cadman342001 wrote:
As promised, some more from Hobbiton.
The set was temporary, originally built of untreated pine and polystyrene for the LoTR trilogy of films and then removed. It was then built again for the Hobbit trilogy, this time of "proper" materials, (the buildings even had to pass code) in a partnership with the farmer that owns the land (it is still a functioning sheep and cattle farm) and left as a tourist attraction.
There are a crew of people who look after the "set" and as you can see it is immaculate.
There are various sizes of hobbit door, full size, 0.8x and 0.6x which helps to scale the size of the actors, making hobbits seem smaller, or Gandalf taller (incidentally, a 7 feet tall local man was employed as a "scale double" for Gandalf).
There are various professions, Bee Keeper, Baker, Cheese Maker, Wood cutter, and even an alcoholic whose garden is overgrown
Iconic clothes on washing line. Director Peter Jackson paid a local to put washing out in mornings and collect it in the evening, so creating a natural path through the grass rather than put in a paved path.
James, get the Seek app for your phone and point it at the leaves. You can even use the photo on your phone, and it will give you the right name.
James Markus wrote:
Leighton,
Wife and I are just fine after tasting the yellow fruit. I have a Jonathon in my front yard - so if I get peckish I can just grab one and eat around the scars. (I don't spray) I did try finding out more about the yellow fruit...(I think AdaptedLenses asked)
Top four for the yellow fruit online id sources say...
Pyrus bourgaeana or Iberian pear odds 15.44%
Pyrus syriaca odds 8.81%
Pyrus pyrifolia or Chinese pear odds 7.86%
Malus sylvestris or Crab Apple odds 6.82%
One site seemed to think it may be Crataegus mexicana a species of hawthorn known by the
common names tejocote, manzanita, tejocotera and Mexican hawthorn. This park is a botanical
wonder of odd plants, creeks, and hardwoods. The people that donated the land to the county
(Hager) owned it for years, and it seems they liked trying to grow non-native plants in the
the meadows. There use to be signs at many of the trees and shrubs that have all disappeared.
We live in a day that "invasive species" are considered very bad form, or maybe the signs made
the plants targets of the kids that love playing in the forest, and meeting their friends there.
I have a theory about all humans having an anti-Beech tree gene which irresistibly forces kids to
carve their smooth silver bark with names, hearts, and the mathematical + signs. The Beech trees,
many of the largest trees in Hager Park, are all dying and their trunks are littered with wounds.
Andy, many thanks for sharing scenes from Hobbiton, yours truly s a huge fan. I was not aware the set was maintained after the filming. Excellent photos!
James, Chicago is tempting judging from the awesome architecture, beautiful water ways and parks. The darn winters are something else, perhaps even a tad over the top for me.
Great fall colors everyone!
Best fall colors I spotted in Chicago, Millennium Park.
rafaelcasd wrote:
Jay, that cannot possibly be the USA, too pretty.
Like living in a theme park!
Thanks for the kind words on the fisheye, I could never get anything usable from a circular one.
Agree with you on the sensor burn, it makes me nervous just looking!
Scott - Thanks very much, the interiors were fun, and the building askew so uncorrectable. I sure got lucky with the sky that day.
I'm having a hard time with those circular doors too, where's the hinge? Must be a lot of extra material to support such a portal.
Strange, I could never read more than a few pages or saw any of Tolkein movies yet was good friends with the head of the N. American Tolkein Society way back.
Look what I found - a Bald Cypress growing in Michigan. Had to stitch this together using 9 shots because it was so big, and I had the 50mm f1.2 and tc-16a combo on the D800. Gorgeous tree with an amazingly fragrant needle leaves. I had noticed the tree about a month ago, because of it's leaves, but yesterday it had all changed to a beautiful rusty wine color. It also was losing it's leaves. Plus shot some IR yesterday with the 28mm f2.8 ais & converted 5D
NightOwl Cat wrote:
James, get the Seek app for your phone and point it at the leaves. You can even use the photo on your phone, and it will give you the right name.
I think I have outlasted the siren call for a D850 - for now. This is Finn or GS#2, and he turned 1 year old today. Photos via 5DS-R and the 85mm f1.4 ais
Luckily it's not one long exposure. Many shorter ones. 1700 images average blended together.
