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Greetings,
Not a whole lot to pass on this month. But there is a very time sensitive announcement that I'll get to right.....NOW!
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Last call for auroras!
This is it: the last call to join me September 7-14 in Yellowknife to photograph the auroras. I’ll be co-leading this tour in partnership with NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association). The deadline to sign up (and to reserve your hotel room) is August 7th. There’s only one spot left!
Included is transportation during the tour, six possible nights of aurora photography (weather dependent) and help/instruction/teasing in the field.
Besides the night sessions, we’ll be heading out during the day to photography fall color, waterfalls, lakes, local attractions, and more.
For more information and to nab that last spot, visit the tour page on the NANPA site.
And you can get further information and see pictures on the aurora tour page on my own site.
If you have any questions, be sure to write back soon.
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New lens!
In my last newsletter I mentioned that I was thinking of buying a new lens: the Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 lens for Nikon Z. I didn’t think too long and I now possess one. Yay!
I’ve not had a real chance to use it yet, but my first impression was a good one: Solid build and smooth ring movements. The first thing I did was to update its firmware using the Viltrox Lens app on my phone and connecting to the lens via Bluetooth. This is a very cool feature.
Not only could I update the firmware, I could also customize some lens functions, like the behavior of the two function buttons.
By default, the FN1 button is mapped to whatever custom function I’ve set on the camera for the lens function button.
The FN2 button can save and recall two focus positions. I may customize that button to save and recall only one position (infinity, for night photography) to avoid any mistaken button pushes in the middle of the night.
I’m going to try to get out for some Milky Way photography once the new moon hits in about two weeks, assuming clear skies and no jury duty (I can potentially be called sometime in the next couple of weeks).
On a side note, I'd been wanting to perform surgery on my Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 to correct its way-off infinity focus mark. It had drifted so far that when focused at infinity, the scale showed 3 feet. Anyway, I wanted to fix it, yet I didn't want to run the chance of messing up my only wide-angle fast lens. The Viltrox freed me from that anxiety and so out came the jeweler's screw drivers and exacto blade! I think the scale on the 14mm is now accurate. I'll test that too.
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2027
Besides what I already have scheduled for 2027 , which includes Lofoten, Sitka Whales, Olympic, Palouse, Yellowknife (pending), and the Faroe Islands, all of which still have openings, there are a few other possibilities poking their heads up.
After our successful Olympic National Park workshop, Margo Pinkerton and I are starting to plan for 2027.
Some thoughts include Bandon, Joshua Tree National Park, the Salton Sea, Florida’s Panhandle, and the Colorado mountains (Crested Butte area). If any of that entices you, let me know.
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Maven extra strength adapters
When I need a longer shutter speed, I often reach for one of my Maven magnetic Dark CPL filters. These combine a circular polarizer with a neutral density filter in one slim filter. I have three of these filters: 3-stop, 6-stop, and 10-stop. But sometimes I need something between these, like, say a 5-stop nd. When that happens, I just add my Maven linear polarizer, which turns the combination into a variable neutral density polarizing filter. This allows me to dial in just what I need.
The way to make it variable is to just turn the outer filter (the linear polarizer). But that requires two hands: one to rotate the linear polarizer and one to keep the other filter from turning too. This can be awkward.
Enter the extra strength adapters I just bought. Just replace the normal adapter with the extra strength one. Now, when turning the outer filter, the inner filter stays put. Problem solved!
Plus, you get the bonus feature of it being harder to accidentally knock a filter or a magnetic lens cap off the lens.
 If the combination of Dark CPL and a Linear Polarizer intrigues you, Maven has a Dark CPL Set. It comes with a regular adapter ring, but I suggest you upgrade to the Extra Strength for just $4 more. And they throw in one of their colored lens caps!
(Warning: Affiliate links. If you use them to purchase, I get a small commission. This really is a win-win. You get some great filters, and I not only get a vicarious thrill from being a part of it, I get paid a little!)
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Look what I found
 So about a month or so ago, I was sorting through my old vinyl albums when this fell out of one of them. (Captain Fantastic, I think). I don't recall seeing it in the past. Though that past is admittedly hazy.
Wonder if it's too late to join?
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