KenElevenShadows

Where's the "like" button? Thanks!

Yes , my most prized favorite photo Ken . Brett Oh bloody hell, that's right, we even discussed this. It's very clear my brain is deteriorating. Okay, here's another one then. http://kenleephotography.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/284kenlee_joshuatree2014-5bigtowermilkyway-15sf28iso6400-221am-2014-05-25-960px.png

http://kenleephotography.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/0140kenlee_vasquezrocks2014-lunapascua-30sf4iso320-143am-2014-04-20-960px.jpg I forgot whether I posted this or not. Anyway, this is from the new Nikon D610 and Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 a while back. Now, on this photo, the Tokina is sharp all the way around because I stopped down to f/4. When I shoot wide open, it's a little soft in the edges/corners, although nothing horrible, as most ultra wide angle lens shot at their widest aperture would be like this.

I recently got my first full frame camera, the Nikon D610, and a Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8. I have to admit that although I like the Tokina 16-28 f/2.8 a lot, I was a little frustrated with the soft corners when shooting wide open at f/2.8 even though it's freakin' fantastic and sharp at f/4. I saw a "like new" Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 for US$1300 (it's usually almost US$2000), and in a late night impulse, jumped on it. I just got it. It came in a large box that was so well padded that I'm pretty sure I could have flung this off a two story building and the lens would be fine. I decided not to test that out. I did, however, test out the lens just a few minutes ago. The lens is basically like new, as they said. No scratches, no nothing. It's in really great shape. I ran out to my back yard and took some photos with the "like new" 14-24mm wide open at f/2.8. Holy CRUD. This thing is really sharp at the edges. It's barely softer at the edges than it is in the center. I did not do a direct comparison, trying to do the same shots in a star test as the Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8, but eyeballing it, I can tell you that I have never gotten shots this sharp on the edges (corners) with the Tokina at f/2.8. I totally get why people are raving about this lens. The Tokina is seriously fantastic for US$625. I'm comparing it to a lens that costs almost US$2000, not a fair comparison. But the Tokina cannot produce corners this sharp at f/2.8. Neither can the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. I realize this is not a scientific comparison, but on the other hand, I know what I am seeing. At f/4, I believe the Tokina 16-28mm and Nikkor 14-24mm are very comparable across the entire image, but not at f/2.8. This summer is going to be a LOT of fun! It's a little bit of a challenge running around during the summer with new equipment that I'm not completely familiar with and operating the equipment in the dark doing night sky photos, but I think I'll be fine all the same.

Another Super Awesome photo Ken!. How long did you expose that one for?. (cor blimey look at that sky of infinite stars for sure!) Is that you in the photo Ken? Brett Thanks, Brett. This is a 20 second (single) exposure, and yes, that is a rare night sky "selfie" I've took last weekend in the desert.

I don't know. In the not-so-distant future, I think it will be common place to have a lot more control over what is in focus and what is not, which somewhat addresses your question. Raytrix and Lytro cameras already are touching on this. I think one day this and other data will be able to be manipulated more via software.

That's a beauty of a photo!

Hahahaha! That was one goofy ostrich. It came charging at us, causing people to back up! Thank you for your kind words! There's a lot of really cool photos in this thread.

I like the Tokyo photos, and I also like the self-portrait that you took, Mike!! It's on the Flickr account for those who haven't seen it.

High-res version of Window Into Infinity, a fun selfie I took last weekend in the desert. http://500px.com/photo/72231137/window-into-infinity-by-ken-lee?from=user_library http://kenleephotography.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/323kenlee_joshuatreeselfie2014-5-20sf28iso5000-312am-2014-05-25-960px.png If you wish to learn to take photos of the night sky like this one and learn star trails and light painting photography like many of the other photos I have posted on 500px.com, we have a handful of available slots that opened up for a 2-Day Star Trails and Light Painting Photography Workshop that I am giving in Borrego Springs, California July 5-6. We'll still keep the group a small one, with less than ten people. You hafta sign up for meetup.com, which takes two seconds. Details here! http://www.meetup.com/Night-photography-lovers/events/176804782/?_af_eid=176804782&a=uc1_te&_af=event

Impressive night photos of Tokyo!!!

