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Bob Grier

Old Lenses

Looking closely at photography blogs on the internet, there seems to be a quiet but growing realization that film and digital cameras may come and go as the technology rapidly changes, but good lenses can stand the test of time. All photographers should take note of this. Even the least expensive interchangeable lens digital cameras available today often use that same brand’s pre-digital lenses. Perhaps surprising, many older film camera lenses are available on the used market at reasonable prices …

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From the West: Owls nesting in a Palm Tree?

Actually this blog is still from the “Southwest” as a bump in the road stopped us from getting back to Nebraska several weeks ago. Most of the human snowbirds have left for northern climes and we will soon. One of the unique sights for a Panhandle Nebraskan is to see owls nesting in a palm tree. I’m assuming great-horned owl, but they also claim to have  long-eared owls, and again, I’m without a detailed bird book to work out the …

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From the West: Time for a File Cleanup

Kind of like “Smelling the Roses” — the cottontail not only smelled the flowers, it seemed to think they tasted good also. This and the following two images were a fortunate happening on a local hiking trail, we also saw coyote, hummingbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds and even a turtle or two. I carried a digital SLR with a 70-300mm zoom telephoto lens. It is very useful for all kinds of photography. I’ve used a so-called “full frame” sensor camera here and …

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From the West: A Walk on the Wild Side – Photography in a Zoo

Visiting the Sonora Desert Museum south of Tucson last week I was surprised at the variety of photo opportunities, especially a morning presentation by a group from Raptor Free Flight. Beautiful birds in flight and with careful planning and a few camera and lens tweaks, the presentation really worked for bird flight photography and the spectators enjoyed a great time as well. Raptor Free Flight team member Wally Hestermann shown here with a great performing red-tailed hawk. Released from a remote location, …

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From the West: Great Lenses, Great Cameras

When I mention “great lenses, great cameras” I’m talking about the tremendous and continuing progress in camera and lens design and even the lower prices that make owning the new technologies possible. My son in Omaha is a devoted photographer and my source for the latest information, especially on the so-called “four thirds” and “micro four thirds” sensor size cameras and the trainloads of new lenses that will fit on most of the cameras. He even loaned a lens, a …

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