Your R System Images - September 2023

[Kerro]

An impressive structure for sure. I doubt that they allowed tripods, so I am also impressed with your steady hands!

In my experiences over the years I have found places that do not allow tripods are not adverse to you using a monopod.

 

[dmanthree]

In my experiences over the years I have found places that do not allow tripods are not adverse to you using a monopod.

Well, I've got to confess: never considered bringing a support. Just didn't want to lug it around all day. Yeah, just lazy.

 

[Kerro]

Well, I've got to confess: never considered bringing a support. Just didn't want to lug it around all day. Yeah, just lazy.

Another thing I do. I have 2 monopods, a large one and a small one. I also have a fisherman's leather pouch, actually the front of it is metal, on a belt with a holder that you would normally sit a fishing rod in, which is ideal for the small mono. It takes the weight of the camera, lens and mono so I can just concentrate on moving the camera to the correct position. I can carry it around like that all day and it gets in no one's way and is "on your body" all the time, so is no different to just carrying the camera and lens. It also adds a fair amount a stability (better than hand held) to my shots and I virtually have no weight to carry around.

 

[Bucolic Old Sir Henry]

Spring is here, and our cherries are lining up to be photographed.

Sometimes you stick the card into the computer, and the image of the day screams "Pick Me!" at you. It's a bit too fluffy rabbit on a chocolate box for my normal taste, but with cherries that's what you get. Very lightly fiddled with in LRC, mainly using the Pop adaptive preset and a very slight vignette.

 

[PKM-UK]

Very interesting places indeed. I found several things diverting from your standards. First, the perspective corrections and keeping the verticals vertical are not applied well across the images. Second, the brightness of the first and the last images is a little on the low side considering the shadow falls. Third, some frames are borderline HDR-struck. I hope you take my comments as intended, to share honest views to provide feedback. There is more potential in these images.

Hi Cemal,

As promised I’ve had a quick review of these six images and I’m grateful for your observations and suggestions. Perspective correction-wise I've made some revisions - a couple quite minor, others more significant. I'm not sure why they slipped through the net (I recall I decided to leave the Grey Mare’s Tail Tower as presented). I intend revisiting these edits in due course - interim revisions are shown - but before then 6,400 raw files from our latest trip await.

Phil

 

[PKM-UK]

I missed this from earlier in the month. Very nice photos of the castle from different angles; the sky came out nice too. I actually traveled to Morpeth for work over 20 years ago. I was not aware of this castle and did not have a car anyway. Although, one day a co-worker who had rented a car drove us to Bamburgh Castle, which was nice too. But I think I might have enjoyed Warkworth better

Hi Don,

Cheers - appreciated!

It was certainly a fascinating place to visit - 'two castles in one' - with quite a notable history.

(We used the free Audio Guide, which was helpful in staying orientated as we toured the site).

P&K

 

[PKM-UK]

These are super! I am compiling a list of places to visit based on your images! Thank you for the tour book

Hi Hali,

Cheers - appreciated!

That's terrific feedback - helps to make it all worthwhile - our pleasure...

P&K

 

[Only RF]

Dusted off the R7

 

[PKM-UK]

Dusted off the R7
View attachment 19907

Hi Only RF,

A terrific capture - love the composition, colours and those piercing eyes...

P&K

 

[Only RF]

Hi Only RF,

A terrific capture - love the composition, colours and those piercing eyes...

P&K

Thanks. I get into lulls and travel gets me going again. We were visiting family in Ontario, Canada. That was in a town called Prescott on the St Lawrence river. The Cormies are always there sitting on those old piers. At sunset the sun is right behind me but I missed the best last 15 minutes of the golden hour where you get that real warm glow due to clouds. One of my top 10 favourite places to shoot.

 

[Only RF]

 

[ACEkin]

View attachment 19923View attachment 19924

Smooth landing! One of the cormorants seems to be saying "Show off!"

 

[Only RF]

Smooth landing! One of the cormorants seems to be saying "Show off!"

Yes, the landing inspector. That bridge crosses to the USA. Ogdensburg.

 

[Kerro]

View attachment 19923View attachment 19924

2 great shots. Awesome feather detail.

 

[Hali]

A few from Westminster Abbey. All shot with the R5 and 14-35 f4 L zoom.

Those are beautiful!

 

[sosh]

From local hot air balloons mini-fest.

 

[PKM-UK]

View attachment 19923View attachment 19924

Hi Only RF,

Very well judged indeed - the images and the landing...

P&K

 

[PKM-UK]

Images from our recent visit to Levens Hall and Gardens, near Kendal, Cumbria, England.

(Shot raw and processed with: DxO PhotoLab Elite/ ViewPoint/ Nik Collection and Adobe Lightroom Classic/ Photoshop with TK-9).

You can find out more about Levens Hall and Gardens by clicking Here.

Phil and Karen


1. Photography is not permitted in the Hall, which remains a family home. It is however, a fascinating place - we enjoyed an early tour which benefitted from the very knowledgable guides. The many historic artefacts include various articles connected with the Duke of Wellington and the Battle of Waterloo. There's also an old chest once owned by the Washington family who used to live nearby and were close relatives of another (and historically rather significant) 'Washington'.

 

[Kerro]

Images from our recent visit to Levens Hall and Gardens, near Kendal, Cumbria, England.

(Shot raw and processed using: DxO PhotoLab Elite/ ViewPoint/ Nik Collection and Adobe Lightroom Classic/ Photoshop with TK-9 Panel).

You can find out more about Levens Hall and Gardens by clicking Here.

