Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
My World is Spinning Out of Control
and I love it!

During last month's trip to Amami Ooshima (a southern-Japan island in the East China Sea), the big attraction for Anthony at our hotel was a swing. Out behind the gift shop was a spooky-style tree with three swings hanging from it, and a bunch of netting above to allow kids to climb its expansive branches in safety.

Spooky Tree and Swings

His favorite by far was the orange buoy, which he sat on while I pushed or swung him around.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100, fill flash — map & image data — nearby photos
Holding on for Dear Life

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/1000 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Exposure Was a Challenge
especially during the few times the sun peeked out
( Lightroom's “fill light” helped when I forgot to use fill flash )

Of course, focus and composition were also a challenge, doing everything with one hand while pushing him with the other, all the while having a cold.

Having a nice view helped.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/2500 sec, f/7.1, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
View from the Swings

Besides the swing that climbing on the rocks, Anthony also really enjoyed playing with other kids who happened to be staying at the same time....

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 26 mm — ¹/60 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Silly Times with New Friends

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Saying “Bye”

The day we left, we went to say “bye” to the boys he'd been playing with, and found them by the swings getting ready for some snorkeling. His way of saying “bye” was to get pushed super high on the swing, saying “watch!”. Kids are the same all over.

The big huge spooky tree with the swings seemed perfect for climbing, but, quite surprisingly, Anthony had very little interest. He tried it once, and returned to the swings.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — ¹/180 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Tentative