Good Morning =)

Lets get to know each other better. Here's a forum to post images and short autobiographies of ourselves as well as any other info you would like to post about yourself.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

johan
Posts: 1005
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:39 am
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Good Morning =)

Post by johan »

First of all let me say how glad I am to have found this site as it seems to me that the level of experience and knowledge far exceeds my own, as does the technical level. Fantastic!

I'm just your average middle-aged guy who is a bit of a photography nut. I moderate on a large photography forum so I suppose I'm reasonably knowledgable about Pentaxy things. Pentax, being the ugly duckling of the camera brands, is quite thin on specialised equipment such as the MPE-65 so we're forced to improvise with things like reversed lenses. This is quite a lot of fun and the results can occasionally be surprisingly good but also somewhat frustrating and a bit of a hit and miss affair. I wish that I had more time (and space!) to devote to my hobby but having children and a technology marketing job means I struggle to get in a few precious hours a week, sadly.

In terms of this site, I'm just hoping to absorb some of the knowledge so it's very much a case of shut up and listen, except where I might be able to pass on something useful.

In terms of macro, I've been doing 1-5x outside on flies, aphids for about a week and I'm encouraged by early results. Hard, but doable. With winter coming up I'm looking at acquiring the neccessaries to be able to do some quality focus stacking inside during the non insect months (ie a stage of some sort, top of the list), then using some of the flash/lighting experience and knowledge built up to be able to do some reasonable outside shots next spring. In particular, composition and background in field 1-5x shots are areas I'd like to work on, so lighting techniques etc.

Also, I need to build up a much better knowledge of where in the field to find colourful small creatures to photograph near me in Surrey, UK- I'm running out of flies in the garden.

Lastly, I do actually have a particular entomological interest which is lepidoptera - I used to do quite a bit of trapping and recording 5 years ago with my son when he was still interested and still have various traps and actinic lights in the shed. So once I'm competent I'd hope to do some lep shots. Of course leps arn't really 1-5x unless they're micro but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

johan
Posts: 1005
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:39 am
Contact:

Post by johan »

Well I guess this sums up my day, and entirely my own fault through an overenthusiastic attempt to participate - apologies, apologies and yet more apologies. I could grovel and scrape a bit more but I rather hope that's enough. I'm very embarrassed. I am rapidly learning that the things I thought I actually vaguely knew a bit about I actually don't. Which I must say isn't the most pleasant feeling in the world.

abpho
Posts: 1524
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:11 pm
Location: Earth

Post by abpho »

Welcome to the club. I am new here as well. Just getting my hands on my first objective lens and an enlarger lens. Looking forward to seeing how those turn out.

The hobby of experimenting with different lenses can get very expensive. I have but together a list of things to keep an eye open for. With the proper knowledge one can get that lucky find.

Hope to see some of your shots.

Cheers!

NikonUser
Posts: 2693
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
Location: southern New Brunswick, Canada

Post by NikonUser »

Johan,
I think you will find us a very friendly group but one that prides itself on being factual.
There is enough expertise here on all topics dealing with microscopes and macro photography that one has to be careful with factoids.
Even though certain posts may not generate any feedback you can be assured that such posts have endured close scrutiny and are likely to generate feedback when they are not 100% factual.
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

johan
Posts: 1005
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:39 am
Contact:

Post by johan »

Yes, thank you very much for that NU. It might surprise you to read that I have a reputation for, and also personally value, facts. Which is why I feel quite the prize prat. Entirely my own fault. I'm old and ugly enough to know better than to let enthusiasm get the better of me. I'm really not in the habit of throwing nonsense around so I can't believe I let myself fall into it like this. Way to go. What a way to introduce yourself. Genius.

*bonks self with mallet*

lauriek
Posts: 2402
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:57 am
Location: South East UK
Contact:

Post by lauriek »

Really don't sweat it, I've been here years now and NU, Rik et-al still correct me quite often! (though hopefully not quite as often as when I got here)

Some could argue we're a bit pedantic here but I'd prefer 'accurate'! ;)

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