A Lucky Moment-Front Yard Hummingbird

I just happened to be out with my long lens. Not the sharpest in the bin, but it got these for me today. The lens cost less than $200,  The Canon 75-200 consumer telephoto.

Saturday Night Full Moon

Bought a new tripod, so we thought to try some night images. Getting the palm fronds crisp along with the moon was a challenge. 7D, Tamron 18-200, F45 ISO 400 1/50th

Retouched and Repaired

Usually I do minimal editing for the images at this blog. In this case, an exception. With the exposure set for the city lights and observatory, the moon was an overexposed white blur. But luckily the very same evening I also took some shots of the moon. So I grabbed one, scaled it to approximate reality and there you have it.

Mariposa @ Griffith Park Observatory

Easily the most difficult shots I ever even got close to getting. Apart from the shot of the butterfly on the pine needles, it was on the fly all around this picnic area. Maddeningly the focus was the most difficult aspect. I have now, after the fact learned to change the focus points as I see fit with a 7D. Switchology held me back here a bit. Composition? Hah! Random. Not as sharp as I would like but hey, these are the few successes of about 50 frames.

I rented this great lens, and had such a good time with it I bought it when I got back to Camera craft. Lens comes with a hood, and I got a polarizing filter. Essential in California sun and glare. It is the Tamrom 18-200mm lens. Yes, 18 to 200! Not a fast lens light wise, but very fast auto focus.

May Day 2010 Los Angeles

Before The March Arrives

Just as Mayor Villaraigosa spoke

Beautiful Advocacy

The Canon 7D

Been looking forward to getting this camera. While I want to add video to the studio skills, we'll start today with some "sea trial" shots. These are shots designed to challenge the camera. Either its capacities, or with reference shots from my usual neighborhood. This shot was taken at the North Hollywood Red Line station. I deliberately included some early sun for glare to see how well the camera would deal with the stark contrast. 28mm. F-9, 320th exposure. ISO 200.

Another shot aimed a bit to the sun, stark contrast and a fast shutter to stop the water mid air. None of these shots had any photoshop, these are straight off the camera in jpeg format. 44mm. F4, 1024th exposure, ISO 400.

Megapixels

These shots show what 18 megapixels can do for cropping in. The close up is from the top of the white tower above the tallest palm tree.