridge abutments for the old railway line are still there. At one point a foot bridge was erected across the span of a small tributary of the Licking River. It has since been fenced off from the general public.
Abandoned foot bridge, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 4:38pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 20-80mm zoomed to 48mm.
Auto mode chose 1/60th@f8, ISO560.
The cloudless sky combined with the calm river made for some spectacular reflections on the river's surface. The lighting was too much for the D3100's brains and I had to manually set the exposure.
Licking River, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 4:50pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 28-80mm zoomed out to 28mm.
Full manual mode. 1/160th@f7.1, ISO100.
Licking River, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 4:51pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 28-80mm zoomed out to 28mm.
Full manual mode. 1/50th@f7.1, ISO100.
Licking River, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 4:58pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 28-80mm zoomed to 38mm.
Landscape mode chose 1/400th@f11, ISO400.
There is a modern rail line that now runs through the preserve. The railroad trestle stands out as though it doesn't belong, but it makes for an interesting subject.
Railroad Trestle, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 5:18pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 28-80mm zoomed to 80mm.
Full manual mode. 1/100th@f8, ISO100.
I clamored on top where the trestle crosses the river for a different perspective. From this vantage point I was able to see the bridge actually bends to the north slightly. As soon as I saw this scene I knew it was going to be a black & white photo. The nearly barren trees leave a brown and gray blah for a background, which is less than ideal.
Railroad Trestle, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 5:37pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 28-80mm zoomed out to 28mm. Cropped and desaturated with GIMP.
Full manual mode. 1/30th@f8, ISO400.
There is a sandstone quarry in the gorge. The still water combined with ideal lighting from the setting sun made for a very nice scene. This photo is actually bracketed from two photos that I combined using GIMP. When I saw this scene I wished I was shooting film instead of digital so I could get more detail in the shadows without overexposing the sky. Perhaps I need more practice and/or a better technique, but it is one thing I have not been able to shoot correctly with digital.
Sandstone Quarry, Blackhand Gorge, Licking County, OH. 5:30pm, November 5, 2011.
D3100 with 28-80mm zoomed out to 28mm.
Full manual mode.
Image #1: 1/160th@f8, ISO400
Image #2: 1/320th@f8, ISO400