Inspiration is coming back

For the last few months, it’s been a struggle to get out with the camera. Not sure why. I had no problem taking pics at events for work, but other than that…nada.

Anyway, I got out yesterday and had some fun.

After scouting out the eagles near the Boundary Bay Airport in Delta, I headed off to Bear Creek Park in Surrey.

While I was walking through a particularly barren part of the gardens, this flower stood out like a sore thumb. Dead brown all around, with a splash of red in one corner.

Hurray, the world is coming back to life for another year.

Shot the eagle out of the car window with a Sigma 120-400 lens on my D700. For a change of pace, I used a Nikon 60 Micro in Bear Creek Park.

Fishing in the Serpentine Fen

On Sunday, I took a couple of hours for a walk around the Serpentine Fen in Surrey. The Fen is a bird sanctuary in one of the busiest migration routes on the west coast. Depending on the time of year, you’ll find various species of ducks, geese, and other water fowl, along with bald eagles searching for food.

I was out with my Nikon 70-300 lens and caught this little fellow just after he caught a fish. Between him swimming and thrashing the fish about, and my excitement about catching him in the act, the pictures are not as sharp as I’d like. You know, hand-held, full tele, etc.

Anyway, I took a series of photos over the several minutes it took him to devour the fish. It was an interesting process, I must say. The pics are posted on Flickr. They are really cropped from the original. Even with a 300mm lens, I couldn’t get close enough to get a tight shot of this little fella.

Shows ta go ya, you never have just the right equipment, so you need to do what you can with what you’ve got. I mean, I could have just walked by with a sigh, but instead I salvaged a series of (I think) interesting shots.

How did you get started in photography?

Being one of two staff photographers at my day job has re-kindled my love of photography.

No, I haven’t always been interested in photography. I was in my twenties before I picked up a Kodak Instamatic. Taking pictures with that was pretty basic and not very satisfying. After exploring the craft and reading a few photo mags, I quickly moved up to a Pentax Spotmatic and a Seagull Twin Lens Reflex. I loved that Pentax for a couple of years, until my ex dropped it in the salt chuck one day. Photography was never the same.

About the time my camera went swimming, manufacturers were introducing electronic aperture and shutter controls. I tried a Konica and then an Olympus, but to me, they never really lived up to the hype. The Olympus, for instance, ran through batteries faster than I could charge them. I found out (much later) that there was a fault in the circuit board. Of course by that time I’d given up, because you couldn’t find a new camera without all the electronics. Oh my, how things have changed 😉

In the 90’s, I tried a Kodac digital and then a Nikon Coolpix 990. They were fun for a short while, but the resolution was lacking and I needed more control. The cost of a prosumer DSLR was too much for me, and I found film boring, so that was about it for another 10 years.

In 2006, I started working with the local Board of Trade. The gig was supposed to be a few hours a week on contract, but soon grew to a full time affair. Part of the job was to take photographs at over 80 events a year with a little Fuji S-something. Out of frustration a few months later, I bought a spanking new Nikon D80 and a bunch of gear. That led to a D300 and now a D700 and lots more gear (sigh).

So that’s my story. I’m currently focused on event and nature photos, and I’m learning more about vision and light.

What’s your story?

Catching up on a few things

It’s been over a month since I’ve posted. Woops. With Twitter (@donsca), and all the reading these days about social media, you’d think I’d be more attentive here too. No excuse. Sooo…

Just a couple of notes from the weekend to start.

Going green?

I was reading the paper on Saturday when I had to laugh. The ad in the crummy picture here pretty much says it all: I can get 3-4 lbs of paper a week from the Vancouver Sun, but they insist I can be more “green” if I convert to e-billing. Huh? I guess there’s some logic there somewhere.

Be sure, they take the subscription right off my credit card and I don’t get a paper bill, but if I did, something tells me the ad wouldn’t change my ways. Probably a better bet would be to drop the paper completely and wait for the new to find me.

Posers

On Sunday I pushed my butt out the door to take some pictures at Bear Creek Park. While leaning on a bridge rail, taking some pictures of the local ducks, a couple of young ladies shouted across the pond and asked me to take their picture. Seemed a bit weird for them to ask a perfect stranger in the park, but whatever.

That was an interesting experience – having some ‘models’ to shoot in a park. The photos are up on Flickr (88103-8113). They’re not great, but it’s a start.

I’m more use to a business setting, and taking pictures at events. Having someone pose for me in a park was very different. I’d like to try that again sometime, perhaps with a model that had a bit more time.

Someone said that life was all about showing up. I tend to agree and would add that it’s often the little things in your day that make life interesting.

Till later…

Matching photo equipment with style – 2

A few posts ago, I wrote about yearning for a lens that would let me get closer to small things. When walking around, I tend to look for small things to take pictures of – drops on flowers, bugs, colourful leaves, etc. While ‘landscapes’ are great, often less is more, and looking at the detail around you can open up your eyes to some wondrous things.

