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Sharing the same basic frame as the T.A.H. MK XII "Bayonet", the MK XXIV "Bastard" was heavily armored and armed to the teeth. The "Bastard" had multiple interchangeable, shoulder-mounted cannon and featured four fully articulated arms that could each also operate four different firearms.
Her heavy armor made her slower than her lighter counterpart, the MK XII "Bayonet", but her massive firepower made up the difference. Designed to be a versatile support vehicle for Marines in the trenches, MK XXIV's also proved their worth as an individual force in urban settings. Sent into Separatist infested warzones, these massive mechanical hardsuits obliterated almost everything in their paths. When teamed up with a squad of MK XII's and support Marines, they proved unstoppable.
Often adorned with enemy bodies and bones, the very sound of approaching Bastards instilled terror into the hearts of even the bravest Separatist Soldiers.
Same camera with a Hoya R72 720nm filter over the front lens, ie only near IR and longer is reaching the sensor. Selective colouring has been applied in post but the Red and Blue channels have not been swapped.
Auto-Takumar 55mm f1.8 (Zebra).
While in Hawaii, we decided to check out Akaka Falls in the State Park of the same name about 15 km North of Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. As we travelled from Hilo to the park, rain set in, fairly typical on the rainy East side of the island and the reason it is so lush and tropical-looking. After a short walk in a light rain along the trail we came to the lookout. Here a large visitor information panel is set showing the classic shot everyone takes of the falls and I kind of wanted to so something a little different (although I did the classic shot for those family members left at home). I decided to do a tighter crop and show only part of the falls in a vertical composition that turned it into an abstract looking panel of green foliage, black lava rocks and a ribbon of water. The wet conditions provided a saturated look to the everything. - JW
Date Taken: 2016-03-02
Tech Details:
Taken using a hand-held Nikon D7100 fitted with a Nikkor 18-105mm VR lense set to 80mm, ISO100, AutoWB, Aperture priority mode, f/8.0, 1/13 sec. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from NIKON RAW/NEF source file: resize image to 9000x6000, adjust exposure to 1 stop over as-shot (i.e. brighten), boost contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, increase black level slightly, adjust colour balance to slightly warm the image and compensate for overcast conditions, boost vibrance slightly, sharpen, enable noise reduction, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the auto-adjust tool within the levels tool, sharpen very slightly, save, scale to 6000x4000 (my preferred working size for prepping images destined for posting online), sharpen slightly, add fine black and white frame, add bar and text on left side of frame, save, scale image to 1800 wide for posting online.
Since I took up photography in 2009 I reckon I've come to the Tokyo Metropolitan Building three or four times and I always end up taking the same scene looking out towards Mt. Fuji. I haven't gotten any better at shooting the scene; it's just my tastes which have changed.
Date: 2/24/13
Camera: SLT-A99V
Exposure: 13.0 sec at f/6.3, ISO 100
Lens: 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM
© 2013 Benjamin Torode - All Rights Reserved.
No Use Without Written Permission.
Same as last week but the other way round. 68017 with 68032 behind at Grovefield Way, nr Cheltenham with 6M63 1158 Bridgwater to Crewe nuclear flasks. 11th October 2017.
Same session as the previous pic. :-)
Samyang 10mm
Please try the UP arrow @ bottom right (or L)
Sincere thanks to all who view, comment upon or make a favourite of my shots, for each is a help and pleasure in equal measure.
Canon 5D Photos of Pretty Blonde Model Goddess with Blue Eyes wearing a Seaweed Bikini Swimsuit!
I was shooting video at the same time as stills with the 9shooter/45surfer bracket which attaches a Canon HFS200 camcorder to my Canon 5D DSLR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_s94cRkJiA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IuW_0K3f6U
Be sure to watch the simultaneous stabilized video in full 1080p HD!
Video is fun & it rocks to capture the goddess's beauty and poetry in motion!
Shooting simultaneous stills & video rocks! I do it on every shoot now, while also mounting several stationary DSLRs/camcorders for video in addition to the Panasonic or Sony Camcoder bracketed to my Canon 5D or Nikon D800E.
The sea goddess was tall, thin, fit, with gorgerous blonde hair and pretty blue eyes!
She had a cute, southern touch of hippie / granola!
And may the blonde sea goddess inspire you along a photographic/artistic journey of your own making!
The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens is an amazing lens for practically every situation!
Long, pretty legs!
Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 CITY-CBG (YP67 XCD) www.flickr.com/photos/138705729@N04/27446817389/in/photol... is seen on its first day in service on December 22nd 2017 & Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 CITY-EV (LC71 EFD) www.flickr.com/photos/138705729@N04/52345226901/in/photos... is also seen on its first day in service on September 9th 2022
So I have been growing more and more fascinated with our forest here in the NW. When I moved up here six years ago, it was all about the mountains. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love a snow topped volcano, or a jagged peak rising into the sky. But still, there is something about being in a small meadow and dissecting the view with my camera, trying to find out how many unique compositions I can get. And through this, I have learned a greater appreciation for the variety of views that can be gathered from a small section of forest.
With this in mind, I am planning (weather permitting) a trip to the redwoods in a week. I’m looking forward to spending 3-5 days down there and venturing deep into the forest. There a couple of legendary groves that have been kept secret from the public, but with some research, I think I know where one of them are. So fingers crossed, I will be standing in a "grove of titans" a week from now--- using my camera to dissect every thing I can about it while trying to figure out how to capture a tree that is 26+ feet across.
---- looking for Lady Florence .... ----
this young and small dog, overjoyed at the unexpected visit, is located in "Francisi": perhaps a great-great-grandson of a dog that belonged to Florence ...?
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questo piccolo cagnolino allegro, felicissimo per l'inattesa visita, si trova in località "Francisi": forse un pro-pro-pronipote di un cane appartenuto a Florence...?
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This is a short and long collection of photographs, almost all made in Taormina (Sicily), and is divided into two parts: the first part I have included a few pictures, I put a few moments I catched in the alleys of the small Sicilian town, in the second part (the first to appear on Flickr) in which I tried to rebuild and at the same time to remember the singular feminine figure of Lady Florence Trevelyan, an English noblewoman, lover of art, botany, ornithology, travels, the arts magical and esoteric; she loved animals, but actively helped a lot of people; Taormina is to her that owes much of its luck; this Lady, hosting famous people of the time, contributed not a little to make known the beauty of this village Siculo to the whole world (and she improved and embellished much Taormina).
Lady Florence was born in Hallington On February 7, 1852, but soon became an orphan at the age of two years (his father committed suicide in 1854); his mother Catherine Anne was the maid of honor of Queen Victoria: the Queen which became attached enormously to Florence, and the Queen loved her like a true daughter. Florence at age 27, in 1879 was forced to leave everything to face a long journey lasting more than two years (Lady Florence fell prey to the notorius charms of the future Edward VII, who was already married; this sort of thing never went over well with Victoria, so Florence was asked to leave England). Lady Florence returned to his homeland for a short period, to be again driven out for an exiled perennial: She never returned to England (though, a generous monthly annuity was given hers on the orders of the Queen Victoria). Florence traveled widely, reached India, went to Burma, arrived in Australia she performed as a singer, and then finally arrive in February 1884 in Taormina: here you will stay until the end of his life (she died October 4, 1907 ). At Taormina she met the then mayor, the rich prof. Salvatore Cacciola, doctor, passionate student and Grand Master of Freemasonry: it is said that Lady Florence fell in love when she sought his help to cure "Sun", one of his dogs; from here to their wedding was a short step.
Lady florence bought several lots of land, created the current Public Garden of Taormina, planted olive trees, cypresses, exotic trees, and built those features buildings in oriental style; She bought by the former mayor the "Isola Bella" (She built an house and She planted trees and exotic plants, Mediterranean pines, as well as the inevitable cypress); She bought many arid and barren lands around Taormina (Mount Venus, Monte Croce, Monte Porretta) and they become rich in vegetation, with many farmers she had taught the art of the English garden. Many people went knocking to her door, in financial difficulties, usually farmers and fishermen (also Oscar Wilde, disgraced by charges of homosexuality, received financial aid from Lady Florence), She made a major sewing school for young girls of Taormina, and instituted for their 87 wedding dowries. Fate was once again mocking her: the only child she had named Edward, died in childbirth. It was in use at the time, bathing in bathtubs filled with cold water of the sea (even the photographer Von Gloeden was addicted to this habit), but this proved fatal, Lady Florence died of pneumonia at the age of 55. For her express wish, She was buried in a district of Castelmola (accompanied by large numbers of Sicilian people, it tells of an endless line, to the sound of "ciaramelle", which reminded her bagpipes of her distant Scotland), district called "Francisi" in her memory (this term according to a medieval custom). In her will, Lady Florence forced heirs not to hunt in his vast possessions, not to build, and to accept and to help dogs and birds. Lady Florence was the first woman (not only in Sicily) to be allowed to be part of Freemasonry.
