David Truland: Blog https://trulandphotography.com/blog en-us (C) David W. Truland (David Truland) Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:50:00 GMT Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:50:00 GMT https://trulandphotography.com/img/s/v-12/u744225306-o927594160-50.jpg David Truland: Blog https://trulandphotography.com/blog 96 120 It's Now a Lens Quintet https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/its-now-a-lens-quintet I could not pass up a deal I ran across to add a 24-105mm lens to my four RF STM prime lenses. Earlier this year I had three RF f/4 zoom lenses which, together, cost me about $3,600. The RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM alone has a list price of $1,600. But I then I decided to use Minolta manual focus lenses, then Canon EF L prime lenses, then inexpensive Canon RF STM prime lenses and the RF L zoom lenses went in exchange.

The RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens has a list price of $400 and Lens Rentals is selling their used copies in like new condition for $140. I took a chance that it would be good enough to use as a supplement to the STM prime lenses which I am enjoying, Today is my first use of the lens but it seems to be fine,

Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM at 24mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM at 46mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM at 24mm, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM at 35mm, f/11, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM at 35mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/its-now-a-lens-quintet Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:49:29 GMT Between the Battles II https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/between-the-battles-ii I had a nice 2 1/2 hour hike around the Saratoga Battlefield this morning, my first as an official park volunteer with a focus on the hiking trails. 

Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/10 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R6, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R6, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R6, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/between-the-battles-ii Sat, 23 Sep 2023 17:20:16 GMT Between the Battles https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/between-the-battles The 18 days between the battles of Saratoga is one of my favorite times of year to walk around the battlefield. During this time the British were fortifying their positions and the Americans were waiting behind their positions to see what would be the next British move.

It's a time of year with crisp, foggy mornings and warm afternoons. Unless it's raining. Today was nice and sunny and I ended up using the 28mm pancake lens as I drove along the tour road with some walks along the way.

Neilson FarmCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/4, 1/8000 sec., ISO 100. Neilson HouseCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Neilson FarmCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100. Barber WheatfieldCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100. Cropped. Barber WheatfieldCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Great RedoubtCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/between-the-battles Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:11:52 GMT Crisp September Day https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/crisp-september-day I had a brief chance to walk around Oakwood Cemetery with the downsized kit in a new backpack late this morning. I ended up using the 16mm lens. 

Canon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/22, 1/90 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/crisp-september-day Wed, 20 Sep 2023 17:17:19 GMT Almost Battle Time at Saratoga NHP https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/almost-battle-time-at-saratoga-nhp The first battle of Saratoga took place on September 19th, 1777. Several of the histories I've read include descriptions of the weather over the three weeks the armies were encamped at the location. Cold, wet and fog are common details. Difficulty moving cannon by horse and gun carriages are not hard to imagine when walking the muddy trails. 

Here are some scenes from this morning at the battlefield, two days before the 246th anniversary of the first battle.

Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/almost-battle-time-at-saratoga-nhp Sun, 17 Sep 2023 15:21:24 GMT Fall Forest Scenes https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/fall-forest-scenes Here are some still life photos from the woods at Grafton Lakes State Park this morning,

Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 1600. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/4, 1/180 sec., ISO 1600. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 1600. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/4, 1/90 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/fall-forest-scenes Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:09:37 GMT A Portrait Length Completes the New Lens Lineup https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/a-portrait-length-completes-the-new-lens-lineup The last of my inexpensive lens acquisitions arrived yesterday and I tested it out this morning. I especially wanted to use the claimed 8 stops of image stabilization on slow shutter speeds with moving water. The slowest of these are 1/15th of a second.

Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/20 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/15 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/4, 1/30 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/4, 1/15 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/90 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/a-portrait-length-completes-the-new-lens-lineup Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:01:49 GMT Another Lens Transition https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/another-lens-transition I wrote about a contemplated change in lens philosophy on the Gear Blog here. I tested out the first two incoming lenses this morning at a warm, muggy and foggy Grafton Lakes State Park. 

One lens, the RF 16mm f/2.8 STM I briefly owned before returning it back in July. Luckily, this lens is currently cheaper than back in July thanks to a special sale at B&H. The second lens is the RF 28mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens which is a new offering by Canon. My copy, in fact, was manufactured in July of this year.

Here are some shots with the two lenses from this morning,

Second PondCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/2.8, 1/90 sec., ISO 200. Second PondCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Second PondCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/4, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Shaver PondCanon EOS R6, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Shaver PondCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Shaver PondCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/another-lens-transition Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:23:47 GMT Day Four https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/day-four The nice stretch of weather continues despite some overnight rain. I decided to stay more local and visit Peebles Island State Park in Waterford. Peebles Island is a very small park and in order to get the kind of distance I've been looking for lately I have to also walk to the park. 

By zigzagging almost all of the trails on the island and including the walk back and forth I managed 5.64 miles. This is just shy of the 5.68 miles the other day at Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve but today's walk had 246 feet of elevation gain versus 21 feet for the flat nature preserve.

Here are some of the scenes from this morning.

Hudson RiverCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Cropped. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/6000 sec., ISO 100. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/90 sec., ISO 100.

UPDATE 9/5/23: The streak ended after four days as yesterday was overcast and parks would have been busy due to the holiday and this morning is similarly overcast and I am waiting on a FedEx delivery. 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/day-four Sun, 03 Sep 2023 14:30:17 GMT Day Three https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/day-three I began this nice stretch of weather with a hike around Long Pond at Grafton Lakes State Park on Thursday. I followed that up yesterday with a long hike at Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve and it's environs. This morning I walked the Wilkinson Trail at Saratoga National Historical Park, about five miles with a side detour if you start measuring from the parking lot. 

The summer like weather continues into next week as will my visits to local parks and trails. Here are some photos from this morning,

Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 38mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 38mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400.

Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/day-three Sat, 02 Sep 2023 16:06:06 GMT Fall's First Day https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/falls-first-day Meteorological Fall, that is. September and October are the best months for shooting outdoor locations and events and I'm looking forward to the next couple of months.

These two months are when the battles of Saratoga occurred in 1777 and reenactments are again being scheduled at Saratoga Battlefield and other parts of Saratoga National Historical Park for the first time since COVID. I also have a trip to the Maine coast scheduled. 

This morning I enjoyed a 5.7 mile hike along the old Erie Canal in Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve and west along a canal corporation road. Here is a graphic of the walk followed by some of the resulting images.

Screenshot

Vischer FerryCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Vischer FerryCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Vischer FerryCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Vischer FerryCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Vischer FerryCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 45mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/9/falls-first-day Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:54:34 GMT Summer's Last Day https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/summers-last-day Meteorological Summer, that is, although the next week is forecast to be very summer like with high temperatures approaching 90 degrees. I'm going to try and take advantage of the nice weather to check out a park or trail every day for the next week or so. 

Here are some images from Grafton Lakes State Park this morning.

Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2, 1/8000 sec., ISO 100. Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2.8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 100. Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2.8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 100. Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100. Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2.8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Second Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/summers-last-day Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:22:39 GMT Foggy Riverscapes https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/foggy-riverscapes It was nice and foggy this morning as I took a four mile walk around the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.

Old Water Intake Structure, Hudson RiverCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Waterford Boat Launch, Hudson RiverCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/1.4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200. Waterford HarborCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/2.8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/8, 1/30 sec., ISO 400. Lock E2Canon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/8, 1/190 sec., ISO 200. Lock E2Canon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 200. Lansingburgh Waterfront, Hudson RiverCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/foggy-riverscapes Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:57:10 GMT Saratoga Battlefield https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/saratoga-battlefield I visited the Saratoga Battlefield this morning for the first time since I gave up on the Minolta lenses and picked up some Canon EF lenses and the EOS 6D. I carried the 6D with the 24-70mm f/4 lens and the R6 with the 50mm f/1.2 lens.

All of this year's images from the Saratoga National Historical Park locations are in the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp2023.

Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 50mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Battlefield, Nielsen HouseCanon EOS 6D, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 42mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Battlefield, Nielsen HouseCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Battlefield, Nielsen HouseCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/1.2, 1/750 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/saratoga-battlefield Wed, 23 Aug 2023 18:05:49 GMT Northampton Beach https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/northampton-beach I've had better sunrise conditions but any time there's water in the scene there are possibilities. This morning I was at Northampton Beach State Park in the Adirondacks around sunrise time with two lenses and my EOS R6.

Canon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/northampton-beach Mon, 21 Aug 2023 13:29:38 GMT Robinson State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/robinson-state-park I continued to check out the 24-70mm zoom lens this morning at Robinson State Park in Agawam, Massachusetts. This is my second visit and I access the park via a trailhead away from the main entrance as parking for out of state cars is $30. Luckily, it's a nice trailhead with a farm to table retail store right across the road. 

Here are some shots from this morning:

Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, F/19, 1/20 sec., ISO 1600. Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 29mm, F/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, F/4, 1/90 sec., ISO 400. Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 41mm, F/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, F/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 27mm, F/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, F/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Robinson State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, F/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/robinson-state-park Sun, 06 Aug 2023 15:03:47 GMT A Lens Quartet? https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/a-lens-quartet One of the issues I've had with the fast prime lenses is having to decide on a lens or two when I'm not really focused on making artistic images and just want something along other than my iPhone. I came up with a possible solution and am renting an EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens for a week to see how it works.

I have owned two copies of this lens in the past and traded both of them in, most recently eleven months ago when I was switching back to R series bodies and lenses from my 5DS bodies. The lens is roughly the same size and weight as each of my three prime lenses and covers all the focal lengths plus 70mm with a closeup feature. 

Although at least three stops slower than my fast prime lenses, f/4 versus f/1.2 or f/1.4, for daytime editorial or documentary purposes it's a very good lens. The purchase price for the rental lens is lower than other options currently so if the lens works out over the coming weekend I'll take advantage of the opportunity to keep it. 

Here some shots from my 5.5 mile walk around the neighborhood this morning:

Hudson River BridgeCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Waterford HarborCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Waterford HarborCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Lock E2Canon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 53mm, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 45mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/20 sec., ISO 200. Cohoes U-HaulCanon EOS R6, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 42mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/a-lens-quartet Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:00:23 GMT Retired Paper Mill https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/retired-paper-mill I've made a couple of photo visits to the old Empire Mill at Rock City Falls in Minton, New York. Milton is in Saratoga County and the mill is on the shore of Kayaderosseras Creek which flows into Saratoga Lake. On a previous occasion, exactly 13 months ago, I used my EF 16-35mm f/4L lens on my EOS 5DS R, both of which are traded for R series bodies and lenses, which are also now gone. A blog from that visit is located at  https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/rock-city-falls.

Hopefully the massive gear migrations I've done over the past two years are now a thing of the past. Today, I used the EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens on my EOS R6. The conditions were similar with today's clouds a bit more defined and I did use a polarizer filter for some of the shots.

Rock City FallsCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200 Rock City FallsCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200 Rock City FallsCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. CPL. Rock City FallsCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/4, 1/1800 sec., ISO 800. CPL. Rock City FallsCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 800. CPL. Rock City FallsCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 800. CPL. Rock City FallsCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 800. CPL.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/8/retired-paper-mill Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:28:18 GMT The Fixed Up Minolta 28mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/the-fixed-up-minolta-28mm-lens The Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-SI 28mm f/2.5 lens has had the fungus cleaned and it sat under a blacklight bulb for ten days to clear up the yellowed Thorium lens elements. Today is the first time I've used the lens since its makeover as I've been concentrating on the Canon L series Prime lenses I've been acquiring. 

The lens is now useable. My next step with respect to the Minolta lenses may be to get the 100mm lens cleaned as I have no Canon lenses longer than 50mm and I'm more likely to use the longer focal lengths than focal lengths that duplicate Canon lenses I have. The 100mm lens, to my eye, has more internal dust than I like but we'll see if Allen at Camera Works thinks it's necessary. The 200mm lens, which cost me $20, has quite a bit of very fine scratches on the front element but it probably doesn't affect images and if it does it would only be a slight softening. 

Here are some of the images from today with the 28mm lens.

Pond Near Lock E6Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-SI 28mm f/2.5. Pond Near Lock E6Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-SI 28mm f/2.5. Pond Near Lock E6Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-SI 28mm f/2.5. Lock E6Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-SI 28mm f/2.5. Lock E6Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-SI 28mm f/2.5. Lock E6Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-SI 28mm f/2.5.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/the-fixed-up-minolta-28mm-lens Mon, 24 Jul 2023 17:21:18 GMT Jazz & Roots Festival https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/jazz-roots-festival Here are some shots from the Springfield, Massachusetts Jazz & Roots Festival last evening. 

Springfield Jazz & Roots FestivalCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Springfield Jazz & Roots FestivalCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Springfield Jazz & Roots FestivalCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/60 sec., ISO 1600. Springfield Jazz & Roots FestivalCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/125 sec., ISO 1600. Springfield Jazz & Roots FestivalCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/120 sec., ISO 1600. Springfield Jazz & Roots FestivalCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/90 sec., ISO 1600.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/jazz-roots-festival Sun, 23 Jul 2023 10:54:40 GMT It's Now a Lens Trio https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/its-now-a-lens-trio When I was walking around Saratoga Spa State Park the other day testing out the 24mm lens it became apparent that in many cases 24mm is just too wide to get what I want. It's not so much that the coverage is too wide but that more distant objects are just too small in the scene. 

In some cases the 50mm lens features objects very nicely but it doesn't encompass enough of the scene to get what I want. I decided that what I needed was a 35mm lens equal in quality to my two other lenses.

Due to cost and size considerations I decided on the first version of the EF 35mm f/1.4L lens. This lens was introduced in 1998 and replaced by a larger and more expensive version in 2015. As it happened, MPB had two copies of the lens for sale, both listed as in excellent condition. MPB includes photos of the actual lenses in their listings and most of the time the date code is visible at the camera end of the lens. One of the two lenses was manufactured in August, 2015 and must be one of the last ones made as the version II was introduced in October, 2015. The lens also included all the original packaging and paperwork. It's now my lens.

Another great thing about MPB is they're located in Brooklyn and for me, their free shipping is over night. I tested out the lens along the Shaver Pond Trail at Grafton Lakes State Park after FedEx made the delivery today. You can see a comparison scene with the three lenses here.

Shaver Pond TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. CPL filter. Shaver Pond TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/4.5, 1/250 sec., ISO 800. Shaver Pond TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 35mm f/1.4L USM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/its-now-a-lens-trio Thu, 20 Jul 2023 20:33:24 GMT The Smoke Is Back https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/the-smoke-is-back It seems that lately it's either been too hot, too rainy or too smoky for hiking around with camera gear. There hasn't been a day in weeks without at least one of those features. My last outing it was just hot. Today is was fairly smoky and in the 80s.

Although I had both lenses with me today I used only the new 24mm. Here some shots from Saratoga Spa State Park in the early afternoon.

Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/2, 1/45 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/4.5, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/4.5, 1/45 sec., ISO 100. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 800.

Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.2L II USM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/the-smoke-is-back Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:18:51 GMT The Other Half of My Lens Duo https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/the-other-half-of-my-lens-duo I've completed another smooth, successful transaction with MPB.com. I have sold them gear alone, I've bought gear alone and I've had combinations of trading in gear and buying gear in the same transaction. The combined transactions have the advantage of eliminating sales tax on the gear you are buying. Like when you trade in a car.

This transaction saw my last EOS R and my RF 14-35mm f/4 lens heading down to Brooklyn via FedEx and a like new EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens heading in the reverse direction. Along with some funds heading to my bank account. 

It's not where I thought I'd end up when I started selling and buying back in May but I think it will be a good kit for the kind of work I want to do going forward. Here are some of the first samples with the 24mm lens from a quick walk up the Canalway Trail in Halfmoon earlier this afternoon.

Abandoned Automotive ShopCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/3.5, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 100. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/5.6, 1/90 sec., ISO 100. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R6, EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/the-other-half-of-my-lens-duo Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:37:27 GMT A Small, Inexpensive Ultra Wide Prime Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/some-small-inexpensive-options I sold my 35mm and 85mm RF STM lenses back in May when I decided to experiment with Minolta vintage lenses. Unanticipated back in May was that the Minolta experiment would lead to a much more expansive change when I sold one of my EOS R bodies and two RF L zoom lenses to pick up an EOS R6 body and the EF 50mm f/1.2L lens. That change took place during June and since then I've solely used the R6 and 50mm f/1.2 lens.

I'm in the process of trading my second EOS R body and last remaining RF L zoom lens, the 14-35mm f/4L for an EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens and cash.

So, facing the absence of a focal length wider than 24mm, I took advantage of a 20% discount on the already inexpensive Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM lens and have another week left in the return window to decide whether it will be useful or not. Another brand new similar lens which will shortly be available is the RF 28mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens. [Update 7/9: I've decided to return the 16mm lens.]

Here are some shots with the 16mm STM lens with corrections for distortion and vignetting in DxO PhotoLab 6 and straightening in Apple's Photos app.. 

Van Schaick MansionCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Van Schaick MansionCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200.

Waterford Harbor Visitors CenterCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100 Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100 Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100 Lock E2Canon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100 Hudson River BridgeCanon EOS R6, RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100. Cropped to 4:3

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/some-small-inexpensive-options Fri, 07 Jul 2023 16:58:08 GMT Three Sisters Sanctuary https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/three-sisters-sanctuary Three Sisters Sanctuary is a pretty amazing mix of nature, art and gardening. I didn't really know what to expect. I now see there are several online videos which would have filled in some of the blanks but I didn't see them before visiting. I'm very glad I visited and I certainly hope to return in a different season.

I created a gallery for images from the sanctuary which you can view here. Here some samples:

Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 200. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/3500 sec., ISO 200. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100. Three Sisters SanctuaryCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/7/three-sisters-sanctuary Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:03:08 GMT Avoiding Smokey Skies https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/avoiding-smokey-skies The smoke from Canadian wildfires is back in my area again and the air is really bad. There was a classification of unhealthy for sensitive groups this morning and since then it has been raised to unhealthy for everyone.

But it's been rainy and I haven't been out in a while so I decided to visit Saratoga Spa State Park where there are nice close up subjects which also don't require a lot of walking.

Here are some images:

Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/4, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/1.8, 1/6000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/4000 sec., ISO 1600.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/avoiding-smokey-skies Thu, 29 Jun 2023 18:09:06 GMT Oakwood Cemetery Gets the 5 Cent Treatment https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/oakwood-cemetery-gets-the-5-cent-treatment When I was looking for old Minolta MC lenses I noticed that the 300mm f/4.5 lens is labeled 30cm rather than 300mm. So there's no reason not to refer to a 50mm lens as a 5 cents lens. I had a few minutes today between errands and walked around Oakwood Cemetery with my newest lens. 

I'm very happy with the lens and am going to be relying on just the two bodies and two lenses although I will play with the Minolta lenses occasionally. This is what the gear looks like in my Lowepro Stratus 15 shoulder bag. Straps, filters, batteries, etc. are mostly hidden away.

And here are some images from the cemetery:

Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/1.2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/1.2, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/oakwood-cemetery-gets-the-5-cent-treatment Wed, 21 Jun 2023 19:14:24 GMT More EF 50mm f/1.2L Samples https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/more-ef-50mm-f/1-2l-samples I had another opportunity this morning to test out the new lens, this time along the trails at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke, Massachusetts. As the subjects today called for stopping the lens down some, all the images were very sharp with almost no undesired artifacts. I shot the vertical composition into the sun with the tree especially to test out the lens and my software with respect to chromatic aberration and the results are very nice. 

I created a gallery for images from Massachusetts as I should be over that way more often in the future. That gallery is located at https://trulandphotography.com/mass.

Here some of the photos from this morning. The Water Lillies and the Heron are cropped some but not drastically.

Ashley ReservoirCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Ashley ReservoirCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Ashley ReservoirCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/8, 1/4000 sec., ISO 400. Ashley ReservoirCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 100. Ashley ReservoirCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/2.8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 100. Ashley ReservoirCanon EOS R6, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, f/9.5, 1/180 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/more-ef-50mm-f/1-2l-samples Mon, 19 Jun 2023 19:55:00 GMT The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L Lens Has Arrived https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/the-canon-ef-50mm-f/1-2l-lens-has-arrived The experiment with vintage Minolta lenses ended with my decision to purchase a used Canon EF 50mm f//1.2L USM lens to use with the EOS R6. I don't consider the experiment a failure, however. Without it I wouldn't have swapped an EOS R for the R6 to gain in body image stabilization. Without it I wouldn't have reconnected with using older lenses with flaws. Both of those were necessary for me to settle on this lens. 

The lens is far better used on camera bodies like the EOS R6 than on the DSLR bodies for which it was designed. Autofocus is far more precise, features like eye focus tracking where the camera automatically focuses on the eye and then follows it are incredible. Focus peaking, magnification and exposure simulation in the viewfinder render a lens like this more useable. 

I posted a full size file of the vertical 9/11 monument on the mini blog for examination. There is some chromatic aberration visible but when you click on the image twice you're looking zoomed in at 200%. Here's a direct link: https://trulandphoto.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-not-disappointing-lens.html

And here are some of my first images with the lens from this morning.

Canon EOS R6, Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM at f/2.8, 1/4000 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R6, Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM at f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM at f/5, 1/45 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM at f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R6, Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM at f/4, 1/6000 sec., ISO 400.
 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/the-canon-ef-50mm-f/1-2l-lens-has-arrived Sun, 18 Jun 2023 15:08:55 GMT Bumps in the Road https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/bumps-in-the-road A few days ago I mentioned that I had two more Minolta lenses on the way. They were a 28mm f/2.5 and a 135mm f/2.8. Both of these transactions had issues.

The 28mm lens arrived with fungus on an interior lens element despite an eBay description of "no fungus." Since it was in otherwise good condition, I brought it to Camera Works to have it dealt with. That will take a week or so.

I had to contact the eBay seller of the 135mm lens, a camera "store" in Dearborn, Michigan, after not hearing anything for five days after paying. The response I received was:

"I have a problem; it appears that I am out of stock on this exact lens. We recently had an accidental re-listing of multiple items that sold through our storefront which this is victim to." 

I checked out the seller's feedback on eBay and it seems this is not a rare occurrence. But supposedly a refund is in the works. A reminder that these are cheap lenses. Less than $50.

Now that I have an R series body with image stabilization, I've been thinking about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L lens. It is an older design, from 2006, but it is still being sold new by Canon. Used copies are not rare. It is a fraction of the cost of the RF version It's also not nearly as good. It has a classic quality like the much older Minolta lenses but has autofocus and weather sealing, among other things. I may decide to rent one.

While I'm thinking about it, I took my MD 50mm f/1.7 lens to Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve this morning. I haven't been using this lens much, preferring instead to test out the slightly older MC lenses. Here are some images from this morning:

[Update 6/15: I decided against renting and instead went ahead and picked one up from Camera Exchange in Waterford, Michigan along with the necessary adapter. It should be in hand in a couple of days. And while the lens dates from 2006, this copy was manufactured in May, 2016. So, the experiment with the Minolta lenses for everyday use ends. I bought five lenses, some hoods and two adapters with a total cost of about $400. I will keep them for occasional use when I want to play with something different.]

Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f/1.7. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f/1.7. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f/1.7. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f/1.7. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f/1.7. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f/1.7. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f/1.7.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/bumps-in-the-road Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:07:35 GMT Saratoga Battlefield With Minolta https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/saratoga-battlefield-with-minolta I carried my new camera combination around the battlefield this morning. The EOS R with RF 14-35mm lens and the R6 with a couple of the Minolta MC lenses, the 58mm and 100mm. 

I have two more Minolta MC lenses on the way. When they arrive I will have 28mm, 35mm, 58mm, 100mm, 135mm and 200mm options from the MCII era and a 50mm f/1.7 lens from the slightly more recent first MD era.

While I did get some shots with the ultra wide zoom and the EOS R, here are some of the photos made with the R6 and the Minolta lenses.

Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4 Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4 Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4 Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4 Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4 Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4 Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5 Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/saratoga-battlefield-with-minolta Sun, 11 Jun 2023 15:02:00 GMT A 1970 200mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/a-1970-200mm-lens I've been both using, and searching on eBay and elsewhere for, the Minolta manual focus lenses. Yesterday, another lens arrived. This one is an MC 200mm f/3.5 lens from 1970 which I found at a camera store in Waterford, Michigan for $20.

On Thursday, the EOS R6 with sensor based stabilization arrived. I was out of town on Friday and Saturday and didn't get to use the gear much. This morning, I walked around Peebles Island with the two most recent lenses and the EOS R6. 

The image stabilization worked nicely with both the 100mm and 200mm lenses. You have to set the focal length of all manual only lenses in the camera settings for optimal results but there are a few camera setting tricks which make this pretty easy, even with multiple lenses. 

It's generally accepted that sensor based stabilization - where the sensor moves to compensate for camera and lens movement - works best with wider focal lengths and lens based stabilization - where elements in the lens move - works better for longer focal lengths. The stabilization effect is noticeable with the 200mm lens but it isn't rock solid like with the 35mm and 58mm lenses.

Here are some images with the telephoto lenses from this morning and one from the other day with the 35mm, all handheld, although I think with the 200mm lens a monopod will be a help going forward. I will put shutter speeds in the caption.

Mohawk River at Lock E13Canon EOS R6, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm f/2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QF 200mm f/3.5, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QF 200mm f/3.5, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QF 200mm f/3.5, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QF 200mm f/3.5, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QF 200mm f/3.5, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400 Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5, 1/750 sec., ISO 400.

Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QF 200mm f/3.5, 1/180 sec., ISO 800. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R6, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QF 200mm f/3.5, 1/180 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/6/a-1970-200mm-lens Sun, 04 Jun 2023 14:40:12 GMT Yet Another Old Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/yet-another-old-lens A Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5 lens arrived yesterday as I continue to evaluate using Minolta 1960s lenses on Canon R series bodies. Reviews accurately describe this lens as a bit on the soft side which makes it perhaps better suited to portraits than landscapes. Even stopped down it doesn't get as sharp as modern lenses. I also was not using the rather large lens hood which might have contributed to lower contrast on the shots facing the sun.

The nice thing about these lenses is they are very inexpensive which makes it reasonable to experiment with different models and even different copies of the same model to find the best characteristics. I also live within walking distance of a long established camera and lens repair shop which can deal with whatever issues a lens I pick up on eBay might have.

Here are the images with the new lens from this morning. Most are cropped, to varying degrees.

Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 100mm f/2.5.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/yet-another-old-lens Wed, 31 May 2023 15:22:26 GMT A Plan Comes Together https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/a-plan-comes-together I've been using the Minolta lenses for a bit now and I really like them even though there are Minolta lenses out there that are rarer and better than the ones I have. But I have used the 35mm, 50mm and 58mm lenses I own enough to know they are a legitimate option for what I want to do. I also have a 100mm f/2.5 lens and extension tubes on the way which are of the same era as the 35mm and 58mm I recently acquired.

The plan I have is to use the Minolta lenses with a Canon EOS R6 which has sensor shift image stabilization. I will trade in one of my EOS R bodies and the RF 24-105mm and 70-200mm lenses to fund the purchase of the R6 plus about $500 extra for vintage lens purchases. 

This will leave one of the EOS R bodies for use with the 14-35mm lens. Ultra wide angle lenses have a lot of aberrations which a lens profile corrects either on the computer or in the camera. Lens profiles aren't an option with the Minolta lenses so there's not much point picking up lenses wider than the 35mm I already have.

It will take a couple of weeks for all this to come together but today I carried my two EOS R bodies on the Wilkinson Trail at the Saratoga Battlefield, one with the RF 14-35mm lens and the other with the Minolta MC 58mm lens. I added 23 Images from both setups to the battlefield gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp2023. Here are some images made with the Minolta lens.

Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, MInolta MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f/1.4.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/a-plan-comes-together Sun, 28 May 2023 16:01:36 GMT Another Old Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/another-old-lens I am enjoying adapting Minolta manual focus lenses from the middle of the 20th Century to my EOS R. The latest lens I picked up is a MC W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm f/2.8. This is not a great lens and is a bit soft until stopped at least to f/5.6. I will probably replace it with an f/1.8 version if the experiment with these lenses lasts. 

Here are some images from earlier this afternoon, some with a polarizer filter.

Waterford HarborCanon EOS R, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm f/2.8. Peebles Island BridgeCanon EOS R, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm f/2.8. Peebles Island BridgeCanon EOS R, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm f/2.8. Waterford Lock E2Canon EOS R, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm f/2.8. Abandoned Price ChopperCanon EOS R, Minolta MC W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm f/2.8.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/another-old-lens Thu, 25 May 2023 19:13:25 GMT A New Old Direction https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/a-new-old-direction I might have mentioned that I sold my Canon RF STM prime lenses in 35mm, 50mm and 85mm. Those lenses were nice and sharp and two had image stabilization. I was not a big fan of the slow STM focusing motor these lenses used and they were plasticky. 

Back in the 1980s and 1990s I used Minolta manual focus film bodies and Minolta MD lenses. I still have the MD 50mm f/1.7 lens that dates from the 1970s and which came with an XG-M body. 

I decided to pick up an adapter to allow me to use this lens on my EOS R bodies. While there is no autofocus or image stabilization, and you change aperture via a ring on the lens rather than a dial on the camera, it works out well.

There is no need to press a button for depth of field preview as you are always seeing through the shooting aperture. Using Aperture Priority, the camera chooses the shutter speed. With exposure simulation enabled, the viewfinder and screen instantly adjust to the correct exposure. With focus peaking, the portions of the scene that are in focus are outlined in red. 

I visited the Photo Center of the Capital District which has hundreds of manual focus cameras and lenses waiting for someone to use them. I left with a good condition copy of the MC 58mm f/1.4 lens which dates from the late 1960s as described below from 678 Vintage Cameras.

This lens doesn't seem to be quite as sharp as the 50mm f/1.7 I have but I might just have been using it at wider apertures. It is all metal and I obtained it for $50. I also found an original Minolta D55NA lens hood on eBay which, while costing half as much as the lens, results in a nice package at a good price.

I will put images made with the Minolta lenses in a gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/minoltalenses. Here are some from the past few days.

Canon EOS R, Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.7. Canon EOS R, Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.7 Canon EOS R, Minolta MC Rokkor PF 58mm f/1.4. Canon EOS R, Minolta MC Rokkor PF 58mm f/1.4. Canon EOS R, Minolta MC Rokkor PF 58mm f/1.4. Canon EOS R, Minolta MC Rokkor PF 58mm f/1.4. Canon EOS R, Minolta MC Rokkor PF 58mm f/1.4. Canon EOS R, Minolta MC Rokkor PF 58mm f/1.4.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/a-new-old-direction Mon, 22 May 2023 15:32:18 GMT Opening Day 2023 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/opening-day-2023 It's time for the canal system to begin public operations again. A large number of pleasure craft gather at Waterford Harbor prior to the opening before they head either west or north. This morning there were heated arguments between boats which had been moored for days waiting and boats which arrived from down the Hudson River to jump the line. There's nothing like seeing wealthy white people getting upset over important things like this.

Adding to people's irritation was the fact that, historically, the first passage commences at 7AM when the canal system opening is scheduled. Regular hours for the system is 7AM to 5PM daily. This year, on the canal system's web page, "extended hours" of operation during the "peak navigation season" (which starts today) are listed. Hours for the Waterford Flight are 8AM to 6PM. And, yes, the first locking took place at 8AM with boats lined up in the channel at about 6:45AM.

Last year, the first locking fit eight boats. This year, due to a couple of extra large craft in the first group, only six made it through the first locking.

Here are some images:

6:38 AMCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. 6:45 AMCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. 7:19 AMCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 800. 7:37 AMCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 800. Cropped. 8:06 AMCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. 8:17 AMCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/6.7, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. 8:24 AMCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/6.7, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. 8:26 AMCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/6.7, 1/6000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/opening-day-2023 Fri, 19 May 2023 15:25:21 GMT Two Michigan Nature-ish Locations https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/two-michigan-nature-ish-locations I made a quick trip to two locations this morning. One is a micro nature park in Southfield and the other a larger park with nature trails in Farmington Hills.

