Most never see it with their naked eyes and only through a long lens can you recognize it if you know to look for it. I’m not talking about the Kodiak Brown, no, I’m talking about the real image killer, heat shimmer! Heat shimmer can occur anytime and anyplace from snow to blacktop, winter or summer. It’s even out at sea! Most miss the first signs of its presence when it starts ruining your image sharpness.

A real mild case of heat shimmer can easily be passed off as misfocusing. Many blame everything except heat shimmer for a soft image. In the lower image, the transpiration off the grass is slight yet enough to cause heat shimmer and a not-so-tack-sharp image. In this case, I thought it was there but it was the camera that confirmed it. Heat shimmer will cause the camera’s AF to search and not lock on. Most blame the camera but it’s not its fault. In the photo above, you could see the heat shimmer clearly in the viewfinder and the camera refused to focus. If you don’t look for it, you won’t see it. Have sharpness or AF issues, heat shimmer, it’s a killer!

This very retro looking film camera is the new Nikon Z fc. This DX 20.9MP digital camera has been packed with the latest AF, video and cool options you can find in a small package. It truly is bloody cool and the PERFECT travel camera with the Z16-50. Head to the website to learn all the features incorporated in this new body from Nikon! Yeah, I’ve already reached out to Bedfords to get one!

I know, I don’t do macro / posey photography. There is actually a long story that goes with that, but not right now. You might be asking though since I’m well known for saying this, why would I go and buy the new Nikkor Z105mc? When it arrived from Bedford’s last week, the lens basically set me back in my chair, it is hands down the finest and sharpest macro lens I’ve ever shot with (and I have / had them all!). Heck, the lens even reports to you what magnification you’re shooting at. Well, I found my old shooting macro notes and dusted off the prototype Really Right Stuff B150-B Focus Rail (wouldn’t think I’d have something like that, would ya?) sitting in the locker and went to thinking about macro subjects.

I pondered a whole bunch of set ups, experiments in hell for me, looking for that “macro” shot to start getting to know this great new tool in the kit (it’s actually for work to, have a proposed project I need it for). First, I photographed Sharon and her gorgeous eyes cause it is a 105mm lens, killer for portraits. Then it occurred to me my own saying, KISS. I’d been passing it for over a year now. Even watered it but did I look down and smell those roses! Not until I got the Nikkor Z105mc which to be honest, was really stupid of me. I attached the Nikkor Z105mc to the  Really Right Stuff B150-B Focus Rail, used a small bounce card for light (roses in shadow), listened to my knee pop and grind and went click. Shot wide open (f3.3) at 1:1.6 lifesize, slowly, ever so slowly stood up and felt good about pushing myself to make an image with a macro lens. And at the same time rereminding myself, to smell the roses!

… than he has something under his nose and it makes him look like ….
I know they are called the Black-tailed Prairie Dog, but the tail is on the other end.