Seriously thoughtful What's out in your garden now ....

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

[vent] Gonna be at least a few days before I'll be able to make more garden photos. I dropped my camera from my office chair (around a foot and a half fall to a wooden floor.) Thought it would be no problem-- it has been dropped before-- but it could no longer read the MemorySticks. Tried everything short of dissecting the camera before having to dissect the camera and try reseating all ribbon cables. But then it wouldn't work at all after putting it back together again. I don't know what Sony would charge to fix an 8-year-old camera, or if they would fix it at all, but it wouldn't be cheap. [/vent]

I paid $1000 for that Sony F707 in 2002. Looked on Ebay and ordered a used one (with 7-day return policy) for $85 including shipping. I suspect the new used one will be in better shape than my old one was pre-break. Probably very few of that model were in active use for 8 years-- I see I took around 19,100 photos with it in that time.

During my time without a camera, I expect visits from Bigfoot, Little Green Men, a pink unicorn, and possibly Godzilla.

That impoverishes us all. Your photos are great! They will be missed!

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

[vent] Gonna be at least a few days before I'll be able to make more garden photos. I dropped my camera from my office chair (around a foot and a half fall to a wooden floor.) Thought it would be no problem-- it has been dropped before-- but it could no longer read the MemorySticks. Tried everything short of dissecting the camera before having to dissect the camera and try reseating all ribbon cables. But then it wouldn't work at all after putting it back together again. I don't know what Sony would charge to fix an 8-year-old camera, or if they would fix it at all, but it wouldn't be cheap. [/vent]

I paid $1000 for that Sony F707 in 2002. Looked on Ebay and ordered a used one (with 7-day return policy) for $85 including shipping. I suspect the new used one will be in better shape than my old one was pre-break. Probably very few of that model were in active use for 8 years-- I see I took around 19,100 photos with it in that time.

During my time without a camera, I expect visits from Bigfoot, Little Green Men, a pink unicorn, and possibly Godzilla.

Oh no! I'll miss my daily fix of cute spider pics! How is the little gray guy? You didn't let the big black one eat him?

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Is that the Sony that does good IR photography?

Yes. It has a "night shot" mode that would be much more powerful if they didn't deliberately cripple lots of the settings in that mode because that feature in an earlier model could be used to see through people's clothes.

http://www.eso.org/~rfosbury/home/ph...maging_ir.html
http://www.bermangraphics.com/coolpi...gallery707.htm

Also, the swivel body allows me to make macro images that I simply couldn't make with a fixed position lens like on a DSLR-- most of my plant and insect close-ups are taken at angles that would either demand that I either take the photos "blind" or be a contortionist dwarf. Hence, rather than wanting a new model, I want another of the same 8-year-old camera.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Oh no! I'll miss my daily fix of cute spider pics! How is the little gray guy? You didn't let the big black one eat him?

He's fine. The black spider ignored him completely and walked away. He didn't learn The Secret Of The Free Food.

After the camera broke today I saw a much less cute jumper-- much more elongated body, arrowhead shaped abdomen, lacked the laid-back personality of the other two (jumped like crazy when I got near it.)

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Yes. It has a "night shot" mode that would be much more powerful if they didn't deliberately cripple lots of the settings in that mode because that feature in an earlier model could be used to see through people's clothes.

http://www.eso.org/~rfosbury/home/ph...maging_ir.html
http://www.bermangraphics.com/coolpi...gallery707.htm

Also, the swivel body allows me to make macro images that I simply couldn't make with a fixed position lens like on a DSLR-- most of my plant and insect close-ups are taken at angles that would either demand that I either take the photos "blind" or be a contortionist dwarf. Hence, rather than wanting a new model, I want another of the same 8-year-old camera.

IR photos are a style I often enjoy (I like b&w in the first place, and like the "fantasy" element IR adds, while subtracting). I'm a DSLR person now, though currently shooting film through a rangefinder, however my first digital camera was an Olympus c5050z (I still have it). I loved its limited swivel screen (later models got less limited, which would have been nice), for the reason mentioned (also, I like candid people photos, which the swivel is great for) and its ("Super-") macro mode is great (with the extended DoF of a small sensor making garden macros carry much detail, as yours show).

I did try some IR with it, but was not impressed with the results. It has not the sensitivity to IR as yours. Still, perhaps I gave up too early. I should use its macro again - I got some nice, detailed, sharp garden shots from that, thanks to its close-focussing and swivel screen.

Cheers,
Marc

[Lady Blue]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

[vent] Gonna be at least a few days before I'll be able to make more garden photos. I dropped my camera from my office chair (around a foot and a half fall to a wooden floor.) Thought it would be no problem-- it has been dropped before-- but it could no longer read the MemorySticks. Tried everything short of dissecting the camera before having to dissect the camera and try reseating all ribbon cables. But then it wouldn't work at all after putting it back together again. I don't know what Sony would charge to fix an 8-year-old camera, or if they would fix it at all, but it wouldn't be cheap. [/vent]

I paid $1000 for that Sony F707 in 2002. Looked on Ebay and ordered a used one (with 7-day return policy) for $85 including shipping. I suspect the new used one will be in better shape than my old one was pre-break. Probably very few of that model were in active use for 8 years-- I see I took around 19,100 photos with it in that time.

