jim_j2

Mr. Martel,

As those above have already indicated, . . .

I found not only the subject very interesting but, the subtle light is excellent!

Regards,

Jim j.

You are absolutely correct in the "perserverance" part of getting shots such as yours here!

Caught at just the right moment, and, . . . in the right place!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Hi,

Wonderful shot of the P-51!

I like seeing it on the grass too. From what I have learned many of these WWII birds were operated from either grass or gravel runways.

Without sounding too critical, . . . a little more Propeller blur to enhance action/movement/life would have been nice here.

I've looked through your "Recently Uploaded" folder after picking this one off the front page of PN when it was submitted for critique. You have some very nice shots of some unusual Aircraft. But again, in my opinion many of them lack "life."

I noted that you shoot mostly in Shutter Priority with the Shutter speed of 1/800th.

I too use the 100-400. It's a fine lens for Air Shows IMHO and at the lower ISO's. I find the IS setting for Panning useful also. 

In my experiences I find that I can still maintain reasonable sharpness of the Aircraft itself and get good Prop blur using a Shutter Speed of around 1/250th as a good starting point depending on the type of Aircraft and the Propeller's speed. Even as slow as 1/125th if on the ground or, smaller Aircraft like the Piper Cubs, Cessanas and such.

Just a thought should you want to add a little more "life" to these nice Aviation photographs. A little experimenting with slower Shutter Speeds might be worth a try next Air Show opportunity.

Cheers & Regards always,

Jim j.

Holger,

Abstract or Spaceship, it makes an interesting and attractive image.

Before I had read down far enough in the comments I was thinking it might have something to do with a ceiling somewhere. Now I'm facinated after reading that this was at a venue for a concert at just how big it might be!

Really like the tones throughout!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Massimo,

To me at least, not much defines "water" and its power as much as an old Water Mill.

I like your shot here, and when viewed larger one can notice the slight movement of the wheel.

Best wishes with this one!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Laurent,

I've only witnessed rainfall like this while I was in the Navy and stationed on Guam in the Mariana's in the late 70's.

My most vivid memory was the day my recently purchased (just before I left the U.S.) 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider Convertable arrived on the island. My Wife and I were still on Temporary Lodging and I had picked the car up, washed it, put the top down and had parked it just outside our Hotel room so that she and I could take a "convertible" ride. When I parked,  there was not a cloud in the sky. However, just as I had finished changing out of my Uniform and walked out of the bedroom I immediately noticed the rain through the patio door.

Long story short, . . . although we're talking probably less than 5 minutes from the time I parked, by the time I got out to the car and got the top up on my almost new convertable had about 2 inches of rain standing in the floorboards. Well, . . . we didn't get to take a ride that day as the remainder of daylight hours were spent finding a way to drain out the rain and dry the carpet and mats.

When it rains in the Tropics, . . . it rains and, you have captured it so well!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Hi Pierre,

As always, . . . your excellent work excites the imagination and makes my mind get to working in mysterious ways!

"The younger generations, although much larger in the overall scheme of life just blowing a lot of air in the direction of us older white haired remanents of times gone by!"

That "blowing a lot of air" to me represents the younger generations being more interested in Video Gaming, watching TV (Especially You Tube), Texting, Tweeting, Face Booking etc., etc., while "puffing away" the older folks that spent much of their time using their hands. . . . maybe collecting and sewing buttons on an old knitted sweater!

The only thing I see wrong with this is that the fine looking young boy knows how to wear a baseball cap properly! Surprised it's not on backwards!

My fault I know, . . . but, . . . long time since I've actually logged in and spent any time here.

Short visit but wanted to say hello to a few of my dear friends that I can still find here.

Cheers & Regards always,

Jim j.

George,

I really like your presentation!

In all of my 60 plus years of life, . . . I've never ridden on a Train! But this is exactly what I imagine, . . .

Your presentation, the B&W treatment and processing, . . . I can just hear the steam hissing, smell the oil and grease, . . . and feel the vibration of the ground!

Well done!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Hi Gail,

In my experience, . . . old Dairy farms can, and usually do provide some unique opportunities. Of course, I suppose a lot of that statement of mine depends on just how long they have been out of operation.

Most around here have now been gone for sometime but, I do recall some 40 years ago when I was a young Teenager my folks bought many products from a local family that had a Dairy. We got our "whole" Milk in glass wide mouthed gallon jugs. Usually two gallons per week. ( I had three little Sisters).

My Mother used to separate the Cream from the top and she'd have us kids sit and sorta shake until we had made Butter. The "shaking action" was the substitute for not having a Butter Churn!

Oh, Mom's cooking was sooo good back then with "fresh milk & eggs" in every receipe.

That "Dairy Family" provided us with not only our Milk, but our eggs and in the Fall they harvested Maple and made Syrup & Molasses as well as their Bee hives for Honey. When we could afford it we also bought much of our Beef and Pork from them. 

By the late 1960's the "Farm Couples" older ages had slowed them down quite a bit and, although their Children carried on much of the operation for as long as they could, I think the USDA regulations finally made the operation non-profitable for the family to continue.

