Monthly Archives: December 2024

Ladybird portriats

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Ladybird
Ladybird

These portraits of the ladybirds were taken in my backyard on 14 November 2024. The parsleys are in full bloom. This attracted the Ladybirds. I took this opportunity to capture some macro photographs of these beneficial insects.

They are fairly easy subjects because they are slow-moving and don’t seemed particularly disturbed by the presence of cameras and lenses.

On this particular day, I was using the Nikon F-mount macro lens with a 2 times teleconverter attached. This gives me a reproduction ratio of 2:1 – 2 times life size. In contrast, the new Z-mount macro lens does not take a teleconverter. It is restricted to a 1:1 reproduction ratio unless a diopter such as a Raynox DCR-250 lens is attached. In many ways, the older lens is more flexible than the new lens. I sometimes do wonder why Nikon make design decisions such as this. Perhaps the decision was to prioritise image quality (for which the Z-mount lens is excellent) over flexibility.

Nikon Z9, Nikon AF-S VR Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20EIII, Nikon FTZ II Nikon SB-5000, Crafty Bells Diffuser @ 210mm 1/200s f/22 ISO400

Grey Teal looking cute

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Grey Teal

Another photograph of a sweet Grey Teal at Oak Street wetland. This photograph was take on 15 November 2024.

It was taken on a close to the water surface hand-held and composed using the rear LCD of my camera an hour after sunrise.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO2200

Another portrait of a Pacific Black Duck

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On 15 November 2024, this Pacific Black Duck came very close to me at the Oak Street Wetland. Of the native ducks, the Pacific Black Duck is probably the one that is most comfortable with human, especially if they are used to being fed.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO2800

Fisheye view of Melbourne Central

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Melbourne Central Shot Tower
Melbourne Central Clock
Melbourne Central Clock

I acquired the Nikon AF-S Fisheye Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED lens a few years ago while I was still using the Nikon D850 as my main camera. However, I have not had the opportunity to do this lens any justice until 21 December 2024 when we visited the city. On this day, the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens was my main lens on the Nikon Z8 but took the fisheye lens with a Nikon FTZ II adapter just in case there would be a reason to use it.

Someone once said that to use a fisheye lens effectively, the photograph must look like it wasn’t taken with a fisheye lens at a glance. When we were in Melbourne Central, I thought the architecture of the location was designed to be photographed with a fisheye lens. The circularity and curvature of the interior of the building will compliment the distortion of the lens. I think I have achieved the goal of taking a picture with a fisheye lens that still looks reasonably natural. I hope you agree with me.

The first 2 photographs are taken at 15mm which has a 3:2 aspect ratio. When the lens is zoomed at 8mm, I have to remove the lens hood so that a circular image can be taken. The lens has a 180 degree view of view from the front element with either focal length. Owing to the high contrast, I have to employ 5-shot backet of 1 2/3 stops apart and stack the images with Adobe Lightroom.

First: Nikon Z8, Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED @ 15mm f/4.5 1/200s ISO-64.

Second: Nikon Z8, Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED @ 15mm f/4.5 1/200s ISO-100.

Third: Nikon Z8, Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED @ 8mm f/4.5 1/200s ISO-64.

Willie Wagtail at the oval

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Willie Wagtail

There is almost always a Willie Wagtail at Trin Warren Tam-boore. This one was found at the oval on the morning of 14 November 2024. The Wagtails are very used to having people around. I have not met one that has a large circle of fear anywhere in Australia.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO800

Buff-banded Rail foraging at Trin

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Buff-banded Rail

On some occasions, we do see the Buff-banded Rail foraging at Trin Warren Tam-boore. This was the case on the morning of 10 November 2024.

At this time, only one Rail was seen. Sometimes, we can have 3 Rails out in the open. I hid behind a tree and try to look as non-threatening as I can be. I believed it knows that I was around but being a distance away, it must feel quite comfortable. As it seemed to be as ease with me looking on, I had time to remove the strap from my camera and held it low at ground level using the LCD screen of the camera to compose and focus. The result was a better photograph than my previous attempts. Due to the uneven ground, I was not able to get the background to be as clean as possible.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO80

Charging Pacific Black Ducks

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Pacific Black Duck

This dramatic looking image was taken in the morning of 10 November 2024 at the Oak Street Wetlands within an hour of sunrise. The sky was clear and the rising sun cast a warm light onto the wetland.

While the ducks looked like they were charging toward me, this is common behavior of these ducks. They are swimming towards me expecting to be fed. Visitors to the Oak Street Wetland generally don’t feed the wildlife, these ducks must have come from a location where they are being pampered. As a rule, it is best not to feed wildlife as they need to develop the skills to feed themselves and the food people give wildlife may not be appropriate.

First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO450

More Grey Teals

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Grey Teal
Grey Teal

On 9 November 2024, there were quite a few Grey Teals at the Oak Street Wetland. I managed to get there half an hour after sunrise. The sky was clear but the rising sun gave off a warm golden light – the so called golden hour.

A few Grey Teals swam pass me as I took advantage of the usual break in the reeds to get close to the water’s edge. The camera was held in front of me close to the surface of the water. The resulting photographs was that of the Teals from a low angle.

First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO400

Second: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO250

A Little Pied Cormorant pose for a photograph

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Little Pied Cormorant

The Little Pied Cormorant is a reasonable common bird of the Oak Street Wetland. While it does not always have a presence like the Eurasian Coote, there is a good chance of seeing one when you visit Oak Street.

This particular Cormorant appears to be posing for a photograph why it perched on a tree branch to dry off after a swim in the pond. It was taken on 8 November 2024. From the looks of it, it is a checky one.

Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO220