Being the changeover from Daylight Savings I was tempted to take a photo of a clock, but instead I got out into the garden to find something purple to celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Week. I picked a fuchsia and placed it on the barbeque table, which in hindsight I realised I should have cleaned down first as in some of the shots the bits of dirt are visible. I also played around on Picasa with a couple of these photos. I'm sharing the original and the Picasa version of one on tonight.
 |
| Original f/16, 1/15 sec, ISO 100, 60mm macro lens, Centre-weighted average metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
 |
| Picasa version with a little sharpening and border added |
2012.04.02
Another trip to Ferndene today, about six months since the last time, and today the rainforest understory was pretty damp and therefore sprouting tiny fungi everywhere. I am so glad that I took my "sit upon" as I was down in the leaf litter often! I had the macro lens on and had put the WB onto 'cloudy' as it was, but half way through I realised that the shots looked rather yellow so changed it to 'auto' and the colour seemed more accurate. I have spent a bit of time in Picasa correcting the colour in the first few shots from today and putting a frame on some shots too.
 |
| f/22, 2.5 sec, ISO 100, Matrix metering, Aperture priority Picasa 3: Border and colour corrected from the yellow of the 'cloud' setting |
2012.04.03
Today was a real learning day ... while having lunch Steve showed me something that he'd found out ages ago on his Nikon and that I had not discovered. Such a great help! And then my brother had been critiquing my March photos for me and we'd had a backwards and forwards email conversation that went from yesterday and through today. With regards to panning, he gave me some help and then I went and read some more ... I tried a bit this afternoon and I understand the principle behind it now [just have to get the technique better!] My photo today, however, is of some of the marrow and ginger jam that I made this morning and the word "Enjoy!!" is the last word in the recipe as it stood against the wall for me to follow ... such a good word for such a delicious jam. It has been severely cropped on Picasa and the border added, but I wanted to show the richness of the colour of the jam in the bright afternoon sun streaming into the kitchen. I'll add the original photo too for comparison.
Today was a real learning day ... while having lunch Steve showed me something that he'd found out ages ago on his Nikon and that I had not discovered. Such a great help! And then my brother had been critiquing my March photos for me and we'd had a backwards and forwards email conversation that went from yesterday and through today. With regards to panning, he gave me some help and then I went and read some more ... I tried a bit this afternoon and I understand the principle behind it now [just have to get the technique better!] My photo today, however, is of some of the marrow and ginger jam that I made this morning and the word "Enjoy!!" is the last word in the recipe as it stood against the wall for me to follow ... such a good word for such a delicious jam. It has been severely cropped on Picasa and the border added, but I wanted to show the richness of the colour of the jam in the bright afternoon sun streaming into the kitchen. I'll add the original photo too for comparison.
 |
| f/16, 1/80 sec, ISO 100, Spot metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.04
Had another go at panning this afternoon. Poor random motorists going about their business on Victoria Pde ... in one shot [that wasn't crisp unfortunately] I had a young bloke giving me the thumbs up and I had more than one stare. In one shot a little fellow in a toddlers seat is giving me a quizzical look. The one I am putting up though has trees behind that really do give that impression of the speed of the moving car. This is cropped to take away the bare expanse of grass that was in the foreground ... I really was trying to be inconspicuous! If I had zoomed in more I would not have needed to crop ... lesson learned. I'm really pleased that with only a very small number of shots both yesterday and today I have been able to get this! I'm already looking forward to next year's triathlon! :-)
Had another go at panning this afternoon. Poor random motorists going about their business on Victoria Pde ... in one shot [that wasn't crisp unfortunately] I had a young bloke giving me the thumbs up and I had more than one stare. In one shot a little fellow in a toddlers seat is giving me a quizzical look. The one I am putting up though has trees behind that really do give that impression of the speed of the moving car. This is cropped to take away the bare expanse of grass that was in the foreground ... I really was trying to be inconspicuous! If I had zoomed in more I would not have needed to crop ... lesson learned. I'm really pleased that with only a very small number of shots both yesterday and today I have been able to get this! I'm already looking forward to next year's triathlon! :-)
 |
| f/5.6, 1/50 sec, ISO 640, 58 mm focal length, spot metering, Shutter priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.05
We left it too late to go to the Don reserve tonight and as we went down the hill to the pool the great orange globe burned brightly as it began to sink in the west. By the time we had parked and walked down to Sawdust Bridge the twilight had set in! No tripod was a nuisance ... will I learn?? The river was at low tide and very still and I was able to rest the camera on posts to get some of the shots. This was one of my last shots and it was almost dark [the possums and birds were already out!]. I have slightly cropped it, then added text and a border in Picasa. I loved the rippled effect on the reflection ... both Steve and I thought there may have been a platypus or two about this evening.
