Old Friend

Oh, my gosh, I forgot how much fun my good camera can be! Being stuck at home for the last year, I've resorted to using mostly the camera phone. I've carried the point and shoot more often since elbow/neck problems back in 2017 because it weighs less and doesn't aggravate the owies. The recent snow storms activated our Christmas cacti, and I couldn't get close enough with the iPhone. The macro on the point and shoot is a joke. So I pulled out the Big Gun.

I was so mesmerized by the photos and the ability to get close, I couldn't stop shooting!!! My third indoor tomato is taking off, and our hoya plants can feel the change in seasons. So much to shoot; so little time!!!

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New Eye

There are no icy cold snowflakes to photograph right now, and that might be a good thing, being as the garden is in summer mode now. However, I am very happy to report I finally saved up enough to replace my retired macro (close-up) lens!

Everyone at work last Friday told me to take lots of good pictures last weekend!

I tried! I've got a bunch of garden work to get done before true summer hits, but I did give this magnificent baby a bit of a workout!

I could hardly wait to use the new lens, so the first picture I took with it was of the first thing I saw after mounting the lens...


The second shot with the new lens...


That's one of my Mother's Day snowflake cakes from yesterday, and not even as close as the new lens gets. Pretty impressive!

I'm not going to wish the summer away, but I am looking forward to shooting genuine snowflakes with my new toy! (Maybe I'll just have to drive up to the mountains when it's storming up there...)

Photography is fun once again!!!

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Back in TIme

We took all the functioning cameras with us for the Deception Pass Classic. Yes, every darned one of them! We didn't get to take many pictures on the way to Washington through Yellowstone National Park on Day 2, thanks to an interstate road block on Day 1, and we didn't take many photos during the actual bicycle ride because... well, because we were riding!

The cameras went into full throttle after the ride, though, most particularly during our quick drive-through tour of Yellowstone on the way home. I shared some of my Little Cam vacation shots (plus a few more gems here) and Big Gun highlights a few days after we returned. Life got very much in the way of photographic pursuits for the next six or so weeks, and my Big Shot Nikon has been patiently waiting in the closet for the day I could afford to smother it with attention.

Last Saturday was that day.


Just look at all the secrets my newest used camera has been keeping!!!

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Family Portrait

This is the oldest member of Snowcatcher's family. Goes by the name of Big Gun. Dressed for snowflake and ladybug hunting. Three surgeries to date and still clicking, 146,000 photos strong. Can do anything, anytime, anywhere. Macros, telephotos, timed exposures, long exposures, weddings, portraits, wildlife, wildflowers, scenics, news, multiple exposures, you name it. Except movies. But who cares? Who needs movies? Don't believe anything other members of the family say about Big Gun. They're just jealous. Big Gun is THE king of the nest. Always has been. Always will be. Old but reliable.


This is Lizard's Little Cam. Acquired so Big Gun didn't have to go to work. Too much wear and tear on the old fogie. Little Cam can do movies. Ha ha ha ha! Adopted by Lizard after Snowcatcher's Little Cam, almost a twin, joined the family. Loves bikepacking. Healthy workhorse. Tougher and better-looking than the Olympus point-and-shoot it replaced, and shinier and sharper-dressed than the almost twin. Nanny nanny boo boo.


Snowcatcher's Little Cam joined the family last year when Snowcatcher discovered Lizard's Little Cam is afraid of the dark. Second-hand, cheap as dirt, but willing to stay up late for full moons, fireworks, star trails, lightning, light painting and Milky Ways. Only member of Snowcatcher's Nikon family with full transmission. (Sticks tongue out at almost twin while Mom isn't looking.)


Big Shot snuck into the family a couple of months ago while Big Gun was in surgery for the third time. Just in case. Cheap and easy. Second-hand but younger than Big Gun by about 125,000 shots. (Actuations in photojournalist lingo.) Previous family couldn't handle hefty 300-page manual. Can do anything Big Gun can do, but doesn't see much action because Big Gun is the favored child. No jealousy; just patiently hangs out for the opportune moment to cut in and make a scene. Literally. Shoots GREAT scenes. Once Snowcatcher figures out it can do snowflakes, too, lenses will roll. Makes no secret it plans to be the favored child when Big Gun retires once and for all.


