cyberastrofolkie's photos

I spent some time imaging insect portraits in the Washington Ditch parking lot of Great Dismal Swamp in Suffolk, Virginia, USA. This Deer Fly paused long enough on the car to allow me this image. This is a 2.8:1, at the sensor, macro. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 52BB SP 90mm f2.5 Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 18f 1:1 Tube and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Flat Field Teleconverter and Tamron Adaptall-2 01f 2X Flat Field Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount, all mounted to Pentax K20D Camera, hand held, manually focused by moving the entire assembly back and forth, Shake Reduction set to 200mm, ISO 800, f5.6 on lens, 1/60 sec, with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash. This is a Full Resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) and is without any post processing, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing.

This Mosquito would probably have enjoyed drawing my blood instead of posing for my camera on the door of the car. I imaged this one in the Washington Ditch parking lot of Great Dismal Swamp in Suffolk, Virginia, USA. This is a 2.8:1, at the sensor, macro. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 52BB SP 90mm f2.5 Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 18f 1:1 Tube and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Flat Field Teleconverter and Tamron Adaptall-2 01f 2X Flat Field Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount, all mounted to Pentax K20D Camera, hand held, manually focused by moving the entire assembly back and forth, Shake Reduction set to 200mm, ISO 800, f6.7 on lens, 1/60 sec, with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash. This is a Full Resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) and is without any post processing, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing.

On Saturday, I was walking about the grounds of the 2013 Ocrafolk Festival on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA, taking images of the workshops and concerts with my rather rare Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 65A SP 35-105mm f2.8 Lens and I hadn't noticed the rarer lens hood had fallen off and was missing. I searched everywhere I had just walked and could not locate my missing lens hood. I even searched the portapotti I had used earlier with both my cameras on my neck. The odd thing about the portapotti was the floor was not properly attached to the tank area and when entering bent down almost to the ground in the middle. I searched the portapotti as much as I could, but did not find my missing hood. I located the "Lost and Found" and described my lost lens hood and left my name and telephone number with them. I returned today to the "Lost and Found" and my hood had not been turned in. I searched again my route about the site and again searched the portapotti, this time with my flashlight and found the missing hood resting on the ground under the tank area. It was a bit tricky trying to get my hand under the tank area past the loose floor. I did manage to grab it and retrieve it from the dirt and moisture. I took it back to my room and cleaned it with warm water and a few drops of shampoo. When it was dry, I took this image. I need to come up with some sort of detachable lanyard to connect the hood to the lens so this won't happen again. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 27A SP 28-80mm f3.5-4.2 CF Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount on Pentax K20D camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 75mm focal length, ISO 400, f22, 1/180 sec, with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash. This is a full resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) without any post-processing, editing, cropping, re-sizing, or adjustment.

Martin Garrish, legendary local guitarist and lifelong resident of Ocracoke, North Carolina, USA, appeared with friends in the Friday night concert of the 2013 Ocrafolk Festival. Many Ocrafolk Festival attendees consider his flat-picking to be akin to the playing of Doc Watson and this was evident in his arrangements of, "Down Yonder" and "Alabama Jubilee." I took this image from the second row in the audience seating. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 65A SP 35-105mm f2.8 Aspherical Lens with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount on Pentax K20D Camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 45mm, Lens zoomed to approx. 45mm, ISO 800, f4, 1/15 sec, with available ambient light. This is a Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) and is without any post processing, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing.

This is an image from the regular weekly concert of Molasses Creek playing in the Deepwater Theater in Ocracoke, North Carolina, USA, on Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. This concert kicked off the start of the 2013 Ocrafolk Festival. I imaged the group from the front row in the audience seating. For this image, I used my manual focus Vivitar PK-A/R 17-28mm f4-4.5 Wide Angle Zoom Lens on Pentax K20D camera, manually focused, hand held, Shake Reduction set to 28mm focal length, lens set to 17mm, ISO 800, f4, 1/15 sec, with available ambient light. This is a full resolution large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) without any post-production, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing.

We had stopped for a porch sale at a house in Warrensburg, New York, USA, in the Adirondack Region. When I got out of the car, I couldn't help but notice this huge number of ants congregating in this very small area. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, in this image. To appreciate the detail, please view this image in the Original Size. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 27A SP 28-80mm f3.5-4.2 CF Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount on Pentax K20D camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 85mm focal length, ISO 400, f22, 1/180 sec, with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash. This is a full resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) without any post-processing, editing, cropping, re-sizing, or adjustment.

