Wow, the novelty of having time on our hands to take pics and post here has certainly worn off !
Fortunately, I have lots to share from a 10 day break - a glorious week on Magnetic Island off the coast 4 hours south 12 kms off shore from Townsville. So called by Captain Cook on his way past in 1770 as it reportedly made the Endeavour's compass go crazy.
The selfie is perfect Laura... EXACTLY what we would expect from you...
It seems I'm not the only person who has been a bit preoccupied of late... the thread has definitely slowed down. Thanks Andy for nudging it a bit. I'll see if I can stir some interest... though I have to say, my offerings will be quite mundane.
A walk by one of the reservoirs on the north side of Mount Tamalpais where much of the water used by the Country of Marin is collected during the rainy season. It seems the clouds entering through the Golden Gate drop their rain on the north slops of the mountain. There is a line of four reservoirs that extend perhaps eight or nine miles. Here I'm hiking by Bon Tempe which is quite low on that day. The entire system is 74% full which is just a bit below normal. But as you can see, there are still fishermen hoping for a catch. These were shot with the 85 f/1.4 AI-s.
And a shot of the East Peak of Mount Tamalpais. I've walked around and over this peak but it has been a few years since I was so inspired. I'd need to get into much better condition than I am now to even dream about taking one of those hikes.
Thanks Curtis, I haven't posted many photos recently so it's only fair I do my bit.
All with XT2+LTII+20mm UD
The island is unpopulated on the west side, the east side has only a few small places on the coast, we stayed at the only camp site on the island on the north east called Horseshoe Bay.
I got up early every day and walked along to the far eastern end where there is a creek and lots of birdlife with my D500/200-500mm VR AF. Got some great shots, look out for them on the AF thread / wildlife board.
Appreciate Curtis, Andy, Serge, Colin, Rafael others who are keeping the thread going. We may need a new challenge to jump start folks taking and posting more pics
Rafael the telephoto enticement is there but will need to have more opportunities to use it though.
Dean, I have a 35mm roll sitting in front of me waiting to be developed for the past 3 weeks, hopefully will do that today, to keep up with your film work.
saph wrote:
Appreciate Curtis, Andy, Serge, Colin, Rafael others who are keeping the thread going. We may need a new challenge to jump start folks taking and posting more pics
I have been popping in and hitting the like button this week, but no shooting or anything photography related. Motivation is there, but the last few weeks, weather, work, car maintenance and this upside down life in general has prevented me from shooting.
Spent most of this week helping my son move to his new apartment. Doing it during a pandemic certainly changes the approach of doing something. He ended up getting a research assistantship, so off to graduate school he goes. So supper happy for him regarding that, but pretty bummed out from a selfish standpoint that he won't be at home. Back to an empty nest. Life moves on. It is a fully funded position so he is 100% independent. Guess that leaves a little more disposable income for lenses. Like I need another
I think I am going to try to get to our small farmers market today and see what I can find. Hopefully will have a few shots to share this evening.
Rafael, great captures of the colorful feathered friends.
Took the H.C 50/2 LTM for a drive yesterday afternoon. It renders quite differently compared to its F mount successor.
These are of Tavern on the Green which is a popular restaurant in Central Park specially with tourists and special events. I have not been here in a few months and the place looked a bit weird totally empty.
A great spot to enjoy a few cool ones:
The dinner menu prices are a heck of a lot steeper:
saph wrote:
Dean, I have a 35mm roll sitting in front of me waiting to be developed for the past 3 weeks, hopefully will do that today, to keep up with your film work.
Cool. Looking forward to seeing the results. Every week I go to the lab to have my negs developed I see all the chemicals sitting there and think I should get back into it, but the thought quickly disappears.
I discovered XP2 400 a month or so ago and shot a roll. Seems pretty good. At least a lazy and impatient person like me can still shoot B&W
saph wrote:
Appreciate Curtis, Andy, Serge, Colin, Rafael others who are keeping the thread going. We may need a new challenge to jump start folks taking and posting more pics
Rafael the telephoto enticement is there but will need to have more opportunities to use it though.
I am not going out to take photos but browsing archives and reprocessing old photos to highlight different Nikkors. I live in a city with good photo ops but one that does not allow many opportunities to go out while social distancing. I want to be healthy for my family and my work (personally I would rather go trough the illness and put it behind me). Desert is still to hot to go there.
Regarding longer telephotos, I have found many opportunities to use the 180mm, the 50-300mm 4.5 ED and the 400mm 3.5 ED with TCs, these focal lengths are practical in many situations, incuding theater and events of all sizes. (Air shows, ships, etc). The 200mm 2.0 is great for portraits or theater, the 800mm 5.6 I have had little use for as birds are scarce in my neighborhood, it is too heavy/large for me to carry to the Zoo/wild animal park (the 400mm 3.5 with TCs is a little less sharp but far more practical as it can be used on a monopod, the 800mm needs the full size gimbal. The 400mm with TCis not great at long distances and has to close down to equal the 800mm open but at closer distances, with sunlight, and fill flash it does fine). The 800mm is great for surfing photos but don't do that often.
Just look at these feathers with the 400mm/TC-300, close to f/11 at the top and fully open in the bottom picture,
Here is the 800mm fully open, sharp at the thin focus plane but much more dreamy all around. No flash fill. I can only predictably focus this lens on the Z6.
leighton w wrote:
My offerings for the week. Once again with the 55mm f1.2 SC attached.
Good to see a lively market (relative to the environment). I went downtown today and it was dead. Very few market tents set up. More "Pinterest" than farmers. Definitely not Staunton
Saturday mornings used to be lively. Runners, cyclists, coffee drinkers. Now I could stand in the middle of the street and not worry about a car. Just a big ol stop light staring at you. Seems fitting
Great monos George, love the moody feel of the first one.
Lovely flower shots Samy, thanks to you too for keeping the thread moving, you're far more consistent than I at that.
No blame attached Rafael, if I lived there I'd only be using the 800mm for street photography from my roof top and even then I'd be wearing a mask
That said, the 2nd shot of the Secretary bird is my fave of the set
More from the island, there were fortifications built during WWII, including gun emplacements, look out towers and control centres at high levels plus ablutions blocks, workshops and officer and non-officer messes at lower elevations, hidden in the hills.
A logistical nightmare to build, made possible by a lot of hard work !
cadman342001 wrote:
Great monos George, love the moody feel of the first one.
Lovely flower shots Samy, thanks to you too for keeping the thread moving, you're far more consistent than I at that.
No blame attached Rafael, if I lived there I'd only be using the 800mm for street photography from my roof top and even then I'd be wearing a mask
That said, the 2nd shot of the Secretary bird is my fave of the set
Love the 2nd and last market shots Leighton
A strange experience indeed Serge.
Andy
Thank you Andy. You have access to some beautiful open spaces. Count yourself lucky.
24/2.8 N.C., 35/2 O &105/2.5 P.C. all added to my growing scalloped lens family.
All are in very nice condition. The lenses are all non-ai, but I’m going to send them off for surgery. I figured it would take forever waiting for Ai'd versions in nice condition so this seemed a better strategy
