mdvaden

Wish more of you could cross over to this side of the big pond to see the west coast trees. If you happen to bring children along, Crescent City, California, near Jedediah Smith redwoods has a rather rockin' playground.

80% or better chance I'm headed to the redwoods this coming weekend. Here's a couple more pics from last time. Bought a small glass from Redwood Adventures (Orick, CA) gift shop ... also a view down the valley of Boyes Creek from Hy. 199, overlooking Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Here's a mushroom that grows among the coast redwoods, but more so under the Sitka Spruce. Amanita muscaria. Suspect this may grow over near the UK too.

Got some decent lighting late day in Jedediah Smith redwoods last trip. Might drive down again this November.

Looking forward to it. Just got a call last weekend from a Motel, for a guest who dropped in from England. Conditions were pretty good.

Last trip panned-out a pretty nice view of Howland Hill Giant. This is the Coast Redwood that has the largest trunk diameter known at 300 ft., of all trees, period. That would be 1.83 meters diameter at 91.4 meters above ground level.

One of the best examples of a nurse log I've seen in the Coast Redwoods ... or at least the evidence one used to be laying there. Row of at least 6 Coast Redwoods aligned. Seems there were more outside the photo. Hatton trail in Jedediah Smith redwoods.

Here's one more I dug out from last May. Posted one more from this set before ... this one is "banana slug's view" from down in the sorrel.

Interesting that you mention that 14mm, because I was glancing at Canon's 14mm L lens last week, but it's over $2000 US ... I was considering something like that 14mm, and just selling my adjustable 16-28mm Tokina, and just sticking with a wide prime. That "Roke" may be something I should consider.

The present Canon 50mm L f/1.2 is $1500 US currency. And good chance I will get one either this autumn or next spring. But this manual-focus-only vintage 55mm f/1.2 lens only cost me $230 with the adapter yesterday. Found on Craigslist (not sure if you have Craigslist). Can be found on Ebay too. I think this lens and adapter bought separate on Ebay are in the $400 to $500 range combined. Edmika Canon FL 55mm 1 2 EOS Brass Conversion Kit | eBay The guy who makes them has little videos, and there's some on Youtube too. Apparently it's barely a 5 minute conversion. Search for "edmike" + lens or camera brand. He does not sell the lenses. Just the adapters. Oh ... I think the shots have to be done in LIVE VIEW from 30' to infinity or the lens element comes back toward the camera's mirror. But like up close to 30 ft. / 9 meters, it can be view finder or Live View. And to reiterate ... only manual focus. There is a focus confirm chip in the adapter, and the camera will beep when the focus is close to where the center focus point is located.

Something much out of the ordinary for me ... just bought a 1964 to 1971 era Canon FL 55mm f/1.2 lens tonight, with a conversion adaptor for DSLR camera. Will be weeks until I can take it to the coast redwoods. But either way, this will be an interesting experiment. ...

This is the image from Page 10 ... it's the entire Page 10 ... (photo used with permission) The pages are 9 inches x 12 inches .... or ... 20 cm. x 30 cm. There are quite a few big 20 cm. x 30 cm. photos like this in the book. The ones in the recreational climbing section are quite a sight too. The one above is the only example I will post other than my photograph of the book cover, cropped for the OP, because I have that one on disc with an OK to utilize it.

Yes, with his other books. Skip the upper menu. Look in the midst of the page for "books" under shop by category. Trees & Tree Care | Books | Husqvarna Chainsaws, Outdoor Power Equipment and Tree Care Supplies from Baileysonline Then it's in the tree books. Just spotted it listed, although no image was shown on it yet ...

July through September is the least likely for rain or storms. Personally, I prefer the redwoods best when it's rainy. And October through June is my favorite time of year, especially for the look of the forest and photography. Very quiet as far as visitors. Lodging is available all year. Parks pretty much open as long as there is not a severe storm event. *********** Noticed I forgot to post a photo in my 2nd to last reply for some settings mentioned This is that pic of Andrew Joslin in Prairie Creek

G. F. Beranek who wrote The Fundamentals of General Tree Work, and High Climbers and Timber Fallers ... just released a big Coast Redwood book recently. COAST REDWOOD "TREE OF DREAMS AND FORTUNE" 281 pages almost overflowing with photos. Wrote a review page today here >> Book Review for COAST REDWOODS by GF Beranek Presently, it's available from Bailey's >> Baileys Cover of the book ...

About 15 minutes south of Redwood National Park ... Canon 135mm f/2 lens. Shot at 135mm ... ISO 125 ... 1/2000 sec. ... f/3.2

Here's one I posted much earlier already, of Andrew Joslin, illustrator for The Wild Trees by Richard Preston. Must have been taken with the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 lens I used to have in 2011. This one was 1/100 sec. ... ISO 800 ... f/3.2 ... 21mm ... hand-held

Mentioned the Sigma 85mm 1.4 that I often shoot near 1.4 for people. That lens and my Canon 50mm 1.4 has also been rewarding for like flower "portraits" in the redwoods. As much as possible, whether people or landscapes, I keep my ISO in the 100 to 160 range. Don't use filters. Have some, but rarely put them on. And for the more part, my better photos seem picking the right spot during the right time of day. Going to dodge reposting the same photos, but for reference, in post #86, the Smith River photo was also run through Lightroom too. But here's what I used for that one .. Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens @ 65mm ... ISO 160 ... 1/4 sec. ... f/11 ... taken 6:24am

Mentioned the Sigma 85mm 1.4 that I often shoot near 1.4 for people. That lens and my Canon 50mm 1.4 has also been rewarding for like flower "portraits" in the redwoods. As much as possible, whether people or landscapes, I keep my ISO in the 100 to 160 range. Don't use filters. Have some, but rarely put them on. And for the more part, my better photos seem picking the right spot during the right time of day. Going to dodge reposting the same photos, but for reference, in post #86, the Smith River photo was also run through Lightroom too. But here's what I used for that one .. Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens @ 65mm ... ISO 160 ... 1/4 sec. ... f/11 ... taken 6:24am

LOL ... Let me follow-up on some of the details tomorrow. Just finished a 2nd tall brew ... and that's when I lean toward typing and not so good at delving into data But for starters ... for some of the more portrait looking with the heavy bokeh, like the slug, or where I'm photographing people, I'm using a lens that I got for portrait stuff. Sigma 85mm /1.4 And often I'm shooting it all the way at f/1.4 ... Canon 5D Mk II

The beginning of Hiouchi Trail in Jedediah Smith redwoods.

Some have visualized a rock-eater in another photo taken that day. This one ...

Here's one of the local Banana slug. Apparently Europe leads with the largest slug. The Banana slug is 2nd largest. I put up a new web page yesterday just for the Banana slug. Found a video where a man tries to eat one fresh !! Added the link to the page below. Banana Slug >> www.mdvaden.com/redwood_banana_slug.shtml Look for the video link beneath the photo and keep a bag by your side. ...

If they are going 5% lower than the low-baller ... maybe that's destroying competition. And I wouldn't mind that kind of competitor being eradicated. But if they are going 5% lower than the top dollar companies, I can't see where 5% is going to hurt the the expensive companies. I don't think people paying high dollar pay attention to a 5% discount, otherwise they would be trying to find companies 30% cheaper, where the tree was cut down for $1000 instead of $1500. So it may seem that it's the low price outfits who are at risk. I also think that cheap prices build and overall less loyal and less desirable clientele. Maybe they are doing some folks a favor.

Do you get a European version ... or see crews from like out here on the west coast USA? Last time I watched it, it was some outfits logging in the Oregon coastal mountains.