Phil and Karen


1. Photography is not permitted in the Hall, which remains a family home. It is however, a fascinating place - we enjoyed an early tour which benefitted from the very knowledgable guides. The many historic artefacts include various articles connected with the Duke of Wellington and the Battle of Waterloo. There's also an old chest once owned by the Washington family who used to live nearby and were close relatives of another (and historically rather significant) 'Washington'.

View attachment 19933

View attachment 19934

View attachment 19935

View attachment 19936

View attachment 19937

View attachment 19938

The clarity on all these photos is amazing.

 

[PKM-UK]

The clarity on all these photos is amazing.

Hi Kerro,

Cheers - appreciated!

It's a wonderful place and we'll be visiting it again at some point.

The conditions were actually less than ideal with somewhat harsh mid-morning lighting and a distinct haze which pervaded across the whole area.

(On the plus side, the cafe did fantastic cheesy scones... ).

Phil

 

[Kerro]

Hi Kerro,

Cheers - appreciated!

It's a wonderful place and we'll be visiting it again at some point.

The conditions were actually less than ideal with somewhat harsh mid-morning lighting and a distinct haze which pervaded across the whole area.

(On the plus side, the cafe did fantastic cheesy scones... ).

Phil

Awesome. And Cheesy Scones with a Flat White coffee. Yep!!

 

[David Berry]

Bar-tailed Godwits in flight…​

Bar-tailed Godwit : Limosa lapponica​

---

In the first photo the barred tail from which this godwit receives its name is obvious. The birds rose into a moderate onshore wind — between 40 and 50 km/h — before settling in another feeding spot.

 

[PKM-UK]

Bar-tailed Godwits in flight…​

View attachment 19947

Bar-tailed Godwit : Limosa lapponica​

View attachment 19948

---

In the first photo the barred tail from which this godwit receives its name is obvious. The birds rose into a moderate onshore wind — between 40 and 50 km/h — before settling in another feeding spot.

Hi David,

Two excellent captures, the first having superb detail and the second showcasing the mesmerising level of coordination needed for mass flight.

Thank you for sharing...

P&K

 

[PKM-UK]

From local hot air balloons mini-fest.

View attachment 19929View attachment 19930

We’ve said many times, ‘what we need now is a balloon floating across the scene‘ - and you’ve absolutely nailed it!

Fantastic!!

P&K

 

[dgphoto8]

A few September photos. Starting with few birds, including some immature birds in their awkward "teenager" phase...

A mourning dove with ruffled feathers; We believe this is an immature bird since it was preening to remove down from various parts.

This is a molting blue jay with a face only a mother could love, in case you ever wondered where a blue jay's ears were...

This immature chipping sparrow is still in its "camouflage" plumage and is missing its trademark rusty cap and white breast feathers

An immature ruby-throated hummingbird sticking its tongue out. We think this is an immature male since it has a little red feather on its chin that can only be seen at certain angles, plus it still seems to be figuring out the whole "feeding on its own" thing

Shifting to some early fall foliage photos from our backyard

A sunburst through a maple leaf

The first fall color in our yard, with a few beech leaves changing. This beech tree is usually one of the earliest trees to change color in our yard, probably due to the fact that it is growing in a moist area close to a vernal pool.

More recently, this maple tree has a few leaves that are just starting to change colors.
We are really looking forward to some fall foliage photography soon. It will likely not be a "perfect" year based on temperature and rainfall projections, but there is always some fall spectacular color somewhere in New England!

 

[PKM-UK]

A few September photos. Starting with few birds, including some immature birds in their awkward "teenager" phase...
View attachment 19987
A mourning dove with ruffled feathers; We believe this is an immature bird since it was preening to remove down from various parts.

View attachment 19988
This is a molting blue jay with a face only a mother could love, in case you ever wondered where a blue jay's ears were...

View attachment 19989
This immature chipping sparrow is still in its "camouflage" plumage and is missing its trademark rusty cap and white breast feathers

View attachment 19990
An immature ruby-throated hummingbird sticking its tongue out. We think this is an immature male since it has a little red feather on its chin that can only be seen at certain angles, plus it still seems to be figuring out the whole "feeding on its own" thing

Shifting to some early fall foliage photos from our backyard
View attachment 19991
A sunburst through a maple leaf

View attachment 19992
The first fall color in our yard, with a few beech leaves changing. This beech tree is usually one of the earliest trees to change color in our yard, probably due to the fact that it is growing in a moist area close to a vernal pool.

View attachment 19993
More recently, this maple tree has a few leaves that are just starting to change colors.
We are really looking forward to some fall foliage photography soon. It will likely not be a "perfect" year based on temperature and rainfall projections, but there is always some fall spectacular color somewhere in New England!

Hi Don,

A fantastic selection of images showcasing the amazing beauty and colours of nature. Terrific detail and interest in every shot.

Thank you for sharing...

P&K

 

[Dean Wilson]

The first rains of the coming season(s) stopped long enough and allowed the Sun to peek through. This Dalhalia is called "Bridezilla" from Swan Island Dahlias.

 

[Plamen_11]

 

[PKM-UK]

The first rains of the coming season(s) stopped long enough and allowed the Sun to peek through. This Dalhalia is called "Bridezilla" from Swan Island Dahlias.



View attachment 20001

Hi Dean,

Beauty and the beast - drama aplenty in this image!

(A well chosen angle - and great control of light given the conditions).

P&K

 

[PKM-UK]

View attachment 20014View attachment 20015View attachment 20016View attachment 20017View attachment 20018

Hi Plamen,

An interesting selection of shots, combining reflections, leading lines and seeing life from different angles.

(Fascinating looking building in the final image).

P&K