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Archive 2011 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

FlyPenFly
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

I recently took a European tour with two friends joining me for the first leg of it. Even though we were delayed 24 hours with the worst airline I’ve ever traveled (Iceland Express, make sure to travel Iceland Air). Fortunately we still ended up going and it was an amazing experience. The highlight for me was the Blue Lagoon, it was a singularly unique experience and makes all other thermal mineral spas seem quaint by comparison. The in pool bar and massages really bring the experience forward to another level.

I recommend renting a car like we did the first day, the rates are competitive. It’ll give you the freedom to explore the island. In the future, when I return I think a four wheel drive and more rugged vehicle might be a better choice. We took some paths that were clearly not meant for our little Skoda wagon. We drove in much farther than smart people would have given the isolation and cold. A helicopter tour to see the volcano and whale watching tour are also two things we missed that will be on top of the list for our next trip. We did manage to catch the aurora borealis though and that was the other major highlight for myself besides the other worldly beautiful landscape.

Photographically, I was carrying a lot of equipment. In my backpack were:
1. Sony A850 Full Frame 24mpx camera
2. Zeiss C/Y mount (Leitax adapted to Alpha) 35-70mm F3.4 (my most used lens of the trip)
3. Zeiss ZF.2 mount (Leitax adapted to Alpha) 21mm F2.8 (my second most used lens)
4. Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 (brought it for whaling but didn’t use it.)
5. Zeiss Sony ZA 85mm F1.4

7. Sony NEX-5N (APS-C) with LA-EA1 adapter
8. Contax G Zeiss 28mm F2.8
9. Contax G Zeiss 45mm F2
10. Sony 16mm F2.8

11. Giotto tripod system with Vanguard GH-100 pistol grip ball head
12. Sony TX5 Waterproof Compact Camera

Some of the shots, I'll periodically update this with more photos.

NEX-5N HDR mode is pretty decent:

Not bad flare from the TX5:

Rainbows at night?

Light pollution from Reykjavik

Wish we had stars like these in Manhattan

Don't let this happen to you somewhere desolate with no cell signal and no supplies.

Quite an amazing spectical in person.

So that's it for Iceland. Here's a preview of Switzerland. I'll post more later if there is any interest.

Nov 14, 2011 at 07:06 PM

Delatant
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

More...More...More!

Nov 14, 2011 at 07:09 PM

snowboarder
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

yes please show more pics, I really like
discovering places I haven't been to.
I know it might be a bit off, but please
share some more info about where to go,
where to sleep (I guess camping), gas stations,
places to buy food etc

Nov 14, 2011 at 07:50 PM

helimat
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Nice set, must have been a great trip.

Nov 14, 2011 at 07:57 PM

irish-george
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

More pictures -- yes!

Nov 14, 2011 at 08:01 PM

ken.vs.ryu
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

very jelly (jealous) so far!

Nov 14, 2011 at 08:03 PM

inglis
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Please more

Nov 14, 2011 at 09:13 PM

alwang
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Nice pics. Iceland is fantastic, one of my favorite places. Looks like you were hanging around Reykjavik; if you have more time, a drive out east to Jokulsarlon is well worth it.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/5191926483_bb6014603a_b_d.jpg

Nov 14, 2011 at 10:14 PM

AhamB
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Holy crap Jae! Great shots!

Looks like you had some issues with overexposure though?

By the way, if you number your shots it's easier for people to comment on them.

Looks like you captured a moonbow/lunar rainbow too, in one of the Aurora shots.

Nov 15, 2011 at 01:57 AM

lenticular11
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Lovely Icelandic images. Please post more!

Nov 15, 2011 at 02:26 AM

philber
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Nice work, FPF, we want more!!!

Nov 15, 2011 at 03:12 AM

sebboh
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

awesome! i particularly like the waterfall shots.

Nov 15, 2011 at 03:37 AM

Tri Tran
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

more please

Nov 15, 2011 at 03:46 AM

crazeazn
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

+more and awesome job. I'm trying to plan a trip like this with a couple guys too.

Nov 15, 2011 at 03:56 AM

Gunzorro
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

FPF -- Very nice shots. I especially like the rendition of those first town shots.

More shots please!

I know we all make personal choices in the gear that excites us, but I must say you really packed a lot of stuff. I can't imagine carrying all that equipment around all day, and I'd be afraid to leave any out of my protection.

I would have been a little lighter, with possibly only one body and a few lenses. The Nex 5 might have been my choice with those wonderful lenses you have! (What happened to your #6 piece of equipment??)

Nov 15, 2011 at 11:05 AM

FlyPenFly
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Hahaha good catch Gunzorro. #6 is my brain, I obviously put it in list of importance.

Here is a pic of me carrying it all around.

I think I fell on the ice in Switzerland several times and I once did a full on roll over head flip when a downed fence wire caught my leg while I was running down a hill. That caused some damage to a lens hood and my A850.

It was a lot of gear I do admit but with a decent backpack (I got mine for $25 on a sale), it wasn't too bothersome. Probably the heaviest thing was my tripod which was just aluminum, not CF.

When I look at my files though, and I like to print at least 16x20, the A850 files are just so much better than the NEX-5N at base ISO which is all that I shot at.

Here's one with lens flare smack in the middle. I don't actually find it extremely objectionable but that might just be me.

I'll be posting a link to the rest of the photos later in the day thanks.

Nov 15, 2011 at 11:20 AM

FlyPenFly
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

AhamB wrote:
Holy crap Jae! Great shots!

You know that's funny because I went back in all my photos and raised my exposure! This was after checking out my photos on different monitors and finding them a tad dark so I brightened them. About .5 to 1ev.

This is a weird thing with online distribution, you can't control the output at all so you just try to aim for the biggest middle.

Nov 15, 2011 at 11:27 AM

denoir
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Excellent shots Jae! My favorite is the one with the sheep

Looking forward to the rest of the shots.

Nov 15, 2011 at 11:38 AM

Gunzorro
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

Headline: "Photographer bludgeoned to death by camera gear on mountain slope!" Film at 11:00.

That's a great shot of you hiking.

I took my 60D to Alaska this summer, and while I loved it, and the convenience of the 15-85 IS lens, I will probably take a FF 1-series body next trip with a super-zoom like the 28-300L (or maybe the smaller, faster 24-70L). Wearing a Gore-tex rain coat, I can stuff the body/lens under my arm if it rains while jaunting around, but have it immediately available for a shot. I hate changing lenses on trips, especially in inhospitable environs. Still, small (and inexpensive, easily replaceable) cameras have a strong appeal for me when traveling.

Looking forward to more of your great shots.

Nov 15, 2011 at 12:04 PM

FlyPenFly
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Iceland, Switzerland, and France with Zeiss

I'm totally with you about zooms being more convenient for travel, I think this is why I used the 35-70 so much.

I Hated changing lenses in the wind in Iceland. I think this is also what compelled me to buy the Sony Zeiss 24-70mm as well recently.

If it rains, I recommend getting one of those plastic pouch things, very effective and cheap.

The Nex-5N made a great companion though to my system when using the 28mm G lens when I had the 85mm 1.4 on my A850.

Nov 15, 2011 at 12:11 PM

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