The writer Guido Gozzano, was inspired by Lady Florence, when he wrote the novel "Alcina".
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Questa è una raccolta di fotografie breve e lunga, quasi tutte realizzate a Taormina (Sicilia), raccolta che ho diviso in due parti: nella prima parte ho inserito alcuni ritratti, ho messo alcuni momenti colti nei vicoli del piccolo paese Siciliano, nella seconda parte (la prima ad apparire su Flickr) ho tentato di ricostruire, ed al contempo ricordare, la singolarissima figura di Lady Florence Trevelyan, una nobildonna Inglese amante dell'arte, della botanica, della ornitologia, dei viaggi, delle arti magiche ed esoteriche; lei, che fu una convinta animalista ante litteram, non si limitò ad amare solo gli animali, ma aiutò fattivamente persone di ogni ceto sociale, ebbe ricchezze ma al tempo stesso pagò prezzi altissimi in sofferenza e dolore: Taormina deve a lei molta della sua fortuna, poichè questa Lady, ospitando nei suoi possedimenti illustri e famosi personaggi dell'epoca, contribuì non poco a far conoscere al mondo intero le bellezze di questo paesino Siculo (ella stessa migliorò ed abbellì ancor più Taormina).
Lady Florence nacque in quel di Hallington il 7 febbraio del 1852, divenne ben presto orfana all'età di due anni ( il padre morì suicida nel 1854); sua mamma Catherine Anne era la dama di compagnia della regina Vittoria, la quale regina si affezionò enormemente a Florence, sì da amarla come una vera figlia. All'età di 27 anni, nel 1879 venne imposto a Florence di lasciare l'Inghilterra per affrontare un lungo viaggio, che sarà della durata di più di due anni (si ipotizza per farle dimenticare una relazione che non sarebbe mai dovuta accadere, col figlio della regina Vittoria, il futuro re Edoardo VII, che a quel tempo era già sposato; sembra che non sia stata affatto la gelosia della moglie di Edoardo, bensì la rigidità della madre Vittoria a decretarne l'esilio). Lady Florence dopo questo primo viaggio ritornò nella sua Inghilterra, ma vi restò ben poco, infatti dopo un brevissimo periodo Lady Florence venne nuovamente allontanata in esilio, e questa volta lo sarà per sempre: Florence non ritornerà mai più nella sua Inghilterra (un generoso vitalizio mensile le fu dato comunque su ordine della stessa Regina Vittoria, ovvio che ciò le fu indispensabile, essendo così lontana da casa). Florence viaggiò molto, raggiunse l'India, andò in Birmania, giunta in Australia si esibì come cantante, per poi infine giungere nel febbraio del 1884 a Taormina: qui vi resterà fino all'ultimo dei suoi giorni (lei morirà il 4 ottobre 1907). A Taormina ebbe modo di conoscere l'allora sindaco, il ricco prof. Salvatore Cacciola, medico, appassionato studioso e Gran Maestro della Massoneria: si racconta che Lady Florence se ne innamorò quando lei cercò l'aiuto del medico per curare "Sole", uno dei suoi cani; da qui al loro matrimonio, il passo fu breve.
