Nikon Auto Focus

OK, I'll admit it... I have to know how technology works (to a certain level) when using cameras, computers, etc. I guess my brain is wired for both right and left sides. I feel I have a creative, "artsy" side, but also have a "details" side... Anyway, I figured it was time to really come to grips with the auto focusing capabilities of my Nikon D200s. Rather than spit out any detailed information here I would recommend the following articles:

http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/nikon_articles/body/d200_multi-cam1000_af/nikon_d200_multi-cam1000_review_2.html
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/nikon-focus.shtml

I'm also the kind of person that has to read articles such as the above several times (and then again two weeks later when I try to recall something specific), but also need the hands-on experience to reinforce what I'm attempting to learn.

Anyway, my brief recap on auto focus... most cameras (digital SLRs) is that most people (including professional photographers) use 10% of a cameras capabilities. This includes all the auto focus capabilities. Today's cameras (and the D200 is not even latest generation) are very sophisticated "computing" devices. So my best advice is to read and play... read some more and play. For me, I have to keep using something to keep it fresh in my mind so, hopefully, I will be experimenting more with Nikon's auto focus features in the near future.

Europe photo kit - how did it work.

Here's what I took on my recent 13-day tour of Great Britain (England, Scotland, & Wales) with a quick note on what worked and what didn't.

Nikon D200 body (without battery grip) - worked fine and I shot raw the whole time.

Nikon 18-200mm VR lens - not fast, but a great "walk around" lens that covers the gaumut. Used this lens 90% of the time and if lived up to its billing. When I had my camera around my neck this was the lens.

Nikon 12-24mm DX f4 lens - when I need a bit more than the 18mm. Used this a few times, but not enough to justify taking it. The 18-200mm covered what I needed most all the time.

Nikon 50mm f1.4 lens - for inside when I need the "speed" of the f1.4.  Used this one in some places where I couldn't/didn't want to use flash.  I did find myself missing the "zoom" ability though.

Nikon SB400 flash - nothing fancy, but small and light weight.  Exactly what I needed. I'm glad I didn't have the bulk of the SB800.  But it would be nice to have a flash that I could use "off-camera".

2 extra batteries (3 total) - Nikon EN-EL3e with a charger. More than plenty. I never did run out of juice!

Compact Flash cards - two 8 GB cards and one 4 GB card. - Again, more than enough for what I was doing.

3 sets of NiMH AA batteries (12 total) with charger. - Overkill. I never used these as the SB400 flash never drained the akalines I took for it.

All the above carried in a Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW bag. - This worked fine was about the right size, but would be nice to have a bag I could put my laptop into for train rides, etc.

Manfrotto 724B Digi tripod with ball head. - Worked fine, but next time I'd probably replace the ball head with something that had a quick release plate. I like the fact it has a bag with a strap - that was handy.

Laptop - Lenovo x61s with 320 GB 7200 rpm harddrive, Windows Vista Premium, Lightroom 2.0.  It seems to be a great travel laptop, but just wish it had a built in CD drive! Also will boot to Ubuntu (Linux) if I need a quick boot just to access the Internet.  Worked extremely well especially with the extended battery.  LR 2.0 is awesome and I paid to upgrade my other machines as soon as I got home.

16 GB flash drive that will be my backup drive.   This worked fine. All my images fit onto this one drive, but I had a 2 GB one as an extra just in case.

Can't think of anything else I'd take next time except a remote switch for the long exposures used for night and twilight shots.

Google Earth - how they do it!

Read the following article and found it very interesting!

http://www.popphoto.com/popularphotographyfeatures/5511/google-earth-how-they-do-it.html

Yellowstone in Winter - Eagles in Tennessee

I wrote about the PBS Nature episode "Christmas in Yellowstone" last year about this time, but I have reiterate about it now. When I came home from England I had the pleasant surprise that my media center PC had recorded a repeat showing of this show! Again, I am inspired!!! I really, really want to go to Yellowstone for a winter photography trip!

I did a bit more research on the photographer featured in the show, Tom Murphy and suggest you check out his web site: www.tmurphywild.com

In an effort to make myself get out and photograph more, I am scheduling a trip to Reelfoot Lake in northwestern Tennessee in late January in an attempt to photograph bald eagles. I'll report more on that as the time draws near. For now, I just hope the weather cooperates to let us get out and do some photography that week-end.