Daylilies in Full Bloom

This week is definitely Daylily week for us.  Our gardens are in full bloom with these beauties.  My 85mm is the current lens of choice.  I'm still trying to get the feel for this lens.  I hope to get some portraits done this weekend for my remaining test shots.  In the mean time, I'm enjoying this lens and the beautiful results I'm getting.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G Bokeh: Daylily Pictures

I went out and photographed a daylily.  I wanted to see the results of the different aperture settings and the bokeh.  I also wanted to find the "sweet spot" for my new lens.  Here's the results at different aperture settings:

85mm, f1.8, 1/8000, ISO 100

85mm, f4, 1/2000, ISO 100

85mm, f8, 1/500, ISO 100

85mm, f11, 1/250, ISO 100

85mm, f16, 1/125, ISO 110

I set my D7k to Aperture mode and since the flower was in bright sunlight I set the exposure to -0.7.  My post production (PP) changes included cropping, adding copyright notice, and reducing the file size for posting on the web.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G: Low Light vs Compact Speed Light

After I mounted my new lens onto my D7k, I took some sample pictures in a room with low light.  I had an incandescent lamp turned on to the left of the following book samples:

85mm, f1.8, 1/125, ISO 2800 (no flash & handheld)

85mm, f1.8, 1/125, ISO 400 (SB-400 compact flash & handheld)

Can you see a real difference between the two pictures?  In the first picture, the low light no flash picture looks quite good.  In the second picture, I bounced my compact flash towards the ceiling.

So far, I like the results I'm getting with this new lens.  More to come....

My New Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G AF-S Fixed Lens

I couldn't wait.  I had some rewards points that I converted to gift cards and applied them towards my new lens. Yes, it was a great deal as we ended up paying 40% of the cost.  What a nice early present!  Thank you hubby!

Here's the packaging the lens came in:

Nicely packaged from the vendor

Inside the Nikon box:  plastic container, manual, and warranty card

The plastic container containing the lens and hood  pulled out of the box

The plastic container opened:  hood and lens

Nikkor 85mm f1.8G AF-S lens with B&W filter

I will be "playing" with this FX lens this weekend and report back my findings!

NOTE:  Photos taken with my 40mm micro lens and SB-400 compact flash

Trying Out a New Filter by B+W

To use a filter or not to use a filter.  That's the topic I've been reading at a photography forum recently.  There seems to be an equal divide amongst those who do and those who don't.  I prefer to use a filter on all my lenses.  I use it to protect my lens from dust, moisture, and scratches.  For the last few years, my choice has been the Hoya Pro Digital UV filters.  Until now.

As I've been researching and reading reviews for my future 85mm prime lens, I've been seeing B+W filters popping up as recommendations.  I've never heard of that brand.  I found a lot of photographers who gave that brand a high rating.  I thought I would give it a try.  After all, I'm a gadget gal at heart.

Here's a picture I took in the early evening with the new filter attached to my 40mm micro lens.  The only editing I've done is to crop, add my copyright, and resize the picture for the web.

Here's the box the filter came in.  I guess I should have taken a picture of the filter before I attached it to my lens.  See what happens when I get a new toy?  Excitement overrides reasonable thoughts.

B+W Clear UV Haze Filter with Multi-Resistant Coating

The quality of this filter is much nicer than my Hoya.  The B+W is a black brass filter ring and constructed with a high quality Schott glass.  It definitely feels sturdier.  The coating on the filter lens has Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) which causes water to bead up and slide off the filter.  Not that I have any plans to get water on  my lens.  The filter absorbs UV light and reduces the bluish cast of daylight.  The B+W filter is suppose to combat flare and ghosting and doesn't need to be cleaned as often.  We'll see how it performs and I'll be sure to report back the results.  I can tell you that I'm really liking it.  

**  Update 06/22/12  **
I took a picture of the B+W 67mm filter that I received to go with my 85mm fixed lens:

B+W 67mm filter inside its case

It's a thin filter that threads nicely on my lens.  I highly recommend this filter as it protects my lens and doesn't hinder the clarity and color of my photos.  

