A week ago between bouts of a rotten double case of a flu/cold, whatever it was, thinking some warm sun would make me feel better, I set out to use my new Nikon D-90 Camera, officially for the first time.
I will admit to something, I normally would not need to mention. That weekend I sucked at taking photos. I read the manual and read the D-90 for Dummies from cover to cover while I was so sick, reading seemed to be a good escape. They titled that book just right!
So I (still with total nasal and chest congestion) loaded myself down with a heavy camera bag, a heavy tripod that I practically needed wheels to move and headed out on my day's journey to bring you some gorgeous photos of the desert, the magnificent snow covered mountains and anything else I would see along the way that might impress you with the beauty of the desert.
So as I go about my drive, I spot a stunning desert scape entrance to an exclusive enclave of custom homes and figured this would be a good place to start.
I had only taken a couple of photos when I realized this was not going to work out as planned. For reasons I won't get into, I made those couple clicks of my camera the end of that session and moved on. I came to an area I recalled seeing before of a wonderful water fountain and thought a great time to try and capture running water looking soft and cloud like using my telephoto lens, a low ISO and an ND6 filter to further blur the water motion.
The day was wearing on as fast as my body was giving out but I had yet to capture the gorgeous mountains, palm trees and all the lush green all around with the snow capped mountains.
I put on the telephoto lens again, made the corrections in switches and settings and got set up as the clouds and the sun were playing tag with each other and the clouds were clearly winning. Through the monitor (in live view) and with my eyes all bleary from my sinus infection, it was not until that evening when I looked at the cache of the day's take, only to discover nothing was in focus.
If it weren't so sad it would be funny. My concern is that after using the big telephoto lens twice, nothing came out in focus and the lens may actually have been damaged somehow in shipment. Well, that is the saga of my first efforts with my new camera. So having not had anything to post and certainly nothing photographed that I am even remotely considering keeping much less posting, that is the story of the many colors of an amazing technicolor cactus and the lacking photos of the great snow capped desert mountains. As for the water fall, OOF. ( out of focus)
There is a moral in this story somewhere, just haven't isolated as yet, LOL.
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William, the cactus is luscious. I have never seen those colors in one. We have been playing with cloudy skies since coming to VA a couple of days ago - this afternoon the sun broke out and we were so happy! Got a few good shots with my iPhone - it was all we had :)
Hi Sharon, It was a cool looking cactus to someone that thinks cactus is just tall and prickly and " seen one, seen them all". Actually just being cute here beause there are some gorgeous cactus varieties out there and many of the species even bloom. I have one variety on my patio that blooms so robustly with about 70, 10" blooms, I have been taking cuttings of it and giving it to friends.
Hi William,
So sorry to hear you've been so under the weather lately. I was myself 2X, there's lot's going around, take care of yourself.
As for your photo, I love the color. I had a cactus myself like that, but I lost it to a disease about 6 months ago, it broker my heart.
Hey man !
It's a great shot that, I'm wondering if the camera that you are on the picture is the Nikon D-90 or not? I've not done any research on cameras lately, I'm working with an old olympus that it's good for my real estate needs, but I'm really wondering what can I do to get better shots like yours :)
Hi William. I'm sorry to hear you've been sick, but there is no need to apologize for sending us this neat cactus photo, just because it isn't the one you wanted to take. I like this one. I wondered why you hadn't been posting for awhile. Be careful that you don't try to do too much too soon - we don't want you to wind up back in bed!
Hi William..I was wondering where you were, great to see you back on your feet. Your Photo from your New Camera looks awesome to me...well done :O))
William - Despite your commentary and trials, this is a wonderful photo. You have more patience than I do with your camera. Hope you are feeling human again - I finally am.
Jeff
Your cactus photo has inspired me to stop by a couple of local gardens in search of spring blooms. I know it won't be long and you'll be getting some spectacular shots with the D-90.
William, that looks a lot like the technicolor prickly-pear cactus that is so prevalent here in this area - only bigger...
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Hello William,
I am glad that you are feeling better! I too have had those days. I really like the photo of the cactus. It is so colorful. What type of camera did you get? We use a Cannon Xi40D and love them. I am always curious what type of equipment fellow photographers use. Take care and enjoy your Sunday!
