COVID-19 —- We are under lockdown but allowed to get needed exercise.

[Robert Watcher]

Ontario is under lockdown orders, but are allowed to get needed exercise. Anne and I stayed safe and found an isolated area along the lake, an hour and a half from our home. I took my camera with me. There was are area with some garden ornaments and different flowers. I put the 75-300mm lens on my E-M1 mkii and captured a selection of them. These are two. On the way home, I just happened to see out the side of my eye a yellow house and green field tucked way back in a valley hidden by bush on both sides. I turned back at the next intersection on the road, and am glad I did.

 

[Maggie Terlecki]

Beautiful images, Robert. The parrot tulip and the blue cornflower are definitely great finds, but I also really love the yellow house; so pretty!

 

[Robert Watcher]

A few more pics from last night, now I have had a little more time to process. All shots handheld outdoors using the 75-300mm (150-600 full frame equivalent) Olympus lens.

The Studio Look background in this photograph,
is actually the paved parking lot.

​

 

[Robert Watcher]

HERE IS THE ABOVE PHOTO, OUT OF CAMERA
When I came across the scene as I stool on the edge of a ravine, looking across the river,
I loved the layers and the colouring - but I didn’t love the highway running through,
the signs of the light poles and electric wires.
I tool the shot anyway and Inpainted and Cloned in Affinity Photo this morning.

 

[Robert Watcher]

Beyond stunning work, Robert!

....But it’s unbelievable that Ontario should be in “lockdown” 27 months into the Pandemic, when here in Los Angeles, folk are socializing and grandparents can hug family again!

Canada is one advanced culture and has a health system, although carefully rationed, is modern.

Besides, try having “lockdown” with gun toting Americans! They know it all! Either “Jesus looks after the faithful!” or else “It’s a lie spread by liberal pedophile anti-Trump democrats!”.

Worse, 13% of Republicans believe that the vaccines contain microchips to control their thoughts!

Yet we have moved from 3,000-4,000 deaths per day, to return to restaurants, air travel and museums and even dating!

How come, FAR more rational Canada still is so mired in Covid-19 paralysis?

Asher

I guess I’m going have to leave such references out of my Titles and Posts - even if they are relevant to why and what I am photographing. 🙃 I see that it takes focus away from my photography, and even creates controversy and fills replies with content that has nothing to do with why I post my photographic works here.

—————

 

[Asher Kelman]

I guess I’m going have to leave such references out of my Titles and Posts - even if they are relevant to why and what I am photographing. 🙃 I see that it takes focus away from my photography, and even creates controversy and fills replies with content that has nothing to do with why I post my photographic works here.

—————

Don’t do they, Robert, your references are perfect!

Its just I am an enthusiast! I will put myself on a leash.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Robert,

The first house picture immediately took my breath away. Who wluld have thought this was possible at night! What a bucolic neighborhood.

​

The shadows across the lawn and the reddish light. to the right give the winning touches. I thought to myself this one image would make a showpiece for a great set for an exhibition and a table art book!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Now with this image, there is another generous spread of greens setting off a fine home!

Your eye, experience and editing skills come together so well.

It wouldn’t occur to me that this had cloning. I find this so worthwhile for the pleasure it gives the viewer.

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Robert,

The first house picture immediately took my breath away. Who wluld have thought this was possible at night! What a bucolic neighborhood.

View attachment 7699

​

The shadows across the lawn and the reddish light. to the right give the winning touches. I thought to myself this one image would make a showpiece for a great set for an exhibition and a table art book!

Asher

thank you Asher. I almost didn’t turn back to take the photo. We were tooting along the highway eager to get home. I was a mile or so past the location, when I decided to pull over and spin the car around.

Home from there was about 45 minutes away - we had been out for over 5 hours since we left home —- with no bathrooms open anywhere, we needed to make use of one. Fortunately we have had good training from Central America, where we have learned to hold ourselves for 4, 6, 8 and even 10 hour stretches while riding buses between countries. That is a real feat, especially for Anne


BTW. When I say evening, in Ontario the sun sets at 9:00pm this time of year. There is still some light at 9:30 and in a few weeks with our longest day of the year, it will be close to 10:00pm. The yellow house was photographed a bit before 8:30pm and the blue house with layers of green was taken about 20 minutes after that.

 

[Robert Watcher]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have continued the conversation, but I did love your images, and I love the ones you posted since. What a beautiful place to take pictures. And you do so SO well!

Don’t worry. I’m not offended. It was my mistake.

 

[Robert Watcher]

 

[Robert Watcher]

Pretty little wildflowers - PHLOX - they have the most beautiful sweet smell we found out tonight. Shot wide open at f1.8 with my 45mm lens (90mm equivalent). This file was processed on my iPad using Snapseed App.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Such a fabulous gift that MFT doubling of focal length! But what equivalent is their for aperture effects, Robert?

Asher

 

[Maggie Terlecki]

Holy Cow, I didn't know phlox grew wild anywhere. I have some in my garden, not yet blooming and just simply pink, with not beautiful variations like yours. You were so fortunate to find it and your photo is truly lovely! Maggie

 

[Robert Watcher]

Such a fabulous gift that MFT doubling of focal length! But what equivalent is their for aperture effects, Robert?