Lady florence acquistò numerosi lotti di terreno, realizzò l'attuale Giardino Pubblico, vi piantò ulivi, cipressi, alberi esotici, costruì quelle caratteristiche costruzioni in stile birmano-orientale; acquistò dall'ex sindaco L'Isola Bella (vi costruì una casetta, e l'Isola, che altro non era che un ammasso brullo di scogli, divenne rigogliosa come la vediamo oggi, vi piantò alberi e piante esotiche, pini mediterranei, nonchè gli immancabili cipressi, così presenti in quasi tutta la cittadina); acquistò numerosi terreni intorno a Taormina (Monte Venere, Monte Croce, Monte Porretta) sicchè da aridi e brulli che erano, li fece diventare ricchi di vegetazione (infatti aveva al soldo numerosi contadini ai quali aveva insegnato l'arte del giardino all'Inglese). Alla sua porta andarono a bussare numerose persone in difficoltà economiche, in genere contadini e pescatori, mai fu chiusa loro la porta... (anche Oscar Wilde, caduto in disgrazia per l'accusa di omosessualità, ricevette un aiuto finanziario dalla Lady); realizzò una importante scuola di cucito per le giovanette di Taormina, dando loro la possibilità di potersi mantenere da sole; istituì 87 doti di matrimonio per le ragazze Taorminesi (all'epoca una ragazza senza dote non aveva molte possibilità di formarsi una famiglia). Il destino infine fu ancora una volta beffardo con lei: l'unico figlio che lei ebbe, di nome Edoardo, morì durante il parto, il padre era un medico, tentò di rianimarlo, ma non ci fu nulla da fare. Era in uso all'epoca, fare bagni nelle vasche da bagno ricolme di acqua gelata di mare (anche il fotografo Von Gloeden era dedito a tale usanza, ma lui usava immergersi in acqua di mare calda, riuscendo a trovare in questa forma di talassoterapia una cura per la tisi, della quale era affetto): questa usanza fu fatale a Lady Florence, che morì di broncopolmonite a 55 anni di età. Per suo esplicito desiderio, la Trevelyan fu seppellita in una contrada di Castelmola (accompagnata da tantissima gente del luogo, si racconta di una fila interminabile di persone, al suono delle zampogne, che le ricordavano le cornamuse della sua lontana Scozia); la contrada dove fu seppellita (in quella la Lady aveva un'altra dimora), fu chiamata "Francisi" in sua memoria (tale termine indicava, secondo una usanza medioevale, una generica provenienza straniera, qualinque essa fosse). Nel suo testamento Lady Florence obbligò gli eredi a non cacciare nei suoi vasti possedimenti, a non costruire, ad accogliere e curare cani ed uccellini. Lady Florence fu la prima donna ad essere ammessa a fare parte della massoneria. Importò in Sicilia les tableaux vivants (i quadri viventi) e anche le sfilate dei carri in fiori a Palermo. Lo scrittore Guido Gozzano scrisse il romanzo "Alcina" ispirandosi a Lei.
Image shot with Canon EF 85mm f1.2
See the same review but with more images here drewportfolioblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/testing-canon-ef-8...
I just got the chance to test out the Canon 85mm f1.2 and 50mm f1.2. I also tested out the new Sigma 85mm f1.4 which is another lens I have been very interested in and that has been getting a lot of great praise.
These are two Canon lenses that I have always wanted to add to my kit (not just because of the red ring). The price though is the reason I have not yet decided to jump at them. I have read a lot of different reviews online saying that the 85’s focus is slow, the 50 has some focussing issues and that the sigma gives the same image quality of the canon at £1000 less. The following is just a short review and my thoughts on these lenses. I am not going to focus on the technical specifications or any of that as I really couldn’t care less about charts and numbers, I want to look at the practical uses and if the lenses will work for me and in the situations that I personally shoot. Oh and the camera used was my Canon 5D mark 2.
Canon EF 85mm f1.2
When I tested the Canon 85 I was surprised to find the focus was actually pretty fast, considering the size of glass it has to move, I have used much slower autofocus lenses in the past. I also read that the manual focus is quite annoying to use but I personally really liked it. The manual focus ring is quite loose feeling but I prefer this to a stiff focus ring. I have previously owned the Canon 50mm f1.8, most people hate the manual focus ring on that but I loved it, it was loose and I could move it with one finger, I could always focus much more accurately and quickly, this goes against most people’s views but hey different strokes. I tend to trust my eye more than the autofocus on a machine so being comfortable with the focus ring is very important to me. I took a couple of portraits of my girlfriend at 1.2 and was blown away by the images, the sharpness, the DOF and overall feel was outstanding. The weight actually wasn’t too bad, don’t get me wrong it is pretty heavy but its a nice solid heavy. I think that if you shoot any kind of portraits and can reach the price of the 85 f1.2 then it is simply the best thing out there. It is not an all purpose lens but for portraits it is simply amazing! I still cant get over the sharpness at f1.2. I think I would use this lens for portraits and gigs, I have heard that the focus hunts too much in low light but I am very comfortable with manual focus and actually get more keeper shots using my own eye and hand rather than relying on the camera and mechanisms.
Now the price of this lens is insane at around £1700 but after using it I now know why. I truly believe that this lens is a great investment for your business, providing you shoot at this focal length a lot and are very serious about your images. I’m not just saying this for the amazing creamy background that it produces as I have seen many boring images made with this lens where the photographer has simply relied on the blurred background (Bokeh) to make the image interesting. I think that in the hands of a photographer who can make great images regardless of lens and then incorporate the power and beauty of this 85 into their images it will be a revelation.