There are a handful of spots that have opened up for my 2-day Star Trails and Light Painting Workshop in Borrego Springs, California, on the 5th and 6th of July 2014. Contact me if interested or sign up via meetup.com. Thanks! http://www.meetup.com/Night-photography-lovers/events/176804782/?_af_eid=176804782&a=uc1_te&_af=event http://www.elevenshadows.com/travels/borregosprings-2013august/images/3034_kenlee_borregospringsnightsky-scorpiongrasshoppermilkyway.jpg http://www.elevenshadows.com/travels/anza-borregodesertstatepark-nightskyphotos-march2014/images/startrails-horses-27min-30sf28iso400-960px.jpg http://www.elevenshadows.com/travels/anza-borregodesertstatepark-nightskyphotos-march2014/images/7110kenlee_borregosprings-elephant-trunkblast-30sf63iso640-960px.jpg

I prefer this one, but am wondering why the tree trunk in the front feels disembodied from the rest of the photo. I don't know whether that's processing or the way the light hits the tree compared to the rest of the scene or whether you used a flash on the tree trunk or what. Anyway, they're both beautiful! Thanks very much Ken. I was using my iPad as usual, so no flash. The processing was not extensive on that pic, but the natural light was quite varied as you will have seen. Very interesting to hear your comments. Okay, I like the photo regardless. Sometimes, the light just hits foreground objects a certain way and they look different.

You people have really great bird photos! I don't think this one quite matches others, but it's silly looking, and that counts for something! http://www.elevenshadows.com/travels/westvirginia2011/images/178ostrich.jpg

Thanks for the "likes" on the FB page, everyone!

I don't know. I am using an old Apple Cinema 30" monitor that I bought from my friend used. When I got it not so long ago, I felt like I was seeing my photos for the first time. The colors and details were so much nicer. Wow. It makes such a huge difference. And running Pro Tools is soooo much nicer now that I can see much more (I went from a cheap $200 19" screen to this amazing thing).

I prefer this one, but am wondering why the tree trunk in the front feels disembodied from the rest of the photo. I don't know whether that's processing or the way the light hits the tree compared to the rest of the scene or whether you used a flash on the tree trunk or what. Anyway, they're both beautiful!

My Ken Lee Facebook Photography page passed the 5000 "likes" mark today, rather surprising since I started it just two and a half years ago! i've been posting this tree, reaching out to the heavens as a thank you to everyone on FB who has "liked" the page. http://www.elevenshadows.com/travels/ancientbristleconepineforest-2013july/images/2698_kenlee_bristleconepine-20sf28iso3200.jpg

Thank you so much!!!

I also love looking at good dessert landscape photo's , and photos of vast plains of flatness , they can look just amazing. Ken , my stand out favorite of all yours is still the Easter moon (different strokes for different folks??). Theo , stop talking and do some photo's . Brett Thank you so much for your kind words about the photo, Brett! Theo, thanks for the info about Photoshop!!

Thanks. California is beautiful and diverse. We do have to drive for it. Most of the stuff I post are at least 3 hours from our house. But it's there.

I should share this one...high-res star trails photo taken underneath the gorgeous California desert night sky with a really unique Joshua Tree!!! http://500px.com/photo/70896873/trinity-star-trails-by-ken-lee?from=user_library

Some beautiful bokeh on the flower photo, Mike!!! Nice shot, gorgeous colors!

I know I would love to hear more about this. The processing portion of photography is probably my weakest link. generally speaking. I know how to do a few things well, and the rest of it? Well, not so much.

I like to do corrective things first such as WB, lens distortion, exposure, etc. first, then contrast, details, refinements, general tweaks or whatever in between, and sharpening last.