One more new thread

I just love newly emerging Japanese Maple foliage. Here are some shots of fresh greenery from Acer palmatum seedlings.

Scott

And another:

Scott

Last one:

Scott

What kind of a camera do you use? Those are really nice photos!

It's a Nikon Coolpix 4800. A 4 megapixel deal that's close to obsolete. We bought it last year and I really, really like it! Until we bought the new computer, I couldn't use it much because downloading photos was difficult. So, I'm still learning how to use it. Getting macro pictures to auto-focus properly is very tricky, and I'm deleting nearly as many pictures as I keep, but that's one of the joys of digital photography. But when the lighting is good, and the focus is sharp, the detail this little camera can capture is astounding.

Scott

Don't have any pics, but I just planted my first 3 JMs-Garnet, Viridis, Inaba Shidare-they are all fairly big, #5 size, & now the buds are popping out all over-they're so gorgeous! I go out every morning to see how they've changed-they're in a corner of my yard, facing north, surrounded by a neighbor's sweetgum & maple, & my pines, the only open exposure they have is to the south, & even that is somewhat shaded by other maples,oaks, & beech- I can't wait to see them grow over the season-what's a good idea for underplanting? I was thinking hostas, ferns- I have very heavy clay soil, so it would need to be amended....any ideas & suggestions would be appreciated- thanks....Linda/Thistle

This is the first year that I have noticed blooms on my red Japanese Maple. I wonder if they have to be several years old before they bloom, or have I just been myopic? I hope to get pics of them , but it was too dark when I noticed them.

Even if that Nikon Coolpix 4800 is obsolete, it is great. I've got a Canon Power Shot S2 IS that I never could figure out. I had that Kodak DX6440 that worked fine until I dropped it a few weeks ago. I was lost with no camera and scoured the earth to locate another DX6440. Much easier to use. Very cheap since the DX6440 is beyond obsolete and I am back in business. Cameras need to be able to be used by real people. I don't understand why them make them so difficult. Your pictures look great. Glad you figured out how to use the macro. Now I need to figure out how to use my macro. One of these days.

Equil, mine is a Canon Powershot Pro-1 (8 MP), which might be set up similar to your S-2. If so, go into the menu and select the "super-macro" setting (or, for slightly less close, just hit the little tulip macro button). Also, use the manual focus and aperture settings to control sharpness and depth of field, and use off-camera lighting. You generally can't do macro very well on automatic settings and built-in flash. But once you master the few necessary steps, you've got it. Don't be intimidated by the thick owner's manual -- just use the parts that you need. You don't have to know how to overhaul a transmission in order to drive a car!

Guy S.

Equil, my current camera is a Canon PowerShot S2 IS. What do you want to know?

Scott, I too am a big fan of emerging JRMaples! They are amazing trees, especially in early spring and late fall.
http://www.coffeedrome.com/jtree2i.html

I can't find the super macro setting. I found the little flower setting though. I am so frustrated with this camera I could throw it up against the wall and I lost the manual a few months ago when I bought the thing. Next time you are over here, you can show me how to use the fancy things. Until then, I think I want to talk to Joulz on the phone when I have the camera in my hand. She has the exact same camera as me so she could sit there with hers and direct me. The other thing that is going to be a problem is I can't use manual focus on the camera. I have to use automatic because I can't see well enough to focus it myself. I know how to use a manual focus and aperture settings to control sharpness and depth of field but I don't see well enough to do it any longer. I have regular SLR cameras. One of them is a Contax and the other is a basic Olympus but I can't use the manual focus and aperture settings on those any longer either. I used to be able to handle manual settings but those days are long gone. I've got to go automatic or I'll end up with blobs and blurs. I need to get to that super macro setting to be able to try to photograph some dew on some of my carnivorous plants.

Joulz, if you have any spare time in the evenings or weekends I would love for you to tell me blow by blow how to get to that macro setting. Anything else that is functional on the camera would be nice too.

