Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

As we continue to think about the new year we are just beginning, let me offer another suggestions for making it the best year ever for yourself and those around you. Commit to spending this year blessing others. The wonderful book, “The Purpose Driven Life” the opening paragraph says it all;

It All Starts with God
It’s not about you.
The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of
mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your
wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you
must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

God created you for a higher purpose than what you’ve considered your life to be all about. He created you to accept His love and forgiveness and then share it with others. If you don’t accept His love, then you are lost. If you do accept His love then He will prepare you to share it and to bring it to others. God does not desire us to be comfortable, He desires us to be effective.

I have lived long enough to have learned one very important life lesson, I gain far more joy when God uses me to bring a blessing to others than when I bring a joy to myself. There simply is no great joy than to see others come to know Him and give their lives to Him. In my career I’ve been honored many times, with wonderful awards, and that is nice, but it doesn’t even begin to compare to the joy of seeing someone find the Way. All the accolades, nice comments and awards will someday fade away, seeing someone that was lost be found will last forever……..

the pilgrim

Photo Note: D700 – 17-35 AFS lens f18 @ 1/2 second.

Yesterday we talked about lenses and in an effort to stay completely up front and honest with you I made some major changes to my carry system and I wanted to share that with you. For some time now I’ve made my standard three lens package for FX bodies (D700 & D3s) the following: My wide angle zoom has been the 17-35 AFS f2.8 lens. My mid-range zoom has been the 24-70 AFS f2.8 lens and my long lens in the walk around system has been the 70-300 AFS VR f4.5-5.6 lens.

Yesterday I went to a new system for my first two zooms lenses. I will now be using the new 16-35 AFS VR f4 wide angle zoom and for my mid range zoom the new 24-120 AFS VR f4 lens. Illustrated below:

Images courtesy of Ken Rockwell www.kenrockwell.com/

Why the change? After exhaustive testing and lots of consideration I feel these two lenses will better serve me in the field. Let’s start with the 16-35 AFS VR. This lens is the sharpest wide angle zoom ever made by anyone, ever. The 17-35 was an extremely sharp lens, but this one clearly betters it! I lost one f stop going from an f2.8 in the 17-35 to an f4 in the 16-35, but with VR II I can shoot at much lower speeds when I must hand hold, and get sharper results. The new lens is lighter, but not as compact, the bottom line is still sharpness, every image I’ve seen from the new 16-35 has blown me away.

Giving up the 24-70 AFS F2.8 was a harder choice, but in the end I know it will be the right decision. First the 24-70 is clearly the sharpest mid-range zoom Nikon has ever made, no question about that. However having 50mm more range on the long end in a lens, that is very nearly as sharp (very, very close in sharpness), will mean less lens changing in the field. When things are happening rapidly that can mean whether you get the shot or not. Loosing one f stop of speed is more than offset by VR II. One really big bonus is the close focusing of the new 24-120. Because it focuses to less than 18 inches and takes 77mm filters I can use my Canon 500D close-up diopter for really great close-up performance, nearly a 1:1 ratio and the images are exceedingly sharp, all this means that in most situations I don’t have to carry a Micro lens (more weight savings). Why do I not use a Nikon close-up diopter? We stopped making the highly praised 52mm and 62mm diopters (3T-4T-5T-6T), and Nikon never made a 77mm diopter.

One last point on the loss of one f stop of speed on these two new lenses. Because our modern cameras,
D7000, D700, and D3s all have extremely low noise even at very high ISOs, the loss of one f stop is not a big deal anymore. Since I shoot from a tripod 90% of the time and when I don’t the lenses have the latest VR II, I should never miss that one stop. I did some pretty serious testing confirmed all the assumptions stated here. Below is a very revealing shot from the test, it was the one that sold me on this move.

Another consideration is how this affects my DX system as well. I was planning to get the 16-85 AFS VR
for DX (D7000) but now the 24-120 will serve as a nice 36-180 for the DX cameras. I had already added the 12-24 for my wide angle zoom for that DX system anyway, so now with the lenses below will give the effective range, illustrated.

12-24 AFS f4 will be an effective 18-36
24-120 AFS VR f4 will be an effective 36-180
70-300 AFS VR f4-5.6 an effective 105-450

18-450 coverage in three lenses with no gaps! Plus exceptional close-up performance.

For FX

16-35 AFS f4
24-120 AFS VR f4
70-300 AFS VR f4-5.6

16-300 coverage in three lenses with no gaps! Same great close-up abilities.