Asher

Still f1.8 as far as light gathering is concerned. Equivalent of DOF would be f3.5.

——-

 

[Robert Watcher]

Holy Cow, I didn't know phlox grew wild anywhere. I have some in my garden, not yet blooming and just simply pink, with not beautiful variations like yours. You were so fortunate to find it and your photo is truly lovely! Maggie

thanks Maggie

Phlox maculata Wild sweet William, meadow phlox from New Moon Nurseries

————-

 

[Asher Kelman]

Still f1.8 as far as light gathering is concerned. Equivalent of DOF would be f3.5.

——-

So we use the “35mm multiplication factor”, in this case “2“ to double the actual 1.8 f stop.

But surely the effective not how much light is getting in but rather what the DOF might be equivalent to?

in any case, I cannot fathom why I haven’t followed your example at least for shots of animals at 600 mm effective focal length!


Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

So we use the “35mm multiplication factor”, in this case “2“ to double the actual 1.8 f stop.

But surely the effective not how much light is getting in but rather what the DOF might be equivalent to?

in any case, I cannot fathom why I haven’t followed your example at least for shots of animals at 600 mm effective focal length!


Asher

yes I am using the term “equivalent“ in relation to 35mm sensor size.

The thing is that the DOF of a 45mm lens does not change, even if the crop gives an effective viewing angle of 90mm —— so there is going to be more DOF with a given f stop than a 90mm lens on 35mm sensor. Equally the light gathering is exactly the same regardless of the crop, right.

Realistically cropping by 1/4 a pic taken with a 300mm lens on a 35mm sensor is going to look basically the same as if I take a pic with my micro 4/3 and a 300mm lens and don’t crop it. They will both have the same light gathering ability, and depth of field if using the same f stop. Only difference is that my gear to get that same result is likely smaller, lighter and often cheaper. I think there may be a few advantages of a smaller sensor when it comes to image stabilization, readout times, less overheating in video mode type of things, as well.

 

[Asher Kelman]

The most important thing in photography is to actually have the camera ready to use when one needs it. Because of weight, I will not lug around my Canon gear with a long lens “just in case”. It’s too heavy for me.

But can one go beyond 600 mm equivalent today with your camera?

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

The most important thing in photography is to actually have the camera ready to use when one needs it. Because of weight, I will not lug around my Canon gear with a long lens “just in case”. It’s too heavy for me.

But can one go beyond 600 mm equivalent today with your camera?

Asher

yes. Besides the fantastic 300 f4 with up to 2x teleconverter (1200mm equiv and f8), there are the newer 100-400 5.0-6.3 (200-800mm equiv) as well as the Pro 150-400mm f/4.5 (300-800mm equiv) and with its built-in 1.25 telecoverter up to 1200mm equiv and f5.6. But these are all way beyond what I am willing to spend on lenses.


———-

 

[Asher Kelman]

yes. Besides the fantastic 300 f4 with up to 2x teleconverter (1200mm equiv and f8), there are the newer 100-400 5.0-6.3 (200-800mm equiv) as well as the Pro 150-400mm f/4.5 (300-800mm equiv) and with its built-in 1.25 telecoverter up to 1200mm equiv and f5.6. But these are all way beyond what I am willing to spend on lenses.


———-

For me, the only question is weight. What is the gain over using and APS-C Canon with its lenses?

....but I need to be real and check prices, LOL.

Thanks for the great guidance.

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Had an enjoyable swim at Anne’s mothers pool, then took a relaxing drive around the country roads. I think these will have to be our Wednesday night ritual during the pandemic.

 

[Robert Watcher]

 

[Asher Kelman]

*

​

Robert,

I am so impressed that you went from the brown house, the masters of the land to matching cattle to be cut apart for sustenance and then the tortured automobile reclaimed by nature!

Brilliant bphoto essay for us to think about!

Asher

​

 

[Robert Watcher]

View attachment 7716

View attachment 7718
​

Robert,

I am so impressed that you went from the brown house, the masters of the land to matching cattle to be cut apart for sustenance and then the tortured automobile reclaimed by nature!

Brilliant bphoto essay for us to think about!

Asher

​

Whatever “is in my way“ that looks like it might be photographically interesting, gets captured with my camera. LOL. I virtually never look at the pictures I am taking until I get home. I’m often surprised by the variety.

Thank you for your compliments..
——-

 

[Asher Kelman]

Robert,

I so inspired by the transition of the similar hues: am now thinking of fusing your bull to the wrecked car to make a new sculpture!

I admit I’m a bit of a thief!

 

[Robert Watcher]

Robert,

I so inspired by the transition of the similar hues: am now thinking of fusing your bull to the wrecked car to make a new sculpture!

I admit I’m a bit of a thief!

🤩 That would be interesting.

———

 

[Robert Watcher]

We needed a cabinet to go under my work desk - to store and protect all my bits of camera and audio gear. Scheduled a day and time to drive to the city and have it delivered to our car. On our way home I came across a painted brick wall as well as a painted plywood construction wall.

Olympus E-M1 mkii w/14-42mm kit lens.

———

 

[Asher Kelman]

Bold street art!

Do we know the artists?

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

This is particularly bold and elegant!

Such a clear and well developed style.

This is skilled professional work!

I wish it was my own!

Asher