How about another out the window shot for Challenge 8.
This one from an upstairs window using an oldie but a goodie. Nikkor-H Auto 300mm f/4.5. The NKJ version with an AI kit.
This lens has an earlier confirmed serial number than ones listed on the Photosynthesis web page, so I will give Roland an e-mail with the info.
First shot is flowers on a tulip tree in the backyard. I spotted a hummingbird and spent quite a bit of time waiting for it to return but it never did.
Second one is a shot of the shot out the window Showing that old scalloped focus ring. It really is a great inexpensive 300mm. Especially if you can get one with the Ai Kit 53.
I had to check my 300 f/4.5 H after reading your comment, and yes, it is the NKJ version, also with the AI conversion kit installed. Great flower shot but I'm loving the lens photo. That's how sweet it is. Thanks George... our resident bubblehead. I've never heard that term before. As a fan of old movies, I have all sorts of images of life on a submarine floating around in my mind. As you know I worked for many years in Vallejo. The Mare Island Naval Shipyard built submarines, including nuclear subs. I just checked the Wikipedia site for the shipyard and found they made 17 of them. I also learned the first sub was built in 1927, the USS Nautilus... They built submarines through the entire second world war. Thanks for stirring my interest George. I'd never looked at that page before.
Yesterday I walked to the bank to deposit the $1,200 check I got from the Federal government to help me weather the pandemic. Why they didn't deposit it directly into the account where my Social Security checks are deposited every month I have no idea. I decided I'd walk up and over the tall hill next to downtown on a loop that is about three miles long. It was exactly the workout I needed and the weather was perfect with a light breeze. Of course, as folks who take photos of flowers know, a breeze isn't necessarily a friend... patience is called for. But this photo was a tad easier... shooting over the top of a gate toward the San Francisco Theological Seminary campus below me. Last week I deposited a check from Redlands University, who bought SFTS a year ago... payment for an old photo I'd taken of the Seminary that I'd licensed to them over a decade ago. They continued using it and when I offered to sell it to them they decided simply to pay for the three months they'd used it. C'est la vie... I was hoping for a bit of a windfall. We're still friends though...
I'm still using George's mint condition 35-200 f/3.5-4.5 AI-s and finding my way. I stopped down to f/5.6 and performance is much improved, as we would expect. I'd hoped the lens would perform better wide open but reviews are right on... it doesn't handle the light as well. I was very happy with its performance yesterday and I was comfortable moving in and out of macro mode as conditions called for it. I was dancing between Manual Mode and Aperture Mode depending on light conditions, relying on the Df and Auto ISO to take very good care of me. One thing that is becoming clear is the fact I don't often use the wide end of the lens. I probably would lean toward either the 50-135 or 80-200 in selecting a zoom lens simply because those two lenses handle wide open shooting with ease. So the assessment continues.
CGrindahl wrote:
I'm still using George's mint condition 35-200 f/3.5-4.5 AI-s and finding my way. I stopped down to f/5.6 and performance is much improved, as we would expect. I'd hoped the lens would perform better wide open but reviews are right on... it doesn't handle the light as well. I was very happy with its performance yesterday and I was comfortable moving in and out of macro mode as conditions called for it. I was dancing between Manual Mode and Aperture Mode depending on light conditions, relying on the Df and Auto ISO to take very good care of me. One thing that is becoming clear is the fact I don't often use the wide end of the lens. I probably would lean toward either the 50-135 or 80-200 in selecting a zoom lens simply because those two lenses handle wide open shooting with ease. So the assessment continues. ...Show more →
Outstanding shots as always, but I really love the one with the honeybee
That was a shocker George and the lens was sharp enough to catch it, probably because I was focused on the flower and it was bright enough that the camera needed 1/1,000th of a second shutter speed which froze the bee in place. I knew it was there... sometimes I find these things only after I've opened the image in the digital darkroom. Always a treat. Thanks again for use of this lens. I'm expecting I'll pack it up for the return to North Carolina early next week. It has been a fine way to get a feel for a lens. Perhaps we need to endow a lending library for our friends... If someone is willing to curate it, I might donate all of my lenses when I shuffle off this mortal coil.
bobbelbob wrote:
Beautiful series Andy. Are you growing those peppers? Must be the Carolina Reaper or Trinidad Scorpion?? Looks fierce 😱
EDIT: I saw now you wrote Ghost Chilis. To be honest I think they look more like Carolina Reaper. But I also know that Carolina Reaper is a cross breed between Ghost and Scotch Bonnet so I guess some Ghost peppers can turn out to look like Reaper. Anyhow, you'll get a real good burn from any of them. I've tasted them both fresh from the plant. Very tasty but spicy beyond insane. It would be great if you could give us a self portrait after you've tasted one?