Just a Thought...

I'm thinking of another lens.  Real soon.  It's at least an 85mm fixed lens.  Hubby will be getting it for my birthday in a few weeks.  Will let you know which one I decide on.  I never thought I would enjoy working with single fixed lens so much.

Unrelated to this post is a picture of a Hibiscus flower taken with my Coolpix point and shoot:

After the rain with my Coolpix 7100

I couldn't do a post without a picture.  Especially when this is a photog blog.

Up Close and Personal

I am surprised the spider didn't jump onto my lens!  I was that close!

Miniatures! Examples in the Garden

I always enjoy visiting the local garden center.  I enjoy it more now that I have a awesome point and shoot camera with me all the time.  I'll never miss a photo opportunity like these wonderful miniature gardens.  Check out the clever planters they use.  How many tiny garden props can you spot?

How cute!

The BBQ grill is the planter

What a great way to reuse an old wagon!

Now that's creativity in the works!

An Unusual Turkey

I came across a most unusual variety of turkey.  Look at the white feathers!

Here's a thirsty chicken:

What a Difference a Flash Makes

I was going through my photos from the last few days and I came across a pair that shows what a difference a flash can make.  This blue hydrangea shrub is located on the edge of our shade garden.  I took these two pictures with my D7000 and 40mm micro lens.  For the flash picture, I used my compact SB-400 speed light.

Which picture appeals to you?

While I'm taking my pictures, I can actually visualize "painting" the images I take.  The left picture without flash looks quite dark, it's actually quite "art-sy".  If I painted this picture in oil or watercolor, my painting would show the different values of color.  Light and dark colors.  My flower would appear to pop-out of my canvas or paper.

If I painted the right photo with flash, my flowers would look a bit flat because there are less values in the color.

When I see a striking subject as in a flower, I tend to take lots of pictures.  A straight on shot and then a different angle.  In natural light and then with a flash.  Zoomed in and then zoomed out.

I have plans to take my favorite floral shots from this Spring and re-create them on my canvas.  To paint the above hydrangeas, I would actually use both pictures as references for my creation.

In my mind, there really isn't a bad picture.

One Shrub...Many Colors

As the Spring flowers are winding down in our gardens, the final and magnificent blooms of the season is our colorful hydrangea flowers.  Yes, all the flowers seen in the photos below are from one single shrub.

Makes me think of God's palette of colors.

Latin name:  Hydrangea Macrophylla

Buzzing Around the Garden

No, not me.  Just the bumble bees in our garden.  My 40mm micro lens has been a joy to use.  I can get up close and personal.  Sometimes a bit too close for my liking when I'm looking through the viewfinder.  Bumble bees are pretty friendly.

I've learned to be patient and just wait for the bees to come within picture taking range.  Especially with my 40mm lens.  Sometimes, I wished I had a longer lens.  Maybe an 85mm?

A Weekend With My D7000

After a week with my point and shoot camera, I was back to using my D7k.  I felt a bit out of place as I was so used to using my P7100.  I had to laugh at myself when I tried to zoom in to see the pictures I took and I was looking for the zoom in/out toggle at the front of my DSLR.  Yeah, I had a duh(!) moment.

Saturday morning, Hubby told me to bring my camera and I took some pictures at our church Sabbath service.  I had my 18-200mm lens with me along with my SB-700 flash.  The only time I used my new flash was during a baby dedication that my Hubby was asked to perform.  During the service, I was adjusting the exposure on my camera.  When I had the flash off, I set my exposure to +0.7.  When I put on the SB-700 flash, I had to adjust the exposure back to 0.0.

Children's Story (no flash)

Children's Story (no flash)

Baby Dedication (with flash)

Prayer (no flash)

I enjoyed using my new SB-700 flash.  It is so much easier to make adjustments than on my SB-600.