VR
Hummingbird 1/60 sec, 200mm f/5.6 VR (on) hand-held
I’ve never owned a VR lens before, but after experimenting with the one that I just bought, I think that I’m convinced! I used to own a camera that had anti-shake technology. My Minolta A1 had a sensor that was mounted on an anti-shake mount. If your hands moved, which they always do, the anti-shake mechanism would counter it. Honestly, I never used it much because I always had my camera on a tripod.
VR lenses work the same way, expect that the anti-shake component is inside of the lens. The cool thing about a VR lens is that you can see it working. If you press the shutter partially, you’ll see the lens shake smooth out and the image will become quite stable. Nikon claims that with VR, you can get an extra 3 stops of exposure. That said, using the rule of thumb for shooting for acceptably sharp pictures of 1/focal length, if I have a 200mm lens, I would have to shoot at 1/200 second or higher to get a reasonably sharp picture. Nikon says that I can shoot 3 stops less than that, or 1/25 of a second! We’ll see.
My Nikon 50-200mm f/4-5.6 arrived on the doorstep on Monday. I couldn’t wait to get it out into the field. I headed for my favorite shooting location, Reedy Creek. My intention was to shoot some flowers just to see how it worked. However, I found better material as the sun was heading below the treetops, very dense shadows began to fill most of the park. I set my ISO at 400 to ensure that I had some low shutter speeds. I was shooting with my D40. Yikes, it’s been a while since I’ve shot with my D2X 
Probably about a week! 
Here is the result of one of my experiments. First the VR:
200mm f/5.6@ 1/13 second hand-held VR(on)
Now, the non-VR. This is the best that I could do under the same conditions, same lens, without VR turned on. I took about 6 shots and chose the best one.
200mm f/5.6@ 1/13 second hand-held VR (off)
As you can see, there is a marked difference in the shots. VR could mean the difference between getting the shot and not!
Heres another: 1/6 second @50mm f/5.6 hand held VR on.
Mind you, I’m not saying that you should go out and buy one, but … it is a worthwhile investment to spend an extra $80 to get the VR rather than the regular lens, if you can afford it. Your mileage may vary. The sharpness of the shot depends on how good is your technique and how much your hands shake. Mind shake a lot, but I have decent techniques including a soft shutter press and decent breathing. It’s not a cure-all and won’t work for all situations, but it sure gives you a lot more breathing room to shoot!
If you are interested in how the technology works, here is a link to an explanation.
Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer–Nat King Cole
Well, I don’t know if anything about the day was lazy, considering that I walked 6.5 miles and my wife, 7.5 miles, but it was hazy! The day started off with me and my ace companion, Hobbs, going for our usual 2 mile morning walk. We probably do it about 3 times a week, sometimes more. Later in the day, I decided to join my wife for her normal Saturday/Sunday walk in Jetton Park. Each loop around the park is 1.5 miles. She usually does between 3-5, yesterday was a 5 loop day for her. I joined her for the first 3 loops, then broke off to do some photography.
The day was warm, hazy, and humid. There were plenty of people in the park, boats anchored just off shore, people swimming, laughing, talking, and just enjoying a nice day. As is her custom, my wife started off doing a bit of yoga prior to beginning her walk, which gave me even more opportunities to have a look around and take a few pictures. First, I stood and watched her, admiring how there was no self consciousness at all. A few people walked by gawking as she did her poses, but this didn’t bother her in the least.
After I finished my portion of the walk, totaling 4.5 miles, I found a comfortable bench on the sand, and watched the boats. It was nice. I sat near the outdoor shower and feet washing station, so there were plenty of people to see. I even met a new friend! Here you can see her attempting to get a drink of water, one shoe on, one off. Her father was attempting to take her shoes off so that he could clean them, but she was more interested playing with the water and having a drink.
After he finished cleaning her shoes and feet, he told her not to go back onto the sand; So, as he was getting stuff together, she toddled on over to me and said hello. She was so sweet. She gave me a small Tonka toy that she had found, shook me hand, and then toddled on back over to the shower to be washed again. That just made my day.
About an hour later, my wife finished her last 2 loops and it was time to go. I had a great time, but was a little tired. I’ll have to participate in more such outings. It’s hard to believe that August is nearly upon us and soon school will be back in session, which will signal the end of summer. My, how time does fly!
