And now for some “conventional” flower images and a bit of landscape…….
The weather’s still doing it’s best to spoil things and so I am finding myself seeking flowers in sheltered areas and, even then, having to wait for quite some time until it is still long enough to obtain a sharp image. Patience is a virtue! Since I’m talking flower photography, I thought I’d mention that my number 1 purchase over the last 6 months has been an old manual focus 200mm f4 Micro Nikkor. For many years I made do with a prime 200mm f4 with extension tubes but felt it was now time (I had been putting it off for many, many years) to purchase a dedicated 200mm Micro.
So, why didn't I get the AF version? 2 reasons. Firstly, the MF version is at least half the price and secondly, I rarely use AF when shooting close-up. Also, and this applies to nearly all MF lenses, the focus ring on MF lenses is sooooo much smoother than on an AF lens. The 200mm Micro, for example, has finger-tip focus. A real joy to use. I am now finding that I rarely use my trusty 105mm f2.8 Micro since with the 200mm I get the same magnification, double the working distance and even more control over my backgrounds. It also has a tripod collar and so changing orientation from view to upright’s an absolute breeze!
I’m off to the Bieszczady Mountains National Park in SE Poland on Monday leading a photo-tour with photographer friend, Marek Kosinski. Although primarily a landscape tour, there will be opportunities to photograph orchids and insects so this lens will definitely be going with me! Current weather predictions are for a hot week (25-30) which will be quite a contrast to what we are currently experiencing, here in the UK!
You will notice that, opposed to my previous post, I have included the technical data under each image. For all images (except the primrose), I mounted the camera onto a Manfrotto 055CX3 with a Markins M10 ball head.
Reculver at twilight
PrimroseI had just finished holding a really enjoyable close-up and bushcraft workshop with Phil from Badger Bushcraft and, although weary, I could not resist the late afternoon sunlight and so rather than driving home,
decided to continue for a further hour shooting primroses.
Bluebells at sunriseAlways the trickiest part of the operation with an image like this is keeping the rapidly rising sun obscured behind a tree, so as to avoid flare.
BluebellTaken shortly after the above image. Due to the weather these were the only successful bluebell images I took. Getting up that early is never a pleasure but, and I have said this before, I never regret it when I do. The quality of light is like at no other time of the day.
Ramsons at sunset
Red campionAnother evening jaunt where, as you can see from the data below, the nagging breeze forced me to use a higher iso than I would have liked. But, with the setting sun waiting for no man, it's always best to get something than nothing at all!
Woodruff and fernOpposite to where I park to enter a woodland, lies a sheltered, roadside bank where, even on the windiest days, it is perfectly still. For an hour I "worked" this 20m patch, also shooting yellow archangel and wild strawberry, only having to move out of the way once, for a car. Such is it's quiet location.
Last rays of the dayTaken in the wood where I park my car (explained in above caption) I looked for subjects to photograph against the setting sun. As I headed to the top of wood I noticed how the light was catching just the tops of the trees. 3 images were taken and stitiched together.
BroomNagging breeze problem, again!
Germander speedwellNow we are completely up to date as this was taken on Wednesday. Yet another breezy day so flowers in a sheltered spot it had to be.
