I recently decided that it was about time for me to upgrade my camera system. So...I decided to trade in my trusty Nikon D100 for the new Nikon D200. Unfortunately, there's such a high demand on this camera right now (with it being the holidays and all) that it's on backorder so I don't have mine just yet.
However, how can a girl get a new camera without picking up some new lenses and accessories too?!? So, I decided to go all out and got the Nikon 70-200 VR lens, a Nikon 60mm Micro Nikkor lens, the R1 Wireless Close-up Speedlight System, a Nikon SB-800 speedlight, a new diffuser to go with the flash, a set of Kenko extension tubes, a few Hoya Pro-1 Super HMC filters,and a Tamrac 614 bag too. I figured I might as well go for broke if I'm upgrading!
The 70-200 VR lens was the first thing to arrive followed shortly by my 60mm Micro Nikkor. Since my D200 is still on backorder, I have been playing around all week with both lenses (with my old Sunpak flash - still waiting on the SB-800) on my D100. So far, I am VERY satisfied with the results.
I don't know much about photography and am always trying to learn. What I do know was basically self taught through trial and error and reading photography forums. Anyways, I just wanted to share a few photos I took last night. Compared to pictures taken of the exact same animals using my D100 and the 105mm micro lens, the coloration, sharpness, and overall quality of the photos seems to be much nicer with the 70-200. However, since it is such a long lens, I have point the flash directly at the animal which causes it to reflect off the scales. With the 60mm, I can bounce the flash and get a very nice soft lighting effect.
I can't wait to play around with everything some more...especially when my D200 and my other flash accessories come in!! Could it be possible to find the PERFECT setup with all this gear? I sure hope so!
I resized these photos fairly large so you can see the color and detail better. The originals are amazing...but HUGE!
Anyways, thanks for looking. Some of the pictures are on white melamine and some are on black melamine just to offer a different view. They were all taken with either the 70-200mm VR lens or the 60mm micro lens. The very last photo is not a Ball Python but rather a close-up shot of a Boa showing scale detail and coloration. That photo is taken using hte 60mm micro lens on a 36mm extension tube to get the extreme macro. I just wanted to share that photo to show just how cool the extension tubes are!
Any and all comments/constructive criticism/etc. would be greatly appreciated! Let me know what you think!
Thanks for looking,
Celia
Axanthic
Woma
Spotnose
Lemon Blast
Bumblebee
Lemon Blast with Bumblebee
Clown
Pewter
Lavender Albino
Caramel Albino
Lesser Platinum? we obtained from Africa
Motley Boa scale detail
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Celia Chien
www.ExoticsByNature.com
2006 Boa Constrictor Morphs Calendar
2006 Ball Python Morphs Calendar
