|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
11-19-2016, 05:00 PM
|
| |
Cayuga Kennels, LeAnn has a cabin on the shore of Cayuga Lake and named her kennel after Lake Cayuga. Cayuga creek that runs out of the Lake comes through Ithaca and also runs near the High School I graduated from, had our 40th reunion this year. In Oct. which is hunting season for Bonasa umbellus (ruffed grouse) for me on the North Shore of Lake Superior near the Canadian border so that was my priority instead. It is only appropriate that I carry an Ithaca in pursuit of the King of the deep woods. 1949 16 ga. that I refinished the wood on this summer.
With DA* 16-50
But I also like and shoot my Italian guns and carry them as much or more. It was dark when I got back to the truck this outing and had to use the headlights to get the camera to focus, and also used the on board flash. In the rain, got to love Pentax cameras when the elements are less than perfect.
A rare red or cinnamon phased ruff, put a skid plate on the dog in the woods to protect his chest from puncture wounds from sticks as he runs so hard. With one of my F.A.I.R. AKA I. Rizzini guns in 16 ga. I like shotguns that shoot purple shells :)
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
11-19-2016, 12:55 PM
|
| |
Thank you! I have played around a bit with off camera and on camera flash fill and manual settings, duh I can't believe I didn't think to use the on board flash. Too late now but lesson learned. Perfect that is what I should have done. Early HDR pics kind of turned me off to it but there are plenty of examples of well executed HDR on this thread alone and I really need to explore it more. Thank you once again!
The wind never stops on the prairie, well once they cut the corn and sunflowers between here and the Rockies anyhow :lol: The gentleman in the back is a retired Air Force Pilot so he might eat one tail first, then again the Navy Captain just might also...
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
11-19-2016, 09:00 AM
|
| |
Thank you and you are correct! The black nosed Toller in my avatar came from Rochester, NY 13 years ago. The young pup in the picture came from ND. A handful of us who are retired military get together on the plains each year to hunt and it is the company that is great even if the bird numbers are down. Dinner consists of such things as woodcock drummies and breast, boned ruff grouse in seasoning, marinated antelope steaks and whitetail backstraps, bacon wrapped duck, smoked boston butt, of course pheasant, etc. We don't eat too badly and have a wine cooler in the house for keeping dinner beverages.
A couple of friends after the picture of the dog, ISO is high at 3200 and lacks the sharpness of many others on here that post the same ISO, haven't figured that out yet.
 |
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
11-18-2016, 04:43 PM
|
| |
Spent a couple of weeks in South Dakota chasing pheasants with the pup and used the opportunity to play with the FA 43mm. Struggle with this lens but slowly getting to know it better, still have a ways to go but liking the journey more lately.
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-20-2016, 10:48 PM
|
| |
And not surprisingly we have a winner here, not sure many understand exactly what you said but I do, and you are spot on as usual Derek. It should be enough as is but sighh... it will not be.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-20-2016, 07:42 PM
|
| |
Well you made an incorrect statement earlier that predators only kill the weak and old. Because that is what someone wrote in a textbook years ago and it is still thrown out as fact. The whitetail I posted was perfectly healthy. The wolf pack there kills a whitetail every 4 days like clockwork, the snow causes them to sink and they can't run. The wolf pack can stay on top of the snowpack and chase them down without problem. Snow gets deep enough the same happens to mature moose they can't defend themselves and kick when they are buried in snow.
I posted earlier about the same issue happening in Jasper National Park in Alberta. It is 4,000 square miles and they are down to 19 known moose. The biologist that they sent to spent a year with the moose calves observed 2 calves because that is where the problem is, they are not surviving. Out of the 2 calves he spent a year observing one lived, the other was killed by wolves. Statistically they don't have a lot of data points do they with only 19 Moose left? But it is a common problem that many of us have observed that actually spent time in the woods with them. May not be a problem North of 60 yet, but it is headed your way sooner than later. Just saying....
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-20-2016, 07:28 PM
|
| |
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?!
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-20-2016, 09:50 AM
|
| |
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.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-19-2016, 08:30 PM
|
| |
Yeah that is too close... PBS just had a great show on Moose:Life of a twig eater Filmed in Jasper National Park in Alberta, and also in Mn. in an area I frequent. It was to document the decline of the Moose herds in North America especially the death of calves the first year. The photographer was able to spend enough time with them that they allowed him to get very close. One of 2 calves died, by wolves. Wolves are a huge problem here, especially now that they are protected again but that is another story. A lot of Moose right now in Mn. are on the roads licking the salt on the few roads that go through Moose country and actually get plowed in the winter.
I no longer hunt big game with a gun or bow but instead use a camera, but still bird hunt with the dog for ruff grouse in the Northwoods and pheasants and sharptails on the prairie with a small group of other retired Navy guys in the fall. For ruffies I hunt and camp on the North Shore of Lake Superior and through the Arrowhead including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Once in awhile I do stay at a State campground near the Lake that has electricity and it is common for a red fox to sit at the edge of the campsite even with the dog with me. They seem to have learned that the dogs are leashed inside the campground and are no threat to them. I had a bear move my off road trailer about 6 feet one night, I had the dog food in it. Which is why you never have food inside your tent. The dog was in the tent with me and going crazy but the bear still hung around for about 5 minutes. Not a big fan of organized campgrounds in part because of how wildlife acts, but a lady friend that I take sometimes always insists on "civilized comfort".
