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Mini-Series - Wilderness Beach Scenes - Sun May 22 (17)
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PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 5:12 am    Post subject: Mini-Series - Wilderness Beach Scenes - Sun May 22 (17) Reply with quote
Hi All: I am starting a little "mini-series" here of some recent images
from the Olympic National Park wilderness beaches that I visited
last week. I took so many pictures with the X100 that I thought
I should put these into a mini-series form.

I was lucky enough to be there at one of the lowest tides of the year,
and so I could access the incredible variety of life and COLORS of
the lowest part of the intertidal zone. These colors and patterns blew
me away! Shocked It's a different world, indeed.

So here is the first image of the series, and you'll notice the (1) in the
subject line above. When I add another, it will go to (2) and so on, in
case anyone actually wants to follow along. Laughing

Colors have NOT been enhanced. It's a virtual kaleidoscope in this
world below the low tide average. In fact, I've truly had to LOWER
the saturation on a few of them in order to not look like they
were enhanced. When the sunlight hits these plants and animals
in a backlight angle, they glow like a laser beam is hitting them.

The patterns and edges are something I haven't seen before. It's
interesting that when the sun is not hitting these, they are moderately
colorful. But when the sun DOES hit them, they light up like a Christmas
tree.

It was a lot of work trying to carefully navigate without damaging the
ecosystem. I took off my boots and wore tennis shoes to avoid
any possible crushing. It was very slow and careful traveling, and I
usually needed to gently separate the flora with my shoes to be able to
stand on rock or sand underneath. I feel that I was successful in not
damaging anything, but my back and legs are sore from the unusual
positions.


Rainbow Kelp, Kirschner's Whelk, Yellowleaf Tiberion, and
Many Other Organisms That I Don't Recognize - From the
Ultra Subtidal Zone, 3.2 Feet Below Mean Low Tide
Fuji X100
Shocked

Last edited by Laurence on Mon May 23, 2011 5:20 am; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow, what colors. Whatever it is on the right looks chrome plated.


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
amazing shot larry, one of your best imho. composition and settings cannot be improved, and the otherworldly subject doesnt hurt either!

i wonder, do you find yourself neglecting your pentax?

also, ive read many reviews criticising fuji AF, esp as you move closer to the subject, or generally in low light/low contrast areas. what are your thoughts!


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Schnauzer wrote:
Wow, what colors. Whatever it is on the right looks chrome plated.


"Chrome plated" is a GREAT description. I didn't catch it quite at
maximum light, but at times it was very metallic looking indeed.


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
rbelyell wrote:
amazing shot larry, one of your best imho. composition and settings cannot be improved, and the otherworldly subject doesnt hurt either!

i wonder, do you find yourself neglecting your pentax?

also, ive read many reviews criticising fuji AF, esp as you move closer to the subject, or generally in low light/low contrast areas. what are your thoughts!


No way am I neglecting the Pentax. Laughing In fact, I'm waiting for 3 rolls of
220 to be developed from this same trip. Overall, I haven't found anything
to match the transparencies in total "color mass" and "richness of colors".
Besides, I feel like the Pentax is a familiar friend, I think you know what
I mean. Wink

The AF in the X100 is, IMHO, about "middle of the road" as far as speed.
There are times when it hesitates to "lock on" in darker shots. As far as
closeups are concerned, it never seems to have to hunt for the focus, at
least in my experience. Also, I just keep it in Macro mode for anything
closer than a meter or so. I think that some of the problem is because
shooters try to take shots too close in "normal" mode, and the camera
has a difficult time locking in. I have compared a few closeup shots both
in normal mode and macro mode. I experienced delays and missed
focus in normal mode, but when I switched it to Macro mode, it was
accurate and didn't have to hunt.

That said, I think it has a problem, especially for
street shooting - it doesn't turn on very fast, even in "quick turn-on"
mode. I would say anywhere from 1 to 2 seconds, which COULD result
in a missed shot where you wanted to catch a person's expression at
"the moment".

I have heard some buzz about firmware to take care of that,
and if so, that would be a great benefit. The designers certainly made a
mistake in the area of speedy activation.

Of course, it doesn't bother me, because my mode of shooting is different
than street shooting. I will try some street shots though, just to see what
the fuss is all about.


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jeez, they ought to pay you, I think your set of pics and posts are the most effective marketing there is! Beautiful, the variation in tone is fabulous.


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mesmerizing image Larry!
Looking forward to seeing some more.


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nesster wrote:
Jeez, they ought to pay you, I think your set of pics and posts are the most effective marketing there is! Beautiful, the variation in tone is fabulous.


You are too kind, Nesster. Smile Remember, I didn't "make" the scenery, it
was already there. The camera took care of the variations in tone, so all
I REALLY had to do was point and shoot.


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Himself wrote:
Mesmerizing image Larry!
Looking forward to seeing some more.


