NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: Jakov Minić on June 10, 2015, 12:35:34
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Here is a shot of my dear friend Erik capturing the green waters of the Bohinjka river.
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For this shot I needed to get in closer hence submerge my delicate self into the Bohinj Lake :)
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Bjørn, Erik, Jakov and me went to Slovenia for our annual photography trip, this topic reports our adventures.
While the other guys flew to Slovenia I saw the opportunity to take my Bimmer 130i M Sport for a spin on the German Autobahn and Austrian Alps.
Here's some of the Top 10 best driving roads I had the pleasure to enjoy:
http://www.ultimatedrives.net/top-10-roads/details.php?route_ID=40005 (http://www.ultimatedrives.net/top-10-roads/details.php?route_ID=40005)
http://www.ultimatedrives.net/top-10-roads/details.php?route_ID=6 (http://www.ultimatedrives.net/top-10-roads/details.php?route_ID=6)
Freude am Fahren @ The Grossglockner High Alpine, Sony a7S, Samyang 14/2.8 AE
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/441/18430596479_df0fe065b4_o.jpg)
I went for a short walk around Lake Bohinj, which is very close to our villa.
Sony a7S with Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO EF
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/423/18430615589_b89a3755b5_o.jpg)
I encountered a snake swimming by, 125mm was a bit on the short side but due to the incredible sharpness of the APO Lanthar even a 100% crop was still some kind of usable, Sony a7S with Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO EF, 100% crop
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8878/18612195832_3b95830bd0_o.jpg)
Sony a7S with Zeiss 35/1.4 FE
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/269/18429022528_8c4643dd91_o.jpg)
Sony a7S with Zeiss 35/1.4 FE
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/374/18618951161_513be807ea_o.jpg)
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Two more.
Lake Bled, Sony a7S with Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO EF
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/460/18429031738_442d67d997_o.jpg)
And a NG phototrip is not complete without a startrail image, Sony a7S with Samyang 14/2.8 AE
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/514/18675080685_66c1bdecf2_o.jpg)
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That first image especially is stunning. I hear Lake Bled is on top of the list for many people
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Labe Bled was very nice indeed, expect more images to be added from that area by the other members shortly, one is currently occupied setting up the forum as we speak and the other two are having a siesta ;D
Yesterday we went for a long drive to Soca, one of the most stunning landscapes I've seen and with the zillions of curves also one of the more pleasurable Alp roads to drive with the Bimmer, I was riding with all windows open to fully enjoy the 6 cilinder engine singing his tunes 8)
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The Bohinj Lake provides you with a free pedicure ;)
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Looks like you're having a great time - as usual I might add ;)
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So nice to see so many friendly faces all ready on NikonGear!!!
For Bjørn and I the Slovenia journey started in Denmark with a few lens repairs and modification but we had also time to go shooting.
We happened to stop at a small farm that turned out to be a repair guy with several projects among them this wonderful old International tractor :)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/544/18619104991_810977d317_b.jpg)
Hera a close up of the hood :)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/300/18612354342_0bd4cd912d_b.jpg)
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First outing at the local lake was hot and humid and ideal for IR captures.
Here two captures, first 20mm 3.5 Ais
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/368/18590362446_698ae92789_b.jpg)
And here the 16 2.8 AF-D
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8840/17994076854_5881b407f7_b.jpg)
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Lake Bled, the ancient church of Bledski Otuk (Bled Island) and Bled castle all combine to make wonderful views.
We did our best to capture the mood of this tranquil landscape, here's one of my attempts using the Nikon AW1 kindly lent me from Jakov;
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/273/17987095463_0d04d4d257_b.jpg)
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I understand this destination is especially beautiful and good since it is not run over by tourists yet?
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There are certainly plenty of tourists here, yet they don't overpower the scene as it were. Just avoid queing up for a visit to the old castle and find yourself a nice restaurant with a lake view instead. Or jump into the lake itself. The water keeps a pleasant temperature for a Nordic citizen.
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Nice travelog, thanks for sharing it
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Lake Bled is the fancy weekend outing for locals famous for their cream cake (krempita). It's a landmark worthwhile seeing of course.
It goes without saying that we are having a great time and that our friendship continuously grows that resulted in creating this new photo community that we will all continue to enjoy.
