|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
07-02-2015, 09:20 AM
|
| |
The 180mm Sigma macro is tack sharp and fairly easy to use in the field. I prefer using this lens over my Tamron 90 because of the longer working distance. If you can find one, they are worth the price. ............................Jim
 |
|
Forum: Weekly Photo Challenges
06-27-2015, 11:40 AM
|
| |
Dragonflies, when defending a territory will visit the same perch again and again and are easy to photograph after they land predictably in the same spot. A blue dasher taken last week with the K5 IIs, Sigma 180mm f3.5 (1/160sec at f16, ISO 500). Natural evening light produced the rich colors in the image.....................Jim
|
|
Forum: Sold Items
06-20-2015, 04:12 AM
|
| |
PM sent............................Jim
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-07-2012, 10:44 AM
|
| |
Hi,
Yes, the niche market has not treated nature photographers well. I was shocked to see the 300mm f4 DA* come to reality--atypical for a Pentax lens. Considering the number of insect and flower shots I see on these blogs, extension tubes may have a bigger market than what has been realized so far. Pentax used to make some fantastic macro equipment and the LX was also a fantastic pro film slr body in the '80s. I may have to remove the glass from my Vivitar 2x macro teleconverter. It may function as a helicoid extension tube.........Jim
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-07-2012, 09:34 AM
|
| |
One item on my wish list for Pentax lens accessories is a set of Pentax extension tubes. I wonder how many Pentax photographers would be interested in purchasing such a product if Pentax actually began manufacturing a set of extension tubes. I am using a set of Kenko tubes on my 300mm DA* telephoto, but my 25mm tube is out of commission and the remaining tubes do not provide focus confirmation. Nor do they send correct aperture info to the camera body. My design qualification for a set of tubes is that all electrical contacts (even af) must be present so that the correct exposure settings and aperture info are relayed from body to the lens. I wish Pentax provided a suggestion box on their web sites so that marketing execs could know what equipment photographers need. Let me know what you think................Jim
|
|
Forum: Photo Critique
06-01-2012, 03:56 PM
|
| |
Hi,
It is difficult to find the subject matter in your 2 shots as the background has several hot spots and its a very contrasty shot with the dark dragonfly not popping out from the background. The focus could be tighter, especially the head. Work on isolating the subject matter from the background. In this case come in closer to the dragonfly and focus on those big eyes and stop down to about f8. This may help get those hotspots out of the field of view. Also, some fill flash will help out here as well. Dragonflies are not easy and you should be proud of this effort. ....Jim
|
|
Forum: Photo Critique
05-25-2012, 04:35 PM
|
| |
Hi,
Thank you for the comments and critique. I may have to get an eyepiece magnifier to compensate for the loss of resolution in my eyes. I do not think that eye facets are visible at the range at which this was shot with that particular 400mm. I may also have better luck once my 300mm f4 DA* comes back from repair too. It is optically better than the 400 and at f4 has a brighter image for focusing. My other image might be a tad sharper in the head region. I'll have to work up the other one to determine the best one for the wall. Thank you.....Jim
|
|
Forum: Photo Critique
05-24-2012, 08:10 PM
|
| |
Hi,
Get closer to your subject so that it becomes the main part of your image. You should be able to get in closer with that Sigma 105mm. Also try not to center the subject matter. In fact, cropping an image like your bee in flight so that the bee is positioned in the lower left-hand third of a horizontal crop will help convey direction to the animal's motion. Even though you have harsh lighting, the backgrounds came out very well and you are off to a great start. :) .
|
|
Forum: Photo Critique
05-24-2012, 05:28 PM
|
| |
Hi,
Please critique this image. The problem that I experienced with the raw file was a very dark, saturated yellow green background with muted colors of the subject. I tinkered with some layer masks (Levels, Saturation) to lessen the impact of the background. I sharpened with Topaz Detail and removed some dust spots on the background after flattening the image. Thank you for checking out this small early Spring dragonfly................................................Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-15-2012, 06:33 PM
|
| |
Thank you for the comments. I believe that this is a teneral or freshly emerged 4 spotted skimmer, not a widow skimmer...............................Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
05-14-2012, 07:23 PM
|
| |
Found this cooperative dragonfly on Sunday morning. Fortunately for me, it had just emerged and was still getting adjusted to life on land.....Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-02-2012, 05:11 PM
|
| |
Wrinkles and all--I like this close up a lot.............................Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-02-2012, 05:09 PM
|
| |
Thank you. I printed the first image and its wall worthy. I always curse the lawn, but in this case, it looks better when viewed out of focus :)................................................................Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-02-2012, 05:07 PM
|
| |
Cute indeed! Good job on the lighting and getting those eyes in focus...............................Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-02-2012, 05:05 PM
|
| |
Great shot--no stings from here:)................................Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-02-2012, 05:01 PM
|
| |
Thank you all for checking out these images. The moth print out is very nice as its difficult to see the detail from the jpgs.....Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-01-2012, 07:36 AM
|
| |
You used an an interesting technique for capturing these images. The lighting must have been very bright and the jpg's have quite a bit of contrast. Honey bees, at this time of the year, never sit quiet enough for ideal photos--their demand for nectar and pollen is quite high. You may want to pick a warm, bright hazy morning and stake out some flowers around 9:30-10:00 AM. Italian honey bees usually begin foraging around that time on a typical warm morning. Carnolian honey bees, which are a dark subspecies, tend to forage earlier and are active even when the temperature stays below 50 degrees F. TFS ............................Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-01-2012, 06:54 AM
|
| |
Nice job with this bud--the black background is perfect for this image..........................................Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
04-01-2012, 06:08 AM
|
| |
Hi,
Thank you for the comments. I have been working better with the 300mm DA* lens and it can produce some ideal backgrounds for nature photography. I have included a few more shots from this series. The background is our lawn which has finally greened up.................Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-31-2012, 11:05 AM
|
| |
I have been trying to get a few decent shots of this bird. This one was shot through my kitchen window and unfortunately lost a small amount of detail with the lens wide open. .........................Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-31-2012, 05:37 AM
|
| |
These are not the easiest insects to capture, but you got him. Appears sharp, exposure right on, and nicely lit OOF background.......Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-30-2012, 06:51 PM
|
| |
Thank you Ceecee, Slowpez, and Dice. This image worked out well for me.....Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-30-2012, 06:44 PM
|
| |
Your photo technique has produced some outstanding images--last wren shot is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!....................Jim
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-30-2012, 06:40 PM
|
| |
Very nice--the subject is tack sharp and the background is nice and smooth..............................Jim Z.
|
|
Forum: Post Your Photos!
03-30-2012, 06:20 PM
|
| |
Hey,
Your last posted shot is your best result so far. I'll spend a day out in the field shooting insects and end up chucking most of them. The tripod is an excellent tool and macro focusing rails (I have one made from the rails of an old bellows) can come in handy for adjusting focus. A good reference book is John Shaw's Close-ups in Nature. Although a Nikon film camera guy when the book was published Shaw provides an easy to read text on techniques which you may find very useful..........................Jim Z.
|