Thanks Yourself, Himself! (A piss poor attempt at a joke from me). Razz

I will post more for sure, because if I don't, then this will not be a mini-
series. (Another lame attempt at humor from me). Laughing


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
WOW, it's almost alien-like, simply amazing!


PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2011 11:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
NikonD wrote:
.. alien-like,...!


That's exactly the word, I was thinking at Giger.


PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2011 3:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
A couple more from the wilderness beach.

The sunlight was filtered through a hazy sky in this shot.
Radiant Line
Fuji X100




A cropped image from the same area as the first image in this series.
I wish I had stopped down a little more to increase the depth of field.

Fuji X100


PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2011 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wonderful shots. That X100 truly delivers!!


PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2011 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Amazingly clear images!


PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2011 6:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
kds315* wrote:
Wonderful shots. That X100 truly delivers!!


Klaus! I wasn't too sure about this camera, being the "first run" of a new
model and all the repurcussions possible with system problems. But I
am actually very happy with this camera. There are things that Fuji
should have thought of, especially if you are a street shooter, but for my
style it's a really fine, lightweight, and efficient tool.

I had some internal questions about the efficacy of a single "35mm" lens.
But, I have found my self enjoying tremendously the single focal length.
It seems to make me "look" more for the next shot, rather than stop and
think "well, which lens would work best for the shot I have in mind?". I
have been able in most situations to just get closer or farther away from
the subject using my feet, and that has opened new framing possibilities.

Sometimes I'll be moving forward to get very close, but then I'll find out
that somewhere BEFORE I was originally going to shoot from, that there
is another possibly good composition right where I'm stopped.

Does that make ANY sense? Laughing

Also, I feel that the lens is as good as any of my best lenses. As you
know, I consider the CV Apo-Lanthar 90/3.5 SL as the best lens I have.
But this lens DOES give it a run for the money. The 90/3.5 still seems to
have the "edge" on the edges (pun intended), and has SUCH an overall
beautiful timbre to the color values.

What is REALLY nice is that the 90/3.5 is yet another "fixed" focal
point that has allowed me to "zoom with my feet" with the same
results mentioned above. So, in essence, I have two tools - one digital
and one film - that have wonderful lenses that can stay on the camera
all day, while I personally "compensate" for the focal length.

I am beginning to feel that the Fuji is making me start to think better, and
hopefully shoot better in the long run, at least in the digital realm.


PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
LucisPictor wrote:
Amazingly clear images!


Thanks as always, Carsten. I always have had some kind of "mindset"
about the little tiny lenses like the one on this camera, would never
somehow produce results as good as the big, heavy pieces of glass
and metal - say, like the Sonnar 180/2.8. It must be something in my
brain that says "bigger is better" when it comes to lenses? Confused

But of COURSE it makes sense that it's all in the engineering and design
and not in the size. I'm starting to be convinced that these mini-lenses
are just as good. The brain is hard to change, sometimes. Laughing And, of
course, there is no reasoning at all behind my mindset. It's just me. Very Happy


PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
NikonD wrote:
WOW, it's almost alien-like, simply amazing!


Hey Roman...a GREAT description. I FELT like I was walking in an alien
landscape. Smile


PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I was trying all day to get the lens to show flare, with no luck. I thought
for SURE this would give some flare, but it didn't do the trick either. This
is not a shot for beauty - it was simply a "flare test".

Flare Test
Fuji X100





The sun had just cleared the tree tops in the forest behind me, and was
lighting up the seastacks and islands. I rather liked the driftwood in the
foreground, so took a shot.

Early Morning Behind the Driftwood
Fuji X100





Once in a while you come across a tripod with a Pentax645 and Zeiss
Jena Sonnar 180/2.8 attached, growing right out of the sand. It's a rare
sight to see. No flowers or anything, just metal and glass. Laughing

Camera Outfit Growing Out of the Sand
Fuji X100






The kelp and sea grasses wash up to the high tide line, and thus we get
a good opportunity to photograph them. They will live through the low
tide, and when the wash out to sea again, they will carry on with their
life.

Kelp and Sea Grasses
Fuji X100





I thought the little feather, along with the Yellow-Tipped Kelp, made a
nice little scene.

Feather
Fuji X100





Simply a kaleidoscope of Color!

Kaleidoscope
Fuji X100





The foam was swirling around, so I went to black and white mode to try
to make an abstract. Never mind that the shadow of the tripod was
showing! Haha! Laughing

Black and White Swirl
Fuji X100





Sea Stars and a Bunch of Other Stuff





Kelp Fronds and Assorted Organisms





Colorful Blanket Over the Rock - Sidelight
Fuji X100





More Rainbow Kelp Catching the Sun
Fuji X100





And, of course, you can't leave the seashore without a shot of a Sea
Anemone.

Sea Anemone
Fuji X100





Sea Anemones and Sea Stars
Fuji X100





Green Sea Grass and Sea Star Colony
Fuji X100

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