JWilsonphoto wrote:
You would love the 85/1.2 Douglas! I’m glad that James was my first subject, but it’s very easy to see the potential in corporate portraiture. People comment that it’s big and heavy, I think it’s one of those lenses that sits in your hand and let’s you know that is there, then taunts you to do something with it. I sent the portrait of James to my Canon guy and all I said was “Your 85/1.2 is underpriced……”🤣
When I was shooting Canon 10 years ago, I did have the "grapefruit" 85mm f1.2 (the second version), magical lens! Now I have the Sigma 85 f1.4 for my Sony cameras, I have used it to take a couple pictures of my dog only. Not really a portrait person. My most used lens is the 600 f4 GM. It will get used a lot when airshows return in our region.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
The 600/4 is iconic as well Douglas, as you so often prove. Where were you shooting the Eagles?
Jim, the bald eagles were at Conowingo Dam about 40 miles north of Baltimore. It's one of the premiere locations for shooting bald eagles fishing in the whole country. This winter season was a dud, not much activities. Now it's the shad run season now and the activities seem to be picking up. I was there for two hours on Friday afternoon, saw two fishing episodes, but folks there told me there were more than 10 fishing episodes in that morning. I went somewhere else to photograph the owls after shooting the eagles. I will be back shooting the eagles soon. Shooting owls sitting in a tree cavity isn't really my thing., but people seem to going nuts about owls, even if they are just sitting in a tree!
The owl pictures are heavily cropped. It was my first time to see an owlet.
I realized tonight that I totally forgot to let you know what happened with Emily's broken 70-200. The school bought her a new lens, which I bought from Canon with the loyalty discount to save them some money and then they reimbursed me.
So everything worked out. I still want to thank everyone that offered to kick in to help Emily if she had to buy it herself, but fortunately that wasn't necessary.
msalvetti wrote:
Ray, that's a great image, and a reminder to do something I often forget - get low!
Were you on your knees or in a dugout to get that close to the ground?
Mark
Thank you Mark! Very kind words. Yes, I was on my knees. The end of the 1st base bleachers end about 1/3rd the way to first base. There is a 2 foot wall with netting above it. I found it to be a better location (and safer) than the dugout. I did have to shoot through the net. I removed the lens hood and the net disappears.
msalvetti wrote:
Douglas, those are wonderful. Did you notice the eagle in your fifth image seems to have a bloodshot eye? I don't think I've ever seen that before.
Mark
Thank you Mark! I saw that in the eagle's eye too. Isn't it something call "nictitating membrane"?
JWilsonphoto wrote:
I can blow all the smoke in the world rationalizing the business use of the 85/1.2....................but here's the real reason I bought it...............
Jim, you really shouldn't post something like this. You never know if the IRS is listening.
This was a gutsy play by Bryan (wearing the blue uniform). There was a passed ball, the runner at third held up. The catcher tossed the ball to the pitcher who turned his back to home plate to walk to the mound. The third base runner still had a lead off so he took off for home. They yelled at the pitcher (who was distracted being disgusted with himself) to throw the ball home. The catcher had to move to the third baseline left of the plate to catch a high throw by the pitcher. The runner slid on the back side of the plate, but still knocked the catcher down who fell on top of him for the tag. The runner never touched home plate until after the tag. This shot was where the catcher showed the ump he had control of the ball and the runner was hoping he had touched the plate, he didn’t.
Bill Gass wrote: ...Was I safe Ump, Was I safe !!!!!!! Great shot.
Thanks Bill! But he was out. I don't like the artificial turf they have around home plate. There is no dirt in the batter's box, plus, the home plate is painted on the turf. So when you slide in you cannot feel the plate like you can with dirt and the rubber plate. That round section of turf is only around home plate, the rest of the field is a beautiful grass and red dirt field.
Today I was looking out the kitchen window, when I saw some leaves sticking out of the opening in the owl nesting box I built and hung up on a tree in the back yard about three years ago. Darn squirrels, it is always a battle keeping them out of the box.
Turns out I was mistaken.
Canon R5+500LII+2xTCIII and run through Topaz Denoise. Very windy so his (her?) ears are blown over.
The box was full of leaves from last season, so in late January I cleaned it out and replaced the wood shavings in the bottom. We've always had these little screech owls in the neighborhood, but this is the first time we've had any occupy the box. Made my day.
A perfect evening for an air to air mission. I have several more on the books as soon as the trees green up, and that is happening more each day. My plan is to get out on the water with this amphib and get some really cool dawn/dusk perspectives from a screaming Bass boat.
I've got a date with a totally new design for STOL competitions, big engine, big prop, and to top it off, 15 seconds of nitrous! I'm thinking that it should produce some incredible images.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Winds this evening were 60+ at times and a couple of twisters rolled through the metroplex, but it's all gone, and probably headed your way Mark.
Yes, I saw that and was worried about you and your family. Glad you got through it OK.
We're supposed to see this weather system on Friday. Lots of rain, but we rarely get any severe weather this time of year, especially this close to the coast. There were a lot of lightning strikes associated with a storm up here Saturday night. Looked pretty intense when it was about 40 miles west of us, but fell apart before it got here.
Douglas L wrote:
Jim, the bald eagles were at Conowingo Dam about 40 miles north of Baltimore. It's one of the premiere locations for shooting bald eagles fishing in the whole country. This winter season was a dud, not much activities. Now it's the shad run season now and the activities seem to be picking up. I was there for two hours on Friday afternoon, saw two fishing episodes, but folks there told me there were more than 10 fishing episodes in that morning. I went somewhere else to photograph the owls after shooting the eagles. I will be back shooting the eagles soon. Shooting owls sitting in a tree cavity isn't really my thing., but people seem to going nuts about owls, even if they are just sitting in a tree!
The owl pictures are heavily cropped. It was my first time to see an owlet....Show more →
Beautiful family Douglas! So well done!!!! Mom needs a small picture to hang in her "house".
Well done!
Dan
. Not really a portrait person
...Was I safe Ump, Was I safe !!!!!!! 
