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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-20-2016, 07:28 PM
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That was quick timing LOL, they spend all of about one second doing that LOL. While these are red babies I expect to see some pics of gray babies soon :lol:
X2 right down to the owning 2 K3's right now. Ken does bring up a good point with the Sigma 500 being full frame compatible and low light, however despite having been in Singapore and the equator many times needing light as far North as I am now I want reach AND resolution. Isn't there a perfect solution yet?!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-20-2016, 09:50 AM
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The system is not ecologically balanced here, the wolf numbers are steadily increasing at an alarming rate. And not only do they prey on the aged the weak includes calf moose which is where the problem lies. The DNR (Do nothing right, or dept. of natural resources) stopped moose hunting because at the current rate moose will be gone in 50 years in Mn. In the beginning they refused to admit that wolf predation was a factor but to be fair they waited several years until enough data came in. When it did they account for at least 50% or more of the moose calf deaths. I purchased the K3 2 years ago to document the kills and right after I did they finally released the results LOL. Whenever I see a moose especially a cow and a calf they are running and after a minute or so there is a wolf running behind them. Everywhere I have ever seen moose droppings there is always wolf scat in the pile too, they are never far behind the moose.
Grand Marais Mn. has a population of 1,300 and it extends 60 miles from the actual downtown. They are loosing dogs to wolves at the rate of 1 a week. That goes all the way down the shore to Duluth. Often it is done right in front of the owners. Last week a wolf killed a dog right in the city limits of Duluth in front of the owner. They have little fear of humans here anymore. When I first got my camera and still figuring out how to work it had a wolf kill a deer in the parking lot of the restaurant that has cabins near it that I stayed at. This was immediately after.
About 2 AM the rest of the pack showed up. I couldn't figure out how to get the flash to go off and focus, but figured out using a flashlight it added enough additional light for things to work. But trying to hold and operate the camera and also a flashlight never did get a shot of any of the wolves, there was somewhere around a dozen circling me. Not so worried about a wolf attacking me but a few years ago a wolf did attack someone in Mn. so it does happen which is a new situation but still rare.
If you're a deer, moose or dog they are a problem. It is a federal offense to shoot a wolf in Mn. Wi. or Mi. so if poachers do shoot they don't talk about it. It is called SSS, shoot shovel and shutup. I never have and don't know anyone that does. Have had a number of wolves close to me and the dog and not about to drop the gun for a camera.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
02-18-2016, 06:56 PM
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I hear you, and well done! Hope I run out of snowflakes soon but been playing with them lately. Shooting manual but now really want a macro slide rail. I was able to focus stack a few shots on one flake. K3 with macro 100mm f2.8 wr and1.4x tc and Pentax AF160FC ring flash.
Ice Social this weekend and lots of chainsaws carving ice downtown the next couple of days, would like to make it down there to get a few pictures.
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
01-15-2016, 09:56 PM
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I shoot a lot in the winter, a good reason to own Pentax and WR lenses. It is going to be -20F both days this weekend and no matter what camera you use at those temps batteries don't last long if you're outside much. I use a Think Tank Photo Digital Holster 30 V2.0 which can fit up to a K3, DA*300mm with the DA 1.4x tc attached plus hood. At the bottom I put a spare battery and then a small chemical heat pack hand warmer between the spare battery and hood. They are good for ~8 hours and don't get too hot, but are warm enough to keep the LCD screen working and batteries from dying. I have the chest strap system, it is quick and easy to get to and I can spend all day outside and have a working camera no matter what the temperature is. It was -22F (-30C) when I took this picture from the dog sled.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-18-2016, 10:48 AM
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Received mine Thursday, very cold here so limited use so far. But really liking this lens so far although still learning it. Waiting for the FA 77 Limited doesn't bother me so much now :)
As mentioned the DA* 1.4x tc works well with this lens, and outside of macro auto focusing works very well with and without it. Shot this through the sliding glass door 140mm @ f/6.3
And it is a good portrait lens for animals, I agree. @ f/10.0
Wide open @ 2.8 with chrome and bright sun of course get purple fringing but knowing that about bright shinny objects and light with this lens it is easy enough to avoid
I have no regrets at all about purchasing this lens. A gentleman on here was kind enough to sell me a ring flash for it at a price I could afford and should be getting that tomorrow. I look forward to trying my hand at snowflake shots although I'm in no hurry for it to snow again!