Canon EF 50mm f1.2
Through my time with photography I have used the Canon 50mm f1.8 and now for the past year the Canon 50mm f1.4. The 1.8 for the money (I got mine at around £90) is a great lens and an amazing introduction for people wanting to get into prime lenses or low light photography. I used this to shoot a lot of bands and most of my early portraits as I loved the shallow depth of field created at 1.8. The problem with this lens is the construction, when I was a kid I had toys that were made better than this. It really does feel like crap and if you drop it, it will probably break, but then it is only around £100 so you can’t expect the best. The image quality was really nice so I couldn’t really complain. The autofocus was virtually unusable, I shot mostly in low light and it could never find focus so I was on Manual 100% of the time. After a year the autofocus just stopped responding all together and I decided to upgrade to the Canon 50mm f1.4.
The 50 f1.4 was a great upgrade, the ability to shoot at 1.4, the reliable and fast autofocus and the colour was just superior in my experience to the 1.8. It helped so much with shooting bands and shooting in low light in general. My images started to get better and the lens would just respond and render images the way I needed. The build was far superior and I didn’t feel like I had to baby it as much, it just worked and worked very well. The 1.4 is still my workhorse lens and I use it about 70% of the time but I have recently been thinking about upgrading to the 50 f1.2. My reason is that there are a few times I have found the f1.4 not fast enough(aperture) for some lowlight situations in pubs, venues and other places where I had no artificial lighting available. I know that the difference between 1.4 and 1.2 is not much but if you have been in the situation where you could use that little bit of extra light then you know that it would be invaluable. Also for portraits that background at f1.2 would be nice.
When I put the 50mm f1.2 on my camera it felt awesome. It was light, not as light as the other 50’s though, it felt solid and to be honest just looked damn good. The autofocus was quick and accurate, the manual focus ring was nice to use and the construction is really nice. I tested this after the 85 1.2 and I instantly liked the wider view (I am used to the 50 view so thats probably why). Again I shot my girlfriend and the images were incredible. The sharpness on the eye, the background blur (Bokeh), the focus accuracy and the colour. I was amazed at the colour straight out of the camera. This was by far superior to my 50 f1.4 in all aspects. It wasn’t as sharp as the 85 f1.2 but this isn’t a problem for me as they have very different uses. This 50 in my opinion would be a great documentary, wide/group portrait and band/gig lens.
I really wasn’t expectimg this lens to perform as well as it did, so many people online were bashing it but I can say that for me anyway this is the best Canon 50 out there. This lens does cost a lot at around £1250 compared to the £299 of the 50 f1.4 so I think you really have to know you need it before purchasing. Like I said about the 85 I really think that investing in this lens will give you a return as the images will stand out so much more if used correctly and to its full potential.
Sigma 85 f1.4
The last lens I tested was the Sigma 85 f1.4 which is a lens I have seriously been looking at as it is about £1000 less than the Canon 85 f1.2 and people have been saying that it rivals the quality of Canon. I thought I would test it for myself.
The lens felt nice and was quite heavy, It has some big glass in it, I liked the shape and it looked good when mounted to the camera. One thing I instantly noticed is that the AF/Manual switch sticks out quite a lot and could easily be knocked accidentally and looks…..well….quite crap, but I’m looking for image quality and can deal with these niggles if it delivers in the final images. The focus was very fast, I would say faster than the Canon 85 and it was also very accurate. I have heard a lot of focusing problems with the sigma lens line but this one was dead on. The sharpness was good, not as good as the Canon but pretty good and the colours were good. The background blur at 1.4 was also very nice. One big problem for me was the manual focus ring which was very stiff and just didn’t feel good when moved which is kind of a deal breaker for me as I manual focus a lot. I only tested one lens so i’m not sure if this is the same on all or just this one but something did not feel right with the manual focus ring.
The thing I found with this lens is that it was good, not great but good. Well apart from that damn manual focus ring, really disappointed with this but other people may like it. The images came out nice but not as good as the Canon 85, the bokeh was good but again not as nice as the Canon’s and also the colour straight out of camera wasn’t quite as nice as the Canon’s. I have to take into account that there is a £1000 price difference here too which is massive. If there is no way you can afford the Canon then the Sigma would be a great alternative but Canon also do a 85 f1.8 which is highly regarded by many pro’s and is around £320 which is a lot less than the Sigma. You could save the money and buy the Canon 85 f1.8 then save up for the Canon 85 f1.2. I think If I couldn’t get the Canon 85 f1.2 I would go that route as the Sigma is a little pricey for a stop gap lens, I would have to want the Sigma and want to use it for a good few years instead of the Canon 85 f1.2 which just isn’t the case.