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Lake Bled also offers a place for romance :)
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Ever since we all met during the first NikonGear safari in 2009 we have always made night shots together. In good spirits of course assisted by Laphroaig malt whisky on this occasion (coincidently Erik and I bought the exact same whisky without prior notice, so we had to consume two bottles, which had been a great burden to us all as you can imagine...).
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Tested Eriks Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 LTM on the Sony a7S today, straight from the camera (only resized in C1), it looks pretty good to me.
In case you're wondering, it's the villa we stayed at the last week brewing up the revival of Nikongear :)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/303/18060910464_be818354be_o.jpg)
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Very pleasant travelogue, folks!
If I remember correctly, Andy Aungthwin, an old member from FilmLives, runs a lakeside pension in Bohinj. I wonder if you had chance to see him...
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Around 5:30 AM local time, the guys just left for the airport, Bjørn and Erik will fly home and Jakov will exchange cars and drive to Belgrade to visit friends and family.
I crawled back into bed to catch a few more hours of sleep and hit the road around 10, got an invite on Facebook last night to visit Vienna from a friend I met while canoeing in Sweden in 2013 and as some of you already know I won't pass on opportunities to discover new places with a local :)
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I am also enjoying the travel stories very much. thanks for sharing
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Erik and Bjørn are past the departures gate. I have waved them off to Copenhagen :)
Here are some shots from the first day. Our first door neighbors were cows I got very fond of immediately...
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You obviously had a good time, and it is nice to read from people I have learnt to appreciate over the years...
Thank you for NG(R), it looks like an interesting experience.
Olivier
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A walk in the park
The crew where not so eager to get out of the luxury Villa and into the 30 deg C hot humid air of the canyon so after a huge and healthy breakfast i wandered out the door with a quick remark about the surrounding mountains...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/339/18518481339_180dbff4b3_b.jpg)
A short stroll down the gravel road was the first signpost... very ambitious destinations where quoted with precise distances..
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/452/18084020323_9679628aa8_b.jpg)
The houses in the outskirts of the area are not well maintained...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/373/18707068661_2c8ebabb67_b.jpg)
Also the woods where a bit weathered...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/337/18678389556_4fdf5d96ae_b.jpg)
The path up the mountains at the end of the canyon looked promising at the beginning steep but mostly rather well prepared...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/492/18707075041_df1f957ddb_b.jpg)
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The view suddenly cleared as I came out of the trees to revel a beautiful view of our Villa at the lakeside...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/526/18699901752_2b64474ea1_b.jpg)
The path was clearly marked; Red circles with white dots and at all points where there was eminent danger of a non recoverable fall wires and or foot holds where positioned strategically...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/327/18517007580_fb2ee7a9ff_b.jpg)
At the top ancient fortifications where still standing proud...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/553/18678405766_ce67ffafdc_b.jpg)
The reward was a beautifully calm mountain lake, green ice cold water was quite refreshing but definitely not drinkable...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/392/18699912492_aa8b086e91_b.jpg)
Realizing time flies when you're having fun struck me, I had spend three hours climbing up the 800 height meters so the nearby summit was unreachable if I intended to get down before darkness would strike - So the decision was easy; Decent and enjoy the view of the valley canyon full front...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/269/18699915962_fd5cff5a24_b.jpg)
Remembering to stop and enjoy and shoot the New Noct-Nikkor at full throttel was not difficult - but time consuming - well and a excuse to catch the breath...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/527/18516941528_517f9d36b2_b.jpg)
Following the about ten anchor-points down was a breeze compared to the uphill climb, remembering to stay safe and keep three point contact was not so easy...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/274/18517022370_2985104048_b.jpg)
Then wooden stairs of the path was at some points so deteriorated that only the iron anchors where sticking out at odd angles...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/322/18084056713_ac20355487_b.jpg)
Two hours after the lake and at the canyon floor a live spring gave a much needed cold refreshment...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/391/18084058863_77c3bf9557_b.jpg)
Back in the Villa a chilled bath was truly needed :)
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I've arrived in Vienna around 4 in the afternoon, luckily I had an app to tell me where all the speed cameras where because there where plenty on the Austrian highways :o
Tomorrow I'll be driving roughly 1150km to Amsterdam so expect another day of radio silence from my side, hope to back online this weekend though.