 |
| f/4.5, 1/30 sec, ISO 1600, Focal length 55mm, matrix metering, Scene setting: sunset |
2012.04.06 Good Friday
I took my camera to church this morning and after the service took photos of the floral arrangement that one of our members does every year to enable us to think deeply about Good Friday's central message. Then this afternoon Steve and I took a short trip out to Narawntapu NP and had a couple of hours wandering the park. I'm putting in one of this morning's photos because of the centrality of the cross to my life, as well as one from the afternoon's relaxed expedition.
I took my camera to church this morning and after the service took photos of the floral arrangement that one of our members does every year to enable us to think deeply about Good Friday's central message. Then this afternoon Steve and I took a short trip out to Narawntapu NP and had a couple of hours wandering the park. I'm putting in one of this morning's photos because of the centrality of the cross to my life, as well as one from the afternoon's relaxed expedition.
 |
| f/5.6, 1/4 sec, ISO 100, 55mm focal length, Spot metering, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
 |
| f/5, 1/200 sec, ISO 200, 170mm focal length, Centre-weighted metering, Shutter priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.07
Late this afternoon, while Steve went for a run in the Don reserve, I took the camera for a wander. I wanted to do some experimenting with spot focus ... which I did with mixed results. One of the interesting things I found (in an area I have explored often and usually don't find new things) was this different fungus with a very frilly stalk. I think I had the f-stop too low as the focus on the cup is not clear enough, but the spot focus on the stalk is what I had wanted.
Late this afternoon, while Steve went for a run in the Don reserve, I took the camera for a wander. I wanted to do some experimenting with spot focus ... which I did with mixed results. One of the interesting things I found (in an area I have explored often and usually don't find new things) was this different fungus with a very frilly stalk. I think I had the f-stop too low as the focus on the cup is not clear enough, but the spot focus on the stalk is what I had wanted.
 |
| f/5.6, 1/160 sec, ISO 400, 26 mm focal length, Spot metering, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.08 Easter Day
We have had interesting weather today! When we went to church this morning it was sunny, albeit cool but towards the end of the service it began to pour very heavily ... and that has remained the order of the day with the rain and sun playing cat and mouse! This of course made for some interesting times taking photos this afternoon ... wait in the car till the rain passed, hop out during the last few drops, take some in the sunshine and when the clouds became too heavy and began to drop their loads again, dash back to the car! My first stop though was back to church to take the Easter Day floral arrangement ... so again, two pics!
 |
| f/22, 1/2 sec [tripod], ISO 400, 55mm focal length, matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
 |
| f/22, 1/250 sec, ISO 100, 18mm focal length, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.09
This afternoon we took a trip to Sheffield for the second day of the mural fest to watch the artists working. I was intrigued by the sharpness of the shadow of the artist and her tool on one particular mural. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was shining directly onto her. I was also practising spot focus, in this case on her hand and I am intrigued with the F stop being 5.6 that this shadow isn't blurry!
