Why does my Pelikan OM nib skip on my sidewalk or some more images...

[JazzDoc]

Hope you enjoy these...


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/GreatHornedOwlproc_afltd_zps65789bff.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/GreatHornedOwlproc_afltd_zps65789bff.jpg.html)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/ElderlyMasaiWomandropshadowSig.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/ElderlyMasaiWomandropshadowSig.jpg.html)


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/ItsYouthWhatDrivesThisCountry_ph.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/ItsYouthWhatDrivesThisCountry_ph.jpg.html)


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/MothHollyPoint_b.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/MothHollyPoint_b.jpg.html)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/WaspFacemagnfltd.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/WaspFacemagnfltd.jpg.html)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/Next.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/Next.jpg.html)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/DuckRinkHORIZONTALfltd.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/DuckRinkHORIZONTALfltd.jpg.html)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/Hummingbird_soloflight_3SIG.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/Hummingbird_soloflight_3SIG.jpg.html)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/ByAnyOtherNamefltd.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/ByAnyOtherNamefltd.jpg.html)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/b_d_bop/FirstSnow-FirstDibsfltd.jpg (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/b_d_bop/media/FirstSnow-FirstDibsfltd.jpg.html)

[Heliotrope]

I think the bird photos are my favorites. Birds are such fleeting subjects! (pun intended)

How did you capture the hummingbird?

:hail:

[JazzDoc]

I think the bird photos are my favorites. Birds are such fleeting subjects! (pun intended)

How did you capture the hummingbird?

:hail:

Thanks, Heliotrope. I, too, love bird photography. This hummer was investigating a red hibiscus flower and I was out near there with a long lens waiting for these ruby-throated little characters to hover for an instant or two. I shot this at wide aperture for the shallow depth of field.

[peterpen53]

So whose Pelikan is skipping? The owl's?

These are really great pictures, Mark. Like the owl very much and there is something intriguing about the ducks. You obviously had the best of light there, but is it just the depth of field or did you do some editing trick because something really makes them light up.

Could I ask you what gear you are using? I'm planning to finally get a decent digital camera myself.

Cheers,
Peter

[piscov]

Fantastic images. It´s sooo good to see them. Please keep posting

My favorite is the second one. The smile transmits kindness, wisdom and serenitude that arrives with age....

[JazzDoc]

So whose Pelikan is skipping? The owl's?

These are really great pictures, Mark. Like the owl very much and there is something intriguing about the ducks. You obviously had the best of light there, but is it just the depth of field or did you do some editing trick because something really makes them light up.

Could I ask you what gear you are using? I'm planning to finally get a decent digital camera myself.

Cheers,
Peter
Thanks for the comments, Peter. With regard to the duck shot, there was tremendous reflectivity underscoring the sheen of the mallard's feathers due to the ice and the sun's angle. Then, in post-processing, I boosted the tonal contrast a tad, especially in the highlights, to augment that effect.

As to my gear, I use either a Leica M9, a Canon 1DsIII (full frame) or a Canon EOS 7D.
For the Leica I have 21, 35, 50, 75 qnd 90mm lenses. For the Canons, I cover the whole gamut from fisheye to ultra-wide and supertelephoto, including macro lenses with greater than 1:1 magn.
Photoshop CS6 is my editing program, and I do use a variety of Photoshop plug-ins during post-processing.

My favorite subjects are nature, landscape and macrophotography. I do like B&W photography, especially street shooting with the Leica. But everything's fair game to me.


Fantastic images. It´s sooo good to see them. Please keep posting

My favorite is the second one. The smile transmits kindness, wisdom and serenitude that arrives with age....
Thanks, piscov! I took that one in the Masai Mara of eastern Kenya. That was an unforgettable face she had - loaded with character and the wisdom of advanced age, yet still offering hope and a certain innocence. The Masai are a wonderful people.

[OakIris]

Wow, another group of wonderful photos. Those macro photos of the insects are incredible! :hail:

Thank you once again, Mark, for improving my day!

Holly

[JazzDoc]

Wow, another group of wonderful photos. Those macro photos of the insects are incredible! :hail:

Thank you once again, Mark, for improving my day!

Holly

Thanks, Holly! So glad you enjoy seeing them.

[fountainpenkid]

I love the duck picture because it anthropomorphizes them, as if they were pedestrians walking in NYC. Great, great shots!

[JazzDoc]

I love the duck picture because it anthropomorphizes them, as if they were pedestrians walking in NYC. Great, great shots! Thanks a million, Will! :)

[drgoretex]

I'd have to second the above. All of those pics are truly beautiful in very different ways. But that pic of the mallards walking is beautiful, funny, endearing, and serene all at the same time.

Please keep sharing - these are wonderful!

Ken

[6of1]

That macro work is phenomenal. This is just with macro lenses and no bellows or lens reversal?

[JazzDoc]

That macro work is phenomenal. This is just with macro lenses and no bellows or lens reversal?

Thanks 6of1,
The macros are done with Canon's MP65mm 1-5x macro lens all stretched out and a diffused double macro flash rig (all hand held - these critters don't stand still while you adjust your tripod).