Really excited to see so many familiar faces here on NG in less than two days, it already feels like coming home to a warm bath :)
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I expect you already know that but watch out in Switzerland, rules are quite strict there and I believe apps like the one you're using is illegal as well. Enjoy Vienna and have a safe trip home.
Added:
Wonderful pictures Erik, looks like a very nice hike and certainly worth the effort.
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As usual on these trips, I end up in Copenhagen for a few days extra with Erik.
Yesterday we went downtown for Erik to do architectural shooting (paid commission for him; I just tagged along).
In quest for a sun shade to my 10-100 mm CX Nikkor lens, I ended up with a nice sample of the Nikkor-H 85 mm f/1.8 ("K") lens, an item I had been actively searching for recently. True, it was pre-AI, but in companionship with Erik that is just a minor inconvenience quickly settled by him whipping out the Dremel. He thoughtfully added the CPU conversion whilst at it, plus cleaned and lubricated the lens so now it's good for decades to come.
Afterwards, we had a nice lunch with Danish 'smørrebrød' and on the return to Erik's flat, a minor incident with his Audi. The Great Dane sprung to action again and we returned safely home.
All images with the 10-100 mm f/4-f/5.6 1 Nikkor CX zoom lens and the 1 AW1 Nikon camera.
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On my return from Yugoslavia, sat at the Vienna Airpot waiting for my connecting flight, I decided to reflect on our most productive NG Slovenia Trip 2015.
What I noticed was that I didn't post, probably my favorite photo of the trip, although there are plenty that fall into that category :)
The COW!
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Jakov, I'm interested in the blue flower with the pinkish red core in your June 11 post. Is that in natural color? I like the last shot with "Ferdinand" in the same post. :)
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Lots of great shots. Looks like serious fun.
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Jakov, I'm interested in the blue flower with the pinkish red core in your June 11 post. Is that in natural color? I like the last shot with "Ferdinand" in the same post. :)
Akira, I changed the colour of the flower. I did not like the colour of it but now I do :)
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Lots of great shots. Looks like serious fun.
Dear Frank, yes it was true fun and inspiration. Thanks
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Akira, I changed the colour of the flower. I did not like the colour of it but now I do :)
Oh, man! :D
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Probably many of you wonder how professionals create a studio for UV photography?
You need a table, salt and pepper, an empty cardboard cylinder box of your preferred malt whisky, a pan lid as a reflector, ah yes let's not forget, the flowers, etc...
I truly enjoyed absorbing the knowledge of the fierce master at work :)
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Thats freaking brilliant that shot!
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Jakov, you are absolutely right! Watching Bjørn at work is a lot of fun and a great learning process, yes!
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Hahaha, that's great!
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Jakov: Probably many of you wonder how professionals create a studio for UV photography?
You need a table, salt and pepper, an empty cardboard cylinder box of your preferred malt whisky, a pan lid as a reflector, ah yes let's not forget, the flowers, etc...
Sounds more like a concoction one uses to chase the evil spirits away.
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful series of images with us.
Must have been great fun.
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Thanks to Elsa's donkey I have realised that I haven't posted some flowers that I took in Slovenia using a Df + 180/2.8 AIS ED + PN-11.
I fell in love with the lens on the spot, and it is No.1 on my list of future lenses...
What is that I like so much of the 180/2.8 AIS ED: just about everything! The bokeh, saturation, sharpness, easily snaps into focus on the Df, etc...
If only Nikon would make a new version :'(
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That's some wonderful images, I can easily see why you like that lens!
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Thanks, Jørgen ;)
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Seems everyone who has that lens loves it big time.
I wouldnt mind trying one out also.
You know - my 135 f2 is so old (in my books but its relative) and Nikon has made no move to upgrade it.
I doubt if has a market - but my preferred lens.
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I would not mind a new 135/2 either 8)
It is amazing that these old lenses cost so much. I would need to cash out 400€ for the 180/2.8 AIS, and probably a great deal more for the 135 DC...
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The 135 f2 is hard to come by here in SA - but they do from time to time.
Goes second hand for about $1000 kind of thing
I really really like mine - I just wish my studio was longer so I could use it more
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Can't you extend your studio into the lawn :D
The only reason why I am not buying the 135DC for 1000$ is because I have a feeling the minute I buy it a new 135/2 AFS will be announced for 1200$...
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My studio is on a second story - and if I open the big sliding doors to step back - my ass would be on the driveway ::) ;D
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Make sure Bjørn is ready to record the driveway event :D
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Bjørn might just find himself sleeping on the driveway then.