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-03-2016, 09:01 PM
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Bedded Doe and Fawn I happened to spot from my deck. Back when the weather was kinder. DA*300
On the Mississippi River, Tundra Swan running for take off. With my normal setup DA*300 with 1.4X tc
Last couple of days on the deck, woodpeckers sharing the suet.
Female Downy
Red Bellied
The rare Pilated
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Forum: General Talk
12-25-2015, 04:01 PM
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Merry Christmas! As someone said earlier it is a good chance to experiment.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
12-24-2015, 02:18 PM
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DA 43 F1.9 Limited, 9 Stop ND Filter
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Forum: Lens Clubs
08-02-2015, 06:58 PM
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My deck has trees growing right up to it, and of course I have bird feeders for the birds. The juvies each year allow me to get close I can sometimes touch them if I reached out at for some species. This week they are all going nuts feeding on the feeders for some reason. For the first time had the catbird come up to the deck. All pictures with DA*300 with 1.4tc which at less than 10 feet is too much for the larger birds.
Checking me out at first from behind the water bowel
Getting braver, how to get to the suet feeder again?
This morning the bumble bee in flight to one of the flowers on the deck. About an inch past minimum focus distance for 420mm.
Last night at the other end of the spectrum my first attempt at a full moon (or close to it).
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Forum: Lens Clubs
05-06-2015, 02:25 PM
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I miss the dark eyed juncos who moved North a few weeks ago, they are my winter time clean up crew under the feeders. But it is getting warmer and the trees are just starting to turn green. Working from home this afternoon sitting on the deck and caught a flash of bright color and was lucky to have my camera on the table.
DA*300 with 1.4 tc, first male scarlet tanager of the year
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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-13-2015, 03:35 PM
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According to the Mn. DNR there are 53 known peregrine falcon nesting sites in the State, most of them are in man made structures. There are a rare few in the historical nesting sites of the river bluffs in the SE part of the State. I found another one it was not here last summer:
Even gave me the courtesy of a fly over
I spotted the nest last weekend when it came out to chase a Bald Eagle away.
While I was waiting for it to show up coming out of the nest this weekend at the base of the bluff I spotted a woodchuck chucking wood :p
Lots of ducks and other birds moving through headed North but didn't have much luck getting good pictures. They were all extremely spooky and in thick cover. But I was able to get close to a pair of swans
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-21-2015, 06:50 PM
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Aye, when it comes to humans they are. I have a picture of a deer kill when a lone wolf took it down right at dark. I went back at 0200 and the pack was there and they circled me, but wouldn't come out of the trees. That was 13 months ago a few weeks after I purchased my K-3 and I couldn't get the flash to go off LOL. Have since figured that a tactical flash light helps a lot at night and focusing, and to get the flash to fire.
Saw my first robin this morning, official sign of Spring. Also means the Eagles should be moving North up the Mississippi River they are the first to migrate. Waterfowl will soon follow, they don't waste time going North. Going South they move at a more leisure pace and eat more.
There were at least a hundred Baldies on ~20 mile stretch of the River today.
These guys were fighting over a small fish
Most of the birds were well out in the River along open stretches with ice near. But well out there, too far for decent shots. So I went downstream to where I knew the local residents fish. Bumped this one trying to get too close.
So went further down River to another local Baldie favorite fishing spot and he let me get a lot closer. I don't believe he wanted to give up his meal.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-20-2015, 02:57 PM
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I also agree with this. Kind of hard to do continuous improvement in CS, or any CS improvement, if you don't even have a base line which it is apparent they do not. Just because they outsource does not release Ricoh\Pentax from the ultimate responsibility to the customer to provide satisfaction IMO.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-24-2015, 08:45 AM
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Last week I was able to capture a close shot of a Coopers Hawk in the front yard. This morning a sharp shinned was in the bushes 25 feet away from the house. He stayed long enough for me to grab the camera and a picture. Low light so ISO is 2000. Went down to 1/250 at f/6.3 @420mm. DA*300 w 1.4tc. Uncropped.