I would like to test another copy of the Sigma as I have heard that qaulity can vary from lens to lens and I would like to try the manual focussing ring again to see if it was just that copy that was really stiff. So Sigma if your reading, feel free to send me a copy of the 85 f1.4 and I’ll do another review.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed testing out these three lenses which I have been very interested in buying. I feel it is much better to get your hands on the items and test them for yourself, you might find that one just feels right.
I was secretly hoping that the Sigma was going to blow me away and match the Canon’s quality and at £1000 less but i’m afraid it didn’t. The extra money on the Canon 85 f1.2 in my eye’s at least does give you that something more, that something special in the images. £1000 is a lot of money but sometimes the difference between good and great is very small and the Canon just has that little something extra that I feel is very important It will last you a long time and it’s resale value will stay high if you ever decided to get rid of it for whatever reason.
A surprise though was that the lens I liked best out of all three was the 50mm f1.2. I originally wasn’t going to test this one as I was looking for a 85mm focal length, I just decided on a whim to give it a go. It’s not as sharp as the 85 f1.2, it’s probably on par if not better than the Sigma. I really liked the colours it rendered and the ability to shoot at f1.2 for low light and would be great for 3/4 portraits on location.
I am not stinking rich and can only choose one lens out of the three, I think I will try and get the Canon 85 f1.2 as I need a portrait focal length more than any other at the moment for my business. I already have the Canon 50mm f1.4 which is a great lens and I am happy with its results so buying the 50 1.2 would be more of a luxury than a needed purchase. Although if you are looking for a 50 and are considering the canon 1.2 I say go for it and never look back.
UPDATE!
Since doing these tests and this review I decided to give the Sigma another chance and tried a second copy. True it is not quite as sharp as the Canon 1.2, nearly but not quite, the Sigma does not have 1.2 which would be nice but 1.4 would be fine for most low light situations and for this price you cannot complain. The thing i loved this time round is the focus speed which is very fast, I would say about twice as fast as the Canon 1.2. the focus on this copy is very accurate even in low light. The lens is nice and weighty and looks good on the camera, it looks like a nice Nikon lens to be honest. The manual focus ring is still too stiff for my liking and can be a pain to use but with auto focus this decent I might not need to revert to it nearly as often. Most importantly images that it produces are really really nice. I am very impressed with this lens after spending a bit more time with it. I did a test by putting a few images taken with the Canon 85 1.2 and the Sigma 85 1.4, I processed them as I usually process my images (white balance and contrast adjustments) and put them into a slideshow, I got a few people (including myself) just to watch these images loop around in the slideshow and the results were very interesting. They could not tell any difference in the images, this is after about ten minutes staring at them. When I looked at them closely I also could not see any difference, now that is amazing considering the Sigma is £1000 cheaper. Now I really was going to go for the Canon 85 1.2 but after spending more time with the Sigma I have changed my mind. I would like the Canon purely because of its image quality, good looks and the 1.2 but if I (and a good few others, who are also quality freaks) cannot tell the difference in the images between the Canon and the Sigma, the Sigma has much better autofocus, it is a bit lighter and costs around £1000 less then Its a no brainer in my opinion. I actually now think that overall the Sigma is the better lens, that was not easy to say. I actually liked the Sigma so much that today I purchased one and have been shooting with it all day. and with £1000 extra still in the bank to spend on another lens, maybe the Canon 135 f2. In the end the quality of the images I deliver to clients is the most important thing and you can't go wrong with either the Sigma or the Canon.
I hope this helps anyone that is in the same position as I am at the moment.
andrew@drewportfolio.com
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have you found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here...
--Pink Floyd 'Wish You Were Here'
I love visiting Shenandoah National Park (SNP) here in Virginia. It is about a 45 minute ride for me to get to the Northern Entrance at Front Royal, which to some may seem like a long ride, but not to me.
SNP is a beautiful National Park, not one that has the 'Grandness' of a Yosemite or Yellowstone with its magestic mountains or waterfalls, but the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley offer something totally different in their own beauty and tranquility to visitors here.
Ever since I 'really' started coming into this park a few years ago when I moved to the Winchester area I feel like when I take images from here they are the 'same old thing', whether just overlook hopping or hiking.
Which brings me to that Pink Floyd song 'Wish You Were Here'. The line 'Running over the same old ground, the same old fears' plays through my thoughts as I drive along the Skyline Drive looking for inspiration to capture this beauty in a different way than I previously have. So that is it in a nutshell, I am on a quest of sorts to try to change the way I capture the beauty of this park that I love so much.
