Curtis, so sorry about the loss of trail walking. Are there lower trails you can walk that are a bit smoother? Good luck with the surgery. I don't know if that song from our youth might be playing in your head... written by Donald Yetter Gardner, hit song originally by Spike Jones..
CGrindahl wrote:
As I've said often along the way, I may have started this thread thirteen years ago, but it has always belonged to everyone who chooses to hang out here... and there have been a great many women and men who have done so over the years. I've been AWOL for most of the last four years for reasons I won't go into here... but when I have dropped in it has been reassuring to find so many familiar names still sharing photos and encouraging others who are drawn to these remarkable lenses.
I've done a bit of shooting over the last year but having given away the iMac computer that was still able to run Adobe products I'd purchased and installed on a series of computers, I was left without familiar software to process images. I've resisted the demands of Adobe, have dabbled with Affinity Photo and now am playing a bit with Nikon's free software, NX Studio. I'm now able to do enough that I feel I can actually share images again. I don't know how active I'll be on this thread, but I still own 46 manual focus Nikon lenses, so it would be a shame if I NEVER used them...
I'll share two... the first my most recent shot. I noticed the moon just before it slid behind a nearby tree. I dashed to get my Df, mounted the 300 f/4.5 AI-s ED-IF, opened the door of my cottage and grabbed this shot... wide open at 12,800 ISO... not great, but I'm glad I caught it...
Then one more... with a sad story. This was taken along a trail I often hike in the watershed near where I live... a two mile loop. On June 29, 2023, I walked this trail and took a very bad fall... breaking off my two front teeth when I fell down a slope... my face smashing against the rocky trail. I was fortunate that rock didn't hit the middle of my forehead because it probably would have killed me. But I came away with no other broken bones. A week from today I go in for oral surgery to remove the roots of those teeth and to have a bone graft required for me to eventually have two implants. I won't be walking on these trails again, simply because at age 81... 82 next month... I don't have the agility or balance I did when I was younger. I also am wearing glasses for the first time in my life... but I still seem to be able to find focus with the little green light in the viewfinder. Life goes on... I'm happy to say.
Congratulations to everyone still participating in this conversation. Like Leighton I'm surprised it is still going on... but then we know turning the focusing ring makes photography a joy. Perhaps I'll see you all a bit more often in the coming months. Happy anniversary everyone! ...Show more →
HAHAHA... I posted mine before I saw this... the devil indeed. If I ever get my house cleaned up and organized again after the nursing school fiasco... I'll get a group shot of mine.
Yes, we've all channeled Curtis over the last few years... tempting others to buy something they found along the way... that 180mm is still listed as available in B&S
and I'm happy I'm on page 1958... year of my birth ha ha ha
CGrindahl wrote:
I have to laugh everyone... the devil truly DID make you do it...
Laura was the one who kept insisting it was all MY fault that people kept buying lenses. This was my response to her. No doubt, there is something seductive about this whole adventure. These lenses are beautiful and in many instances remarkably affordable. How can we resist? We don't need to. Yes, there are those like Leighton who have the ability to constrain themselves... but for most of us that is not the case. I began building my kit after moving from Canon to Nikon simply because the prices were so sweet I couldn't resist. Those who've been around for some time know how THAT turned out...
CGrindahl wrote:
As I've said often along the way, I may have started this thread thirteen years ago, but it has always belonged to everyone who chooses to hang out here... and there have been a great many women and men who have done so over the years. I've been AWOL for most of the last four years for reasons I won't go into here... but when I have dropped in it has been reassuring to find so many familiar names still sharing photos and encouraging others who are drawn to these remarkable lenses.
I've done a bit of shooting over the last year but having given away the iMac computer that was still able to run Adobe products I'd purchased and installed on a series of computers, I was left without familiar software to process images. I've resisted the demands of Adobe, have dabbled with Affinity Photo and now am playing a bit with Nikon's free software, NX Studio. I'm now able to do enough that I feel I can actually share images again. I don't know how active I'll be on this thread, but I still own 46 manual focus Nikon lenses, so it would be a shame if I NEVER used them...
I'll share two... the first my most recent shot. I noticed the moon just before it slid behind a nearby tree. I dashed to get my Df, mounted the 300 f/4.5 AI-s ED-IF, opened the door of my cottage and grabbed this shot... wide open at 12,800 ISO... not great, but I'm glad I caught it...