American Commerce Centre Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. American Commerce Centre Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. American Commerce Centre Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 28mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Heritage ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Heritage ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Heritage ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 32mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Heritage ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 98mm, f/8, 1/120 sec., ISO 400. Heritage ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/two-michigan-nature-ish-locations Sun, 14 May 2023 16:03:49 GMT Detroit Zoo https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/detroit-zoo Here are photos from a trip to the Detroit Zoo yesterday morning. I added 25 images from this, my third trip to the zoo, to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/detroitzoo.

Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 200. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Cropped Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Detroit ZooCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/detroit-zoo Fri, 12 May 2023 11:16:44 GMT Presque Isle State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/presque-isle-state-park The skies weren't blue but it was decent weather for a short stop at Presque Isle State Park yesterday morning. My Erie, PA gallery is probably as full as it will get as trips to MIchigan are probably over after this one. And now that COVID restrictions are no longer in place for transiting Canada, taking that route is shorter and nicer.

Here are some of the photos from yesterday:

Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 21mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 89mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 86mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/presque-isle-state-park Thu, 11 May 2023 12:37:01 GMT Presque Isle Bay https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/presque-isle-bay Erie, Pennsylvania is a good location for one night stays with a picturesque waterfront on Lake Erie's Presque Isle Bay and a large state park on the peninsula into Lake Erie which forms the bay. There is a gallery of photos from the past few years located at https://trulandphotography.com/eriepa.

Here are some images from the waterfront made yesterday evening.

Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/6000 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 91mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Cropped. Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PACanon EOS RF, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/presque-isle-bay Wed, 10 May 2023 11:15:33 GMT If I Could Only Have One Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/if-i-could-only-have-one-lens Here are some images I made this morning with the RF 24-105mm f/4L lens. I'm glad I don't have to limit myself to one lens but if I did, this would be the one I chose. 

Hudson River Waterfront, Waterford, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Hudson River Waterfront, Waterford, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/22, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk River, Peebles Island, Bald MountainCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200. Old Champlain Canal, Waterford, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 94mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Old Champlain Canal, Waterford, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 100mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Lock E2, Waterford, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 61mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/5/if-i-could-only-have-one-lens Sun, 07 May 2023 21:18:47 GMT Canon's Cheapest Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/canons-cheapest-lens The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens is one of the best Canon lenses ever. It's big and heavy compared to the EF version. It's also $2,300 new.

It also doesn't have image stabilization so one of Canon's R series bodies with in body stabilization is advisable. I don't own one of those bodies.

But, the lens is amazing and it's impossible not to be tempted to forgo some other, more flexible, options in order to enjoy the image quality of the f/1.2L. I would have to sell at least my 24-105mm and STM prime lenses and both EOS R bodies to get this lens and an EOS R6II, which has in body image stabilization.

One of the STM prime lenses I currently have is Canon's cheapest lens, the 50mm f/1.8 STM. The optical design for this lens is the same as the last three versions of the same lens in EF mount going back many decades. The images are very soft until f/4 where they become very nice. This lens is $126 new.

Yesterday morning I walked around with the 50mm STM lens to again fix the 50mm focal length in my mind. I used only f/4 so the images would be decent but still with some sense of a shallower depth of field.

In fact, I created a gallery to upload images as I occasionally use the cheap 50mm lens when I get tempted by the f/1.2L version. The gallery can be found at https://trulandphotography.com/50f4 and here are some of the first images.

UPDATE 5/13/23: I decided to sell my Canon RF STM prime lenses (35mm, 50mm and 85mm) and my two smaller Peak Design Sling bags. My new plan for when I want to play with a small sized setup is to adapt Minolta MD manual focus lenses. Back in the manual focus film days I used XG-M and then X700 bodies with a variety of Minolta and other MD mount lenses. I still have a 50mm MD Rokkor-X f/1.7 lens from the 1970s. I am awaiting an MD to RF adapter so I can use the lens with my EOS R bodies. If it works out like I hope I can then fill in with other inexpensive lenses as I come across them. Updates to follow.

Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/canons-cheapest-lens Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:15:07 GMT 85mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/85mm-lens As I discussed a few blog posts ago, I'm planning on using the two EOS R bodies with the 35mm and 85mm STM half macro lenses as a lightweight combination from time to time. *

I didn't end up using either of the STM prime lenses in Maine last week as there wasn't really the right situation for it. This morning I did, however, walk around with the 85mm lens on one of the EOS R bodies. 

Here are some of the results:

Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/2.8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/5.6, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/85mm-lens Wed, 26 Apr 2023 14:19:02 GMT Wrapping Up Maine https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/wrapping-up-maine It was, for the most part, good weather for the trip to Maine with the exception of arrival afternoon and all sunrise times. I didn't do a blog post yesterday but added a bunch of photos to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/maine2023 which ended up containing 119 images.

Here are some from this morning.

Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/4, 1/125 sec., ISO 1600. Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/4, 1/250 sec., ISO 800. Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 800. Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 186mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 800. Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 400. Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Marginal Way SunriseCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/wrapping-up-maine Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:46:54 GMT Ogunquit Beach at Sunrise https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/ogunquit-beach-at-sunrise After a day of rain, the forecast this morning was for overcast skies with fog so I only carried one camera with the 24-105mm lens in a small bag to limit moisture exposure. As it turned out, conditions were better than I expected and I could have carried both cameras in the open without protective filters.

I have opened a gallery for this year's Maine photos at https://trulandphotography.com/maine2023. It currently contains 29 photos of which here are 10 samples.

Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 39mm, f/4, 1/8 sec., ISO 800. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec., ISO 800. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/16 sec., ISO 800. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 61mm, f/5.6, 1/90 sec., ISO 400. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/60 sec., ISO 400. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 400. Ogunquit, MaineCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 32mm, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/ogunquit-beach-at-sunrise Tue, 18 Apr 2023 13:05:58 GMT A Good Walk Around Combination https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/a-good-walk-around-combination I'm getting ready for a trip to Maine next week and wanted to try out a lightweight setup that might be good to use when I don't want to lug around the heavier zoom lenses. I paired my EOS R bodies with the RF 35mm f/1.8 and 85 f/2 STM lenses in a Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L. Without any extras in the bag it was very comfortable on a pretty long walk this morning. 

I have carried both these lenses with a single body on occasion and the tendency is to not change lenses as often as I'm likely to simply grab the other camera. It seemed to work well this morning. Here is a sampling of images from the 28 images I uploaded to the Waterford Flight and Waterford Village galleries.

Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 IS STM, f/9.5, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/125sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/180sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/180sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/a-good-walk-around-combination Sat, 15 Apr 2023 17:11:58 GMT Easter at Vischer Ferry https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/easter-at-vischer-ferry Here are some shots from a 5 mile stroll around Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve this morning.

Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/22, 1/90 sec., ISO 800. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 23mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 23mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 17mm, f/9.5, 1/500 sec., ISO 200.

Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/9.5, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Cropped.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/easter-at-vischer-ferry Sun, 09 Apr 2023 17:58:31 GMT Oakwood Cemetery, A Little Greener https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/oakwood-cemetery-a-little-greener It's been ten days since I mentioned that while the Daffodils were up at Oakwood Cemetery they were not yet blooming. I visited again today and they have begun to blossom but haven't reached their peak and certain patches have yet to get beyond the leaf stage.

After a short walk around parts of the cemetery where I know there are Daffodils I drove over to Cohoes to get a closer look at the falls which I could see from the Robert Ross monument. Here are some photos from the two stops this morning.

Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 98mm, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Oakwood Cemetery, Warren ChapelCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 73mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Cropped.

Cohoes Falls From Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Cohoes FallsCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 90mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Cohoes FallsCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 85mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/oakwood-cemetery-a-little-greener Fri, 07 Apr 2023 15:53:14 GMT Tour Road Opens at SNHP https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/tour-road-opens-at-snhp The tour road at the Saratoga Battlefield opened this weekend after the winter closure. I had last driven the road back in mid October. 

Two stops that were closed back in October, the Neilson House and the American River Fortifications were accessible today although renovations are not complete at either. The other notable difference was a section of uprooted trees which had fallen across the road and been cleared. 

It was not a particularly picturesque morning but I do try and drive around the park when the road first opens in April. Here are some shots from the two locations I hadn't visited since last year at this time.

Neilson HouseCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 19mm, f/22, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. American River FortificationsCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. American River FortificationsCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. American River FortificationsCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/22, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. American River FortificationsCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 25mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. American River FortificationsCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 200.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/4/tour-road-opens-at-snhp Sun, 02 Apr 2023 16:31:38 GMT Oakwood Cemetery https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/oakwood-cemetery I walked around Oakwood Cemetery this afternoon with the 14-35mm lens with a polarizer filter. A nice walk around the perimeter roads is about 3.5 miles with over 300 feet of elevation. It's a nice location this muddy time of year due to the paved roads.

I did notice that the Daffodils are up but not blossoming quite yet. It won't be long. Here are some of today's images.

Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. View From Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 26mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 32mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 21mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200. Oakwood CemeteryCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f.4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/oakwood-cemetery Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:34:12 GMT Long Hike https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/long-hike I've been trying to work up to longer hikes in preparation for nicer weather. Some locations, like Saratoga Battlefield and Grafton Lakes State Park require a lot of walking to get to some areas. I also have a trip to Maine coming up in three weeks which will include a lot of walking.

Today's hike along the Champlain Canalway Trail in Waterford ended up just shy of 5.5 miles. I carried the 70-200mm lens on an EOS R.

Here are some of the results.

Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 188mm, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 86mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 78mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/60 sec., ISO 200. Champlain Canalway TrailCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/long-hike Sun, 26 Mar 2023 20:38:53 GMT First Day of Spring https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/first-day-of-spring I've been looking forward to today's weather conditions since late last week. Temperatures in the low 20's over night with temperatures rising to the low 50's in the afternoon. My plan was to get somewhere as the temperatures were getting close to 30 degrees so that trails remained frozen but there was nice sunlight. 

I decided on Saratoga Spa State Park as the location mostly due to the running water and trails that shouldn't be muddy. It worked out well. I again carried the pair of cameras with the ultra wide and telephoto zooms.

I added 70 images to the park's gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/sssp. That gallery is arranged chronologically with the newest photos at the end. The gallery now contains 175 images.

Here are some samples.

Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 22mm, f/16, 1/30 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 25mm, f/9.5, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/45 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/22, 1/30 sec., ISO 800. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 116mm, f/5/6, 1/60 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 22mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 17mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/first-day-of-spring Mon, 20 Mar 2023 18:51:39 GMT Late Winter at Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/late-winter-at-vischer-ferry-nature-preserve Spring is only a handful of days away but a recent snowfall brought back winter scenes, hopefully one last time. I hadn't used my BlackRapid double harness since last summer when I was using an EOS 5DSR and an EOS 90D. Now that I have two EOS R bodies I will again be carrying two bodies on most of my outings.

Today, I used the 14-35mm and 70-200mm lenses at Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve. Here are some of the images.

Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 29mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 100. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 23mm, f/8, 1/60 sec., ISO 100. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 23mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 169mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100. Vischer Ferry Nature PreserveCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 161mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/3/late-winter-at-vischer-ferry-nature-preserve Thu, 16 Mar 2023 16:54:53 GMT The Neglected 24-105mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/the-neglected-24-105mm-lens It seems like I haven't used this lens in quite a while. Similar to the tendency to use the extremes of a zoom lens, the tendency is to choose either the 14-35mm or 70-200mm lenses depending on what the subjects are likely to be. And, I expect that those two lenses will be what I use with both bodies and the BlackRapid Harness when I'm carrying two cameras. 

The RF 24-105mm f/4L lens is a very good lens, though, even if you sometimes want wider and longer. Here are some shots from an almost 4 mile walk this morning. 

Hudson River, Waterford NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 43mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Waterford CanalCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 61mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100. Waterford CanalCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 79mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 100. Waterford CanalCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 43mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100. Waterford CanalCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 83mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 100. Waterford CanalCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100. Grill GrateCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/11, 1/180sec., ISO 100. Waterford CanalCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/the-neglected-24-105mm-lens Mon, 27 Feb 2023 20:10:15 GMT A Tree No Longer https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/a-tree-no-longer A large tree overhanging the Hudson River next to the boat launch at the end of my street has fallen. The tree figured in some of my sunset photos from that location over the years. Here are two.

2016 2018 What's left of the tree is now a pile of trunk sections waiting either for Spring flooding or the city to remove it.

2023 2023

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/a-tree-no-longer Sat, 25 Feb 2023 10:58:28 GMT 70-200mm Lens on Peebles Island https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/70-200mm-lens-on-peebles-island I walked around Peebles Island this morning with the RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens on an EOS R body. I did manage to get a few shots in between 70mm and 200mm. 

I also did see an eagle on the nest for the first time this year. This shot is a 100% crop from the full frame 30MP camera and 200mm lens. It's not nearly long enough for this kind of photography but it's sufficient for the occasional snapshot.

Bald Eagle NestCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. 100% crop. Here are some of the other scenes from this morning.

Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 148mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 85mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/70-200mm-lens-on-peebles-island Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:44:55 GMT Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/canon-rf-70-200mm-f/4l-is-usm-lens As I mentioned at the end of a recent blog entry, I decided to trade the 100mm macro lens and my RP body for a "like new" 70-200mm f/4L lens. This now gives me excellent lens quality from 14mm to 200mm with three constant aperture f/4 zoom lenses. 

I finished up my February 15 mile challenge today with a walk along the Champlain Canalway Trail, in the towns of Stillwater and Saratoga, including the northeast corner of the Saratoga Battlefield. I completed 19 miles over 6 outings to the Canalway trails, Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve and Peebles Island.

It's not unusual with zoom lenses to almost exclusively use the two ends of the zoom range. Today, it was 70mm for scenics and 200mm for isolated subjects.

Here are some of the results:

Champlain Canalway Trail, Town of SaratogaCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Champlain Canalway Trail, Town of SaratogaCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Champlain Canalway Trail, Town of SaratogaCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Champlain Canalway Trail, Town of StillwaterCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Champlain Canalway Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Battlefield RenovationsCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Champlain Canalway Trail, Town of StillwaterCanon EOS R, RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM at 200mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Cropped.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/canon-rf-70-200mm-f/4l-is-usm-lens Sun, 12 Feb 2023 17:12:43 GMT Peebles Island With a 35mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/peebles-island-with-a-35mm-lens Today's hike around Peebles Island happened in the morning due to a forecast of increasing clouds leading to precipitation later in the day. I carried the EOS R with grip and the RF 35mm lens. I've only had the 100mm lens on Peebles Island recently so this was different.

Here are some images:

Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 800. Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 800. 1777 Revolutionary War BreastworksCanon EOS R, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/peebles-island-with-a-35mm-lens Tue, 07 Feb 2023 17:54:48 GMT After the Deep Freeze https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/after-the-deep-freeze Everyone was out and about today as temperatures rose above freezing after a couple of the coldest days of the season with temperatures well below zero at night and barely above during the day. It was very windy as well. 

Joining the crowd, I walked the trails on Peebles Island with the 100mm macro lens around noon. The trails were partly bare, partly snow covered and partly ice. I love my slip on ice cleats which allow walking normally without worrying about slipping on the ice.

Here some of the images from today.

Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/11, 1/90 sec., ISO 400 Twisted VinesCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 400 American BittersweetCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/11, 1/180 sec., ISO 800 Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/11, 1/500sec., ISO 400 Mohawk RiverCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/11, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400

These will be the last group of photos with the RF 100mm macro lens. I'm trading it, with the EOS RP and some accessories, for an RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens. I should have the 70-200 in hand by next weekend.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/after-the-deep-freeze Sun, 05 Feb 2023 22:09:46 GMT Nature Preserve Scenics https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/nature-preserve-scenics It was sunny and around freezing today ahead of sub-zero temperatures forecast for tomorrow and Saturday. I walked around Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve with my 24-105mm lens. This is the first time I've used a lens other than the 100mm lens over the past few weeks.

