Nikon Cafe
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Fun at the Old Ballpark with the D850
One of the reasons I purchased the D850 is for its versatility. So far, I have mostly used it for architecture and landscapes. But, I also like to shoot other things--like sports. The D850 exceeded my expectations yesterday when I attended the Ohio State at Illinois college baseball game.
Here are a a dozen of my favorites:
1- I used the pregame warmups to practice my photography. I haven't photographed baseball in a couple of years. The players don't wear their official uniforms until the game, though.
2- One thing is evident about college baseball (at least at the Illini games)--the players are having the time of their lives! It's obvious that everyone is having a great time. And that carries over into the stands. Cheap concessions and free admission add to the fun!
3- One of my first tasks was to get the obligatory "bat on ball" shot out of the way.
4- When I attached the 500mm lens to the D850, it made me feel like I was right in the middle of the action.
5- Can you see what happened here? Answer at the very bottom of this post.
6- This player put on his "rally glasses" in the top of the second inning. I guess it worked. Ohio State scored 5 runs that inning.
7- To shoot through the netting behind the plate, I removed the lens hood and placed the lens directly up against the net. Set the aperture to wide open and shoot away. Finally, just hope that a foul ball doesn't slam into the lens!
8- The home plate umpire called a nice game. I'm not sure that he's ever seen a 500mm lens pointed at him before, though!
9- The centerfield fence is 400 feet from home plate...plenty of distance to create nice, soft backgrounds.
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11-...24May 7, 2018 -
Preening Least Tern
Matanzas Inlet, FL colony. I got higher to get some feet in the shot, but the feet were sunk in the sand so I shot this perspective. 200-500VR.
12May 5, 2018 -
Blackwater Wildlife Refuge
Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay.
15Apr 22, 2018 -
Critique Critique - Five Favorites from the South Africa Bush
My wife and I recently spent three days in South Africa's Madikwe Game Reserve, which is on the border with Botswana. These are my choices of our five best photos of animals. The second and last photos were captured by my wife and post-processed by me.
One reason I like the last photo so much is because of the story it tells. Once an older, bull elephant's dominant role in the herd is taken over by a younger, stronger bull, he is banned from the herd and spends the rest of his life predominantly roaming the bush on his own. My wife's capture of the elephant walking away down the long, lonely road tells that poignant story so well in my mind.
The animal in the second photo is a black rhino, which is a relatively rare sighting at least in that part of Africa where white rhinos are more common. It was a special treat to see it in such gorgeous light.
Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #4
Photo #5
27Apr 18, 2018 -
Critique Critique - In the Snowy Mountains of Norway
Hello again, Nikonians!
During Easter, I was staying at my cabin in the Norwegian mountains, close to a ski resort. My wife and kids enjoyed the slopes while I went for a walk with the camera. We had 1 meter (around 3 feet) of snow all over the landscape, and beautiful blue skies most of the time, which made for a very nice Easter holiday.
By the way; did you know that the sun and snow in the mountains of Norway during Easter result in a UV grade close to what you'll find on the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea (Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey etc.) during summer?
I was lucky enough to catch this photo of a cross-country skier while I was doing one of my walks:
Cross-Country Skier, Haugastøl, Norway. 2018.
Finally, back at the cabin after a very long and rewarding walk, I enjoyed a cup of warm cocoa in the snow cave we dug for the kids to enjoy when they weren't out skiing:
Relaxing in Snow Cave, Geilo, Norway. 2018.
The first image is a real favourite of mine. I'm not sure of the second, but I like the intimacy and childishness it displays after what I did. It's no masterpiece, but perhaps some of you will like the storytelling in the image.
Thanks for your time and your words!30Apr 7, 2018
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