Nikon is probably trying to recreate the magic of its first fast lens back in 1959 when they introduced the famous camera F. This original 58mm f/1.4 was on the market for only three years and was replaced in 1962 by the 50mm f/1.4 which has seen many changes and remains the basic fast lens to this day. Move as close as 2' to your subject and you have something like a macro lens, as you move away, you begin to have a telephoto. Take several consecutive shots, blend them using photo-merge and you get a spectacular panoramic picture.
It's still the best all around lens and it's light to carry, inexpensive, and has always been sharp.
Sarantis
jaymatt wrote:
How do you propose we do this, since the terrorists apparently want to k**l us and take over the world? Do we just give in?
Please see above my reply to a similar reaction. The terrorists have very limited capacity and can only conduct small operations, while we not only have far superior conventional weapons but -if pushed hard- we can repeat Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
2D**gons wrote:
I applaud your feelings, however, you had better do a little more in depth study on the muslim religion which is really a political ideology more than a religion. These people want to rule the world and nothing, outside of wiping them out, is going to stop the insanity that they are spreading. If you love your children and grandchildren, stop straddling the fence. We are not dealing with people who want peace. They want power as is exemplified by their treatment of women.
As an archaeologist, I have studied a great many religions and I can tell you that the presence of organized warfare blends the two for a very sad situation. Do I need to remind you that the Christians acted the same way, especially at the beginning when they l**ted, k**led, destroyed temples and burned libraries much the same way ISIS does today. In my earlier message, I don't suggest making peace with ISIS but with the entire civilized world and thus isolate ISIS. I believe that a new UN with more power and funding ought exterminate ISIS and educate all people about the benefits of peace.
RRS wrote:
You make some very good points, if everybody would read and heed, but alas that won't happen. As for the birth rate of Europe (Germany) it's way down. The population is going up but that is due to those that have immigrated to these European countries and are reproducing like rabbits. If you put any faith into the UN taking care of the world problems I hope you will not be disappointed with the outcome, I have little to no hope with the UN. We do have differences with Russia but this is a chance to come together on a point that would help both countries and maybe help with our strained relations. The US can't and shouldn't go this alone. Look at history and mankind ie. Japan and WW II, they were ask to surrender and refused, two bombs were dropped, right and wrong in many eyes, not going there. I would like to think that mankind over time has learned a few things, but I think the only thing that IS will understand is total annihilation, it a cancer and it needs to be cut out of our civilization.
You have hit the proverbial nail on the head with the world population, this planet can only support so many. Short of a catastrophe, war, famine or a meteor strike we will overpopulate to the point of extinction. I won't live long enough to see I but I do worry for not only my extended family but for all mankind. Please write your book, it may become the survival manual for the world. I do hope it makes the best seller list before it's too late.
You make some very good points, if everybody would... (
show quote)
You are the only person in this debate that believes in peace, not a promising statistic. Do you know about the Georgia Guiding Stones? An unknown person set them up in 1979, one of them concerns overpopulation and the proposal is for 550 million as the ideal for the planet, meaning not simply people surviving but every one living and dying in dignity. This agrees with the ancient ideal, based on humans living off the earth, practicing organic farming, and each family of four allotted some 40 acres of good land. This used to be like religion, preventing people from multiplying like rabbits.
As for the book, it's a huge project but I am slowly working on it, even as another one needs to be done first. I have in fact written an outline of 60pp for some 60 chapters. Like Don Quixote, I hope to complete it and keep fingers crossed.
Thanks for your interest and encouragement,
Sarantis
Roaddog545 wrote:
Awesome shot. I would love to have a chance to shoot these owls.
PS I have a feeling everyone noticed that this beautiful image demonstrates the known ability of the owls to turn their head almost 360 degrees!
RRS wrote:
You are so right but how do you deal with the problem. It sounds good on paper but they would most likely cut your head off. So please tell us how you would go about the realm of logic that would bring world peace. If they hide with the local people and are supported by them then they too are now the enemy.
Please don't misunderstand me: I have been very angry and ready to order an atomic bomb to be dropped on Raqqa!. After sleeping on it, however, it seemed much better to go after world peace and confront the root causes of these problems. The worst of them has become a taboo issue that no politician ever talks about: OVERPOPULATION! I visited Syria in 1980 when it had a population of 6 million, it's now 23M. Egypt remains my best example. The ancient Egyptians maintained a population of two million for 3000 years, while the modern Egyptians multiplied like rabbits and have by now surpassed 80M!!! in a country where the useful land is the size of Missouri. The Europeans have not done any better: the Roman Empire kept its population to a maximum of 32m, the same land has today some 1.3 billion.
Frankly, the political system capable of taking care of such numbers has not been invented yet. By establishing world peace, we will take care of the living while restricting growth for 100 years and thus return to normal population of 1.5 billion for the planet. Concerning the terrorists, instead of the US fighting them, a new and more powerful but also neutral UN will fight the "last war" against the few religious fanatics.
I could write a thick book about all this but I don't think anyone is ready to listen.
Sarantis
The president of France is the first politician to declare the recent attacks as an "act of war". This means WW III, and the opponents are shaping up as the civilized world against an unknown number of fanatic Moslems, most of whom are Arabs in Africa and Asia, possibly as many as 1.2 billion people. Since most of these terrorists are hiding among civilian populations, we are talking about a sort of war that would amount to nothing less than a genocide of enormous proportions. I hope everyone thinks twice about this and focuses on the root causes of the present situation. It is entirely within the realm of logic that world peace would be a much better solution.
Sarantis
Happy, peaceful, and gorgeous both the subject and the photographer! Too bad we couldn't see it in the download mode:( :(
Wonderful picture of a great wine and beautiful hands! I love Malbec wines and I am happy that this French grape has finally found the most suitable climate on the planet to thrive in.
PS Why show a bottle of a Malbec/Shiraz blend?
Sarantis
Why not experience the best film camera? Ironically, Nikon had hoped that shooting with film would go on alongside digital and produced their best professional camera, the F6. This camera looks and handles completely different from anything else in the film world, it's literally impossible to take a bad picture with it. As of this writing, I have not seen anyone recommending it and I am surprised. I haven't checked lately, but I would be willing to bet that you could get it now for much less than the original price of $2000 (B@H in 2008). I have one and I love it and a friend of mine has two (I could ask him if he would part with one).
A wonderful series!
I love #1, the branches are beautiful by themselves.
Sarantis
Thank you Don, you have chosen a wonderful place to live (New York) and another great place to retire (Sarasota).
I was born in Athens Greece, now living in St. Louis, Missouri
Sarantis Symeonoglou
Beautiful photos of these noble creatures, You have been very shy about your identity and even now as you ask us to remember you when we buy a bottle of wine, you don't sign your name and town -also in your UHH identity. Not even among your UHH friends and colleagues? :)
Pixelpusher wrote:
Not to worry I have plenty
Very funny! You should publish a book revising evolution!
You should have saved these for April Fool's day!