nikonbill's "when I can post" 2024

[Needa]

It seems ages since my last post, been busy

From a trip to Middle creek a few weeks ago, the bird was heavily backlit from the sun and I did not think a "good" shot would result. With some processing I think the heavy backlight makes the photo interesting - thoughts

View attachment 406351

Very nice!

 

[nikonbill]

Thanks Needa - really appreciate it

 

[nikonbill]

Well things have been busy -- here is some back porch shots of my littlest friends the ladies seem pretty cooperative the boys are eluding me

 

[nikonbill]

Here is a neat one from a few days ago, check out the tongue

 

[nikonbill]

Well where does time go -- we recently made a trip to a sleepy little town called Cedar run PA just a few houses and a beautiful Inn run in the old fashioned way

The Inn keeper loves humming birds, they have several feeders along the restaurant windows

The antics of 30 humming birds in one place is a surreal experience

 

[nikonbill]

some more from the Cedar run inn garden

The humming birds were just everywhere

 

[nikonbill]

Well I got a new to me toy today - after much number crunching and looking over my equipment at hand. Thinking hard about what I "lacked", I decided to look for a good used D500. I found one listed like new with 10,000 clicks. The moon broke through clouds here a few minuets ago.

Lots of settings to adjust for my preferences to go but my first impression of the focus speed and accuracy this evening, I think I made a good choice for me.

 

[nikonbill]

A cloudy dismal day this Saturday morning, new (to me) camera -- then I remember I have a flash and that I have not tested that

 

[nikonbill]

Lots of menus to learn to adapt to me but I am very pleased so far - the only thing so far is two very minor view finder specs, I am getting used to them and they do not seem to affect performance (I'm a fussy sort)

 

[Blue439]

Looks like a nice inn... I love traditional ones like that. There was one we used to go often in Massachusetts, the Wayside Inn... Historic place, too. Minus the hummingbirds, of course.

 

[nikonbill]

Looks like a nice inn... I love traditional ones like that.

Yes, its one of those really relaxing places, thanks

 

[nikonbill]

At the beginning of this thread I mentioned my quest to improve (personally) on editing my work. I have had Topaz AI3 for some time and its addition has made me "see" better. Using it as a kind of benchmark for unlocking the capability of Affinity (much more user involvement) in my hands (I have much to learn).

Here are two photos where I like both, I wonder if those that may happen by here would let me know if one jumps at you and why that is (all opinions welcome). I made an effort to get the tones similar in the two edits as they were both done from the RAW file (my objective/preferred way) I can see the pedal tones are not the same. Getting noise and detail and sharpening under control was my goal. On the Topaz sample only noise and sharpening were used.

Note: if the resolution can be better let me know how (all at 1024 long side)

Thanks - sorry about the double "h" (it made me laugh so I left it) in the first sample

 

[nikonbill]

here is the same image with more accurate pedal color - I am finding more details if l "de-noise" in the develop persona as opposed to the "non-destructive" after developing......

 

[nikonbill]

Another shot from Cedar run garden, I think this Humming bird was winking at me

 

[nikonbill]

First real day in the sun with the D500, practiced in the yard off and on in the morning - little butterflies are hard to trap in flight (for me)
this is a good shot for me

 

[nikonbill]

I am close to a small lake so I knew the ducks would give something to shoot in flight, most were heading away from me but great practice
The group AF was awesome

 

[nikonbill]

I had photo karma at the lake, I was walking along the road to the other end of the lake and a bird fly's out of a tree - I was unprepared but got a shot - an immature Eagle

 

[nikonbill]

 

[nikonbill]

a butterfly in the yard

 

[nikonbill]

Got out for a camera walk yesterday at a local refuge - female wood ducks