Food for thought...
Cataract Symptom: (Color Changes) Your vision may gradually take on a brownish or yellowish tinge. At first, you may not notice this discoloration. But over time, it may make it harder to distinguish blues and purples.

Best advice? Always shoot a color target with each and every setup for commercial work... No worries then...

Disclaimer:
While "Cataracts" can (and typically do) cause changes in color perception as they progress. However the variability may be due to pupil size, lighting or dry eyes. Most likely these symptoms are due to progression of your cataracts. However, please consult with your ophthalmologist to confirm this because retina and optic nerve problems in the back of the eye can also cause these changes. (issues with your retina and/or optic nerve are serious and require timely medical intervention)

As for Pupil Size? If you've been in this craft long enough you likely realize that a "fast" prime or zoom will typically experience maximum Chromatic deviations at their maximum aperture... Don't believe this? Then I suggest you invest quality time on DxOmark (enough said)

Below is an image of a very "Fast" aperture a.k.a. Pupil Size ideal for low illumination levels in which optical and color distortions abound... However your eyes relay their input through an amazing data analytical component (your brain) which alters your "perception" of what your "eyes" actually capture at astonishing speed in real-time corrected to what your mind has been programmed to accept as "real"... Which is why your perceived color balance isn't highly accurate... Shoot color targets, to get color balance right.

Most importantly Please Protect your cherished sight by having your eyes examined by licensed medical practitioners at the recommended intervals for your age group.

Wishing all a marvelous journey in photography and stellar health. Cheers! Thomas

Large Pupil Size can indeed help to optimise the "quality" of information your eyes are able to provide your brain with... Same goes for aperture size and sensor resolution...

Stellar composition Richard... Beautiful color harmonies latent within this enchanting rendering of the raptor...
"...it appears the CAMERA MUST be fine-tuned FIRST without the TC. Then with the TC on...
This has been my experience also with tele-extenders in general.... Albeit not so much with Extension tubes which don't seem to have a significant effect Fine Tune values.

However every Lens/TC/Extension is unique... experience is a brutal teacher...
Enjoy your ultra light Telephoto... so jealous... lol

Calibrate you copy setup with Color Checking Target such as X-Rite ColorChecker

I do have white 5500 light bulbs. I would rethink that kenArchi
Speedlights (speedlites) are very cost effective and assure that neither subject or camera motion/movement are a variable in the equation... Experience is a brutal teacher

btw you would be amazed at the broad spectrum of "White" continuous lighting has and worst yet it varies during your session as the bulb temperature rises...

Just a thought... I've seen this mission brought up numerous times in the past several decades and rarely if ever is it carried through to completion. Why? The naive have no clue as how arduous this task can be (and typically is). Those who have the best result do so after abandoning their camera for a flat bed scanner.

Why? It is virtually impossible to assure that your sensor is precisely parallel to the photograph you are copying and if you're trying this with continuous lighting you'll likely be hating life stopping down to an ideal aperture such as f/11 for copy work. But hey go for it, you will discover for yourself what this herculean task involves.

Also be certain you use a "flat field" lens with minimum vignetting ESPECIALLY if you are shooting at or near wide open. Time is money, and you'll likely figure out why folks pony up for a cost effective scanner for the aforementioned mission. Note: Most printers now are combo printer/scanner... look into this while your at it.

Wishing you all the best on this photographic journey...
Cheers! Thomas

Suntouched I've reported Hamhead to this forum's Admin for violation of Forum Rules

"- Don't ruin other people's classifieds topics with criticism of their asking price or the "righteousness" of the offer. What's cheap and what's expensive is between the buyer and the seller. Same goes for all other aspects of the offer. If you aren't buying, then don't try to derail the topic with your criticism. Repeated violations of this will lead to a ban from the Classifieds section. If you need to correspond with the seller regarding the price, then you can do that via private messages.""

If this UHH member continues to violate the Forum Rules it is likely their UHH membership will the terminated.

I would advise all who use this Forum to become familiar with it's Rules... Linked below
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-8864-1.html


Great Lens btw... Good luck with your marketing efforts Suntouched... lovely renderings of this lens...

Daniel the level of photographic excellence is stellar in this delightful rendering of such an enchanting young lady.
Exposure is spot on... focus is tack sharp... superb illumination with solar backlighting adding a haloing glow to her charismatic facial expression... You bonding well with this talent.... I'm certain she loves this image...

As for the level(s) of tonal range across the frame?
With time and experience you will be able to appropriately judge and effectively frame in order to showcase your subject in a most telling and favorable way... Yes it's always wonderful to have the subject as the brightest component in the mix albeit you'll not see this in your view finder however in time you will know by the histogram what to expect...