Here are some of the images. And no, I didn't mess up the photo details in the captions. All were shot at 24mm, f/8 and ISO 200. Only the shutter speeds changed. 

Canon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Beaver CrossingCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1,500 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1,500 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/2/nature-preserve-scenics Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:12:45 GMT Winter Walks with the 100mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/winter-walks-with-the-100mm-lens I walked around Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve and some ponds near the Waterford Flight of Locks today. The snow wasn't deep enough for snowshoes but I did wear my spikes over my cross trainers. 

I again carried the 100mm lens with the EOS R. Here are some of the images.

Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/winter-walks-with-the-100mm-lens Sat, 28 Jan 2023 19:50:14 GMT Peebles Island with the 100mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/peebles-island-with-the-100mm-lens Here are some images I made with the RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM lens on Peebles Island today. I've been using the battery grip on the EOS R which works really nicely with this lens. 

Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/5.6, 1/90 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, cropped. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, cropped. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/peebles-island-with-the-100mm-lens Tue, 17 Jan 2023 17:46:37 GMT Saratoga Battlefield with the 100mm Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/saratoga-battlefield-with-the-100mm-lens I visited Saratoga National Historical Park today for the first time since October. I carried only the EOS R and the RF 100mm lens as I wanted to test the lens out some more. I did wish that I had a wider lens available for a small creek to get some closeups of the frozen water features with more background for context.

Here some images from earlier today:

Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/4, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 800. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 800. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. 19th Century Well Pump Canon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga Battlefield, View fro Visitors CenterCanon EOS R, RF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/saratoga-battlefield-with-the-100mm-lens Sun, 08 Jan 2023 19:15:27 GMT RF 100mm Macro Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/rf-100mm-macro-lens Canon came out with a "too good to pass up" one week 30% off sale on a very useful lens. [note: the sale didn't end the day after I purchased but it was cut in half]

Canon describes some of the features of the lens as follows:

The RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM Lens is the world’s first* medium telephoto AF Macro lens with a maximum magnification ratio of 1.4x. At its minimum focusing distance of 0.86 ft. / 0.26m, the RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM is capable of capturing detailed images while being remarkably versatile in operation. 

The RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM lens distinguishes itself by maintaining incredibly high image quality, edge-to-edge, even wide open at its f/2.8 maximum aperture. With 17 elements in 13 groups and a 9-blade aperture system, it can deliver detailed images with gorgeous background blur and versatility in low light.

Because RF lenses are designed specifically for the RF Mount found on EOS R series cameras, the lens and camera combine to share shooting data, helping to dramatically reduce the effect of camera shake that can occur when using handheld. This applies when capturing both stills and video, with up to 5 stops of stabilization** for accurate and clear imagery.

The RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM features Canon’s first adjustable Spherical Aberration (SA) control ring on the lens barrel that allows you to adjust the depiction of the image’s background bokeh. Used to add a unique emphasis to your imagery, the SA Control Ring allows the user to change the shape and character of the foreground and background bokeh. A minus setting creates a dreamy, soft-focused look, while a Plus setting creates a bubble-bokeh-type look.

Here are my first shots testing out the lens at Oakwood Cemetery:

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2023/1/rf-100mm-macro-lens Sat, 07 Jan 2023 21:25:28 GMT New Collection From October 2022 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/12/new-collection-from-october-2022 October was an important month with respect to my photography equipment and processing workflow. By the end of October I had completely migrated from Canon EOS DSLRs and EF lenses back to EOS R series mirrorless bodies and RF lenses.

October was also when I purchased DxO PhotoLab 6 after enjoying a thirty day trial of PhotoLab 5. After years of processing bracketed files with HDR software, I went back to processing single files only.

October was a good month with respect to weather and colorful foliage. It had a nice combination of foggy mornings and sun filled afternoons and was quite productive as evidenced by the ten blog entries over the course of the month.

The collection has images from Grafton Lakes State Park, the various parts of Saratoga National Historical Park, the Old Champlain Canalway Trail, Peebles Island, Waterford Harbor and The Hudson River in Kingston, NY. [Update: I expanded the collection to include a September 29 visit to Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail and a November 3 visit to Saratoga Spa State Park. I also changed the name of the collection to Autumn 2022.

You can view the collection at https://trulandphotography.com/autumn2022 and here is an embedded slideshow.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/12/new-collection-from-october-2022 Sun, 18 Dec 2022 20:18:12 GMT December Project Photos https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/12/december-project-photos Weather, a trip to Michigan over Thanksgiving and a death in the family meant that I haven't been out of doors with my cameras in over a week. I also needed a dose of exercise so I went up to Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve hoping to get some December contributions to the PDM project.

The best situation for closeups of frost and ice on nature subjects is a sunny morning after a below freezing night. Today was such a day although it was barely below freezing overnight and the frost was melting as soon as the sun hit it.

Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/12/december-project-photos Mon, 05 Dec 2022 19:01:05 GMT This Coming Year's Project https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/11/this-coming-years-project I started an occasional project for the coming twelve months with a trip to Saratoga Spa State Park which I documented in a blog entry here. Images from the project will be posted in monthly galleries at https://trulandphotography.com/pdmproject.

I describe the project on that page as follows:

"My project for the just completed 12 months, documenting Saratoga National Historical Park, ended in October, 2022. I've decided that a project for the next 12 months will be to make images that stand on their own, completely independent of the location.

When people see a landscape, a street scene or a building the want to know where it is. I'm looking for images that don't prompt people to ask that question. In other words, Place Don't Matter [PDM]."
 

Here some sample images made over the past couple of weeks.

Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/11, 1/750 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM, f/4.5, 1/6000 sec., ISO 400

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/11/this-coming-years-project Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:13:31 GMT Saratoga Spa State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/11/saratoga-spa-state-park I had new brakes and four new all weather tires put on my Outback yesterday so I wanted to give it a little shakedown drive this morning. I headed up I87 to Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs and walked some of the trails. 

It has been incredibly sunny and warm lately and it's forecast to continue until Sunday when we will see some rain. I'm finished with my 2023 wall calendars and have started planning a concept for 2024. Time will tell whether I stick with this concept or not. I usually don't.

Here are some scenes from today. There is a gallery dedicated to this state park at https://trulandphotography.com/sssp.

Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/6.7, 1/45 sec., ISO 800. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 800. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/6.7, 1/350 sec., ISO 800. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/16, 1/750 sec., ISO 1600. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/6.7, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Spa State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 19mm, f/16, 1/350 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/11/saratoga-spa-state-park Thu, 03 Nov 2022 20:11:31 GMT Later October Color https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/later-october-color Despite a very dry summer, it has been a pretty colorful autumn here in the Hudson and Mohawk River valleys. All it will take is one night with a mid 20's low temperature and most of the remaining leaves will fall. Temperature reports for this area come from the Albany airport which is at a significantly higher elevation and away from any body of water so low temperatures are generally five degrees or so higher than reported for Albany.

This morning's 4.5 mile walk took me over to Van Schaick Island in Cohoes and then up through Waterford and Peebles Island State Park. I made a first entry in the new twitter substitute for some shots from Van Schaick Mansion and am posting some scenes here from the park, which includes the northern part of Van Schaick Island.

Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/16, 1/750 sec., ISO 800. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 28mm, f/6.7, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Peebles Island State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 29mm, f/16, 1/750 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/later-october-color Sun, 30 Oct 2022 16:09:47 GMT Late October Color https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/late-october-color I carried my EOS R and RF 24-105mm lens on a 4.34 mile walk over to, and around, Waterford this morning. There is still some nice color along with lingering fog and blue skies.

I'm resurrecting the old blog to use as a twitter substitute I'm calling an Instablog for when I only have a few photos to share and don't want to do a whole blog entry. The URL for that site is https://trulandphoto.blogspot.com/.

Here are some of the scenes from this morning.

Waterford, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Peebles IslandCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 94mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Waterford, NY WaterfrontCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 50mm, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Waterford Harbor, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 28mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Waterford Harbor, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 25mm, f/6.7, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Waterford Rural Cemetery, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Waterford Rural Cemetery, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/16, 1/250 sec., ISO 800.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/late-october-color Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:49:59 GMT Kingston Cruise II https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/kingston-cruise-ii I posted some images from the Hudson River region around Kingston, New York, back in June here. Now, the scenery is different with the Fall colors past peak but still striking. 

There are now 92 images in the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/kingston. Hare are some samples from today.

Rondout CreekCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 85mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200 Rondout CreekCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 28mm, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200 Rondout CreekCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 58mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200 Hudson RiverCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200 Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, Hudson RiverCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200 Hudson RiverCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/5.6 1/4000 sec., ISO 200 Hudson RiverCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200 Rondout Creek LighthouseCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 63mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/kingston-cruise-ii Thu, 27 Oct 2022 22:01:07 GMT Finally Using the Backup Body https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/finally-using-the-backup-body I picked up an EOS RP a couple of weeks ago to have as a backup body for my EOS R while they are still available new. I also had purchased the inexpensive RF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens on sale but I hadn't used either the RP or the 50mm lens. 

This morning I walked over to Waterford and Peebles Island to try them out. I have owned copies of both the body and lens previously so it was just a matter of making sure they functioned properly while I was still within the return period for the body.

Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4.5, 1/500 sec., ISO 100. Peebles Island, Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/350 sec., ISO 100. Peebles Island, Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100. Peebles Island, Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island, Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/4, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Peebles Island, Waterford, NYCanon EOS RP, RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, f/6.7, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/finally-using-the-backup-body Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:26:33 GMT Ending the SNHP Project https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/ending-the-snhp-project I started a yearlong project to document Saratoga National Historical Park on October 28, 2021. I ended it today with a trip to all five parts of the park. 

The restrictions caused by the improvements to the auto tour stops have been very frustrating so I won't miss having to drive past places I'd like to photograph. Here are some of the images from the final day.

Victory Woods, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 800. Victory Woods, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 21mm, f/6.7, 1/90 sec., ISO 800. Saratoga Monument, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 25mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 23mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Surrender Site, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Battlefield, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Battlefield, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga Battlefield, Saratoga NHPCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 65mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/ending-the-snhp-project Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:29:50 GMT Peak Foliage at Grafton https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/peak-foliage-at-grafton I'd say the foliage is currently at about peak color at Grafton Lakes State Park. The day started with dense fog, which partially burned off to allow some sun toward the end of my visit. 

I ended up using only the 14-35mm lens and ended up with 50 images to add to the Grafton gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/grafton. Here are four samples each from Long Pond and Mill Pond.

Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 30mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 800. Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 27mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 800. Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 18mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 800. Long Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Mill Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Mill Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 23mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Mill Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 18mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Mill Pond, Grafton Lakes State ParkCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/peak-foliage-at-grafton Fri, 14 Oct 2022 19:57:57 GMT Four Days After the Second Battle https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/four-days-after-the-second-battle I've been hoping for a forecast of some serious fog around the battle dates to plan an early morning trip to the battlefield. Fog is frequently mentioned in accounts of the time the armies were in the area. Cold air at night combined with the relatively warm water of the Hudson River can create quite a dense fog.

Not only does the fog add to the atmosphere of photos, I get to use my fog lights on the 20 mile trip up along the river. I added another 35 images to the park gallery. Here are some samples.

Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/45 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/6.7, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. Cropped. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 28mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 42mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 42mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 96mm, f/58, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 42mm, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/four-days-after-the-second-battle Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:14:16 GMT Two Days After the Second Battle https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/two-days-after-the-second-battle Today is two days after the 245th anniversary of the second battle of Saratoga. It is also the day that the American army left their fortifications to pursue the British army north along the Hudson River in an attempt to keep the British from escaping back to Canada. That attempt succeeded and the British surrendered on October 17th about eight miles north of the battles. At that point the British forces numbered about 6,000 and the Americans about 17,000.

I hiked the entire Wilkinson Trail this morning and used both the 14-35mm and 24-105mm lenses. I added 35 images to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp as the end of the year long project nears. I plan to make another visit to Schuylerville close to the date of the surrender to do another walk around Victory Woods, the final refuge of Burgoyne's army.

Here are some of the scenes from this morning.

Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 53mm, f/9.5, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 58mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 81mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 32mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 18mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson Trail, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 17mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/two-days-after-the-second-battle Sun, 09 Oct 2022 17:30:24 GMT Schuylerville Time of Year https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/schuylerville-time-of-year This is the time of year for the battles of Saratoga followed by the siege of Saratoga (now Schuylerville) which led to the British surrender on October 17th, 1777. The area was "owned" by Phillip Schuyler at that time and he had a country home and business enterprises in the area where Fish Creek empties into the Hudson River.

The original house was burned by the retreating British as they crossed Fish Creek to prevent its use by the pursuing Americans. Schuyler had the current house built immediately after the surrender and it was completed in about a month. 

The house and grounds are now a part of Saratoga National Historical Park and any photos made there are included in the park gallery. This weekend had reenactment encampments representing both British and Americans. Today's visit to the area included a portion of the Champlain Canalway Trail, Hudson Crossings Park and Saratoga Apples orchard. Here are some samples.

Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 42mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 26mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 14mm, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 22mm, f/6.7, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM at 22mm, f/6.7, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Schuyler House, Schuylerville, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 65mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/schuylerville-time-of-year Sat, 08 Oct 2022 21:24:49 GMT Fall Color at Shaver Pond https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/fall-color-at-shaver-pond I took a walk around Shaver Pond at Grafton Lakes State Park this morning. The Grafton area does not appear to be at peak color yet. 

The high clouds diffused the sunlight but also prevented blue skies for fall color backgrounds. I'd like to make at least one more trip to Grafton in the next couple of weeks, perhaps even braving the fire tower.

Here are some shots from this morning. I used the RF 24-105mm lens but 15 of the 20 images I uploaded to the Grafton Lakes gallery, including all of these, were shot at 24mm,

Shaver Pond Trail, Grafton, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond Trail, Grafton, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond Trail, Grafton, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond Trail, Grafton, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond Trail, Grafton, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond Trail, Grafton, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Shaver Pond Trail, Grafton, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/10/fall-color-at-shaver-pond Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:32:43 GMT A Newly Found Nature Trail https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/a-newly-found-nature-trail I have driven past the Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail in Saratoga Springs on a couple of occasions, making a mental note to stop and investigate at some point. I was up that way yesterday and a quick stop to check it out turned into a 4.3 mile, 1 hour 47 minute hike along the two mile old railroad bed and back.

I carried the EOS R in a small backpack and used the RF 24-105mm and EF 16-35mm lenses. Some of the results are posted here and there's a 33 image gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/bogmeadowbrook.

Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 65mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 30mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 32mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Bog Meadow Brook TrailCanon EOS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 31mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/a-newly-found-nature-trail Fri, 30 Sep 2022 19:33:29 GMT Five Days After the First Battle https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/five-days-after-the-first-battle 245 years ago today, the British were fortifying the Freeman farm area where the fighting on September 19th took place. The Continental forces had withdrawn after that day's fighting and to insure a positive spin on the day's events, the British remained on, and fortified, the field of battle. 

I arrived at the Saratoga Battlefield a little later than usual this morning so the tour road was already open. I had decided ahead of time that I wanted to walk around the Barber wheatfield, where the fighting on October 7th began. I also walked a bit along the tour road near the site of Burgoyne's headquarters due to some colorful fall ferns. My longest sojourn was down to the lower level from the great redoubt, up along the old Champlain Canal and back.

I carried the EOS R with the RF 24-105mm lens and the 5DSR with the EF 70-300mm lens. Here are some of the results.

Barber Wheatfield looking at Willard Mtn.Canon EOS 5DSR, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L at 300mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Barber WheatfieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 32mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Frazer Monument, Barber WheatfieldCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 47mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga National Historical ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 70mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga National Historical ParkCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 26mm, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga National Historical Park, Old Champlain Canal TrailCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga National Historical Park, from the Great RedoubtCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 65mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Saratoga National Historical Park, looking over the Hudson River from the Great RedoubtCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 98mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/five-days-after-the-first-battle Sat, 24 Sep 2022 19:17:19 GMT End of the Late Summer Gear Migration https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/end-of-the-late-summer-gear-migration Ever since the trip to Burlington I've been involved in refining my photography gear, both selling and buying. Out went two camera bodies and five lenses. In came one camera body and three lenses. The balance sheet is almost even with a slight advantage to the plus side.

