shots worth sharing

<p>Egad! I'd guess the answer to 1) is 'yes'. Maybe Eric Hendrickson has one of those doo-hickies out in his in his shed? </p>

<p>Javier is active recently over at PF and I've seen a Mis comment here from time to time although he seems to be preoccupied with other things recently. Of course, I haven't been particularly active on either site recently myself. </p>

<p>Great news! Thanks Michael & congrats Camus!</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Floras/i-L2TK5gk/0/L/IMGP2910%20copycu-L.jpg" alt="" width="764" height="600" /></p>

<p>To spare you from an overdose of basketball photos, I went out touring with my friend Dennis yesterday and came across:</p>

<p>Somebody's Kid (Tamron Adaptall 180/2.8)<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/People/Friends-Family-and-Strrangers/i-qJPLvWC/0/XL/IMGP7731csmu-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Detail of Storefront Church (Tamron Adaptall 180/2.8)<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-pV2gxtZ/0/L/i-pV2gxtZ-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="571" /> </p>

<p>Tidewater Marsh (FA 135/2.8)<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Places/RHE-LOCAL-LANDSCAPE/i-82cjB6z/0/XL/IMGP7749u%20-XL.jpg" alt="" width="509" height="768" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Getting a photo of an owl (much less a good one) is on my bucket list, Doug, so I''m envious!<br>

Living in balmy parts, it never occurred to me that a dalmatian's markings could be camo but you make the case very effectively, Markus. Great "test shot"!<br>

Those 'lanterns' are fun to shoot aren't they, Jean? Ours are just tan-ish so yours were surprising. "Tarn" is gorgeous!<br>

Your "self-portrait" is rich, JDM--I like it.<br>

I'm no longer between sports seasons: Clara's team started the BB season with a tournament and took second place--here she is on the way to a Double-Double. <br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ms4gGnR/0/XL/i-Ms4gGnR-XL.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="768" /> <br>

That's with the Sigma 50-150/2.8 btw. Hat-tip to Michael E. for his advice to shoot wide-open: in the "pick your poison" battle with noise, I think it's the best strategy. <br>

I have this tendency, when processing sports shots, to get distracted by interesting things--like this.<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-LRfRKd2/0/XL/i-LRfRKd2-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p> </p>

<p>I'm sure you did the right thing, Antoni and your admission to heaven is assured. ;~)<br>

Good point, Ian--I'm not about to give up my a Sigma500/4.5 but I find I'm getting very credible results from my Tamron Adaptall 300/2.8. </p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Nick that duck shot is awesome!</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Reslly!</p>

<p>I've had a lull in shooting lately: we're in-between Clara's sports seasons and birds have been scarce (plus it's getting too cold for extended bird outings) so I've been rummaging through old shots and processing (or re-processing) a few. Given the recent discussion, I've been keeping my eye out for shots with the A* 135/1.8 and found a few:</p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/People/Friends-Family-and-Strrangers/i-Hpn9bP8/0/XL/IMGP5320cbwsm-XL.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="768" /> </p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Things/Things-and-Things-which-Arent/i-k8c8tZh/0/XL/IMGP5347csmu-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/People/Friends-Family-and-Strrangers/i-fB4G8tB/0/XL/IMGP4359c2smu-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Nope, Clara's on the verge of getting her driver's license and the prospect of paying for her insurance kept me on the sideline.</p>

<p>In case I didn't make this clear I don't have any regrets about buying my copy (which was in really great condition.) It's very very sharp, renders rich color and gorgeous bokeh. I don't know a thing about lens design but it seems to me Pentax really nailed it with this lens. True, it does show fringing wide open in some conditions (not much--if any--worse than the 77 Ltd in that respect) so I don't use it in those conditions. </p>

<p>It's been a mystery to me that Pentax hasn't offered an AF version but I gather that 135mm isn't a popular FL in the digital era. Also, the FA 135/2.8 is a good lens. The other thing about the A* is that there just don't be a whole lot of them out there and those what has 'em keeps 'em and that keeps the price up and a FF body would kick the price into the stratosphere. </p>

<p>I've mostly been shooting sports & birds this fall so Dad's 98th birthday party offered a welcome change of pace but I was too preoccupied with party arrangements to get too serious with photography. Happily, the room was the perfect size for the FA 77 ltd which I hadn't used for a while. This was also my first indoor attempt using my AF-540 flash and I was glad to find I didn't make a total hash of it. <br>

Dad<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/People/Friends-Family-and-Strrangers/i-h56rxH9/0/XL/IMGP7458c%20smu-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>and my "kids" (who required more pp) <br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/People/Friends-Family-and-Strrangers/i-gWJ4HXs/0/XL/IMGP7455cu%20-XL.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/People/Friends-Family-and-Strrangers/i-LDfpKkd/0/XL/IMGP7430cusm-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Sure--but I'm not sure I do it justice.<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-t4wkQnr/0/XL/i-t4wkQnr-XL.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="596" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-4Z73GQg/1/L/i-4Z73GQg-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-Bnpz8sq/1/L/i-Bnpz8sq-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