Since you've taken your craft to the next level through the use of off camera flash it is indeed entirely possible to first shoot without flash and to see where the highlights and shadows lay within the frame.
At that juncture you can drop the exposure of ambient by approximately two thirds of a stop BEFORE adding flash to the mix... thereby controlling areas of tonal range i.e. brightness...

See an example below with using only the popup on camera flash in a serendipitous quick portrait while strolling through a park with an agency signed model... She is the one who takes all credit here since she knew precisely how to emote to create this narrative... I'm only guilty of her makeup artistry... the photography was merely a "Cake Walk" in the park... simply an on camera wedding event scenario... after doing the aforementioned many many times it becomes reflex... Word!

The second image is under much tighter control, here the Key light is an Nikon SB-700 thru a large translucent umbrella... ambient was heavy overcast within a forest venue. Again the model is an agency signed albeit when this was taken she had just began her modeling journey. Yes I'm also guilty of her makeup artistry here.
If you would like to see her now please check up her Agency Page at the link below:
https://www.theartistagency.com/talent/samantha-miller

Thank you again for sharing your epic artistry with such a sweet delightfully feminine talent Daniel...
Wishing you much continued success on your photographic journey...

Sigma AF 50-150mm f/2.8 DC OS APO HSM on a Nikon D7200 (Key light: Popup flash; Backlighting by direct sunlight)

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Key Light: Nikon SB-700 Speedlight thru a large translucent umbrella... Ambient Illumination: Heavy overcast

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Fabulous rending of an enchanting angelic young lady...
Epic wardrobe styling... Loving the pose dynamic... reminiscent of so many VOGUE Editorials...
Her nail decor perfectly matches the floral array in her knitwear!
Stellar synergy latent within... You bonded extremely well with your sitter in this session...

“A portrait is never the person. What is captured is your relationship with the person.” Peter Lindbergh
Peter's wisdom is timeless, priceless, and so very apropos...

Thank you for sharing this precious rendering Starphotog...

Like Jim said... "a great off-camera set-up."
I have (*and have used extensively) Phottix iTTL Transmitter/receivers for Nikon which are simply amazing...
Flawless performance! Phottix certainly got this right. High Speed Sync up to 1/8000!
Use them to drive four Shanny SN600SN (Nikon SB910 clone) through a massive parabolic (see image below).

btw in my studio I still use the Nikon SB800 Speedlight Commander (which Phottix for Nikon interface is a virtual copy)
The SB800 Menu structure is soooo much better than the highly regarded Pocket Wizards (Radio Poppers)
The beauty of Phottix radio triggers are they work incredibly well in bright sunlight over huge distances!
btw, I purchased the Nikon SB800 from Jim (many thanks!) here on UHH

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought

Phottix iTTL Transmitter/receivers for Nikon in HSS on a Nikon D3x w/ AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED IF VRII

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Focus throw on MF Nikkors is to be loved... (from way too much experience)
The difference between 280 degrees on vintage Nikkors verses less than 90 degrees on even the "best" and most pricey plastic Nikkors is HUGE!

Working in LiveView is a dream with 280 degrees of focus throw...

Focus throw is measured in degrees and represents the amount of rotation needed to turn a lens' focus ring from its MFD (minimum focus distance) to infinity. A manual focus lens tends to have a much larger focus than an autofocus lens because this allows a greater degree of accuracy.

If you're shooting product for $$ then time is money... In this scenario a short focus throw induces the need for higher dosage of Acetaminophen to complete a large job... Experience is a very brutal teacher...

When I was racing bicycles I remember the saying... Steel is Real... at the time titanium bicycle frames were totally in vogue... and the ride they gave left you with sore joints (ridged titanium frames such as the LiteSpeed Ultimate (at over $2000)) simply weren't fun to ride... I feel the same about current high end feather weight plastic Nikkors which lack stabilizing inertia i.e. a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state, unless that state is changed by an external force (a.k.a. mirror slap).

Albeit I will confess that I'm blown away with the new AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR-II DX Nikkor (330 grams) it totally rocks on my Nikon D300s... Seeing is believing... Oh well I would have never guessed that a $100 (used LN Nikkor) would compete favorably at f8 to f11 with the AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII Nikkor... Even on a D810!

At the end of the day, it's the client involvement in the mix that tempers the perception as to what is "good" or "best". Every assignment is difference and the challenge is fielding the most appropriate tool(s) for the job.

Hope this is food for thought...
Thanks all for sharing...

When you sit alone, meditate on your faults...
In conversation, do not discuss the faults of others...
.
To bear titles arrogantly, will bring disaster...
When good service has led to fame, it is time to retire into obscurity...

