htarragon

<p>Some shots from last week and my "Sunglasses Reflections":<br> Cool</p><div></div>

<p>Nick - John is correct, that is the Chrysler Building, but you've caught an 1890 lamppost, a 1930's building, newer, blander buildings (although the bottom center one might have been interesting) and the "new normal".<br> The shots of Lady Liberty and lower Manhattan are excellent as well as the Jersey skyline.. The Mail Hall ceiling at Ellis Island has a Guastavino tile ceiling. They're thin tiles (not bricks) structurally very stable and fireproof. If you were near the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station, you would have seen the same tiles.<br> You've made me curious about the Q. I'll have to take another look. You can fit K lenses on it with an adapter, yes?</p> <p>Nicely done!</p>

<p>Don - I like the drama of the last one<br> Dorus - the patterns of the bridge - I like the way the straight lines curve. <br> Harry - the edge of the cliff - the way you lead the eye. Apple tree? Where? Building really interesting.<br> Nick- the 02 shot with the lone tree in the distance. I see the pumpkins, but the tree makes it.<br> Matt - #1 - Very interesting, #2 Fully expect King Kong to come into the frame #3 - Your usual shot of magnificent scenery<br> Haig - My fave is #4 but is Lake Tipsoo a little tipsy? </p> <p>Nice shots this week! We'll have to do it again!</p>

<p>And to return to my "flow" state, I took this:</p> <div></div>

<p>Third</p><div></div>

<p>Second</p><div></div>

<p>I went back to my Happy Hunting Grounds and found these lovely ladies, who were willing to pose for me:<br> First</p><div></div>

<p>Wayne,<br> Not to prolong this, but to set the record straight, it was you who was slamming Pentax and and their AF systems in general, and saying that all was well with Canon, while you had a perfectly functioning K-5 in your possession. People were telling you various fixes because, normally, Pentax cameras work. The "brick wall" statement was insulting.<br> <br />I hope you enjoy your Pentax.<br> Howard</p>

<p>Three</p><div></div>

<p>TWO</p><div></div>

<p>I actually forgot that I took pictures last week. Here are three from a garden in Upper Manhattan:<br> One</p><div></div>

<p>Doug - That shark looks prehistoric, which, in fact, they are. Good catch. Really like your capture of the light in the trees.<br /> Dorus - Making the attempt is the first step. Love your abstract patterns even when they're people pictures. The soft landscape is magical.<br /> Harry - "Off the road" has an interesting tension to it<br /> Duane - The light and composition (which are wonderful) in the Gander shots reminds me of Joel Meyerowitz in "Cape Light".<br />Don - Really like your posed portrait shot.<br /> Hin - "Flower Bokeh" is my favorite - nice play on words (which I just got).<br /> Haig - I hope you're selling the Mt. Rainier shot as a postcard. That ripple makes it special.</p>

<p>Well then, consider this as friendly advice - don't give up on it. B&H has 63 reviews of it and only 1 negative. All the others are 5 star - with AF being fast and accurate and pictures sharp as a tack.</p>

<p>Wayne - Sorry you are having such a hard time with your Pentax. You are blaming an entire brand for a problem that doesn't seem to be particularly common. The method you use to focus and shoot with a Canon is also available with a Pentax.. Clearly, there is some undiscovered factor that is not allowing your (Pentax? Tamron? Sigma?) lens to lock focus. As for Pentax methods being complicated, reading the manual is almost not required (well, maybe once or twice) to figure out the basic functions. So, if you can, find a camera store that sells Pentax and see if they can figure it out. Or send it to Pentax. Or send it to me. I'd be glad to receive it.</p>

<p>My faves this week so far:<br> Doug - even though the subject are plain to see one gets a real sense of their camouflage. Poor turtle's didn't work. And thanks for the thumbs up.<br> <br />Yury - #1 - I wish you could have gotten the fisherman to turn more to the sun, so we could see his face and #2 If you had gotten a few steps closer, just as low or lower, I think the shot would have had more impact. <br> <br />Harry - I keep thinking I'd like the trolley shot better without the trolley - such a great expanse of sky, clouds and water.<br> Duane - the soccer shot with the soccer parent and bus in the background and Jen - you caught a great smile and (gasp) reflections in the sunglasses.<br> Dave - Your focus is so spot on - especially # 3 - the caterpillar practically pops off the screen and the colors are perfect. Send those guys over here. Our Butterfly Bush popped last week.<br> <br />Dorus - Bravo.<br> Matt - the bicyclist with the scenery is spectacular. If I took pictures of all of the beautiful women at that spot, I'd be filling flash cards very quickly.</p>

<p>Versions are up to 1.13 but I don't see how that would have any effect. Are you sure you have the back AF lever on Spot focus or SEL?</p>

<ol> <li>Mode dial on top should NOT BE ON GREEN</li> <li>Metering lever, under mode dial, should NOT BE ON GREEN</li> <li>Set AF-S for still objects</li> <li>Set AF lever to Center spot</li> <li>Half press to focus</li> <li>Keeping shutter half-pressed, recompose and</li> <li>fully depress shutter button.</li> </ol>

<p><img src="http://c2b6d376b97bcc466063-5420c200a1f030d1394a9548df6eadbd.r5.cf2.rackcdn.com/img/press_images/443_1314752112-1267330318_kbackviewtranspbckgrnd_large.jpg" alt="" width="1074" height="833" /></p>

<p>I have found that using back-button auto-focus has made it much easier to keep the auto focus where I want it on my K-5. The half-press works but in the heat of shooting I sometimes release and re-press the shutter. Much less likely to happen with a thumb pressing the back AF button.<br /> <br /> I just tried and I <strong>could not reproduce your problem until I set the AF lever, <em>on the back of the camera</em>, to the green Auto setting which tells the camera to set the focus point.</strong><br /> <strong><img src="http://c2b6d376b97bcc466063-5420c200a1f030d1394a9548df6eadbd.r5.cf2.rackcdn.com/img/products/933_1346964608_K5II_Black_BackView_large.jpg" alt="" width="433" height="289" /></strong><br /> <br /> Set the lever to Center Spot (top) for single, center spot focus or SEL so that YOU can SELECT a point other than center with the left and right buttons. You will see the red indicator light move in the viewfinder. The half-press method will then be functional for either of those options. These instructions should be in the Selecting the Focusing Area section of your manual.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Edit - Yellow dress in sunlight reflected from a window across the street.</p>

<p>Sometimes they are in exactly the right spot:</p><div></div>

<p>Many times they are unaware:</p><div></div>

<p>Other times a more positive reaction is received:</p><div></div>

<p>From a couple of weeks ago from my favorite haunt - all taken with the K-5 and either the 55-300 or Tamron 28-75. I love taking pictures here because I can find parking on the street (although my last try was after Labor Day and there were NO spots) but I digress. I like taking people pictures, their expressions, their styles, their interactions and for the color, and visual impact.<br> Sometimes their reaction is to hide, but my concept still is evident:</p><div></div>

<p>This week I like:</p> <p>I've already commented on Dorus' shots<br> Bob's "Missile silos"<br> Harry - Historic Building - You can by a studio apt in NYC for that price if you really look.<br> Doug - #2 - Nice abstract<br> Matt - "Fog Bank".</p>