I want to do a quality update on my new lenses and what I've learned about them through testing them out, but it'll take some time. I'm really eager to get some of my new shots up in the meantime, so here they are!
I've got a couple of threaded adapter disks that I put on the end of my Nikkor-O 35mm; it looks something like this-
As an adapter, I'm sure it's supposed to make it so that I can attach a tiny something or other to the end of my lens, but I can't for the life of me figure out what. In fact, I'm just now figuring out that it's an adapter and that there are threads on that inner hole. I've been using it when I shoot, and I'm loving the results, even if I am using it wrong.
You get the picture- it rounds things out and creates some pretty cool bokeh. I'm looking forward to using it for some portraits, I think that could yield some pretty cool results.
I've been really, really impressed with my Micro Nikkor-P 55mm f/3.5. Nikon refers to what most of us call macro photography as micro photography, so this Micro lens is really amazing for close-ups. The f-stop of 3.5 (the lower the number, the more the aperture is open, and the more light it lets in, while the higher the number the smaller the aperture's opening, and the less light it lets in. This determines how much of the background is in focus, and is also known as depth of field) isn't as low as a couple of my new lenses that have an f-stop of 2, but it's still better than the lenses that came with my camera that tend to only go to 4 or 5. Because of this, I've been able to get some really great macro (micro) shots with a lot of blurring in the background.
Same spider- this guy has become a test subject for my lenses.
My Nikkor-O 35mm f/2 has produced some impressive bokeh, even if it isn't as good for macro. The f/2 aperture setting was a revelation when I first short with it. I'd never seen anything lower than a 3.5.
Probably could have exposed this one for a little longer, but the bokeh is ridiculous.
Anyway, as you can see I'm having a blast. It's doing horrible things to my level of productivity in terms of finishing my thesis and keeping up with my online class... but I can't stop smiling :)
Last night probably defined the course of the rest of my photographic career, to put it dramatically. I responded to a Craigslist ad over the weekend for a collection of Nikon photography equipment. It included a camera body, seven lenses, tons of filters, and so much more. For the price they were asking for, I knew I couldn't pass it up- it was literally a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
So, yesterday after work Mark and I drove to South Hadley to take a look at the equipment. Nervously, we knocked on the door and waited. No response. ...Knocked again. Waited. Finally, an older woman came to the door and introduced herself as Pam. She seemed very sweet, and she led us through her kitchen and into her dining room where she had the equipment all laid out on the table. Going into it, we had no idea where the equipment was from and why she was selling it. Turns out she used to be a professional photographer, and just hasn't been able to keep up the hobby lately. She was looking to give her collection to someone who would take good care of it and who would get as much out of it as she did. After looking all the equipment over, asking a few questions and getting a good sense of Pam's real passion for photography, I decided that it was something I had to do. I bit the bullet, and I don't regret it for one second.
Coming home, I was grinning from ear to ear. It didn't stop once I got home and took the lenses out, mounting them on my Nikon d5000 and shooting a few test shots to get an initial feel for each lens. (The good thing about the Nikon d5000 is that it's backwards-compatible- any Nikon-mounting lens will mount on its body, with just one catch- you have to use it in Manual mode because there's no metering and the other settings don't recognize older lenses. That's fine with me- it really gives me a chance to get to know my camera and to learn about photography.) In a matter of an hour or two, my lens collection went from 3 to 10. You know how much I love pictures of lenses, so here's the new lineup!
Nikkor-UD 20mm f1:3.5
Nikkor-Q 135mm f1:2.8
Nikkor-N 28mm f1:2
Nikkor-O 35mm f1:2
Vivitar Series 1 Macro-Focusing 28-90mm f1:2.8-3.5
Vivitar Series 1 Macro-Focusing Auto Zoom 70-210mm f1:3.5
Micro-Nikkor-P 55mm f1:3.5
*phew*
That's the new line-up, but it's not all I got-
Nikon F2 Photomic Body
A variety of 52mm filters
Tons of gel filters
...More filters??