I thought the sign on the side of this Liquor Store was rather amusing. The sign reads,"The Last Liquor Store To New York City Via Interstate 87." Yes, if you get on I-87 and drive directly to New York City and you never leave the highway, this is the last liquor store. The trip point to point is well over two hundred miles. I wonder how many tourists returning home to New York City became new patrons because of this sign. Buy a case for the road! I imaged this scene along Route 9 in Warrensburg, New York, USA, in the southern Adirondacks. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 27A SP 28-80mm f3.5-4.2 CF Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount on Pentax K20D camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 85mm focal length, ISO 400, f22, 1/125 sec, with available ambient light. This is a full resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) without any post-processing, editing, cropping, re-sizing, or adjustment.

I was attempting to image some birds on the grounds of Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center in Ghent, New York, USA, when this very large bird appeared. Airplane photo ops are always an option at Mud Creek as this facility borders the southern end of Columbia County Airport and the aircraft usually approach their landings directly over Mud Creek. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 55BB SP 500mm f8 Mirror Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Flat Field Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax KM Mount on Pentax K20D Camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 700mm focal length, ISO 400, f8 on lens, 1/500 sec, with available ambient light. This is a full resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) and is without any post-processing, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing. This lens was functioning as a 700mm f11 telephoto lens.

This Damselfly was posing for me on a rock and flew away momentarily returning with this caught insect. This scene was imaged at Jamie's Pond Wildlife Management Area in Hallowell, Maine, USA. For this image, I used my back-up macro lens, a manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 model 52BB SP 90mm f2.5 macro lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 18f 1:1 tube and Tamron Adaptall-2 01f 2X flat field teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A mount on Pentax K20D camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 200mm focal length, ISO 400, f16, 1/180 sec., with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash. This is 2:1, at the sensor, macro. Please view large for compound eye detail. This is a full resolution large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) without any adjustment, cropping, or resizing.

This image has been my most popular, most commented, and most favorited on my flickr account. I imaged this one on August 04, 2007, after introducing my then new Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D) camera body to my old 1973 vintage Pre-AI MicroNikkor 55mm f3.5 lens and Nikon PK-3 1:1 extension tube and the full set of of Vivitar AT-3 extension rings plus Fotodiox Nikon F mount to Canon EOS mount adapter ring, resting on a homemade "Bean Bag," manually focused, stop-down metered in Av mode, with available ambient lighting. This image was slightly cropped and exposure values were tweaked in MS Photo Editor where the EXIF file was removed.

We arrived in Maine this afternoon, and, after dinner, took part in the opening night of the Art Walk, in Brunswick, Maine, USA. This scene was imaged along Maine Street, this evening. There was a bit of late afternoon light, almost dark. I played with the settings to get the effect I was after. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 65A SP 35-105mm f2.8 Aspherical Lens with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount on Pentax K20D Camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 35mm, zoomed to 35mm, ISO 800, f2.8 (wide open), 1/8 sec, with available ambient light. This is a Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) and is without any post processing, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing.

Tonight turned out to be a good night for insect macro imaging. This image is viewed from the front of the moth, almost straight on. This is a 2.8:1, at the sensor, macro view. This moth was attracted to the outside (flood) lighting on the backyard deck in rural upstate Columbia County, New York, USA. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 52BB SP 90mm f2.5 Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 18f 1:1 Tube and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Flat Field Teleconverter and Tamron Adaptall-2 01f 2X Flat Field Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount, all mounted to Pentax K20D Camera, Manually Focused, Hand Held, Manual Mode, Shake Reduction 300mm, ISO 400, f6.7, 1/20 sec., with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash. This is a Full Resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) and is without any post processing, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing.

