pbraymond wrote:
Jay, nice to see you back from quite an absence.
Colin, bummer about the baggage. I've been fortunate so far, but we always try to fly carry-on only. A little restrictive at times but balanced out by no baggage check in, no waiting on baggage, and no lost luggage.
Thanks for the fern comments. I will post a B&W version, currently only have a faux IR one that I like but has lost quite a bit of detail and texture, so I want to play around a little more. Until then, some flower shots for flower season. It's forecasted in the high 80's / low 90's all week, and I think today is day 10 without rain, so spring flower season may be done except for the watered gardens.
AdaptedLenses wrote:
I appreciate it and to be honest it doesn’t bother me, love this board in particular because it drifts between imagery and true friendship. It wasn’t meant as a criticism or issue, it should be celebrated! But there’s a active and long standing core that’s knows each other on a personal level (or at least almost!) That’s impressive on the modern internet but also intimidating to folks that haven’t posted here before.
It’s a feature, not a bug! But something worth mentioning.
I am sure this is both the cause and effect that created the duration of this thread. So many years have passed and members float in and out in flux with their current life situations. We always recognize past friends and welcome new friends with pleasure. Hop in and enjoy! You are already a friend!
It is easier/quicker than trying to align the cutout for the ball stem to a single notch. It does not lower the perspective. There are other advantages, but they aren't paying me enough to do sales.
leighton w wrote:
Speaking of the L plates, what is the advantage of using one over simply turning your camera into portrait mode via the ball head?
leighton w wrote:
Speaking of the L plates, what is the advantage of using one over simply turning your camera into portrait mode via the ball head?
I can think of a few that have benefitted me before.
1. As Colin indicated, more stability, especially with smaller heads and tripods as it keeps the weight directly over the center of the tripod.
2. Maintains the horizontal axis of the lens (and most of the vertical axis) when changing from horizontal to vertical, especially when doing landscape type foreground element composition. Of course, this is only if maintaining the axis is important to the composition.
3. Allows vertical pano's from a panning type ballhead with little displacement in the horizontal axis. Of course, to do panos really correctly, one is supposed to find the nodal point of the camera/lens setup.
4. With small ballheads, larger cameras, and shooting a tripod fully splayed out for a low angle, it allows full horizontal panning with the camera in vertical orientation without conflicting with the legs; this is very rare, occured only with my ultra-light backpacking setup in the past personally. If you mismatch ballhead diameters with tripod head mounting platform diameter (I don't know why anyone would do this), it still allows for vertical shots as well.
5. RRS system has (had?) a flash arm that mounted on the vertical portion of the L-plate.
Ray,
Something tells me you know the advantages of 6061 T6 aluminum. Got to say I was shocked at how light, how hard, and how resistant to bending these L-brackets are made. I was stuck on the 1980s era chromed trailer hitch sized Manfrotto pistol grip and half-inch trapezoidal mounting slabs/plates. What ball heads, and carbon fiber tripods do you recommend? Seems I am behind the times.
Jim
pbraymond wrote:
I can think of a few that have benefitted me before.
1. As Colin indicated, more stability, especially with smaller heads and tripods as it keeps the weight directly over the center of the tripod.
2. Maintains the horizontal axis of the lens (and most of the vertical axis) when changing from horizontal to vertical, especially when doing landscape type foreground element composition. Of course, this is only if maintaining the axis is important to the composition.
3. Allows vertical pano's from a panning type ballhead with little displacement in the horizontal axis. Of course, to do panos really correctly, one is supposed to find the nodal point of the camera/lens setup.
4. With small ballheads, larger cameras, and shooting a tripod fully splayed out for a low angle, it allows full horizontal panning with the camera in vertical orientation without conflicting with the legs; this is very rare, occured only with my ultra-light backpacking setup in the past personally. If you mismatch ballhead diameters with tripod head mounting platform diameter (I don't know why anyone would do this), it still allows for vertical shots as well.