Your photos are very good. I have a friend who shoots with that camera and she wins awards all the time. Her photos are so sharp and clear, especially her photos of the Passion flower.

Forgot to add---if you get a tripod your macros will be greater!

I couldn't find another thread to post my picture,LOL. I took this in my backyard today. This is sparkleberry in bloom along with dogwood in front of an old water oak tree.

Scott, My duaghter gave me a Nikon 4800 Cool Pix for Christmas 2004, I had an Olympus Camedia D40Zoom in 2001 and I guess she felt it should be upgraded. I learned how to use it and was quite happy with the pictures I took. BUT it started not working right there was a very dark half moon in the lower near left side of the photos. So In Oct. of 2005 while it was still under warranty I sent it back to the company to find out what was wrong and to get it fixed. Amonth later I received a bill from the company saying to repair would cost $159.00. Not one word about what the problem was. I was not happy. Wrote back saying I did not feel that was right since it was under warranty. Anyway long story short, with my attorney daughter's help in dealing with Nikon, they returned the camera to me Jan. 20 06 with extended warranty of 1 year. never did tell me what caused the problem. I used it a couple of months and now it shows the dark half moon in upper right of photos. I am still going to write to the company to try to get some satisfaction. I do feel they are a good company to try to deal with.

Now I am trying to learn how to use yet another camera my daughter gave me for Christmas this past. It is a Canon Power Shot 610. Takes great photos but I really haven't spent much time with the camera and its instruction book.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it. DonnaS

As for the half moon in the shot, does it look like this? Ths past February when VV and I went to the frozen tundra of Illinois, that in the cold temperatures my lens cap would not open fully. It ruined a number of great shots before I realized what was happening and what was causing it. Eventually, I felt bold enough to give the reluctant lens cap a little nudge, and it then retracted the rest of the way and was fine. In reading the manual (yesterday--nearly a year after buying the camera), it does state that operating temperatures are from 32F to 98F. So I guess below 32F, you're supposed to get out your film cameras.

Scott

BTW-I noticed at the camera store that a new Nikon Coolpix 4800 was only $159.00, so I would not pay that same amout to have one fixed.

This message was edited Apr 7, 2006 8:44 AM

I have had a similar "squint" experience with the digicamera I carry around from work, which was only rectified when the camera was sent off for a thorough cleaning.

I believe it derived from when my compatriot landscape architect at Metro Parks was using it to photograph an "air spade" doing some root excavation. All the dust blowing around impacted the ability of the aperture to open and close properly, often only part way opening or part way closing. This doesn't show up on the screen on the back of the camera nor when looking through the viewfinder, only when you look at your pictures later on the computer.

I'll include some of my favorite "squints" that I can't bear to throw away (until I get better full pics this year).

One more squint; this one's for levilyla.

Use a can of air when you have problems with "squint". I think the brand we use is Air Duster which we buy for our keyboards. Nice little blast of air and no more "squint".

Equil, you can more likely than not download the user's manual for your camera from the company's website.

I got a better idea, I'll pass the camera in its original box from last year to you tomorrow when I see you and you read that little print and figure out how to do those super macro shots and then you teach me? How's that? I think it's fair? ;)

I am going to go to LCFPD's native plant sale. I came to the conclusion there was no way I could live without several more Erythronium albidum and maybe just a few Phlox glabberima v. interior.

Scott -- squint or no squint, I know that tree! I had forgotten that there was snow on the ground while you were here, at least in some places.

Guy S.

That's the Gudgel Oak, if I can squint it out properly.

Equil, I'd be glad to walk you through a camera tutorial on the phone. D-mail me and I'll give you my number. But, I have not necessarily mastered the macro shooting. I can make it work, but it's kind of a pain and takes a lot of practice. I had much better macro results with my Nikon Cool pix 700 five years ago, when it comes to macro shots. (All other types of shooting are better with the Canon though.) I am actually ready to move up to a digital SLR. Wish I had some money.