Spring Colors!

I'm so glad that it's Spring!  Looking forward to the many Spring blooms that should be appearing in our gardens over the next few weeks.  Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating.  I'm still wearing my winter coat most of the day.

So while it's chilly outside, I'm inside comfy and cozy and testing out my Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 lens.  I'm shooting everything at f/4...zoomed in or zoomed out and everything in between.  I really like what I'm seeing.  While this lens is no match for my Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 prime lens (and it shouldn't be), I'm enjoying the center sharpness and even the lovely bokeh it produces.

Spring colors!

This 24-120mm f/4 lens is a monster.  Okay, it's the biggest lens I have.  It's the heaviest.  Probably uses the largest filter I have ever owned...77mm.  It feels hefty in my hands.  When I have it on my camera, D600, it's beautiful to hold and to handle.  Now, I do notice the extra weight around my neck and I'm using the well padded Crumpler's Industry Disgrace strap.  I have to hold my camera by the lens.  It feels that heavy.

I read a review where the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is heavier than this one.  I can't imagine.

I've put my camera and my monster lens through some tests.  The first thing I noticed is how fast the lens focuses.  It's quick.  At first, it took me by surprise.  Now, I'm happily getting used to it.  The above picture called 'Spring Colors' was taken indoors in natural light.  More like not much light.  I set my camera to aperture of 4 and zoomed all the way out.  Auto ISO came out at 1600.  The focus was fast!  Not like my 24-85mm lens which would have spent seconds "hunting" for some better light.


Here are a few more pictures taken with my monster lens:

I'm a Nikon Nerd!

It's after 5pm and so bright outside!

The heavy limbs reminds me of fingers

In a hurry to get to the other side...as the commuter train is leaving....

In my head, I've decided to stop comparing lenses and use each one to it's fullest potential.  Each of my Nikkor lens has it's own personality.  Gosh darn, I hope I don't start giving each of them nicknames....

Relying on My Backup Point and Shoot Camera

I was late starting out this morning, grabbed my shoulder bag and headed to church.  As I entered the church sanctuary I realized the church elders were having a special announcement...our new pastor arrived.  I didn't have my trusty D7k DSLR with me.  I quickly pulled out my Coolpix 7100, set it to Program mode, auto ISO between 100 to 200, and hoped for the best.

I took these from the back of the church.  The church lights were dimmed except for the front platform area. Based on previous experience, any movement would result in a blurred picture:

Here, you can see everyone was still during the praying over our new pastor and his wife.  The CP7100 handled this picture very well as I zoomed in (157mm, f4, 1/4, ISO 200) and composed this shot:

I took this picture during the Children's story skit.  Again, everyone was still and the picture came out reasonably well:

After a few shots, I noticed I was getting blurred pictures from the kids moving around.  Any slight head movement produced a big enough blur in the picture.  I then switched my ISO from 100-200 to Auto High ISO.  I haven't used this setting before and wasn't sure what kind of results I would get.

We had a special sermon presented from one of our youths, Alex.  Alex had the whole congregation involved at the beginning of his sermon.  This picture's ISO was 1600:

Here's another picture taken at ISO 1600.  The kids were moving, but notice there are no blurred body action:

After looking at these pictures and comparing it to ones I've taken with my DSLR, this CP7100 did a great job with the white balance.  My pictures came out brighter as well.  Not as clear or sharp as my DSLR, but good enough to post here and on Facebook.

I'm pretty happy with the results.  I made do with what I had with me.  My Coolpix point and shoot camera didn't let me down.

Putting My New 50mm to the Test

My new lens was patiently waiting in its box for my new B+W filter to arrive.  When I purchased the lens I thought I had a 58mm filter laying around.  I was wrong.  I'm that kind of person.  I won't touch a lens unless it has a filter.  So the lens and I waited...until this evening.

I took a few shots inside my house in low light.  Here's the results:

I'm enjoying the bokeh

Flower bouquet

A quick portrait shot

I then took a step outside to see what was blooming and found this beauty:

Lily of the Nile

All it took was 30 minutes of my time and I'm hooked on this lens!  This 50mm f/1.8G lens equates to a 75mm lens on my D7000 camera.  I think this will be a fine portrait lens!

A Wedding on Friday

I had a chance to take some wedding photos for a dear friend from my church.  I didn't know I would be the primary photographer until the morning of.  I went into work for a few hours and in the back of my mind I was thinking about which lens to use, which flash to bring and do I bring two DSLRs.

I ended up using my Nikon D7000, 18-200mm lens, 40mm micro lens, and my new SB-700 speed light.