The system is simplified in some respects, fewer lens options and only one sensor size. But it is more complex in another respect, two different lens mounts. The EOS R will be able to use the RF lenses natively and the EF lenses with the adapter. RF lenses can not be used on the 5DS R.

The Think Tank Airport Essentials will now hold everything except flashes, which I rarely use. Here is a photo of how it is arranged:

Airport Essentials Backpack

I was out yesterday with the EOS R and two of the new lenses, the RF 24-105mm and RF 85mm. I rented the newest version of the EF 24-105mm lens back in early August with a view toward purchasing it but the images were very soft on the edges. This RF lens is very good and RF lenses have more effective image stabilization than their EF counterparts.

Old Champlain Canal Trail, Halfmoon, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Old Champlain Canal Trail, Halfmoon, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 105mm, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Old Champlain Canal Trail, Halfmoon, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Old Champlain Canal Trail, Halfmoon, NYCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 IS Macro STM, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Old Champlain Canal Trail, Halfmoon, NYCanon EOS R, RF 85mm f/2 IS Macro STM, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Old Champlain Canal Trail, Halfmoon, NYCanon EOS R, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/end-of-the-late-summer-gear-migration Mon, 19 Sep 2022 12:16:37 GMT Two Days Before the First Battle https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/two-days-before-the-first-battle The first battle of Saratoga took place on September 19, 1977, 245 years ago this coming Monday. The weather forecast includes a chance of rain tomorrow and Monday so I made sure I got up to the battlefield this morning. 

I traded in my fisheye zoom lens, and my two 28mm lenses for an RF 24-105mm f/4L lens. I expected the lens by the weekend but it's on a truck in a FedEx warehouse so I had to reactivate my EF 24-70mm f/4L lens, which is waiting to be sold along with my EF 85mm f/1.4L lens. Taking the place of the latter is an RF 85mm f/2 IS STM lens which is smaller, lighter and cheaper than the EF version.

Today, I walked the western part of the Wilkinson Trail with the EOS R with the adapted 24-70mm lens and the EOS 5DSR with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L lens.

Here are some of the results.

Saratoga National Historical ParkCanon EOS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 200 Saratoga National Historical ParkCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 400 Saratoga National Historical ParkCanon EOS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/90 sec., ISO 200 Saratoga National Historical ParkCanon EOS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 26mm, f/8, 1/2180 sec., ISO 400 Saratoga National Historical ParkCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 214mm, f/8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/6.7, 1/180 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/90 sec., ISO 800. Cropped. Barber Wheat Field, Saratoga BattlefieldCanon EOS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/two-days-before-the-first-battle Sat, 17 Sep 2022 16:02:43 GMT Tugboat Roundup 2022 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/tugboat-roundup-2022 All of the photos from this year's Tugboat Roundup are located at https://trulandphotography.com/tugboatroundup2022. While I had both cameras for last evening's parade up the Hudson River, I ended up only using the 5DS R with the 70-300mm lens. 

This morning, I used the EOS R and 24-70mm lens. I'll keep this lens as it is really nice with the R which leaves the fisheye zoom as the only lens I'll probably sell. At least for now. 

Here are some of the images from both yesterday and this morning.

Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 176mm, f/4.5, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 41mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS 5DS R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Tugboat Roundup 2022EOS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/tugboat-roundup-2022 Sat, 10 Sep 2022 14:06:47 GMT A New Body, Thinning Out the Bags https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/a-new-body-thinning-out-the-bags As I wrote after getting back from Burlington, "the six day trip was very useful for helping me decide on a gear path going forward." Here's how that has played out.

I had left the 5DS and 90D bodies home for that trip, only using the 5DS R. That was fine and I have sold both of those bodies. 

I had left the 70-300mm lens home. I missed having that lens so it is back in the bag. Placed in storage for the time being are my 8-15mm fisheye and 24-70mm f/4 zoom lenses.

My intention was to pick up a refurbished 5DS R body, which would cost less than my trade in for the 5DS and 90D bodies. The 5DS would have been fine to keep but it had an intermittently malfunctioning AFON button on the back of the camera which was annoying me.

But, the 5DS R was introduced in early 2015 and the availability of refurbished bodies seems to be diminishing rapidly so after a week of checking the Canon Direct listings, I decided to once again get into the Canon EOS R series with the original R model from late 2018. 

I previously had a pair of EOS RP bodies so the EOS R is both familiar and yet significantly more capable than the RP. It doesn't have the resolution of the 5DS R but it has a lot of other advantages. I anticipate using both bodies going forward.

This morning, I dug out my EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens for a walk over to Waterford with the EOS R. It's a nice light weight combination although it lacks image stabilization. I wanted to use the 50mm focal length again after having the 28mm and 85mm f/1.4 lenses as options on recent trips. A future possibility may be to sell both of those lenses and get a really nice RF 50mm f/1.2 lens.

Here are some samples from this morning, the day before this year's Tugboat Roundup, all with the EOS R and EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens, which is soft until you stop down to f/4 where it is razor sharp.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/a-new-body-thinning-out-the-bags Thu, 08 Sep 2022 15:38:51 GMT Women's College Soccer https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/womens-college-soccer The EOS 5DS R is not an action/sports camera. Its frame rate is only five frames per second and its high ISO abilities are not that good absent given the 50MP sensor. What the 50MP sensor does allow is extreme cropping.

Yesterday saw bright, early evening sun descending over a soccer match at Hartwick College that I was mostly just watching. For the first half of the first half, however, there was enough light to shoot at ISO 400 and f/5.6 with fast enough shutter speeds to stop the action. At least on sunlit portions of the field.

To really shoot sports like this an f/2.8 lens and a body which shoots eight to ten frames a second and can handle ISO settings up to 6400 without too much noise are needed. Especially under the lights.

But here are some samples of what is possible with a less than ideal setup.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/9/womens-college-soccer Fri, 02 Sep 2022 09:20:38 GMT Leaving Lake Champlain https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/leaving-lake-champlain There were two attractions I wanted to visit on the way back down from Burlington. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and New York's Crown Point State Historic Site.

It was a great day for photographing both although there were passing showers while at the museum. The six day trip was very useful for helping me decide on a gear path going forward. More on that later.

Here are some of the images from the final day of the Vermont trip. Everything except the Crown Point photos are in the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/vermont. The Crown Point photos are in a gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/crownpoint.

Lake Champlain Maritime MuseumCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Lake Champlain Maritime MuseumCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/20 sec., ISO 800. Lake Champlain Maritime MuseumCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/30 sec., ISO 400. Lake Champlain Maritime MuseumCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200.

British Fort, Crown PointCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. British Fort, Crown PointCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. British Fort, Crown PointCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. British Fort, Crown PointCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. French Fort St. Frederic, Crown PointCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/6.7, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/leaving-lake-champlain Thu, 25 Aug 2022 11:49:02 GMT Shelburne Farms https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/shelburne-farms Shelburne Farms is a working farm that also has many other great attributes. Rather than take up space here, you can learn about the farm and non-profit at https://shelburnefarms.org/about.

Getting down to the Inn and formal gardens for visitors requires hiking about two miles each way via the more direct route and longer via winding trails through fields and woods. Guests at the Inn and farm workers get to drive the gravel roads.

Yesterday, I carried the EOS 5DS R and Sigma 28mm f/1.4 ART lens. The vastness of many of the scenes got me to playing with the camera's crop modes as 28mm was clearly not going to be sufficient.

It's always possible to crop while I'm processing RAW files but doing it while shooting saves a couple of processing steps while preserving the original full RAW file. The 5DS bodies have 1.3X and 1.6X crop options which, with the camera's 50MP sensor, result in 30MP and 20MP files, respectively. Plenty large for pretty much any purpose. I have a multifunction button next to the shutter button programmed to toggle among these modes.

Here are two sequences showing the full image followed by the 1.3X and 1.6X crops. With the 28mm lens, the crops show full frame fields of view of 36mm and 45mm.

The Inn is present in all these scenes. The next time I visit this location I'm definitely going to carry more gear with me.

I added 47 images from the farm property to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/vermont. Here are some shots of the Inn and formal gardens down by Lake Champlain.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/shelburne-farms Tue, 23 Aug 2022 12:05:03 GMT Burlington, Vermont https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/burlington-vermont I decided to reduce the weight and complexity of the gear I brought with me for a trip to the Burlington, Vermont area. I've been considering options to go back to the Canon R series, using a combination of some of my current EF lenses and one or two RF lenses. This would require trading in all my DSLR bodies and most of my EF lenses - and then some.

So, I chose my Think Tank Photo Streetwalker backpack, one body and five lenses. Left out were two DSLR bodies and my 70-300mm lens. While I continue to evaluate what I really need to shoot what I want, I already missed the telephoto zoom for shots across Lake Champlain toward the New York shore both during the day and at sunset.

Here is an iPhone shot of the bag and gear followed by some scenes over the course of the day yesterday. The gallery for the trip is located at https://trulandphotography.com/vermont.

Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/4000 sec., ISO 200. Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 45mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 100. Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100. Burlington, Vermont Waterfront - Lake ChamplainCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 100. Cropped.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/burlington-vermont Sat, 20 Aug 2022 12:06:01 GMT August at the Battlefield https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/august-at-the-battlefield This is the tenth month of my year long project at the Saratoga Battlefield and other parts of Saratoga National Historical Park. August is when the Americans began fortifying Bemis Heights in 1777 in order to block the British advance south from Canada which began in the Spring. 

I will be visiting the battlefield and the Schuylerville area sites often over September and October, when all the activities took place. 

Today, I walked the Wilkinson trail down to the Freeman Farm area before the tour road was open. I carried both my full frame bodies with the Sigma 28mm and Canon 85mm lenses.

I added 37 photos to the gallery which now contains 375 images.

Canon 5DS, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200 Canon 5DS R, Canon 85mm f/1.4 IS USM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200 Canon 5DS R, Canon 85mm f/1.4 IS USM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 200 Canon 5DS, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/6.7, 1/180 sec., ISO 400 Canon 5DS, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 400 Canon 5DS, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 400 Canon 5DS, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 200 Canon 5DS R, Canon 85mm f/1.4 IS USM, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/august-at-the-battlefield Sat, 13 Aug 2022 17:07:24 GMT Telephoto Scenics https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/telephoto-scenics I took a walk along the Old Champlain Canal Trail in Halfmoon this morning with the EOS 90D and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM. It has been way too hot to hike around much lately. 

This body and lens combination has a full frame equivalent field of view of 112mm to 480mm. With the 32 megapixels of the 90D, there is room to crop in further if desired. The captions will indicate if cropping has been done beyond just an aspect ratio change from 3:2 to 4:3 or 2:3 to 3:4.

Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 400. Cropped. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Cropped. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 244mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 135mm, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 244mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Cropped. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Cropped. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 229mm, f/6.7, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 176mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/telephoto-scenics Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:19:17 GMT Dragon Boat Racing 2022 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/dragon-boat-racing-2022 The last time the Pan Am Dragon Boats were in Waterford was about this time in 2019. That gallery is located at https://trulandphotography.com/dragonboats2019.

That was a day not unlike today. Thin, hazy clouds with temperatures in the 90s. My strategy on both occasions was to be there early and be home processing photos before afternoon temperatures kicked in.

This year, I had the opportunity to ride along in the chase boat for one of the races before the noontime break. That vantage point worked out really well. With action sports, closer is always better.

I used my 5DS with a rented EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens and my 90D with my EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM. This year's 68 image gallery is located at https://trulandphotography.com/db2022. Here are some samples from both setups.

Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 260mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 72mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 5DS, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 32mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 95mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 81mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 5DS, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 97mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 5DS, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/dragon-boat-racing-2022 Sat, 06 Aug 2022 18:38:24 GMT Paradox Lake Rainbow https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/paradox-lake-rainbow I made a quick day trip up to the Adirondacks yesterday, not for photography purposes. I only brought my crop sensor 90D and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS lens which has a full frame field of view of 45mm. As always happens when I don't have all my gear with me a photographic opportunity presented itself for which I was underprepared.

While passing the west end of Paradox Lake a rainbow appeared. I hadn't been raining where I was but you could see rain off to the east. A full frame body and 24-70mm lens would have been much better tools with which to capture the scene.

Here are some of what I did get with what I had.

Paradox LakeCanon EOS 90D, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400.

Paradox LakeCanon EOS 90D, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400, cropped. Paradox LakeCanon EOS 90D, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. Paradox LakeCanon EOS 90D, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Paradox LakeCanon EOS 90D, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/8/paradox-lake-rainbow Wed, 03 Aug 2022 11:12:09 GMT Historic Schuyler House https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/historic-schuyler-house Schuyler House in Schuylerville, New York is a part of Saratoga National Historical Park although located about 8 miles north of the battlefield along the Hudson River. The house sits on a small part of the property of Philip Schuyler in what was then called Saratoga, now Schuylerville. Schuyler, based in Albany, owned and operated textile mills and lumbering operations in the area. Laborers, including African slaves, were housed on the property.

The current house was built in the Fall of 1777 following the burning of the existing structure by the retreating British in October, 1777. The site of the British surrender on October 17th is found a bit south of the house.

You can read more about the historic structure at https://www.nps.gov/sara/planyourvisit/schuyler-house.htm.

This past Sunday, the house was closing early due to a summer heatwave with temperatures in the mid 90s so I only had about a half hour inside. Also, the second floor was closed due to renovations.

I carried my EOS 5DS R with the Sigma 28mm f/1.4 lens attached. Here are some of the results. I will head back before the close of the season with a wider lens to capture more of the inside scenes.

Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 100. Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/2, 1/45 sec., ISO 200. Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/2, 1/60 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/2, 1/180sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/2.5, 1/45 sec., ISO 1600. Canon EOS 5DS R, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/historic-schuyler-house Fri, 29 Jul 2022 14:35:13 GMT Natural Stone Bridge & Caves https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/natural-stone-bridge-caves Trout Brook flows into the Schroon River in Pottersville. The Schroon River flows into the Hudson River near Warrensburg. The Hudson River flows into the Atlantic Ocean at New York. 

Along the shores of Trout Brook is Natural Stone Bridge and Caves, a nice geological feature and old school Adirondack tourist destination. You can read more about it at https://stonebridgeandcaves.com/.

While there was very little water in Trout Brook today, that is not always the case. Watch this youtube video of massive flooding at the site over Halloween in 2019. 

Here are some photos from today, these and others were added to the Adirondack Scenics gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/adirondacks.

EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 34mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 18mm, f/4, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 400. EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/4, 1/15 sec., ISO 1600. EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 400. EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/4.5, 1/180 sec., ISO 400. EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. EOS 5D S, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/6.7, 1/125 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/natural-stone-bridge-caves Fri, 15 Jul 2022 21:57:26 GMT Adirondack Lakelife https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/adirondack-lakelife I went for a walk this afternoon and carried my 5DS R and Sigma 28mm f/1.4 lens. At 2:00 PM this time of year the sun is very high and a polarizer filter is effective at decreasing reflections in the region of the horizon thus darkening skies and water and emphasizing clouds.

The sky will not be a uniform color if the lens is too wide but 28mm is not quite wide enough for that to be a problem. I forgot to adjust the filter for a different direction for one of these shots which left the sky a bit less saturated.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/adirondack-lakelife Sun, 03 Jul 2022 19:50:01 GMT Rock City Falls https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/rock-city-falls Rock City Falls is a tiny community in the town of Milton, Saratoga County. It thrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with several mills along the Kayaderosseras Creek.

Cottrell-Harrington Park is located on Route 29 at, and just down stream of, The Empire Mill, which produced paper bags up until 1930. Built in 1840, it was at one time the largest manufacturer of paper bags in the world. 