As the summer rolls into Autumn I am hoping to spend some time on the weekends shooting quite a bit of fresh images from here and processing them in a series of B&W images. I think for me, that is where I can show my vision of this beautiful place.
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and ramble on a bit.
I have never cared for the phrase "Jack of all trades master of none". It gives a compliment and at the same time takes it away. Just like the person who will never be satisfied with the skill that you have 'mastered'. I think the genius who originated that phrase must of been having a bad day. All it takes is to have only one person that you made happy in the performance of one of your skills to realize that you have become a *Master*... then you have become *Master* of *Yourself*.
From: I Believe In Magic... Day 5 is this partial poem by David Whyte regards *Trust*...
Start right now
take a small step
you can call your own
don’t follow
someone else’s
heroics, be humble
and focused,
start close in,
don’t mistake
that other
for your own.
Start close in,
don’t take
the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don’t want to take.
******************
I Believe In Magic
Day 5... *Trust*
and
Our Daily Challenge
"JACK OF ALL TRADES"
and
Working Towards a Better World
*Trust*
*In this photo composition is one micrometer, a jack, and an antique Cracker Jacks hammer.
Okay, so here's the story: When i was in junior high, i used to talk to this boy on the phone like every single day. And since we didn't have a cordless phone in our house, this means i would spend hours perched on a stool in the kitchen, with my feet propped up on the stove, just talking about...well, nothing, probably...until my parents made me hang up. Now flash forward like 15 years or something, and suddenly i'm spending hours on the phone with this very same boy, still talking about pretty much nothing, and sort of loving how familiar and comfortable it feels. And so even though i have a cordless phone now, and a cell phone, and i can talk where i want and when i want, i still get this urge sometimes to climb up onto the counter and put my feet on the stove and talk to him until my parents scream at me to do my homework. It's kind of the highlight of my day.
That little tale was so disturbingly cute that i just grossed myself out. Yuck.
21/365
This set mixes it up a bit with both a pretty blonde and brunette goddess! You can see them both modeling the Gold 45 Revolver swimsuits as well as a 45SURFER camera bracket mount for shooting stills & video at the same time.
Here's some epic video of the beautiful goddesses:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=txvupr5xOZ4 (modeling swimsuit)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G5w3u6L8x8 (modeling swimsuit)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pYrQbPayZs (modeling the bracket)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGSVw9jbAR0 (pretty closeups!)
Nikon D800 Photos of Brunette and Blonde Swimsuit Bikini Goddesses with Pretty Green Eyes and Pretty Blue Eyes shot with the Nikon D800E and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens!
Shot in both RAW & JPEG, but all these photos are RAWs finished in Lightroom 4 ! :)
All the Gold'N'Virtue swimsuits with the main equation to Moving Dimensions Theory on the swimsuits: dx4/dt=ic. Yes I have a Ph.D. in physics! :) You can read more about my research and Hero's Journey Physics here:
herosjourneyphysics.wordpress.com/ MDT PROOF#2: Einstein (1912 Man. on Rel.) and Minkowski wrote x4=ict. Ergo dx4/dt=ic--the foundational equation of all time and motion which is on all the shirts and swimsuits. Every photon that hits my Nikon D800e's sensor does it by surfing the fourth expanding dimension, which is moving at c relative to the three spatial dimensions, or dx4/dt=ic!
Modeling both the the Gold 45 Revolver(TM) Gold'N'Virtue(TM) Black Bikini and the Red, White, an Blue American flag bikini!
May the HJM Goddesses guide, inspire, and exalt ye along yer heroic artistic journey! all the bets on your Heroic Journey from Johnny Ranger McCoy!
18 years ago I was on this beach and it is so nice I had to go back. It was a mile and a half up Jake's Hill (steep) and 90 degrees out. 18 years ago it was a lot easier walk. But it was worth the hike.
This beach is used by the locals (I once was) as a nude beach (until the Ranger tells you different). When i got there (Sat afternoon) there were 5 other people there and none where locals.
So I went for a swim and shot some photos. I shot some for the people on the beach as well. A single woman from San Juan and a Honeymoon couple.
It was worth the trip...
You can see this beach in older shots I have here.
New video channels for epic bikini swimsuit model goddess videos shot at the same time as photography stills!
