Rest Week from Filoli

After visiting Filoli for the past three weeks, it was nice to take a break. The Tulips there need another couple/few weeks to push through the soil, find the sun and show themselves.





So we had some time to visit our own garden, which, being in Contra Costa County, has more sun. Our daffs are just about gone, but our tulips went beyond themselves, announcing the Spring. The red tulips were gargantuan, beyond our high expectations. What fascinated me about them, however, was not the size, but the details of the buds. The reds flashed in the morning and afternoon sun. I tried light modifiers, but the splendor of the colors screamed for plain sunlight! Sometimes photography just doesn't get better than this.

I practiced my handholding techniques and found that if I just better concentrated--and didn't force any shots, my steadiness came back. By force I mean handholding a macro-lens 2 inches from a patient bug. I still shake for thing like that. But that's what a tripod is for. Other shots, when I was able to pin myself against the boards of the planter box, came out just fine. Hope to visit Filoli in the coming weeks, to show a parade of tulip colors.





Next Blog: TBD

Filoli - Two Weeks Later

Today Filoli didn't change much. The Daffs were fuller, just about their peak.





Potted pink tulips were past their prime. The real prospect were the full-bodied Tulips in the planter beds. You know they will blossom fully in a few weeks. Then the full color of Filoli will jump into everyone's mind. Crowds will be there, but hey, that's okay. Everyone will have a good time, and be polite to everyone else, taking pictures or chasing kids and infants bent upon pulling the flowers to see and smell them. Stay tuned for some wonderful colors.





Next BLOG: Rest Week from Filoli

Filoli - A Week Later

What a difference a week makes!

We visited Filoli again this past weekend. The color just tripled, especially with the Daffs. Filoli advertisements drew in crowds. I found the gardens a happy place, with kids squealing and running all over the place, playful in anticipation of an early Spring. Groups of flower-lovers huddled around knowledable docents. Everyone seemed to enjoy the quiet and beauty of the place. I took a break from photographing the yellows, the whites and the pinks, just to enjoy myself.



The guards gently rounded us late-comers to observed the 3:30pm closing. All of us found the day too short.

I can't wait until they bring out the tulips. This Spring should bring out the full Splendor of colors and shapes, as Lurline Roth (the founder of Filoli) wished.



Next Blog: Filoli Two Weeks Later

Filoli in February

Sometimes the weather just cooperates. Today was such a day at FILOLI, Lurline Roth's garden estate in Woodside, California. The coolness of a late February afternoon, with the sun behind the clouds, made taking images fairly easy. No flash or modifiers were needed. I purposefully did not bring my tripod; I wanted to practice my technique with my 80-200mm zoom. I placed the D200 mode on Shutter priority, so that I would take pictures at speeds I could hand-hold. Why do that with flowers, leaves and landscapes? I wanted to see if I could consistently hand-hold my camera rig for practice before an upcoming wedding ceremony in Hawaii next month.

Yes, I found out that if I kept the speed 1/125 and faster, placed my elbows into my body, and slowly exhaled as I shot, my pictures were sharp. Depth of field had to be controlled, of course. But I accomplished what I set out to do. More images can be found here.

We have been to FILOLI to take stock pictures for a year now. So it is nice to see how the grounds start off--as barren grounds, just before the plantings begin in March. Will be back there for the manicured patchwork of color that will sure to brighten my spirit.



Next Post: Filoli - A Week Later

Nikon USA Has Been Good To Me

I hardly ever use Nikon, because my equipment has worked in heat and rain and snow. I've grown accustomed to not worrying much about how much abuse the equipment can take, even though I sorta baby everything.

When I bot a Nikon D200, I also purchased a 2 year (additional) Warranty from Nikon. I don't know why I did it, because in general, Warranty plans don't plan out economically. But it was my first digital camera, so I plunged.

A few years later, I found dust on my camera, and the metering system tended to underexpose by about a stop. I sent the D200 back to Nikon under the Warranty. I didn't send it at the optimal time, being just before Christmas. Well, it came back 3 weeks/2 days later on January 5th. Now remember, the repair facility went through 2 major holidays, and I'm not a Nikon PRO. So given the holiday period, I was expecting the camera to be sent back in mid-late January.

Nikon exceeded my expectations.

Here's what I wanted: Dust Cleaned of my Sensor & Meter adjusted to Nikon specs.

Here's what they did for me:
Replaced Mode SW
Replaced Rewind Side rubber
Replace CF Cardholder rubber
Adjusted auto focu operation
Checked Meter Accuracy
Firmware upgraded
Replaced rubber grip
Checked image test
Checked meter operation
Adjusted exposure

The D200 was returned with all that I sent them, in much, much better shape.

Sometime is pays to pay more for exemplary service. Thanks, Nikon.

Next Post: FILOLI in February