Then one more... with a sad story. This was taken along a trail I often hike in the watershed near where I live... a two mile loop. On June 29, 2023, I walked this trail and took a very bad fall... breaking off my two front teeth when I fell down a slope... my face smashing against the rocky trail. I was fortunate that rock didn't hit the middle of my forehead because it probably would have killed me. But I came away with no other broken bones. A week from today I go in for oral surgery to remove the roots of those teeth and to have a bone graft required for me to eventually have two implants. I won't be walking on these trails again, simply because at age 81... 82 next month... I don't have the agility or balance I did when I was younger. I also am wearing glasses for the first time in my life... but I still seem to be able to find focus with the little green light in the viewfinder. Life goes on... I'm happy to say.
Congratulations to everyone still participating in this conversation. Like Leighton I'm surprised it is still going on... but then we know turning the focusing ring makes photography a joy. Perhaps I'll see you all a bit more often in the coming months. Happy anniversary everyone! ...Show more →
Good to hear from you again Curtis and sorry to hear about your misadventures !
I personally have a titanium rod in my leg from a double leg break some years ago in addition to breaking a collar bone, cheek bone and orbital eye bone. All mine were whilst playing soccer !
CGrindahl wrote:
Those months with Nikki were magical no doubt. During those months we were amassing over 100 posts every day! The thread moved so fast it made my head swim. And I recall how you spread your wings over time on this thread. It was wonderful to witness Scott. You've joined George and a few others in becoming mainstays of this thread. I'm so happy you're still helping to keep this thread alive.
Feels like old times. I woke to find 2 additional pages this morning.
We have some livestock back on the farm. I'm letting my neighbor run a few steers on it to help with his grass situation. Right now we have 7 enjoying the buffet. 50-135mm.
pbraymond wrote:
Ohh, I missed the grand marshal's appearance by an afternoon. Of course it's followed up by a sudden unexplained rise in acquisitions. Mere coincidence no?
Best wished for a full recovery Curtis. Glad you were not more seriously injured. Be careful out there, but I hope you keep getting out!
Just sharing a picture of the mighty mac, nothing too special (the picture that is). 28mm f2.8 AIS.
Well by gosh we just crossed into the UP YESTERDAY. We’re in St Ignace and head to Drummond Island today. Marquette tomorrow. What a small world!!
CGrindahl wrote:
Dear Ken... I remember it all and it was very painful to consider as you told your story. When i tell folks about what happened to me there is invariably the grimace as folks think about what that might feel like for them. Honestly, if I've learned anything from this experience it is the simple fact a great many people are confronted with profound challenges in life. Sometimes it is physical but it can also be emotional. Losing two teeth is not that significant compared to losing a loved one. Telling my story often elicited the story of someone else. I told a fellow at our incredible farmers market. We've bought apples from him for years. He responded telling me about the auto accident that left him with multiple steel plates in different parts of his body. Okay... I get it. I don't have a corner on pain. Your story is another that makes the same point.
And so we go on with life as best we can... right Ken? Great to hear from you my friend....Show more →
Curtis … my sense of humor had a lot to do with dealing with my injury. Forgive me if it spills over in to your dilemma! That first apple you get from your friend and bite into will be the best apple ever.
leighton w wrote:
We have some livestock back on the farm. I'm letting my neighbor run a few steers on it to help with his grass situation. Right now we have 7 enjoying the buffet. 50-135mm.
Ken Hill wrote:
Curtis … my sense of humor had a lot to do with dealing with my injury. Forgive me if it spills over in to your dilemma! That first apple you get from your friend and bite into will be the best apple ever.
The irony Ken is that one of the two teeth that snapped off was already compromised because of a botched filling that snapped off a corner of the tooth. It was repaired and reworked... leaving me with an ugly tooth that didn't function especially well. I would NEVER bite an apple with that tooth... so I always cut up apples and ate segments. Just imagine... for about sixteen thousand dollars I'll have two PERFECT teeth... but I'll likely still cut up my apples...
I guess since I'm here I might as well post a photo or two. Perhaps some flowers... all shot during my walks through the neighborhood... all shot with a pristine copy of the 135 f/2.8 K AI.
