Jim_TX

This.  Is.  AWESOME.

Thank you, Tony.

The original wooden gates and adjoining fence, fell victim to the heat, humidity, harsh Texas sun and all around decay since "new" in 2008.

So, having to replace them, I decided to fabricate a steel frame, so as to prevent "sagging" in the future.  The main posts are 3"x3" inside dimension Structural Steel square tubing..  Primary Gate Frames are 1"x1" I.D. structural square tubing.  Diagonal braces are 1/2" square tubing.

Hinges are 3/16" plate, and came with no screw holes, as they're made to be welded, and so, I did.  All open ends of square tubing had "caps" welded on and ground flush, so there will be no water intrusion anywhere in the structure.  These won't be rusting from the inside out.

All wood was coated with Thompson's Timber Oil, before assembly, in the "Teak" color, which will give 2 or 3 years of decent protection.

All welds were done with a bottom-tier MIG machine.  I'm NOT a welder, but I can put some things together and they do not break.  What I do have a knack for though, is accurate measurements, layout and execution.  

And I swing a mean angle-grinder, making ugly welds beautiful to the untrained eye!  lol

So, this is what I've done on some days off over the past couple of weeks.  Glad to finally have it DONE!

Ron,  Huge Thanks!

Because your simple comment as to treating "exposure" in the Df in the same manner as one would a direct-positive slide film.  THAT, sir, just unlocked a whole sequence of tumblers in the mental vault, bringing to the fore, memories and knowledge that I'd forgotten I'd learned, long ago.

I need to think "Ektachrome" when shooting, vs. "Kodak Gold 200".  And you're exactly right, that's a shooting for highlight vs/ shadow appreciation.

As Homer Simpson famously said:   "D'oh!"

Now if I can only remember if my brain was originally wired in COBAL or FORTRAN?  I know I left that stack of programming punch cards laying around here, somewhere.....

Brian, welcome aboard!

I recently dove back into the SLR, after a 20 year absence, from Nikon F2a & FE, to the DSLR Df.

Having to repopulate a modest lens selection in the bargain.

Nothing like having to learn an entirely new to me technology, on top of the refresher of everything "I used to know!"

Enjoy.  I've found folks here to be friendly, supportive, informative and kind.  Aside from the occasional brutal honesty.  Wouldn't have it any other way!

This is from the first outing I made with the then (new to me) Nikon Df.

Obviously, I hadn't learned how to lead the action and let the autofocus lock in, but it'll do for now, because Rookie Mistake, and also, because it's a compelling eye-lock with the dancer's eyes, and if I could crop the image as I want, I'd have a bit tighter framing of her to present.

I did not forget my learning of Henri Cartier-Bresson and his Decisive Moment, from my photo-class days.

Good news?  I've found a good digital photo tutor, and now I'll be able to learn more of the Black Magic built into the camera, and maybe also come up to speed with a bit of post-processing ability.

Baby steps, folks.  I'm here wobbling along, taking baby steps.

That is an incredible capture, at that focal length, with that ISO & shutter speed.  

Great all around photo, in and of itself, too.  There's a story in there I think, about how your vantage point was so well above the eagle?

I once owned it's twin.

It's so sharp, you can shave with it in the morning.

Get the 85mm f/1.8 as its' companion.  What, your camera bag ain't heavy enough, yet?  

/i keed, i keed!

I'd love if Nikon made all the fast primes again.  Identical glass, but in the lighter GFRP, AF full frame barrels.  And NOT the "G" series shit.  Real aperture dials, for the win !

Spotted at the JFK Blvd. "Cel-Fone Lot" at IAH Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, TX.  

I'd tapped on the window of the Jeep, and got the owner's permission to take the photos.  Similar to when I got permission to photograph a rather minty Porsche 944, but alas, I'm not pleased enough with my efforts there to post even a single frame from that effort.

Nikon Df, AF Nikkor 28-105 f/3.5~4.5 D.  You'll have to pull data from the meta, I don't know how to DO that, as yet.  The only edit tool in my laptop was Paint 3D, and I couldn't use the "crop" feature in it, or I would have done so.  Other than scaling down the huge RAW file, I've not post-processed this in any way.  (filed under, things I still gotta learn)

Y'all are indeed, correct.  Camo scheme and the Soviet style nose numbers, would seem to indicate that this was an "Aggressor" plane, flown by the instructor cadre at the USAF's version* of the Navy's "Top Gun" school.  Nellis AFB, Nevada, if I'm not mistaken?

