More Long Lens Images

This morning we are up a little earlier, before dawn, by the time we arrive at the lower lot. Today is a hill day starting on Frog, then up Mushroom, to Pinecone, Momentum, Crackerpants, Meadow, then down Sled back to the truck.

Especially nice are the four inches of snow on the mountain from last night. Not a ton but very good for this winter so far. The snow clung softly to the trees and spread across the open spaces on the forest floor. A soft crunch underfoot and the only tracks we encountered were deer, rabbits, and squirrels. We had the forest to ourselves for most of the two hours we were out.

Again I had along my camera and new lens along with a tripod. Tripods really slow things down but the morning was sunless and dim as we set off. Once the light kindled and we had climbed most of the hill I unpacked the tripod and assembled it with the camera. For the rest of the morning I would leave it erected and slung over my shoulder. I find this helps encourage me to try more photos, not having to pack and unpack the thing each time. It is sometimes cumbersome and also means I need to stow my hiking poles.

This first image I took at f5.6 and f16 with a tripod. The version at f16 I chose as it helps the douglas fir trunk behind the ponderosa trunk is also in focus.

Next I found this image of a rotten tree that continues to fascinate me for its form and textures. I tried the two extremes of f5.6 and f32. The f32 is very sharp despite diffraction. The long shutter speed is of course not possible without a tripod.

A larch tree top down slope from me set this up with a mountain backdrop.

These cedar fronds formed a pleasing pattern over the trail. Here I had to stop down to f22 and pray for no breezes during the fourteen second exposure.

These small larch I had to crop to get a better composition.

Finally a photo I am not inclined to take. The lens led me to this view of a bench across the meadow under a paper birch. I took one at f5.6 and another at f16. I prefer the one at f16 as it helps to keep in focus the small larch on the right side of the image I used to balance the composition with.

I am pleased with these. The tripod is definitely an asset with this lens. The ball head mount however has to go. It is not sturdy enough for this combination and frustratingly slowly sags at times. The ball head has the advantage of weight, but that seems about all.