Wildlife Photography - I like Birds

If you want to explore shutter priority on your shiny new DSLR everyone will tell you, this mode is best for sport and wildlife (including children). Anything that moves quickly and you want to freeze the action takes a fast shutter speed, 1/500th of a second or 1/1000 of a second upwards. Shutter Priority is one of the modes on most DSLRS of which there are P, A, S and M usually. PASM stands for Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, and Manual. These are the four primary shooting modes. These modes let you manually set one control and the camera automatically adjusts the rest. Except for Manual because as the name suggests its all set manually. For the others three you need to understand the relationship between 1. ISO, light sensitivity 2. Aperture, the amount of light let in through the lens and 3. Shutter Speed, the length of time the shutter is open. Camera Porn has a good article to help understand titled Relationship Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed – The Good Kind of Threesome. Anyway here are some first tries at the mode with birds.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 250, 190mm f2.8, 1/1000 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 280, 190mm f2.8, 1/1000 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 800, 200mm f2.8, 1/1000 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f2.8, 1/1000 sec

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The Bay Walk

Walking along the dog friendly 'Bay Run' on the way to Cafe Bones this morning I took these images at Dobroyd Point in Iron Cove Sydney Harbour looking North East. Be sure to follow the underlined links as there is more information I have linked to at other sites.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f8, 1/400 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f8, 1/1600 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 900, 35mm f8, 1/60 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 200mm f8, 1/80 sec

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Lá Fhéile Pádraig

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland since before the 1600s. It was also believed to have served as a one day break during Lent, which would involve drinking alcohol, during the catholic forty day period of fasting.

Visit to Rivendell

On the southern bank of the Parramatta River is an imposing red brick building nestling in spacious lawns, this is Rivendell, originally the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 26mm f7.1, 1/200 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 75mm f7.1, HDR

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Just like the The Lord of the Rings location of the same name it was a place of refuge and healing. It is one of only two institutional building complexes in Australia to have survived from the 19th century. Well known commercial structures that survive that were built in this architectural style are Taronga Zoo, Pyrmont Bridge and Grace Brothers Broadway.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 40mm f22, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f8, 1/400 sec

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It was built as a convalescent hospital by philanthropist Thomas Walker in the late 19th century and designed by John Sulman in the Queen Anne style of architecture featuring columned courtyards with fountains. 'Internally reflecting the influence of Florence Nightingale on 19th century hospital organisation, its grounds are an intact example of older style institutional gardens.' Quote by Heritage NSW

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f8, HDR

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On the banks of the Parramatta river is a brick jetty or landing called a water gate that is flanked by a pair of Cook's pines.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 70mm f8, 1/200 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f8, HDR

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Driveways extend from the water gate along the shore and then curve up to the hospital's wings, encircled by areas of lawn planted with pines, Araucarias and figs.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f8, HDR

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f8, HDR

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And one from yesteryear???

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 18mm f8, 1/500 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 200, 75mm f7.1, 1/160 sec

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Hermione - Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 @ ISO 400, 34mm f4.2, 1/60 sec

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Hermione had a specific post in April 2009 on this blog (here) but these pictures are more recent of her walks around the leash free dog park in Leichardt Sydney, the site of the famous Cafe Bones. Not that Hermione has a 'pupachino' (a stock based drink with froth on top and a sprinkle of herbs) we just walk.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/640 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f5.6, 1/200 sec

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Bourbon or Whiskey?

While having a bourbon tonight I thought I'd do some research. In the USA Rye whiskey was most popular before prohibition, more popular than bourbon, especially in the East of New York. After prohibition, few if any of the New York distilleries came back, at least not as whiskey producers.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/320 sec

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Vodka was very popular in the post war era, and was most successful in New York as was gin and this is why New York was always more of a cocktail town than a straight spirits town, that is with the exception of Irish whiskey, due to the huge Irish population.

In the USA Bourbon has always been right up there with college football, Nascar and weak canned beer and only the more affluent drinkers explored the wonders and complexities of single malt whiskey's made in the style of scotch and Irish. The taste of Bourbon begins with a distinctive sweetness turning spicy and peppery with clear fruitiness then mellow into a creamy caramel toffee with highlights of citrus. Whiskey on the other hand is sweet on the tip of the tongue but salty and sour at the sides and a dry or even bitter finish.

Tennessee whiskey, like Jack Daniel’s, which is essentially made like bourbon until it is filtered through a layer of maple charcoal, at which point it becomes Tennessee whiskey.