tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73899682287080204652024-03-13T05:07:15.788+00:00The Gentleman SnapperBlog of Louis Dobson, Algarve landscape and seascape photographer.Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-4292661068681139282013-05-17T11:34:00.001+01:002013-05-17T11:34:01.608+01:00You Can't Go Back<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8733830615/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/8733830615_846727bccf.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8733830615/">On The Way To Mertola</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">Louis Dobson (formerly acampm1)</a>.</span></div><p>Well, not twice. A long Winter and wet Spring produced a flood of Spring flowers here that were quickly over. I passed them one day, no suitable camera, came back a week later, took this. It's good (well, it was certainly popular on Flickr, if that's the same thing), but it would have been better with better skies. <br /><br />By the time I got back again with a fine sky, the flowers were over.<br /><br />DoF is an issue here. There was no way I could hope to have everything in focus, so I've let the closest flowers go soft. 25mm f8, which would be 50mm f16 on FF. Perhaps I should have gone f2.8, to make it look more deliberate.<br /><br />Worth thinking about, because we will try this again next year.</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-17493211472606099582012-12-21T11:17:00.001+00:002012-12-21T11:17:10.115+00:00Splash! Gin And Tonic<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8284000776/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8284000776_8398a8e19e.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8284000776/">Splash! Gin And Tonic</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Ready for the weekend?<br /><br />I've been feeling my way around my off camera remote controlled Metz 50AF flashes. There are two, behind decanters in the background, to freeze the splash.<br /><br />After that it was just a question of chucking lemon slices at a glass of tonic until I got a good splash.<br /><br />A startburst effect has been added in post processing to get a nice Christmas feel.</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-22211539581434753592012-12-20T12:33:00.001+00:002012-12-20T12:33:10.013+00:00Marainha Dawn Dec 2012<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8290130731/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8290130731_9661f5be17.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8290130731/">Marainha Dawn Dec 2012</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>You need a lot of planning for this sort of thing. I use TPE on Android, which told me that the sun was going to rise far enough around to the right to run along the beach - normally the beach is in shadow at dawn. There's a huge cliff behind me to reflect light onto the sand. Then I needed a day with a high tide at dawn. And finally I needed the weather...</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-46700616881816345732012-12-19T13:16:00.001+00:002012-12-19T13:19:59.142+00:00Wet Feet, Leaky Wellies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8280825380/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8280825380_8f15a087d4.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/8280825380/">Wet Feet, Leaky Wellies</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div>
A cautionary tale of equipment failure - all very well making sure you have working cards and batteries, there is nothing more annoying than wellie failure.<br /><br />Less facetiously, this is a shot about dedication. I was up in the hills walking the dogs when I say how the clouds were shaping up on the coast - three quarters of an hour later the dogs were back home, disgruntled, and I was at the coast with a camera.<br /><br />You have to be prepared to drop things...<br /><br />Talking of dropping things, what's happened to my ten stop ND? Grrr, more money.<br /><br />Done with my lovely OM-D and the Panny 7-14.</div>
Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-44613102203625286562012-12-14T14:34:00.001+00:002012-12-14T14:34:03.404+00:00Testing out the OM-D IBIS<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/7177682080/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/7177682080_644ff693c3.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/7177682080/">Testing out the OM-D IBIS</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>So what do I think of Oly's OM-D E-M5? I love it! Small, pretty, brillisnt IQ and a pleasure to use. The big surprise is the IBIS. I've always considered lens stabilisation only useful for telephotos, and the in body system useless with anything - but Oly have truly changed the deal. This shot is with the equivalent of a 50mm lens, at one sixth of a second, standing in moving water....</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-61764389192302968232011-12-03T18:43:00.001+00:002011-12-03T18:48:05.116+00:00The Portable Kit<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/6447950885/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6447950885_74258551e4.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/6447950885/">The portable kit.</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p></p>
Ok, so for serious work I have the big, heavy, full frame Nikon D3. Which is in turn slowly being edged out by the tiny GH2. But here we have everything you need for serious photography, provided the subject isn't running around too fast. Olympus E-PM1, 12mm f2, and 45mm f1.8. Takes up three pockets, and I can convert myself from biker to photographer in moments.