Ruff grouse are normally shy of humans and dogs and flush often too far away. But when you get far enough North where they are not used to human contact they often just jump up into a tree branch. Those would be considered limb chickens to me and I'm not into it for the meat so leave them be. Human interactions can cause strange behavior in wildlife. I prefer the interaction where they are not used to it and are more curious than anything when they do see a human. Wish I could convince a pine marten or wolverine of that but they are usually just a flash and gone no matter where I am.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
02-19-2016, 11:57 AM
|
| |
Your pretty accurate, about a quarter crop at least and they were very large flakes. Next year will hopefully move up to a 4x or 5x microscope objective for a lens.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
02-18-2016, 06:56 PM
|
| |
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.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-16-2016, 08:33 PM
|
| |
Does not show up in Chrome or Internet Exploder for me either, I'm fairly locked down. The image URL is https, going back to the root of the website I can drill down however and see the pictures in the albums. When trying to open in a new tab I also can not getting anything to display, or any errors or warnings.
Nice Eagle pictures by the way dadipentak!!
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
02-07-2016, 09:23 PM
|
| |
Great shots and well done, had no idea they are that far East now! Migration takes them down over the Dakotas and I see them with other light geese often when hunting pheasants on the prairies in the fall, but never seen them much to the East. Hope you get to capture more and more of them!
|
|
Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
02-06-2016, 12:33 AM
|
| |
Did you go with the Harbor Digital Flash Extender that is listed to fit Pentax AF 540 Series or did you get the Universal? Thank you!
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-27-2016, 09:34 AM
|
| |
Aye, totally agree Lev! Got my used ring flash and attached the DA* 1.4x tc last night to try my hand at snow flakes that were falling. I was covered with snow as was the camera and everything else. Still a work in progress but I am really liking this lens more and more. Now I can see a need for a macro rail system and focus stacking. I used a wool scarf that has a bit of blue tint in it to capture the flakes.
 |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-18-2016, 10:48 AM
|
| |
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!
|
|
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-16-2016, 09:34 AM
|
| |
Yeah the El Nino this year has created some unique situations, I'm ready for it to return though! My waterfowl hunting friends this year all have been complaining that Canada wouldn't let the ducks go LOL. It was just too warm for them to leave until recently.
|
|
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
01-16-2016, 09:26 AM
|
| |
-26F windchill, temp is just below zero and will be the warmest it is going to be for the next 3 days, down in the twenties below zero F the next couple of days (-30C). So topped off the bird feeders which they seem to appreciate.
Just got the 100mm macro WR a couple of days ago, put the DA 1.4x tc on for his shot. I really am liking this little lens so far.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
01-15-2016, 09:56 PM
|
| |
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.
 |
|
Forum: General Photography
01-15-2016, 08:43 AM
|
| |
I am right handed and right eye dominant. However my son is cross eye dominant right handed and left eye dominant so I have quite a bit of experience in this area. As mentioned earlier it causes issues with shooting in our case it is shotgun and trap and sporting clays. Did not stop him from being class runner up at the State trapshoot at the age of 15 but took a lot of work to get there. Phil Kiner is a famous trap shooting instructor and specialises in cross eye dominance. Many of his students are female, cross eye dominance is much more common in females than males for some reason. An accurate survey with valid methodology would take into consideration eye dominance, hand dominance, and sex. My 2 cents anyhow.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-12-2016, 04:40 PM
|
| |
Interesting I was saving and planning on picking up the 77mm Limited next also. But LeDave had to go and post pics on the K3 thread this weekend with the 100mm Macro and I couldn't resist either, it is scheduled for delivery on Thursday. I don't think either of us will have any regrets :lol: I hope that my order went through PF too, it should be I was drooling over the 100mm Macro pics on here when I placed it!
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
01-03-2016, 09:01 PM
|
| |
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
 |
|
Forum: General Talk
12-25-2015, 04:01 PM
|
| |
Merry Christmas! As someone said earlier it is a good chance to experiment.
 |
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
12-24-2015, 10:12 PM
|
| |
I'd be willing to bet most people don't know how hard it is to get a shot like that in agility or rally. Very well done!
Been 2 years now since I purchased my K3. First decent camera I have had since a Canon AE-1 I purchased in Japan in the late 70's. Still have a lot to learn, and am enjoying the journey. I have some decent lenses and am still learning the intricacies of each of them. But each fall when grouse season comes around and I bang around in the woods with the dog I use the DA 18-135mm for the WR and size. Carrying a camera and lens when in the woods hunting it is a compromise. I find that I have to take a lot of pictures with it to get a few of what I consider decent pictures compared to my other lenses. And still have to figure out what it is that makes the difference. But am pleased when they do turn out well. Not great like the other lenses produce but am pleased when they do turn out acceptable.
The Toller in my avatar is now 12 and retired from hunting. I have added a new Toller to the household and he just turned 1 year old.
Incoming....
Ready to rock and roll.
Beavers and Dams. (No the road doesn't stop here) I'll find my own sticks thank you very much...
Sunset on the BWCA Wilderness Area
 |
|
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
12-24-2015, 02:18 PM
|
| |
DA 43 F1.9 Limited, 9 Stop ND Filter
 |
