I know this isn't very good, it was my first attempt at capturing the Northern Lights. Back in the early 2000s we were having a picnic and campfire out back when we saw the lights for the first time in this area. We had no idea it was going to happen, just waves of green streaks in the night sky and not a camera that could capture it.
Last night, we actually couldn't see these with the naked eye, but knew they were forecasted. Only a camera could capture it. 28mm f2.8 ais.
I came here looking to see if anyone else was out last night! We saw them (camera only) here too. I grabbed a few shots, but can't post them here
I was reading this solar cycle does not peak until next year, so hopefully will have more opportunities this winter.
leighton w wrote:
I know this isn't very good, it was my first attempt at capturing the Northern Lights. Back in the early 2000s we were having a picnic and campfire out back when we saw the lights for the first time in this area. We had no idea it was going to happen, just waves of green streaks in the night sky and not a camera that could capture it.
Last night, we actually couldn't see these with the naked eye, but knew they were forecasted. Only a camera could capture it. 28mm f2.8 ais.
This is the last grand child for a bit - #5. Came for a visit again yesterday, and she loves the "Miss Rachel" show, her Bob the Builder toys, Teddy, and one of the cats balls. It was dark in the room but iso 2500 with the D800 worked better than expected at f5.6 with the Nikkor-Fisheye 16mm f3.5 ai
GeorgeBo wrote:
I came here looking to see if anyone else was out last night! We saw them (camera only) here too. I grabbed a few shots, but can't post them here
I was reading this solar cycle does not peak until next year, so hopefully will have more opportunities this winter.
I'm looking forward to seeing your images. I'm sure they will blow me away!
rafaelcasd wrote:
I have been absent for a few weeks, the reason for this is that my closest family and best friend of 24 years has passed onto a better place.
Abner came to live at my house 24 years ago at age 18, completed the last year of high school at San Marcos, received an associate degree in theater at San Diego City College and worked at the nearby California Center for the Arts. After his dad passed from a long illness he left for medical school in Mexico, nearly completed his studies but had to come back to California after a violent kidnapping.
Not one to be defeated, he became a Nurse Assistant, then a Licensed Vocational Nurse, then a Registered nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. At the time of his passing Abner was one year away from Masters in Nursing and becoming an independent Advanced Practice Nurse with his own clinic.
Abner worked hospice and was incredibly compassionate and effective helping families and the patient through the process of dying, he often came back telling me the life stories that patients confided on him, his patients did not suffer and the families were helped to find peace. Abner nearly died during the Mexico kidnapping, but having seen death he became an Angel of care for those dying.
Abner became the son I never had, lived in my home whenever he was not away at school, included me in all aspects of his life, and had many friends who loved him dearly and whose love was extended to me.
I wanted to convey some sense of who Abner was, but pictures are worth 1000 words.
(Nikkor on Nikon of course)
Here he is producing Don Quijote in Tijuana, every costume and the set was made by him. I financed his productions and we never made any money but it was great fun.
I am deeply moved Rafael. What a beautiful young man and what a precious relationship! At the moment I'm doing graphic design for a newsletter published for the Living/Dying Project where I have volunteered for the last 26 years. The cover story is about another volunteer, a good friend, who will die soon, likely from exposure to agent orange during his 400 days as a marine in Vietnam. Your dear friend was doing incredibly valuable work. What a shame his life ended so early.
I love the photo of the two of you dressed so handsomely. I can feel the sweetness of your connection with one another. I imagine you have a great deal of support around you. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. In a way, this community has become a bit like family for many of us. I certainly feel that as I return to spend a bit of time with all of you. Blessings my friend.
Let me add a quote I'm using in the newsletter I'm working on at the moment.
Grief dares us to love once more.
Terry Tempest Williams
I resumed working on the newsletter and found another quote I'm using that is apropos to this moment.
What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
Helen Keller
Raphael the feeling of loss of an adopted son has to be greater than one born to you. Your pictures of you both are memories that will transform your grief in time. May God shed sunlight on these dark times and give you warmth and comfort. /Ken
I repaired the holes in the plastic (Trolitan) 1937 Jsolette top plate with black epoxy. Far from good, but will prevent dust getting into the viewfinder again. Both with the 55mm f3.5 ai micro (metadata is likely wrong on the newest one) Another camera restored.
So sorry for your loss, Rafael. He lived a very interesting and challenging life for sure, and died far too young. Very talented young man, too.
rafaelcasd wrote:
I have been absent for a few weeks, the reason for this is that my closest family and best friend of 24 years has passed onto a better place.
Abner came to live at my house 24 years ago at age 18, completed the last year of high school at San Marcos, received an associate degree in theater at San Diego City College and worked at the nearby California Center for the Arts. After his dad passed from a long illness he left for medical school in Mexico, nearly completed his studies but had to come back to California after a violent kidnapping.
Not one to be defeated, he became a Nurse Assistant, then a Licensed Vocational Nurse, then a Registered nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. At the time of his passing Abner was one year away from Masters in Nursing and becoming an independent Advanced Practice Nurse with his own clinic.