...the Tao

Agreed ricardo00... And I believe you are wise to wait until a larger "Trial" population is in play here...
Once the rollout is in earnest potential issues will indeed be unmasked which may have not be caught in the initial trials...

That said, because RSV is a newer vaccine, it may not likely be listed on an insurance plan's list of covered drugs yet, so you should check with your plan before making an appointment. Important Note: The RSV vaccine is covered by Part D of Medicare although not by parts A and B. However your flu and COVID-19 vaccines will still be covered by Medicare Part B (I plan on getting these asap). I hope this helps!

As for " A number of more recent reviews I found do discuss the benefits of the vaccine. "
Please quote source and provide a URL otherwise I consider this like so much else online as hearsay.

"The 16 million Medicare enrollees without Part D coverage may have to pay for the vaccine out of pocket, according to the New York Times.

The RSV vaccine does not yet appear on the CDC's adult immunization schedule. A spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield told The New York Times that until the vaccine appears on the schedule, "it is up to each BCBS plan to decide if they want to cover."

Source: https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/some-health-plans-dont-cover-new-rsv-vaccine.html

Documentation in virtually all medical inferences has become critical now... enough said.
Thank you for sharing ricardo00

Please be aware that Pfizer Inc. has launched a massive marketing campaign in order to turn "massive" profits on it's RSV Vaccine. Yes older adults are at increased risk... However only your medical practitioner(s) can provide a knowledgeable judgement here.

If you have a background in the Sciences then please review this NIH National Library of Medicine article on RSV https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459215/

However the Internet is now teaming with Pfizer "Spam" https://www.bewareofrsv.com/
Pfizer's Vaccine is going for up to $330 a hit

And guess who's right behind them... Yep GlaxoSmithKline
That's right folks https://www.rsvandme.com/ is a thinly conceded marketing effort via fear mongering by GSK who also wants a piece of the action.

Nothing against Pharmaceuticals folks... I'm likely still alive today as a result of what they have brought to the table. It's just that they have become profit driven to the point of generating sales for marginal effective medicinal agents that should only be prescribed by knowledgeable medical practitioners... A.K.A. Vaccines are not without risks... and only limited folks are qualified to make the call here...

Please ask you GP (General Practitioner) if the "New" RSV is appropriate and germane for your particular situations and current conditions...

Yes I'm in the "At Risk" group however I'm seeking guidance from my NP (Nurse Practitioner) before I pony up $330 This isn't an "Anti-Vax" post, just a wake up call to seek qualified guidance on the aforementioned

Wishing all good health and much joy and success on your journey...

"... Sell or give away now, while you have control of the process..."
As usual Paul got this right... btw, I'm appalled at the lack of "perceived" skill or finesse in the posting I'm seeing on the UHH Members Buy/Sell/Trade - Classified section https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-6-1.html

Many folks are offering items of Kit valued at well over $K and either don't post images or if they do the quality is abysmal... Terrible illumination, very poor compositional elements and some aren't even in focus?

Folks if you are selling high end kit, maybe your illustrations should reflect who this type of kit is best suited for.

Albeit sadly I have long realized that so many hobbyist endeavor to establish their persona simply by the price of their kit and not the quality of imagery they are capable of producing with it. So maybe put your best work forward in your marketing efforts? Just a thought...

I'm already moving forward to eliminating kit I can't reasonable use now owing to physical limitations which have resulted from medical procedures... No rush, and I'm focused on finding homes for these cherished tools with those who are actually photographers and definitely not interested in seeing them go to the myriad of sharks who cruse the UHH Members Buy/Sell/Trade - Classified Section... You know who they are... if in doubt look at their UHH activities where they bring absolutely little if anything to the mix... They only post to the Classified Section. I'm not keen on those who only join UHH to "flip gear" to turn a profit...

That said the "Flip for Profit" crowd are seriously in harms way of the IRS which mandates you report sales in which you make a profit (thus qualifying you are a dealer)
https://www.findlaw.com/tax/federal-taxes/do-you-need-to-report-your-online-sales-to-the-irs.html
https://www.findlaw.com/smallbusiness/business-taxes/do-you-have-to-pay-sales-tax-on-internet-purchases.html

If you are simply a hobbyist and aren't turning profits on internet sales you're likely not in harm's way...
However if you exceed a certain level of sales profit per year... Then both the IRS and your local State Taxation laws may apply... However I'm not licensed to provide legal counsel please consult with those who are for more appropriate guidance.

btw, Thank you again Paul... you have a way for bringing clear and concise wisdom to the fore..

