A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

[Zuiko]

Enjoyed a great day out at the Essex Wildlife Trust Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre with Peter Birder and his wife, Sandra.

The morning started with wall to wall grey skies and no chance of seeing the promised solar eclipse, but as the day progressed the sun eventually vanquished the cloud to give us some glorious spring light, albeit with a hazy atmosphere in the distant views over the reserve.

I started with Peter's 25mm f1.8 attached to my EM-5, the first time I had used this impressive lens. I was surprised how close it can focus. I tried it wide open at f1.8 to isolate these lichens from the background in a wood pile purposely constructed to provide a habitat for insects, but shot at f4 because the DOF was too shallow.




Here's Peter trying a similar shot with his pancake zoom.




Switching to my 40-150mm (the kit version!) I soon discovered that the crisp, spring sunlight was somewhat compromised by the distant haze.




Peter got some lovely shots with his 75-300mm lens of various birds out on the water, albeit needing a heavy crop, but they were too distant for me. Instead I tried an "arty" contre jour shot which I converted to B&W in pp using Silver Efex.

[Guest]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

A great collaborative effort, John and Peter - that's something I miss, a fellow photographer to go shooting with.

All you lacked on this occasion was sunshine and a clear blue sky. Don't despair, your summer is almost here!

[Mrs T]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

Hi John,

A nice collection. I like the arty shot.

[Wally]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

Hi John, nice to see you out and about & taking photographs. It's also surprising how two people looking at the same thing often don't see what the other sees. Having another togger along can really help get the juices flowing and it looks like a day well spent for everyone concerned.

[KeithL]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

I like the B&W one too. I've started to play with the Art settings on my M5....something I don't normally do, venture into such alien territory! It'll be interesting to see what I can do with them.

I too have the 25/1.8, and I've been most impressed with it. Nice to go out with just that one lens - like we once had to do - and see what can transpire! I shot much of my village church project with it.

[Zuiko]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

I like the B&W one too. I've started to play with the Art settings on my M5....something I don't normally do, venture into such alien territory! It'll be interesting to see what I can do with them.

I too have the 25/1.8, and I've been most impressed with it. Nice to go out with just that one lens - like we once had to do - and see what can transpire! I shot much of my village church project with it.

I do love using primes; with my OM4Ti I has 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 100mm and 135mm lenses, so borrowing Peter's 25mm was a treat. However, zooms are more practical for me these days and I'd love to get my hands on a 12-40mm. In the long run a 14-150mm might be the better option as it would eliminate lens changing altogether. Ultimately my bank balance will make the decision for me and at the moment it's telling me that the 12-50mm and 40-150mm are more than sufficient!

[David M]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

So who's wallace and who's Gromit? And where's the cheese?

[Zuiko]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

So who's wallace and who's Gromit? And where's the cheese?

Perhaps I should have chosen "Last of the Summer Wine" for the title. I would be Compo.

[KeithL]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

I do love using primes; with my OM4Ti I has 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 100mm and 135mm lenses, so borrowing Peter's 25mm was a treat. However, zooms are more practical for me these days and I'd love to get my hands on a 12-40mm. In the long run a 14-150mm might be the better option as it would eliminate lens changing altogether. Ultimately my bank balance will make the decision for me and at the moment it's telling me that the 12-50mm and 40-150mm are more than sufficient!

I know that problem well. I'm about to flog my Canon kit. Won't make as much as I'd hoped (loads of people are selling their Mk1 100-400s to buy the Mk2; yet there's not much to gain optically, and I think the Mk1 is more practical. So many for sale, it's affecting the price.) I wouldn't mind a 9-18 though. I have 14-42 pancake, 12-50, 25, 45, 75-300 and 40-150 R; and I can use my 500 Paragon. Of those, I like the 25 and 45 best. Maybe a 60 Sigma.....

BTW, I like then eyecup on PB's camera.

[Zuiko]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

I know that problem well. I'm about to flog my Canon kit. Won't make as much as I'd hoped (loads of people are selling their Mk1 100-400s to buy the Mk2; yet there's not much to gain optically, and I think the Mk1 is more practical. So many for sale, it's affecting the price.) I wouldn't mind a 9-18 though. I have 14-42 pancake, 12-50, 25, 45, 75-300 and 40-150 R; and I can use my 500 Paragon. Of those, I like the 25 and 45 best. Maybe a 60 Sigma.....

BTW, I like then eyecup on PB's camera.

I had a 9-18mm in FT mount, a lovely lens which I regret selling, but I needed the money at the time.

[pdk42]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

I love that last shot John - lovely composition and contrast.

[David M]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

I'd be compo as well, I've been wearing a bobbleless bobble hat all winter.

[PeterBirder]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

A grand day indeed John and great to meet up again after such a long break. We both enjoyed your company and look foward to the next time.

You got some good shots but I'm not too sure about the second one.

Here are some of my shots (probably too many, hope you don't mind).

My take on the lichen. (14-42 pancake)


Reflections on a recently expanded section of the reservoir.(14-42 pancake)


My version of the pumping station with reflections. (75-300) The haze was certainly a problem but the "haze filter" in OpticsPro 10 helped.


A fine Black Headed Gull in his new Summer plumage.


A friend dropped in.


And chased him away.


Then a Teal paddled by.


A very enjoyable day.

[Ricoh]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

Looks like a good and successful day for both of you.

I like the 'arty' b/w conversion by John. A question if you don't mind a temporary sidetrack, is Silver Efex worth having for B/W conversions, and how more effective is it compared with LR?

[OM USer]

Re: A grand day out - with even a few pictures!

A grand day out indeed. What better than two friends out togging together and putting the equipment they have to good use. Nice to see the pancake zoom out as a lens of choice - I haven't used mine in anger yet.