Learning to use the Oly 40-150 f/2.8 - warning: a bunch of pictures

Dear all,

Here are a few photos with the 40-150 f2.8, which I am just learning to use.

I am really happy with the lens. Even though it is somewhat larger than what I have become accustomed to, the size does not seem to present a problem for my photographic lifestyle.

Some of these pictures were taken in weak light, others in very strong light. They are not perfect pictures by any means. But compared with my previous longest lens (75 mm), I feel that this lens really opens up new possibilities. And it satisfies my main requirement: it is a lot of fun to use.

As usual, all comments, suggestions, and criticisms are very welcome.

Thanks for looking!

Best regards,

Jeff

Snowy egret. Zen approach to drinking.

Great egret taking off: black legs and feet, yellow bill.

Great egret

Great egret

Dusk - hummingbird - anyone know what kind? Purple sage out of focus in foreground. Weak light.

Hummingbird in very strong light. Not the best colors.

Snowy egret: yellow feet, black legs, black bill.

Sanderlings

Seagull and sanderlings

Trying it as a macro lens.

Some very nice captures here - I especially like the Great Egret taking off, and the hummingbird in flight.

Beautiful work. I love that first picture -- I haven't seen anything like it before -- but in terms of presentation in the set, I would have put it fourth behind the three taking-off pix. The notion of action followed by quietude. The snowy egret on the tree should have been the fifth pic. The seagull and sanderlings is a lovely final pic -- but not for something including the other very colorful bird shots and the butterflies and bee -- they should have been separate sets.

I look at these pix and my eyes are almost assaulted by the color and compositions.

Great work. You are exploiting the lens beautifully.

Dear Shawn, Macintosh Sauce, and Geoffrey,

Many thanks for your comments. I really appreciate them.

Geoffrey -- your points about a better ordering of the pictures make sense to me. It's always good to build a visual narrative, even if it is not exactly chronological.

One correction - the very first picture (Zen Drinking) was actually taken with the Oly 75 mm, not the 40-150. It seemed to me that this picture may not have already been taken a thousand times before -- unlike most of the others! That's why I put it first.

Best regards,

Jeff