During my time without a camera, I expect visits from Bigfoot, Little Green Men, a pink unicorn, and possibly Godzilla.

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Yes. It has a "night shot" mode that would be much more powerful if they didn't deliberately cripple lots of the settings in that mode because that feature in an earlier model could be used to see through people's clothes.

http://www.eso.org/~rfosbury/home/ph...maging_ir.html
http://www.bermangraphics.com/coolpi...gallery707.htm

Also, the swivel body allows me to make macro images that I simply couldn't make with a fixed position lens like on a DSLR-- most of my plant and insect close-ups are taken at angles that would either demand that I either take the photos "blind" or be a contortionist dwarf. Hence, rather than wanting a new model, I want another of the same 8-year-old camera.

Such a shame about your broken camera.

I have a Sony F707 also, and still love using it, for all the same reasons you stated, especially the swivel lense/body mechanism. I do macro shots too (some insects, some gecko porn, etc.) and the lense tilt ability is invaluable. I have a later model Sony that has the same feature, but I still love the simplicity of, and results from the 707.

I hope your replacement camera is a good one and you won't be disappointed. We want to see more of your work.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Ha!

I must say that yes, I'm the stupid squirrels best friend. (as well as the birds) The squirrels are constantly after the bird seed....

I must say though I just had an encounter with a squirrel on my walk to the park that had thrown me into a different frame of mind about them....won't say more now as it may turn up in a poem.....

we shall hold you to that ....

Originally Posted by montsnmags

IR photos are a style I often enjoy (I like b&w in the first place, and like the "fantasy" element IR adds, while subtracting). I'm a DSLR person now, though currently shooting film through a rangefinder, however my first digital camera was an Olympus c5050z (I still have it). I loved its limited swivel screen (later models got less limited, which would have been nice), for the reason mentioned (also, I like candid people photos, which the swivel is great for) and its ("Super-") macro mode is great (with the extended DoF of a small sensor making garden macros carry much detail, as yours show).

I did try some IR with it, but was not impressed with the results. It has not the sensitivity to IR as yours. Still, perhaps I gave up too early. I should use its macro again - I got some nice, detailed, sharp garden shots from that, thanks to its close-focussing and swivel screen.

Cheers,
Marc

fuji have a dedicated (or did have) IR camera.

I've recently purchased a couple filters to give IR a trial - when I get some sunshine !!!!

Do you know why your results were not "impressive" Marc; there are a reasonable number of good photos using filters, many tutorials hint at setting the white balance to show green as white (in full sunshine) - and being patient .....

[ardeegee]

While without camera, I've been sorting through some old photos. I hope you won't mind me posting what was out in my garden in July 2007.

I have no idea what these bugs are (though they look to be true bugs) and I have no idea what weed they were feeding on the seed pods of.



The rest of the shots.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

While without camera, I've been sorting through some old photos. I hope you won't mind me posting what was out in my garden in July 2007.

I have no idea what these bugs are (though they look to be true bugs) and I have no idea what weed they were feeding on the seed pods of.



The rest of the shots.

There are so many species there, it looks like a rainbow coalition of insects convention!

And I for one, don't mind you posting what was in your garden at all! Thanks for the wonderful pictures!

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

There are so many species there, it looks like a rainbow coalition of insects convention!

One species, actually. Different growth stages of the same insect. And it turns out that a web site had identified both the bug and the plant for me back when the photos were new 3 years ago, and I utterly forgot. They are "scentless plant bugs" and what they were eating is an invasive species that they were introduced to control.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

One species, actually. Different growth stages of the same insect. And it turns out that a web site had identified both the bug and the plant for me back when the photos were new 3 years ago, and I utterly forgot. They are "scentless plant bugs" and what they were eating is an invasive species that they were introduced to control.

Really! That's lot of variation from one stage of growth to another. I could have sworn that it looked like a jumble of lady bugs, stink bug relatives, and larger beetle species. The explanation is nearly as fascinating as the picture!

Obviously I'm no Darwin when it comes to beetles!

[ardeegee]

Well, my replacement camera arrived, and as I speculated it is in better condition than my old one. My old camera looks like it has been in constant use for 8 years-- the new one looks like it has hardly been touched.

In celebration, I'll post some hard core porn!



(Taken today with the new camera.)

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Well, my replacement camera arrived, and as I speculated it is in better condition than my old one. My old camera looks like it has been in constant use for 8 years-- the new one looks like it has hardly been touched.

In celebration, I'll post some hard core porn!



(Taken today with the new camera.)

Congrats on the new/used super camera! That's a great shot.

Don't drop-test this one!

[kennyc]

Congrats!

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

...
The Loved One also put some more postcrete in the holes of the uprights for the new side retaining wall, and we'll probably start on the horizontals on Tuesday. The top garden formed by that will get some hoop pine mulch and some more golden cane palms.

The new side retaining wall, in stages (see attachments).

Uprights, then crossbars, then moving the fill back.

It still requires some levelling, some boards from each upright to the wall (to create a bit of stepping), and then there's hoop pine mulch and planting to be done (not to mention the lower bit getting some stepping stones and pebbles.

I have splinters and pains (I don't much like power tools, and the handsaw has worn me out), but it's good to have the bulk of it done.

Cheers,
Marc