purplealien

<p>Having trouble with the second picture, but here goes....</p><div></div>

<p>and a couple more of the kitties......</p> <p>#1</p><div></div>

<p>Happy Wednesday everyone. I'm a little late this week, it's my son's high school prom this evening. Might post some pics next week :-)</p> <p>Great photos as usual. I really liked your wood borer graffiti shot Lex and your slow shutter fairground shot Georges.</p> <p>My first shot is one of my daughter throwing a stick for the dog who loves swimming in the sea....</p><div></div>

<p>85mm f/1.8G<br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17781128-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="942" /></p> <p>50mm f/1.8 D<br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/12801316-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1141" height="1500" /><br /> 35mm f/1.8G<br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/15165332-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="983" /></p> <p>Conclusion: all can produce lovely portraits :-)</p> <p>My recommendation would be:<br> 35mm if you like to show a person in their surroundings;<br> 85mm for head shoulders or isolating a person from their background;<br> 50mm is a compromise between the two.</p> <p>Avoid the 50mm f/1.8 D on your camera - it won't auto focus. Get the 50mm f/1.8 G instead.</p>

<p>Thanks Paul :-)</p> <p>They are not too much trouble, but they <em>are</em> great time stealers. You start playing with them and all of a sudden a couple of hours have passed by!</p> <p>Chris</p>

<p>And to finish, something completely different. A back lit stinging nettle in the garden. I like the shape.</p><div></div>

<p>The other one looking like Puss in Boots from Shrek......</p><div></div>

<p>Happy Wednesday everyone. Great photos - this must be one of our best weeks for a while. Too many to mention them all individually, but that's a really special pic of your daughter Cory :-)</p> <p>As they seem to be proving popular, here's some more pics of the kittens......</p> <div></div>

<p>Thanks Kent :-)</p>

<p>the kittens have been enjoying the world cup.....</p><div></div>

<p>One of our kitties found my Lowepro bag useful as cover for ambushing her sister......</p><div></div>

<p>Happy Wednesday everyone. Lovely pictures especially Bogdan's dune and Roberta's first hummingbird.</p> <p>More kitty pictures from me, but first a snap of some poppies in a Sussex field....</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Roberta.</p> <p>My family certainly don't make my life easy. First we get a jet black dog, now black and white cats! Still I suppose it's good practice if I ever want to do weddings ;-)</p> <p>I am a big fan of your work by the way. Lovely shots this week, with flawless technique as always.</p> <p>Chris</p>

<p>Half way through one of the kittys fell asleep...</p><div></div>

<p>Kitty fight!</p><div></div>

<p>Happy Wednesday everyone! Here's some more kitty pictures.....</p><div></div>

<p>I'm with Mark.</p> <p>I love Capture NX2. I find it much easier to achieve what I want and all the performance issues disappeared when I upgraded to a 64 bit Win 7 system.</p> <p>I only use Adobe software when I can't avoid it. I haven't installed it on the new PC yet. Sadly, we are in a minority and I can see the day when I'm forced to learn PS :-(</p> <p>Chris</p> <p> </p>

<p>If I had your set up, I'd spend it on lighting or travel.</p>

<blockquote> <p>One possibility I'm thinking right now is UWA, prime, 18-140, macro.<br> </p> </blockquote> <p>Taking into account your follow up posts, this sounds like a good solution for you. But which prime? <br> <br> Shallow DoF portraits are very important to me, so my decision would be heavily influenced by the asthetic quality of portraits taken with the Sigma 105 at f/2.8. If acceptable, I'd take the 35mm prime, (but sounds like you might prefer the 50mm). If not I'd have to take the 85mm.<br> <br> What will you use the prime for? <br> <br> Nb. The 35mm and 50mm are small enough to count as one lens ;-)</p>

<p>I travel light.</p> <p>When I go out to take photos I travel very light - D90 (with battery grip) and one lens on it. Sometimes I also put my SB700 and off-camera cord in my pocket.</p> <p>If it was me, I'd take: the Sigma 10-20mm, the 35mm and 85mm primes, and a decent flash. If you want macro, maybe swap the Sigma 105 for the 85; but I love my 85mm. </p> <p>I have the Sigma 10-20. I don't recall ever wishing I had f/2.8 (and I never use a tripod unless its dark). </p> <p>I have a walkaround zoom (the 18-105) I never use it.</p> <p>But that's me, and I only have myself to please :-)</p> <p> </p>