Making a quick stop on my way to the Southern Adirondacks, I used the 5DS R and 16-35mm f/4L lens. Here are 9 of the 19 images I added to the Anthropogenic Scenics Gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/anthropogenicscenics.

Empire Mill, Kayaderosseras Creek.Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 19mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Empire Mill, Kayaderosseras Creek.Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Empire Mill, Kayaderosseras Creek.Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Empire Mill, Kayaderosseras Creek.Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200. Empire Mill, Kayaderosseras Creek.Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Empire Mill, Kayaderosseras Creek.Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Empire Mill, Kayaderosseras Creek.Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 29mm, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 200. Kayaderosseras Creek, Rock City Falls, Milton, NYCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200. Kayaderosseras Creek, Rock City Falls, Milton, NYCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 21mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/7/rock-city-falls Fri, 01 Jul 2022 16:12:49 GMT 90D on Peebles Island https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/90d-on-peebles-island It's been a while since I took the 90D body out, and I hadn't yet carried it around Peebles Island. I did so this morning with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens, to which it remains attached in the bag. 

With the 90D's 1.6X crop factor, this combination has a maximum focal length equivalent of 480mm and the 90D's 32 megapixels allows a further 1.6X crop with a resulting 12.6 megapixel image with an equivalent focal length of 768mm. 

I have separated my gear into two separate bags on a trial bases. The landscape and wildlife gear is in my Think Tank Airport Essentials backpack and consists of the EOS 5DS and 90D and EF 16-35mm, 24-70mm and 70-300mm lenses.

A Think Tank Speedwalker backpack contains my EOS 5DS R, my two fast prime lenses: the Sigma 28mm f/1.4 and Canon 85mm f/1.4; and the Canon 8-15mm fisheye zoom lens which is really just two prime lenses, circular fisheye at one end and diagonal fisheye at the other. I also recently picked up a Canon 500D closeup lens (which screws on the front of the 85mm lens) and alters the closeup ability from .12X to .31X. [update 7/26/22: I've since swapped out the Speedwalker backpack for a Lowepro Stratus 15 shoulder bag but it's basically the same kit.]

Here are some shots from this morning.

Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/10 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 70mm, f/5.6, 1/180 sec., ISO 800. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400. Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/90d-on-peebles-island Fri, 24 Jun 2022 15:49:48 GMT Kingston Cruise https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/kingston-cruise Yesterday was a clear and windy day, perfect for a two hour cruise on a solar powered boat which visited two lighthouses on the Hudson River in the Kingston, New York area. The silent running of the boat really added to the experience of being on the river as you could clearly hear everything going on around you - wind, waves, birds, trains and other boats.

I carried the 5DS R body with both 16-35mm and 24-70mm lenses. Image details are in the photo captions which appear when you hover the cursor over the photo. 

The photos from this trip can be found in a gallery for Kingston area locations at https://trulandphotography.com/kingston.

Solaris on Rondout CreekCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200. Rondout Creek LighthouseCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 61mm, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200. Solaris on Hudson RiverCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/1500 sec., ISO 200. Esopus Meadows LighthouseCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200. Esopus Meadows LighthouseCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200. Hudson RiverCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Lighthouse and FreighterCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. FreighterCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/3000 sec., ISO 200. Rondout Creek LighthouseCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200. Rondout Creek HulksCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 47mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/kingston-cruise Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:19:58 GMT Peebles Island and Waterford Lock https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/peebles-island-and-waterford-lock I tried out a new combination of camera and lens this morning on a walk over to Peebles Island. The EOS 90D, being a crop sensor body, records a field of view with the 28mm lens equivalent to that of a 45mm lens on a full frame body. I've had 45mm lenses to use with full frame bodies and it works out OK for general photography although you sometimes wish for something a bit wider. 

The lens is small and light, with image stabilization, and it fits well with the smaller 90D body. The other similar lens I can use with the 90D is the 50mm f/1.8 STM which has the field of view of 80mm on the crop body.

Here are the images from today showing the 45mm field of view.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/peebles-island-and-waterford-lock Fri, 10 Jun 2022 15:01:07 GMT Work Crew Descending Lock E2 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/work-crew-descending-lock-e2 I was out on a walk this morning and happened to catch this work crew of two tugs and two barges finishing up the Waterford Flight of Locks prior to heading up the Hudson River. All photos are with the EOS 5DS and EF 28mm f/2.8 IS lens and were added to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/waterfordcanal.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/work-crew-descending-lock-e2 Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:06:06 GMT Beating the Crowds https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/beating-the-crowds One annoying thing about Saratoga National Historical Park is the limited access to the tour road. The tour road is closed in winter and doesn't open until 9:00 AM when it is open.

9:00 AM is fine in the fall, when sunrise is after 7:00 AM and the sun stays lower in the sky, but this time of year the sun is up shortly after 5:00 AM and goes straight up. Today, I was at the visitors center around 6:00 AM and used the Wilkinson Trail to get down to the Freeman Farm area of the battlefield.

I carried the 5DS R with the 16-35mm lens and the 90D with the 70-300mm lens. I added 53 images to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp, which now contains 318 photos.

Looking Down From Visitors CenterCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 200. Wilkinson TrailCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. White-tailed DeerCanon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Outline of house near Breymann RedoubtCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 35mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200. Wilkinson TrailCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/350 sec., ISO 200. Wilkinson TrailCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200. Yellow WarblerCanon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400. Wilkinson TrailCanon EOS 5DS R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 200.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/beating-the-crowds Sun, 05 Jun 2022 16:17:36 GMT A Body and Lens for Wildlife https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/a-body-and-lens-for-wildlife Ever since I sold my EOS RP bodies and RF lenses last summer, I haven't really had a useful camera and lens for wildlife. With that gear I had 600mm of full frame reach but only at f/11 and 26 megapixels. 

I've replaced my last remaining 6D Mark II body, which replaced the RP bodies, with a crop sensor EOS 90D body. When paired with the long end of my 70-300mm lens, I have 460mm of full frame reach at f/5.6 and 33 megapixels. A further 1.6X crop gives me 768mm of full frame coverage and 12.6 megapixel images. It's a much better setup as the 90D will shoot 10 frames a second versus half that for the RP bodies and my 5DS bodies.

I went to test out the 90D this morning at Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve. Before I ran across anything interesting airliners started to pass overhead from Albany Airport a few miles away. I guess 6:00 AM is a popular time for flights. Over a dozen took off in the two hours I was walking around. 

Here are two uncropped images of the first two of the jets.

Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400

Here some nature examples with this camera/lens combination:

Canada GeeseCanon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 260mm, f/5.6, 1/90 sec., ISO 400 PhloxCanon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 sec., ISO 400 FernCanon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 200mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 Great Blue HeronCanon EOS 90D, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400

I also carried my EOS 5DS R body with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens for scenics. You can see all my photos from the nature preserve at https://trulandphotography.com/vfnp.

Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 29mm, f/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 200 Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400 Canon EOS 5DS R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 31mm, f/8, 1/60 sec., ISO 400

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/6/a-body-and-lens-for-wildlife Sat, 04 Jun 2022 15:27:46 GMT Memorial Day with Leica Q2 Imitation https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/memorial-day-with-leica-q2-imitation I think I've settled on the gear which will constitute my Leica Q2 imitation kit. The Q2 is a 47MP full frame mirrorless camera with in body stabilization with a fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens. My imitation consists of a 5Ds, which is a 50MP full frame DSLR, attached to a 28mm f/2.8 lens with image stabilization. 

I'm also carrying along a 24mm lens and a small flash unit. My last remaining 6d Mark II body is currently for sale with my EF 35mm f/2 IS USM lens.

I was out early on this Memorial Day with the above for a walk over to Waterford. Here are some samples.

Soldiers and Sailors Park, Waterford, NY Soldiers and Sailors Park, Waterford, NY Waterford Rural Cemetery, Waterford, NY Waterford Rural Cemetery, Waterford, NY Lock E2, Waterford, NY Lock E2, Waterford, NY Lock E2, Waterford, NY Lock E2, Waterford, NY

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/memorial-day-with-leica-q2-imitation Mon, 30 May 2022 13:20:55 GMT Day 3, Better Light https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/day-3-better-light Today is day 3 of the navigation season with much better light than on Friday. All the photos from Waterford Harbor and the locks can be viewed at https://trulandphotography.com/waterfordcanal.

Entering Waterford HarborCanon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 44mm. Entering Waterford HarborCanon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 28mm. Canal CrossroadsCanon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm. Waterford HarborCanon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm. 7:08AM - Waiting for the LockCanon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm. Lock E2Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 28mm. Lock E2Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm. Lock E2Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/day-3-better-light Sun, 22 May 2022 13:22:23 GMT Opening Day https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/opening-day Today is the first day of public navigation on the New York State Canal system. Many boats were lined up to traverse the Waterford Flight of Locks which raises the canal from the Hudson River to the Mohawk River. I added 32 images to the gallery of Waterford Harbor and the flight of locks.

I followed the boats entering and leaving lock E2, leaving lock E3 and entering lock E4. Here are some samples.

Leaving Waterford HarborCanon EOS 5Ds R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm. Entering Lock E2Canon EOS 5Ds R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm. Inside Lock E2Canon EOS 5Ds R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 39mm. Exiting Lock E2Canon EOS 5Ds R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 37mm. Exiting Lock E3Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 300mm. Exiting Lock E3Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 188mm. Exiting Lock E3Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 70mm. Entering Lock E4Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 160mm.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/opening-day Fri, 20 May 2022 14:25:06 GMT Northampton Beach Day Use Area https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/northampton-beach-day-use-area Great Sacandaga Lake is high after filling with water from the Sacandaga River to help prevent flooding on the Hudson River. I took my 5Ds and 28mm lens on a walk down to the state park while on a quick day trip this afternoon. 

I've been using the 28mm f/2.8 lens on the 6D Mark II, and now the 5Ds, to replicate the characteristics of a Leica Q2 which has a built in 28mm f/1.7 lens. I want to understand the concept of a $5,000 camera limited to a single prime lens. While my 28mm lens is over a stop slower than the Leica, it does have image stabilization. And while the 6D Mark II is only 26MP and the Leice Q2 is 47MP, the 5Ds, at 51MP is as close as you can get with Canon bodies and lenses.

[Note: I didn't realize when I processed these that the 5Ds body did not have the lens profile for this lens installed so all the lens aberration corrections are missing in these samples. I did reprocess and replace the full versions uploaded to https://trulandphotography.com/northampton.]

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/northampton-beach-day-use-area Tue, 17 May 2022 23:40:41 GMT Detroit Zoo https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/detroit-zoo It was a great morning for photos at the Detroit Zoo with temperatures around 80 degrees. I added 25 photos to the gallery which includes shots from last August. You can view that gallery here.

All are with the 5Ds R and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM. Here some samples.

Black-crowned Night Heron

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/detroit-zoo Thu, 12 May 2022 18:40:01 GMT Cranbrook Gardens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/cranbrook-gardens I visited Cranbrook Gardens in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan last August and shot with a 35mm f/2 lens. Today, knowing that not many flowers would be blooming, I used my 85mm f/1.4 lens for a different perspective. I also got to the Japanese Garden portion of the site which I did not visit last time.

A blog post from last August can be read here. The gallery containing all of the uploaded images from both visits can be seen at https://trulandphotography.com/cranbrook. Here are some photos from today.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/cranbrook-gardens Wed, 11 May 2022 19:23:25 GMT Greenfield Village https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/greenfield-village Greenfield Village is an 80 acre living history museum with six historic districts. Part of the Henry Ford Museum, It is located in Dearborn Michigan. 

I carried the 6D Mark II with 28mm lens. there is a 35 image gallery located at https://trulandphotography.com/greenfield. Here are some samples.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/greenfield-village Tue, 10 May 2022 11:33:20 GMT Presque Isle State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/presque-isle-state-park Presque Isle State Park is a day use park on a 3,200 acre sandy peninsula on Lake Erie. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources describes it as Pennsylvania's only "seashore" on the park's page. https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/PresqueIsleStatePark/Pages/default.aspx

Even an hour and a half driving around the park presents a lot of opportunities. Here are some examples, all with the 5Ds R and four different lenses. The location and gear used are identified when you pause the cursor over the photo.

The Erie gallery now contains 105 photos from August 2021 and this past weekend. You can view the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/eriepa.

Perry MonumentEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm MarshEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm Lake HousesEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm North Pier LightEOS 5Ds R, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 70mm Presque Isle LighthouseEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 20mm Presque Isle LighthouseEOS 5Ds R, EF 8-15mm f/4L USM Fisheye at 15mm Beach #8EOS 5Ds R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 200mm Beach #8EOS 5Ds R, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM at 120mm

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/presque-isle-state-park Mon, 09 May 2022 11:28:57 GMT Erie, Pennsylvania Waterfront https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/erie-pennsylvania-waterfront It's been sunny and cloudless for an overnight stop on Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania. First are some shots from yesterday with the 6D Mark II and 28mm lens including the US Brig Niagara, a replica of a ship built in Erie to fight the British in the War of 1812.

US Brig NiagaraEOS 6D Mark II, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM. Erie WaterfrontEOS 6D Mark II, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM. Centennial TowerEOS 6D Mark II, EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM. The following shots are from this morning with the 5Ds R and 16-35mm lens.

Centennial TowerEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 33mm. Centennial Tower and SculptureEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 19mm. Centennial TowerEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 26mm. Centennial TowerEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm. Sheraton Hotel and Conference CenterEOS 5Ds R, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/erie-pennsylvania-waterfront Sun, 08 May 2022 12:26:08 GMT Wilkinson Trail East, Saratoga Battlefield https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/wilkinson-trail-east-saratoga-battlefield Yesterday I walked the western portion of the Wilkinson Trail at Saratoga National Historical Park. Today, I walked the eastern portion of that trail and then the Simon Fraser burial site trail.

I carried both bodies with the 16-35mm f/4L lens (again) and the 85mm f/1.4L lens. Here are some photos from the Wilkinson Trail which goes through both fields and woods.

Canon EOS 5Ds R, EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm Canon EOS 5Ds R, EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM The Fraser burial site trail heads down a steep "road" from stop #10 on the tour road to the old Champlain Canal and then along the canal and back up to the Great Redoubt. The site of the Taylor House, where British Gen. Simon Fraser died, and the British hospital site are both along this trail at the bottom of the hill. Here are some of those photos.

Canon EOS 5Ds R, EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Old Champlain Canal and Hudson RiverCanon EOS 5Ds R, EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 24mm Canon EOS 5Ds, EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM at 16mm

I added 37 photos to the SNHP gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/5/wilkinson-trail-east-saratoga-battlefield Sun, 01 May 2022 19:25:43 GMT Wilkinson Trail West, Saratoga Battlefield https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/wilkinson-trail-saratoga-battlefield Instead of driving the tour road, I decided to walk the Wilkinson Trail at Saratoga National Historical Park this morning. The complete trail is 4.2 miles long but I opted for the shorter, 2 mile version, utilizing the Liaison Trail shortcut. As I had already climbed up Stark's Knob in Schulyerville... discretion and all that. 

Here is the view from the top of Stark's Knob, looking North East.

I carried only the 16-35mm lens at the park this morning. I could have carried a second body and the 70-300mm lens but didn't really want the extra five pounds. The Saratoga NHP gallery now contains 228 photos.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/wilkinson-trail-saratoga-battlefield Sat, 30 Apr 2022 19:04:34 GMT Saratoga Spa State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/saratoga-spa-state-park I made a brief trip, late morning, to Saratoga Spa State Park since I was in the area on other errands. The new 85mm f/1.4L IS lens having arrived last weekend, I've been doing some reorganizing and configuring for how that lens will fit in the mix with my other lenses.

I've become a bit tired of the monopod and wanted to see how hand holding the 50MP bodies worked out on a short walk. I foresee using the 85mm lens on one body, in place of the 70-300mm zoom lens, and either the 16-35mm or 24-70mm lens on the other body for sessions like this.

Here are some samples from today, with the focal length indicated in the photo caption which appears by placing the cursor over the photo.

