Sarkus
1941
From a trip to Olympic National Park yesterday:
I’ve noticed a tendency to want to put the center of the image on the center of what I’m focusing on (in this case the top of the more distant Mt. Olympus poking up over the closer range), but when looking at the top of mountains that means you end up with half the picture being sky. So now I’m intentionally trying to frame things so that the sky is only the top 1/3 of the picture at most. What that meant in this photo is that I got a nice shot of the alpine meadow in front of me.
The glare from the sun and its reflection on the water in this one aren’t great, but I really like the distinct ridges you see in the distance at the far end of the lake.
I’ve generally been happy with this camera, but the more outdoor shots like these I take the less pleased I am with its limitations. But I’m not sure I want to go up to the full DSLR range either. Are the intermediate digitals with much improved lenses and zoom a notable improvement over the more basic point and shoot variety?
From the perspective of an amateurish Sony NEX-7 owner… skip the intermediate stuff, go full-frame with the same Canon/Nikon equipment the pros use. Not because the NEX-7 or its lenses are bad – they are quite excellent, and I’m still learning how to properly use everything they offer. But here’s the problem: all the advisory material on the Internet or in books like Understanding Exposure assumes you’re using a standard full-frame Canon/Nikon. If you’re using a cropped frame with its own proprietary set of lenses and features you need to translate such advice to the different equipment available to you, and you’re probably not experienced enough to do that (I know I’m not). So paradoxically the intermediate cameras are little use to intermediate photographers because the “advisory ecosystem” ignores them.
edit: Think of it like using Java or C++ instead of other less popular languages because they have the most libraries and tools and textbooks. ;)
Alan, nice ones of Wyoming. I am living back down here again, so it’s cool to see places I recognize. Here are some other Wyoming ones, though I’m not that great of a photographer. I just take them for the memories.
Smoke in the sky while fishing the Bighorn mountains.
A nice place to catch fish in the Wind River Range.
Moonshine arch in northern Utah. (Where I almost stepped on a buzzworm.)
A nice place for fly fishing in the Winds.
The river goes underground here; I wouldn’t recommend going with it.
The hills are alive with the sound of…mosquitoes.
Sunset near Pinedale, WY. The flatlands in the picture are near the Mesa and Jonah fields.
And a lonely sunset in the Bighorn Basin near Shell, Wyoming.
I think only one or two of were Wyoming. I really need to go back, though.
— Alan
Those are some pretty good shots Hal! Love the colors in the panorama one. Wish it were bigger!
Just got from a trip to Europe, didn’t take my (five year old, entry level) Sony DSLR because of the hassle related to its size and weight, and naturally I’m unhappy with the shots I took with my point and shoot. So I’m considering getting a mirrorless camera in the hopes of getting DSLR quality without so much bulk and weight. I mainly shoot portraits, landscapes, and general travel shots. Anyone have any advice on choosing between–
Sony NEX-6 or NEX-7
Olympus EM-5
Or something else, like a new smallish DSLR such as the Canon SL1? I am leaning against the Panasonics due to lack of in-camera stabilization, and the Nikon and Canon mirrorless offerings seem pretty lacklustre. I intend to get the body only and a couple of primes, maybe adding a normal to tele zoom at some point in the future.
Being stuck in jury duty has me close to the San Diego Zoo at 4:30pm, so I went there to avoid traffic on Tuesday.
Pics:
http://imgur.com/a/Qbx9I
Sarkus
1949
I got a new camera with a much better lens but so far have only used it on a visit today to a museum of (mostly) WW2 aircraft and tanks Paul Allen has collected:
Reemul
1950
+1 for actually taking pictures, where you store them is irrelevant, letting us see them more important.
Greta shots, I love animal pictures
Hal9000
1951
Alan, if you enjoy the Jackson area, there is a guard cabin with electricity, running hot and cold water, a microwave, fire pits, bathroom, 6 beds, stove top, utensils, outdoor seats, etc, for $30/night. It’s about 27 minutes outside of Jackson in the Gros Ventre. It sure beats the $189/night at a Super 8 there. Plus it features a creek running past it and a river .5 miles away. Here’s a quick thing I threw together of the view 2 days ago:
Thanks Tim. I keep them bigger on my deviantart, not because I fashion myself an artist, but because if I manage to lose all three backups…at least some of them will be retrievable from DA. :) Sadly, it is rapidly approaching the time when it’ll be too cold to really get out much in the Winds. It was 45 degrees yesterday when I made the 16-mile trek out.
From a trip to Jackson back in June.
I’d be interested in info on this location if you don’t mnd sharing.
Reemul
1954
Trip to Swanage today to see the Red Arrows in Action, couple from there as well as the iconic Corfe Castle.
Corfe Castle Silhouette by Reemul, on Flickr
Red Arrows by Reemul, on Flickr
Red Arrows Cross Over by Reemul, on Flickr
Mouselock, I’ll send you a PM with the link. This is one of the best guard cabins you can find if you’ve stayed in many of them. I even had 3G service which wasn’t present the last time. I’ve always been able to get a date with a month’s advance notice, but if you book earlier in the year, you pretty much get your pick of the litter. Also, a natural hot springs is nearby.
I enjoy the Jackson area, too, though I don’t get there often. What is a guard cabin?
I am fairly lucky as my job keeps me near Jackson, but closer to the Wind River Range, which I prefer to the Tetons. In fact, they’re about incalculably better.
Guard cabins/stations were facilities built for forest rangers before our road networks were well developed. Since it was impractical or impossible for rangers to travel back to their headquarters, living facilities were built for them in the more distant areas. These cabins and facilities became unneeded with the advent of our modern highway system, but many have been kept as rental properties. Many are very simple and won’t have running water or electricity. This one is quite modern compared to most of the ones I’ve stayed in, though I grew up without running water or electricity, so it doesn’t make much difference to me.
If you do rent a place like this, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow, or sheets, blankets, and pillows. Some cabins have loaner blankets (usually very warm wool ones), but the drawbacks are obvious.
Incendiary Lemon’s jealous, and so am I. You’re fortunate to be in such an amazing area.
I’ve actually never been to Jackson, but this looks and sounds awesome. How does one get to sign up? I’m also assuming you have to pair up with up to five other people for the rates? Is it USFS or NPS maintained these days?
Just got back from Zion so have some pics to sort through.
— Alan