No wonder there aren't many song birds around the house to take pictures of lately.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
02-14-2015, 08:08 PM
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High was -2 F today and very windy feeders were empty most all day. Have both Cooper's and Sharp Shinned Hawks around for a couple of years now and I have a hard time telling them apart. Caught this one in the front yard this morning as I took the dogs out across the ravine, think it is a Sharp Shinned because the length of the tail? It was a fairly large bird however so not positive.
I almost never can get a shot of one, this is the closest I have been yet to any of them with a camera.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
01-24-2015, 08:42 PM
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Spent a couple of hours in the bluffs today searching for Golden Eagles with the K3 and DA*300 with 1.4X tc. Had my first crazy mirror flapping event :mad: Saw about a dozen Bald Eagles but none were close.
But did capture this 10 week old Nova Scotia Duck Toller who needed some exercise.
The older Toller who is now 11 (DA*300)
isn't real fond of the young guy yet who is constantly full of energy, he snapped at him the other night and hit him in the eye. I'm hoping he will learn soon to leave old sleeping dogs lie.
Any day in the field is a good day, and made even better with a good dog.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
12-07-2014, 11:14 AM
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Yes and they are already here. But you have a way of making those days look good thank you for that! :)
Seems like I work all year for a few months of bird hunting with the dog. Ruff grouse in Mn. and pheasants in SD. Start off in Oct. on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
I shot this guy out the window of the truck he was oblivious that I was even there. Afterwards I pulled up next to him and said "boo". Fastest I have ever seen a beaver move LOL.
First 2 weeks of Nov. I spend in SD with several other retired military guys. The first week the weather was beautiful.
And we had to strip layers of clothes off to stay cool
Second week things changed drastically. From the large number of waterfowl moving South knew we were in for a rough week.
Always wanted to meet this farmer he must have a great sense of humor. Palm trees in the snow on the prairie is not something you see everyday
Yesterday went to the upper Mississippi River which is frozen now.
I must be getting old I'm already for spring.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-07-2014, 09:53 AM
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Same here as much as possible. Although I am limited to DA* 300 and 1.4x tc so I likely crop even more.
I did catch a few of the tundra swains as they moved South a few weeks ago.
After spending the day on the ice of the river finally had a flock fly directly over head.
There is a good population of resident Bald Eagles here and more are starting to move in for winter. It will be another week or 2 before they really start coming in however. Yesterday I tried to get close to a pair but only got within 80 yards or so before they flushed.
This pair lives close to my house. They seem to have "relationship issues" from time to time....
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-08-2014, 06:10 PM
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Thanks, I watched her spend 4 days trying to get the foundation of the nest built only to have it keep falling apart. Once she got the base to stay it only took a couple of hours to finish and her perseverance paid off.
Greyser fantastic Horned Owl shots!
I agree with TroutHunterJohn and I never get tired of trying to get another Bald Eagle shot. But find the small warblers most challenging and each shot is a trophy. Went hunting today and finally got a decent male American Redstart.
American Redstart Warbler Male |
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-07-2014, 01:18 PM
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Gary great shots, thanks for posting them! Amy those are better waxwings shots than I have ever taken, very nice. Greg I think your properly learning the new K3 pretty well already :)
I am still learning the K3 and also how to use flash. Yesterday went out in the driveway a little ways from the house at 5 AM and thought I'd see what young ones I could find. Flash was manual 1/4 power sometimes 1/2 with manual settings on the camera. DA*300 with DA 1.4tc. Not much cropping on any pictures and learning how to color the eyes back in, still a lot of learning for me yet.