Dawn
William.
Or, should I say "William, the ActiveRain Hubble".
Despite your infirmity, it appears that you got at least one good shot, although it appear that the one good shot wasn't in the desert.
Perhaps the lesson is that there are many worthwhile photo scenes right in our back yards.
William, I have been sick myself, same type of thing. I didn't even try to take out the camera and was stuck inside the house. I can't believe you made the attempt, but at least got a photo of a many colored cactus!
I hope you feel better soon, this is taking too long for me and I am not enjoying it one bit. I am without inspiration and motivation, the few posts I did took me forever to do. I spilled a full cup of coffee and a full cup of orange juice in the same spot this morning. Every remote control I own is now covered in sticky stuff, I still feel like I am underwater and am ready to give up! Holding my beloved camera? No way!
William,
Even when I'm healthy, all those camera settings would make my head spin. Hope the sunshine during your outing helped you recover!
William, I think the cactus photo is beautiful. All the nuances of color came through. Your efforts were worth the end result!
I use the simple to use cameras and pray that I can take a photo half one fourth as good as yours. I hope that you are feeling better.
Cacti are so foreign to us Easterners -- and beautiful to look at! Thanks for sharing that great photo.
I like the photo. I lived in So Cal for some 15 years and really enjoy the desert.
Glad you're feeling better and love the shot-I don't get to see any where I live and this one is just beautiful-love all the different colors fading in and out.
Hi William, I never thought cactus can be so pretty! It was well worth your efforts!
Nice shot! I didn't know that they changed colors! Hope you have a great day!
William...
Sounds like the image sensor may not be correctly positioned. BTW, as you probably already know, there are two buttons on every Nikon with green dots. Hold them down simultaneously for a few seconds and your camera will return to factory defaults.
I would send the lens back. :) It takes me months to pick out a lens and I often rent them so I can field test them before buying . . I shouldn't say often, I have had DSLR cameras for a little over three years and in that time have purchased 3 lenses. One doesn't count because it was only 80 dollars and is still my fav. Another doesn't really count because it is the wide angle lens I need for architecture. The third that I just bought and am in love with is a zoom lens with a kind of wide. They classify it as a wide angle telephoto. It has a ultrasonic motor and an imagine stablilizer. I have not takes it off the camera since it arrive six weeks ago. But serisously lenses are expensive. send it back!
Looks good enough to eat. Seeing I have never seen a cactus in real life, that's about the closest I've gotten so far. One of my photographically attunded agents was also looking to invest in the same camera. I'd like to see you post another as a review of the camera when you've had a little more time to explore countryside and camera with a clear head.
William,
Love that shot, there is an area on 101 heading towards Camarillo, where the hills are covered in cactus similar to your photo, and it is amazingly beautiful. Thanks for your upoclose and personal photo. All the best.
William,
It was not about the camera, which you would certainly figure out soon. It was about getting out feeling still sick and trying to manage the task to push the sickness away.
Did that work?
Hope it did
See? You should have bought a Canon! LOL
Your beautiful cactus is the purple prickly pear (Opuntia santa-rita). Head on over to the San Diego Zoo, which is also a world-class botanical gardens, and you can see this one:
It's down in Cat Trail (formerly Cat Canyon).
Beautiful!! MORE!!!
Okay ,William Johnson ,but if I had not read your post I would have said the photos were beautiful as always!It's fields and barns and bay here in Southern Maryland so cactus with color catches my eye!
Hi Lynda, After nearly five weeks ( with 3 or 4 days of feeling that I had recovered in between, this was the worst bout of cold /flu I can ever remember). I hope you made a full and complete recovery. I am sort of limbo, still with it but functional. Don't want to over do it because that is how the second round stated and it was a real loo loo.
Yesterday I was out showing homes to a Buyer that had been very patient as I went through the worst of the ordeal.
I think it was going to take more than sun to to arrest it, :-)
Somewhere in my foggy head, I knew the name of this cactus ( Prickly Pear) but when recall wouldn't produce it, I referred to it by description. The other side of this cactus as I recall was also very colorful. Didn't get that shot as it was straight uphill looking into the sun.
