Toy testing

Last week I bought a new lens for my camera (a Canon 7D). It was a Canon EF 24-105mm f 1:4 L IS USM (I hope I got all those letters right ...) Consequently, I have been looking for subjects fitted more for lens testing than for beauty (whatever that may be).

Since both lens and camera body are supposed to be weather and dust shielded, what could be better than to test it in a workshop? Luckily I found one open not too far off.

All photos where shot in RAW-format and developed in Adobe Lightroom 3.41. For the technically minded I have included some of the exposure data.

The one above was shot outside the workshop, with 1/80 sec, f/10, ISO 800 and focal distance 32mm (equiv 51mm)

A real dusty engine is nice. Lots of dirty details. Shot at 1/125 sec, f/11, ISO 3200, focal distance 24mm (equiv 38mm).

The building housing the workshop is an old one, but they could build with style. The windows might almost be fit for a church. Shot at 1/125 sec, f/11, ISO 400 and focal distance 24mm (equiv 38mm).

So far it looks like this lens is going to be heavily used.

Storm

Need I say more?

Norwegian Rainbow

Rain in front of me

Sunset behind me

Rainbow in-between

Memories from a different 17th of May Celebration

Today, The 17th of May, is the Norwegian Constitution Day, and it will be celebrated in the traditional Norwegian way, as I have described elsewhere. However, last year the celebration was a bit different for my family and myself.

People from Norway will perhaps have some problems in recognizing this from the photo above. It shows the Band of the Bergen Police (Bergen Politiorkester) with their families ready for a traditional parade. But if they look closely they will see that the background is not Bergen (my home town). It is Brooklyn, New York City. And the Band was the guests of honour.

In the first half of last Century about 100 000 Norwegians settled in Brooklyn and formed their own neighbourhood. That included their own celebration of the Norwegian 17th of May. As with many other things, people have moved on and neighbourhoods have changed. But the celebration is still there and attracts Norwegians from all over the World :-)

Last year the guests of honour played the socks off all the other bands present ...

Of course there was a proper Norwegian-American 17th of May committee

For a guest from Norway it was especially touching to see this old lady putting on her Bunad and insisting in taking part.

And some male veterans seemed to have an equally good time.

The younger generation was present too.

Of course there were Speeches of the Day, but I must admit that I did not catch this gentleman's name. He was a well-known American sportsman of Norwegian extraction. Maybe some of the passers by will enlighten me?

In every way this was the most special 17th of May Celebration I have ever taken part in.

5216

Some weeks ago I had to wait a while at a garage. I went looking for a photographic subject, and I found this one. It is obviously not a decorative spring flower.

Just another flower, or ...

This beautiful flower (at least I think it is) is known as Narcissus poeticus, or in Norwegian Pinselilje. However, what you might not know, is that it is poisonous.
In this case, though, it seems to have a guest that is doing very well.