Derek McAllister Photography: January 2025

Friday, January 10, 2025

11/25/2024 - Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

A beautiful day at the end of November in Central New York doesn't happen often, so I took advantage of it. Don't get me wrong, as bright and sunny as it was, there was still a little chill in the air with the temperature around 50F. But, my third trip to Montezuma was a big success as I was able to get some pictures that I've wanted long ago when I was still taking pictures with my dad's Pentax film camera...

Parking Location: Montezuma national Wildlife Refuge

Site Notes: The visitor center is accessible with views from the wrap around deck. You can also get some excellent views by driving around the Wildlife Drive "loop".

Time: 12:54; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop
Note: The sandhill cranes were very numerous and loud near the visitor center.

Time: 13:11; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm
Note: A blue heron in some deep water.

Time: 13:12; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm
Note: He got lunch!

Time: 13:16; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop

Time: 13:17; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm
Note: A pied-billed grebe, the last trip to the refuge was my first time seeing one.

Time: 13:19; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm
Note: A northern shoveler, first time seeing one of these!

Time: 13:19; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop
Note: A canvasback, another first for me.

Time: 13:23; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop
Note: I don't think the smaller bird is a female mallard that is being bullied by a gadwall duck.

Time: 13:23; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop
Note: You can see the gadwall on top of the mallard. I watched this for 10 minutes.

Time: 13:25; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop

Time: 13:34; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 550mm
Note: A picture of a Bald Eagle has been a dream of mine for a very long time, I got 2!

Time: 13:34; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 550mm

Time: 13:36; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm

Time: 13:37; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop

Time: 13:40; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm

Time: 13:41; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS;
Focal Length: 600mm + Crop

Sunday, January 5, 2025

11/24/2024 - Northeast Classic Car Museum, Some of The Rest

This will be my final post. As I said with the first post, I'm not posting all that I edited just my favorites. I did the other posts because it is difficult to pick as I was able to capture a lot of really cool pictures of cars with character. If you were to go to the museum, you would see the progression through the years. All cars started out looking like what they were, carriages without a horse. The next phase was that they all looked similar with long noses and huge circular headlights that my camera kept confusing as eyes. After that, they continued to look similar but much more smoothed out with sweeping curves and headlights integrated into the body of the car. Personality started to show in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Sure, each manufacturer had cars that looked similar to the competition but they were different enough that you could tell what brand and model it was with a quick glance. This continued until the 1990s where cars all became very bland and similar because of the focus on aerodynamics.

Parking Location: Northeast Classic Car Museum
Site Notes: Fully accessible with very wide aisles between the cars. Some areas are a little dimly lit so use caution if walking.

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: Probably my favorite classic car though I would prefer it in black...

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

11/17/2024 - Northeast Classic Car Museum, Is That Safe?

One of the things I find fascinating about a lot of these classic vehicles is what appears to be a complete lack of concern for safety. This post is showing those that I question the safety on. They make me wonder just how many were injured or killed in these vehicles and really tells the story of safety initiatives that were likely started because of them.

Parking Location: Northeast Classic Car Museum
Site Notes: Fully accessible with very wide aisles between the cars. Some areas are a little dimly lit so use caution if walking.

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: That is a Stanley Steamer, a steam powered car!

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: A motorcycle for a family of 4?

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: Leather belts on each side of the car...

11/17/2024 - Northeast Classic Car Museum, Motorcycles

The the museum is focused on cars, there are several motorcycles on display as well. Some of these aren't what you would consider to be fully restored, but that doesn't reduce my amazement at seeing them. I just find it amazing what people would ride just so they didn't need to peddle! They are all tagged with a number and there is a flyer with information based on the number, but I didn't scan it in.

Parking Location: Northeast Classic Car Museum
Site Notes: Fully accessible with very wide aisles between the cars. Some areas are a little dimly lit so use caution if walking.

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

11/17/2024 - Northeast Classic Car Museum, Franklin

The museum has a poster showing how many different car brands were produced in New York. I considered taking a picture of it, but there are so many listed that you wouldn't be able to read any of them. My assumption is that it would be the same in most states. Franklin cars is a brand that was produced in Syracuse and the museum has the largest collection of them. Here are a few of them...

Parking Location: Northeast Classic Car Museum
Site Notes: Fully accessible with very wide aisles between the cars. Some areas are a little dimly lit so use caution if walking.

Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S