Images from the Japanese Gardens in Fort Worth

[melev]

I made a quick trip to visit the Japanese Gardens earlier this week on December 2. The weather was in the 60s, the sun was out but dropping fast, and I had about an hour of shooting time.

Nikon D70S with the 18-70mm lens as well as a Macro 90mm, shot mostly in Auto, with a few in Scenic-mode.

 

[melev]

Here are a few more of my favorites.

 

[melev]

I'll probably post the rest on my site because fifty pictures in this thread may be unbearable.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Beautiful, I remember your trip to this place last year which was stunning as well.

 

[jnarowe]

sweet shots Marc. It must be tough to keep a Japanese Garden in Texas.

 

[Misled]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13894194#post13894194 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
Beautiful, I remember your trip to this place last year which was stunning as well.

X2, I really want to visit!!!!

 

[Recty]

Nice pictures, I especially like the first one focused on the red leafed tree and the blurred background with the bridge.

 

[crvz]

Killer pictures, Marc. I really like this one.

 

[melev]

Both of those pictures were taken with the 90mm macro lens. I didn't really expect it to be of much value at the gardens, but it turned out to be a pretty good choice for a few shots.

 

[Mykel Obvious]

I love this oil painting... uh, I mean photo

Very nice captures, Marc. Remember, the 90mm macro is just like using a regular 90mm prime that can also focus super close... good lens size to take mid-distance outdoor photos IMO (would work nice for portraits as well, either outdoors or inside if the room is large enough)

 

[melev]

I may try it again then. I need to pick up some cheapie polarizing filters to keep the lenses clean, and I want to do some research in the photography forum about taking pictures of night-time downtown pictures as well as christmas lights. I think it would be fun and a precursor for trying to get some decent shots next Fourth of July, as well as pictures of rushing water (water falls).

I'd like to expand my horizons a bit, but need to get much more familiar with the Nikon and do more reading first.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Its about that time of year to go Christmas light shooting isn't it? I just put mine up today.

 

[Mykel Obvious]

I think I'm ahead of you in reading, but WAY behind in actually taking photos... I'm p***ed off at the one lens I have due to a front focusing issue, and what with my personal economic downturn, looks like the new lens will have to wait till next spring/summer...

To capture the waterfall better: use Shutter Priority (Tv or S on most cameras)... you can set it as fast as possible (I think your Nikon has something crazy like 1/8000... but 1/2000 should be fast enough in most cases) to freeze the motion, or set it in the 1-2 second range to enhance the motion (need a tripod, lower ambient light and very little wind movement for that to work right)

Here's a basic waterfall primer: http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/waterfall-digital-photography/

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

You my friend need a Canon 50D, allowing you to correct lens front focus with the turn of a knob.

 

[Mykel Obvious]

:lol: yeah, my XTi don't got that for sure... but for the $1000ish price tag of the 50D body, I think I could buy a couple of real nice lenses that don't front focus and throw away my $80 50mm 1.8/f cheapie Heck, for about $900 more I could just get a 5D kit and be done with it :rollface:

I'd really love to have a 50D or even just a nice 100mm macro lens for my XTi, but if I had that much to blow I believe I would buy my reef an 8 bulb ATI Powermodule instead... just a slave to my tank I guess

 

[melev]

Mykel, my Nikon had a switch to the right of the LCD that allows you to change where it focuses, then you slide it to L to lock it. If you have the same option, perhaps that will help get you by?

I knew faster shutter speed would freeze the water, but I'd like to figure out how to shoot it so it looks like it is moving. I know the camera needs to be absolutely stable, and I have to figure out (simply haven't tried yet) how to keep the shutter open for a long time.

Then I could try pictures of the moon. Heck, maybe I could figure out how to use it with my telescope.

In the meantime, I need to look through some older threads here about taking pictures of twinkling lights, because this is the perfect time now.

 

[UrbanSage]

Wow Marc.
Those pictures are really great. Makes me want to visit right away

 

[klepto]

Great photos Marc, thanks for sharing! Gotta love those maples. A few of your shots reminded me of an image I took in Filoli Gardens, San Jose. Hope you don't mind the mini-jack...

 

[melev]

Nice picture! I didn't include one that I had with red leaves, but I'll dig through my originals and find one to post that is quite similar.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Pot goes in full blown trees now?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13897869#post13897869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by klepto