Winter can be so colourful (Thanks to Claypaws)

--Hulloo People of the Fuji Forum.. been a long time since I posted here but I still peruse quite regularly, though I have to admit to having not used my S3 very much in recent years due mainly to the fact I've needed to shoot Hi speed for Surf Photography.. HOWEVER.. I read with avid interest the piece on White Balance settings from Claypaws,(Something that has always plagued me with the S3. I get so used to not worrying and shooting through the expodisc lens cap pre shoot that I often forget that the S3 needs a tweak.

Well I used the grey card on a miserable overcast day her a couple of days ago, reset the fuji to wide2 and took it out with me and I have been inspired to say the least..

Claypaws I owe you a drink my friend.. the return has been awesome and I've not moved away from Custom2 wb for outdoor since.

Those of you who remember me will probably remember I did get some awesome shots out surfing from the Fuji but demand made me need something faster writing and shooting.. but I'd honestly forgotten how rich the S3 could be.. thank you Claypaws for re-kindling the Fuji Fire.. I'm having a day off today to go out and take some Photographs lol (Kind of Busmans Holiday) so I'll let you know the results..

meantime here's a couple from the end of a very rainy cloudy stormy hail filled day yesterday here in Cornwall UK.





Also Regards of the season to all and especially anyone who remembers me

Mel

thanks mel for the pics. id love to shoot surfers
--
I didn't know you had a rock and roll record
Until I saw your picture on another guy's jacket
You told me I was the only one
But look at you now it's dark and you're gone

Hi Mel,

Yes, we do remember you and welcome back. These are very good images. Thanks for sharing.
--
Devinder Sangha
http://www.pbase.com/devinder

Hi Mel,
Welcome back. You have been a stranger too long.
Are you still using the bigma?
Nice shot you posted here. Come back soon.

Dave

--Hi Dave,

yes I'm still using the Bigma.. I carry that as my walkabout lens on one of the Nikon Bodies permanently.. have to say though its my second one, the first ones sat here awaiting return to sigma after Christmas for a full overhaul and repair.. (The drawback of shooting Surf with non Pro lenses they suck in a lot of salt) this one started blipping on Auto Focus about 2 months ago and finally gave up the ghost and was unrecognised by the body at the end of last month.. these tired and Salty Dog Eyes don't manual Focus well enough these days lol and anyhow most of the time the actions too fast to try..

How are you getting on with yours? I love the versatility of the Bigma and often get equally good shots to the 600mm prime.. or should I say there's defo not £4,000+ worth of difference lol.. most of the time the surfers only want up to A4 max and the Bigma is my favourite for all area's of the action even prizegiving...

These were shot on a Tamron 28-70 on the Fuji and I was really pleased with the range and colour after using CP's setting up, and I'll be using the Fuji a lot more for the slower stuff again so I'll keep dropping by.

Have a good Christmas

mel

--

Thanks Kev, well its definately great fun, though it has its drawbacks in Hail and sleet sitting out on the rocks lol.. Very romantic in the hot summer sun tho
and they're such an appreciative bunch

Mel

--Thank You Devinder, its good to be remembered and I'm glad you enjoyed the images.. its what I've always loved about this forum, everybody's so friendly and helpful..reminds me much of the Old camera Club days when there was more importance to photography than 'What lens have you got? What camera are you using? lol the 2 most frequently asked questions wherever I shoot..

have a good season

mel

Hi Mel,

Good to see you back again, even if not under your old handle of Maelwys. I enjoyed these surfing shots much more than I would enjoy getting into that very cold water myself.

I am so pleased you find my CWB method to your liking. And thank you for so publicly crediting it. You will probably never need to set a new WB ever again ;-)

You may get asked what camera or lens you use (as you said) but I bet nobody ever asks you what WB you have your camera set to!

I thought of you when I was in Cornwall this summer and especially when I posted some Cornwall images here on this forum. I thought I might be encroaching on your territory.

I have many more Cornwall images still to post but these are the links to the two posts I already did.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=29072343

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=29434047

Hoping to see more of you around here.
--
******************************************************
I have a home on pbase
http://www.pbase.com/claypaws/
If you have the time to look
******************************************************

Hello Mel,

So glad to hear from you and hey that last shot is a beauty - glorious color. Its really late here and I'm about to turn in. Here's hoping for some happy dreams tonight being out in that magnificent technicolor lineup.

Best wishes friend,
--
Herbert Bishko

Hey Herbert good to hear from you, I know you always enjoyed the surf shots and I've really missed bringing them for you.. to be totally truthfull I'd lost heart with the S3 never seemed to get a decent shot from it in Comparison with my other bodies, and then came the Gospel according to St Claypaws master of white balance and Well you can see the results and I can't put the S3 down lol.

I've yet to couple it back to the Bigma and try a couple of action shots, but to be honest I'm just loving the tamron 28-70 f2.8 on it...

Have a great Season old friend, I look forward to our interaction over future shots...
Good to be back

Maelwys/|\
--

If all the worlds a stage, may I have a press pass to photograph it.. http://www.imagecreated.com

http://www.maelwys.com/ImageGalleries/

that bigma is addicting, stay away from the 120-300 f2.8.

lol
--
I didn't know you had a rock and roll record
Until I saw your picture on another guy's jacket
You told me I was the only one
But look at you now it's dark and you're gone

Mel

I remember you and your work and at times wondered where you've been. Welcome back and thanks for sharing your fine images with us again.
--
Norman Young

Hi, Mel,

Claypaws has given us much to appreciate and you have applied it with aplomb. I kinda like the first even though the second has very nice color.

Cheers,

Bob

Thank You Bob, and Norman for the previous comment.. Its good to be back among friends old and new.. I feel there's a lot to get out of the Old S3 so I'll be bringing some more real soon
Thanks for your kind words and the welcome

Maelwys

--

If all the worlds a stage, may I have a press pass to photograph it.. http://www.imagecreated.com

http://www.maelwys.com/ImageGalleries/

Mel,

Both great shots for different reasons ; the suppressed energy in the first is just bubbling at the surface and the second is just lovely.
Thanks for sharing and post more .
Rgds Joe

so your still getting on good with your bigma then
--
I didn't know you had a rock and roll record
Until I saw your picture on another guy's jacket
You told me I was the only one
But look at you now it's dark and you're gone