Both larryepage and Architect1776 are in harmony with industry standards...
If you are paranoid then resister your images with the US Copyright Office.
https://www.copyright.gov/engage/photographers/

Note: If you are photographing models (for any reason) please do not watermark the image.
This makes it virtually useless for the model since they can't use it in a submission to a Model Agency.

Beside if you watermark images those who actually work in the industry will immediately dismiss you as a naive amateur... Yes lots of clueless Newbies watermark the work (makes them feel empowered).

Please grow up... and let your visual statement speak for who you are...
Sorry but this has come up for the past several decades and still seems to be a topic of interest.

Best Advice to wean yourself off the habit?
Please... Use the copyright symbol in your image description © (makes you look a little less like a newbie)
The keyboard code to invoke this is to hold down Alt then on your Num Pad key in (0; 1; 6; 9) which yields ©
You might want to appear to be savvy enough to add the Year after the symbol © 2023

Does this protect your images? No, only an licensed attorney can possibly help you here...
Provided you registered your images with the US US Copyright Office
But in the end you'll lose... Since the legal fees far exceed any recompense you may receive...
And don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger...

btw thanks Larry and Architect

" I wondered if I could do anything in the arts until I discovered I seemed to have a natural talent for photography. John I certainly get this... Your talents in photography are stunning in my minds eye... Especially your surreal Recent False Color Infrared renderings
https://www.behance.net/gallery/81406943/Recent-False-Color-Infrared-Photos

And congratulations John on your Masters Degree at SFSU...
Albeit your time working as a darkroom technician is delightfully reflected in your image artistry on https://www.behance.net/JohnSwanda where your creativity has indeed flourished.
Seems that some have an intrinsic visual aptitude that comes from within...

That said, my background in music comes from a very early tender age singing choral music in my family's church choir... btw, young boys have an absolute pure and perfect soprano range with only a faintest hint of 'laryngeal' vibrato that taints many feminine voices in their soprano register... That is until boys' testosterone levels rise rapidly during puberty thus eliminating the aforementioned angelic ethereal tonality (Please listen to the Vienna Boys' Choir of boy sopranos and altos based in Vienna, Austria. Likely the best boys' choirs in the world.)
a.k.a. The voices of angels Listen carefully while they perform "Laudate Dominum" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGL6nfT6kY8

Now compare those amazing young boys to "O Holy Night" by feminine sopranos and altos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VfYKmJkxl0

Ok, it's wasn't until I was 15 that I turned attention to acoustic six string... fell immediately in love with same. Did Gigs with various other musicians during college though I had to work in other paradigms to pay the bills. In college I meet a gifted young art major from NYC who took me there to purchase my first SLR... LOVE! What an incredible tool! Did the Crafts Fair circuit with clones of Ansel Adams renderings but it was way too labor intensive...
Turned to portraiture and have never looked back.

btw I obtained a Cosmologist License so I could do makeup in commercial salons... Got heavy into bridal makeup artistry since it generated a huge revenue stream for me. Besides I loved "painting face" as it's known in the industry on these lovely ladies... Learned their language and hung out a Sephia and MAC... Trained and hired one of my agency represented colleagues as an assistant MUA so we could work Weddings Together... I did the Bride and the MOB while she did the Bridesmaids... we made far more in less than 2 hours than I ever did shooting a 10 hour wedding event!

Below is my real love... An acoustic six string... Also in frame is our Studio's MUA... now a represented Fashion Model by T.H.E. Agency (Washington DC). If anyone should need a totally gifted high end Fashion Model in the DC marketplace I highly recommend Samantha Miller https://www.theartistagency.com/talent/samantha-miller?

Many thanks John and to all others here... My Best Wishes on your photographic journey
Cheers! Thomas

Nothing gets between me and a Martin Six String

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"...that I have... ...no musical instruments." So sad 13...
I can go days or even weeks without picking up my photo kit...
Yet even one single day without playing my acoustical Martin is simply one too many...
Feeling the rhythmic vibrations of vintage seasoned Brazilian Rosewood and close grain Alpine Spruce resonating against my sternum is far, far better than other earthly encounter I've ever shared...
Martin's haunting sustain is absolute and unequivocally pure magic...

It is so breathtakingly wonderful to fill my world with the magic of Music! It's dynamics, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, texture, timbre and tonality. Such an ultimate high unmatched by anything else I've ever experienced.

Yet even this joy pales when compared to the creation of music as a member of a collaborative ensemble playing together in superbly metered syncopation, rhythm, with poetic rhyming vocals in perfect harmony...

This my friend is truly an ethereal moment like no other... Absolute Euphoria!

So sad 13 "...that I have... ...no musical instruments." So very sad indeed...

Talent: A 13 year old busker; Instrument: C.F. Martin acoustical Guitar (Made in Nazareth, Pennsylvania)

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