Total Fence

This is a reminder to myself to take stock. To stop being over-ambitious; not to expect much from modest equipment; to accept that some opportunities will be missed simply because I am too distant. Although I am no longer a flickr user, I occasionally look in to see what can be done with this or that bit of kit. I have seen what Alex Eganov accomplishes with two lenses which I happen also to use and I am put to shame. I realise my limitations. I would like to improve. Meanwhile, the occasional excursion into my old photographs - with better editing - will underline the long road I have to travel. Nikon D90 with AF Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G. A long time ago.

Nikon D3s + Nikkor 70-300mm VR lens.

An old photograph and not the easiest to manipulate, being only a JPEG original. Nevertheless it gives it new life to adjust highlights and shadows and convert it to black and white, a medium I used not to much appreciate. Again I am drawn to the 10" x 8" format and have cropped accordingly. Much to learn. Nikon D2Xs + Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8.

Nikon D2Xs + Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VRII lens.

I remember Old Road before it was 'Old Road'. It is a bit of the original street through Beanacre left cut off after the Council built a new section of road to straighten out the bends and widen the street generally. The scheme was accomplished by a combination of buying bits of front gardens and bits of back gardens. On completion the new straight and broader main road enabled much higher speed for vehicles; gradually the accident rate grew; there were increasing numbers of injuries and fatalities. Speed limits were imposed and pedestrian refuges (islands) constructed so that village folk could get across the street to see their neighbours. I would not want to be in the middle of the road on a pedestrian refuge sheltering from traffic on both sides ignoring the speed limit. Several times the refuges have been demolished, presumably by someone overtaking and running out of road. On the other hand, there is now this little oasis of relative quiet and safety for making a few photographs. Nikon D2Xs + Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VRII lens. Focal length 135mm equivalent to 200mm on a full frame. 200 ISO; aperture priority f/8; 1/125th.

Some parts of this small village are attractive, such as Old Road. Nikon D2Xs + Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VRII lens. Focal length 20mm equivalent to 30mm on a full frame. 400 ISO; aperture priority f/6; 1/160th.

Nikon D700 with a Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 AF lens.

Nikon D2Xs with a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm lens.

Nikon D2Xs with a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm lens. A moment for reflection on the Nikon D2Xs which I bought secondhand in 2011 about five years after its introduction. It had 40,000 shutter actuations then; now it has 70,000 and a good many battle scars. Ken Rockwell of the much maligned but very useful US photo equipment website remarked of the D2Xs, 'If you earn your living with your camera you'll want one of these. If you want a camera to take with you for fun, relaxation and vacation this isn't it: it's a huge, hulking beast of a pro camera.' I guess he's right but I have loved this camera from the off and am unperturbed by its weight and age. It's something of a paradox, but it's a lot simpler to use than 'entry level' digital cameras where a degree in computer science is advantageous, together with a patient temperament for inevitable cruises down the rivers of menus navigating for some way of changing a setting which on a D2Xs is possible via a knob or wheel.

Nikon D2Xs with a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm lens.

Completely rebuilt in 1848. The new building was basically a reproduction of the original fourteenth-century building, but with a longer nave and different windows. Nikon D2Xs with a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200mm lens.

If you like fencing, this should be on your list of Fascinating Fences. Nikon D2Xs + Nikkor 50mm f/2 AI lens.

Wow! Brick wall and fence, in a Diminishing Perspective sandwich: a Sovereign Remedy for Tired Eyes. Or not, as the case may be. Nikon D2Xs with a Nikkor 28mm f/2 AI lens, made circa 1981, and said by Bjørn Rørslett to be excellent for DX, FX, and on film. Rørslett commented that the lens offers outstandingly sharp images and these are produced at all aperture settings from f/2 to f/8. Rørslett found it unusually resistant to flare and ghosting and eminently suitable for shooting directly into the sun.

Nikon D2Xs with a Nikkor 28mm f/2 AI lens, made circa 1981, and said by Bjørn Rørslett to be excellent for DX, FX, and on film. Rørslett commented that the lens offers outstandingly sharp images and these are produced at all aperture settings from f/2 to f/8. Rørslett found it unusually resistant to flare and ghosting and eminently suitable for shooting directly into the sun. ISO 100; f/3.3; 1/80th.

Nikon D40 + AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5 - 4.5 G DX lens. Inspired by a Bartok string quartet.

Photographed with a 28mm wide angle equivalent. You get an idea of its complexity but for the full Byzantine experience stay tuned for when I make my next visit with a 20mm lens on a full frame camera.

Nikon D2Xs + AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm lens.

Nikon D3s + Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 AI-S lens.