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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
01-31-2016, 10:14 AM
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I document of lot of my other hobby related projects with my Pentax KX. I have been VERY surprised how much detail this camera can provide when taking pictures for documenting some of my projects, attached is "Micro Motor" for one of my RC (remote Control) airplanes that I took apart and rewound the stator due to a broken wire, in order to get it running again. Besides reading articles and asking advice, I believe one of the easiest and effective ways of learning your camera's capabilities to obtain great pictures is to just experiment with it. I was a little leery and sort of overwhelmed with the program capabilities of my camera, once I realize I wasn't going to break it or loose any pictures I really started experimenting with ISO settings, turning the flash capabilities on and off and using my older (purchased in the 70s) Pentax 80-200 zoom just to name a few..
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
01-30-2016, 12:09 PM
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Useful suggestions should be as short as possible to be easy to remember. Not remembered tips are not useful at all.
1. Read books, read forums. Read a lot, to get knowledge.
2. Get to know your equipment, so you will be taking photos without thinking how to use it.
3. How to know when to better shoot portrait oriented? The answer is simple. Make portrait oriented photo just after landscape oriented shoot.
4. Do not photoshop your pictures. Learn to make good photos in camera, not computer.
5. Learn to see subjects. When you see whole wooden floor, photograph one board. In the forest photograph one crooked tree.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
10-06-2014, 06:42 AM
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Wow, Cee Cee, you're on a roll with these great pics. Nice ones, my friend.
Jer
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-12-2014, 03:35 AM
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Last weekend my wife and I went out for supper on Friday. Had a great buffalo burger and a couple of beer. We talked about what to do for the weekend. Well I could not order another beer because around 06:30 pm we decided to head for Calgary (about a 3 - 3/1/2 drive). Love the last minute road trips !
On Saturday we did manage to get to Moraine Lake. It was a beautiful day. The problem with going to the Mountains on a nice weekend in September, is there are 6,876,432 other people who decide to be there as well. Given the 45 minute construction delay on the way, the 30 minute delay to get into the area (they were only letting in so many cars) and having to park about a kilometer away from the parking lot, this is the only place we managed to visit.
Still glad we went as this road is only open for a short period. At the high elevation of 1883 meters the lake remains frozen into the month of June.Due to winter conditions that include heavy snowfall and avalanche risks the road to Moraine Lake is closed to vehicle traffic from early October to early June so this is likley the only time we will get there this year.
It was about a 5 hour round trip (traffic and construction added a lot of time) - we stayed for about an hour and glad we did. Got to remember to get there on a weekday and you really need to be there before 10:00 am or after 05:00 pm. We had too much fun Friday night so did not get up for an early departure :D
Click on image twice for larger view
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
11-26-2013, 01:53 PM
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Like they say Charlie, once you go Black Solo Cup, you won't go back Red Solo Cup. It went something like that I think.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
12-17-2012, 07:06 PM
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Late autumn is a great time to "sneak up" on some of our feathered winter residents, to learn about their behavior and snap a few shots as well.
Our resident Black Vultures thrive on the cool and damp. When rigorous weather spells death for the more delicate creatures, it just means more lunch for the vultures!
Here are a few of these hardy birds, enjoying a cool morning sunbath.
And here's an individual black vulture portrait - showing off his beautiful looks and warm personality!!
Mockingbird is our Tennessee State Bird, and the state bird of at least 4 other states. Nice one to photograph for a number of reasons. They are here year-round, so it's not too hard to learn their habits and behaviors. They are very territorial - especially when defending their berry thickets in the late autumn and winter, so it's fairly easy to sneak up on them if you move slowly. And they spend a lot of time in open places at field-edges, where it's easier to get photos without lots of twigs in the way!
Here are some shots of a Mockingbird on a drizzly day (you might see a few raindrops on his feathers). He was picking at some bits of hickory nuts left by the park squirrels. I was lying on the ground, at face level to him, and he pretty much ignored me!
