The morning dew was heavy today, and this daisy fleabane blossom seems to have every millimeter of its surface covered with it—almost as if it had gotten the Fabergé treatment!
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm lens, ISO 800, f/20, 1/250″ exposure.
As the rain came down off of our front porch roof, it dripped on to the hostas growing below. Water was pooling on the leaves and cascading from their very functional tips. I struggled with the proper shutter speed to capture this as the leaves themselves were moving quite a bit as the rain hit them. This 1/500″ exposure just about captures it…
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-120mm lens @ 68mm, ISO 2500, f/6.3, 1/500″ exposure.
I saw this morning glory blossom floating on the surface of our pond, but it wasn’t until I’d zoomed in close that I noticed the fine puckering of the water around its edges due to the surface tension. I was about to change lenses when I heard a rush of wind and the roar of rain coming in over the hill above our front field. I made it to cover just as the sky let loose. By the time the storm had passed, the blossom had been submerged.
Nikon D600, Sigma 140-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/250″ exposure
Nikon D600, Nikon 50mm lens, ISO 250, f/1.8, 1/400″ exposure.
The Valley Stage in Huntington, Vermont had a perfect day for its musical wonders. This field of black-eyed Susans was right next to the stage.
Nikon D600, Nikon 50mm lens, ISO 125, f/2.2, 1/2500″ exposure
Okay, I’m having waaay too much fun with my new 55mm lens. I’ve been working today to compose “in camera” without any cropping — using the constraints of the aspect ratio and the narrow depth of field to define my subject. I’m really enjoying this process. It feels much more intimate — like I have to get closer to my subject and be more deliberate about what I’m framing. It feel less “accidental”, allowing the lens to create the magic.
Nikon D600, Nikon 50mm lens, ISO 500, f/1.8, 1/3200″ exposure
More exploration with the new lens…
Nikon D600, Nikon 50mm lens, ISO 500, f/1.8, 1/800″ exposure
I recently acquired a new lens—a Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 prime. This is one of the shots taken on its inaugural tour around the house yesterday afternoon just before it started raining. I’m really enjoying the narrow depth of field afforded by the f/1.8 aperture. The bokeh is sweet too!
Aside from my trusty Sigma 105mm macro lens, this is the first prime lens I’ve ever owned. I have several zooms of various reaches, but I look forward to exploring the creative—and constraining—possibilities that the 50mm offers.
John Hadden Photography 