The judgement

"Yes, but that is Photoshopped..."  with a consternated tone of voice.


refitted projection lens Will-Wetzlar Maginon 85mm f2.8   1/125sec

So, if those images were created in camera, would it have more value?
If one works magic with in-camera settings, plays with lenses that are unusual, uses unconventional angles and cleverly crops an image, is then held in higher esteem?

I have that discussion often when on topic of editing: some are up in arms that images are manipulated but perfectly accept black and white ones :-)
To me however sounds like ignorance and laziness; somebody's defense for unskilled results.

*PS for the record, above image was created in camera....

Bubbles in the forest

The sun was shining through a gap in the rainforest canopy lighting up the soft flowers.
An old Russian manual-focus lens helped create the bubbles.


Helios 44M-7  58mm f2  1/3200sec

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Fence post

I live in a city but I long for the country.
It is so difficult to find some open space with tall grass and an old fence.


Cintagon 35mm f4.5  1/500sec


Cintagon 35mm f4.5  1/320sec

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Bokeh of a vintage lens

A 50 year old vintage lens from Germany is my favorite one for close-up photography.
It renders the out-of-focus areas with a creamy bokeh and tends to create "bubbles" on the highlights.
Mounted with extension rings it is often used hand held on my mirrorless cameras.



Often images look closer to watercolors than photographs; the shallow depth of field has blurry backgrounds with edges that seem to "bleed" softly into the next color.



The Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9 is a manual focus lens, very small in size compared to modern lenses. Not exceptionally sharp, it might not please the perfectionist wanting to achieve details in every twig or grass blade but it is the lens that I regularly take on my outdoor trips to recreate the "feel" of  a place more than just accurately record it.



Somebody once said: I am not interested in image quality, I am interested in quality images.

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Park session

Only now that I am rediscovering the joy of manual focus lenses I started to seek locations where action is not the essence to create an image.


Russian lens, Jupiter-9 85mm f2  (@f5.6)  1/180sec

The hidden natural little gems of the numerous parks in my city allow me to explore the creativity and challenges that vintage manual focus lenses offer.
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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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Tender parenting.

Almost human like, the kangaroo's relationship with its youngster seems so tender.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec

This mob lives by the sea, feeding on very lush grassy fields. The wet climate makes their life much easier and with very few predators to fear from they are particularly tame despite being wild and free.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  @f5.6  1/125sec

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Beach flower

Is this plant representing the Australian spirit that bewares the sun? It faces its flowers away from the harsh rays, exactly the opposite of a sunflower.
Maybe there is different reason, something to do with pollination? but I was struck by the flowers all facing away from the sun.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9   @f4  1/350sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9   @f4  1/350sec

Heavy dew on the moth

Early morning, waiting for the dew to evaporate.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @f2.8  1/90sec

Leaves

It has been years, actually more than a decade, that I took a visit to the botanical gardens, however I clearly remember that photographically I could not "see" the beauty around me then.
This time the shapes and light on the little things caught my eye much easier.

Blood leaf, Iresine species

Helios 44-2 50mm   f2  1/1000sec

Never Never Plant, Ctenanthe species

Zenit Helios 44-2  58mm   f4  1/180sec

First light in the grass

The night has left just a veil of dew that quickly evaporates at the touch of the first sunlight.


Lumix G 14mm  f13 1/30sec

End of winter

The last frosts are just about gone and the days are getting warmer.
Soon the dry winter grass will be replaced by fresh new sprouts.


Lumix G 14mm   f6.7  1/125sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm   f2.9  1/180sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm   f2.9  1/180sec

Spring wildflowers

Only a few flowers were still blooming, I missed their peak in late August.
Spring comes early in South East Queensland even if frosty nights are common.
Wildflowers are tiny but the smell can be pervasive.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm  f2.9  1/350sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm  f2.9  1/1000sec


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm  f4  1/350sec

I challenged myself to use a vintage lens that I adapted to fit onto my modern Olympus camera.

There is no autofocus and the lens is prone to flare; getting a sharp image was a combination of luck, careful selection of subject and lighting. As the lens was placed really closely to the flowers I moved my camera back and forward to obtain focus on my subjects. I am not a fan of tripods as the moment and light usually pass while setting one up. I prefer free-hand allowing me to quickly position the camera in unusual spots.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm  f5.6  1/750sec

Late sunset in Åland

After a day of rough seas, pulling into this little natural harbor was a real relief.
I called it the Japanese Garden, where ponds and low vegetation is arranged in almost a made-made form. The small gentle waves were only a reminder of the big seas earlier in the day.


M.Zuiko 14-42EZ  f4.5  1/6sec (handheld)

The sun seemed to never set, just skirted to horizon, hiding behind the light clouds
We were tired and half asleep when the light outside the tent changed and started to glow.

Midnight sun

This image was taken while dreaming of being in the land of the midnight sun.


M.Zuiko 75mm f3.2  1/400sec

And now I am making new images, in that very place where the night sky never comes.

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Evening walk with my sister

I wanted to get out of the house but I did not feel like driving for hours to get out of the city.
I rarely explore the countless parks that this great city offers and today I decided to visit one that promised to have uninterrupted views of the river.
Little I knew that the river was not going to be the focus this afternoon.


M.Zuiko 40-150mm   f4.6  1/500sec



M.Zuiko 45mm   f2.8  1/1250sec


M.Zuiko 75mm   f2.2  1/800sec



my sister; we share a passion for images

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Winter grass

I tried for the first time a new lens over the weekend.
I wanted to capture the soft red grass that seems to grow only in winter.
As the sun neared the horizon the back-lit stalks glistened in the evening light.


M.Zuiko 75mm   f4 1/1600sec


M.Zuiko 75mm   f6.3 1/2000sec


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