 |
| f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100, 55mm focal length, Spot metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.10
Today was a rushed few minutes late in the afternoon just out in the garden practising spot metering on rather boring things. I did take a couple of shots on both matrix and centre-weighted as well and this is one of them. The background was not quite blurred enough in the original [I only had my kit lens on and couldn't get below f/5] and so I edited it in Picasa using the soft focus feature to further blur the background. Both Steve and I prefer the edited version, but I need to learn how to take photos like this without editing ... it is easier with the macro lens as I can get a much lower F stop. For the photos that I took around the side of the house, like this one, I changed the white balance to 'Auto' as I have found that 'Shade' makes them yellow. The ones in the backyard were in full sun so the WB was definitely 'Sunny' there.
 |
| f/5, 1/30 sec, ISO 200, 36mm focal length Centre-weighted average, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.11
Went to Hobart and had the most amazing sunset from Oatlands to Jericho! Popped the camera onto the 'Sunset' programme for the dramatic time after the sunset ... the colours had to be experienced to believe them!
 |
| f/6.3, 1/160 sec, ISO 200, Matrix metering, Sunset programme |
2012.04.12
After a great day roaming Richmond with Steve we headed out after tea to attempt my first light trails. I had thought that the highway leading onto the Tasman Bridge from the lower Domain would be a good place ... I hadn't counted on vehicles being parked there! Other than their obtrusiveness, I was rather happy with this. I need to try for about f/13 as the f/9 gave good detail of the bridge and some light trails whereas the f/18 gave deeper light trails and less detail of the bridge ... but it is something I will keep experimenting with as I like the effect.
 |
| f/9, 30 sec, ISO 100, 32mm focal length, Matrix metering, Shutter priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.13
We had a day with the grandchildren which was great, followed by a family dinner with everyone, except for our daughter who is overseas ... a great day! This is not the best photo I took, but the story told in this small face of the concentration while kicking the footy was one not to be missed!
 |
| f/4.8, 1/400 sec, ISO 500, +0.7 step exposure compensation, 150 mm focal length, Matrix metering, Shutter priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.14
Steve and I were the unofficial photographers at our good friends' 60th wedding anniversary afternoon tea today, and both of us ended up taking shots of their gorgeous home and garden at the farm beside the sea as well as of all the guests ... great minds think alike ;-) This is one little nook near the back of the house, looking down towards the vegie patch and over the paddocks to Bass Strait. In a lot of ways I felt as if I cheated today as I set the camera for automatic portrait, scene and macro settings according to the circumstance, as there were so many photos that needed to be taken to create a keepsake that is an overall snapshot of this special day.
 |
| f/11, 1/125 sec, ISO 100, 18mm focal length, matrix metering, Automatic scene setting |
2012.04.15
Today has been very busy and it was very late before the camera was even thought about. This strange pattern was created with some matches, spare sparklers I had lying around, a tripod, a remote shutter release and moi! I was trying to write back to front with it but it didn't really work. If Steve's back had not been so sore I would have gone down to the curved road near the river to try for the light trails again, so I tried this instead ... not quite as successful as the Tasman Bridge ... but fun to do, anyway! I didn't know if the autofocus would be able to focus in the dark with moving light, so I popped the camera onto Manual focus and hoped for the best!
