Well the 5DSr goes back to Canon today my CPS loaner period is up. I like the camera, the resolution is nice to have but I'll see what the 5D4 has to offer this August.
Missed me yet?
Pardon my absence - I was horribly backlogged at work, and a surprising side job (which resulted in the need to sort / process a total of 1500+ photos) has appeared. I did get paid handsomely for that, though.
I've been sorting and uploading some odds and sods from the last week (most of which was taken up with shooting various events clustered around the city's birthday). Here's a random bunch of these; I'll add more as I finish organizing and uploading them. http://topdialog.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copy_of_I63F0373.jpg
Jetpacking dude during the watersports festival held on the shore of the Gulf. I wasn't specifically shooting the event - another guy from our site was doing this - but long after he was done, my wife decided that it'd be a good idea for her to see this for herself. We went there - and weren't disappointed. Later, I mixed in some of these photos with the other guy's, because he did not witness these stunts. In the end, it was a case of everyone being content. The backdrop is the infamous Krestovsky island stadium which has become a local running gag due to enormously stretched delivery dates (and budgets). I've seen meme pics with St. Pete's (presumed) appearance in 2050 - all futuristic and shiny, but with this ramshackle construction site in place as it was in 2010... and 2012... and 2014... This time however, they are promising to deliver it by the time the World Cup hits this town. One can only hope. http://topdialog.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copy_of_I63F0407.jpg
I have burned through memory card space like there's no tomorrow, but caught quite a few decent moments. The guy did fall a couple of times, but it was otherwise a stunning show to watch. http://topdialog.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copy_of_I63F0466.jpg
Gear used is obviously the 1D Mark IV (the 5D Mark II show in the previous bunch of shots only really lasted me one morning - and it was exactly as long as I had needed it) and the 70-200. Sometimes I'm thinking of selling the 70-200 and getting by with only the Tamron 70-300. Clearly, this wasn't one such day. http://cs630821.vk.me/v630821358/3e5ae/l9wyl_HrYXs.jpg
On the city's birthday, May 27th, I was staying in the office until very late, but caught a spectacular instance of dusk in the city when I was leaving. For some reason, I have taken to shooting handheld long(ish) exposures of various stuff lately, and couldn't miss the chance. The flags aren't there usually; they're just a holiday decoration. Today, for example, they already weren't there. http://cs630821.vk.me/v630821358/3e5a5/zaBXTxTRKPA.jpg
Here, I tried to do a slightly different thing - to emphasize the non-moving stuff; the obelisk and the sky above. I know that symmetrical compositions - and especially those with a centered subject - are considered a violation of the visual art rules, but... I happen to like them for some reason.
My first try at focus stacking, this one is 27 images at f/2.8 from the front of the pedal to the tip of the back pedal. I really like the effect on larger flowers such as this lily that otherwise would be tough to do.
wnichols, nice shot. i'm waiting to c the specs on the 5D MKIV, however i am leaning more and more towards the 5Ds. specifically for macro and close up imaging.
More random shots from the last week of May: http://cs630821.vk.me/v630821358/3e792/Q-sI_a2Cons.jpg
Allegory of Justice from the city's Summer gardens. I did this shot (24mm f/2) while shooting the opening of the fountain season there, on May 27th. Then proceeded to use it for an article about citywide breast cancer screening program. (Well, I couldn't have used a pic from my NSFW folder, could I? ) http://cs633316.vk.me/v633316358/33473/VNvJaCzopBg.jpg
May 28th. In the morning, the Ladoga trophy raid has commenced (it's a ring route around the eponymous lake). It has attracted a great deal of media attention too. http://cs633317.vk.me/v633317358/2e090/1F8B46oRfbw.jpg
May 29th. This was made at the tail end of the "Mystery of the Norwegian Vikings" festival which is held yearly on the outskirts of the Peter and Paul Fortress, with the aid of the Norwegian Consulate General. These are the real Norwegians from a Viking themed museum (can't remember the name now), playing folk music for us. http://cs630821.vk.me/v630821358/3e934/W5tkEe1nGpU.jpg
More of the watersports festival from May 29th. There was quite some activity on the sidelines, including a few guys/gals with these boards. My wife tried steering one herself for the first time, and was elated, despite definitely not being into any kind of sports (primarily for health reasons). http://cs630821.vk.me/v630821358/3e93d/R7pgzXQni00.jpg
The Gulf of Finland is pretty shallow along the shore. Quite beneficial for some kinds of activity, not so much for the others (if you want to swim for instance, you have to wade rather far into the sea before you're able to get at least waist-deep). http://cs630821.vk.me/v630821358/3e946/Fax1wNKj9fM.jpg
Yo gals!.. (and yes, that was a European cruise liner looming in the background all along).
R.H. Johnson wrote:
wnichols, nice shot. i'm waiting to c the specs on the 5D MKIV, however i am leaning more and more towards the 5Ds. specifically for macro and close up imaging.
Thanks R.H. I've seen a really big improvement going from the 5d3 to the 5ds for my macro work. The amount of detail you get from 50mp is simply amazing and the color rendition with flowers still blows me away. Don't get me wrong, I loved the 5d3 but I love the 5ds even more in every way.
I am super busy this week getting ready for a show on the weekend, and have limited time to take photos (which I seem compelled to do any day) so here are a couple (easy ones) from my feeders.
The chickadee's are sprouting numbers and the yard is full with plaintiff crys of "feeeed meeee ... feeeed meee!"
The red Squirrels .. Still waiting for those little rascals (the 2016 generation) to appear, but the adults are thriving!
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