Really very highly recommended!Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-87049161722495321592011-12-03T13:37:00.001+00:002011-12-03T13:37:33.218+00:00Commuting Again<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/2230725334/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2180/2230725334_7cdf9ef648.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/2230725334/">Commuting Again</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Ever find a photo you have no recollection of taking? As far as I know, I've never seen this photo before in my life. I think it is rather good.</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-88441285143635945872011-12-02T13:16:00.001+00:002011-12-02T13:16:28.961+00:00Sunken Boat<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/5135438184/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1330/5135438184_28732f92a8.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/5135438184/">Sunken Boat</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Suffering and pain... I suspect the blasted boat sank because everyone was distracted by sandfly bites. It is a recurrent theme of mine - if you want good photos, one way or another you have to pay. And things that suck your blood are one of the worst. Scrambling around on muddy banks is no fun either.<br /><br />This was done with my little Panasonic Lumix G1. A super little camera that, I really enjoyed it. Now replaced by the GH2.</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-75558043023831013912011-12-01T12:01:00.001+00:002011-12-01T18:08:48.808+00:00Misty morning in the Algarve hills<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/6433035575/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6433035575_f7c50a429e.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/6433035575/">Misty morning in the Algarve hills</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Well, I'm back. After the huge hassle of the move I have had no photo computer, but now I do. I also have lots of exciting new toys, of which more later. One result of Winter arriving is I now walk the dogs in the hills first thing in the morning instead of late afternoon, and that means mists.... <br /><br />This is done with my (new) Panasonic GH2 and my (new) Zuiko 45mm f1.8, which is rapidly becoming my most used lens.<br /><br />I wanted the highlights on the left to stop the shot being too pastel. Shooting almost directly into the sun, I had to use my hand as a shade. The lens has coped well I feel...</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-76604950515978241402010-07-28T10:48:00.001+01:002010-07-28T10:48:54.215+01:00Back On The Weed<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4814971336/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4814971336_6641f619ee.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4814971336/">Summer Weed</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Always fun capturing the changes the seasons bring - in this case the rivers stalling as they dry up, resulting in thick weed.<br /><br />For photographers though, there's something more interesting here. Do you think this done with my usual Nikon D3 and 14-24 f2.8? Or perhaps my earlier Olympus E3 and Zuiko 7-14 f4? <br /><br />Nope. This is an early outing for my Panasonic G1 and Panny 7-14 f4. Tiny, and very good.</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-12803853904385783972010-07-27T21:39:00.002+01:002010-07-27T22:03:42.861+01:00The Birthday Party<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4835514612/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4835514612_94a7cd0f5b.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4835514612/">Lucy's First Birthday</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Yes, I know, you're bored of the dog. Still, it was a good first birthday party, so have a snap anyway.<br />
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D3, 70-200 VR</p><br />
Should one feel guilty about using a dirty great pro camera to record family moments? I always do, a bit, but my excuse is shooting pictures of my dog is great way to learn how to get the best out of the camera.<br />
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So there.Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-44136020696914155152010-07-16T21:46:00.002+01:002011-12-04T08:13:55.954+00:00Shotgun Wedding Photography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4798959336/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4798959336_964f0e600f.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4798959336/">Wedding Shooting Part 3</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div>
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It normally starts with someone asking if you could do a few shots at their wedding. This is where you <b>should</b> be saying "No, I hate getting under the feet of the official photographer." You'll probably find out that you <b>are </b>the official photographer, and that's a good time to run in the general direction of away.<br />
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Firstly, you could mess it up, and then you'll never hear the last of it. If, like me, you shoot landscapes, you probably regularly mess up, shrug, move on and forget it. Landscapes do not come back and complain the photo is unflattering. Here's a nice landscape screwup - while I was shooting I exhaled, and since I happened to be smoking a fag at the time... Oh well, next time, eh?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4799552423/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4799552423_52a20b39e9.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4799552423/">No, it isn't fairies...</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div>
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Secondly, it isn't that easy. Look at the photo I've headlined with. Even someone who is completely indifferent to photography can see that it looks rather "professional" (which is not the same as "good"). The reason is that it has Shallow Depth Of Field, as discussed in here before. The bride is in focus, the background isn't. Doing that is both expensive and hard (you need a fast lens, accurate focus, and a good feel for how the apertures will work out). Hence professionals like to use DoF effects, because they can, and now everyone "knows" that is how a good photo looks (even if they don't realise what it is that makes it so).<br />
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The second bit that is hard is managing the light. The wedding probably won't take place in ideal conditions. That confetti shot was taken in hard midday light, so the only way to stop everybody looking dreadful was fill in flash. Again, you need to know what you are doing. I had no idea (I use fill-in flash a lot, but not on <b>people), </b>but I got lucky.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4798302297/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4798302297_9b91189711.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4798302297/">Wedding Shooting Part 1</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div>
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Thirdly, you probably want to know something about weddings, so you know who you are supposed to be photographing and when. I know <b>nothing</b> about weddings, it has always seemed to me easier to find someone who hates you and buy them a house. Fortunately in this case the groom actually <b>is</b> a wedding photographer, so he was able to help. And we still made a cods of it.<br />
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Fourthly, the bride and groom probably don't know all this, which is why they won't stump for a real shooter, so they will be disappointed when you don't do a professional job...<br />
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Fifthly, if you are used to doing landscapes, you Post Process. When you hand your thousand shots over (and you should take at <b>least</b> a thousand shots, because at least one person will have their eyes closed, and another will be picking his nose, so make sure you have lots of cards and batteries) and tell the bride and groom to pick forty shots, they will come back asking for two hundred. I don't know what a real pro does in those circumstances, presumably takes them outside for a proper kicking. What I did was PP two hundred shots. At ten minutes each. Which is two thousand minutes. Which is days of work. These modern times, there is a real danger the divorce will have happened before the wedding album has been assembled.<br />
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Anyway, it was good fun, they seem to like the shots, and I've done it now.<br />
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But I'm not doing another. Ever.<br />
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And if you have any sense, neither will you.<br />
</div>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-49224755322222700902010-07-15T00:09:00.006+01:002010-07-15T07:57:09.916+01:00Doing It Doggy Style<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4789793446/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4789793446_1dfd9f0597.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.8em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/4789793446/">Lucy And The Hose</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Well, actually this was just done as a test of the Flickr link to blogger, but it is a moderately amusing photo anyway. I've been playing a lot with a Panasonic G1, a mirrorless dSLR which makes most normal dSLRs look bulky and needless, but I have to say when you want to mess about like this, you can't beat my huge, heavy D3 Nikon.</p><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/420961587/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/420961587_8269b2a122.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.8em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/420961587/">Never Mind The Sodding Sky, Throw The Ball!</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p></p><br />However you don't actually need a battleship dSLR to do dog shots. I like this one of Delphi when she was young. My first ever shot with an Ultra Wide Angle lens, which is pretty much my signature style now.<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/435473040/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/435473040_d834e97224.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/435473040/">Landscape With Wet Dog</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>Dogs make interesting models I think, but then I like dogs. You can do this kind of shot, Delphi looking noble, easily with any camera.</p><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/2130495379/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/2130495379_8241f06fb4.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam/2130495379/">Go Delphi, Go!</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acam/">acampm1</a>.</span></div><p>On the other hand, while I have no doubt someone HAS done this on a camera phone, the D3 and 70-200VR makes it a lot easier.<br /><br />It is the photographer, not the camera, that makes the picture. But the right kit for the job helps no end.</p>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-67741533621283736422010-04-02T20:17:00.000+01:002010-04-02T20:18:18.722+01:00Staring At The SunIt is obvious that your photo will be better if the light is right. But sometimes of course the subject <span style="font-weight:bold;">is</span> the light.