<p>It's a super lens! I've actually bought two (one on behalf of an Aussie friend). Both were in very good condition and cost around USD $1,500 (each).</p>

<p>Some birds <br>

Got this yesterday with the Tamron 300/2.8. No TC--just an exercise in being still in the woods.<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-JpmKcwM/0/L/IMGP6660c-csmu-L.jpg" alt="" /> </p>

<p>I didn't have the tripod set up when this guy showed up so I took this Rambo-style (hand-held from behind the stone column on the porch) with the Sigma 500/4.5/Kenko0 1.5x TC/540 flash and Better Beamer<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-r9VDgXH/0/L/IMGP7381c-smu-copy-L.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="600" /><br>

<br>

And a Mockingbird.<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-zBFWbMh/0/L/IMGP7355csmu-copy-L.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="600" /></p>

<p>Some of the more interesting Hockey shots from this week. (K-5 & Sigma 70-200/2.8)<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-bpGsjK6/0/XL/i-bpGsjK6-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-C4RtxKB/0/XL/i-C4RtxKB-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-43wKd48/0/XL/i-43wKd48-XL.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="514" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Those are magnificent, Bob!</p>

<p>Oh, yes, it's <em>very</em> forgiving of user error (not that <strong><em>I</em> </strong>make any such errors, of course. ;~) </p>

<p>Another week of field hockey (with the Sigma 70-200/2.8) <br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-mwJ4XWr/0/XL/i-mwJ4XWr-XL.jpg" alt="" /><br>

But, now & then, I sneak off to spend some time with birds. <br>

Sigma 500/4.5 & 1.4x TC<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-vxXqQSx/0/XL/IMGP5610c-smu-XL.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="768" /></p>

<p>Tamron Adaptall 300/2.8 (360B) & Pentax AF 1.4x TC <br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-RKsBgxv/0/XL/IMGP6974c-c-smu-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>The Orioles made the playoffs: that's enough of a miracle for me.</p>

<p>That is very cool, Matt. As my father says, "You people live in an amazing century."</p>

<p>Very nice photos so far! I like that heron shot a lot Doug--the ripple reflection on the bird is neat!<br>

Mostly I've been shooting field hockey lately. My Sigma 100-300/4 is having focus issues (I need to send it in for repair) so I've been using the 70-200/2.8.<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-tV8JN4B/0/XL/i-tV8JN4B-XL.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="720" /></p>

<p> <img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-HhqKXL4/0/XL/i-HhqKXL4-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-d2QL4Cg/0/XL/i-d2QL4Cg-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>As a demonstration that you don't have to know anything about anything to be right, I hereby predict that there will be no announcement of a Pentax Full-Frame at this year's Photokina. Note that I make this prediction without slaughtering and examining the entrails of a single sheep. It is possible, however, that announcements 1,3,5,7 & 9 will go something like this: "Nope, no Full-Frame." </p>

<p>Those really did make me smile, Howard ;~) <br>

I'm still after the birds but being still and letting them get close is really hard. This is a 100% crop from the K-5 Sigma 500/4.5 & 1.4x TC<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-jHqvBc8/0/L/IMGP5151c-copyu-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

<p>Grabbed this opportunity with the A*135/1.8<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ns4xBHj/0/L/i-Ns4xBHj-L.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="600" /></p>

<p>This one's for Doug: a contrived (through the use of Liquid Nails glue) meditation on mimicry. I noticed that tulip-Poplar leaf fluttering on the sidewalk last night. My guess is that the swallow-tails have moved on from "Pay no attention, I'm just a leaf" to "Hey, look at me--I taste horrible!" <br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-Jf24jt3/0/L/i-Jf24jt3-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Wow, really stellar photos this week--you got us off to a great start, Henk!<br>

Clara's field hockey practices started last week so I went back to bird photography as a pleasant way to pass the time between my to & fro chauffeuring duties (from which I'll be relieved, come November, when she gets her driver's license.)</p>

<p>Juvenile Eastern Bluebird [Tamron Adaptall 360B (300/2.8) + Tamron 1.4x TC]<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-jJ9WvJX/0/L/IMGP4938c-Uctzv-L.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="600" /> <br>

Eastern Phoebe [sigma 500/4.5 & Sigma 1.4x TC]<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-tJxcDJh/0/L/IMGP4980c-smu-L.jpg" alt="" width="761" height="600" /></p>

<p>Grooming Green Heron [Tamron Adaptall 360B (300/2.8) + Tamron 1.4x TC]<br>

<img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/Nature/Fauna/i-6q42cKc/0/L/IMGP2457csmu-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>