Visual Ramblings...

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Happy 1st Bday Steven!

Had an opportunity to test drive the D700 at a birthday party. Running kids, flying balloons and all around craziness. The camera focused perfectly. So far, super happy with the focusing of the camera. Here are a few pics from the party.

HAPPY BDAY!
Nikon D700
AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G
f/4.5, 1/100, ISO 1600

A view from the birthday boy's throne.
Nikon D700
AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G
f/4, 1/100, ISO 2000

Steven's cake.
Nikon D700
AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G
f/4, 1/100, ISO 250

Steven's fruit.
Nikon D700
AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G
f/4, 1/100, ISO 3600

Balloons!!
Nikon D700
AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G
f/4.5, 1/100, ISO 2500

Toys!
Nikon D700
AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G
f/1.8, 1/100, ISO 560

More toys!!
Nikon D700
AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G
f/1.4, 1/320, ISO 200

Thursday, May 13, 2010

VROOM

So I've been debating between Nikon and Canon since the beginning when I bought the Canon 7D. At the time, it was basically better camera body with the Nikon vs better fast prime lenses with Canon. I had thought that the fast lenses together with the new EOS DSLR and it's new and improved AF system, I would have a pretty solid setup. 7 months later, after trying various techniques, settings, having the camera calibrated, having the lens calibrated, praying, jumping, hopping ... whatever... the camera still manages to mis-focus about 25% of the time. Mis-focusing on STILL subjects. Recently, I was able to try a friend's D3 (okay, a friend of a friend's) and was just amazed at how accurate the focusing was even in dim lighting. So last week, I decided to sell off my Canon gear and make the jump to Nikon. The end result? A D700 along with a 50/1.4G lens. So far, everything looks good. Literally. Focus is accurate, albeit a bit slower than Canon. Consistency is good. So far a happy camper. The added advantage of a full-frame sensor is also a plus. Now all that's left is for Nikon to give us some nice prime lenses. AFS 35/1.4, AFS 85/1.4 !!!

Here's a sample:

Nikon D700

AFS Nikkor 50/1.4G

f/2.5, 1/100, ISO 6400

Sunday, May 2, 2010

R & J =)

Here you go! There are more... but these are a few.
*that sentence doesn't sound right... so call me a FOB =D

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Today's theme: Landscape

Being sick and staying in tonight, I have a bit of time to go through my old library of photos. Here are some of my favorite landscape/scenic pictures. Pictures date a few years back when I was using an XSi to this year (when I got my beloved 7D).

San Francisco - Golden Gate Bridge

Canon XSi

Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8

17mm, f/3.5, 1/80, ISO 100

French Polynesia - Bora Bora

Canon XSi

Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8

20mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100

Santa Monica - 3rd St & Promenade

Canon XSi

Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8

17mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 100

Los Angeles - Griffith Observatory

Sigma 30/1.4

f/2.5, 0.8s, ISO 400

Studio City - Mulholland Drive

Canon 7D

Tokina 11-16/2.8

11mm, f/8, 1/100, ISO 100

China - West Lake

Canon 7D

Canon EF 70-200/2.8L

130mm, f/4.5, 1/200, ISO 125

Redondo Beach - The Pier

Canon 7D

Sigma 30/1.4

f/4.5, 1/4000, ISO 400

Hawaii - Maui

Canon 7D

Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8

17mm, f/4.5, 1/500, ISO 160

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Bradbury

Seeing how I work literally across the street from the historic 1893 Bradbury building, I decided to trek on over there for a quick shoot after work. The inside looked SO familiar. Turns out Blade Runner had scenes filmed there and the building was also used for Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation video short. Blade Runner... there's a sign that I'm getting old... that and beating out The Eagles in my car.

The entrance.

Canon 7D

Canon 50/1.2L

f/1.2, 1/320, ISO 100

Beautiful glass ceiling floods the building with great natural light. Too bad it crushes my camera's dynamic range. Maybe next time I'll try shooting HDR.

Canon 7D

Tokina 11-16/2.8

16mm, f/5.6, 1/80, ISO 400

Going up! The elevator shaft. I'm totally diggin' the design of everything in this building. The elevators are by far the quietest elevators I've ever encountered.

Canon 7D

Canon 50/1.2L

f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100

Canon 7D

Canon 50/1.2L

f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100

Look who was there!!! Charlie Chaplin! He didn't talk much... personally, I think he was just being a bit of an elitist

Canon 7D

Canon 50/1.2L

f/3.5, 1/50, ISO 5000

Monday, April 19, 2010

Hip-pop-anotamous (a la Rob Schneider)

okay. This is pretty shameful, but a gift was purchased for an infant's one year birthday and I've been tempted to steal it... yes, my hippo infatuation has been reignited. Is it really THAT bad that I'm thinking about stealing from a 1 year old????