Tag Archives: Z8

A spider in our backyard

Posted on by
Reply
Australiasian Garden Orb-weaver (Hortophora Biapicata) [18 April 2025: Nikon Z8, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S @ 1/60s f/24 ISO200, Nikon SB-910, Cygnustech Diffuser]
Australiasian Garden Orb-weaver (Hortophora Biapicata) [18 April 2025: Nikon Z8, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S @ 1/60s f/22 ISO200, Nikon SB-910, Cygnustech Diffuser]
Australiasian Garden Orb-weaver (Hortophora Biapicata) [23 April 2025, Nikon Z8, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S @ 1/200s f/18 ISO200, Nikon SB-910, Cygnustech Diffuser]

On 18 May 2025, we observed a spider building its web after sunset. I took out my Z8 with a 105mm macro lens fitted with a SB-910 speedlight and the new Cygnustech Diffuser. This enabled me to take a series of detailed photograph of the Australian Garden Orb-weaver.

This is the first time I have seen such a large spider in our backyard. Previously, we have only observed some jumping and Lynx spiders.

Not being a seasoned macro photographer, I have to use the iNaturalist app on my phone to identify this spider.

The next morning, the web disappeared and the spider was found hiding in a hole. Then just after sunset, it started building its web again. This happened for a few nights. On one or two days, the web remained intact. I suspect that birds might have destroyed the web after dawn.

The spider disappeared after about a week. It may have moved on or got taken by a predator – possibly a bird.

The first night I took these photographs, I found that I have again let my macro photography skills slipped. This is rather disappointing because I have promised myself to do more macro photography the last time this happened. However, over the course of the few nights that the spider was around, I have managed to regained some of my skills.

As weather gets colder with winter approaching, I don’t think there will be many opportunities to photograph insects. I think I will try my hand at macro photography of flowers and fungi.

Textual of a concrete jungle

Posted on by
Reply
1 Briscoe Lane, Melbourne
376 Little Collins St

I had never been a street photographer. I don’t even know where to start. On 21 December 2024, while in Melbourne City, I decided to bring a camera along. Far from what a street photographer would do, I brought quite a bit of gear in a backpack:

    • Nikon Z8
    • Nkon Nikkor Z
      50mm f/1.8 S
    • Nikon Nikkor Z
      85mm f/1.8 S
    • Nikon Nikkor Z
      MC 105mm f/2.8 VR
    • Nikon SAF-S Fisheye Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED

    I never got to use the 85mm nor the 105mm macro lens. While indoors, I had the fisheye on the camera and was using the 50mm outdoors.

    I took a few hundred photographs but only kept less than 20. I was looking for something unique that most people would not take notice of.

    I spotted these ordinary-looking building but with a narrower perspective, the lines and windows render interesting textual that streaks the skyline. Of all the buildings I have photographed, I find these 3 images the most interesting.

    Through a fresh look at a common sight, I hope to bring about a second, more interesting angle to the concrete jungle that is Melbourne Central Business District. I hope you enjoy it.

    First: Nikon Z8, Nkon Nikkor Z
    50mm f/1.8 S @ f/8 1/125s ISO-140

    Second: Nikon Z8, Nkon Nikkor Z
    50mm f/1.8 S @ f/8 1/125s ISO-560

    Third: Nikon Z8, Nkon Nikkor Z
    50mm f/1.8 S @ f/8 1/125s ISO-140

    A flower beetle in our backyard

    Posted on by
    Reply
    Mordella

    On a cloudy morning of 22 November 2024, I spotted a flower beetle of the genius Mordella. I am unable to identify the specific species of this beetle. The iNaturalist Seek mobile app was only able identify the genius.

    This is the first time I have seen this beetle. It disappeared the next day.

    The photograph was taken with the Nikon Z 105mm macro lens with a Roynox DCR-250 and a flash diffused by a newly acquired Cynustech diffuser.

    Nikon Z8, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, Rayox DCR-250, Nikon SB-910, Cynustech Diffuser @ 1/200s f/22 ISO400

    Fisheye view of Melbourne Central

    Posted on by
    Reply
    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.

    Restarting my Macro journey

    Posted on by
    Reply
    Housefly

    It’s been a while since I have done any Macro Photography. I have not been able to go to the park to do wildlife photography because of weather and other commitments. With some time in the afternoon, I decided to assemble my macro photography gear and look for subjects in the garden.

    It has been too long between macro shoots, I have not been quick enough to photograph the bees. So, instead, I looked for easier subject and that was the humble housefly.

    Housefly

    The difference between this shoot and my previous shoot is the use of the AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED adapted to the Nikon Z8 via a FTZ II. The light source was supplied by 3 SB-R200 as part of the Nikon R1C1 set and a Crafty Bell diffuser.

    While I did end up with some reasonable photographs but I felt that I am out of practice with macro. I should try to get back into it and attempt to reestablish my skills.

    I also found some Carpet Beetles in some Parsley Flowers. However, they are extremely small (1-3mm). This makes it impossible to photograph with a 1:1 macro lens. I tried to attach a 2X Kenko F-mount teleconverter to the lens but the Z8 is not able to control the aperture which makes the setup useless. I checked the lens and teleconverter with the D850 and that combination worked. I guessed I have just experienced a limitation of mirrorless adaptation.

    Nikon Z8, AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED, FTZ II, Nikon SU-800 + 3 x Nikon SB-R200 (R1C1), Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket, Crafty Bells bonnet diffuser @ 1/200s f/22 ISO200