<br /><br />Here's one from earlier this week (I told you there would be a few dawn shots for a bit) and others from the past. None of these would have any point at all if it wasn't for the light.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4483819794_9a9ec0c4d3_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4483819794_9a9ec0c4d3_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/139590533_321203ae0e_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/139590533_321203ae0e_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/393287033_02b7183d05_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 531px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/393287033_02b7183d05_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/393893212_7430b2403f_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/393893212_7430b2403f_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-46288869776077552562010-04-01T19:47:00.000+01:002010-04-01T19:53:52.829+01:00Oblivious<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4481747321_b9fe018a70_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4481747321_b9fe018a70_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I wanted to show that while we may (or may not) be amazed by the gold of morning, to the fisherman it is just another lousy early morning. The question is, how much motion blur can you get away with? I think I needed a stop in either direction, either more sharpness or more blur. I'll be hoping he passes again...<br /><br />Mind you, if he doesn't like getting up early, neither do I. You'll be seeing a lot of these now the clocks have changed, and it is only just getting light at seven.<br /><br />The fishermen are used to me now, after all these years, and greet me cheerily. Well, they grunt anyway, which is as cheery as fishermen get, in my experience.Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-54463182012380169882010-03-31T12:37:00.000+01:002010-03-31T12:46:05.953+01:00We're Alive Again!Hopefully the worst and wettest Winter since records began is over, and I can start shooting again. I've been out and about for the last few days, and when I get time I'll PP and post.<br /><br />In the meantime, here's something that <span style="font-weight:bold;">won't</span> be alive again, sadly. The other year, in some unexplained nautical catastrophe, all these starfish were washed up on the beach. The shot is notable in that it illustrates how Depth Of Field shots are possible, even with an ultrawide, on 35mm Full frame cameras. Done with the D3 (which was new at the time, so my distress at covering it in sand was palpable) and the 14-24 f2.8 UWA.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/2129062339_00e63d765d_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/2129062339_00e63d765d_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Click on the image for a larger version.<br /><br />Oh, and in unrelated news, Flickr are no longer marking my stuff as unsafe.<br /><br />Too many Christians, not enough lions, if you ask me.Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-4168431136838019642010-03-30T12:49:00.001+01:002010-03-30T13:01:35.955+01:00Not My StyleAs part of a project a friend and I dreamed up, I agreed to photograph a day of my life. Not my sort of thing at all - photographs of record bore me utterly. But, as a one off, it was quite interesting, and I though I'd post the results here. You'll note everything looks underexposed. Do you find that pictures shrunk to tiny sizes have that effect? I do...<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC8yfs5iMkrxqVwlB47OC0c8ZhuYrM9UAuwuMM6q4XZBMP214GBgsTs3xnZB3Zf5iSGOXzFd1RuJcj1eYJ8NsxEksxF9ly5suGSC-AMyRICr3As851hi-z4IgVcUKT3zxX8R5KSN7Mn4/s1600/terrier+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC8yfs5iMkrxqVwlB47OC0c8ZhuYrM9UAuwuMM6q4XZBMP214GBgsTs3xnZB3Zf5iSGOXzFd1RuJcj1eYJ8NsxEksxF9ly5suGSC-AMyRICr3As851hi-z4IgVcUKT3zxX8R5KSN7Mn4/s320/terrier+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973855632220514" /></a><br /><br />No Lucy, you are too small to come on a proper hike.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZWJdPL9fJXqoIcn-vfQsBuGnENBX8zpXwoQPB5999BA1MjaDNu-upvvRnLGOvLK6FMVkt72XLkyCFCWmvqG-M6ShFR2XtSDwIF9ff20qCZLpkn_sD7X4phhjHjn8hM-ATRuVYwQrq5g/s1600/Dog+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZWJdPL9fJXqoIcn-vfQsBuGnENBX8zpXwoQPB5999BA1MjaDNu-upvvRnLGOvLK6FMVkt72XLkyCFCWmvqG-M6ShFR2XtSDwIF9ff20qCZLpkn_sD7X4phhjHjn8hM-ATRuVYwQrq5g/s320/Dog+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973854805756514" /></a><br /><br />We've reached the mountains after a long blast over the tracks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEQcqrpcEtFyHO5kMHHcrBhsbuXsJWmqJzq7srzVo2XniU5M6XueyIUX1Jl25xqUF2WJoet841GnO1da_yD90TfK9vBSpOM8sCGQN_jUiiwYPD5GTK_skCnF9vcxy2f-MtmmLdOScm1o/s1600/lou+plus+dog+final.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEQcqrpcEtFyHO5kMHHcrBhsbuXsJWmqJzq7srzVo2XniU5M6XueyIUX1Jl25xqUF2WJoet841GnO1da_yD90TfK9vBSpOM8sCGQN_jUiiwYPD5GTK_skCnF9vcxy2f-MtmmLdOScm1o/s320/lou+plus+dog+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973852017978674" /></a><br /><br />Dog and master in perfect harmony.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EZU31mESFFE_Q7wolWA74rsBmHfYmY2Iv8O_79TXEmjnuUHF_w9eXLcB_-_6L5A8t-U8mheukpw8-D4GsBymUNB1nqupTLn5r7MPndgc3cCjWAXlFIn6r_LNvVYAESuaJN9N1nfELnA/s1600/flower+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EZU31mESFFE_Q7wolWA74rsBmHfYmY2Iv8O_79TXEmjnuUHF_w9eXLcB_-_6L5A8t-U8mheukpw8-D4GsBymUNB1nqupTLn5r7MPndgc3cCjWAXlFIn6r_LNvVYAESuaJN9N1nfELnA/s320/flower+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973599225371170" /></a><br /><br />Spring is coming, finally.