The silver lining
On November 6th, 2006 I rejoined Bank of America after having taken 5 months off. I started in a new department with a new attitude. Of course, when I arrived in this department, I didn’t know anyone. Correction, I knew Rajesh. I had worked with him in my previous department. Actually, we didn’t work together on any projects, but we worked for the same manager. I knew who he was, but didn’t know him well. At that time, he was a friend and roommate of another coworker of mine, Sachin.
Changing jobs always means finding someone new to hang out with at lunch, during breaks, through the day. Oh yeah, there is some work involved too, but that’s incidental to the social aspect!
Anyway, I got my new seat and was sitting on what I called Contractor Alley. This is where most of the contractors sat. We were stacked right next to each other with our backs to an isle. Here is a picture of Chetana, my neighbor, who sat right next to me on my left. The picture is taken from my seat. She’s within easy reach.
Erica
On my right, sat Erica. A little further to my right sat Vishal. During the first 2 months, November and December, none of us had anything to do. Heck, I didn’t even have a login ID for the first 7 weeks! So, during that time, we just basically talked all day, got to know each other, and bonded. We were close. Over the next several months we became fast friends. You’d always see Paul, Erica, and Chetana. We’d take breaks together, eat lunch together, and usually leave for home at the same time. We had a good time. Sometimes Rajesh would eat with us, but he was really busy at that time, so most of the time it was just the 3 of us in the break room at lunch time, eating and laughing it up. Usually we were laughing about Erica’s escapades and, believe me, she had many.
Sometime around the beginning of June, Erica got notice that her project had run out of money and that she had 2 weeks remaining. Her last day would be around June 8th. Also around this time, Chetana was about to go on vacation to India for 5 weeks, starting June 15th. Lastly, we found out that someone at USCIS has screwed up Vishal’s visa and that he would have to return to India until it was resolved. Suddenly, in the space of about 1 week we went from 4 to 1.
It was going to be a lonely ride for the next 5 weeks until my neighbor, Chetana, returned. As that day approached, I was eagerly anticipating it. It was a big part of my day to talk about our kids and spouses, etc. She was to return on July 16th. On the morning of the 16th at about 8:30 AM she called to say that while she was on vacation, they had terminated her contract and that she would not be returning. I was crushed. Instantly, I felt sorry for myself, thinking, what am I going to do?! I came out of that quickly and asked her if she would like for me to refer her to other recruiters. She said yes.
Chetana
During the next week, I was at my wits end. I was very sad. I had lost 3 people whom I really cared for. It radically changed my days, but only because I let it. I confided in my wife about how I felt and she said that she was sorry for my loss, but perhaps something good would come of it and that there was a lesson in there somewhere. I reluctantly agreed.
Also during this time, my wife was going through some of her own introspection and was very quiet. It was like everyone that I cared about had vanished, not true, but that’s the spin that my mind put on it.
Rajesh
The silver lining for this whole ordeal was that I am learning to appreciate my own company and I have a new friend. Rajesh and I are becoming really good friends, at least I think so. I am some 15 years older than he, but we share a lot of the same ideals and thoughts about life. I learn a lot from him. We have lunch together every day and sometimes we discuss deep topics, sometimes we just sit and eat quietly. So, without this total ‘meltdown’ of my support system, I don’t think that I would have had / taken the opportunity to get to know him as well as I have so far.
Tanas, the KING of Drama!
We had a little reunion yesterday. It was good to see my friends, whom I am sincerely glad that I met. Chetana even brought her son, Tanas, who was full of drama. He was quite bored and wanted to go home and play video games.
So, you see, it was all a matter of how I accepted the situation. Initially rejecting it and thinking that it should not have happened to me, but then finally coming to acceptance and then the world was in balance, once again.
Visitors
Serious business
A view from the office window. Sometimes, when the light is coming up and the birds are coming out for their morning meals, I open my office window, from which I have removed the screen, place my camera in the opening, don the 200-500mm lens, and sit quietly. I enjoy watching the birds come to the feeder and walk around the ground getting their meals.
The baby
It is a great reminder to not worry about anything. All will be provided. If I don’t feed them, they’ll get food elsewhere, I know. However, I like to feed them because I consider it an honor to have them in my backyard.