Baby Robin finally poked its head out of the nest
Baby Robin Reaching
Think I breached protocol by not posting any squirrel pics yet. A young grey exploring
AM Flash morning grey
Reds outnumber grays 2 to 1 right now around my place. This was one of the first time out for these two
AM Flash pair baby reds
Cottontail, think he is imitating a roo for me until someone posts a real one
AM Flash joey bunny
This young whitetail buck in velvet crossed through the front yard until we both saw each other at the same time
AM Flash Front Yard Buck
I think most of us only post our better pictures here. I wish this one was a lot more in focus but is unique so wanted to share. This morning I was on the deck with the camera handheld waiting for a hummer to land on one of the feeders or flowers. One did and it looked like an insect went by and it turned and snapped its beak at it. Figured it would fly after it and it did so I held down the AF back button and swung the camera to follow it but it couldn't stay up. When I looked at the results was surprised to see it was another hummer and a territory fight. The whole thing happened extremely fast I didn't even realize it was another hummingbird at the time.
humer attack |
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-02-2014, 01:38 PM
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Beautifully done and great shot!
North Central Pa. has a healthy population of bobcats now. North of 80 in Pa. just like West of Puget Sound in Wa. State receives pheasant stockings by the State. 6 years ago I took my youngest son to Pa.so he could hunt youth pheasant season with his Grandfather and I. As we were heading down a dirt road to a SGL a stocking truck was in front of us and we backed off quite a ways. A bobcat jumped out of the woods and ran about 100 yards behind the truck trying to catch up to it. I think all those pheasants in it smelled pretty good to him :lol:
---------- Post added 06-02-14 at 03:59 PM ----------
I love all the hummingbird pictures in this thread (and everything else also!). Well except for the fact that none of mine are near as good and gives me something to keep working on.
Saturday I was at a National Wildlife refugee about 20 miles North of La Crosse, Wi. In the afternoon to the South I saw a smoke loop in the air down by La Crosse. I had the DA*300mm on so set it to infinity and shot a few pictures although I couldn't see anything. When I got home that night and went through them I had to crop deep and zoom but was surprised at what I found. I have been retired from the Navy almost as long as I was active duty but still know a F/A-18 Hornet when I see one. Being blue meant the Blue Angels were near....
20 miles Blue Angles
Had to make some changes in plans for Sunday and ended up working in the morning. Didn't get over to the airport until an hour after it started so headed to a hill that I knew over looked the airport. As it turned out I had better view than those at the field, it was the best seat in the house. The only place that could have been better would been vultures row on an aircraft carrier.
Tracking the hornets when they were so close and fast turned out to be harder than most birds. But I did get a good number of keepers with the DA*300.
Squadron
BA squadron
6 UpsideDown
wingman
4 split
back 2 back |
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Forum: Lens Clubs
06-02-2014, 07:14 PM
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Thanks Griz!
John how close where you, great shot! There are a few others on here that have gotten close eagle shots. There are a lot of BE around here, the National Eagle Center is close to my house. My gf will not even stop for me to take pictures of them and says Eagle Smeagle, not going to stop for something that eats road kill LOL. I've only been able to get within ~30 feet of them at best before they flush.
PerchEagle |
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Forum: Lens Clubs
05-28-2014, 02:57 PM
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X2, as are all the pictures in this thread.
I think he is saying that he is\was a DBA..... sorry couldn't resist. Information Technology has its own language and is based on acronyms that eventually become words of their own. And I agree Adam does an outstanding job with this board, a good mod either makes or breaks a BBS and Adam has put together and maintains one of the best I have ever seen.
Speaking of Cape May Warblers... DA*300 with DA 1.4tc
 Cape May Warbler |
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
04-25-2014, 05:00 PM
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Yes you are getting the hang of it, and very well I might add! I am still working to get there.
The one I posted is a ruby crowned Kinglet however they do not always have the red on the head. Nice shots of the Golden! Yes I took a lot of pictures of tree branches where they were sitting before I finally caught one LOL.
Today I also saw Yellow Rumped Warblers for the first time this year. DA*300 with DA 1.4tc.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
04-29-2014, 06:23 PM
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I can not directly answer your question but have been reading quite a bit about them. One of the resources I have been using is Secrets of Digital Bird Photography by W.H. Majoros of Duke University. He has a good read on flash extenders. Further in to the online book he has an article on how to make a monster and supposedly an even better beamer.
Which is the way I will likely go. Once I purchase a Sigma 500mm, gimbal head, sturdier tripod, external flash, sighhh.....
Rainy mixed with snow cold grey day here today. Once again learning how important light is, the blue and stripped squill in my yard is starting to push through and flower.
DA*300 with DA 1.4tc.
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