In The Blink Of An Eye: John Stone's Photography Journal

[Gskarr]

loved the landscape pictures

nice work

[Bluestreak]

Originally Posted by John Stone

I ate at least a dozen spiderwebs today, and pulled three spiders off of me. Thankfully this was not one of them.

Black lycosidae. I.e., wolf spider... a cousin to the tarantula. I know that creepy feeling. When we go mudding, I ride through at least a few hundred webs per trip. Ya get used to it. They don't eat much.

Spiders are among my favorite subjects. We get black widows (do NOT tell the wife that!) and tropical orb weavers on our back porch, they spin the largest webs in the world - up to 25-ft. I've got some great shots of them putting up - and taking down - their webs. Have to dig 'em up. Neat stuff.

-R

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Bluestreak

Black lycosidae. I.e., wolf spider... a cousin to the tarantula.

Actually it's a trapdoor spider (Ctenizidae).

[DFS]

Originally Posted by Bluestreak

Black lycosidae. I.e., wolf spider... a cousin to the tarantula.

Originally Posted by John Stone

Actually it's a trapdoor spider (Ctenizidae).

Uh oh, are we about to have a Spider-Off!?!?!?

[Ectomorphic]

Great shot of you and Lisa's mom. Everything looks so....something. I'm not sure what the word is, but it's a great one. Something about how smooth and portrait-like everything looks. It must just be one of the benefits of a prime lens.

Good glass does get real expensive real fast. Buying used does seem to save money, but as I'm sure you might have noticed by now, good glass seems to hold way more of its value than a camera body or other accessories would. But like you said, if it's well cared for, why not? It seems that glass is almost like an investment.

Personally I've got a EF 70-200mm f/4L (non-IS) arriving tomorrow and I can't wait (from B&H Photo, which seems to be one of the go-to places for camera stuff, almost like the newegg of photography gear). All I've had up to now is the kit lens on my Digital Rebel XTi, and while composing good shots is one thing, actually getting a decent looking shot out of this lens, technical-quality-wise, is another story entirely.

Oh, and I always love how vibrant the colors look in all your photos! (I read a while back about your post processing. Very simple and goes a long way).

[Seltzer]

Ectomorphic, you've bought yourself a fine piece of glass. Enjoy it.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

Great shot of you and Lisa's mom. Everything looks so....something. I'm not sure what the word is, but it's a great one. Something about how smooth and portrait-like everything looks. It must just be one of the benefits of a prime lens.

Thank you very much! I'm pretty happy with how that one turned out myself.

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

Personally I've got a EF 70-200mm f/4L (non-IS) arriving tomorrow and I can't wait (from B&H Photo, which seems to be one of the go-to places for camera stuff, almost like the newegg of photography gear).

Wow, nice! I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on the lens and see some of your images!

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

Oh, and I always love how vibrant the colors look in all your photos! (I read a while back about your post processing. Very simple and goes a long way).

Thanks. Yeah, I like saturated colors and lots of contrast, but in that past I've gone a little too far in that direction. I'm trying to dial that back these days. I'm still partial to strong, high contrast B&W images.

[John Stone]

Lisa and I are celebrating 17 years of marriage tomorrow, and for this weekend anything goes (ahem... strictly speaking about food here).

We just kicked off our celebration with some fresh pico de gallo and warm corn tortilla chips. The pico was made from tomatoes and jalapenos straight out of our garden.

Canon EOS 60D with a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF lens.



Note the awesome new dinnerware, which was an anniversary gift from my side of the family (Mikasa Antique White 45-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 8)!

Later tonight I'm making steak and dill, garlic and butter potatoes.

[John Stone]

May 21, 2011. Our first Nymphaea 'Attraction" water lily bloomed this morning.

Canon EOS 60D with a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF lens.

[Seltzer]

Happy anniversary John!

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Seltzer

Happy anniversary John!

Thanks, Paul!

[Ectomorphic]

Originally Posted by Seltzer

Ectomorphic, you've bought yourself a fine piece of glass. Enjoy it.

Thanks, I'm really happy with it. Next on my list is its perfect complement, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L. But that's going to be a while.

Originally Posted by John Stone

Wow, nice! I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on the lens and see some of your images!

Well I'm still a complete noob, despite how long it's been since I've had this camera. I haven't put any real time into practicing composing and taking amazing shots yet, though I'm familiar with the how-to.

The lens is definitely big and heavy compared to the 18-55mm kit lens, but it's worth it, and not a complaint! We have to note my absence of experience with other lenses though, because it's said that this lens is 86% lighter than the 70-200mm f/2.8L . Apparently, some people who have both versions seem to often take the f/4L version out with them instead on long sessions because of how bulky and heavy the f/2.8 version is.

Since this is your journal, I don't want to clutter it up with my own pictures, but I'll put one here that I thought was neat. I haven't had the time to go anywhere interesting yet, so I just ran out back yesterday and took some random pictures. This was one of my favorites (and one of the only ones that actually looks like it's more than just a point-n-shoot ).

