Showing posts with label photographing water and streams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photographing water and streams. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Clito Swimming Hole (Via 17-40mm f4 L)

Recently I posted on Facebook that I was considering selling all my Canon gear and going back to the new Pentax K5-iis.  I had been in a funk photography wise and really didn't like shooting with my Canon.

I think part of this was because of my lens line up. I only had 3 lenses and all were prime.  There is nothing wrong with shooting primes(super fast/sharpest available/less quality compromise), it's just much more difficult out in the elements to be changing lenses/filters to get the shot.
Back when I was shooting Pentax primarily, I had multiple zoom lenses that made shooting fun and easy.  It's also significantly less expensive to shoot a camera with an APS-C(crop) sensor.
Now that I have a full frame sensor I have found purchasing lenses to be difficult, to say the least.  I read reviews left and right, compare different lenses to different applications, and it seems that there is always a compromise.  And when you are on a budget and want the best you can afford, compromise is a must(even though it isn't super fun).
I ended up purchasing a 17-40mm f4 L from a store called Lee Hartman and Sons, in Roanoke.  It's the best compromise for me, I think.  It's sharp, weather sealed, much wider than my previous lens, and uses a standard 77mm filter.  The compromise, or downside to the lens is the f4 aperture(static stars need not apply), and the vignetting.

Today was the first day with my new lens.  I had an awesome time crawling about and wading in the creek today.  Having the ability to zoom was something I had taken for granted for sure!  I love how wide the perspective is, how sharp the images are, and just overall I find this lens to be a great fit for me.

Now I know why the 17-40mm f4 L is such a common lens among nature photographers. 




I used two images to capture more depth in this scene.







Leaves were falling like crazy today!


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Wilson Creek (Grayson Highlands State Park)


There is something about this place...  something totally awesome.   I even feel like a more awesome person when I come here.  I can leave this place and tell people 'I went to the highlands today' and they immediately know that I had a way more badass time then they did.  


Here is a quick double check on what a awesomely awesome park should have, and whether or not Grayson Highlands State Park has what it takes....

EPIC views of the Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee(yes you can see that far) mountains?  Check.
WILD animals, most notably, horses?  Check.
WELL MAINTAINED trails for horses, bikers, and hikers?  Check.
OFF THE CHAIN cascades and waterfalls?  Oh Hell Yes.(our focus for this post)





A classic Virginia view:)

Not too bad of detail for a Pentax k20d + 16-45


As soon as the sun breaks, you are racing it up the creek, trying to get your shots before the rays come in.



Endless cascades on Wilson Creek

Big cascades, watch your step here:)



I'll give you one guess as to how many aperture blades my Sears 135mm has:)  They are painfully straight, as you can see in the bokeh.