Straight Eight Cucumber

After picking a few of the straight eight cucumbers this summer I have realized mine are not going to resemble either of those descriptions. A straight eight cucumber is supposed to be long and straight, about 7-8 inches. The first fruit was really fat and short, and while I waited on it to grow, it turned yellow and became compost food. This time I picked it when it looked about right, just not straight or eight. Here is the picture I got of it. On the right side you can see it oozing from the fresh cut. Click on the image below to see the hi-res version on my website.

Based on some articles online this shape is due to a lack of bees getting their pollinating on. I have definitely noticed a lack of bees this year for some reason or another.

Thanks,

Carson Matthews
www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

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Cat Photography

Cat photography has never been on my radar. I didn’t have a cat growing up and have pretty much been scared of cats my entire adult life. It’s not an unwarranted fear, they really seem to hate me. Showing houses I have had cats just walk up and bite me on the ankle, leap across the room and shred my mls paperwork, just harassing me. They love to be in my face, almost certainly aware of my fear.

Well this week we got a cat. We adopted her from our neighbor who fostered 5 kittens since they were found about two weeks old under a neighbor’s back deck. Her name is Poppy and she is pretty unbelievable! We are 4 days in and everyone in our family is in love with her, including Cody the Goldendoodle who was also adopted about 6 years ago; maybe he feels a connection with her…

I’m excited about the opportunity to photograph her as she grows from a kitten into a cat. Her markings are really beautiful, and something I assume sets every cat apart. One thing I really like are the five stripes down the back of her head and neck. What made her jump out to me at first was her white paws and the white splotch on her chest. We almost named her Boots because of her white paws, but after a slew of name ideas and changes we landed on Poppy. Watching her play around the name really fits her, she loves to pop around chasing her tail, shadow or whatever has her immediate attention.

Check back here to see how her little kitty life evolves, I will do my best to photograph her often. Hi-res images can be seen and purchased at http://www.carsonmatthewsphotography.com/Photography/Pets/

Thanks,

Carson Matthews
Carson Matthews Photography

Pictures of the Chastain Park Playground

Yesterday we took the kids to check out the newly renovated Chastain Park Playground. You can read all about it at ChastainParkBlog.com. Here are a few of the pictures I got of the new playground, it’s truly one of a kind. More pictures are on my website www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com/ChastainPark

 

Thanks,
Carson Matthews

 

Elf on the Shelf 2015

Rudy the Elf on the Shelf is happy to have a Christmas tree to hide in. Photographed while watching U2 play in Paris. As I type this they are teasing Burning Down the House with a cool lady moving in mysterious ways.

Water In and Around Atlanta

Over the past 6 weeks I have been taking a photography class at the Showcase School here in Atlanta.  We had to choose a project for the class and I decided to document some of the bodies of water in and around Atlanta.  A few examples that I photographed are the Chattahoochee River, Nancy Creek, Lake Clara Meer, the Pond in Atlantic Station, and the Chastain Park Pond.  Here are some of the photographs from my project:

These images and many more are available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

Midtown Atlanta Skyline over Piedmont Park’s Lake Clara Meer

I have been taking the 103 class at Showcase here in Atlanta and as part of the class we had an ongoing project that was due at the end.  My project was on the bodies of water in Atlanta.  This was the final picture I took, and it is in Piedmont Park overlooking Lake Clara Meer with the Midtown Atlanta skyline in the background.  This is 9 images combined using SNS-HDR.  I think it turned out pretty well.  My teachers critique was that my black point was too high and by reducing it I may be able to bring out more details near the base of the trees in the distance.  Having said that I’m not sure I would change it.  I like the richness of the image and can live with the darks.  Your thoughts are always welcome.

HDR Halloween Yard Decorations

Today we capped off Fall Break by decorating the front yard with some Halloween decorations.  Here’s a shot of the scary grave yard.

City of Atlanta Skyline Fogged Over

This morning the fog was thick in Atlanta, and even at 9:30 am it was still hanging low.  I was on my way to Decatur on Freedom Parkway and saw the City was still engulfed so I jumped over to the Jackson Street Bridge and caught this shot.  You can view what it typically looks like here http://picturesofatlanta.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/hdr-atlanta-skyline/

Prints of this image are available for purchase at www.CarsonMatthewsPhotography.com

City of Atlanta Skyline SNS HDR

The picture above was processed using SNS-HDR.  I also use Photomatix a lot to process HDR shots, and here is what it came out looking like.  I’d be interested to hear which one you prefer.  I like the one out of SNS better, it just feels cleaner to me.  Let me know what you think.

City of Atlanta Skyline HDR Photomatix

Wild Mushrooms

This morning I was walking around Chastain Park and came across these cool mushrooms dancing in the morning sun.

Wild Atlanta Mushrooms

Atlanta Falcons Defeat the Carolina Panthers 30-28

Today the Atlanta Falcons moved to 4-0 on the season with a win over Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.  We were lucky to be sitting in a suite hosted by 790 the Zone and Star 94.  I got a few pictures, one wide angle HDR shot of the dome, a couple of field goals including the winning field goal with 10 seconds remaining in the game.

 

 

 

Swimming at Chastain Pool

Last weekend we took our new GoPro out for a spin at Chastain Pool. We had a lot of fun trying it out and getting some underwater footage.

 

Carson Matthews

Thanksgiving Turkey Preparation Timelapse Video

Here is a iPhone 6 timelapse video of our Thanksgiving turkey preparation on Thanksgiving morning. After this it went into the Big Green Egg for several hours and came out perfect!

Timelapse Compilation of Sunrise and Weather

Here is a video compilation of time-lapse videos out of our front window. Our house faces East so we get great sunrises and a consistent look at clouds and storms moving through.

Sunset over the Chattahoochee River

Here is a picture of the sun tonight as it began setting over the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta. This shot was taken from the East Palisades Trail of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area looking west to Cobb Parkway as it crossed the Hooch.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8

70mm f/8.0 5 frames processed in Photomatix and Lightroom

Saturday Down South

Saturday Down South