Windmill
This is the windmill down the road. We stopped on the way back from our Lake Samsonvale expedition to shoot the windmill and some cows.
View all photos taken: Sunday, 3rd December 2006, This photo: 1:58pm
This is the windmill down the road. We stopped on the way back from our Lake Samsonvale expedition to shoot the windmill and some cows.
View all photos taken: Sunday, 3rd December 2006, This photo: 1:58pm
I like this, only thing is that the B&W has made the blades blend in with the trees in the background. If you are able to get a lower angle and put the blades against the sky this would be a definite fave for me! That would perhaps bring out the features in the tops of the trees as well? I really like your composition and idea though - first class stuff.
You're right Chris, I think I might need to try again - the colour shots weren't really any better.
This particular windmill is in a tricky spot right next to the road, but it's not far from home and I pass it twice daily so having another go won't be too hard :)
Ha ha, yes I noticed the location was nearby so I thought you could maybe make some use of my comments :-)
I thought it might be a tricky one, it looks like it's hard to get much lower down. But it's such a great subject - you're lucky to have it nearby!
Thanks Chris. I probably could get lower, since I took this standing up (so I can easily drop another 4 feet, almost 6 ft if I want to get real low). The trick of course is positioning, with a fixed 50mm lens I'm finding it more challenging to make the shot (but a lot more rewarding once I have).
A 50mm would be interesting on a 1.6 crop camera. I have found that I walk around with my 70-300IS lens on the 350D and use the 70mm end heaps, which is about 110mm on a normal camera. I use it about 90% of the time (have a 17-40 otherwise). I find it forces me to look at things differently and I'm a sucker for the challenge :-D.
Have to try a 50mm one day....
To quote a famous shoe manufacturer.... Just Do It :)
The "nifty fifty" (50mm f/1,8) is $125 Aussie and the sharpest lens you'll find sub $500. (the 50 f/1.4 is meant to be a tad better, and includes an ultrasonic motor, so it's quieter too - but they go for around $550 - $650).
On a 1.6x camera the 50 comes out to 80, which is a short telephoto, but quite handy for portraits, and a myriad of other uses, plus the f/1.8 max aperture makes for some awesome bokeh and pretty good low light performance - an it's faaaast :) It also focuses down to about 45 cm away from your subject, which can definitely be handy. I'm told with a some extension tubes it even makes a thrifty macro lens.
Are you trying to make everyone else buy equipment to justify your own purchases?? :-D
At the moment I am poor so I will have live vicariously through your new toys! Just started my home loan.....
Thanks lots for the info about the 50 though - I have thought about this lens a lot in the past. I am not an "L-series lover", I like to get the best lens I can afford. Not knocking L's, I have a 17-40L and it's frickin' awesome, but I didn't buy it just because it's an L. I will keep an eye on your 'cheapie 50' shots with great interest.
I noticed you are after a telephoto - I tossed up the 70-200L and the 70-300IS for a long time, ended up with the latter. It's fantastic, but it is not completely sharp at 300. At 200 and a bit beyond it seems excellent to me. I bought it for the optics not thinking much of the IS, but after buying it I realised what a godsend IS is!
Sorry to clog up your pic with comments. Probably should use Flickr mail more often... Maybe you'll hit #1 in Explore eventually!
Maybe... ;-)
I was originally going to go the 70-300 IS but now that I've used a fast lens (f/1.8) I'm thinking the 70-200 f/2.8 might be a better plan, as an added bonus it's an L. The other option, somewhat cheaper, is to go for a 200 mm prime. The 200 f/2.8L is meant to be very sharp. Since I tend to either take shots at full zoom or full wide (mostly) on the old S2, maybe a prime telephoto might be the go.... dunno. I don't have the money for more lenses just yet anyway, so it's all academic.
No probs on the comments, I tend to treat each photo on flickr as an opportunity for a good talk anyway ;-)
Ah, some fast glass! I definitely think that is the way to go if possible - my zoom is f5.6 at 300mm - stick a polariser on and I think you can imagine where I'm going with this story......
I can relate to a prime - I tend to shoot at each end of zooms only occasionally using the actual zoom function. I admit swapping lenses is a pain, but I went overseas for two months swapping lenses at least a couple of times every day and never found dust a major problem. I did have a blower which I used once and now that I'm home I'll break out the serious sensor cleaning stuff, but of course the 400D should have no such problems!
When I can afford it, I would kill for a 2.8. My f4 is great and an extra stop would be really nice. I don't know how I live with f4 though, my old Nikon film had a 1.8, obviously I didn't know how spoilt I was (but then I did use ISO100 in it).
Don't know if you like online buying, but I got my 17-40 through qualitycamera.com.au, and the owner Stu is awesome. Cheapest price I found too, cheaper than centre.net.au or any others.
Good luck with the hunt!
Yep, I'm spoilt, I've tasted fast glass and want more ;-)
The S2 had a 36-436mm (equiv) zoom, but was f/2.7-f/3.5 and was only 2.7 at the widest end, and 3.5 on a 6x crop sensor was waaaay too slow for some shots.
Quality Camera was one of the places I looked this time round. The prices are indeed quite good, but interestingly I got a better deal from Rainer's Camera Store on Adelaide St, Brisbane. I saw the manager (I presume), Michael, and asked for a deal, and got one :) I'll definitely be returning there when it comes time to buy more glass.
I had forgotten that pet peeve of digital. On film, a normal sunny day was f16 at ISO100. f22 if it's a really, really bright beach or something. But that's a couple of stops too dark on the 350D. Which bites. I have no idea if it's different on a full frame camera, I don't know that much about digital stuff, I kind of just accepted it.
But yes, can never have too fast a lens I think!
It's awesome if you can get a great price locally, I would definitely go that route too.
I don't think I've had a bright sunny day since getting the new kit... If I remember, I'll do some tests and see how the 400d performs.
Chris, testing the other day using Tv mode, ISO 100, 1/100 sec metered to f16 in bright sunshine :)