Dieter Schaefer Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 (edited) This is the additional weekly image thread for the Nature Forum. While images posted to this thread should still be nature in theme, it may contain a small amount of human-made objects and therefore less restricted than the Monday in Nature threads. Please see this discussion for more details: Alternative weekly thread in Nature forum Each participant please post no more than just one image per weekly thread. Many members will appreciate any information you are willing or able to provide regarding location, shooting process, exposure settings, equipment, and information on the subject(s), including scientific and/or common names. Pacific Brown Pelican over La Jolla Bay. When the light's nice and in your favor but the background is definitely not. At this particular location (Goldfish Point) facing East yields a lot of "hand of man" in the background. Lots of pelicans and cormorants with very easy access along La Jolla Cove. But just like other places in California that I am familiar with, one finds oneself often on higher ground than the birds. Also, there's no access to some prime shooting locations. Some of the good ones though has one facing the ocean which often yields a very nice background. And with wind from a favorable direction, bird-in-flight photography is supreme. Edited February 10, 2023 by Dieter Schaefer 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill J Boyd Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Cedar Waxwings in my backyard 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 The bokeh of Dieter’s pelican image indicates that the lens used was probably a PF (fresnel) lens, perhaps the Nikon 500/5.6 PF. It looks different from conventional lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian_niemi1 Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 White Goose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Blue-eyed shag (cormorant), also captured with a 500mm PF lens 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcstep Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 3 hours ago, ShunCheung said: perhaps the Nikon 500/5.6 PF Correct assumption. 3 hours ago, ShunCheung said: It looks different from conventional lenses I doubt any conventional super-tele lens would have made that background pretty. Rendered differently, yes. But still distracting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Typically I don't have any issues with the Nikon PF lenses, as I happen to have all three models Nikon has produced, but occasionally I notice some unusual background rendered, especially when there are bright areas. Sorry I need to add an image for comparison. I captured this one way back in 2007 with a Nikon D300 and an old 300mm/f2.8 AF-S lens, also at La Jolla Cove (near San Diego in Southern California). Still, this background is not as busy but has some bright areas. This is how a conventional lens renders: 300mm/f2.8 AF-S @ f4, 1/3200 sec and ISO 400 on the Nikon D300, whose base ISO is 200. December 27, 2007, when the D300 was brand new. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted February 11, 2023 Author Share Posted February 11, 2023 (edited) 6 hours ago, ShunCheung said: but occasionally I notice some unusual background rendered, especially when there are bright areas. I haven't paid particular attention to the difference in background rendering between the 500PF and the 200-500 (mostly used at the longest focal length setting); both have the same maximum aperture of f/5.6 and hence DOF effects are eliminated. I shoot the 500PF mostly wide open and usually had the 200-500 1/3 or 2/3 stops away from maximum. OOF specular highlights with the 200-500 have a lot of internal structure too and hence are equally distracting as those rendered by the 500PF. The AF-S 80-400 seems to render a bit smoother but I have pretty much given up on using that lens as - especially towards the longer focal length - it is not as sharp as the 200-500 or the 500PF. I have not used the 200-500 at La Jolla even though a zoom would come in very handy at that location. It's just that I can't turn the zoom ring of the 200-500 fast enough to adjust the focal length while panning with a bird in flight; the angle of rotation to go from maximum to minimum focal length is just too large and requires to change ones grip on the lens at least once. At La Jolla, focal lengths from 80 to 800 mm can be used and are useful; even having 1200mm can come in handy on occasion. I hope Nikon's Z-mount 200-600 will function similarly to the Sony one and have IF and a short throw for changing focal lengths. Maybe it even comes with a PF element which would be more than welcome to keep the size and weight down - but would certainly drive the price point up. Edited February 11, 2023 by Dieter Schaefer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnelson Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Meadow Lark from today, just on a lark 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieter Schaefer Posted February 11, 2023 Author Share Posted February 11, 2023 1 minute ago, bnelson said: Meadow Lark Looks like a sparrow to me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_10939992 Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Woodland (pine) vole. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 19 minutes ago, Dieter Schaefer said: Looks like a sparrow to me. Golden-crowned sparrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnelson Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 17 minutes ago, Dieter Schaefer said: Looks like a sparrow to me. You are so correct. Just checked with Merlin bird ID 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin Barkdoll Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 10 hours ago, User_10939992 said: Woodland (pine) vole. Looks more like a shrew to me than a vole. Voles usually have a blunter face while shrews are pointed. Nice capture BTW. Test Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_10939992 Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 2 hours ago, Edwin Barkdoll said: Looks more like a shrew to me than a vole. Voles usually have a blunter face while shrews are pointed. Nice capture BTW. You may be right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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