I visited that Dairy Farm location for the last time some twenty years ago and unfortunately the Children had sold it off and a newer housing project covered most of the 160 acres.

Your image here certainly makes me wish I had had the opportunity to photograph the many activities that went on around that farm in its "hey day." But, my photograhic desires had not yet kicked in and now I'm only left with the memories.

Your image with the Red painted siding, white doors and trim work, the weeds grown up around the foundation, the Tin roof and the Wheelbarrow ready have certainly "livened up" those memories!

Thanks!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Line,

Makes for a very attractive image.

The composition, lighting and background are very nice. The look on their faces and those eyes really makes it work very well.

Regards always,

Jim j.

Phil,

Really like your shot here along with the other Triumph's that you have posted.

Good color and details!

This one reminds me of the late 50's Austin Healy Bugeye Sprite in alot of ways but of course we know that it is not.

If my computer would cooperate, . . . it's got my curiosity up too as to the model and although I Googled "Triumph Bugeye" the search showed samples of the Austin Healy's then my computer locks up before I can look through some of the other websites.

Anyway, my guess would be that it's a late 50's or early 60's model and could possibly even be some sort of "race specific" model.

Like your shot and thanks for sharing!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Tm J,

Of the several you have posted in this series it was hard to decide which I personally thought was the desirable. . . . This being my favorite!

Superb all the way around, . . . lighting, action, details and background!

Regards always,

Jim j.

PS, the background story too!

Radu,

Many thanks for the shooting info. I had figured the shutter speed would have been much slower!

Now at least I have a "starting poing" to experiment with.

Thanks again,

Jim j.

Hi Christal, . . .

I ran across this one as one of the entry's in the Landscape contest.

Well, I just had to comment that "This is very much a part of our Landscape through the "Grain Belt" of the Continent!"  And, . . . you've captured it so well with this unique but often seen lighting as the storm approaches.

Very well done & best wishes,

Always,

Jim j.

Hi Gail, . . .

Bill and some of the Other's have it, . . . not only is the image itself excellent but, the back story brings back many Childhood memories.

Makes me wonder how we ever survived and learned anything at all with out the Television, Cell Phones, Computers, Gaming Systems and all these Electronics!

Cheers & Regards always,

Jim j.

Beautiful scene!

"One can almost hear the gentle roar of the stream as it breaks the solitude of the location!"

Was hoping to learn what ISO, Aperture and Shutter speed but I suppose it's not to be. Your settings captured the stream's flow wonderfully!

Regards always,

Jim j.

As always, . . . "Another wonderful "thought-provoking" image!"

Ancient & Modern suffices, . . . but it needs more people, cars, sidewalks, roadways and a little trash!

Don't take me seriously, . . . just some thoughts your image provoked in my warped mind!

Cheers Ol' Friend,

Jim j.

Hi Alf, . . .

I could spend considerable time telling you what I like about this (and most all your Landscapes) photograph. However, . . . with my showing up late to the party I am confident that anything or praise that I would have offered has already been said in the many comments above this one. So, . . . the short and sweet version, . . .

Excellent lighting throughout the spectactular view your photograph gives us. Although one might consider the house, or building structure the "anchor point," to me, it does indeed serve in that roll if for nothing else because of the white color. But, for me the anchor is that large rock to the left of the frame and those blades of light grass in the right lower corner. Then my eye follows to the structure, the small grove of trees in the center of the frame, down the valley to the distant peak (Black Rock maybe?) then, upwards to the dark clouds in the upper right hand corner of the frame.

Your photographs seem to nearly always provide the viewer (at least this one) wth a "journey" to follow if one takes the time to digest the image.

I certainly wish I could obtain that in more of my own work!

Fine work!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Hi Holger,

Some very nice details and colors! The background works too! However, it appears to be a "block wall" of some sort and if it were mine, (I wish darnit!) I would consider "cloning" out the horizontal and vertical lines that appear to be "Mortar Joints."

Just a thought, . . .

Regards always,

Jim j.

"What, . . . Bikes with NO Pedals! Surely NOT in Ruuds world!"

Just my first impression when I ran across this one.

Cheers Ol' Friend,

Jim j.

Gail,

I'm at a loss for words, so, I hope just a simple "thank you" for sharing this with us will do!

Regards always,

Jim j.

Be careful getting that close!

He looks pretty ferocious!

Seriously, . . . I really like the details in the eyes!

Cheers & Regards always,

Jim j.

Already commented on your other shot of the Stag but, had to take a closer look in this one at that "undergrowth" beneath the trees to see if there might possibly be another Stag bedded down in there.

Nope, . . . I didn't find one but, so much of that undergrowth has the similiar shape of the Stag's antlers. A nice example of Mother Natures natural camoflauge abilities.

Cheers & Regards always,

Jim j.

Misty Sunrises are always nice, . . . especially the ones with a Stag in the scene as a bonus!

Cheers & Regards always,

Jim j.

Thanks so much for your visits and comments!

Yes, I think these two "companions" were certainly enjoying their boat ride and each others presence that I was hoping to capture in this shot. Appears as though I was successful in doing that from you all's comments.

Again, thanks so much!

Regards always,

Jim j.

PS - My apologies in the long delay in acknowledging your visits.