Apologies all round, they are in fact Carolina Reapers (I asked the missus when she got home from work). Wifey grows them, it's one of the few things that her brown fingers don't kill
Apparently the Ghost chillies she planted didn't come up.
Hot stuff kicks off my IBS so I'm afraid you won't see my anywhere near one Kristian ! Shame as I really like spicy food.
We just freeze them and use 1 at a time when doing a months worth of meal prep.
Here's a wider shot I just took. There are probably 10-15 plants.
NightOwl Cat wrote:
Been raining here since last week. Few more days to go.
Union steward clocked in this morning, then came over to me with some news...
Effective Saturday, I will be a career employee instead of a non-career employee, WOO HOO
Means I can now start working towards retirement (ha ha ha) and will also have sick leave if needed. Will be checking into other benefits too, my health care coverage is better where I have it now...[/quote
Thanks everyone, yes, I've gone from what's usually called a temp position (but I would get rehired every year) to a permanent position. US Civil Service would refer to it as a Temporary Intermittent position, only thing guaranteed is the paycheck when you work. Now to see where I wind up working, and whether or not I'll be wanting to bid out of that station as soon as I can! For most of the current positions they've offered those of us on this round of conversions, six of them require learning what's called the scheme, which is knowing which route a particular address goes to. Most of the stations at least have at least 3 zip codes to learn... I have no idea how many streets.
Ken Hill wrote:
Congratulations Laura 🚨🚀. The USPS health benefits are the BEST in the gov’t. Better than Tri-Care and you can stay enrolled for life. Wish I had them.
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Chris Dees wrote:
I'm not familiar with those terms, but this means you have a permanent contract?
Congratulations. 😁👍🏻
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pbraymond wrote:
Congrats Laura!
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DeltaSigma wrote:
+1 from me
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SiMuMe wrote:
Congratulations Laura. This is the best time to receive such news, in the midst of so much uncertainty.
Oosty wrote:
And from me!
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rafaelcasd wrote:
Bubblehead submarine sailor is redundant, bubblehead suffices.
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rafaelcasd wrote: NightOwl Cat wrote:
Been raining here since last week. Few more days to go.
Union steward clocked in this morning, then came over to me with some news...
Effective Saturday, I will be a career employee instead of a non-career employee, WOO HOO
Means I can now start working towards retirement (ha ha ha) and will also have sick leave if needed. Will be checking into other benefits too, my health care coverage is better where I have it now...[/quote
cadman342001 wrote:
Apologies all round, they are in fact Carolina Reapers (I asked the missus when she got home from work). Wifey grows them, it's one of the few things that her brown fingers don't kill
Apparently the Ghost chillies she planted didn't come up.
Hot stuff kicks off my IBS so I'm afraid you won't see my anywhere near one Kristian ! Shame as I really like spicy food.
We just freeze them and use 1 at a time when doing a months worth of meal prep.
Here's a wider shot I just took. There are probably 10-15 plants.
Best option for you is to stay away from them in that case. There's a strain of Habaneros called Habanero Dulce, they taste a lot like habaneros but they are not spicy at all, they say between 500-1000 scoville degrees, compared to a reaper 2 million, it's nothing. Haven't tried them myself yet but will do when I find a plant to buy or seeds to grow from. Perhaps that could be something for you.
Many years ago, I made impression to my wife by a guitar with some love songs. And that's that, my lifetime mistake
Today, youngsters do the same thing by a camera, uhhhhu.
I ordered a 50/1.8 ais a few days ago. Today the seller said in a mail they couldn't sell it due to fungus. Very honest, I like that. So I got a refund and now I found a 50/1.4 ais in excellent condition. I've only used the SC-50/1.4 and the later af-version, which I liked too. But I dont think I liked them as much as the 50/1.8 ais, well the af-version was great on assignment. Any of you experts out here who have compared the 50/1.4 ais and the 50/1.8 ais?
Pretty sure this was one of the challenges, minimum focus (and on a tube). The flowers were only inches off the ground, that was fun! 55 f2.8 AIS Micro on a tube, ISO 1600 since I was handholding under tree cover, f8 for some depth of field.
Showing that old scalloped focus ring. It really is a great inexpensive 300mm. Especially if you can get one with the Ai Kit 53. 