Well, on Sunday, I gave into the lust and purchased the new Nikon 60mm AF-S G micro Nikkor lens. It’s a fast lens, rated at f2.8, although that increases an f-stop or so when taking close ups.

And close it gets; it will focus down to 18.5cm or less (according to reports) and provides a 1:1 reproduction of what you’re seeing. I have the 105mm micro as well, but this lens is lighter and wider, giving a completely different look.

I tested it out with a few photos you can see in my Flickr stream.

So far, I’m really impressed. The pictures are all taken handheld on a breezy afternoon. It leaves me wondering what I can do with a tripod on a calm day. Sure, I’m going to have to learn how to deal with the depth of field for closeups, but it will be fun to play with. That’s why I like photography – there is always something new to learn.

It’s also quite good as a close to ‘normal’ lens. Just a little bit longer than the 50mm, which is considered normal on FX digital and film cameras, it gives just a touch of reach that the 50 doesn’t. Of course it also gets much closer than either the 50mm or 85mm, and lets you fill the frame with tiny subjects whenever you want.

Based on first impressions, this lens is a keeper. It’s a bright, sharp, versatile, prime lens and a lot cheaper than some of it’s Nikon cousins. I might have to walk, rather than zoom, but hey, I need the exercise anyway 😉

iPhone experiments

The biggest problems I have with a camera phone are shake and light. Guess I need to practice more and accept that at least I have the pictures.

Another round of kudos to SIWC

Over the last 17 years, the Surrey International Writers’ Conference has grown from filling a school classroom, to packing the largest conference centre in Surrey, at the Guildford Sheraton Vancouver Hotel. Over 500 writers, agents, editors and students from around the world filled the hotel again this year for an immersive celebration of writing.

This conference is more of a craft conference, than say the Vancouver International Readers’ and Writers’ Conference. At SIWC, there’s more one-on-one interaction between new or established authors, and their potential editors and agents. Workshops make up the core of the event, with dinnertime keynote speakers adding inspiration and stories.

This year’s workshops ranged from writing historical fiction, to using social media, and everything in between. There really is something for everyone, and there is little chance to get bored.

For more experienced writers, Master Classes lead off in the days before. At the conference itself, daily opening sessions, workshops and lunch speakers fill up the day, and evenings are punctuated with Night Owl events, like this year’s Shock Theatre.

Everyone shares, everyone learns, everyone has fun. You hear that again and again through the weekend, as you wander the halls during breaks.

Other than a one year break, I’ve been attending SIWC since about 2002. For various reasons, this year I only managed a basic pass, with no meals. While the workshops were worth it, I missed much of the camaraderie you get with the full meal deal. Sad, but it’s a lesson learned. Next year it will be the full pass, with all workshops and meals included. I missed that immersive experience I’ve learned to associate with SIWC.

So, kudos to Coordinator kc dyer, the Surrey School District’s Tara Holt, and all the other staff and volunteers for putting on another great show. Hope you were following all the tweets posted via #siwc2009. The tweeters were sure enthusiastic, and I think you’ve expanded the audience for next year.

The shingle is up

It's now official. Donsca Communications is a registered business, and I'm stoked.

I've been operating under D.W. Summers and Company since 2004, but a) it's hard to say, b) it's hard to write on checks, c) it's too long for my liking and d) I've changed focus since setting it up. DWS-Co may stay as an associate company, but I'll be working mainly through Donsca from now on.

More to come, once I've flushed out the plans a bit. Nothing fancy. I'm keeping it simple and small. For now, I just wanted to drop a marker for when it happened.

Snow Leopard bites Nikon Capture NX2 v2.2.2

If you’re a photographer using a Mac and Nikon NX2, be forewarned. The version upgrade to 2.2.2 kills Capture NX2 under Snow Leopard.

I had the experience today. NX2 was running fine on Leopard, and when the new version was announced at about the same time as Snow Leopard for Mac, I assumed it would include some fixes for the new Snow Leopard operating system. I just installed it and left it at that. All should be well, right?

Nope.

NX2 wouldn’t read NEF RAW files or jpegs today, which is the first time I’ve tried it since applying the version upgrade.

Google came to the rescue again. I found a post by diglloyd about how he’s dealt with the problem. The fix? Downgrade back to ver2.2.0 and all’s well.

Hopefully NIkon will get up to speed soon.

Fall colours are on the way

Fall is definitely in the air. Maples are turning, berries are ripe and there is a chill out there on a cloudy day.

I spent a couple of hours in Delta today. Took a backpack full of camera gear, but once again, just used one lens. You’d think I’d learn.

Anyway, my 85mm was on the camera, so I used that. It was fine when the sun was behind the clouds, but when it was shining, whoa, what a lot of light for a fast lens. I’m starting to think the camera makers aren’t all that far off in offering lenses between f3.5 and f5.6. Especially for outdoor, daytime shooting.

I’m sure I’ll feel differently in the winter, but for now, f1.8 is a challenge, even at the native 200 iso on my Nikon.