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrVk48goeQXRzoc3TiFyqquet6VS6ivZrXQrOxDOs6ysPnLyzSuk1qFzQSLSotc3VPz_vs2e9xQjykIvzW8MSRBdYpWU_IS0HIw-WkJqS15ZvqnwFu0cjqx8DuLS9XGDweuNT4zHnuL0/s1600/pine+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrVk48goeQXRzoc3TiFyqquet6VS6ivZrXQrOxDOs6ysPnLyzSuk1qFzQSLSotc3VPz_vs2e9xQjykIvzW8MSRBdYpWU_IS0HIw-WkJqS15ZvqnwFu0cjqx8DuLS9XGDweuNT4zHnuL0/s320/pine+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973595710636082" /></a><br /><br />Baby pine cone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8XCDcYaUEAbKHMeapcSVRatu_pUivj9hzaaLrq9vmbouwzjCnrKfHw66SBXuKv2RI9J5-39dMO08tEQHvScPl6q-YfD_GvD9A3PUjvEJctwRNF7ZW-c_jPHvctDpy5yuyrzAoAC_ZlE/s1600/pine2+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8XCDcYaUEAbKHMeapcSVRatu_pUivj9hzaaLrq9vmbouwzjCnrKfHw66SBXuKv2RI9J5-39dMO08tEQHvScPl6q-YfD_GvD9A3PUjvEJctwRNF7ZW-c_jPHvctDpy5yuyrzAoAC_ZlE/s320/pine2+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973586878558914" /></a><br /><br />Mature pine cone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7u-RMJF3yZVwnWbuI9XmRJANq-rxshiWSjbdiADbCOR6doNIjNP6h6MPeLF5u9F6ykF2Zj6Jse6cNm5eJqMlkqeICNJgCgRVOPScbGp_zLzzzzuoIBeAE_dYwL_qs_0tZEQl4MXx1sM/s1600/dog+simple+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7u-RMJF3yZVwnWbuI9XmRJANq-rxshiWSjbdiADbCOR6doNIjNP6h6MPeLF5u9F6ykF2Zj6Jse6cNm5eJqMlkqeICNJgCgRVOPScbGp_zLzzzzuoIBeAE_dYwL_qs_0tZEQl4MXx1sM/s320/dog+simple+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973583772963442" /></a><br /><br />Delphi loves a hike.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXStfM6WW1dZ6b3IH6Lgxi8nYSIXxNLvb6T5LFvgmLBXaaxW6w9d3hjoPtTPXzoIDshm9j-Ulz3pJoD7kzqfgy-ZPmKHZgOM0lciIRpZv79uNJymdhdbj8fgFNnAyHYCAXJ73h5pGifhM/s1600/truck+final+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXStfM6WW1dZ6b3IH6Lgxi8nYSIXxNLvb6T5LFvgmLBXaaxW6w9d3hjoPtTPXzoIDshm9j-Ulz3pJoD7kzqfgy-ZPmKHZgOM0lciIRpZv79uNJymdhdbj8fgFNnAyHYCAXJ73h5pGifhM/s320/truck+final+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973572157134530" /></a><br /><br />Tracks are now dry enough to get the logging trucks in and out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-V_JpbcmlaNXPZoBTH25DcPYInDnL5AUVZHTxT4uJFPF_nsWK9JtWxuWgpJDdBEff7ZSG2339tSjz2eGNL036cLArdL3otHrYJlJs2eX-97HHBeCwfmLGJzuWHBDFxEXt1jgH8CzIac/s1600/running+dog+final.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-V_JpbcmlaNXPZoBTH25DcPYInDnL5AUVZHTxT4uJFPF_nsWK9JtWxuWgpJDdBEff7ZSG2339tSjz2eGNL036cLArdL3otHrYJlJs2eX-97HHBeCwfmLGJzuWHBDFxEXt1jgH8CzIac/s320/running+dog+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973078293257570" /></a><br /><br />And the skies are blue again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgadmiGjACzrMAHv_XjigKk6Ie5RYACbfNZly_BuQx1DoZpCnXwCyVEARw4zRBLZUJyL4xHrI4yhOq5ZOR8NeEq0whtrctXzCkhHaC8h-VSN36Aiui0Oes4B1oHAFj7byrCJvt9gc9TG4/s1600/river+final.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgadmiGjACzrMAHv_XjigKk6Ie5RYACbfNZly_BuQx1DoZpCnXwCyVEARw4zRBLZUJyL4xHrI4yhOq5ZOR8NeEq0whtrctXzCkhHaC8h-VSN36Aiui0Oes4B1oHAFj7byrCJvt9gc9TG4/s320/river+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973073579609666" /></a><br /><br />River levels are still abnormally high - trail riding can get a bit scary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXVFZXGMFEHy0tJQkfH0DmA-ENW0IHuk9IJzXPNfUE_pwGBm-NV3bnhTSjlfgoMoJNOdqjlJhV3_NJtnkZWVx-cHTsOmYBMbnbnOufiADrMLoFHhEZJyLqpzomN1V3VSFTZJdrZrj-Qw/s1600/house+final.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXVFZXGMFEHy0tJQkfH0DmA-ENW0IHuk9IJzXPNfUE_pwGBm-NV3bnhTSjlfgoMoJNOdqjlJhV3_NJtnkZWVx-cHTsOmYBMbnbnOufiADrMLoFHhEZJyLqpzomN1V3VSFTZJdrZrj-Qw/s320/house+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973070323030706" /></a><br /><br />Ruined house in the valley. It must have been hard to scratch a living here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpAgIwkEeDyEXqtf5Abo2uak5a-KPC7apU1LXPZEVpnrikA8vdSoKSkwOrglENJ6gT-iVc4FvlO8cdXqIvZLLdiacHKOMWjLd687P2KFHtgh0XTAdkChX2syVlRwjIiw9A8CuTzCINsU/s1600/skyfinal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpAgIwkEeDyEXqtf5Abo2uak5a-KPC7apU1LXPZEVpnrikA8vdSoKSkwOrglENJ6gT-iVc4FvlO8cdXqIvZLLdiacHKOMWjLd687P2KFHtgh0XTAdkChX2syVlRwjIiw9A8CuTzCINsU/s320/skyfinal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973065466542466" /></a><br /><br />Climbing back out of the valley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0fMZztICW4NkPYryh3tC4TCeEodQ43S6i-JzVh9HvczIlEmoYLQlV1qu0gTsABEQCEcj0A6WVeLZA4h_2OAkE059JmU8NFwiQAgkW79nK9_9SPwl1BMwdM8Q-OKiOWzej1DN5vadUdg/s1600/car+final+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0fMZztICW4NkPYryh3tC4TCeEodQ43S6i-JzVh9HvczIlEmoYLQlV1qu0gTsABEQCEcj0A6WVeLZA4h_2OAkE059JmU8NFwiQAgkW79nK9_9SPwl1BMwdM8Q-OKiOWzej1DN5vadUdg/s320/car+final+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453973062013945906" /></a><br /><br />And back to the car. About 20KM round.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVHHIqqiMkqMPLvULuexMqGFA_RA5qZPYCrVznOXdwet6hbBwuWG0Dy7QiS14Oh-fidD9R66mHM-mTzoC3c39sBvnThEtz4EhvPim-HxWk7vjvYNy2M8kYbeX-8zXF4Q61Vj_lHsN1SY/s1600/lunch+1+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVHHIqqiMkqMPLvULuexMqGFA_RA5qZPYCrVznOXdwet6hbBwuWG0Dy7QiS14Oh-fidD9R66mHM-mTzoC3c39sBvnThEtz4EhvPim-HxWk7vjvYNy2M8kYbeX-8zXF4Q61Vj_lHsN1SY/s320/lunch+1+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453972447678966898" /></a><br /><br />Car dropped off, bike picked up, time for a late lunch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5Uy1C-ebChhbBINFuiOezv63Kf5l2tkpyCLlz7WNQuID7eB94KpDvzSRCEsMaqjiE8El6tqByaPyJhbow6jZVWFU7kSlt8DD4gFsXIuFzGiOwStoaQ3DjX8oxUzKwS8HryHuXXonhyphenhyphens/s1600/lunch+2+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5Uy1C-ebChhbBINFuiOezv63Kf5l2tkpyCLlz7WNQuID7eB94KpDvzSRCEsMaqjiE8El6tqByaPyJhbow6jZVWFU7kSlt8DD4gFsXIuFzGiOwStoaQ3DjX8oxUzKwS8HryHuXXonhyphenhyphens/s320/lunch+2+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453972444305884578" /></a><br /><br />Cheese and ham toastie, jug of wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorWY7ExUvGCgbTJbJ709nBmMPi4bWuhe8fYaL0qvZ8Grr4woA4S-NVma50Vk-gBcQ3rE9fFW9siVPEpsycZA-GFz7wSfvHb6XV66TzOjNXrPVbRDNNSZ0qRitEJ2Me9VzuoY1vOw9HPs/s1600/rock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorWY7ExUvGCgbTJbJ709nBmMPi4bWuhe8fYaL0qvZ8Grr4woA4S-NVma50Vk-gBcQ3rE9fFW9siVPEpsycZA-GFz7wSfvHb6XV66TzOjNXrPVbRDNNSZ0qRitEJ2Me9VzuoY1vOw9HPs/s320/rock.