85mm

35mm 16mm 85mm 16mm 85mm 16mm 85mm

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/saratoga-spa-state-park Thu, 28 Apr 2022 20:06:04 GMT Champlain Canalway Trail in the Afternoon https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/champlain-canalway-trail-in-the-afternoon I don't think I've walked the Champlain Canalway Trail in Halfmoon later in the day than mid morning. The lighting conditions are certainly different than in the early morning.

As I continue to process single files rather than HDR composites of five different exposures, I'm going back to using a polarizer filter when conditions warrant, as they did today. These are all with the 5Ds R and 24-70mm f/4 lens with the polarizer.

This early in the growing season, the inside of old lock 7 is actually accessible.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/champlain-canalway-trail-in-the-afternoon Fri, 22 Apr 2022 20:38:56 GMT Ogunquit, Maine, Day Three https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/ogunquit-maine-day-three The weather has been all over the place this weekend. About the only thing we didn't get was the snow and sleet that was forecast as a possibility yesterday afternoon. 

There were some isolated showers which the first two photos illustrate. 

The next two photos are from Mt. Agamenticus and the moonrise with the Beachmere Inn flagpole.

And from this morning, a sunrise from the Marginal Way and a lobster boat exiting Perkins Cove.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/ogunquit-maine-day-three Mon, 18 Apr 2022 12:59:27 GMT Ogunquit, Maine, Day Two https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/ogunquit-maine-day-two The weather has been all over the place the past two days. But, except for a period of rain yesterday afternoon and evening it hasn't interfered with photography. 

Here are images from the past 24 hours including the second less than exciting sunrise in a row.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/ogunquit-maine-day-two Sun, 17 Apr 2022 12:33:33 GMT Ogunquit, Maine, Day One https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/ogunquit-maine-day-one Here are some images from yesterday afternoon, evening and this morning's sunrise. There was very little color this morning and the telephoto zoom lens was necessary to make the shots interesting.

The moon will be rising later tonight and tomorrow night and I plan on being more serious with moon shots, clouds willing. The vertical moonrise over the marginal way was hand held with my 35mm f/2 lens at 1/3 second. 

The photos from the weekend will be at https://trulandphotography.com/maine2022.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/ogunquit-maine-day-one Sat, 16 Apr 2022 11:39:11 GMT April Showers Bring High Water https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/april-showers-bring-high-water The rivers were running high today after heavy rain overnight. Early forecasts were for river levels about a foot above flood stage this afternoon. The Waterford Visitor Center has a webcam and I could tell by late morning that the levels had already reached that point. Forecasts now are for levels about two feet above flood stage.

Here are some photos from Waterford Harbor and Peebles Island showing the high water around 3:00 PM.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/april-showers-bring-high-water Fri, 08 Apr 2022 21:38:47 GMT Saratoga Battlefield Tour Road Opens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/saratoga-battlefield-tour-road-opens The tour road at Saratoga National Historical Park opened for vehicles this morning and I was one of the first to take advantage. In addition, the visitor center and gift shop is open for the first time in a couple of years due to COVID and then remodeling. I did spend some money.

The sun was a little high, with some haze, for good photos but I added 16 images to the park gallery. Here are some samples.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/4/saratoga-battlefield-tour-road-opens Sat, 02 Apr 2022 17:48:25 GMT Fire Tower Trail, Grafton Lakes https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/fire-tower-trail-grafton-lakes It's been below freeing for several days so I figured it would be a good morning to hike around Grafton Lakes State Park with no chance of muddy roads or trails. I decided on the Water Tower trail, a new trail to me, the length of which is about 3.5 miles from the parking lot at the east end of Long Pond to the tower and back. 

The trail was, indeed, frozen solid but, at 8AM, the temperature was 20 degrees with the wind chill in the single digits. It was cold to start but, as the sun rose, it didn't feel too bad. 

I carried the EOS 5Ds R with the 16-35mm lens mounted to the camera and the fisheye zoom in a shoulder bag. The first six of these shots are with the 16-35mm lens and the last two are with the fisheye zoom at 14mm. 

I added 25 images to the Grafton Lakes gallery, including some circular fisheye shots. https://trulandphotography.com/grafton

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/fire-tower-trail-grafton-lakes Tue, 29 Mar 2022 18:08:30 GMT Fisheye Lens at Oakwood Cemetery https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/fisheye-lens-at-oakwood-cemetery I walked around Oakwood this morning with the fisheye zoom lens while the sun was still fairly low. One issue using the fisheye lens when the sun is out is keeping your shadow out of the frame, which is actually impossible with the sun at your back. Another issue is keeping the bright sun out of the frame.

With both of these issues, trees are your friend. You can hide your shadow in the shadow of a tree and you can hide the sun behind a tree. 

Here are some samples from this morning. I had more circular images that were good but were ruined by a bit of my shadow along the edge.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/fisheye-lens-at-oakwood-cemetery Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:05:08 GMT Spring Water Over Cohoes Falls https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/spring-water-over-cohoes-falls I made a quick stop at Cohoes Falls late this morning while the sun was out and the water was high. 

The best, closest viewing location doesn't open until May so the alternate spot on School Street is the secondary vantage point. In the Goggle Earth screen capture, the former is Falls View Park and the latter is Overlook Park. 

Screenshot A telephoto lens is needed from Overlook Park since it's farther away and there is a fence and brush that isn't desirable in photos. I used the EOS 5Ds body with the 70-300mm f/4-5.6L lens.

Here are four samples from this morning:

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/spring-water-over-cohoes-falls Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:31:28 GMT A New, Old Lens - Again https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/a-new-old-lens---again I have a bad habit of selling gear only to later buy the same item again. Sometimes more than once.

Most recently, I traded my Tamron 45mm and 85mm prime lenses for a used Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM lens. I plan to use this lens with the 6D Mark II for more casual uses when I don't want the bulk and weight of the landscape gear. [UPDATE 3/29//22] I have added an EF 24mm f/2.8 IS UM lens to this smaller kit for more flexibility.]

I walked around Oakwood Cemetery today with this setup. If you walk around the perimeter of the cemetery you can get a nice three mile walk with about 265 feet of elevation gain. 

Here is an outline of the route followed by some single file images with the 35mm lens.

Screenshot

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/a-new-old-lens---again Wed, 16 Mar 2022 17:35:49 GMT The Frost Before the Thaw https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/the-frost-before-the-thaw It was a nice sunny day today with temperatures around freezing after a very cold night. I took a nice long hike around Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve while everything remains nice and frozen. There is high water covering many of the trails but it's frozen solid so you can still walk on them. 

With a forecast of above freezing temperatures and rain for the weekend, reaching into the 60's on Sunday, those trails won't stay walkable for long. Here are some shots with the fisheye zoom.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/3/the-frost-before-the-thaw Fri, 04 Mar 2022 20:01:29 GMT Fisheye Lens at Saratoga Spa State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/fisheye-lens-at-saratoga-spa-state-park Temperatures were Spring like today but there was still ice and snow on the ground at Saratoga Spa State Park. I used only the 8-15mm fisheye lens as I want to get used to its idiosyncrasies as quickly as possible. I'm also sure that it will see use the first time I'm at one of my usual locations after having acquired the lens.

I created a gallery for images from Saratoga Spa State Park which you can visit at https://trulandphotography.com/sssp. Here are some of the images from today.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/fisheye-lens-at-saratoga-spa-state-park Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:06:35 GMT 8-15mm Fisheye Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/8-15mm-fisheye-lens I picked up a used Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L USM Fisheye lens and had my first chance to try it out this afternoon. I made a quick trip to two locations, Oakwood Cemetery and Waterford. On a full frame camera, the lens gives you a 180 degree diagonal fisheye image at 14mm and a nearly 180 degree diagonal field of view at 15mm. At 8mm, the lens gives you a 180 degree circular fisheye image. 

First, are two images from Oakwood Cemetery at 8mm and 15mm from the same shooting location.

Here are two circular fisheye images from Peebles Island and Waterford Harbor followed by the same Waterford Harbor scene at 15mm and 14mm.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/8-15mm-fisheye-lens Tue, 15 Feb 2022 21:57:32 GMT Winter Scenes from Schuylerville https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/winter-scenes-from-schuylerville Schuyler House, in Schuylerville, New York, is a part of Saratoga National Historical Park. The current structure was built in November, 1777, immediately after the retreating British forces burned the then country home of General Philip Schuyler. The surrender of the British army took place not very far from this spot.

I continue to mostly use the EOS 5Ds R body and EF 24-70mm f/4L lens with a monopod. I'm also still processing single files. Here are some images of Schuyler House. You can read more about the site at https://www.nps.gov/sara/planyourvisit/schuyler-house.htm.

The house borders on Fish Creek, which was a dividing line between British and American forces prior to the surrender. Across Route 32 from the house there is a view of the creek showing an old wooden water pipe, still in use, bringing water from the dammed creek down to a hydroelectric plant. 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/winter-scenes-from-schuylerville Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:11:30 GMT Oakwood Cemetery in Winter https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/oakwood-cemetery-in-winter I made a quick trip to Oakwood Cemetery this afternoon with my now usual single camera setup. As I have been, I use the monopod and, although I bracket three files, plus and minus one EV, I am not using HDR processing and choose the most appropriate file for normal RAW processing with Canon's DPP software. 

Here are some of the results from today. The gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/oakwood now contains 858 images going back almost two years.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/2/oakwood-cemetery-in-winter Tue, 01 Feb 2022 21:16:51 GMT Saratoga Spa State Park in Winter https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/saratoga-spa-state-park-in-winter I've been wanting to get up to Saratoga Spa State Park in below freezing weather and today is supposed to be the last sunny day for a while.

I created a gallery for images from the park at https://trulandphotography.com/sssp. Here are some shots of Geyser Brook with the Canon 5Ds R and EF 24-70mm lens.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/saratoga-spa-state-park-in-winter Wed, 26 Jan 2022 19:56:42 GMT Canal Locks in Winter https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/canal-locks-in-winter One of my favorite winter subjects is the Waterford Flight of Locks portion of the drained New York State Canal System. These images today are from lock E6 which is at the top of the flight at the level of the Mohawk River. 

These are single file images [no bracketing for HDR processing] made with the 5Ds R and EF 24-70mm zoom lens with a polarizer filter.  The last two show the focal length extremes of the lens looking East toward lock E5.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/canal-locks-in-winter Mon, 24 Jan 2022 20:16:31 GMT More Adjusting to the New Bodies https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/more-adjusting-to-the-new-bodies Since the last blog entry I broke up the big heavy backpack into several smaller packages. A small shoulder bag now has all my filters and OP/TECH harnesses and straps. A larger shoulder bag has the 6D Mark II body and the two Tamron prime lenses. All flash accessories are in a this small shoulder bag.

A new backpack, a Think Tank Streetwalker V2.0, holds the 5Ds, 5Ds R and my three Canon L zoom lenses. Here is that bag.

I walked around a bit of Peebles Island wearing my new traction spikes over my trainers. Peebles Island trails are treacherous in winter. I carried the 5Ds R and 24-70mm lens with the monopod.

Here are some of the results, again single files without HDR processing.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/more-adjusting-to-the-new-bodies Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:38:29 GMT Frozen Water, Frozen Fingers https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/frozen-water-frozen-fingers I'm gradually getting the new gear all set up the way I want it. I now have everything I'll be using in my bigger backpack, a Think Tank Airport Commuter which has had the backpack straps cut off. The bag contains the three bodies and five lenses I'll be using going forward. Here is how they're laid out.

Because the 50MP bodies really need to be supported rather than handheld, I'll be using the tripod mount on the 70-300mm lens and an L bracket on the body which I'll be using with the 16-35mm or 24-70mm lenses. This will facilitate a vertical orientation on the monopod or tripod. 

The lower resolution 6D Mark II will be used with the Tamron 45mm lens when I'm not being serious about landscapes and the Tamron 85mm lens will probably see use with both kinds of bodies.

Temperatures this morning were in the low single digits and it was windy. I froze my fingers in the few minutes I was out of the car at Cohoes Falls. I used the 5Ds body and 70-300mm lens attached to a monopod. These are single file images with processing from RAW in Canon DPP software. 

To show the resolving power of the 50MP bodies, this image is a cropped in portion of the closest in photo of the falls.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/frozen-water-frozen-fingers Sat, 15 Jan 2022 21:21:18 GMT First Day of 2022 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/first-day-of-2022 Today was my first time out shooting in 2022. The start to the year was delayed a bit by a breakthrough case of COVID-19, presumably Omicron. Omicron, apparently, doesn't care much if you're vaccinated and boosted. The good news is, if you're vaccinated and boosted, it's unlikely to cause serious illness. 

In my case it was a four day long bad cold. 

Since my last post on Christmas, I picked up a used Canon 5Ds body to go with the 5Ds R body I bought earlier in December. I'm selling one of my 6D Mark II bodies but will keep the other one.

The 5Ds/R bodies are a different thing from other cameras I've owned. They seem way more likely to produce chromatic aberrations than other bodies with the same lenses. Particularly when I process bracketed files in HDR software. Canon's software corrects nicely for the CA when processing single files. 

Today, after being unhappy with the HDR processed results, I went back and processed single files. In some ways it's an improvement, in other ways it's not as good. But, the files are crisper and the color fringing eliminated. 

So, for the next while, I will shoot single exposures and process them as best I can. It will be a learning process all over again. Here are some images from this afternoon at the Neilson Farm at Saratoga National Historical Park. I used the 5Ds and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2022/1/first-day-of-2022 Sat, 08 Jan 2022 22:15:11 GMT 2022 Wall Calendar https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/2022-wall-calendar Here is a slideshow of the images from my 2022 Wall Calendar.

And you can access a PDF file of location and shooting details here.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/2022-wall-calendar Sat, 25 Dec 2021 14:06:51 GMT More Testing With the 5Ds R https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/more-testing-with-the-5ds-r I was out for short sessions with the new camera yesterday and today. The weather has been great with sun and temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s. 

Yesterday, I walked along the Champlain Canalway Trail with the EF 70-300mm lens and used the monopod for steadying. Here are some cattails, single file images rather than HDR composites from bracketing. 

Today, I visited a different section of the Canalway Trail and Saratoga National Historical Park. The tour road is closed for the winter, which seems a bit unnecessary given the weather. The Neilson Farm, however, is only a short walk from a parking area not on the tour road. 

I forgot my tripod and monopod today so I limited myself to the 16-35mm lens. Two facets of the 5Ds R make my usual method, hand held bracketing, problematic. The 50.6 megapixel resolution means either shutter speeds need to be higher or the camera needs to be mounted on something, even with image stabilized lenses. The 5Ds R also only shoots at 5 frames per second so shooting 5 bracketed frames takes at least a full second. 

I suspect I will end up processing more single files and may also bracket 3 frames at plus and minus 1 1/2 EV rather than 5 frames at plus and minus 1 EV. It will take some experimenting. But there is no denying the value of the high resolution of the 5Ds R.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/more-testing-with-the-5ds-r Mon, 13 Dec 2021 22:06:35 GMT Waterford Christmas Lights https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/waterford-christmas-lights After waiting around most of the day for my refurbished EOS 5Ds R to arrive from Canon USA, I managed to shoot a bit with that camera and the EF 16-35mm f/4L lens. The 5Ds R is a 50.6MP full frame body which was introduced in 2015. It remains Canon's highest megapixel camera body and is still available new at select retailers. It had an initial price of $3,899 and now sells for $1,499 new and $1,199 refurbished.

I did not use great technique with these photos, all handheld with shutter speeds ranging from 1/2 to 1/10 second. They are also single file images, not HDR composites. A better plan would have been to use a tripod and bracket for HDR processing.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/waterford-christmas-lights Sat, 11 Dec 2021 01:38:07 GMT Testing New Portrait Length Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/testing-new-portrait-length-lens

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/12/testing-new-portrait-length-lens Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:26:46 GMT I Missed Some Good Snow https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/i-missed-some-good-snow I was thinking that a forecast of light snow for the Southern Adirondacks yesterday might result in some decent photo opportunities this morning. Well, it did snow but the ground was never covered and nothing stuck to the trees. 

