GRIZZLY PEAR
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield
He’s got the most interesting analysis of whats going on in Iran. I don’t remember who recommended him, but he seems to have a much better feel for the dynamics of revolution then any of the talking heads out there.
Documenting the return of U.S. war dead – The Big Picture – Boston.com.
Intense images. One understands why the government did not want this published. One thing I thought of is how this is such a display of the strength and the wealth of our nation. Is there any other civilization before ours that had the luxury to fly home their honored dead from around the world – and so quickly, these men were alive only a week ago.
Of course, all respect for these men who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. #15 reminds us how young so many of these guys are — I’m just about to turn 30 and it hurts me that I may well have already had a good 10 extra years of living.
I spent a little time putting together a website examining the magnification ratios that are possible with these extension tubes I just recieved from Hong Kong. These tubes don’t keep the aperture open before you shoot, but they’re ten bucks!
Check it out at photos.grizzlypear.com/macrotubes
I just got my new mirror lens from Adorama on Friday and I spent a good amount of time messing around with it today, stalking some birds and feral cats that hang out in a local parking lot. For what its worth, I should preface that I have been messing around with a 50mm f/1.8 series E for the past couple weeks so I am pretty familiar with shooting in full manual without metering.
So here are some general thoughts. For a full review by Peter Kolonia check out popphoto.com.
Given that I had wanted a 500mm lens and didn’t want to pay big money for it, the Mirror Lens is the way to go. Basically, there is really only one common option (both new and used) – f/8.0. The only alternative is the ProOptic lens from Adorama with f/6.3 (fyi, these lenses come with only one f/stop) My question before purchasing the lens was whether the f/6.3 would be an unforgiving DOF (the manual says 1/2″ at 6′ close focus). After playing around, I agree it is a very thin and unforgiving DOF, but as someone who is used to shooting wide open at f/1.8, it really isn’t that thin!
What did surprise me was lens shake at 500mm. As such I think the extra speed of f/6.3 was WELL worth it. As someone spoiled by f/1.8, going to f/6.3 was a shock. Combined with the desire to keep the shutter speed near the focal length for hand held shooting, I was shooting at iso400 around noon on a sunny bright day. By the time the sun just started setting, I was at iso800.
I found focusing quite smooth. My only gripe with the lens is that I wish there was more barrel that did not rotate while focusing so that I could keep more of my hand supporting the lens while focusing.
People say that mirror lenses are small and unobtrusive. Well they must be speaking in relative terms because is this lens is definitely big enough to be noticed when walking around. It doesn’t help that ProOptic decided to paint the barrel white instead of black. Then again, I haven’t handled a real 500mm lens, but from what I see online, I don’t think you can even really “walk around” with those beasts!
Of course the big question with these lens are the bokeh rings. And I can attest that those mirror lens bokeh rings do really show up any time you give them a chance. But, if you just roll with it, you’ll survive — and even have some extra optical tricks to play with when you get tired of straight photography.
For $160 I think this is basically a no brainer if you have a little money and want to dabble in telephoto photography, as long as you don’t find the funny bokeh rings are as hideous as some people on photo forums like to exclaim.
The 80/20 rule definitely applies, – you get 80% of the function for 20% of the price of a full size 500mm lens.
Apparently these guys were the ones who brought Tex-Mex to Houston. They were clearly not at their apex when I arrived. It was sad, but at least there was always someone at the restaurant.
They closed last April.
I love animals doing silly things. Or rather, things that look meaningless to us, especially when the moment is frozen in time and stripped of context.
Mr. Jones! At the House Rabbit Society. I’m not sure how he’s doing, but he eventually moved in with Han Yu. Her website is http://www.bluerabbitstudio.com/gallery_illustrations.html
I get the impression she’s hasn’t updated her site in a LONG time, but there’s some really nice drawings there.
Yeye’s green fridge with all the pictures on them. Its very wierd to me to think that the world that was crammed into 999 Beacon does not exist anymore.
This lighting is kind of spooky looking so its kind of fitting for a Friday the 13th. Its from his epson, so I’m not sure who took the photo, I doubt I did. I didn’t mess with any of the colors or anything….just came out orange from the camera I guess.
