leighton w wrote:
Just saw some pics from NYC, it's very creepy to see it so vacant.
Hi, Leighton:
It feels creepy indeed. This city is so shut down that outside of the grocery store or buying a subway/bus ride, one would have a hard time spending 10 bucks.
Unfortunately, I think things will remain as they are for quite a spell.
London's lockdown so I spent time focus stacking with the light tent, my D800E and the old 55mm 2.8 Micro.
Would recommend getting one of those tents if your are home-locked. It's a fairly affordable way of spending creative time indoors. Approx GBP 50 which includes the lighting.
gbohannon wrote:
Rafael - that 80-200 2.8 is drool worthy and has always been on my wish list.
This is what gear photos are SUPPOSED TO DO!
That is why I encourage them. Loved you gear shot as well and couldn't help but feel the lens was the very best part... but them I'm prejudiced on such things...
Love the tulip Mark and definitely appreciate how you've creatively responded to these troubling times. Photography gives us so many opportunities to play, whether it is with camera in hand, or images appearing in the digital darkroom as Rafael is doing with some of his older images. It has been clear to me that my skills in the digital darkroom have grown over the years, both because of improvements in software and in my eye. Viewing what others present here and on other photo threads is part of the education. We learn about lenses, of course, but we also learn about framing images and how to use light creatively. All good and all coming in handy right now.
Be creative everyone... experiment and play... then share what you stumble on along the way. We may be sheltering-in-place, but that doesn't mean we need to isolate from our cyber friends...
markhout wrote:
London's lockdown so I spent time focus stacking with the light tent, my D800E and the old 55mm 2.8 Micro.
Would recommend getting one of those tents if your are home-locked. It's a fairly affordable way of spending creative time indoors. Approx GBP 50 which includes the lighting.
I'm using a big mouse pad that's hung up like a backdrop. It's sub-optimal, but works well enough for trying things that I normally wouldn't. A tent would be great.
OffTrail wrote:
I'm using a big mouse pad that's hung up like a backdrop. It's sub-optimal, but works well enough for trying things that I normally wouldn't. A tent would be great.
I have been scrounging around the house looking for things just like that. I have some video lights with umbrellas that I haven't used recently. Some black felt and some empty burlap coffee bean bags that may make for some interesting backdrops.
pburke wrote:
One for Rafael - Nikon Nikkor AIS 300mm F2 ED IF in mint condition on ebay, although the price does reflect the seller is aware of its rarity. It has a make offer button...
And after seeing what he did with his lenses, including a Canon 200 f/1.8 that he sold on FM... I suspect his 300 f/2 wasn't in the best of shape, either.
CGrindahl wrote:
This will be a REAL test of Rafael's commitment to manual focus Nikon lenses... Of course, it will also be a test of how robust his bank account is after the stock market contraction... as well as whether he's still getting those big checks from Raytheon...
Those of you who've been around for a long time will recall when an active member of this thread, Gregory Rogalsky from Calvary, Canada decided that he HAD to begin shooting video. Because Canon was well ahead of the field at the time, he chose to sell most of his extensive kit of Nikon MF glass, INCLUDING his copy of the 300 f/2 that he kept showing us in photos of himself hand-holding the lens. Not many of these were made... fewer than 500. Honestly, I recall seeing prices higher than this in the past... so this MAY be a real deal! Roberts Camera is a reputable outfit who know the market. Have at it Rafael.
Surely you guys have some curtains and drapes in the house? I have different sorts of fabric I bought at a fabric store that I can use for backdrops. Large piece of plexiglass, and some wainscotting as well.
gbohannon wrote:
Looks great to me!
I have been scrounging around the house looking for things just like that. I have some video lights with umbrellas that I haven't used recently. Some black felt and some empty burlap coffee bean bags that may make for some interesting backdrops.
There you go Leighton... you have a wonderful world we've seen over the years that is still there to be photographed. Thanks for adding to the conversation!
NightOwl Cat wrote:
And after seeing what he did with his lenses, including a Canon 200 f/1.8 that he sold on FM... I suspect his 300 f/2 wasn't in the best of shape, either.
I found this on Nikon Cafe showing photos of Gregory's lens...
OffTrail wrote:
I'm using a big mouse pad that's hung up like a backdrop. It's sub-optimal, but works well enough for trying things that I normally wouldn't. A tent would be great.
Following on the theme, here is an example of my 2013 processing versus my 2020 processing. A combination of knowing the limitations of the image file, faster processing that enables experimentation, learning to use the histogram, and much better computer displays at home that get calibrated. It is not that one is better than the other, it is that I like the second one much better than the first and I could create either one at will.