Nikon D800 photography of Pretty Blond Swimsuit Bikini Model Goddess @ the 45SURF Summer Beach House! Gorgeous Green Eyes! Modeling a white bikini and black gold 45 revolver bikini! I'm thiking about adding a deck and a pool to the beach house / surf shack! You'll have to visit!
Join/like my facebook page! www.facebook.com/45surfHerosJourneyMythology
Follow me on facebook! facebook.com/elliot.mcgucken
Classic California--an athletic model goddess modeling Gold 45 Revolver bikini with the Moving Dimensions Theory Equation on it: dx4/dt=ic! Tall, thin, fit and very, very pretty!
Be sure to enjoy the epic videos in full screen HD! :)
Photos shot with the AMAZING Nikon D800 E and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens and the B W 77mm XS-Pro Kaesemann Circular Polarizer with Multi-Resistant Nano Coating. Classic California Brunette Beach Babe! Beautiful Swimsuit Bikini Model Goddess with Pretty Blue Eyes and wavy sandy-brown hair!
Shot in both RAW & JPEG, but all these photos are RAWs finished in Lightroom 5 ! :)
Modeling the classic 45surf t-shirts and the Gold 45 Revolver Gold'N'Virtue Bikini on a sunny Malibu summer afternoon--my favorite for shooting on the beautiful socal beach!
Modeling the black & gold "Gold 45 Revolver" Gold'N'Virtue swimsuits with the main equation to Moving Dimensions Theory on the swimsuits: dx4/dt=ic. Yes I have a Ph.D. in physics! :) You can read more about my research and Hero's Journey Physics here:
herosjourneyphysics.wordpress.com/ MDT PROOF#2: Einstein (1912 Man. on Rel.) and Minkowski wrote x4=ict. Ergo dx4/dt=ic--the foundational equation of all time and motion which is on all the shirts and swimsuits. She was thin, tall, fit, tan, and sexy! Every photon that hits my Nikon D800e's sensor does it by surfing the fourth expanding dimension, which is moving at c relative to the three spatial dimensions, or dx4/dt=ic!
May the Hero's Journey Mythology Goddess inspire you (as they have inspired me!) along your own artistic journey! Love, love, love the 70-200mm F/2.8 Lens! :)
All the Best on Your Epic Hero's Journey from Johnny Ranger McCoy!
May the classic California HJM Goddesses guide, inspire, and exalt ye along yer heroic artistic journey!
A Gold 45 Goddess exalts the archetypal form of Athena--the Greek Goddess of wisdom, warfare, strategy, heroic endeavour, handicrafts and reason. A Gold 45 Goddess embodies 45SURF's motto "Virtus, Honoris, et Actio Pro Veritas, Amor, et Bellus, (Strength, Honor, and Action for Truth, Love, and Beauty," and she stands ready to inspire and guide you along your epic, heroic journey into art and mythology. It is Athena who descends to call Telemachus to Adventure in the first book of Homer's Odyssey--to man up, find news of his true father Odysseus, and rid his home of the false suitors, and too, it is Athena who descends in the first book of Homer's Iliad, to calm the Rage of Achilles who is about to draw his sword so as to slay his commander who just seized Achilles' prize, thusly robbing Achilles of his Honor--the higher prize Achilles fought for. And now Athena descends once again, assuming the form of a Gold 45 Goddess, to inspire you along your epic journey of heroic endeavour.
deaming man as a child
awake, will be the same man , every day
every night will return child
for the rest of his days
The challenge for Saturday 6th July is a triptych, of the same subject but maybe from different angles, or of three connected subjects. I’ve gone for something of both, three views of different aspects of the same subject, and connected by virtue of the subject being a row of shops. In the 1920’s, when Old Coulsdon was being transformed from a scattered farming community into a dormitory suburb of outer London, the planners wanted to keep the ‘village’ atmosphere as a selling feature, so their idea was to call it the ‘Tudor Village’ with its new buildings having traditional ‘Olde Worlde’ looks. It’s a style that’s been described rather caustically as ‘Tudorbethan’, and how far the planners succeeded - or failed? - in their mission you can maybe judge from this triptych.
The businesses along here include:
> The Curry Leaf - smaller than it looks, but it serves superb Indian cuisine,
> Torio’s - my regular friendly hairdresser; in fact I was there on Wednesday,
> Holmes Pharmacy - where I pick up my repeat prescriptions nowadays,
> TheTudor Bakery - ah, that lovely scent of fresh-baked bread!.
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😃 As always, thank you very much for any 💬s or ⭐️s you might like to give!
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