This image was an experiment in In-Camera Post-Processing. At this time in my digital imaging, I have been content composing my images in the camera in Large JPEG and posting Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) exactly as taken. I was curious what the possibilities could be by enhancing this image. I first turned on my camera and took an out of focus image to create a new folder. I removed the SD card to my computer and copied into the folder the original image and reloaded the SD card into my camera. I opened the original image in Post-Processing Filters in HDR mode and added the lowest value and saved the file. I opened the saved file in Post-Processing Filters in Brightness mode and added the lowest value and saved the file. I removed the SD card to my computer and moved the files to a folder on my computer and uploaded this new enhanced version. While I tend to like everything in life in its natural state, I find this image to be rather pleasing to view large. Even the small craters seem to pop out. Please view this image in the Original Size and tell me what you think. I appreciate any and all feedback. I took the original version of the image with my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 55BB SP 500mm f8 Mirror Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A mount on Pentax K20D, manually focused, hand held, with 39mm 2X Neutral Density Filter mounted to rear lens cell, Shake Reduction set to 700mm, ISO 400, f11 with TC, 1/250 sec with available ambient light. With the 1.4X Teleconverter, this lens was functioning as a 700mm f11 Telephoto Lens. This is a full resolution Large JPEG image and is without any re-sizing or cropping.

This Blue Jay has just finished loading as many seeds and nuts as would fit and pauses for a moment to look in my direction, just long enough for me to take this image, before flying off. If you view this image in the Original Size, you will see the reflection in this bird's eye of the house and the opened window through which I took this image. This Blue Jay was at close range, less than six feet away, on the end of the deck railing, in rural upstate Columbia County, New York, USA. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 104A CF 75-250mm f3.8-4.5 Tele Macro lens with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A mount and Pentax K20D camera body, hand held and imaged through opened bathroom window, Shake Reduction set to 250mm focal length, ISO 400, f11, 1/125 sec, with available ambient light. This is a large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) without any adjustment, re-sizing, or cropping.

This Horse Fly right eye was cropped from a face shot. This fly has sustained an eye injury, near the center of the eye. The original image was a 2.8:1, at the sensor, face shot and was imaged in rural upstate Columbia County, New York, USA. This image was edited in Aviary. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 52BB SP 90mm f2.5 Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 18f 1:1 Tube and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Flat Field Teleconverter and Tamron Adaptall-2 01f 2X Flat Field Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount on Pentax K20D Camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 200mm, ISO 400, f6.7 on lens, 1/30 sec, with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash.

The opportunity presented itself to me. I was waiting for the repairman from Sears to arrive to repair the clothes dryer and found this Horse Fly trapped in the closed garage on the door window. I tried imaging at 4:1 at the sensor and 2:1 at the sensor. I wasn't happy with the results. I added my 1.4X TC to the 2:1 set-up for this 2.8:1 at the sensor image. I adjusted the values in aviary. The image is still a Large JPEG at full resolution, not cropped or re-sized. This fly face was imaged in rural upstate Columbia County, New York, USA. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 52BB SP 90mm f2.5 Macro Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 18f 1:1 Tube and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Flat Field Teleconverter and Tamron Adaptall-2 01f 2X Flat Field Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K A Mount on Pentax K20D Camera, hand held, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 200mm, ISO 400, f6.7 on lens, 1/30 sec, with fill-in flash from camera's built-in electronic flash.

I was tossing shelled peanuts out the opened bathroom window to the Northern Cardinals late this afternoon and saw something moving at the edge of the yard. I grabbed my binoculars and saw this Red-tailed hawk starting to consume caught prey. I ran to my room to grab my camera and took one shot. It was almost black, due to the low late afternoon light on a gray day. My camera's ISO was 400. I raised it to ISO 3200 and continued imaging. I liked this one the best. Because this bird was beyond the deck, I had to image between the vertical rails of the deck. This bird was imaged in the backyard in rural upstate Columbia County, New York, USA. For this image, I used my manual focus Tamron Adaptall-2 Model 55BB SP 500mm f8 Mirror Lens and Tamron Adaptall-2 140f 1.4X Flat Field Teleconverter with attached Tamron Adaptall-2 Pentax K M Mount on Pentax K20D Camera, hand held at the camera with the lens barrel pointed out the opened bathroom window and resting on the bathroom window sill, manually focused, Shake Reduction set to 700mm, ISO 3200, f8 on lens, 1/90 sec, with available ambient light. My lens was functioning as a 700mm f11 Mirror Lens. This is a full resolution Large JPEG and is Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC) and is without any post-processing, editing, adjustment, cropping, or re-sizing.