Yes, it’s that time of year again – almost spring! I’ve always loved snowdrops, and I probably post a picture a bit like this every year. This time, I’ve given you the whole frame – the image hasn’t been cropped after capture. Also, this picture was taken with a prime (fixed focal length) lens, actually a 100mm macro.
By the time I arrived to take this shot, the winter afternoon light was already fading. I wound up the ISO setting to 3200, selected f/5 and shot at 1/15 of a second – relying on a dose of help from the camera’s shake reduction system!
I’m mentioning this as an example of what I’ve tried to explain before: newer and more expensive equipment won’t improve your skill as a photographer, but what it can do is extend your scope. One particular improvement noticeable on recent camera models, both DSLRs and others, is that good image quality is attainable when using high iso speeds – a great advantage in low light conditions!
It's kind to share!
This shot of raspberry flowers is something of an experiment; I was testing out a new acquisition – a 50mm lens. I purposely used a wide aperture setting to keep the depth of field small, as something of an art form. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see that only certain parts are in focus, giving a rather delicate effect. So I’m giving you, not what I saw exactly, but what I want you to see. A kind of impressionism, if you like.
In passing, I’ll explain a couple of terms that often get mixed up: this lens is both a prime lens and a marque lens. A prime lens has a fixed focal length (i.e. does not have a zoom function.) Generally, they have better optical performance than zoom lenses (at similar price points) but are more challenging to use – composition becomes more of an art! A marque lens is simply one made (or, at any rate, branded) by the camera manufacturer – in this case a Pentax lens for a Pentax camera – as distinct from one from an independent lens maker, such as Sigma or Tamron, for instance.
It's kind to share!
That Firefly Phil bloke, still knocking out photography and other stuff.