5. RRS system has (had?) a flash arm that mounted on the vertical portion of the L-plate.
Here is today's installment of IR photos from, in order of appearance, the 50 f/1.4 SC, the 18 f/3.5 Ai-s, and the 24 f/2.8 NC. The first two were taken last Saturday at the Forbidden Plateau (where there was still quite a lot of melting snow), and the third is my final image from Bald Mountain.
James Markus wrote:
Ray,
Something tells me you know the advantages of 6061 T6 aluminum. Got to say I was shocked at how light, how hard, and how resistant to bending these L-brackets are made. I was stuck on the 1980s era chromed trailer hitch sized Manfrotto pistol grip and half-inch trapezoidal mounting slabs/plates. What ball heads, and carbon fiber tripods do you recommend? Seems I am behind the times.
Jim
Jim, it's been awhile since I did my research and purchasing. Most of my support system is old, but works well for what I need. I've mostly used carbon fiber tripods from Gitzo (rock solid, maybe not as full featured as others), and one Feisol that was very reliable. If you get used twist lock legs, be sure to get the ones that lock in 1/4 turn, and not the old style ones that took a lot of turns. My current most used legs are the Gitzo 2545T. I also have a 3 series Gitzo that is crazy steady, plus a very old Series 0 Gitzo aluminium that is my backpacking tripod. Previous Gitzos included the Series 2 Mountaineer which was great except my older version had the "many turns" twist locks.
As for heads, I've use Linhof Profi II (small backpacking head), RRS BH-40, BH-55, and the matching Gitzo GH1382QD head to the 2545t legs that allow if to fully close over itself for a compact travel kit. If I recall correctly a couple of the Markins M10/20 are pretty decent too. Most of these are old/outdated/no longer made, so I'm not sure if they are a good value compared to the more current / newer heads. All heads are compatible with the Arca Swiss QR and plate system.
A pretty current guide to legs (at least for the priorities I value) can be found here:
I thought I was all set support wise, until I spied a Peak Design CF tripod in the shots of a certain North Carolinian a while back, who proceeded to tell me that it worked pretty well. And if it was good enough for him for really compact packing purposes, it made me think...... maybe I need one too. Traces of "The Devil" I tell ya.
Colin, this first one is the favorite so far from your trip to the wedding. Just outstanding.
---------------------------------------------
HCE HCE wrote:
Colin - Nice light in the 1st photograph, the second looks like the Michelin Man had an accident!
Valley of Fire
Jay, love your processing to tame the harsh sun. I was there in April and still working out how to process the mid-day light.
---------------------------------------------
James Markus wrote:
Chives are blooming (D800 85mm f1.4 ais +TC-16a)
Your skill in the capture, and PP, certainly makes the 85 and TC combination shine! IIRC that was the combo as well in your most recent grandchild shots.
Pulled this old shot out of the archive, nearly 4 years old now. Interactions between children and animals at zoos are very fascinating, and my children tend to get more than most as they're very good at observing patiently and not getting in a rush.
We were at the local zoo walking through a river exhibit and I noticed the alligator was watching the children very closely as they quietly watched him swim. I had the presence of mind to turn on the shutter on my FE2 and grab a first shot with focus on the glass roughly as he started to swim slowly our direction; I quickly advanced the film and waited to see what would happen next. He accelerated suddenly and smashed right into the glass wall (impact resistant, and it held, thankfully!!) and I somehow managed to hold reasonably steady and release the shutter just at the right time to get his snout hitting the glass. It was impressive and startling at the same time to see just how quickly this giant animal could increase his speed.
FE2, Nikon 50 1.2 AI-S, Portra160, probably f/5.6 and 1/125-1/250 or so.
Thanks for the likes and comments for my 50/2 HC French images.
It really is all about the light. Mother nature provided that irrespective of whether I was worse for wear after another late night of celebration.
Here are acouple of additional scenes from around the village.
The closeup of the bike is the same one that can be seen in the distance of the 'tunnel' view.
The main building in the village has a courtyard that is vividly painted. I suspect there used to be a roof and a couple of floors but the owners have re-purposed it as another social space.
DeltaSigma wrote:
The main building in the village has a courtyard that is vividly painted. I suspect there used to be a roof and a couple of floors but the owners have re-purposed it as another social space.
. 