 |
| f/13, 15 sec, !SO 100, 32 mm focal length, matrix metering, Shutter priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.16
Steve and I went out to Warrawee Forest Reserve at Latrobe late this afternoon so that I could play around with my new toy ... an ND8 filter. I have numerous shots at the same spots where the only change I made was to the aperture. I could then make comparative observations about the effect of the aperture setting on the final shots. I loved the effect at this particular view when on f/36 ... it was so smooth! I set up Steve's tripod in the water at some of the spots [mine is still in Hobart where I accidentally left it at my son's place] but I kept the camera cord tightly around my wrist in case of accidents. Unfortunately when we got home the accident happened, but it was Steve's camera that I dropped and I have wrecked his 150 - 500 lens ... not the best possible ending to a pleasant hour out shooting :-(
 |
| f/36, 2.5 sec, tripod, ISO 100, 50mm focal length, matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB:Sunny |
2012.04.17
When I was harvesting the autumn raspberries this morning I noticed a couple of katydids happily ensconced on the aging leaves of the summer canes, so I went inside, popped the macro lens on the camera and took a number of shots with different focal areas as well as different f-stops. I put the white balance onto Auto as it was overcast and I don't like the yellowish tinge that the cloudy setting gives. I think the one I chose to edit in Picasa [slight crop, sharpen and vignette, add border and text] would have been better with a slightly higher aperture as the legs closest to the lens were out of focus.
 |
| f/5, 1/400 sec, ISO 125, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.18
Late this afternoon, just prior to sunset under a cloudy sky, I again tried out the ND filter, but this time at Coles Beach. Some of the wave photos still showed to much movement, whereas others made the water totally flat and milky. Did the ones with movement need more time exposed? This is only the second time I've used it, so there is a lot of learning yet to do. I have given this a minimal crop as I had a tiny bit of extraneous rock on the left hand edge half way up.
 |
| f/32, 10 sec, ISO 100, 32mm focal length, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.19
Today's photos were specifically to create thinking 'seeds' for my grade 5/6 writing tasks. Some shots I took were of barbed wire on top of a fence, under skies that were promising rain. I've decided to use them for the children to think about what they'll write for ANZAC Day next week, and so I have used the tools in Picasa to make changes that might stimulate their reactions. I am posting the photo straight out of the camera, and three changes that have been made as I'd be interested to know which one you find the most emotive.
 |
| Straight from the camera (not B&W) f/11, 1/320 sec, ISO 400, 18mm focal length, matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB : Auto |
 |
| Picasa: 1) Tint [orange]; 2) focal B&W and I moved the focal point to top left corner; 3) graduated tint [yellowy orange] which took the colour further across the top and intensified the top left corner; 4) border |
 |
| Picasa: 1) Used 'fill light' slightly 2) border 3) Museum matte border |
 |
| Picasa: 1) Reverse colours 2) Border 3) Museum matte border |
2012.04.20
We wandered around on one of the rocky stretches at the end of a beach on the other side of the river and watched the sun go down. This shot was taken just a moment after the sun disappeared over the horizon and the sky seemed to be on fire. I had had the White balance on sunny prior to the sun going down and I forgot to change it - however, I do not know what a difference that would have made.
 |
| f/22, 1/200 sec, ISO 500, 240mm focal length, matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.21
It was mizzling all morning and the garden was full of raindrops gathered on leaves and on a multitude of webs. I used the camera at three different points during the day, once when it was mizzle, one when it was dry but dull and one when it was dry but lighter. During the latter I changed the white balance from Auto to sunny even though the sun wasn't fully out [despite the fact it was trying to peep through the clouds]. I had the macro lens on, trying a few manual focus but mostly used the auto focus. The majority of the shots were in Aperture priority, but occasionally I used Manual or Shutter too. I had upped the ISO to do a couple of shots on Manual and forgot to change it back down. During the mizzle I used Steve's tripod [I'll be glad to get mine back] but I'd have been better to use it all the time as I do get a bit shaky holding the camera.