Enjoy your weekend!
A new visitor!
My most frequent visitor
A young Tufted Titmouse
Rajesh, yes I Dew!
I was having lunch today with my coworker and friend, Rajesh. We got to talking about photography somehow Our topics usually revolve around 3 things: Photography, girls, and philosophy. He’s a single guy, so you know, the topic must steer towards girls sometimes. Today’s topic was photography, for a while. Anyway, he asked me if I took my camera to work everyday. My answer, was of course, yes!
OK, Rajesh, here’s why! I never know what I will see. Most days it’s nothing, but today I was on the way out the door, heard some loud hip-hop music, looked to the right, and saw a basketball tournament/event going on. Guess what?! It was free! So, camera in hand, I went over there and started taking pictures and got some free chewing gum samples! I stayed for about 45 minutes, watched some basketball, listen to some music, and watched the rollerblade guys do some jumps.
Mind you, my D40 is not a sports camera, but it did the job! At a blazing 2.5 frames per second, as compared to the D2X at 8fps, I missed a few shots, but I got a few too! You should have been there. It was fun!
It was partially sponsored by Mountain Dew. Dew the Dew!!! Keep that camera with you!
A glimpse of what could be …
Temporal
Each morning, before going to work I start my day by sitting in my favorite spot, reading a book, and listening to the morning awaken. This is a habit that I have gotten into this summer while school is out. During the school year, it’s up at 5:45 AM and out the door by 6:45, drop my son off at school at 7:05, in to work by 7:30. Rigorous. The evenings are the reverse. Pick him up from school after basketball practice, come home, cook, etc, try to squeeze in some time for reading and for going to the YMCA … oh, yeah, and Hobbs likes to go for a walk, too. Then, there’s that thing called photography. Oh yeah, I’m married too!
Compassion
So, at this time of year, there is a relative amount of peace. There is time to observe, contemplate, and just be. I’m finding that I really like that time. Time to “be”.
Lately, I’ve been making a more conscious effort to be aware. When I’m eating, I’m just eating, not eating and reading. While reading, just reading. While giving my wife a kiss, just giving her a kiss … totally mindless as to what is my schedule. My thought on this one thing in particular is what could be more important, at this time, than putting everything that I have into that kiss? No, I’m not talking about a kiss for sexual gain, but merely a kiss to show affection, appreciation, and love. For what better way can I show that importance than giving my significant other my total time and attention in that brief moment? If it makes me 20 seconds later to work, so be it. They’ll have to wait!
Random Thoughts
So, yesterday was an exemplar of what could be. In the morning, although I had to shorten my normal “be” time, I had the pleasure to view the birds on the feeder and on the ground. I got to see a mother bird feed her, not so small, baby. I had the opportunity to get rained on while I was out taking pictures after work. This gave me an opportunity to smell the ozone in the air, see raindrops fall upon a small pond, feel the breeze blow through the trees, and hear the leaves rustle overhead.
I had the pleasure of reading some passages from the Tao Te Ching. I have never read it and I just bought a copy yesterday. Fantastic! Anyway, it was a great day … each and every single moment of it. So now, it’s 5:45 AM and time to go fill the feeder, head to that favorite spot on the couch, read a bit, and wait for the world to awaken.
#12 From the Tao:
The five colors make one blind in the eyes
The five sounds make one deaf in the ears
The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouthRacing and hunting make one wild in the heart
Goods that are difficult to acquire make one cause damageTherefore the sages care for the stomach and not the eyes
That is why they discard the other and take this
No better words have I ever heard to describe simple living. Something to contemplate, if you choose.
Critter Cam
Well, it’s been a while since I’ve shown a picture of a critter. Each morning, before going to work, I like to sit and read next to one of the windows in my living room. From there I can see the critters in the backyard. They’re a pleasure to watch and are sometimes quite noisy, but fun to hear nonetheless.
Recently, I changed bird foods and what a difference that made! I bought some birdseed that was ‘chock full of bugs’. It had freeze dried meal worms. You’d think that I put some type of ambrosia out there! They just can’t get enough of it. I only bought a 5 pound bag and in a space of about 3 days; it’s almost gone! I’ve started to mix it with hefty amounts of black oil sunflower seeds!
Anyway, just something light and fun today.