Now you know the whole Snowcatcher family and the rest of the story. And if you believe these characters have such personality, we've got some old darkroom equipment, a used iPhone 4, a used iPhone 3, a broken tripod and six bicycles you can buy at a premium! Really!


PS: No, it's April 1, and they are NOT for sale.

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Gonna Be a Heartache Tonight

The Lizard was driving me home after a very difficult day of work. Several co-workers had called in sick. Everyone was busy. I didn't think I'd ever get out of there.

On the way home, the big, fat fluffy snowflakes falling on our windshield brought joy and peace to my soul. I couldn't wait to get home so I could try shooting some more macro shots with my year-old extension tubes.


Then the camera began malfunctioning again. It's been acting up for about three or four months. It began flashing an error message two or three minutes into each shoot. I usually could make the error message go away by twisting the lens all the way to the right, clockwise.

But not this time.

For several weeks, I'd thought it might be the lens. I thought the mount might be loose. I thought I could fix it with a tiny screwdriver.

Nope.

After the camera failed again while shooting snowflakes, a whole four shots, I tried another lens. And then another. No change.

The camera had simply ceased to function.

Time to go back into the shop.


On the very bright side, as The Lizard observed, better now than during my niece's wedding in a couple of months. This also allows time to take the camera back in to see if my beloved D300 can be repaired.

So off it goes. Hurry home, D... I can't smile well without you!

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Better Than Christmas

The Big Gun is home!!!

Sunrise on the Highline Canal with the iPhone:


Sunrise on the Highline Canal with the point-and-shoot:


Sunrise on the Highline Canal with my newly refurbished, brand new circuit board, Nikon D300:

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Dead Again

I woke up on Day of the Dead (a miracle in and of itself, eh?) to one of the most incredible November sunrises. Sun angle here in my neck of the plains-meet-foothills provides the most colorful sunrises and sunsets in November and April.

I jumped to grab the Big Gun, my Nikon D300, armed with big zoom, to capture the stunning light coming through the snowflake prism on my window.

But the Big Gun had other plans. It was celebrating Day of the Dead.


Come on, Little Guy, you can do better than that!


That's more like it!
So the unpredictable little Nikon, my P510, had to suffice. This gave the point-and-shoot the enormous burden of taking my mind off my tears long enough to capture that darned sunrise before it was over.


The little Nikon has trouble with macros and with vivid color, such as this gorgeous sunriset. It can't always focus close, and the manual focus is very difficult to use. Bright colors often are washed out. Using the little camera for these types of shots can be very frustrating or educational. Or both.










I will get to continue to experiment and learn with the little camera because the big one has to go back to the shop. Again. Six to eight more weeks. At least. If I'm lucky.

I'd already had the camera repaired following our return from the Tour de Lavender in August. I thought all was good in the world when I got the camera back, good as new, eight weeks later.

I noticed the battery life was growing shorter each time I used the camera. But I tried to pretend nothing was wrong. Because, you know, if you ignore the problem, it doesn't exist. Right?

Worst came to worst. The camera wouldn't power up at all on November 1, less than a month after I got it back from Nikon. Through five batteries. The Lizard checked each and every battery. All tested just fine.

It's the camera. Again.

I'm heartsick, but I guess I'm just numb enough from the last close call to weather this storm. The possibility exists the Big Gun cannot be fixed. I'm without it again for another two months, another painful waiting game, during another significant photographic season for me.

The gorgeous autumn color I had to shoot with the smaller Nikon this year taught me to be creative all over again, taught me to try outlandish things to force the little Nikon shots to turn out the way I could see them in real life. Or in my head.


Forcing Macro in Uneven Light


Forcing Macro in Good Light


Forcing Macro in Low Light
Now I'll get the opportunity to do that same substitute college course all over again in winter. I have to learn to manipulate the little Nikon so winter snows do not overpower the powerful light sensor on the smaller camera.

Lifelong learning is a good thing, right? Continually expanding your skills and exploring new territory helps prevent Alzheimer's, right?

May this be the sunrise to a new camera life. Not the sunset on an old, trusted friend. May this season of long winter's nap be the healing ground for the rebirth of and in spring.

Here's to high hopes for my best camera ever. Don't rest too long, Big Gun. Power up and power through, D3-Double 0. I know you can do it!


My first six months of owning a Nikon D300

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