(*..  I'm drawing a blank on the USAF's name for their similar school.  I'll look it up later, promise!)

F-5s had a bit more thrust than their T-38 cousins, too.  With the leading edge fillets from the wing to the fuselage, you can really see the genesis of the later YF-17 & subsequent F/A-18.  

Envy.  I'm doing well to push a Grumman Cheetah four-place single around the VFR pattern on a calm day.  lol

"Monarch" was the top of the Nikon riflescope lineup.  But the Buckmaster was NOT a bad scope, and with , Nikon glass, well, it was certainly better than average.

Where Nikon lost the grip, was not coming out with a 30mm tube line of scopes.  Contrary to convention, the 30mm tube isn't to allow "more light", but to provide for more vertical movement of the reticle for LONG range shooting.  Concurrently the big Tactical Makers were doing laser etched reticles in glass elements, vs. the old physical, FRAGILE, wire cross hairs.

Sporting optics wise, my 1980s vintage Nikon 9x25 Compact binoculars, routinely put shame to Leitz, Swarovski and other ultra premium $$$ glass.  

With Nikon absent the riflescope world, I'd strongly suggest the Vortex brand, and the Viper grade line of scopes.  Their Razor brand is WAY up there in performance, but also in cost.

Confession.  My spotting scope is the absolute Top of the LIne of Vortex Razor that they offer.  Because "spotting scope" and that is what you DO where those are concerned!

Jim

Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

... and... Krag 96.

.338 Win Mag?

This is where you add me into the Caliber Envy category.

Mr. Elk or Mr. Moose are not going to like you very much.  Not very much at all !

Jim

Sunk New Dawn

Galveston, TX

Nikon lost their edge to Canon, purely because Nikon really wasn't positioned to "Go Pro" in the digital world.  Canon's neck-deep plunge into broadcast grade TV cams gave them a Digital Education second to none, while Nikon was still wallowing more or less aimlessly to nail down their Digital Concepts.

Any of the broadcast-grade hardware manufacturers had the advantage going into the digital age.  Fujinon broadcast lenses were the standard glass for NFL games for a solid decade, SONY's digital evolution from analog tapes, the same.  

Nikon also got lost in the Sporting Optics world, binocs, riflescopes and such.  (they made some VERY good riflescopes, but never built up to the standard of a Nightforce or Leupold MkIV or Mk5.)

Had Nikon maintained a market presence of Serious Gear for Serious Photogs, eschewed the bottom-grade consumer stuff, and put their considerable talent into R&D-ing for that Pro Market, I think they'd have remained at the top.  Even Nikkormat was considered SERIOUS GEAR, in it's day.

I'd love to see a Nikon renaissance and revival!

I came into the game after Dave FM2.  Got into two years of Occupational Photography in H.S in 1974.  Third year as Teacher's Assistant in 1976.  USAF directly thereafter.

Kodak Retina IIc was my first 35mm.  And I learned a LOT with and from the thing.  Still love it, too.  Mechanical Jewelry it was, and is.  Then, Pentax Spotmatic II, with Super Taukimar 50mm f/1.4.  Then, sell all the camera gear prior to going Active Duty, as every penny needed to support my dying Mom.

Always lusted for Nikon, never bought till first FM, after USAF service.  Eventually ended up with HUGE inventory of Nikon, based on F2a and FE systems.

Magazine ads were Nikon's turf.  They showed full F2 Moon Systems, with 250 exposure backs, and you KNEW that was the S*IT you gotta HAVE!

TV documentaries showed combat photogs wielding Nikon rigs, and nothing else.  Whatcha gonna DO?

I have ordered the Novagrade adapter for the Nikon/Vortex Razor marriage.

When I get a few good Test Pics from the rig, I'll post them, along with a couple other submissions, in the appropriate sections of the Forum.  

But I thought I'd append this thread by reporting my purchase, out of respect for the suggestion which led me there.  Thanks, Merco_61 !