I usually never give up so easily but when I realized I was being filmed, I thought it best to move on, :-)
You mentioned that you lost your cactus to disease. The varieties I have have some sections in them that also look like they have been attacked. Perhaps there is also an insect that goes after them. Cactus are pretty easy to get new starter plants. I have one that booms in the most incredible color of Pink/Reds and the bloom is thick and about 6 or 7 inches. I am hoping this late summer it will bloom again. I would have already photographed it but it bloomed while I was on my trip to Lake Tahoe . Odd time of year for a bloom, but once it decides, I think that 's it. lol.
Hi Ray, The camera in that Photo is the Pentax. I bought that one in May 09 but wanted the more robust D-90 after learning to use my first SLR. Still have it but may put that one up n Craig's List one day.
Nice picture of the cactus. You may be right about your lens being damaged. My camera bag fell out of the car when I opened the door recently and all appeared fine until I started taking pictures of two new listings and the right side of each photo was slightly blurry. It will cost $200 for them to take apart and repair the lens. So be careful about knocking the camera around, even if it is in a padded bag.
Hi William -- Being from the midwest, I love seeing the landscape of other places...in focus or out! :)
William-hope you are feeling better! Love the shot of the cactus. I didn't know that particular type would have those colors. Looks in focus to me! LOL
William:
However you achieved that "Amazing Technicolor Cactus" the result was worthwhile.
Hi Susan, I think I am in recovery mood and glad to finally be on the mend. Still congested but but able to be working again ( as of yesterday).
Thankfully I got at least a couple photos to share and glad you liked this one. It always makes feel uncomfortable when I can't ge at least a couple posts up a week. With all the pent up things going on and with so much I would like to talk about , don't be surprised if I start getting caught up with my posting. The last time I looked I had about a half dozen in draft mode and I haven't even started on the short sale material I have been gathering.
Here in CA with the state law on debt foregiveness not in parallel with current ( though temporary )Federal law, there are going to be some homeowners that have quite a revelation in store. REALTORS tell their clients to get accounting and tax advise and I fear many didn't , only to discover they may be in debt to the state after successfully completing their short sales.
Hi Fred, Thanks for dropping by. I am so glad to be in recovery mode and as for the photo, I took this with another lens. It was the telephoto lens that just seems out of alignment. I hope to get it checked out this next week and hope it is actually human error and doesn't have to replaced.
William, you must have read something right. That picture is great.
Hi Jeff, I remember talking to you just before I got sick the second time. And this time it was a real dandy. But at least as of yesterday, I think I am clearly on the mend. Patience is a virtue that of late, I may actually be in short supply of, LOL.
Very nice and reminds me of some of Mike in Arizona's cactus pictures! A thorny but surprisingly beautiful subject!
Just got back from Arizona visiting my pops, your photo just reminded me of what a great time I had visiting him. The moral of the story in this photo is that many can relate to it in their own special way! Thanks William, hope all is well with you and the fam. :-)
William - Very cool photo. The desert in the spring is a very awesome place. (I know San Diego is not quite the desert but if you go a little east...wow) :<) ~Doug
Nice picture though... my ratio is about 6 (good pics) out of 100... Something about your camera and lens just need to get to know you maybe ;0) My camera is very moody. It works great some days, and others, no matter what I try is sent directly to the digital waste bin. Hope you feel better soon.
I really like the photo - it's great, and visually interesting. And I'm jealous that you have a new camera - I just bought a new one too, but couldn't work the one I really wanted into the budget this year.
Hi William, Sorry about the first outing not going so well. I upgraded to the D80 and it is amazing. You might want to consider a Sigma 10-20 wide angle and a strobe for the interior shots we agents need to make.
Hi William, Sorry about the first outing not going so well. I upgraded to the D80 and it is amazing. You might want to consider a Sigma 10-20 wide angle and a strobe for the interior shots we agents need to make.
William,
Nice photo. I need to upgrade my current camera and lens for outdoor scenery, and wide angle shots. I wished the learning curve was a bit easier, but that is what manuals and classes are for.
It sounds like you may have a damaged lens. But great shot of the cactus anyway.