The first one is the full picture, and the second is a 100% crop of that picture (sorry it's a tad wider than the standard, but I couldn't help it). I definitely can't get a shot like this with the kit lens. Setting aside that this particular shot is 118mm, despite the kit's max of 55mm, and setting aside that it may be possible, but I'm just a noob.

Oh and Happy Anniversary! It's really nice to see how much in love you guys still are, even after 22 years together.

[John Stone]

Lisa parents came over to celebrate our 17th anniversary with us. We had a lot of fun, as we always do together. I'm so lucky to have such amazing in-laws.

Canon EOS 60D with a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF lens.

My wonderful father-in-law, Don, no doubt laughing at something incredibly witty that I just said.



Lisa's parent bought us this awesome patio set as an anniversary gift!



A shot from back by the pond's waterfall.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

Next on my list is its perfect complement, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L.

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

The lens is definitely big and heavy compared to the 18-55mm kit lens, but it's worth it, and not a complaint! We have to note my absence of experience with other lenses though, because it's said that this lens is 86% lighter than the 70-200mm f/2.8L . Apparently, some people who have both versions seem to often take the f/4L version out with them instead on long sessions because of how bulky and heavy the f/2.8 version is.

That's a huge difference!

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

The first one is the full picture, and the second is a 100% crop of that picture (sorry it's a tad wider than the standard, but I couldn't help it). I definitely can't get a shot like this with the kit lens. Setting aside that this particular shot is 118mm, despite the kit's max of 55mm, and setting aside that it may be possible, but I'm just a noob.

Real nice shot! Please don't worry about posting pictures here, I certainly don't mind. That said, if you start your own photography journal I'll definitely subscribe. Looking forward to seeing more. Enjoy!

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

Oh and Happy Anniversary! It's really nice to see how much in love you guys still are, even after 22 years together.

Thank you very much. Our relationship is not perfect, but I don't think anyone's is. We definitely are still very much in love, and that gets us over life's many humps.

[John Stone]

Canon EOS 60D with a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF lens.

Jeremiah the very shy and elusive Southern Leopard Frog makes a rare appearance!



There are currently (visually verified) at least 12 southern toads, 1 southern leopard frog, 2 Cuban tree frogs, hundreds of tadpoles and dozens of baby toads and baby tree frogs in and around our pond tonight. Can you spot the creatures that are visible in this one shot?

HINT: In this photo there are 3 Southern Toads, 2 baby tree frogs, 1 beetle and 1 damselfly exoskeleton.

[Seltzer]

Ecto, I own the 24-70 2.8L and it's my usual walk around lens. As I think I mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread I also own the 2.8L IS version of the 70-200 and while a great zoom, it is indeed a beast. Good thing I go to the gym.

John, that's a very nice anniversary present from your in-laws. Enjoy!

[John Stone]

From this morning's bike ride.

Canon EOS 60D with a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF lens.

A beautiful Fox Squirrel. After a few minutes he started hissing at me, probably thinking "I WAS HERE FIRST!"


One of my favorite Live Oaks.



A pair of Sandhill Cranes.

[John Stone]

Long daytime exposure of the pond's waterfall. I did not use a filter for this shot. I accomplished this photo by using a very low ISO (100), an extremely narrow aperture (f/40) and a 25 second shutter speed.

Canon EOS 60D with a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF lens.

[Ectomorphic]

Originally Posted by John Stone

Lisa's parent bought us this awesome patio set as an anniversary gift!

That table looks really nice. What brand and style patio set is that? We don't sell anything close to that nice where I work.

Originally Posted by Seltzer

Ecto, I own the 24-70 2.8L and it's my usual walk around lens. As I think I mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread I also own the 2.8L IS version of the 70-200 and while a great zoom, it is indeed a beast. Good thing I go to the gym.

I'm itching to get the 24-70! I hope to be able to get it before we go on vacation in September. It'd be really nice to be able to go between the 24-70 and 70-200 while we're out and not be limited to the just the 70-200.

Originally Posted by John Stone

Long daytime exposure of the pond's waterfall. I did not use a filter for this shot. I accomplished this photo by using a very low ISO (100), an extremely narrow aperture (f/40) and a 25 second shutter speed.

Canon EOS 60D with a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF lens.

Beautiful. Waterful shots are always a winner. If you were looking for something to frame or use a postcard, that's it right there.

Now the next trick is to do the opposite - freeze the action!

...although honestly, I do prefer the slowed-down ones like yours.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

That table looks really nice. What brand and style patio set is that? We don't sell anything close to that nice where I work.

The table, 2 swivel chairs and 4 dining chairs are all from the Garden Treasures' "Beach View"collection available at Lowes. The real stone table top is quite nice.

The 8'2" x 6'6 Rectangular Patio Umbrella is from Herrington's "Garden Treasures" collection, also available from Lowes.