Blueberries...Summer is Here

Since last weekend, I've spent all week shooting with my Nikkor 50mm f1.4 lens. I've had some really good results. Practice, practice, and more practice. It's been over two weeks since I've had my 18-200mm wide/zoom lens on my camera. I've learned to let go. I've learned to enjoy my prime lens.

Last night, my hubby told me to check out our blueberry bushes and to bring an empty container. I had forgotten about the single blueberry bush that we had transplanted over 12 years ago. We actually saved it from being bulldozed over to make way for a new development out in Reston. We actually saved two, but one of them died...probably from the stress of the transplant. We were able to get a handful every year. A few years ago, hubby planted another blueberry bush for me. Kind of like having companion mates. Yes, I forgot about them until last night. We had a bumper crop of blueberries. I collected as much as my container would hold. Then hubby came behind me and collected some more. Actually, he was eating them while collecting them.

In all, we had about a little over 2 lbs of fresh blueberries:

50mm, f5.6, 1/40, ISO 6400

Early this morning, I started breakfast with my Honey Nut Cheerios and those beautiful berries on top:

50mm, f5.6, 1/125, ISO 4500


I am so thankful for blueberries and for my darling hubby who did the major transplant years ago.

50mm, f5.6, 1/125, ISO 2200

Nikkor 50mm/f1.4 Lens

Some sample pictures taken with my 50mm lens:

50mm, f5.6, 1/125, ISO 100


50mm, f8, 1/125, ISO 140


50mm, f4, 1/125, ISO 100


50mm, f1.4, 1/4000, ISO 100

718...Pictures Taken on a Single Battery

That's the total number of shots I took with my first battery on my new D7000. I got the blinking battery light and then I could no longer autofocus for the next shot. I couldn't preview the pictures I've taken nor could I access the menu system. The battery was truly expired. So now, it sits in my charger...getting rejuvenated. It should take less than 2-1/2 hours to fully recharge. When I initially did the first recharge on May 30th, it took less than 2 hours. I popped that battery into my camera and kept taking pictures until this evening. My, my...718 pictures later. Truly inspirational.

Now, Nikon says on average I should be getting roughly 1050 pictures on a single charge. For as long as I keep turning on my LCD display, to preview pictures taken or wander around the menu system...I don't think I'll come close to that number. I'm fine with that because 718 pictures taken is A LOT on a single battery. I would have easily gone through 3 batteries on my old D5000.

We'll see what the next picture count I get on the 2nd battery. Oh yeah...it's my new spare battery. I think having two batteries is enough for now. I'll end up buying another one, a year from now and so on. As batteries go through charge cycles, they will eventually deplete or lose their original strength. Out of habit, I always buy another one a year later.

I'm ready to take more pictures this weekend. I currently have my 28-105mm lens attached to the camera...waiting for some action tomorrow. On Sunday, I plan on using my 35mm/1.8 or my 50mm/1.4 lens. I just have to remember to "zoom with my feet".

More later....

Early Morning Shots...More Hydrangeas

Not much else is blooming in our garden right now. Or I should say that is easily accessible. Much of our gardens are overgrown and were planted over 14 years ago. So, I trek along the edges and here are the hydrangeas that are catching the early morning sun:






















The pictures were taken in Program-mode, auto settings, center-weighted, with 39-point dynamic area AF.

Hydrangeas...Mostly

Okay, so this one shot is not a hydrangea, but a spiderwort plant. The flower opens in the early morning hours and then closes up during the day. I only notice things that are blooming in the morning:



The hydrangeas are almost in full bloom in my neck of the woods. Hubby has so many bushes in our gardens and in different colors:

More Nikon D7000 Pictures - Outside

I had the opportunity to take my new camera outside today. I wanted to test the camera and see how it handled itself in Program mode and the auto settings along with my 18-200mm lens. I had to work fast as it was a sunny, hazy, hot and humid afternoon. Summer hasn't officially started according to the calendars, but it sure felt like it. I was naturally glowing after 30 minutes of walking around town.

The only post-production activities that took place was to add my copyright and to reduce the photo size. Here's the results of my adventure:


























There are times when I think the D7000 has a hard time handling high contrast or bright daylight shots:







Okay...so this one was an interior shot from inside one of the Old Town establishments:



I really like this camera a lot. It's wow-ing me with colorful images that don't need a lot of tweaking. I'm finding I have a lot of keepers. My new camera is amazing.

More Low Light Pictures

I'm at it again, testing my new Nikon D7000 toy. At first I had buyer's remorse, but that didn't last when I started snapping away and seeing the beautiful results.

I used my 18-200mm lens. All of the pictures shown here were taken in P-mode with auto settings and no flash. The outside pictures were taken after sun down. Then I took the camera indoors.

Here's the results:

Hydrangea Flowers - 95mm, F5.3, 1/125, ISO 1000 (bumped up the contrast-post production):




Poppy - 105mm, F5.3, 1/125, ISO 640:




Mystery Flower on Hosta - 170mm, F5.6, 1/125, ISO 2500:




Stained Glass - 62mm, F4.8, 1/125, ISO 5000:




Dining Room Light - 44mm, F7.1, 1/200, ISO 100



Self-Portrait - 18mm, F3.5, 1/25, ISO 6400:



This camera is "Wow-ing" me with it's low light capabilities. Next up...attaching my 35mm fixed lens and taking more pictures.

Stay tuned!