When I read your title, 'technicolor cactus', then saw in the first line that you'd been sick, I thought what you 'saw' was going to be fever or drug induced, LOL. But it's nice that it really is a colorful, prickly thing.
Hi William - Please get better soon - we miss you! As for the lens - if it came to you damaged, send it back! I can't think of anything more frustating than finding out all your photos are out of focus. Take care!
Debi
HI William - so sorry that you have been sick.. The cactus is beautiful though. Hope you feel better soon. And I agree wtih Debi, if it is damaged, then it should be returned!
I've heard of a prickly pear, but never actually seen one before. And I had no idea that they were so colorful.
Hope you have a full recovery very soon!!!
William - Are we having fun yet? Well are we? Just a suggestion about your lens. I was getting out of focus pictures in my first shots taken with the Nikon D90. . .Then I switched the VR on, and things have been better between us:-) Your cactus photo above is great! I'm already loving these cameras - it's just that they're more powerful and sophisticated than I am!
"Nothing was in focus" WOW, I'm not the only one that spends a day taking out-of-focus pictures. It doesn't beat the time we spent about an hour with screaming, un cooperative kids taking Christmas pictures, only to find my brother never put the memory card in. If that wasn't a company camera I think it would have been gone that day.
Hope you are feeling better... and BIF Back in Focus! The cactus is gorgeous... funny how it can look so pretty yet be so prickly! Thanks for sharing the moment!
William---the colors remind me of "interference" paint colors----very cool.
Amazing Colors of Cactus, I agree. Nice photot.
Here's one more: How about a nice looking virtual tour. Taken by Patrick Devine on a Nikon D90, Sigma lens and the virtual tour is powered by VPiX (vee-pix) a brand new High definition kind of virtual tour system.
http://www.vpix.net/index.php?tour=15
-- Bart Wilson
Voyager International
William glad to hear you're in recovery mode. I can so relate to 'one of those days' when nada seems to go right or work right - that's the surrender moment I've come to appreciate.
You did get one good shot. I've got a huge cactus just like that one in my front yard - it's gorgeous and when it blooms it's amazing. I'll have to take some shots - might be awhile yet.
Intereting and lovely.....thanks for the pic today, I always enjoy your photos.
Patricia/Seacoast NH
Great information. Your Picture is absolutely beautiful. Thanks
Hello:
That is a beautiful photo of an amazing subject cactus! Wow, I have never seen anything like it!
I love this cactus.... have them in my front yard! Kathy
I love this cactus.... have them in my front yard! Kathy
Of course, with you there need not be a moral to the story...just telling your tale was entertaining indeed.
I'm so glad you're better than you were last week.... HUGS...
Thank you all for your wonderful well wishes and appreciating this 1st photographic effort with the new camera.
William,
Thanks for letting me know about the differences, one day when you and me have time you will tell me differences, etc :) the robust stuff about each one ! :P
Hi William, I still enjoyed the story nevertheless although you can't back it up the with photos. Hope you are feeling better!
Hi Sylvia, Today , I feel like it is all but out of my system. And thanks for dropping over and glad you enjoyed the story. Seems many identify a bit with it. New toys , expecially cameras , at least the more complex ones , have a real learning curve associated with them. But I am getting the hang of it and I think I actually discovered what the problem was. There was a wind that day and the movement of the palm trees confused the focus settings and I didn't account for that movement. My depth of field was not set correctly and the palm frons movement in the foreground makes the photo look out of focus. Had there been no noticable wind, I might have squeeked through without anything appearing out of focus. I also set the ISO too low, which allowed the movement to be captured with a slower shutter speed.
Sounds like you felt just rotten, William, but you still managed to capture a nice photo of a very interesting specimen! Too bad about the blurry eyes and other photo ops missed!
Hi Deena,
The wonderful thing about life is that many opportunities missed actually repeat themselves. I'll be ready :-)
I was trying to verify through your comments that this cactus was a prickly pear and looks like Michael Thornton verified it!!
Sounds like you traded one bug in for the shutter bug ;)
Loving the technicolor cactus, and glad to see you are back on your feet after the bug got you! No need for a "point" to the post, the cactus has enough to go around!