A couple flashes, threaded cable release, and a lot of other stuff that I don't know much about yet. I've got the itemized list of everything, I'll have to do some research to figure out exactly what does what.
What's even more fulfilling than getting all of this is the experience itself. To tell Pam how grateful I was I shot her a thank you e-mail today. This is what I got back:
Hi Laura! Thank you so much for your note. It was such a pleasure to meet
you.
I waited to pass this equipment on because I new that the day I received
this camera, I was given a challenge to explore and share how I viewed the
world. That is a very unique experience. There is so much to discover, and
to this day, I am so grateful and so lucky that this opportunity knocked on
my door.
I wanted it to go to a person that could experience the thrill I felt taking
that journey. After meeting you, I knew the universe came knocking again.
The world will continue to evolve, but with the click of the shutter, time
will stand still. Now I'm the one smiling from ear to ear, anyone have a
camera? :)
Pam
I'll admit, I got a little teary-eyed when I read it. Call me cheesy, but I'm pretty sure this is the beginning of something new and amazing. I'll read this later and roll my eyes, but I don't care.
Up next: posts about each lens. I've spent some time today with the Nikkor-N 28mm and the Micro-Nikkor-P 55mm, and I'm really impressed. This post is long enough, so I'll wait to talk more about those in my next one.
The housemates are stoking up a small fire for s'mores, which I can't pass up. 'Night!
This afternoon when I got home from work I noticed that some new yellow flowers were blooming in the garden, so I got my camera. I'm not sure what kind they are, but the sunlight was coming in through the trees as it was getting closer to setting, and it was beautiful.
Of course, as is customary, Ivy followed me around the yard while I took pictures.
He's looking at this gross beetle which was audibly chomping its way through the grass. Its pincers were so huge that when I stuck a twig in them, I could hear it chomp off a chunk. It was ridiculous.
I think I'm going to go make myself a meatball sub with the leftover meatballs from last night's dinner- they were fantastic.
Pretty things make me smile, so here a some things that fit that description. It's a departure from my photography, but I'll be updating with that later.
This comes from ModCloth, and I think it's sooo adorable. Not sure if I could pull it off, but a girl can dream!
I took a few pictures of my lenses the other day because of how much I love the reflections in them, and I figured it'd be good to post what I'm working with. You already know I'm using a Nikon D5000, and in terms of lenses I'm using the two that came with the kit, plus another I found at my house from an older Nikon.
18-55mm
55-200mm
Nikkor 35-70mm
see how pretty that reflection is? it makes me happy.
Anyway, that's it for now. We bought some local ground beef at the Farmer's Market this weekend, and Mark's downstairs making spaghetti and meatballs. It smells so incredible, I'm really eager to try it. His meatballs are amazing anyway, but a higher quality meat will probably send them over the top.
Call me crazy, but I've been waiting for the poppies in our front yard to bloom for a couple of weeks now, and today it happened!
I used my Nikon 55-200mm lens that came with my camera, which I've recently started appreciating. Great for taking close-ups without having to actually get too close.
Almost got a fisheye camera on Freecycle- but it didn't work out. There's a cheap one on Amazon that I'm considering- it could be fun. I may also get a fisheye lens for my camera, although it's a little more expensive. Most likely better quality, though.
Anyway, it's too hot (all the cats are lying flat on their backs, which is indicative) and there's a tornado warning for the area till 10pm tonight... So I may just hide out in the cool, safe basement for the rest of the day.
I just found this video for Without A Doubt by Isbells- just LOOK at that mandolin. *swoons*
I need to see these guys live.
Photography is at a stand-still, what with trying to finish my thesis, starting work, and starting summer courses and all. You know, other than the usual cat pictures. Nothing worth posting.
In other news, picked up a used L-shaped executive desk from Freecycle- I love it, I feel a million times more productive even when I'm not doing anything.
