Budding Trees at Pond

Budding Trees at Pond - Salisbury NC

I’ve commented before on how Nikon’s 24-70mm f/2.8 is one of my favorite lens but I have to say with time and a lot of use I’ve also become a fan of Nikon’s 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR lens.

It’s not the fastest Nikon zoom lens in this range, the “professional” 70-200mm f/2.8 holds that honor, but it’s a decent “consumer” lens for any situation where you don’t need the extra speed. The fact it cost about 1/3 the amount of its faster “professional” brother doesn’t hurt either.

The following impressions are from using the lens on a Nikon D700, full frame camera. I haven’t used it enough on my D300 to say how it performs on a DX camera but I would expect similar results.

The 70-300mm is sharp at almost all focal lengths. It’s only as you approach the maximum (300mm) that it loses a bit of sharpness around the edges — however the center remains sharp. The Vibration Reductions (VR) function works as designed allowing hand shooting at lower shuttle speeds, making the slower speed of the lens less of an issue. When there is sufficient light auto-focus is fast and accurate, however as you approach the minimum f/5.6, 300mm, under lower lighting it will often “hunt” for focus — it’s best to switch to manual focus under these circumstances. I’ve found the lens to have a pleasing Bokeh, a minimal vignette and seldom exhibits lens flare.

While initially I was wanting the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, I’ve found the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR to be a wonderful compliment to the D700. That extra 100mm of reach is often well appreciated in a full frame camera and there’s not much to fault with the lens performance.

Considering price, features, performance, quality, I’d have to say this lens is a winner — at least it has been for me.

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St. Patrick’s Day

by Earl on March 17, 2010

in Photography

Trees Blooming

Trees Blooming - Spring Almost Here

There was a hint of trees blooming in yesterdays photo but todays image certainly confirms spring is within sight, and I can’t say its arrival is any too soon.

This winter was the coldest and wettest winter recorded here in 30 years. So even if spring brings along with it my spring allergies, which I’m sure it will, I’m still glad to see it come.

I made sure there was some green in todays photo for those who are Irish and celebrating St. Patrick’s day. According to wikipedia, “Originally the colour associated with Saint Patrick was blue. However, over the years the colour green and its association with Saint Patrick’s day grew” — I didn’t know that.

Here in the U.S. there are parades with certain cities painting the traffic stripes along the route green, some waterways and fountains are dyed green for the day, and of course there is green beer to enjoy. It’s also a tradition if you’re caught not wearing green today you may get pinched.

I use to think perhaps I was part Irish, the red hair made that seem possible, but after some ancestry research it doesn’t seem I am.

Still, Happy St. Patrick’s day to you!

Image post-processing in Adobe LR2, CS4, Nik Color Efex, Nik Viveza 2

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Close to home

by Earl on March 16, 2010

in Photography

On Still Waters

Reflections on Still Water - Salisbury, NC

I was on Google Maps a couple of days ago and found this delightful pond less then a half a mile from my house. I had no idea it was there until I began exploring the area using the satellite view. Then it was a simple matter of locating a close road and a short walk.

It seems to be part of a housing development that has been less then successful. There’s only one large home in the area and hopefully I’ll be able to access this pond freely as it would provide some beautiful seasonal shots. I may stop at existing house to introduce myself and see if they have any problem with me being back there.

It just goes to show you never know what you’ll find when look at things from a different perspective.

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Prepared for accidents

March 12, 2010

While I’ve been known to “enhance” what comes from the camera during post-processing I seldom stray too far from the original — I would be considered somewhat conservative in that regard.
However, often for my own enjoyment I’ll select a photo and go a bit wild in Photoshop just to see what I can create. This [...]

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Trees now silent

March 11, 2010

“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.” – John Muir
I’ve been remiss in my posting this past week — time spent reading, thinking, contemplating [...]

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It keeps flowing

March 5, 2010

Often during dryer periods this particular spot will have almost no flowing water but last weekend with the run off from winters heavy rain and snow there was a strong current. I sat, watched and listen for a while, finally raising my camera and make this photo.
I used multi-exposures process to retain some details in [...]

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Project: Image Regressions

March 4, 2010

I’ve been bouncing around an idea of using slides and transition effects to display a photo as a dynamic composition.
The “Beta” example below demonstrates a simple two layer process — but I envision taking a photo through multiple levels, each layer/image different but still recognizable as being built on the one before or the core [...]

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Mother Nature, on Spring

March 3, 2010

“Mother Nature” made a comment on my post of two days ago, “Awaiting Spring,” which addressed signs of a coming spring. As you can see from these photos she’s rather direct in her comments as to it not being Spring yet but presents a very strong case.

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Photography: Undefinable Elements

March 2, 2010

I normally consider a number of things when composing a photo including: the framing; format (portrait or landscape); balance; focal point; DOF; perspective, exposure, etc. — these are conscious considerations based on experience and knowledge of what works. I’ll make these photos and usually know what I like or was trying to capture in them.

Then sometimes I get the sense a composition is “right” without being able in the moment to define why or what makes it “right.” These moments result in photos with “something” but “something” undefined.   

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Awaiting Spring

March 1, 2010

The first day of March is upon us and with it the hope and promise of spring being not too far in the distance. However there is also winter still lingering about making things unstable.

“March is a month of considerable frustration – it is so near spring and yet across a great deal of the country the weather is still so violent and changeable that outdoor activity in our yards seems light years away.” – Thalassa Cruso

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Another day, another passing year, another self-portrait

February 26, 2010

Time for a bit of self-indulgence. Last January I posted a 2009 self portrait, my first and at the time I thought probably my last. Things change, including my mind and opinions, so with the passing year I though perhaps doing a self portrait a year might be interesting.

There’s nothing as entertaining as watching yourself grow older. ;-)

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