Here are some shots using my 40mm micro lens and no flash:

In the Sanctuary with the lights turned up

I was told that the bride didn't like her picture taken.  I was astonished to hear this, but then decided to ignore the comment and do what I do naturally.  Take pictures.  As I was talking to the bride, I noticed she was very at ease with me.  I just picked up my camera and started taking pictures.  As you can see, she didn't seem to mind:

In my travels around the church I caught a quick photo of the rings:

The groom and his attendants were in the Fellowship Hall with other family members and friends.  I casually took their pictures and they decided to ham it up with me:

A photog moment with the children in the wedding party:

The children left their baskets and a Bible on a table and went off the run and play.  I enjoy taking random pictures:

I thought I would take advantage of the Sanctuary lighting and snap this quick picture of the pianist:

The bride was patiently waiting for her moment.  She was so calm and joked with us even when we encountered a snafu:

This picture was taken in a dark hallway.  The light in the background is from a large window.  I increased the exposure (+1.0) to capture the expressions on their faces and the details of her gown.  It came out better than I expected:

Getting ready for the entrance:

In the following photos I ended up attaching my SB-700 and turning on my speed light.  The sanctuary was quite dark with limited lighting in the front platform.

I changed out my lens and went with the 18-200mm and no flash for this shot:

I turned on my flash to capture the last few shots:

I kept snapping away and was able to get this shot as the newly married couple drove off to their reception:

I enjoy taking pictures of weddings.  I find that candids are better than taking formals.  Less stress and everyone (including me) is more relaxed.  That's why you'll see a folded table in the background.  Sometimes, it doesn't help to make people move to get a photo.  Why make them feel uncomfortable?

I always keep a smile on my face as I'm taking pictures.  When I smile, my subject smiles.  A beautiful picture is taken.

Note:  I had a few episodes of hot flashing (that would be me...not my speed light).  I had a few moments where I had to walk away and cool down.  Yes, this would be the second wedding where I've had to deal with this.  It's all about remaining calm and capturing as many beautiful images as you can.

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 Hubby...Apostle John

Last Sunday, Hubby was busy presenting a plant lecture at the local garden center.  Today, Hubby was busy presenting a sermon to our church.  He was the Apostle John.  Let me say...he was very convincing.

A close up of Hubby (200mm)

My Hubby can be very animated during a lecture or sermon and is constantly on the move.  It makes it very difficult for me to take good/sharp pictures of him.  After our church service, I thanked him for standing still or moving slowly.  His  reply?  "Well I was portraying an old man...so I couldn't move that fast"

In case, you're wondering...I'm building a pictorial porfolio for my Hubby.  He is looking to become a pastor one day.  

(200mm)

Yes, one day I will become a Pastor's wife.  I can't sing worth beans.  I can't play a musical instrument.  Let's just say I'm not musically inclined.

I can take pretty decent pictures.  Maybe I can become a Pastor's Photog wife?

I took over 100 pictures of my Hubby, Apostle John.  Only a handful came out blurred.  We both had a great day!

A Quick Trip Back Home

Darling Hubby and I were heading out to the beach this afternoon.  After getting through traffic on the beltway in Maryland, I received a call from the hotel we were planning on staying at the beach.  There was a mandatory evacuation in place and they would refund our deposit plus a night's stay.  We were both happy to get back our money.  At the same time, we were both sad not to be able to get away to the beach for even a day just to enjoy a sunny day and a reminder of God's beautiful creations.  

We were approaching Annapolis and decided to stop and take a breather and figure out what to do next.  My hubby could see my mind was going a mile a minute wondering where should we go for the weekend.  We dined on some halibut and tilapia and had a flour-less chocolate cake for dessert.  After feeling a bit more relaxed, we decided to just head back home.  As were heading back to our car we both looked up at the sky and saw this magnificent beauty:  

They sky over Annapolis
(18mm, f3.5, 1/125, ISO 560)

What a way to end the evening.  A reminder to stop and enjoy your surroundings.  

Another Low Light Picture

My hubby loves tomatoes.  I went to the our local farmer's market and came back with these...beef steak tomatoes.  It's only natural I take a quick picture of these beauties:

50mm, f/8.0, 1/80, exp -0.67, ISO 6400

A Few Pictures From the Weekend...50mm Lens

50mm, f8, 1/250, ISO 100


50mm, f5.6, 1/500, ISO 100


50mm, f10, 1/400, ISO 100


50mm, f5.6, 1/250, ISO 100


50mm, f5.6, 1/125, ISO 125


50mm, f8, 1/250, ISO 100


50mm, f5.6, 1/125, ISO 6400


50mm, f5.6, 1/80, ISO 6400