Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens @ f/5.6, 1/20s, -0.5EV, ISO800, handheld.
Archive » February 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Photo Friday - Week 6
One from last night, after thinking that I may have to use a photo from my back-catalogue, I saw the new moon on the way home, so took a couple of pics with a nice looking cloud nicely lit by the set sun.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens @ f/5.6, 1/20s, -0.5EV, ISO800, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens @ f/5.6, 1/20s, -0.5EV, ISO800, handheld.
Friday, 17 February 2012
Photo Friday - Week 5
A bit of an unintentional bird theme today, but here's a couple of photos I took whilst giving some private tuition last Saturday at the Essex Wildlife Trust's reserve at Hanningfield Reservoir, the first from 'Rawl Hide', overlooking the largely frozen reservoir, the second from the Visitor Centre window, by the bird feeders.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA*300mm f/4 lens @ f/6.7, 1/750s, +0.5EV, ISO200, handheld.
I really like the simplicity of this one. I was drawn to the shadows of the trees across the snow by the water's edge, and had taken several shots of them on their own, but then saw the crow further along the shoreline.
This is fairly heavily cropped, a result of me not having anything longer than a 300mm lens, but that's the compromise I've decided to go with - portability over reach. At least having superb lenses means you can crop and still be sure of good quality, and using a camera with an excellent sensor also helps (check out the sensor ratings here, the Pentax K-5 lies 6th, only behind medium format and two of the Nikon full frame models).
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA*300mm f/4 lens @ f/4.5, 1/350s, -1.0EV, ISO200, handheld.
Just a grab shot of a Long-Tailed Tit as it waited on the wire, near the feeders. Negative exposure compensation was needed as the majority of the shot was in shadow, but sunlight on the bird meant that the white feathers were burning out.
Shot through double-glazing, it's not as sharp as I'd really like, but I like it all the same.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA*300mm f/4 lens @ f/6.7, 1/750s, +0.5EV, ISO200, handheld.
I really like the simplicity of this one. I was drawn to the shadows of the trees across the snow by the water's edge, and had taken several shots of them on their own, but then saw the crow further along the shoreline.
This is fairly heavily cropped, a result of me not having anything longer than a 300mm lens, but that's the compromise I've decided to go with - portability over reach. At least having superb lenses means you can crop and still be sure of good quality, and using a camera with an excellent sensor also helps (check out the sensor ratings here, the Pentax K-5 lies 6th, only behind medium format and two of the Nikon full frame models).
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA*300mm f/4 lens @ f/4.5, 1/350s, -1.0EV, ISO200, handheld.
Just a grab shot of a Long-Tailed Tit as it waited on the wire, near the feeders. Negative exposure compensation was needed as the majority of the shot was in shadow, but sunlight on the bird meant that the white feathers were burning out.
Shot through double-glazing, it's not as sharp as I'd really like, but I like it all the same.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Phoenix FM's Sunday Best
I'm on Phoenix FM, local radio for Brentwood and Billericay, this coming Sunday, 19th February, on the Sunday Best gardening show with Andrew Babicz, when we'll be talking about flower photography.
If you'd like to get tips on techniques, equipment, subjects and more, tune in on 98.0FM or online at www.phoenixfm.com from 10.00am this Sunday. You can join in by texting questions to the studio on 07779 298298, emailing radio@phoenixfm.com or joining us in the chatroom.
If you'd like to get tips on techniques, equipment, subjects and more, tune in on 98.0FM or online at www.phoenixfm.com from 10.00am this Sunday. You can join in by texting questions to the studio on 07779 298298, emailing radio@phoenixfm.com or joining us in the chatroom.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Abberton Reservoir
On Thursday I was up at Essex Wildlife Trust's Abberton Reservoir reserve helping with the move from the old Visitor Centre to the new one, as the old one will be flooded when the water level is raised next year.
Obviously, I took my camera, and here are some of the shots I took...
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 18mm, f/8, 1/500s, +0.5EV, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 18mm, f/8, 1/90s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 26mm, f/8, 1/90s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 55mm, f/8, 1/4000s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 55mm, f/8, 1/1500s, ISO800, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 20mm, f/8, 1/500s, -0.5EV, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 55mm, f/9.5, 1/350s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 43mm, f/9.5, 1/90s, ISO200, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 43mm, f/6.7, 1/45s, ISO800, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 31mm, f/6.7, 1/45s, ISO800, handheld.
It's a nice looking visitor centre, well worth a visit in March when it's open to the public. Find out more about it here.
Obviously, I took my camera, and here are some of the shots I took...
