Zabriskie Detail

Large view available. Erosion in one of the driest deserts in the

world may seem ironic, yet the visual geological story here tells the

impact of wind and, yes, rain. Your comments are valued. Thanks.

Larry

Hi Larry,

A picturesque view.

However, using a 70 mm lens setting at F/13 only reveals the moderate structure because  the f-stop compromises made to the zoom lens design. While the lens is not listed, I own every Nikon and other manufactured lens covering the various zooms that include 70 mm. I have tested each lens and many camera bodies, and the facts are clear.

The Nikon D7000 is best served by using a good lens at F/5.6 or faster if possible. Unless the lens is mediocre, then further stopping down of the lens is short changing the image performance possible.

Best Regards, Mike

Mike,  Thanks for your instructive comment.  It is likely over my head on the technical stuff, but I'd like to learn from your point.  I have a 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, not what I consider a top shelf lens.  That's what I used.  Now, can you explain how the lens compromises the image again?   Thanks.

Nice shot Larry, there's not a lot one can do with dry, weathered mud but you've done well with it. The stuff is soft and has few defining edges.  Having a person or other subject might make it even more interesting.

I'm inclined to disagree with the comment about the use of equipment.

Having walked this area I think your image is optimal and doubt that even a Canon would do much  better... :-)

Steve,   Thanks for your reassuring comment.  An interesting animal would be amazing in an image like this, but one is unlikely to find much more than the photographer animal with a tripod here.  Thanks for your visit.

Hi larry,

I have many lens (all the Nikkors) in the 28-200 range, and I can confidently say that no zoom lens with a large zoom range, like your 7:1 to or larger zoom range is going to perform much better than you have shown here. Again, the gross details are evident ,but that is all.

In fact, I limit my zoom range to 2:1 to 5:1 (maximum case) zoom ratio because it is not possible to achieve the highest level of sharpness across such ranges without a custom design costing several  thousands of dollars.  Even then, there are many other choices  including a good fixed focal length lens will still provide better results than the zooms. I rarely use any of long ratio zooms, as they make better teaching tools for my new hiers learn how to make good lab tests. My testing in the lab and in the field extends to all manufactured lens, so it is not a limitation to any particular brand.

I would still recommend that you try using F/5.6 with the 70 mm set point on your lens. If the DOF is a concern to you , then focusing at 90+ feet away or setting the lens to Inifinity , will provide the widest range for the true focus parameters to meet at 70 mm. The D7000 will allow for a full frame enlargement or a crop and enlarge  to show the difference that the F/5.6 f-stop should provide.

The other simple exercise is to focus close on the same type of terrain, and use F/5.6 , realizing that closer and more distance scene elements will gradually go out of focus. Again, you are looking for the performance gain in the true focused areas only. I always use manual focus to assure that what I want in focus is what I get.

Finally, the use of larger f-stops provides a visual appearance of "focus" but is not true focus. This perception of DOF is due to the  fact that only the low to moderate scene elements ever appear to be in focus, because the blur introduced by large f-stops removes all the high definition content that a lens can provide. Our mind does some very interesting "image processing" that has nothing to do what the real optical system can provide. I have seen many nice looking Landscapes at F/16 or F/22 as small displays. By the time I enlarge them, I ma disappointed to find that the trees are not defined into the bark, branches leaves or other elements that make trees what they are. My mind saw "green" on a mountain side across a smooth lake, but that is all. My mind processed the scene the way that I would imagine it, not the way it really was under the captured parameters used.

Best Regards, Mike

Larry, the detail looks very good to me, and enlarged even more so.  I don't have a sense of scale, so I agree with Steve, if there were a person in the photo, it would gain that.  I've not seen this before, so I have to ask if those are trails along the ridges?  

Hi Mike,   Thanks for the explanation.  I am not into dumping lots of money into top notch lenses; otherwise, I guess I'd have them.  Getting the best I can with the equipment I have is OK.  The challenge I see as a photographer is seeing images artistically and capturing them well in good light.  I appreciate your information.

Thanks, Dominick.  I appreciate your visit and comment.  Actually, I am glad there are not people treadding on this fragile land.  Bad enough are all the people who go out on the ledge in front of the subject and block the view for others.  Thanks, again.  Larry

The textures and light / shadow play are delightful. The scene that looks almost abstract from the thumbnail becomes much more interesting when viewed large.

Are they actually pathways along the tops of those ridges?

Compliments & Best Regards 

Alf 

Hi Alf,   Thanks for your visit and comment.  No there are not any pathways; but there are many ridges, textures, and shape that are the result of this harsh land that is victim of blazing heat, fierce winds, and rate, but likely heavy rain - when it does rain.  Thanks, again.  Larry

I like the patterns just as they are.  I can imagine someone hiring a model in a long, flowing, red dress that trails behind her as she walks along one of the foreground ridges.  That would get a lot of attention.  But I prefer to look at the world as it is, not as it may appear if something completely out of its element is added.  Alternatively, you could turn the ridges green; that would get a lot of "great color" comments, I'm sure.

Stephen,  Thanks.  I agree. let's keep images real.   Larry

Great shadows, I like the shot and very good cropping.

Javed,  Thanks for your visit and comments.  I have been out of town, hence my  tardiness in getting back to you.   Larry