DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... The Camera/Picture Taking Thread Pt. II

Been super busy this year! Plus the weather really ain't lending itself to take my camera out.

Here's one from our hub city out in rural Alaska. I got out of the village for a couple of days this past week. That's my silhouette.


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Here's a Northern Flicker I got this morning.




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Looks like a yellowshafted flicker like we have around here. Here's an interesting tidbit from Audubon:

Elsewhere in the great outdoors, there's not enough room at the inn.




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Every day this coyote arrives in our garden...we have some wild grapes on a trellis that we think he may be eating. Inevitably, the dogs go ballistic and he runs away, only to come back later. Finally, today I managed to get a photo of him!

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great photo!

Thanks! I have had my camera at the wait all weekend. It was on a fast shutter to get as many as possible as my dogs (setters) sense him and go absolutely crazy. He hears them barking and is looking around and he may be able to see them in the window..but, within seconds he slopes off through the trees and is gone. That's when I let them out to say "this is our territory, buster!".

Over the years we have lost three cats to coyotes. We lived in London for years and our cats could go out and we never lost one to traffic. We moved back to the States and lose 3 to coyotes! Go figure. We have one cat now but, she is old and doesn't go out anymore. She tends to sleep most of the day. When our cats were younger they used to go out and hunt all day long. Reflecting on it philosophically, as much of a bummer as it is when you lose one it is the circle of life. They killed so many moles, birds, mice, snakes etc. that when they became prey themselves it's just....nature and the coyote and her pups need to eat too. That's what I told our kids and I think it made them understand it more. At least their death didn't go to waste (being hit by a car). After we lost the first one we tried to get our cats back in before nightfall but, clearly this guy proves that they are not just nocturnal. Notice he isn't too scrawny either! Plenty of wildlife (and domestic life!) to eat in the forest that surrounds Portland.

Just got back from Hawaii, wow am I tired. Anyway, took a lot of shots, most won't be shared but most stems from 4K shots taken. I'm just not convinced everyone is ready to be spammed with 4K shots!

Anyway, here's a nice Japanese couple enjoying their afternoon.




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I get to teach a photography class this semester! The kids take wonderful photos, and I get a chance to take my own photos, too.


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The second and third shots are really good!





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Here are some pics from the Mauna Kea Volcano.

About 10,000 feet




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Almost 14,000 feet




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Crashing Pacific




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My God...it's full of stars




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I don't care what your wife says. You take some wonderful pictures bro

Thank you kind sir!

Myy pleasure for getting to enjoy them

I try not to post too many touristy style photos but if you'll allow me this one slight transgression.

The highlight of our stay on Oahu.

Pearl Harbor

The Memorial.



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This one speaks for itself. Titled simply, Overwhelmed.



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The Plaque.



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High a top the Mighty Mo, the USS Missouri



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The deck where they signed the surrender.



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A fitting gesture to ratify the end of that gawd awful war.



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A cloudy sunset from the big island.




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Mars or Almond Joy?




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Reese cup

Beautimus!!

Thank you Mac, I'm glad you're enjoying them. I have a great time taking them.
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Got Milk?




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Side note: We were at about 10,000 feet on Mauna Kea and it was really windy. Notice the movement you see in the trees. I have a strap on my tripod and I was pulling hard down on it to keep the camera as steady as possible for this 30 second exposure to try and capture the milky way.

Back to the forest this morning.

Here's an unusual bird I found.




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While this one hawkishly looked on.




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Gorgeous morning. I was up and out on the river with my dogs, early. I did a 5 mile walk they ran easily 10 miles, possibly more. I love these two photos of "Bentley" I was able to capture. My other guy, "Rufus", was too busy on a scent with the many low lying bird nests that line the river.

I am still learning how to get good photos of fast moving subjects (sport dogs running!). I have always photographed still subjects....landscapes/people etc. So, moving animals are new but, I am getting there. These were shot at F4 1/800 (or 1/500...I was experimenting between the two). I would like more shallow DoF on the actual image rather than in post production editing. But, my zoom is 4-5.6. Might be time to get a new lens...

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You guys have some awesome cameras.

To me every picture in this thread is "publishable quality". Like they're right out of a magazine.

Thanks for your compliment. I have a Nikon D5500. I think it is a really excellent "intermediate" level camera. Not for beginners but, also not a pro camera. But, it suits me fine and I can spend my money on lenses (although I have yet to do so, I just have an 18-55mm and a 55-200mm, which for the time being has worked fine. The more I photograph my dogs the more I may invest in a better lens).

I recommend a good wide angle lens. Tokina makes some great wide angle glass, and very affordable. Even a 50mm prime for bokeh photography could be beneficial.

Most of the credit goes to the photographers, not the cameras. I don't think anyone here is using a pro camera. Tulsa and I are using Canon 7dmkii's, Pdx, Rocket and Portland are using similar offerings from Nikon. There's a lot more involved than aiming and shooting. Nothing worse than showing your work and having someone say, "you must have a really good camera". That's like saying Van Gough must have had really good paintbrushes, or Clem must have a really good cello.

His kit lenses are getting him from 18 - 200 which is a pretty nice range for walk around lenses. How much wider are you wanting him to go?

Almost every photo I've posted was taken in an iPhone 4, 5, or 5se.
I'd like to own a DSLR but appearently not enough to drop the cash on one.

And your artists eye shows in your shots.

I shoot 10-16 on my wide angle.

I agree about the Tokinas. I have a 12-20 F4. I don't carry it too often, but when we're out west or somewhere I know there will be landscape opportunities, I know it will get the job done.

It aides well in amusement park photography, too. The distortion, due to the ultra-wide nature of the lens, can actually enhance photos in many different ways.

Sorry. I don't know what made me think you had a Nikon. I really enjoyed your pics from burning man.

I carry a Sigma 10 - 20 f3.5 but if I already had an 18 I'd forego the expense.

It's actually happened to me- more times than I'd care to count.

I have a pat response to that comment, when folks say that kind of stuff at post-concert receptions:

"My first cello was factory-stamped out of plywood. My parents rented it for $10.00 a year from the public school system that gave me my start. That 10 dollar cello was the one the taught me how to produce my tone- my voice. It's not the tool, (sir/ma'am)... it's the craftsman."

It's not the lens or the camera body that makes the shot. It's the eye of the photographer.

My proof?
Only one name needs to be offered here:

Ansel Adams.
Consider what he did, with what he had.

I rest my case, your honor.

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You Dawgs continually amaze and humble me.
I'm totally convinced that you'd produce "publishable shots" with a flip phone.

You got that right. I can look at Ansel Adams and Mathew Brady (civil war era photographer) photos for hours on end, just trying to imagine how they were able to capture those moments with the equipment they had.

Without researching I am assuming the Tokina threading will fit a Nikon body?