Abner worked hospice and was incredibly compassionate and effective helping families and the patient through the process of dying, he often came back telling me the life stories that patients confided on him, his patients did not suffer and the families were helped to find peace. Abner nearly died during the Mexico kidnapping, but having seen death he became an Angel of care for those dying.
Abner became the son I never had, lived in my home whenever he was not away at school, included me in all aspects of his life, and had many friends who loved him dearly and whose love was extended to me.
I wanted to convey some sense of who Abner was, but pictures are worth 1000 words.
(Nikkor on Nikon of course)
Here he is producing Don Quijote in Tijuana, every costume and the set was made by him. I financed his productions and we never made any money but it was great fun.
As I sit here, getting ready to pack for Ireland, leaving tomorrow, Nippi is again headed for my house.... seems the PO doesn't understand that the shipment is supposed to go to Canada...
or is it a sign Nippi wants to go to Ireland first?
leighton w wrote:
I know this isn't very good, it was my first attempt at capturing the Northern Lights. Back in the early 2000s we were having a picnic and campfire out back when we saw the lights for the first time in this area. We had no idea it was going to happen, just waves of green streaks in the night sky and not a camera that could capture it.
Last night, we actually couldn't see these with the naked eye, but knew they were forecasted. Only a camera could capture it. 28mm f2.8 ais.
N ice Leighton. I stayed out for about 1/2 hour last night, but saw nothing and the forecasts was not changing much. Found out on the news this morning I should have stayed out a lot longer!
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GeorgeBo wrote:
I came here looking to see if anyone else was out last night! We saw them (camera only) here too. I grabbed a few shots, but can't post them here
I was reading this solar cycle does not peak until next year, so hopefully will have more opportunities this winter.
George, you reminded me that I never did post shots from earlier this year when I did head out at the right time for the Aurora around here. Here's a link to the "MF Nikon AF thread".
SiMuMe wrote:
I bought a Nikkor-H 85mm f/1.8. It was pretty. That's the reason.
It's a chunky bugger. It's quite tricky to focus wide open. The point of critical focus is just outside the rangefinder's solid green-dot zone on the Df. Just when the triangle is wavering, that's the spot. I've never had something like this before and took a number of tries to find it.
I also mounted it on Z5+FT-Z+ In-body VR. Focusing was much easier, and rich in "boring salt". There'll be a time when I'll warm up to this fully. For now, Df is much more satisfying.
I'll take a picture of it but here are some testing pictures from it. It's got some nice attributes wide open. Centre sharpness is good. It vignettes, which I have no plans to correct. There's a bit of swirl in the bokeh and some nice(to me) bubbles.
...Show more →
When I had my D700 and D600, I would focus until I got the green dot, then back it up until the dot and arrow would start to flicker back and forth. I would then I would go forward until the green dot just stayed solid. All my lenses had critical focus at this point. The Z5 with focus peaking is so much better once you set it right.
leighton w wrote:
I know this isn't very good, it was my first attempt at capturing the Northern Lights. Back in the early 2000s we were having a picnic and campfire out back when we saw the lights for the first time in this area. We had no idea it was going to happen, just waves of green streaks in the night sky and not a camera that could capture it.
Last night, we actually couldn't see these with the naked eye, but knew they were forecasted. Only a camera could capture it. 28mm f2.8 ais.
kwoodard wrote:
When I had my D700 and D600, I would focus until I got the green dot, then back it up until the dot and arrow would start to flicker back and forth. I would then I would go forward until the green dot just stayed solid. All my lenses had critical focus at this point. The Z5 with focus peaking is so much better once you set it right.
Thanks a lot Kevin. I wonder if the reason I haven't noticed before was due to the few lenses I have being not as fast. The fastest up to now has been the 105/2.5. The H is properly out of focus on the solid green dot. I am going to practice.
SiMuMe wrote:
Thanks a lot Kevin. I wonder if the reason I haven't noticed before was due to the few lenses I have being not as fast. The fastest up to now has been the 105/2.5. The H is properly out of focus on the solid green dot. I am going to practice.
You need a 55/1.2 in your life. That will teach you brutally well on a DSLR.
Raptor_Fan76 wrote:
My half-hearted attempt at taking a photo of the light show last night… taken from a dark laneway near my house… I wish I’d hopped in the car and driven out to the country with a tripod, but not the first, and certainly not the last, bad decision I’ve made in my life.
The most interesting thing for me about the lights were how varied the colours were… there were times when parts of the sky were completely blood red, then the more familiar green and blue, and, as in this image, sometimes a spectacular purple.
Shot handheld, with my Nikon ZF + 28mm f1.4 Thypoch Simera at ISO 3200 / f2.0 (I think) / 0.5s
I forgot I did shoot one with a Nikkor. Had the Noct adapted to the Fuji in my bag and shot one before switching to the wide angle. 15 sec was a little long for a 58mm lens so the stars are not as sharp as they could be. Also wide open.