It was mizzling all morning and the garden was full of raindrops gathered on leaves and on a multitude of webs. I used the camera at three different points during the day, once when it was mizzle, one when it was dry but dull and one when it was dry but lighter. During the latter I changed the white balance from Auto to sunny even though the sun wasn't fully out [despite the fact it was trying to peep through the clouds]. I had the macro lens on, trying a few manual focus but mostly used the auto focus. The majority of the shots were in Aperture priority, but occasionally I used Manual or Shutter too. I had upped the ISO to do a couple of shots on Manual and forgot to change it back down. During the mizzle I used Steve's tripod [I'll be glad to get mine back] but I'd have been better to use it all the time as I do get a bit shaky holding the camera.
 |
| f/11, 1/640 sec, ISO 2000, Centre-weighted metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.22
On our way home from Mole Creek where Steve had taken the service this afternoon, we stopped at Ashgrove Cheese where the cattle herd was waiting in the nearby paddock ready for the next milking. It had pelted down rain at regular intervals and the sky was so low that the hills were misty. This photo is cropped landscape from a portrait shot. I still had my macro lens on and it was too damp to change it successfully in the back of the car. I forgot to adjust the ISO but as it was so dark and I was hand-holding it was best that I hadn't changed. This was shot in colour and converted to B&W on Picasa. I know there shouldn't be electric lines showing across a photo, but I didn't even see them until I cropped this ... and the dairy does need its power, doesn't it?
On our way home from Mole Creek where Steve had taken the service this afternoon, we stopped at Ashgrove Cheese where the cattle herd was waiting in the nearby paddock ready for the next milking. It had pelted down rain at regular intervals and the sky was so low that the hills were misty. This photo is cropped landscape from a portrait shot. I still had my macro lens on and it was too damp to change it successfully in the back of the car. I forgot to adjust the ISO but as it was so dark and I was hand-holding it was best that I hadn't changed. This was shot in colour and converted to B&W on Picasa. I know there shouldn't be electric lines showing across a photo, but I didn't even see them until I cropped this ... and the dairy does need its power, doesn't it?
 |
| f/14, 1/30 sec, ISO 2000, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.23
This afternoon we had a mission meeting at church with a friend from a South-east Asian country speaking to us. I took some great photos of people listening and the friend speaking, but as it might compromise his position I have had to choose one that is both less interesting and without a person in it so that it does not create a problem. I had only taken a number of these types of shots for a record of this event and not for photographic style! The camera was on the automatic Portrait setting for ease of quick shots.
This afternoon we had a mission meeting at church with a friend from a South-east Asian country speaking to us. I took some great photos of people listening and the friend speaking, but as it might compromise his position I have had to choose one that is both less interesting and without a person in it so that it does not create a problem. I had only taken a number of these types of shots for a record of this event and not for photographic style! The camera was on the automatic Portrait setting for ease of quick shots.
 |
| f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO 800, Matrix metering, Flash (auto, strobe return), WB: Auto, Auto programme: Portrait |
2012.04.24
Tonight I tried some self portraits with the 10 sec timer, having not used that before. I discovered that from f/8 to f/11 there was too much out of focus, even though my face was in focus all the time [I had set the Picture Control to Portrait and had the focus area set to automatic.] I didn't use the flash and just had the lounge room lights on. I totally forgot to change the white balance to the indoor lights' setting! Of them all, this was my favourite - possibly because of the contemplative nature of the pose.
Tonight I tried some self portraits with the 10 sec timer, having not used that before. I discovered that from f/8 to f/11 there was too much out of focus, even though my face was in focus all the time [I had set the Picture Control to Portrait and had the focus area set to automatic.] I didn't use the flash and just had the lounge room lights on. I totally forgot to change the white balance to the indoor lights' setting! Of them all, this was my favourite - possibly because of the contemplative nature of the pose.
 |
| f/25, 0.62 sec, ISO 400, Matrix metering, No flash, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.25 ANZAC Day
Today's photo has to be from our ANZAC service, doesn't it? I had set my ISO up to 500 to get the marchers and had forgotten to turn it back down for this still photo, although I had changed the aperture from f/10 to f/22 for greater dof prior to this! This is part of the Field of Remembrance set up by the War Widows Association, to both honour their late husbands and to provide a bursary for a descendant [they paid for the crosses to build up the bursary money].