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971926499127810" /></a><br /><br />Down to Marinha beach for a bit of shooting. Rocks with fill in flash.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09jwDvIzWw8g4XtUVhoczibMbsHXUwf9-WTgr3-BDCwIFRl_Birc5D7GBVoeFKgyXqkjULRKs5eX8PoNXcjIJ_RKJaTtFXNlYgwdIgzMAnX2EKeftNjieSFOUqi4EnfVAtcnosVP4lAM/s1600/rock2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09jwDvIzWw8g4XtUVhoczibMbsHXUwf9-WTgr3-BDCwIFRl_Birc5D7GBVoeFKgyXqkjULRKs5eX8PoNXcjIJ_RKJaTtFXNlYgwdIgzMAnX2EKeftNjieSFOUqi4EnfVAtcnosVP4lAM/s320/rock2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971924083783154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj8O6wCZtMq65fJFkPQWm13MeCsyNDWHkAdCN73P0jFPH1qScY41k4koLw3GkcLnwLc-Wb4QOngrre6Hci0yAGRREbyuwn5QuVljBD1jCze1GAa6w1sFu-BWcGcBnXHatSgIvFsYj3SE/s1600/rock3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj8O6wCZtMq65fJFkPQWm13MeCsyNDWHkAdCN73P0jFPH1qScY41k4koLw3GkcLnwLc-Wb4QOngrre6Hci0yAGRREbyuwn5QuVljBD1jCze1GAa6w1sFu-BWcGcBnXHatSgIvFsYj3SE/s320/rock3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971920414554594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSzEH1g1z7xfuqbTPe23fBqmrrr_Bx6S3qjxmCh1myJ1jXH9BhOxKAM-ByETz1GO39Y9IB_FpWQpR9CAMd2wp5CB1qmCrzpzTy3_xj6FPisL2Ni5CCfyPmzNWwfj9XtAMnjhe5z3n74c/s1600/rock4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSzEH1g1z7xfuqbTPe23fBqmrrr_Bx6S3qjxmCh1myJ1jXH9BhOxKAM-ByETz1GO39Y9IB_FpWQpR9CAMd2wp5CB1qmCrzpzTy3_xj6FPisL2Ni5CCfyPmzNWwfj9XtAMnjhe5z3n74c/s320/rock4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971914495725602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5zN4eeHntFMUM7k2TDgk015A6vOgoOrbNWv9__7iWy81ZHGYrRxq-GZIRyP2cScIbp9iUIXEvteKvCCjooONxWGlcLUOAeset-hj3QmDbfhO0G5Y5M1VnZEUFFmKR06NCDKQ3m5Z9wc/s1600/outsidebar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5zN4eeHntFMUM7k2TDgk015A6vOgoOrbNWv9__7iWy81ZHGYrRxq-GZIRyP2cScIbp9iUIXEvteKvCCjooONxWGlcLUOAeset-hj3QmDbfhO0G5Y5M1VnZEUFFmKR06NCDKQ3m5Z9wc/s320/outsidebar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971640499649906" /></a><br /><br />A friend of mine has a bar in Loule, with live music on a Saturday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3bsq2KUKe4HH8csye_LvdB4POfAnwJX7mXQHyBXkLxarVxR9RiKmfXYvsabY7ST272X9NnufLpp4P_uapbQuCGECKMt_vs3jTEfR1Lg77AZwXgvTT3Pl2lbBuNF6O-ZHJ_OuRqzwTZk/s1600/ruffians.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3bsq2KUKe4HH8csye_LvdB4POfAnwJX7mXQHyBXkLxarVxR9RiKmfXYvsabY7ST272X9NnufLpp4P_uapbQuCGECKMt_vs3jTEfR1Lg77AZwXgvTT3Pl2lbBuNF6O-ZHJ_OuRqzwTZk/s320/ruffians.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971634199474498" /></a><br /><br />Shady locals mix with tourists and expats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC1SFbaaKi592YT9gRAvzwaMgqdcD-Nge_C0EzcbOlEpDvkDdFKLj1edAxbjA58r3xO_I5tIDnr5rt7Udl0fju_k1ZlMWW8DjAz5kFbJ3M15bUpQzTIDaWL3PMNt4mBxt29zSRk15Vuc/s1600/dawn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC1SFbaaKi592YT9gRAvzwaMgqdcD-Nge_C0EzcbOlEpDvkDdFKLj1edAxbjA58r3xO_I5tIDnr5rt7Udl0fju_k1ZlMWW8DjAz5kFbJ3M15bUpQzTIDaWL3PMNt4mBxt29zSRk15Vuc/s320/dawn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971626241422354" /></a><br /><br />Mine Host.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFn-7cX16YIthLcX85t449ol8Lz0cZgtwTHhjhdZH0ejF6mnsQ97JLfu5hWBxwhOfQow-JEcl0dzksoQfbWQqvSPcnjABmIIV-EFQaKYAxNrl3hsLjCR0kZQjAmLRYlT-CGq89nFy-WE/s1600/behindbar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFn-7cX16YIthLcX85t449ol8Lz0cZgtwTHhjhdZH0ejF6mnsQ97JLfu5hWBxwhOfQow-JEcl0dzksoQfbWQqvSPcnjABmIIV-EFQaKYAxNrl3hsLjCR0kZQjAmLRYlT-CGq89nFy-WE/s320/behindbar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453971628321409730" /></a><br /><br />The view from behind the bar at closing time.<br /><br />And there you go. Quite fun to do. You try it...Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-19466722219374142492010-03-29T19:34:00.000+01:002010-03-29T20:13:52.294+01:00Shooting BikesThe most worrying thing about this, is that these are all my bikes... Oh well. Bikes and cameras seem to go well together as a hobby - carry the cameras on the bike, if you can't find anything to shoot, shoot the bike.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3658963137_5356788a1f_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3658963137_5356788a1f_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This is my Harley V-Rod, mildly modified (more has been done since). Parked in a car park, with the rear tyre placed strategically over a skid mark. Waited for dramatic weather.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3288741978_83160255ec_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3288741978_83160255ec_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This is my Daytona 955i. Taken at the docks in Olhao. Dark bike, so high key shooting to show the bike.