As you can see my long range zoom remains the 70-300 AFS VR f4.5-5.6. This lens continues to amaze me with it’s incredible sharpness and ease of use. It is starting to develop a very large following, everyone that tries it, ends up owning one. It’s much smaller and lighter than the four times more expensive 70-200 AFS VRII f2.8. If you need the speed, the 70-200 is certainly the ticket, if not the 70-300 is one of the screaming bargains in photography today……

I’ve already be asked why not the new 28-300 AFS VR f3.5-5.6 instead of the 24-120 which is actually a little less money with a much broader range? For a very strange reason I admit, if I had the 28-300 which I’ve shot and love, I would be tempted to just carry a two lens system and eliminate the 70-300. I can hearing you saying what’s so bad about that?????!!!! What if you go on a big trip, say to Alaska, and you carry two lenses the 16-35 and a 28-300. What if you drop and break the 28-300 on the first day??!!
Can you shoot the next two weeks with just a 16-35? If you broke your 24-120, you would still have a
70-300! I know it’s weird, but since I taught workshops for over three decades, I’ve seen every kind of
camera accident you can imagine. One of my greatest fears is to be in a great location and not have the glass to make the images……… I’ll just carry three lenses, just to be on the safe side. Honestly one other factor comes in, I have made so many wonderful images with 70-300 I couldn’t tell a great old friend like that they are going to have to stay home while I’m out having a great time. I’m just that kind of guy, my father always said, “If you can’t be handsome, be handy – and faithful………”

So, come spring, it’s back into the field with a new set of lenses to keep company with my old friend, and enjoy the good times!

the pilgrim

Over the weekend I did some lens testing and
got some surprising results, I have often wondered just how the old manual focus lenses stack up against the latest and greatest lenses of today. I’ve always had mixed feelings about the subject and even after the tests, still have some mixed feelings. First let me make it clear, my everyday, go to lenses are the most current lenses made by Nikon. Since I shoot Nikon and work for Nikon I can’t address what comparisons you might draw for Canon, Pentax. Olympus, Leica, etc., etc.

Here are some of my conclusions:

1. All lenses made today (most current) are spectacular, and function wonderfully. I cannot question their sharpness, color correction and functionality.

1. Older manual focus lenses have a certain feel that is wonderful, and many of the best “classic” lenses still perform optically at a very high order, even compared to the most modern lenses.

1. I think that improvements have been more significant in wide angle lenses, especially wide angle zooms. That’s not to say that telelphotos have not benefited from modern computer design and manufacturer, they certainly have, but some of the newest wide angle zooms far exceed the lenses of the past by huge margins.

1. I think it is safe to say that we have a
tendency to think of things of the past as
superior, but my tests and practical field
experience don’t support that belief. Today’s
modern glass is exceptional and we also
have the added advantage of auto-focus,
great correction of aberrations with ED
and Aspherical elements, and some with very
compact designs.

1. Now having said all of that, I still think the
it is fun to go back and use the classics from
time to time, and with the Nikon System you
still can! Since Nikon has chosen to make
all current pro grade cameras able to use
these old classics, it is at least and option.
The fact that a tremendous number of these
great old lenses are still available and it can
be done affordably is pretty cool.

So just for grins, in the next few weeks I’m going to go out and try to do some serious work with
some old manual glass. I will shoot the D700 in manual mode in center weighted or spot metering. I’ve chosen the old manual 24mm f2.8, 105mm f2.5 and 105mm Micro Nikkor f2.8 and the 50-135 f3.5 & 80-200 Nikkor f4 zoom lens to try and shoot some images for you and I to inspect.

It will be an interesting to see how the experience is going back to “old school” techniques and gear. It will be an emotional and technical throw back for me…..

It’s Monday and as I start a new week, I want to thank my Lord again for a great weekend with some wonderful photographer friends at the Kentucky News Photographers Association meeting in Louisville. It was great to see so many old friends.

Thank you Father for making my work life so satisfying……..

the pilgrim

Actually in the photograph above, I’m actually flying low. The image was taken from another ultralight like the one I’m flying over the Arizona desert by my good friend, Fred Sisson. O.K.
so much for word play. Yes I do have a point, and I’m getting to it. I’m flying high, no particular reason I just feel great. Some of it is physical, the new diet is working, and I feel much healthier,
some of it is getting back to work, I always function better when I’m on a mission. A lot of it is the realization everyday that God has a plan for my life. He has a plan for yours too.