And one sunny shot - showing how much detail is revealed by early morning sun, and showing a bird who likes our park signs!
Here's another common year-round resident here in East Tennessee - the Tufted Titmouse. I am frequently amazed at the diversity of their diet. They do like the sunflowers in our bird feeders, but we've also seen them eating Kudzu seeds, insect eggs, hickory nuts, moths, etc. etc. This one found a spider egg sac for lunch!
Speaking of odd lunches, our Red-Bellied Woodpeckers usually peck various insects out of diseased trees. But this one has a mouthful of hickory nut!
Belted Kingfishers are common along the tree-lined shores of the home park's lake. They see to enjoy taunting photographers! Will perch close to a trail, watching passing hikers, dog-walkers, etc seemingly unconcerned. But have a camera with you, and they call that laugh-like call, and flee across the lake!
Here's one of the better shots I've managed so far.
Some very noisy crows helped us spot this young Red Tailed Hawk. All the "crow commotion" helped us notice the hawk. Hawk was out enjoying the early morning sun up high in the treetops, and completely ignoring the crows. He looks a bit odd in these photos because of the perspective.
This juvenile Sharp Shinned Hawk was nice enough to "pose" for some portraits. One of my favorite birds, but rarely get the chance to photograph them.
PS - If you check the exif data on these shots, you may be surprised to see which lens was used. This was an injured bird, photos taken while bird was in my hand. just prior to release.
I usually think of GB Herons as very shy birds. But each winter, we seem to find at least one very bold individual at the home park, usually a juvenile...
It seems I'm always striving to get the sharpest, clearest bird photos in the best light. But our resident "foolish young" GB Heron reminds me that soft photos are ok too...
Not only has this GBH taught me about lighting, but apparently he's taught himself to read park signs!!
Have had many more opportunities to "pester" our park birds with camera in hand, but will save these photos for later.
Will close now with just two cormorant views - probably telling me what he thinks of me!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to look, and to share your comments & critique!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-22-2012, 04:38 PM
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Posted a couple of these elsewhere but as there are a few hay bales thought I'd put them together here. Might be a bit dark to some eyes but I'm that way out at the moment.
Got up very early this morning to go for a planned dawn at Haweswater. Got there and it wasn't right at all. No clouds and choppy water. Detoured round by Ullswater and the Eden Valley as the cold night brought a mist at dawn. Took one of the the Boathouse before moving on to the area round Gt Salkeld. I decided to spend an hour or so playing with hay bales before heading home and making bacon butties for everyone. I need to make a list of locations - I'd forgotten places I planned to visit during the Autumn mists and was rushing a bit when I remembered them. A good morning though and more fun than I thought it was going to be when I was stood at the side of Haweswater at 5.30am
Forgive me the dust spots in a couple. Forgot to remove them from one in particular.
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-30-2012, 09:35 AM
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Yesterday I noticed that a Ruby-throated Hummingbird has started a nest in a tree in front of my house. I expect I'll be posting quite a few shots of her and her soon-to-be burgeoning family, so rather than spamming other threads with them I decided to start this one.
Cloudy this morning but there were a few glimmers of sun at just the right time to peek in. Also, I added a flash at another window, below right, to supplement the on-camera flash and to help give some modeling to the lighting.
There's no place like home (57% crop) |
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
09-05-2011, 06:39 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-26-2011, 05:08 PM
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Well, not really "duck, duck, goose," but that's so much easier to say than "heron, heron, vulture"...
Had a few moments to try out my good old SMC 135-600 on my new (to me) K20D body. It seems to perform much better (easier to focus and less CA) than it did on the K-M.
Here are two views of a rather shy Black Crowned Night Heron. First time all summer I've had time to "stalk" close enough to photograph him.
And a few views of a not very shy Great Blue Heron. Our young GB Herons are usually very approachable...
Finally a glimpse of one of my favorite birds here at the park - isn't he a handsome Black Vulture!
Hope you enjoyed this feathered trio! Thanks for your comments & suggestions!!
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