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4472378961_d5d4777b96_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4472378961_d5d4777b96_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This is my KTM 990, looking down and dirty on the West Coast. Shallow DoF to make it stand out from the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3376717853_04e4f2111d_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 516px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3376717853_04e4f2111d_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I actually went to the rouble of riding for this one. Nikon D3, 70-200, tracking autofocus. Eva behind the lens.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4473346639_7504fffe49_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4473346639_7504fffe49_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This is the KTM being ridden from England to Portugal. I was unable to resist the lure of a snowy background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3867819007_d2f39f4b29_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3867819007_d2f39f4b29_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The Harley again, this time at dusk, light shining from the low sun. Again shallow DoF to pull it out.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-6127630658345567652010-01-07T17:57:00.000+00:002010-01-07T18:28:52.101+00:00Going To Extremes - 7/1/2010Well, the weather is looking up, and with luck tomorrow I can <span style="font-weight:bold;">do</span> some photography instead of talking about it. Oh, and talking about talking about it, today I want to talk about extreme post processing, having demonstrated gentle post processing to lighten the ground and darken the sky last time. Two shots for you, or two versions of the same shot, one heavily post processed, one not:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2187411458_6420894fdb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2187411458_6420894fdb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2022/2186376148_ae8d4aa4c1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2022/2186376148_ae8d4aa4c1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Such is the prejudice against post processing, or "Photoshopping" as dim and ignorant people call it, that most shooters will prefer the plain version. Yet I've never seen the plain version anywhere, and the other one has been nicked and put everywhere.<br /><br />In point of fact <span style="font-weight:bold;">everything</span> is post processed. When you take a picture, if you are shooting in JPG, then the JPG engine in your camera will apply what it thinks of as the correct amount of saturation, sharpening, contrast etc. On more expensive cameras you can change these settings. That's effectively post processing. If you shoot RAW, then you can change the settings after you've seen the shot. Post Processing. The colourful shot above was processed in Nikon Capture NX. This is a version of the camera JPG engine in software. If I'd whacked up the saturation on the back of the camera, then the shot would, according to some people, not have been post processed. Because I did it afterwards, on the computer, that's cheating, apparently.Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-70685121787247782222010-01-04T13:06:00.000+00:002010-01-05T16:58:57.844+00:00Post Processing, Or, As Idiots Would Have It, Cheating - 4/1/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2363849436_4215b4634e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2363849436_4215b4634e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/2348880141_665073a245.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/2348880141_665073a245.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We're looking at ways to manipulate the light so you get closer to what the brain sees rather than what the camera wants to capture. Yesterday I described my preferred method of darkening the sky and lightening the ground, the Graduated Neutral Density Filter. Sometimes you can't use a GND - one common reason in my case is that I'm using a lens too wide to fit one too, such as the Nikkor 14-24 used in these two shots. Then you can do the job in post. In both of these shots the Nikon Capture NX software has been used, but if you have a RAW processor that can't manage this, then process the shot twice, layer the two shots over each other in Photoshop and then use Quick Mask to blend one version into the other.Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-86635574811753649992010-01-03T23:07:00.000+00:002010-01-04T11:34:10.396+00:00Graduated Neutral Density Filters - 3/1/2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3228530924_fbdd0695b6_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3228530924_fbdd0695b6_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Note the witty title today. These aren't really a very witty subject - they are a grey filter darker at the top than the bottom, and they enable you to have a lit ground with a darker sky. They're pretty essential frankly, yet they are seen as esoteric. If you want to take landscape shots where you can see the ground yet the sky isn't blown out, then you need one. This is probably the most useful tip I've given you so far...Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-1178262037423104942009-12-30T20:50:00.000+00:002009-12-30T21:09:51.992+00:00On Reflection - 30/12/2009Still chucking down with rain here, thick fog, blocked drains, horrible. So, on with the photo odyssey from the archives. I was talking about altering the light. Last time I talked about fill in flash. This time let's look at reflectors. You can make your own reflector with a bit of white card, with or without silver foil, but these were done with a LaserLite reflector. Nothing very clever, just have your lovely assistant (hello Eva) aim the reflector to light the subject:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1064/1437605366_dec27cee38_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 555px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1064/1437605366_dec27cee38_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/114842386_2a0db48e62_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 617px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/114842386_2a0db48e62_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2654588687_600d58c159_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 565px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2654588687_600d58c159_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-30663936443756155002009-12-29T13:32:00.000+00:002009-12-30T21:10:42.412+00:00Flashes Of Inspiration - 29/12/2009I don't see my task as faithfully snapping what was there. The human eye (or more accurately brain, the eye being very crude) scans a scene, and corrects for light and shadow to get an overall picture. If, as a photographer, you want to catch the sense of what the observer sees, you are going to have to tamper with the light. One of the easiest ways of doing this is to use fill in flash - exposing for lighter parts of the scene and then using a flash to lighten the darker parts and / or the subject.<div><br /></div><div>In this shot the boat has been lit by two small macro flashes: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3214376495_43aab0521c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 388px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3214376495_43aab0521c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>In this second shot, the on camera flash has been used as fill in to light the reeds: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3190290413_afe5b1f2de.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 397px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3190290413_afe5b1f2de.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-72261772437156173582009-12-28T19:14:00.000+00:002009-12-30T21:11:33.260+00:00Lying In A Field, Getting Frustrated - 28/12/2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/2465801876_c3a2144f38.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/2465801876_c3a2144f38.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2345/2216727737_2406d2265b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2345/2216727737_2406d2265b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Trying to take pictures of bees in flight is a great way to test your reflexes. Also your patience. I've never yet buried a camera in a field, but if I ever do it will be the fault of the bloody bees. I dread Spring - all that buzzing gives you no choice but to give it a go, and you really are guaranteed a day of little joy. What I hate about the buggers is the way they shoot off just as you press the button, leaving you with shot of a gently waving flower, and possibly a small bit of bee's arse. When I get to rearrange the world, bees will be a lot bigger. And slower moving. And they won't sting, either. In the meantime let me introduce you to a few of the sods. Note the full pollen sacs. Slows them down - well, that's my hope. How is it done? Fill in flash, and C-AF. Note that Oly E3 has performed just as well as the Nikon D3, despite the D3's much vaunted AF.Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389968228708020465.post-90682212638615364562009-12-27T13:08:00.000+00:002009-12-27T14:21:26.465+00:00Shooting People Is Wrong - 27/12/2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2285/2422215623_97732ce0fb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2285/2422215623_97732ce0fb.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I've never been a huge fan of candid street shooting - it seems to me that if you have to hide what you are doing you shouldn't be doing it, or at least doing it in the privacy of your own home. Even so Portugal is home to a bizarre set of characters, especially the fishermen, and sometimes you just can't resist. Technically, this first shot is done with a long lens, which gives a perspective I prefer, and is shot more or less wide open, to give shallow depth of field and bring out the subject. In fact, if you view this at the full size, you'll see I've gone too far.<br /><br />This is pretty reasonable in terms of annoying people going about their daily business - my subjects are playing up for the camera. This second shot is rather naughtier, and not something I'd normally do. I was hungover, in a bad mood, and in a park at Belem (Lisbon, more or less). This rather dodgy character scarpered as soon as I took his photo - I suspect he's probably breaking twenty laws every time he puts on his socks:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3097728822_40bbcee95a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3097728822_40bbcee95a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Perhaps even more cheekily, I have no idea who this couple are in front of the Thames Barrier....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/147064570_f8befffa98.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/147064570_f8befffa98.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />While we are at it, let's see a little of what the fishermen catch...<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3012702208_a3737981e6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3012702208_a3737981e6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3021875906_f742df759a_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3021875906_f742df759a_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />These last three were all shot with the very fast 105mm f2 on a full frame camera, hence the very shallow DoF.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Louis Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894959253508119019noreply@blogger.com4