James Markus wrote:
Went to a nearby lake yesterday where I hoped to find red-winged black birds. They are always there on the south shore of a 100 acre lake flying acrobatics among the cat tails. There were none. No birds of any type, and usually songs birds are everywhere. I have noticed a decrease at home, but none is spooky. The bug sounds were too loud, and the absence of bird song and talk very noticeable. Has West Nile virus or some other pathogen been attacking birds recently? The web claims 50% of the bird population has disappeared since 1970, or 3 billion birds. Loss of habitat, food sources, and predators are other reasons the web blames.
That does sound odd. We haven't noticed a change in the bird population around here. In fact, just yesterday, one of our barn cats jumped on the back of a Sharp-Shinned Hawk to steal a bird from its clutches. Fortunately for the bird, it got away in the melee.
Here is my first set of images from the Comox classic car show on Saturday. Each set of my photos from this event will be unified by one or more specific qualities which, in this case, is probably obvious (think "perspective"). Along with the respective automobile owners, the contributors to these results are my Fuji X-T2, Mitakon Zhongyi Lens Turbo II lens adapter and focal reducer, 55 f/1.2 SC, 28 f/2 N, 16 f/3.5 ai fisheye, Lightroom Classic, and Nik Colo Efex Pro 5.
Yes I did Leighton and at least THIS year I didn't forget the date. I came today to honor those folks who continue to row this boat down the stream... merrily, merrily, as they say.
Alas, my Df spends more time sitting on the cabinet next to me than in my hand or even in my camera bag. The last three years have slipped by with photography as an afterthought. Yes, I've picked up the camera once or twice but as I look at my Flickr account for which I pay each month, I believe all but the last photo I uploaded have been posted. But I will post two photo. If the second appeared before it was so long ago most folks will have forgotten it! Embarrassing but true... the first was shot with the 55 f/1.2 SC AI and the second with the 180 f/2.8 AI-s... two of my desert island lenses.
I've only sold one lens, and that was one of my THREE 55 f/1.2s I'd promised some time ago to Ken Ballard with whom I'm still in touch. That means I still have 46 of those gorgeous manual focus lenses. I expect that photography will die for me only when I decided to get serious about selling lenses. I'm in a situation not unlike our Montana buddy Jack. I turn 81 in about a month. I still hike in the nearby watershed and my health is basically good... but making photography a priority isn't happening. Rinie continues to entice me to visit her in the Netherlands. That seems impossible... but I know one thing. If I were to travel just about anywhere I'd start taking photos. I guess I'm bored by the possibilities in my corner of the Bay Area.
All the best to friends from my past and to the newcomers who joined the party after I departed. These lenses are amazing and they are still worth using... but then you all know that or you wouldn't be on this thread.
You may not be taking as many photos as in the past, but these two prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have not become rusty and lost your touch - especially the second one - truly beautiful!
CGrindahl wrote:
Yes I did Leighton and at least THIS year I didn't forget the date. I came today to honor those folks who continue to row this boat down the stream... merrily, merrily, as they say.
Alas, my Df spends more time sitting on the cabinet next to me than in my hand or even in my camera bag. The last three years have slipped by with photography as an afterthought. Yes, I've picked up the camera once or twice but as I look at my Flickr account for which I pay each month, I believe all but the last photo I uploaded have been posted. But I will post two photo. If the second appeared before it was so long ago most folks will have forgotten it! Embarrassing but true... the first was shot with the 55 f/1.2 SC AI and the second with the 180 f/2.8 AI-s... two of my desert island lenses.
I've only sold one lens, and that was one of my THREE 55 f/1.2s I'd promised some time ago to Ken Ballard with whom I'm still in touch. That means I still have 46 of those gorgeous manual focus lenses. I expect that photography will die for me only when I decided to get serious about selling lenses. I'm in a situation not unlike our Montana buddy Jack. I turn 81 in about a month. I still hike in the nearby watershed and my health is basically good... but making photography a priority isn't happening. Rinie continues to entice me to visit her in the Netherlands. That seems impossible... but I know one thing. If I were to travel just about anywhere I'd start taking photos. I guess I'm bored by the possibilities in my corner of the Bay Area.
All the best to friends from my past and to the newcomers who joined the party after I departed. These lenses are amazing and they are still worth using... but then you all know that or you wouldn't be on this thread. ...Show more →
CGrindahl wrote:
Yes I did Leighton and at least THIS year I didn't forget the date. I came today to honor those folks who continue to row this boat down the stream... merrily, merrily, as they say.
Alas, my Df spends more time sitting on the cabinet next to me than in my hand or even in my camera bag. The last three years have slipped by with photography as an afterthought. Yes, I've picked up the camera once or twice but as I look at my Flickr account for which I pay each month, I believe all but the last photo I uploaded have been posted. But I will post two photo. If the second appeared before it was so long ago most folks will have forgotten it! Embarrassing but true... the first was shot with the 55 f/1.2 SC AI and the second with the 180 f/2.8 AI-s... two of my desert island lenses.
I've only sold one lens, and that was one of my THREE 55 f/1.2s I'd promised some time ago to Ken Ballard with whom I'm still in touch. That means I still have 46 of those gorgeous manual focus lenses. I expect that photography will die for me only when I decided to get serious about selling lenses. I'm in a situation not unlike our Montana buddy Jack. I turn 81 in about a month. I still hike in the nearby watershed and my health is basically good... but making photography a priority isn't happening. Rinie continues to entice me to visit her in the Netherlands. That seems impossible... but I know one thing. If I were to travel just about anywhere I'd start taking photos. I guess I'm bored by the possibilities in my corner of the Bay Area.
All the best to friends from my past and to the newcomers who joined the party after I departed. These lenses are amazing and they are still worth using... but then you all know that or you wouldn't be on this thread. ...Show more →
Good to see you drop by my friend. Take care of yourself and come around whenever you can. You are missed.
Just noticed this one from when I aimed the giant front element of the 200mm f2.0 ai at Marnie and the look she gave was priceless, and it made me laugh. I'm leaning towards the grayscale, but don't know - like them both. I also want to thank George for the offhand comment about Lens Tagger. You have no idea how many programs I have tried to easily edit exif data for lenses. There are some amazing, and complicated ones out there - this fits my workflow really well.
Good to see Curtis and Ben but I suspect they have come and gone and I'm too late. Thanks for the reminder though Leighton.
Glen, your processing magic (perhaps combined with great lenses) really has the 1st and 2nd Comox car show images popping. The yellow flames and the red/white designs look like they are floating above the cars.
Rafael, that 70mm lens might be superb but I still think that there's pp magic behind your cruising shots.
On the way home from visiting our son at his new place this weekend, my wife and I stopped for potential hiking sites this fall. This spot will be one destination for sure. I just did get this shot in before the rain started.
PC-Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 on the Hasselblad. XPAN crop, full frame width.
