p_watson

<p>Happy Christmas all!<br>

No pic to post for a while, but have enjoyed following this thread all year.<br>

Favourites this week: <strong>Per-Christian Nilssen's</strong> Dancers, J<strong>ennifer Meighan's</strong> Portrait- really like your portrait shots--do you do much PP??<br>

Favourite festive fun shots: <strong>Rick Sands</strong> Cat rescue to remind everyone that the emergency services are even more busy at thsi time of year, <strong>Jeanneans </strong>rare moorhen--I still have to tick this one off my list. The last one I chased dipped out. <strong>Dennis Brabender's</strong> Christmas card and <strong>Kent Shafer's</strong>-wonderful!</p>

<p>motion blur in first , up shuuter speed.<br />possibly some motion blur in second, but also focus issue.<br />Up ISO and shutter speed, improve handheld technique and make sure there is enough contrast on what you are focussing-good lighting is the key, bright but diffused light or near a window,. try and research and read up on the caharcteristics of that lens. you might find it is a bit sharper at a certain f stop at differing focal lengths. perhaps 1 or 2 stops down, experiment.<br>

in good light experiment at range of shutter speeds to see how that affects your image first. is ther emuch difference between differing pics at same shutter speed--ie how variable is your technique. Find shutter speed that you can use reliably at certain focal lenths, that you know produce acceptable results. Obviously lens matters a lot too </p>

<p>It boils down to a question of want versus need. if you are professional you should be able to work out what you might need, and hopefully everyones comments help you.<br>

It sounds more like you want to buy something....building up a head of steam to full blown NAS and need persuasion to justify your want. <br>

If that is the case sometimes its better not to buy and wait a bit. If you are not sure whether you want FF or pro 2.8 lens on D7000 it sounds like you are not sure what you want, rather than don't know what you need. If that is the case hold off and wait until you are clear what you need and want. I tend to agree with Shun and Matts suggestion to wait a bit and see if D700 replacement. If you genuinely have NAS and buy a D700 when its replacement comes out which cant be too far away you will feel a bit sick, and youll still need a few K to buy that decent long lens for it... otherwise dont worry and enjoy retail therapy</p>

<p>Richard Snow's portrait mesmerised me too before I read others comments. Also like Janne Kaakinens photo a lot</p>

<p>aargh</p><div></div>

<p>favs Aguinaldo's Rio, Christopher Sperry's Yellowstone , Ramon Silcox's Cottonwood canyon, Jennifer Meighan's Eleanor and Matt's dog</p><div></div>

<p>Hand me down toothpicks aren't such a good idea ;)</p>

<p>....from the deep</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Dawn and Ismail for your comments...sorry to hear about your cat</p>

<p>I recently caught this one of my son who regularly sabotages any shots I take of him with strange faces and moving around a lot. </p><div></div>

<p>Thank you Dawn Eggleton and Chris Wick for your comments<br />...liked your dog pic!<br />Other favs Martin Z's elephants, Eric Arnold's musician, Bogdan's sandstorm,Jon Eckans interesting truck totem pole and Steve Belden' very cute kitten</p>

<p>had "slogged" through my holiday photos within 4 hous of returning home--quick mono conversion from Phare de la Coubre lighthouse, France--looking up, rather than the down.</p><div></div>

<p>Party mooove! From a different session this wekend with new friend 70-300VR. Happy Wednesday everyone-- great shots so far</p><div></div>

<p>Party mooove! From a different session this wekend with new friend 70-300VR. Happy Wednesday everyone-- great shots so far</p>

<p>Some great pics so far...haven't posted in a while. Like Tony Hadleys reflection, Jerry Litynskis web, J Meighans portraits as always, Martin Z-how did you bend your picture????looks like it's curling off the screen! Great "savage" winds here,,,tried out new 70-300VR, pleasantly surprised with it. Not the best photo but enjoyed playing with my new toy :)</p><div></div>

<p>This one was snatched driving home from the parents-in-law Christmas day 2010 during the unusually cold snap. I stopped the car in snowy conditions and left the wife and 2 sleeping kids and took this from the roadside within the 30seconds it takes before my wife gets impatient with my photography hobby ;) I have her to thank for my camera though!</p><div></div>

I don't have experience of the others but the 16-35 would be very good also IMO. VR would be very handy if you couldnt get a tripod where you wanted it or if you don't always use one indoors if lighting may be an issue. Sharpness and colour are great. No doubt 14-24 is "better" but that doesnt accept filters..

<p>The races at Laytown strand yesterday</p><div></div>

some of my favourites

Jeannean Bugladys mating insects

Jens Fredericksens IR scene

Peter Heritages bees

Martha benedicts worker bee

Dieter Schaeffers Running white horse

Hamish Grays insect

<p>Sunset over Inis Bofin, West of Ireland. Minor adjustment in lightroom. Taken last week, I was amazed at the scene unfolding before me as the setting sun split through the clouds and montarily lit up the foreground grasses.</p><div></div>

<p>On the theme of hosses......bit dull but havent shot much else in the past week</p><div></div>

<p>lee make hard and soft graduated filters. with the wide angle adapter there doesnt seem to be much vignetting (there is with the standard adapter between 16-20mm)--not sure that cokin would reduce this.??</p>

<p>I second the 16-35 VR (f4) which new costs similar to a good condition second hand 17-35 (f2.8). For the 16-35 you will need a wide angle lee filter adapter which costs 50Euro approx. I am very happy with it. There are some similar threads not far back on this subject and reviews of 16-35 on dpreview and elsewhere. VR makes it useful as a walkaround lens also when you don't have the tripod.</p>

<p>Dieter Schaeffer's bubble and Tiffany Brook's portrait really caught my eye this week</p>

<p>Here's mine for the week, my first attempt at HDR (from a single NEF)...the highlights are blown, but I quite liked it</p><div></div>