Around the stables

My girlfriend is mad about horses, for me is something new. There was a local event that I went to visit on invite from my friends and wondered around the stables not knowing what to look for, photographically.


Nikkor-P 105mm f2.5 RF  1/1600sec

I had to be cautions enough to know when a horse was not happy having my big lens pointed too close to his body.


refitted Sony Precision Projection 60mm f1.5  1/200sec (adapted here)

 I loved the people around the horses: genuine and unpretentious, friendly and approachable. A warm rural atmosphere pervaded the event.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4   1/500sec 

I was also there walking around with the most ridiculous refitted lens that I have tried to date. It was awkward to handle as it was never intended to be fitted onto a camera but the results I achieved were worthy of the trouble.


refitted Sony Precision Projection 60mm f1.5 (?)  1/1250sec


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Man up

A group of men chatting after exercise, outside. No alcohol :-)


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @ f2.8  1/2500sec

I am usually too shy to ask strangers for a photo but reading the back of the guy's T-shirt made me do it :-)
I wanted a particular expression from the men chatting and after a minute or so they stopped feeling my presence. I took a few images with a vintage manual focus 50mm lens that provided the visual separation from the background.

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The hardy flowers

Most of the ground flowers have finished blooming and I could see pods of seeds where before there was color.
The delicate soft petaled flowers were gone as the heat of summer is now present most days.
New flowers, much more hardy, are now appearing.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @f4 1/6000 sec

This one remind of the typical high-mountain Edelweiss with its velvety petals


SMC Takumar 50mm  f1.4  1/8000 sec


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Ready for dinner

As the light starts to soften and the day comes to an end, there is more time to relax around camp.
The shelter is ready and dinner will be started soon.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4   @f4  1/60sec

Spending the night out in nature is one of the simple things that add value to my life.

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Company

Photography for me can be an almost spiritual experience.
When the light is soft in a calm setting I get to experience a dream.
Looking down on the screen of my camera I create images of moments that later I can relive.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  1/6000sec

I love to have company with me, to share the experience and later recall it.

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Heavy dew on the moth

Early morning, waiting for the dew to evaporate.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @f2.8  1/90sec

Waking up in nature

I make sure I can leave the city already on a Friday night to then drive for a few hours, West, into the bush.
A short walk in the dark and set up camp, sometimes late.
It's all worth it, for waking up on the weekend one more morning in nature .


Lumix G 14mm  f5.6 1/180sec



SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 @2.8  1/1500sec

Lyrebird

I was very excited when I came across this feather on my trip.
I often hear the lyrebird singing and mimicking other birds but they are very elusive and they are easily startled.  Feeding on the ground of the canopy I see their digging looking for insect and worms but only twice I have managed to spot them.

The structure of the lyrebird feather, close up, is fascinating
It seems that the combination of fluff and stiffer feather might be from a juvenile bird.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @f8  1/30sec


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @f11  1sec

Fascination with the web

There are things in nature that are so delicate and incredibly masterly constructed, without any plans.
Perfectly spaced tiny strings of silk at the mercy of the elements, relentlessly reconstructed over and over again as wind and passing animals seem to carelessly ignore.
The art of the spider is grossly unappreciated.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  1/750sec


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  1/3000sec


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  1/1500sec