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 18mm, f/8, 1/500s, +0.5EV, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 18mm, f/8, 1/90s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 26mm, f/8, 1/90s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 55mm, f/8, 1/4000s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 55mm, f/8, 1/1500s, ISO800, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 20mm, f/8, 1/500s, -0.5EV, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 55mm, f/9.5, 1/350s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 43mm, f/9.5, 1/90s, ISO200, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 43mm, f/6.7, 1/45s, ISO800, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA WR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 31mm, f/6.7, 1/45s, ISO800, handheld.
It's a nice looking visitor centre, well worth a visit in March when it's open to the public. Find out more about it here.
Friday, 10 February 2012
Photo Friday - Week 4
Although I've got loads of photos of snow this week, as I'd already posted about that, I thought I'd post something different for Photo Friday, so here's an image I've been meaning to make for a long time - an abstract of my bedroom lamp shade.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/5.6, 1/180s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/5.6, 1/180s, ISO400, handheld.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Snow!
Last night saw a decent amount of snow falling over the UK, and here in Essex we got some too, so today I went for a walk to my local park to get some photos. Nice though the park is, there aren't too many broader views to take in, so I found myself concentrating on the smaller details, and shooting quite a few close-up and abstract shots. Here's a selection...
The first two shots are very similar in composition, guided partly by the need to refresh the TV display in Cameraworld in Chelmsford, so I was conscious of the widescreen TV format required for this. These are both fairly abstract, the second more so, and it's one reason I like snow.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/45s, ISO80, tripod.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/45s, ISO80, tripod.
In the woodland at the park, I loved the graphic look of the trees with snow plastered along one side of the trunk, and again I was drawn to the abstract, here also converting to black and white.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/20s, ISO80, tripod.
A macro shot now, just a shoot poking out from a hornbeam tree trunk, but with great snow crystals along the top. I used my black hat as a backdrop, which really highlights the form and colour of the subject, which was otherwise a bit lost in a white background.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/4s, ISO80, tripod.
Again I was attracted to foliage protruding from the snow, here a small dead flower stem is again given the contrasty black and white treatment.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/30s, ISO80, tripod.
My most abstract shot of the day; the fresh undisturbed snow, with a variety of shapes scattered across the image, appealed to my eye.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA16-45mm f/4 lens @ 34mm, f/9.5, 1/30s, ISO80, tripod.
The most 'normal' picture of the walk, I've used this tree before when shooting bluebells, so thought I'd take advantage of the possibilities given by the arrival of the snow.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/3.5, 1/180s, ISO80, tripod.
Well, it was a very nice walk, and a welcome change in the weather (for me, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea). Best to take advantage of this sort of thing while it lasts.
The first two shots are very similar in composition, guided partly by the need to refresh the TV display in Cameraworld in Chelmsford, so I was conscious of the widescreen TV format required for this. These are both fairly abstract, the second more so, and it's one reason I like snow.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/45s, ISO80, tripod.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/45s, ISO80, tripod.
In the woodland at the park, I loved the graphic look of the trees with snow plastered along one side of the trunk, and again I was drawn to the abstract, here also converting to black and white.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/20s, ISO80, tripod.
A macro shot now, just a shoot poking out from a hornbeam tree trunk, but with great snow crystals along the top. I used my black hat as a backdrop, which really highlights the form and colour of the subject, which was otherwise a bit lost in a white background.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/4s, ISO80, tripod.
Again I was attracted to foliage protruding from the snow, here a small dead flower stem is again given the contrasty black and white treatment.
Pentax K-5, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 lens @ f/9.5, 1/30s, ISO80, tripod.
My most abstract shot of the day; the fresh undisturbed snow, with a variety of shapes scattered across the image, appealed to my eye.
Pentax K-5, Pentax DA16-45mm f/4 lens @ 34mm, f/9.5, 1/30s, ISO80, tripod.
The most 'normal' picture of the walk, I've used this tree before when shooting bluebells, so thought I'd take advantage of the possibilities given by the arrival of the snow.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/3.5, 1/180s, ISO80, tripod.
Well, it was a very nice walk, and a welcome change in the weather (for me, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea). Best to take advantage of this sort of thing while it lasts.
Friday, 3 February 2012
Photo Friday - Week 3
There was a lovely clear sky at sunset yesterday, so I stopped for a few minutes at Bedfords Park to grab some shots, here are three of them.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/2.4, 1/60s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/3.5, 1/20s, ISO800, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/2.8, 1/15s, ISO800, handheld.
This last one shows Venus thrown well out of focus, and the dead limbs of the tree jutting into the frame. An abstract composition that reminded me of an elephant's legs...
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/2.4, 1/60s, ISO400, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/3.5, 1/20s, ISO800, handheld.
Pentax K-5, Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/2.8, 1/15s, ISO800, handheld.
This last one shows Venus thrown well out of focus, and the dead limbs of the tree jutting into the frame. An abstract composition that reminded me of an elephant's legs...