Today's photo has to be from our ANZAC service, doesn't it? I had set my ISO up to 500 to get the marchers and had forgotten to turn it back down for this still photo, although I had changed the aperture from f/10 to f/22 for greater dof prior to this! This is part of the Field of Remembrance set up by the War Widows Association, to both honour their late husbands and to provide a bursary for a descendant [they paid for the crosses to build up the bursary money].
 |
| f/22, 1/160 sec, ISO 500, 130 mm focal length, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.26
We went down to Coles Beach after sunset and watched the damp beach turn from pink to gold as the evening progressed. I took a number of shots on Aperture priority, some with the nd filter, but I also used the Sunset setting and the Dusk/Dawn setting after the first star came out. This is the one on the "Sunset" setting which I really like. It was this still and silent!
We went down to Coles Beach after sunset and watched the damp beach turn from pink to gold as the evening progressed. I took a number of shots on Aperture priority, some with the nd filter, but I also used the Sunset setting and the Dusk/Dawn setting after the first star came out. This is the one on the "Sunset" setting which I really like. It was this still and silent!
 |
| f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO 500, 20 mm focal length, Matrix metering, Program Setting: Sunset |
2012.04.27
We travelled down south this afternoon, spending some time at Ross, a delightful historic village in the Midlands. I did some practice of spot focus with a narrow depth of field and I'm quite pleased with this leaf on a lichen covered sandstone wall.
We travelled down south this afternoon, spending some time at Ross, a delightful historic village in the Midlands. I did some practice of spot focus with a narrow depth of field and I'm quite pleased with this leaf on a lichen covered sandstone wall.
 | |||
| f/7.1, 1/80 sec, ISO 250, 28mm focal length, spot metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.28
On our way home our son's 30th birthday we called in at a friend's (he had asked us to come in and take photos of the red and white mushrooms growing in his garden). It was bitterly cold and spitting rain, but as I lay on my "sit-upon" in the grass, the sun came out on this one which had passed from the red stage into the orange phase of life. I didn't have time to change the white balance to sunny as it was only out for a matter of seconds. I put my macro lens on for the shots I was taking of the fungi.
 |
| f/5, 1/1250 sec, ISO 320, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Auto |
2012.04.29
I went to the footy this afternoon, courtesy of a friend and we were sitting in incredible seats. I was able to take lots of photos. I upped the ISO to 500, set the aperture down ranging from 5.6 to 8 [depending on the shot] in order for the speed to be high enough ... towards the end of the afternoon when the players were in the shade the speed was not high enough, but overall I am pleased with the shots ... especially as the Swannies won! The first shot is of the huddle after re-emerging from the dug-out after half time and the second is late in the final quarter when everyone was still going flat out.
I went to the footy this afternoon, courtesy of a friend and we were sitting in incredible seats. I was able to take lots of photos. I upped the ISO to 500, set the aperture down ranging from 5.6 to 8 [depending on the shot] in order for the speed to be high enough ... towards the end of the afternoon when the players were in the shade the speed was not high enough, but overall I am pleased with the shots ... especially as the Swannies won! The first shot is of the huddle after re-emerging from the dug-out after half time and the second is late in the final quarter when everyone was still going flat out.
 |
| f/8, 1/800 sec, ISO 500, 300 mm focal length, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
 |
| f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 500, 300 mm focal length, Matrix metering, Aperture priority, WB: Sunny |
2012.04.30
Today I could only get into the garden for a few minutes under very grey skies. I tried some work on Shutter Priority even though I have been advised to use Aperture Priority at all times - our local camera shop men both tell me that you have a far greater control if you are adjusting the aperture and allowing the camera to do the rest. being someone who values learning, I want to experiment, which is what this year's blog is about ... and that is now one third of the way through. If you think I am learning and improving, please let me know, or if you have suggestions on how to improve I'd welcome that as well :-)
 |
| f/16, 1/400 sec, ISO 800, 185 mm focal length, Centre-weighted average metering, Shutter priority, WB: Auto |
And so ends the fourth month!
