Faux macro...

Finally got some time over to go shoot some photos in the nice summer weather. Crazy hot outside, tried to keep me in the shade but not so lucky all the time.

Got some sunburn yesterday so I really noticed when the sun scorched the sensitive skin!
Used the Nikkor 28-105mm D, lowest F-stop is 4.5 so it work fine in the bright light. It's not a "true" macro lens but it has a macro function that makes it possible to go very close, just a few centimeters from the front element.

Started with some flowers in the "backyard".
The bees were very busy.
There was some flowers to choose among...
A tree near the pond spread some fluff from it's branches.
There were some stuff in the air!
Manage to sneak up on some very shy dragonflies.
Don't know what happened but suddenly it became very shy.Tested some macro video, sorry about the heavy breathing, I was kneeling down in an awkward position. :)



My lust for a longer reach macro lens is growing, found a ad for a used Nikon 105/2.8 AF-D Micro-Nikkor for 4500:- sek but I think I want even more reach, 150mm is the lower limit, 180mm or 200mm I think is ideal for bugs and critters, also makes the background blurry and nice.

Paired with a close up lens seems to give some fantastic results! http://www.fotosidan.se/

Random snapshots

Got home today, thought it was going to rain just when I got out of the work building but I made it home, still dry. Hit me that I haven't yet changed the studded tires on my commuter bike so I thought I'd better go get it and bring it in before the rain starts.

Got outside my flat and remembered that I had taken my bike up town this weekend and parked it in the center! Doh! The dark clouds were rolling over the sky so I better hurry if I'm wanted to avoid the rain!

It's not that far away, walking distance. Walking however, is something like the most boring thing I can imagine if I have to get somewhere, so damn ineffective! =)

So to distract my self from the boring walk I brought my camera with me, still with the Nikkor 28-105mm lens attached. Snapped a few shots during my walk.

Flagpole with a pennant.
Blooming tree branch.
Maple leaves.
Another one.
Last shot, a mushroom cloud over the city!!
Bike salvaged and all the scary clouds seems to have disappeared...

Unexpected visit...

Managed to find and get running a direct feed of the Formula Grand Prix from Spain. So this afternoon I spent in the sofa in front of the computer watching F1 while the rain sprayed the windows.

As usual Kimi managed to get a broken car and had to retire from the race. The race was still most interesting and that is usually not the case in Spain since the Catalonian track is the most proven one and the teams know every crack and bump on the track and can plan the race meticulously.

Well, after that I went to Gängesberg and my parents were about to go to Kopparberg and the cabin, my brother and his posse have spent the weekend there celebrating his birthday.

Decided to bring my camera and my Nikon Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5D lens since it has a decent macro mode and all the spring flowers is blooming.

But the first image is a recent birch leaf.
The next victim was this flower.
Some day I will buy a book with the flower names in it and try learn what sort of flowers I'm shooting. =)
This one is a wood anemone anyhow.
And another one I know, the cowslip!
The sauna stove and water heater. Nice to enjoy a real sauna again in a long time! =)
Very calm weather.
There was a birds nest in the woodshed. Not so pretty baby birds, can't be that old.
Time to get home.
More flowers.
A small ox-eye daisy.Enough with the flowers! The dog was shedding hair and the upcoming dog exhibition is put on ice..
Managed to catch a wildly buzzing bee violating a trees flowers, it seemed busy...
After leaving Grängesberg and shopping some food I passed the lake Väsman and took a few shots.
I really like the Nikkor 28-105mm, so versatile, as I mentioned before I wish it had been a bit wider on the wide end and it would be on the camera most of the time. A true gem in my opinion!

Spring is in the air!

Slightly hangover I decided to go for a walk, the sun was shining from a nearly cloud free sky and I grabbed my camera with me, on it I had the Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm, 1:3.5-4.5D that was used for all the shots.

The sun was gazing and it was warming since there was hardly no wind that chilled.

First I walked to a lake called Gårlången where I knew there would be some ducks, they were there but the focal length of 105mm (158mm DX crop) was not enough to get any shots worth posting. But I got one of the ducks in flight that was somewhat ok.
Gave up and went to the shore of Väsman. Someone had broke off a branch and some sap had already started to drip from the branch.
Some ducks here too but they were far to far away to get any decent shots.
Got this one instead, no clue on what bird it is.
Still some icicles on the shadow side of the hut.
A renovated arc in the middle of the town. looks slightly misplaced.
Bell tower near the church.A split cattail at Marnästjärn.
Got use for the macro mode on the lens, I think it works very well as a macro lens otherwise the "macro" modes often are a bit of a gimmicky on many lenses but not on this one! =)

A dead bee near a bee hive that was buzzing and bees flying around in the warm sun. The bee had melted down around 20 mm into the snow!
Other bees were more alive.
Their flight were very unpredictable and the bees seemed to be totally disorientated!

Another macro.
Information highway...
Ahhh, the sweet sound of melted snow rushing down the drainpipe! =)
A very nice walk on a nice day! Hopefully just the first in many more in the near future. :)

A shaky video to complement the photos. :)