Ole and Kevin, don't forget to get the Hong Bao ready .
Two more images from Bosque del Apache. I photographed quite a few sandhill cranes in flight with the combo Canon 400mm f/2.8 Mark II + Metabones in green mode. Since the cranes are fairly big and their flight path is pretty predictable, the combo didn't have any issues finding focus and locking on to those cranes, especially if the background was far away, resulting in smooth background. Overall, I am actually happy with the results, far cry better than trying to use the combo for ospreys in unpredictable flight path I tried before.
AGeoJO wrote:
Wow, this page is off to a great start! Rol-and, Ronny, Werner, Kevin, Ole, Jannik, Mark, Rene, Peter, Manuel and Jim, your images make mine look shabby... although to a certain degree, it was done deliberately so .
I didn't know that the word "shabby" meant the same as fantastic
AGeoJO wrote:
Ole and Kevin, don't forget to get the Hong Bao ready .
Actually I don't have to give them anymore, due to my age and that our children are both working and don't have any offspring as yet Actually once reaching official retirement age (65, in 7 years) the Hong Bao should now be coming back to me and I would be planning on the A9 or maybe a 70-400 !
AGeoJO wrote:
Ole and Kevin, don't forget to get the Hong Bao ready .
This year will be less Hong Bao intensive for me also. Usually my wife and I are going back to Hong Kong for Chinese New Year, but this time we will delay the journey until April. Luckily we still can have the celebrations here in Norway, with turnip cake and lots of XO sauce
Looking at grasses and trees bathed in Magic Hour light, soon after sunrise
Tripod mounted A7r and Leica M 90mm f2.5 Summarit lens
ISO 400, f11?, 1/160 second; processed in LR6.4
October 26, 2016
Opposite Big Meadows along Skyline Drive near Byrd Visitor Center, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Another from my fall trip to Zion National Park. The cottonwoods were not as bright and yellow as years past but the contrast of them in the early morning light against the glowing red of the sandstone canyon walls is still breath taking. Love this place and look forward to getting back soon.
ManuelLaMantia wrote:
Nothing compared to last posts by Fred... only some more samples to help Ronny in the choice of the telephoto zoom
Zeiss 100-300 @ Tunnel View (Yosemite):
Manuel
Fantastic set @ManuelLaMantia ! How do you like that zoom?
While I'm at it, here are some B&W shots, also from Lensbaby Sweet 50. I'm still not sure about this lens, but I have seen many beautiful, moody and evocative photos from other people, so I think it's a question of finding the right subjects and also practicing and more practicing... So far I have mostly tried various subjects to see how they turn out with the Lensbaby, but I think I need to get more creative. I'll give it more time and we'll see how it goes.
Southern California was pummeled by 3 major storm systems. It rained from last Thursday until yesterday, Monday. Granted the rain was not continuous but it was pretty hard at times. And last Sunday, it rained the whole day basically non-stop and yesterday, we saw hail storm. The snow level in our nearby mountains dropped. Judging by the amount of the snowfall up in the Sierras further north, the drought in California better be over by now . For you in other parts of the country or even other parts of the world, this may not be unusual, but Southern California is located in the desert. So, everything is relative, of course .
This morning, finally, we could see the sunrise again after 4 days or so. Here is a view of the mountain range behind our house when the sunlight started to shine on the snowy mountain top, taken from our living room. The warm sunlight on the snow is something that we don't see often. The snow cover, yes, quite often in the winter. The sunlight, not seldom in Southern California but the combination of the two... quite seldom and unusual. As matter of fact, I don't remember seeing something like that from the living room.
As the thread moves so fast, I hope you don't mind if my comments are summarized for the last couple of pages.
--- HelenaN wrote:
While I'm at it, here are some B&W shots, also from Lensbaby Sweet 50. I'm still not sure about this lens, but I have seen many beautiful, moody and evocative photos from other people, so I think it's a question about finding the right subjects and also practice and more practice... So far I have mostly tried various subjects to see how they turn out with the Lensbaby, but I think I need to get more creative. I'll give it more time and we'll see how it goes.
Helena, I find the 3rd one of the b/w versions creates quite a mood, hence I like it most of the Lensbaby images.
Rene, I remember someone on this or the Loxia thread mentioned you make every lens look great. Well, your set proves it to be true another time.
Ronny and Joshua, thanks. I keep enjoying many of your photos since I joined the forum.
Peire, I especially like the middle one of your set.
Phillip, Manuel, Peter, Michael - great sets and mood.
Daniel, I liked pull in the boat and the coast sunset most.
Ole, I really like Serenity.
Jannik, I like the b/w set and to me, the 2nd one stands out.
Werner, it's amazing how you manage to make 10mm work. I sometimes even find 21mm quite wide and honestly think it would be too wide for me personally to make it work this way.
---
To conclude I would like to ask a favour - keep posting And especially those who already got a Loxia 85 since it seems so nice based on the images posted here and the L85 thread.
AGeoJO wrote:
Wow, this page is off to a great start! Rol-and, Ronny, Werner, Kevin, Ole, Jannik, Mark, Rene, Peter, Manuel and Jim, your images make mine look shabby... although to a certain degree, it was done deliberately so .
Thanks Joshua! And snow over LA sound like an incredible event... great capture, hope you have more to share here
bowens wrote:
Manuel and Fred are both going to really up the visits to Yosemite... Great shots that really stand out from frequently photographed locations.
Thank you very much... Yosemite is always special and has become my favorite destination so I'm thinking to come back in Winter 2018... cross my fingers
Ronny Olsson wrote: now it was much easier !!
Great set ..you have not thought more about selling ?
Thanks Ronny, no doubts my images clarified your choice mmmh, selling or not selling... this is the problem... not now, maybe in the future
digital_AM wrote:
Fantastic set @ManuelLaMantia@ ! How do you like that zoom?
Thank you Alfredo! Zeiss 100-300 is a great lens with some pros and some cons: is super sharp (at 300mm is close to my Nikkor 300 f/4 fix lens) and between 100 and 200 is also impressive; has a nice bokeh, that is not so common for a zoom lens on this focal range; I don't like the front lens connected to focusing system, especially when you work hand held; is a "pump" zoom so for mirrorless camera could be a "dust generator"; colors and contrast are far away from new generation lens (probably for the lack of LD ans ASPH elements) so you have to work more in PP.
Having said that, unfortunately for Ronny, I love this rare lens... my only regret is not to have enough time to use it
Michael Everet wrote:
Here a triptych from a recent modern dance concert.
Cool!!! Great composition, I like it very much!
rol-and wrote:
Phillip, Manuel, Peter, Michael - great sets and mood.
Thanks rol-and, nice visions also by your side
.
Actually once reaching official retirement age (65, in 7 years) the Hong Bao should now be coming back to me and I would be planning on the A9 or maybe a 70-400 !
now it was much easier !! 
