POW 24/5/2009

[bmichel]

<p>Glassy for Lassie</p><div></div>

[ahanna]

<p>All three of my photos this week are using wireless off camera flash. It is fun to play with but I wish it was more reliable. Seems like it works about 80-90% of the time.<br>

First one came about during a rest period from bed jumping.</p><div></div>

[ahanna]

<p>The next two are attempts to "stop" water.</p><div></div>

[ahanna]

<p>Tyce the hand model.</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p><b>Justin, </b>your HDR shot is awesome. I saw a demonstration of that software recently and it really looks useful. <br>

<b>Robert B.</b>, your second and third flower shots are very nicely done. <br>

<b>Bob,</b> I really like the sepia shot. In the right place I think sepia is a great effect and that really works.<br>

<b>Dave</b>, all three are really nice. I especially like the one of your tenant, well framed.<br>

Well, ho hum, more landscapes for me this week. What can I say, I like to shoot early in the morning, although the first on is from late last night.</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p>secondly..</p><div></div>

[bob-c]

<p>and lastly</p><div></div>

[michael_elenko]

<p>Just a quick photo run through our garden this morning. I'm on the hook to build a garden gate today and have to sink a couple of cedar 4x4 posts. I took advantage of the diffused light of dense high clouds that will burn off shortly. A little strobe assist here and there.<br /> I just love it when those "geeky" test sites claim the DA Ltd. 35mm Macro has lousy bokeh.</p>

<p>Red Dogwood<br /> <img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/544583674_47Rwh-L.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> K20D, DA 35mm Ltd. Macro, f 4 @ 1/1000, ISO 400--Uncropped</p>

<p>Day Lilly</p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/544583715_NRMsU-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>K20D, Mamiya/Sekor 65mm Macro M42, f 5.6 @ 1/45, ISO 400</p>

<p>Poppy Pod</p>

<p><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/544583773_fQ5Ev-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>K20D, Mamiya/Sekor 65mm Macro M42, f 5.6 @ 1/180, ISO 400, Metz 58AF, Joe Demb Diffuser/Reflector</p>

<p>ME</p>

[bob-c]

<p>Those are really nice, Michael! What interest me is that they were shot at iso 400. I really need to get over my fear of shooting above iso 200. Is that a difference between the K10D and the K20D? It just seems everything I do above 200, and certainly 400, is quite grainy. Of course I suppose it's possible the problem is the photographer and not the camera. </p>

[michael_elenko]

<p>Robert,<br>

Thank you, and I like your foggy shot as well.</p>

<p>Re: ISO, the K10D and the K20D have different processors and firmware and I believe they manage ISO a bit differently. I remember reading somewhere that ISO 400 is actually the sweet spot for the K20D. Even though I've had the K20D for 8 months and 10,000 shots, I'm still learning about its capabilities. I'm very comfy shooting up to 800 and even 1600 with some software tweaking.</p>

<p>When I owned the K10D I was quite OK with ISO 400. A little reduction in Lightroom or if needed noiseware in CS3 and things were right for printing. With tweaks, ISO 800 was pretty good even. Perceived grain may not be shared by other viewers :)</p>

<p>ME</p>

[arkadiy_chernov]

<p>Nice pix guys; as always. Some of you definitely took the photo pill this week!!!<br>

I did some studio work for a friend this past Tuesday. Attaching 3 samples just to show u =)</p><div></div>

[arkadiy_chernov]

<p>N2</p><div></div>

[arkadiy_chernov]

<p>Last one...<br>

All pics taken with my DL! =)</p>

[arkadiy_chernov]

<p>Grr...why my last shot came undisplayble??? grrrr...<br>

For M.Elenko:<br>

Hey, for ur macro shots, why dont you stick to ur VL 125??? Any second thoughts to it? =)<br>

THose mamiya shots look good though...</p>

[michael_elenko]

<p>Arkadly,<br>

Thank you.</p>

<p>Each of the macro lenses has such unique characteristics that I give a little too much thought into which tool to use. A lot of my choices depend on simple logistics: I'll use the longer focal length lenses when my home supervisor says it is forbidden for me to trample the garden. The Voigtlander is also quite heavy and I use it best with a bigger tripod setup, especially after morning coffee (we can't help ourselves in Seattle). For these shots I was able to use a light Ultrapod 2. The VL is also a knockout telephoto/landscape lens.</p>

<p>The Mamiya/Sekor 60mm is a truly unique lens and works best in true closeups. I am forever indebted to the curmudgeon at the repair shop who talked me into purchasing it 6 years ago when I wanted to get into macro cheap. Like many older macros it's not very sharp for regular landscape use.</p>

<p>And the DA Ltd. 35mm I'm just starting to appreciate as a closeup lens. This lens is usually on my camera as my standard. But I like its ability to capture the broader backgrounds with the subject in the foreground with so much depth in the rendering. Quite amazing, really.</p>

<p>BTW, I like Smokin' a lot, it could be used as a character study for drama productions. The third image I cannot see.</p>

<p>ME</p>

[k_kakkinen]

<p>Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.....today May 24th 2009</p><div></div>

[dawsonjm]

<p>I'll try again to get my photos into the post.</p><div></div>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Really nothing super-interesting this week from me. Made some digitals; nice photos above. I particularly liked that one of the caught fish. J.</p><div></div>

[dawsonjm]

<p>Another!</p><div></div>

[dawsonjm]

<p>One more!</p><div></div>

[jpo3136b]

<p>One more from Boardtree, with some off cam lighting. </p><div></div>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Sorry for interlacing with yours, Dawson. </p>

<p>Last one taken with the "Plastic Fantastic" auto-everything $17 lens. Yes, I used an automatic, but it was for a purpose, so don't get excited if I look like a film heretic or something! You know I'm a manual-film kind of guy!</p><div></div>

[htarragon]

<p>Since we seem to be on a plant theme, I'll post a few flowers I found in Riverside Park in NYC and a surprise.<br>

Howard</p><div></div>

[htarragon]

<p>Another</p><div></div>

[htarragon]

<p>Last flower</p><div></div>