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oops, i didn't mean to get Bjørn in trouble...
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;D ;D
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Totally forgot to post this pic, so here's "How NOT to make a Selfie..."
Went for a stroll to Lake Bohinj one evening but forgot two important things; a memory card and a cold beer. The former was tackled by using the iPhone as a remote control for my camera, very handy to check the image without getting up after every selfie shot plus it saves a JPG copy to the iPhone which can be uploaded to the web straight away, very handy if you actually nail the shot.
The latter issue was also dealt with once returned to our villa btw ;)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/472/19374312998_e3623e7202_b.jpg)
a7S with 35/1.4 FE, OOC JPG, posted on the web with the iPhone
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Perhaps you could have used the iPhone as a small flash/spotlight on yourself? ;)
Speaking of the iPhone, if it's an iPhone 6 or 6 plus, watch out where you keep it, it is easier to bend than you'd think. I got an iPhone 6, never worn it in my back pocket and generally think I've taken good care of it but mine is slightly bend :(
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Perhaps you could have used the iPhone as a small flash/spotlight on yourself? ;)
Or one of the many HI CRI flashlights I had with me, but this image wasn't meant to be a crackshot, the story here is that this dumbass forgot his memory card but had some fun anyway :)
Still using the iPhone 5 btw, got a new one for cheap under warranty so I'm skipping the 6 which is too fragile for me anyways, probably bend mine within a matter of weeks.
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J-A, I reckon you should reconsider the iPhone 6, a much faster machine and has a better camera. I actually did bend an iPone 5 by falling on it cost me £175 pounds to replace via Apple. The reason for a few 6s bending was fat people putting them in their back pockets and then sitting on them!
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Not in a million years, my old 5 was too beaten up according to Apple for them to uphold two warranty repairs so they gave me the choice to buy a new 5 64GB for only €250 for which I have dedicated lenses and a waterproof case or buy the new 6 with the same memory for €799 an render my accessories useless.
For me that was a really easy choice as I prefer the look and build of the 5 anyway, though I wouldn't have mind getting the 5S for the fingerprint login feature.
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Off Topic: Do I match the red finger nails to the bikini shot correctly?
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J-A, I reckon you should reconsider the iPhone 6, a much faster machine and has a better camera. I actually did bend an iPone 5 by falling on it cost me £175 pounds to replace via Apple. The reason for a few 6s bending was fat people putting them in their back pockets and then sitting on them!
Did you read my comment about that above?
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Jakov had flashed his body and swimming pants elsewhere (The Cres, Croatia thread), but as far as I recall, not his teeth. This is to rectify the failure :D
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....absolutely lovely nostrils, Jakov !!
I desperately need that shot of Bjørn for the UVP website.
May I please have perms to copy it there with all due credit to the fine fotografer who made it ?
(...when did the fierce bear obtain a diamond earring???....did you all go on a pirate raid somewhere ???)
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Fierce bear has more than one ear ring. His girl friend likes giving such items to him.
Here is an enthusiastic mirrorless user (Olympus), wearing sufficient number of hats to balance the picture as it were.
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Jan Anne is also a mirrorless mate of course, but not an Olympus user. Thanks to his excellent Sony he can attain a more relaxed, laid-back style and indulge in other pleasant aspects of life on a trip.
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....absolutely lovely nostrils, Jakov !!
I desperately need that shot of Bjørn for the UVP website.
May I please have perms to copy it there with all due credit to the fine fotografer who made it ?
(...when did the fierce bear obtain a diamond earring???....did you all go on a pirate raid somewhere ???)
Andrea, yes please, it will be an honor :)
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Bjørn, lovely shot of my teeth, and the rest of my stubborn head ::)
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Well, as I shot but little in infrared during the Slovenian trip, Jakov can be assured of no more dental records in revealing IR.
A couple of IR images follow, both obtained with a converted Nikon D5300 and the AFS 18-70 Nikkor.
First is a tourist snapshot of Bled Castle, under restoration witnessed by the big crane. Next is a reminder than IR sometimes disclose picture elements you would rather not observe at all - dark fabric often turn bright and might be transparent enough to show underlying details ... Be warned.
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Slovenians had their own thoughts about where to park their bicycles ...
(Df, 300/4 PF)