River life...

[foveonfan]

Hello, all!

Thought you might like this picture.

Location: Balranald Weir on the Murrumbidgee River, near Balranald, southwestern NSW, Australia.

I was originally commissioned to photograph the entire length of the river, from its source in the Snowy Mountains, in southeastern New South Wales (NSW), to where it runs into the Murray River, which runs along the border between the states of Victoria and NSW.

Sincere regards, Jim Roelofs

 

[Guest .]

Hi Jim,

sorry ... would have answered much earlier but had a SIGMA meeting with our German SIGMA photogroup in Dresden .... a report will follow soon!

Well, I like your photo! It is always nicer to take pictures in free nature.

I only have zoo-pics of Australian pelicans.

This is one, I very much like. It does not show an Australian pelican but a Dalmatian one.



SIGMA SD14 + M42 Adapter + 35 year old VIVITAR 400mm 5.6 (open aperture / freehanded)

Normally I do not like zoos all that much ... although very many people do not have another chance to watch foreign animals. This shot is taken in Gelsenkirchen Zoom Zoo.

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There, animals are kept in very big vivariums under very "natural" conditions.

Pictures, taken there, also may look very natural because you can take most of them without any annoying cage-bars ore "concrete-atmosphere".

Thanks for your nice contribution Jim.

See you with nice pictures

Klaus

 

[foveonfan]

Yes, Klaus, I am very privileged indeed to be able to travel out to locations far removed from "captive" zoos. Where my subjects are not constrained by enclosed areas and can "leave" whenever they wish.

And I am also very fortunate to have the use of a 50 - 500mm zoom so as to be capable of maintaining distance, which often makes the difference between a good result and no result at all.

Come out here for a chance to experience what I mean. It's "only" a 27 hour journey. I mean, think of it as an opportunity to have a good sleep and "bingo", before you know it, you're in Australia!

PS. summer's nearly here too, I can practically see the snow melting in the mountains.

 

[Guest .]

Hi Jim,

many years ago I really was ready to go to New Zealand ... well, things then came different. Now I am probably too old a chap to emigrate somewhere where nature is (more) untouched than at the other side of my frontdoor.

Australia still is a dream!! Maybe, it will come true one day .... however a camera will be with me there ... I am half a man without a cam!

One thing is a bit more realistic .... at least in the short-run ... that is going to Scotland again. I saw the High Lands a couple of years ago (SIGMA DSLRs unfortunately had not been invented) ... and I must go there again ... I must!!

See you with nice pictures

Klaus

 

[Guest .]

Hi again ... Hi Jim,

I forgot something .... your lens.

There are three megazooms in the SIGMA range which I find absolutely fascinating.... the 18-200mm DC (the old version without the OS), The 18-200mm DC OS and the 50-500mm 4-3,3 APO DG.

In 2005, I got the "old" 18-200mm DC lens to a very considerable price. The dealer wanted to sell it out because he then thought SIGMA would give up making cameras any more.

I took it with the dealer's promise that I could return it if not pleased with it.

Well, the testshots were that convincing, that the 18-200mm became my standard lens on my SD10.

Later, when the 18-200mm DC OS became a bargain (only with SIGMA mount), I did not hesitate to get me one. At 18mm you can do up to 0.5s without blurring your shot .... at 200mm I frequently manage 1/15s shutter speeds.

Both lenses are really sharp!! I do not understand people moaning about the 18-200mms .... they are fine lenses at all possible focal lengthes.

I do not have a 50-500mm ... but I know, that it is a dream (similar to my 80-400mm EX OS) A German SIGMA forum-friend gave me RAWs done with it.
I can only say "fantastic". A couple of years ago, nobody would have thought, that a 10X zoom-lens can perform that well.

By the way .... many people call this lens the "BIGMA" ...

See you with nice pictures

Klaus

 

[foveonfan]

Hi, Klaus!

Yes, my 50 - 500mm is great. I often use it as my "walk around" lens. Together with the 10 - 20mm it is my combination of choice. I should hopefully have my replacement 10 - 20mm in another 2 weeks, after destroyng my original together with SD14 body 2 weeks ago. It had to be ordered from Japan. Must be very popular in Australia!

I have seen many pictures of the Scottish highlands, but I still prefer our own high plains here because of the fantastic trees called snow gums. They give, I believe, our "highlands" a more fascinating and unique look not found anywhere else. I could be wrong of course and I would welcome such a correction.

Sincerely, Jim Roelofs

 

[Guest .]

Hi Jim,

I got my 10-20mm EX DC in 2005, when it was released first. Mine is perfect but some users where complaining of their lenses for problems of decentration.
Jim I am sure you know what I am talking about ... others might read this, too.....
Unfortunately I do not find an English link explaining the point... maybe ... I did not look for the right term...."decentration of lenses????"

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Well, the test shots are self-explaining, I think.

Hopefully these problems are done with, about the 10-20mm.

See you with nice pictures

Klaus