Photographic Techniques. Resolution and Focus Testing.
I must have been bored, so spent an afternoon doing some autofocus and resolution testing with some of my cameras and lenses. The goal was to see which combination would be able to focus and provide the highest resolution image of Alexander Hamilton. Ideally, sharp enough to make out the microprint security feature on his shoulder. All of the images were taken with a Nikon D300 camera. The lenses used include a 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro, 200 mm f/2 VR, 300 mm f/2.8 VR, 400 mm f/2.8, and 200-400 mm f/4 VR.
Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/4, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Alexander Hamilton. Autofocus test. Can you find the microprint? Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 200, 105 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Early purple crocuses flowers from across the street. This is a composite of many images using the focus stacking program from Helicon Focus. A little bit bright, and requires calm conditions (little or no wind).
Purple crocus blooms. Late winter nature in New Jersey. Composite of 18 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method C) (David J Mathre)
The temperatures dropped from nearly 70°F (~20°C) yesterday to below freezing most of today. It was sunny most of the day, so the solar panels were generating electricity (50.3 kWh). Later in the afternoon some clouds rolled in, and we had a quick snow storm. I went out to get some pictures of the flowers that recently bloomed across the street with the recent snow before the sun went down. I also got some pictures of a turkey vulture soaring above my backyard in the late afternoon sun.
Although my neighbor got lots of maple sap from his trees this year, the tap he put in my maple tree didn’t produce much. Since it did get cold again, I will drill a new hole and see if I get anything. Maybe, my maple tree feels it already gave too much to the cicadas that live for 13 or 17 years under the tree.
After the storm passed, some clouds lit up as the sun went down.
Daffodils after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)Twin daffodils after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)Daffodil bloom after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)Snow drops after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)Early blooming purple crocuses after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey vulture soaring in the late afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Maple sap collection bucket after a quick snowfall. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)South facing solar panels with a light coating of snow. Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 400, 70 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)Colorful clouds at sunset after a quick snowstorm. Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 29 mm, f/4.4, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)Backyard tree at sunset. Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/3.5, 1/200 sec) (David J Mathre)
Winter Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.
I went for a walkabout at the local Sourland Mountain Preserve on a snowy day and took a few pictures. The high-pressure gas-line right of way trail looked open, but I didn’t go very far. There were cattails in the marshy area, and some Mallard ducks swimming in the pond. The ducks usually leave as soon as the more boisterous Canada geese arrive, but on this snowy day the geese stayed away.
Individual images from the slide show can be viewed here.
Elderhostel “Photography in the Southwest” Workshop Day 5. Kelly Place.
The Elderhostel/Road Scholar photography workshop that I attended with my father and brother ended the previous evening. Before leaving the Kelly Place B&B to drive back to Boulder, Colorado I took one last image of the “Sleeping Ute Mountain” from the patio at dawn.
Sleeping Ute Mountain at dawn from the back patio at Kelly’s Place, near Cortez. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
All week I had been intrigued by this wooden flying goddess that was hanging from the ceiling of the meeting room. [Maybe Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese, pre-Hindu Dewi Sri, or Shridevi. Or An Apsara (Apsarasa) Hindu or Buddhist flying spirit???] I spent a little bit of time trying to get an image that I liked. The lighting wasn’t good so did some experimenting with a flash.
Flying goddess and shadow. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 70 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) and flash. (David J Mathre)Flying goddess. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 70 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec) and flash. (David J Mathre)
