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Forum: Post Your Photos!
11-07-2017, 10:45 PM
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I've always loved black and white (started with B&W film in high school). Here are some recent ones from my hikes in the Sierras this year. Comments/criticism is welcome.
The more high key of the first 2 images is a new style for me, I traditionally prefer more a high contrast darker overtone similar to Ansel Adams (my photography hero). Last one is more my traditional editing style of high contrast/drama style.
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
09-23-2017, 07:34 PM
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Well, it could have been worse. The new critter could have been a cat!
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
09-21-2017, 03:10 AM
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"I dunno what happened. I only gave her a playful little bite, and then she just. . . deflated."
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
09-14-2017, 06:10 PM
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what do you mean extend my arms more
they are as extended as they get
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
09-14-2017, 01:39 AM
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I know you said this would be a "small arms" practice, but this is ridiculous!
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
09-03-2017, 11:35 PM
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On holiday by the banks of the Murray River in South Australia, I was watching the water skiers doing their stuff in the light of the setting sun. I saw an opportunity of catching the sunlight through the "rooster tail" and waited and waited and eventually I caught this shot. In camera it looked pretty dull but I just knew there was something in it and hurried back to camp and computer to set to work. Many iterations and interpretations later it came out close to what I had originally envisioned. Extensive cropping, sharpening, saturation and masking was required to bring it out.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
08-22-2017, 10:18 AM
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Great pics! I stayed close to home and we didn't have totality here.
I shot from my office roof and then walked around town a little looking for interesting shadows.
~90%
 IMGP8774 by Matt Burt, on Flickr
The shadows were my favorite part
 IMGP8800-Edit by Matt Burt, on Flickr
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
08-18-2017, 11:09 AM
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Great trick Sis! Now can you make everyone visible again!?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-06-2017, 11:28 AM
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A lot of people swear off their lenses stating that the lens is soft wide open. Actually it's their technique that might be lacking. Of course a lens is going to be a bit softer at f1.8 than at f8, but there shouldn't be that much of a variation, if you have a good lens. The problem is that at wide apertures the DOF becomes very shallow and the slightest little movement can throw your focus off. It's almost like shooting with a Super telephoto lens, if you sneeze the focus is off.
For shooting at wide apertures, unless you have nerves of steel, I would recommend using a tripod or a mono-pod. Especially if you are shooting indoors or in dim lighting situations. Even with a tripod the process of pressing down on the shutter with your finger can cause shake and blurry your picture. To avoid this you might try shooting with the mirror up, or using a shutter release, or the self-timer. That way your finger, does not get in the way. When using a monopod, I recommend placing the monopod in between your two legs that way it acts as a third leg(same as a tripod), then pressing down on the monopod slightly(towards the ground), hold your breath and gently press on the shutter button. Another thing that can cause blurry pictures or "not-as-sharp pictures" especially when shooting wide open is believe it or not, removing the camera from your face too quickly after you hit the shutter button. Not sure why, but if you keep the camera still for 1 or 2 seconds next to your face after you hit the shutter button, the pictures seem to come out sharper(well at least with me).
The way I test my lenses is not by some ridiculous charts and complicated graphs as do the pro reviewers(although I read these too) . I use a simple calendar hanging on my wall with large and very small lettering almost like the charts you use when you go see an eye-doctor. if you can find a calendar with shadow lettering the much better, because bad lenses have trouble making out the subtle shadows in the lettering. Then from about ten feet, I take a series of pictures from the lowest to the highest aperture. Sometimes I have to repeat this 2 or 3 times or more, to make sure it wasn't my technique that ruined the picture, or gave me a wrong impression. When satisfied, I compare these results under the same lighting and conditions with one of my better lenses.
Of course sharpness is not the only thing in a lens. There are other things like color rendition, micro contrast, character, pixel dust etc.. Unfortunately using a monopod or tripod is not always convenient or appropriate, but don't blame the lens if your pictures come out soft...
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
08-06-2017, 09:09 AM
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Every time I tie this stupid tie I sprain my thumb like this, and only drinking this elixir will make it better.
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
08-03-2017, 12:43 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-02-2017, 08:27 PM
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Spotted the this old truck at Lightning Ridge and liked the framing with the trees
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-30-2017, 09:04 AM
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This is the only time in life when it's a good idea to let a friend bring you down.
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-27-2017, 07:17 AM
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My wife always busts my chops because she says my scenic pics are too colorful and not natural.:lol:I have tons of sunsets-sunrises-flowers-etc.and it was tough to pick one so I put about a dozen on my Face Book pages and then let my friends decide.This one got the most comments so here it is.it was taken on the North Jetty-Nokomis Fl. at sunset.If it doesn't do well then the people are to blame.:)--charliezap
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-24-2017, 03:41 PM
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Thanks again for hosting..
I've been walking again in the Peak District...
dave k
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-24-2017, 07:48 PM
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An oldie but it fits the theme.
K10d with FA 80-320mm
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-23-2017, 09:54 PM
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Still Life Dogs.- pig and chicken with cactus
k-30 - F35-70
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-18-2017, 09:11 AM
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I'd wake him up, but, when he hasn't gotten enough sleep, you can count on his mood -- for the rest of the day -- being positively grizzly.
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-16-2017, 12:42 PM
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I don't think Brownie heard me. I bear ask him again.
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-16-2017, 02:36 PM
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-14-2017, 04:37 PM
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Just processed two rolls of hp5 that I've shot a couple months ago.
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-12-2017, 02:21 PM
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My wife and I went to flower garden to take some photos, the 1st photo is actually the last photo taken and we were leaving. As you can see, it's not a flower.
The 2nd photo was taken at a craft fair where there was a group of older gents carving and painting lures.
The 3rd photo is a flower from another flower garden that we visited the following day.
The 4th photo is a web that caught my eye during the visit to the second flower garden.
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-16-2017, 09:39 AM
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Just one from me. This kingfisher just took a swim but needs to get the water of the feathers
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Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
07-12-2017, 12:54 PM
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That's ok. The alps are for more than skiing!
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