Wouldn't You Know

Mennonite Indian Corn

Wouldn't you know. I received the Nikon D7200 and Sigma 17–70mm lens yesterday, and this morning I work up to...of course...wet weather and featureless gray skies. Not rain, just wet. Not dramatic skies, just plain dull overcast.

It wouldn't be so annoying except this whole Summer has been exceptionally dry and rainless. Even when it does rain it seems to clear up right away. Not today. So far anyway.

The Mennonites do not like to be photographed, but they gave me permission to photograph their vegetables. :-)

More later. I hope.

Mike

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[James Weekes]

You might have a visit from Carl Weese soon. His favorite light is what you just described.

[Ron Zack]

I've been seriously considering that exact same combination of camera and lens, it will be very interesting to hear about your experiences with them.

Another zoom that would be worth considering, though far more expensive, is the relatively new Nikon 16-80mm f/2.8-4E. They say it has the best VR Nikon has ever put on zoom lens.

Enjoy your new toys! :-)

[John Krumm]

That old adage about getting closer (Capa?) seems to go double for dreary days, so maybe that's why we are looking at the corn.

[Dave]

I spend a lot of time in the Finger Lakes, and have often wondered about the permissibility of photographing our Amish and Mennonite neighbors. Out of some combination of respect and ignorance, my camera (a decidedly un-discreet 6D) often hangs idly at my side in places like The Windmill. This seems like a cultural topic where a little knowledge and a little Q&A would probably go a long way, at least for me...

[Jim Allen]

For many, the very same occurrence of clouds comes with the acquisition of any new telescope you'd like to point at the heavens. It always happens to me as well. I bought the new 300mm Olympus m4/3 lens - on a Friday no less, and the whole weekend was rain. Trust me, there are few opportunities for a brand new 600mm equivalent in the rain... Yeah, they said it's weather proof. Do YOU want to take your brand new lens out in the rain for the very first photos?? Me either.

[Armand]

Hi Mike, Whenever I wait to capture the Super Moon or the Blood Moon or the Green Moon or the Harvest Moon or the Pink Moon or the Blue Moon, foul weather always spoil my plan. Tomorrow the Black Moon will rise...let's see. Too dark to see :) Curious to know how that Sigma is? Thanks & best regards, Armand

[Michael Ellis]

I live in Oregon and have come to appreciate the "great softbox in the sky". I just don't look for shots I want sky in.

Sincerely,

Michael Ellis

[c.d.embrey]

We don't see indian corn, out here on the coast. Being the curious type, I Googled it. Flint corn is also the type of corn preferred for making hominy, a staple food in the Americas since pre-Columbian times.

Hominy is something I know about. Used as a side dish, ground to grits, ground to masa. It's a good-thing.

[Steve Caddy]

Mike, I assume you've seen Larry Towell's book The Mennonites? It's one of the most beautiful and sensitive black and white photo books I've ever seen.

[David Fann]

I predict you will enjoy the Sigma 17-70. I used one until it was stolen along with my Pentax K-5 last year. Great build, useful zoom range, and silent/fast/accurate autofocus. Images were very slightly soft all over when pixel peeping—consistent with reviews. I would get used to the softness and then notice it again only when looking at shots from my Pentax 100mm f/2.8 macro (also stolen), which were comparatively very sharp.

Love the corn. Gloomy–day light is the best, IMO. "Great softbox in the sky," indeed.

[Richard Alan Fox]

Beautiful print, unfortunately looks like it uses quite a bit of ink, maybe next time try for just one or two kernels against a paper white background, cheaper that way.