The year in pictures (2012)

[Batty]

I love numbers 5 and 12, Dug!

As always, Penfold ...

[Penfold]

I'm kind of ashamed to say I've kicked a swan. Bloody thing started chasing one of the kids. I didn't know what else to do so I sunk the boot in. Not surprisingly, it started chasing me then.

I go to the Wetlands Trust and am around swans quite a bit. You did pretty much the right and only effective thing to protect your kids (although I know it sounds cruel), so don't feel bad about it.

How many times zoom?

Sorry, I should have included some details but didn't think anyone would be interested in details. It was taken with a 600mm zoom at 160/1 of a second shutter speed at f/8 aperture. I did use a tripod for this one.

[Who's Wee Dug]

I was just looking at the moon through binoculars last night Penners your photo has more detail than I could see.

[Del]

Great pics AGAIN Penners and Dug. Clappityclapclapclapclap

Always love it when you moon us Penfold .

[Penfold]

[Who's Wee Dug]

Now there is an invitation for you Penner's.

[Conforumist]

I'm kind of ashamed to say I've kicked a swan. Bloody thing started chasing one of the kids. I didn't know what else to do so I sunk the boot in. Not surprisingly, it started chasing me then.

I go to the Wetlands Trust and am around swans quite a bit. You did pretty much the right and only effective thing to protect your kids (although I know it sounds cruel), so don't feel bad about it.

How many times zoom?

Sorry, I should have included some details but didn't think anyone would be interested in details. It was taken with a 600mm zoom at 160/1 of a second shutter speed at f/8 aperture. I did use a tripod for this one.

I'm so glad I asked!
I figured the tripod was needed. I don't think anyone can be that steady.

[The Mad Collector]

Great pictures guys

[Penfold]

Thanks Con but you don't necessarily need a tripod. This image was taken freehand quite some time ago. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the exact details but I think it was shot at 400mm or 500mm (might even have been 300mm) with a shutter speed of around 1/300th of a second and large aperture (about f/5.6). The image would have been cropped in quite a bit and then sharpened in Photoshop (you have to do the latter when photographing in RAW as opposed to Jpeg).



Anybody with a reasonable size zoom lens (say 250mm to 300mm) and a camera with controllable shutter speed should be able to achieve fairly good results. Don't rely on the camera to do it automatically as the sensor will assume that because the surrounding sky is dark it needs a slow shutter speed. Actually, the faster the shutter the better since this will help prevent camera shake and, despite appearances, the moon is really travelling quite fast. It takes a fair bit of practice, trial and error, and quite a few attempts to get one decent effort though.

This site gives some excellent advice for photography tips for moon shots;
http://photography.about.com/od/photogr ... nshots.htm

[Penfold]

Here's one I just took tonight with a focal length of 300mm, shutter speed 1/500th second, aperture f/4. I took it hand-held without a tripod or by bracing the camera on a solid surface.


(It has been cropped quite extensively which, unfortunately, affects the sharpness of the pic.)

[Conforumist]

Ok smart ass!

[Catch-up]

Great pictures guys!

[jaznbonnie]

This year our office Christmas party was lunch on the Wine Train here in Napa. Started the morning off right with a glass of champagne.

[Who's Wee Dug]

What just one.

[jaznbonnie]

Well, it was followed up with a couple glasses of wine.