A Summer Project, Almost

I was all ready to dedicate the vast majority of my summer shooting to a project where I would only use the 35mm f/1.8 lens I recently picked up. I did, in fact, use only that lens during my last two visits to Saratoga Battlefield. Two visits separated by almost two weeks due to some Poison Ivy I ran into in the back yard.

But after this morning's visit I've decided that I'd be passing up too many good compositions that I couldn't get with a 35mm focal length. I'll try to think of a different concentration that won't be so limiting. [And, having made that decision, I decided that since I still have a couple of days to return the lens to Best Buy for a refund, that's what I'll do.]

Here some of the scenes from this morning.

EOS R6, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/750 sec., ISO 100

EOS R6, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/1500 sec., ISO 100

EOS R6, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

EOS R6, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/16, 1/60 sec., ISO 1600

Good Conditions for Polarizing

I haven't bothered to use polarizing filters in recent times as you can achieve almost the same results with RAW file processing. Reflections on water and shiny objects like wet leaves are an exception. I do, however, usually carry one and check if it makes a difference or not. 

A very high sun means that the area of maximum polarization will be along the horizon which is perfect on days with distant clouds. Like yesterday at midday.

I walked around the Saratoga Battlefield with the EOS R8 and an RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM lens I had just picked up at Best Buy. This is the fourth copy of the lens I've owned.

All three of my lenses cover the 35mm focal length but they vary is size and weight and this small prime lens extends for .5X closeups and lets in more than two stops more light than my two zoom lenses. And as this lens was only slightly on sale and not half price like the last refurbished copy I bought, I'll not be as tempted to part with it.

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/180 sec., ISO 100

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/8, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/5.6, 1/750 sec., ISO 800

EOS R8, RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM, f/11, 1/125 sec., ISO 200

Beating the Bugs

The last few times I've been at the Saratoga Battlefield it has been midday and the deer flies have been terrible. It was almost impossible to use cameras once they found out you were in the area.

This morning I headed out early enough so that I was done with my two hour hike when the visitor center opened at 9:00 AM. The insect situation was much better.

I've been trying to decide on the best storage and carrying system for summer hiking and have decided on the Case Logic shoulder bag and holster with one camera and lens in each. The shoulder bag is larger and will also hold filters, lens blower, etc. The two straps can go across my chest opposite each other which eliminates the weight issue of a single bag and shoulder/neck strain. 

Some images from this morning:

R6, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 91mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100

R6, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

R6, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 100

R6, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 100

R6, RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/11, 1/45 sec., ISO 100

R8, RF 14-35mm f/4L at 15mm, f/22, 1/1500 sec., ISO 1600