Mirror: You look cute today.
Camera: Um, no.
Instagram Filters: I got you.
– Unknown
This made me smile. Though I’m not on Instagram, I do have a Beauty Face option on my Galaxy Smartphone camera. I put the setting high for selfies and just like that I am ten years younger!
This one’s for you Garfield Hugs, by request, in response to your post A New App.
Camellia 1
Miss Camellia!
Excuse me? What do you mean, ‘Autumn’?
Yes, I know! We are heading for ‘winter’, yet so many of my plants are blooming merrily away.
It is one of the things I love about living in Cape Town. Here, lots of plants bloom twice a year, so mid-winter is as bright and colourful as mid-summer, but without the enervating heat!
Camellia 2
But just to show it really is autumn, I give you my neighbour’s golden leaved tree! You have to look carefully for these deciduous trees dotted around, as most of our trees are evergreen:
Or like Miss Camellia, have no blooming idea what time of year it is!
post script: These photos were taken last week with my Nikon. I am happy to say that I am improving; ie I can usually take a photo in focus now!
Moon 1
The Sky At Night: Reaching for the Moon!
Apparently, there is enough light reflected from the Moon to make it possible to take a photograph of it at night.
These shots were taken on the Shutter-Priority Auto setting, which allows me to adjust the speed of the shutter, while the Nikon automatically adjusts the aperture to the optimal exposure.
Moon 2
Obviously, I have much to learn still, as you can see from these pictures, but I am very pleased to capture any resolution on the face of the Moon.
Moon 3
This is what it looked like through my camera lens.
Moon 4
Here you can also see a little of the tree tops, at the bottom of the photo.
To improve on these, I will have to use a tripod and play around some more with the settings. I could still try to use the RAW image quality, which would yield a 6 MB photo as opposed to the 4 MB I currently get on the normal setting.
Moon 5
I could also invest in a zoom lens! Yes, there is a Moon in the photo above.
Moon 6
See?
This is the final in my Nikon-ography series. I have had a great deal of fun learning more about my camera and feel confident now, that I can just pick it up and take a reasonable photo.
My objective with this series was to familiarise myself with my new camera, with the ultimate goal of capturing a night time Moon shot, and of Little Monkey in action.
I will aspire to these.
Dianthus 1
Up close and personal.
These newly potted Dianthus plants caught my eye, as they themselves caught the fading evening sunlight.
Dianthus 2
Since I am still learning how to use my Nikon camera, I practise whenever I get the chance.
Dianthus 3
However, part of my problem with the Nikon, as opposed to my old point and click Canon, is that I do more of the focusing.
Dianthus 4
Since I don’t see too well, this usually results in quite a few blurred shots in the process. (Having said that, I actually like the above photo. I think the slight loss of focus emphasises the brightness of the sunlight.)
And as this is all digital, it costs me nothing but my time!
Flower 1
Hello Beautiful!
Flower 2
Where have you been all my life?
Flower 3
This bulb was already in the garden when we moved into the house, decades ago. It must be way down in the ground by now. Certainly there was no prior warning to its imminent arrival: no tell-tale leaves for example. Suddenly one day, it was just there.
What is it, you ask?
Trusty google reveals this lovely flowering bulb to be Nerine Bowdenii.
These photos were taken using the Auto Aperture feature. Once again, it was windy, so the flower kept bobbing around at unexpected times. I had to try to time my snaps.
post script: And yes, someone actually said those opening lines to me once, when I was a teenager.
I know! Boys are so cheesy!
Sunset 1
Towards evening, a few clouds finally appeared in the sky, to relieve the enervating summer heat, by a minuscule amount.
Sunset 2
However, it did give me the chance to snap some more colourful photos of the sky than the usual clear deep blue we have been having all summer.
Sunset 3
And it’s great to have the neighbour’s palm tree to provide a focal point.
Sunset 4
Using the Auto distance setting, (the picture of the Mountain!) I walked round the garden catching the sun’s last rays lighting up the underside of the few clouds with gold.
Sunset 5
What I like in the above photo is the sense of movement, as it appears the clouds are racing from bottom left to top right.
Actually, since there was virtually no wind, the clouds only drifted casually across the sun-scorched skies.
Sunset 6
After a short while, the light began to fade, but just before the dreary grey of dusk, the clouds caught fire and glowed red.
Sunset 7
I love sunsets!
Mr Spaghetti Legs 1
Sweet Dreams
Mr Spaghetti Legs having a little snooze while waiting for his supper.
Taken on the Aperture-Priority Auto setting.
Mr Spaghetti Legs 2
Why so many photos of old Mr Spaghetti Legs?
Unlike Little Monkey, he is easy to stalk and creep up close to . . .
And he lies still!
Green 1
How Green Was My Garden
Continuing to teach myself how to use the Nikon camera, I tried to capture the different hues of summer in my back garden.
Green 2
So many shades of green: sometimes because that’s just how they grow, in different tones:
Green 3
sometimes because some plants are just starting to bloom:
Green 4
while others are preparing for autumn already.
Green 5
You get all sorts here in the Mediterranean climate of Cape Town, with long warm summers and mild wet winters.
post script: All these shots were taken on Auto, while I familiarised myself with the camera and focus.
Sunset 1
The Sky at Night
I took these photos last winter, just on Auto.
Sunset 2
I’ll have to take some more night shots, when we have some colour back in the sky; other than the deep clear blue of summer!
Little Monkey 1
Watch the Birdie!
“What Birdie? Where?” asks Little Monkey!
And sadly, yes, this is my lawn at the moment! First bugs ate it, then we’re having an extremely hot, dry summer, with water restrictions.
Little Monkey 2
I love her pink tongue!
So far I am playing around with the Nikon camera settings just on Auto. Even so, there are many more ‘Autos’ than on my old Canon, and Little Monkey is blurred here.
Mr Spaghetti Legs 1
Mr Spaghetti Legs is a much easier subject to photograph, as he sleeps most of the day, only becoming active for walks and food. Little Monkey, on the other hand, is rarely still!
After our walk, SL tends just to stand still and pant, while LM trots all over the place!
Mr Spaghetti Legs 2
I was going to include a section here and call it “Also Ran”, but quite frankly, I think this photo “Never crossed the starting line”!
Little Monkey 3
Obviously, I have to work on the focus. I have no idea what my settings were here, though I suspect they were still on ‘close up’ as I had just been shooting a flower. Something else to work on.
I’ll have to experiment and maybe try the sports setting for LM!
Mad Cap Dog 