I would like to offer some encouragement to those that may be needing a little today. Take a few minutes this weekend to count your blessing and make a list of all the people that have had a wonderful impact on your life. For me it would take more than a weekend! Just a short list; my wife and the love of my life, Sherelene, I can’t imagine life without her. We have been partners in everything life has to offer, from tragedy and fear to a great friendship and romance. Truly great friends like Chuck Summers, Chuck is maybe one of the most faithful people in my life, always there, always praying, always a friend. Another old friend that has blessed my life is Mark Boris, I smile every time I think about him! Then the great new friends like Jim Begley, Chuck Barnes, and Snake Barrett, wow what a great time we had out in Utah this last October. Of course Scott Kelby has added so much to my life, what a dear friend he is, and introducing me to such great people including; Matt, RC, Dave (both), Larry, Kathy, and the gang! In a few weeks my first course will debut on Kelby Training, what an honor to join that great group. The list would go on and on, but I’ve got to jump in the FJ and head to Louisville pretty soon. I’m blessed with an incredible family, Scott, Diane, Ben and Hannah, Catherine and Clint, Cassidy and Cade, Wesley, Rhonda, Elijah and Abigail. How much He has blessed me.

Most important of all I can fellowship with my Saviour everyday. This is a great life we enjoy and with each day more blessings come. When tough times come we can lean on Him too. I hope over the weekend as you think upon your considerable blessings you will be flying high yourself. Meet you at about 500 feet agl…………

the pilgrim

agl: above ground level

During the last book project, I had an idea. I was aware that the Corvette factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky parked all the newly manufactured Corvettes in a large lot behind the factory
until they were shipped to dealers. I thought that an aerial shot almost straight down would create a great color shot in which the Corvettes would look much like a bunch of M&M’s on the ground.
One early morning I flew up form the Bowling Green airport and made the shot above. It worked and it reinforced the knowledge that sometimes it’s good to try and see things from a different perspective.

I got an interesting email from an acquaintance yesterday asking why I promoted so many other photographers rather than pounding my own chest. He shared that he thought I was a very good photographer, but seldom saw me “promote myself.”

While I very much appreciated the kind words about my photography, I had to think about his question before I answered his email. I know why I don’t go into a lot of self-promotion, but I wasn’t sure how to explain it. It was a good exercise in self evaluation. Let me first say that I don’t think how good you are at any activity, photography, golf, gardening, snow skiing, etc, etc.,
should be judged in any way except how much joy it brings to you and others. If you are a great golfer and love to play, you got your reward. If you grow a garden and you’re thrilled with what you get at harvest time, you got your reward.

reward |riˈwôrd|
noun
a thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement : the holiday was a reward for 40 years’ service with the company | figurative the emotional rewards of being a parent.
• a fair return for good or bad behavior : a slap on the face was his reward for his impudence.

I would like to alter the second part of the definition to say, “a fair return for an effort to excel”.
I think it is fair to hope that if you work very hard at any endeavor and don’t get discouraged when it is not going well, that in the end, you will get the “reward”. Here is the problem with sharing with others what kind of reward you think you should get, it doesn’t really matter to them.
If I work very hard to become a good photographer and I hope to get the reward of joy from the effort, I’m a winner, but if I want the reward of others admiring me, I may be disappointed. Others may not see the world the way I see it, and they may not think what I captured with a camera is not all that special, they are not me. If I’m happy with the photographic results, the process of seeking rewards should end there.

Of course it is very nice when someone says, “I love you images, or that image.” While it is nice, and feels good, it does not fundamentally change me as a person. When I see the work of other photographers and share their work and share about them, it brings me joy to share something that means something to me, but it’s not about me, just about something “I think” is special. It would be not be appropriate for me to be the one to share about how special anything is that I do.

Do I think I’m good at photography, sure, I’ve worked very hard and I think I’ve learned a lot over the last forty years. Does that mean I should shout it from the mountain tops? No need, if someone thinks my work is good, good, if they think it is not very special, that’s fine too, people have the right to think what ever they want to think. Neither evaluation by others changes who I am.

A long time ago in my walk with the Lord, I came to the decision that my life is not about me, but about Him. If I serve Him and are keeping my mind and heart focused on Him, I will not have time to be thinking a great deal about myself. I’m not suggesting that we cannot enjoy our accomplishments, we certainly can, and should. I’m just saying that trying to affect how others think of us is a pretty useless exercise. I want God to love me, and He already does, nothing I can do here will alter His love. I didn’t earn it in the first place, and I can’t elevate it by making a nice
photograph.

the pilgrim