Back close to home, however, only a dozen miles to the east, there was a surprise near double digit snowfall with totally covered trees. Today would have been a good day to visit Grafton Lakes State Park. 

This morning was windy and around 20 degrees as I drove down to the Northampton Beach Campground. I did get some decent images but they're not all that dissimilar to what I've been getting there all Fall.

Another annoyance was that after processing 22 images from 5 bracketed files, a process which takes several hours, I realized I saved them at half size so I have to do them all over again. Here are some of the half size photos which are still larger than they display on the blog but aren't sufficient for prints.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/i-missed-some-good-snow Sat, 27 Nov 2021 18:13:12 GMT Winter is Coming https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/winter-is-coming With overnight temperatures in the mid 20's I knew the trails at Grafton Lakes State Park would not be muddy. A bonus was yesterday's light coating of snow pellets, also known as Graupel.

I added 35 images to my Grafton gallery which can be accessed from the featured galleries on the main page or from the collections page. Here are some samples from this morning.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/winter-is-coming Sat, 20 Nov 2021 19:32:51 GMT Waterford Trail Reopens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/waterford-trail-reopens A stretch of the Champlain Canalway Trail from Broad Street in Waterford north for about a mile has been closed for quite some time now for improvements and maintenance. The work was described as "resurfacing (stone dust and asphalt), trail widening, clearing & tree removal, drainage improvements and new wooden fencing."

The most notable changes are a few newly paved sections and the new wooden fence. I'm not a fan of the fence.

I walked up the section this morning with my 24-70mm lens and ended up with 13 images to add to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/oldchamp. Here are some samples.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/waterford-trail-reopens Tue, 16 Nov 2021 18:26:12 GMT It's the Brown Time of Year https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/its-the-brown-time-of-year Although there are some other colors which still feature these days, brown is the most prevalent. I walked around Oakwood Cemetery this morning as the clouds were filling in. I could have used a half hour more sun bit it wasn't to be.

The gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/oakwood now contains 831 images. Here are some I added today.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/its-the-brown-time-of-year Sun, 14 Nov 2021 19:24:39 GMT November at Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/november-at-vischer-ferry-nature-preserve It's going to be a great week for visiting my usual locations with sunny days and high temperatures around 60 degrees. Today I visited Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve.

I haven't been there since June. I stopped at the preserve in October but it was closed to the public for the week long duck hunting season. It wasn't a long visit and I only added 11 photos to the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/vfnp. 

I'll try to find a morning soon where the ground will be frozen so I can walk around the otherwise muddy trails through the woods. Here are some samples.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/november-at-vischer-ferry-nature-preserve Mon, 08 Nov 2021 19:03:44 GMT Saratoga NHP - Day 3 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/saratoga-nhp---day-3 I decided to head up along the Hudson River again this morning but was early for the battlefield opening so visited the Schuylerville park sites before going back down to the battlefield. I bypassed the usual car tour spots and spent some times on trails, off the road.

The trail I decided on is also used by horses and it was really muddy in spots. I need to get some waterproof boots If I want to traverse these trails in the Spring.

Here are two images of the monument, two from Victory Woods, one from the surrender site and a few from the battlefield trails.

The gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp now contains 142 photos.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/saratoga-nhp---day-3 Sat, 06 Nov 2021 22:00:21 GMT Saratoga Battlefield - Day 2 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/saratoga-battlefield---day-2 It's only been three days since my initial trip to Saratoga National Historical Park. But, the weather was totally different so I decided to make another trip while the weather is decent and some color remains in the trees. 

There was some nice sun and clouds, and a rain squall with high winds. Luckily I was able to shelter on the porch of the Neilson farmhouse during the rain and wind.

Again, I only used the 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens although I had everything with me in the Outback. One of my upgrade plans is to add the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II lens to my kit. Image quality is a bit better and when I'm only carrying one camera and lens the extra length will be useful. I will keep the shorter zoom for it's smaller size and macro capabilities.

The gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp now has 99 images. Here are some samples from this morning.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/11/saratoga-battlefield---day-2 Mon, 01 Nov 2021 23:26:51 GMT Saratoga National Historical Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/saratoga-national-historical-park I've been thinking of a new shooting location that's close enough for regular visits that I can document over the course of the next year. I decided on Saratoga National Historical Park, also known as the Saratoga Battlefield. I'm familiar with the park but haven't visited in many years. It's 15 miles from home and a nice drive along the Hudson River.

In addition to the 10 mile tour road, which has ten points of interest, there are trails which lead to some more isolated historical points. You can learn more about the park at https://www.nps.gov/sara/index.htm.

Today I stayed on the road and stopped at all of the 10 points. It was foggy right up until I left at around 11:30AM.

I created a gallery for this project at https://trulandphotography.com/snhp. The gallery starts with 34 photos from this morning. Here are some examples, all made with the 24-70mm f/4L lens.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/saratoga-national-historical-park Fri, 29 Oct 2021 21:00:40 GMT High Water in the Mohawk River https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/high-water-in-the-mohawk-river While there was widespread heavy rains the past couple of days, The Catskill Mountains, in particular, saw rain in excess of three inches. A lot of this water finds its way to the Mohawk River west of the Capital District and then runs down to the Hudson River. 

But first, it all has to go over Cohoes Falls. Here are some shots from the falls followed by some shots of Peebles Island and Waterford Harbor with water levels just about at flood stage.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/high-water-in-the-mohawk-river Wed, 27 Oct 2021 18:58:13 GMT Some Late Color at Great Sacandaga Lake https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/some-late-color-at-great-sacandaga-lake It was below freezing this morning just before sunrise and I decided to drive, rather than walk, the 1 1/2 miles down to the marina and campground at Northampton. The sunrise was less than inspiring with no clouds but considerable fog. 

I shot the sunrise with the 70-300mm lens then used the 24-70mm lens for a walk around the day use area of Northampton Beach Campground. Here a couple of the sunrise followed by a bunch from post sunrise.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/some-late-color-at-great-sacandaga-lake Sun, 24 Oct 2021 20:14:15 GMT Beecher Creek, Edingurgh, NY https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/beecher-creek-edingurgh-ny It's Fall in the Adirondacks and there are still nice colors in the southern region. I made another stop at the Copeland Covered Bridge at Beecher Creek Falls in Edinburgh this morning. Conditions were good and I got some decent Fall themed images for the Adirondack Scenics gallery.

This might be a good location in Winter depending on if there's enough water. Since it's right off a road, it's worth keeping an eye on. The parking area will probably be inaccessible once the plow piles block parking opportunities. Ideally, there will be some cold weather to create some ice before there's a lot of snow. 

Here are some of today's images.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/beecher-creek-edingurgh-ny Fri, 22 Oct 2021 19:41:44 GMT Fall Along the Champlain Canalway Trail In Halfmoon https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/fall-along-the-champlain-canalway-trail-in-halfmoon I hadn't been up to the Champlain Canalway Trail in Halfmoon since late July. I wanted to get there before the color is gone so I headed up this morning after the fog burned off. Fog can be good but this was thick, up off the ground and just made it dark. 

I carried both bodies with the 24-70mm and 70-300mm lenses. The first five are with the 24-70mm lens and the final three are with the 70-300mm lens.

I added 22 images to the Champlain Canalway gallery which you can access from the collections tab or the featured galleries on the main page.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/fall-along-the-champlain-canalway-trail-in-halfmoon Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:00:11 GMT Better Foliage at Grafton Lakes State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/better-foliage-at-grafton-lakes-state-park I did manage to get back to Grafton Lakes State Park before the best foliage was a thing of the past. I added 46 images to the Grafton gallery.

I carried both the 16-35mm and 70-300mm lenses and managed to visit all four ponds. It was completely overcast when I left the house but it was forecast to clear over the course of the morning and I wanted to be there when it did. 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/10/better-foliage-at-grafton-lakes-state-park Fri, 08 Oct 2021 21:13:40 GMT Early Fall Foliage https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/early-fall-foliage The trees have barely started to turn at Grafton Lakes State Park. I will try to get back there in the next couple of weeks to hopefully catch some more dramatic colors. 

All of these shots were made with the 70-300mm lens. The first three images are of Long Pond and the final four images are along the shore of Second Pond.

 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/early-fall-foliage Wed, 29 Sep 2021 17:04:28 GMT Back to Great Sacandaga Lake https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/back-to-great-sacandaga-lake The last time I was up to the Northville area the rivers were at springtime levels and the water level of Great Sacandaga Lake was way above where it usually is in August. There was no visible sunrise this morning to I postponed my walk down the the Northampton Beach State Park until skies cleared somewhat. 

Late morning lighting is not ideal but clouds and HDR processing helped make some interesting images. Here are some samples. I added 18 images to the Adirondacks Scenics gallery.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/back-to-great-sacandaga-lake Sat, 18 Sep 2021 18:52:59 GMT A Wet Oakwood Cemetery https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/a-wet-oakwood-cemetery I decided to walk around Oakwood Cemetery this morning with the 24-70mm lens. Thunderstorms came through the area this morning around 4:00 AM and I figured there might be some standing water I could use for reflections. There were some puddles but nothing that stands out.

The Oakwood Cemetery gallery now contains 804 images including 16 I added today. Here are some samples.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/a-wet-oakwood-cemetery Mon, 13 Sep 2021 18:56:03 GMT Paddle the Flight 2021 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/paddle-the-flight-2021 This year's Paddle the Flight event was organized as part of the Tugboat Roundup calendar. The boats, which consisted of kayaks, canoes a paddle board and a dragon boat traversed the Waterford Flight of Locks from the Mohawk River down to the Hudson River. 

A 44 image gallery can be viewed at https://trulandphotography.com/ptf2021. Here are some samples.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/paddle-the-flight-2021 Sun, 12 Sep 2021 15:47:07 GMT Tugboat Roundup 2021 https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/tugboat-roundup-2021 It's been three years since I've been able to photograph the boats arriving at Waterford Harbor for the Tugboat Roundup. This year the weather was great although the number and variety of boats was disappointing. I suspect 9/11 remembrances in New York City kept some downstate boats from making the trip up the Hudson River.

I used only the 70-300mm lens and it worked out well. High water kept me from my usual shooting location on the "beach" at Peebles Island but the bridge over the Mohawk River is an equally good vantage point. Here are some samples. The gallery is located at https://trulandphotography.com/tugboatroundup2021.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/tugboat-roundup-2021 Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:55:26 GMT Late Summer at Grafton Lakes SP https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/late-summer-at-grafton-lakes-sp I walked around Long Pond at Grafton Lakes State Park this morning. It took me two and a half hours. I carried both 6D Mark II bodies with the 16-35mm and 70-300mm lenses.

I added 33 images to the Grafton gallery. Here are some samples.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/9/late-summer-at-grafton-lakes-sp Wed, 08 Sep 2021 22:13:51 GMT Cranbrook Gardens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/cranbrook-gardens Yesterday, I was at Cranbook Gardens in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with the EF 35mm f/2 IS lens I rented from Lensrentals for the trip. It was another hot, muggy day but, like the Detroit Zoo, there was shade to be found. There is a 30 image gallery from the gardens at https://trulandphotography.com/cranbrook.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/cranbrook-gardens Mon, 30 Aug 2021 10:30:56 GMT Detroit Zoo https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/detroit-zoo These images from the Detroit Zoo were all made with the 70-300mm f/4-5.6L lens. I have a 41 image gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/detroitzoo.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/detroit-zoo Sat, 28 Aug 2021 21:22:51 GMT Erie, Pennyslvania https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/erie-pennyslvania A quick overnight stop in Erie, Pennsylvania resulted in some decent scenics from Presque Isle Bay and Presque Island State Park. 

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/erie-pennyslvania Thu, 26 Aug 2021 22:28:20 GMT Southern Adirondacks Rain https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/southern-adirondacks-rain It's been a very wet Summer in the Northeast in general and in the Southern Adirondacks in particular with the rivers and streams that fill the Great Sacandaga Lake running at almost Spring levels in August. A quick trip to that area yesterday resulted in some images of the situation.

The first three images are of Beecher Creek in Edinburgh and the final four are of the Sacandaga River north of the lake. Following the images is a fifty second video of Beecher Creek.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/southern-adirondacks-rain Sat, 21 Aug 2021 11:39:00 GMT Some Slight Kit Adjustments https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/some-slight-kit-adjustments I decided not to keep the 85mm f/1.8 lens I bought at Best Buy in July. My deadline for returning the lens was August 16th, so with time left, I brought it back to the store and picked up the much cheaper, smaller and lighter 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. 

In addition, I'm back to using the OP/TECH strap system rather than the Blackrapid and switched to an older Lowepro Compact AW [that's the name not a description. It's actually large] shoulder bag for storage and transport purposes. This morning I walked over to Waterford with the 50mm lens.

We're in the middle of a heat wave with daytime highs in the mid 90s so activity is best before the sun gets too high. Here are some samples.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/some-slight-kit-adjustments Thu, 12 Aug 2021 15:32:33 GMT Late Developing Sunrise https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/late-developing-sunrise My bad luck with sunrises at lock 5 continued this morning. The ones I like best are where the sky is full of pink clouds about 20 minutes before sunrise. I have yet to see one of those this summer.

The problem again today was heavy clouds to the northeast which blocked the sun until it was above the horizon. I stayed past sunrise despite the lack of color and did have some nice clouds. Here is a chronological series from 5:10AM to 6:27AM. Sunrise was at 5:48AM. The first shot showing the sun was at 6:08AM.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/late-developing-sunrise Thu, 05 Aug 2021 18:33:34 GMT More Grafton Lakes State Park https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/more-grafton-lakes-state-park I took another walk around Shaver Pond this morning with the 24-70mm f/4L lens. I've had very mixed results bracketing files for HDR processing with a polarizer filter.

Today was mixed. Lessening reflections on the water was nice but it does things to the sky I don't like. I think it might have something to do with the way the filter affects the way the camera meters and determines white balance with severe over and under exposures. 

The last time I used a polarizer filter, at this same location, I liked the results but that was with the mirrorless camera which meters in a totally different way and a different lens with a different sized filter. So, it could just be the 77mm diameter filter I use on the EF L lenses. Or not.

Here are some samples. I uploaded 26 images to the Grafton gallery which you can access from the main page or from the collections tab.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/8/more-grafton-lakes-state-park Tue, 03 Aug 2021 20:24:29 GMT West Coast Wildfire Haze https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/7/west-coast-wildfire-haze I wanted to take advantage of haze from the West Coast wildfires this morning. It was a nice, diffused warm color light before the sun rose too high. I was up at Oakwood Cemetery not long after the gates opened at 8:00 AM. I was only there for about an hour and by noontime, the haze had lowered to ground level, visibility was bad and it smelled like smoke.

I waked around with both camera bodies and the 16-35mm and 70-300mm lenses. I expect this will be my most used pairing, reserving the 24-70mm lens for when I'm only using one camera body or when I expect to want its .7X closeup feature. 

The first three images are with the 16-35mm lens and the other four are with the telephoto zoom. A reminder that all my shots from Oakwood Cemetery are in the gallery at https://trulandphotography.com/oakwood.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/7/west-coast-wildfire-haze Mon, 26 Jul 2021 17:51:28 GMT A Wet Peebles Island https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/7/a-wet-peebles-island Since my last blog post eleven days ago, I've completed my migration back to DSLRs and EF lenses. A second 6D Mark II body, an EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L lens and an EF 85mm f/1.8 lens filled up the bag nicely and I've sold all the R series bodies and RF lenses I had. It wasn't an even swap money wise, but not that far off, and the lenses I have now are higher quality than before. 

I walked around Peebles Island this morning with the 70-300mm lens. The vernal pools are filled up with rain water and there are mushrooms all over the place.

]]> (David Truland) https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/7/a-wet-peebles-island Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:30:40 GMT Testing the EF 24-70mm f/4L Lens https://trulandphotography.com/blog/2021/7/testing-the-ef-24-70mm-f/4l-lens