telezoo

This is the first time I've gotten to the zoo with my new zoom for the Pentax.  I was pleased with the performance of the lens.  Most of the shots were at the widest aperture, with some as low as 1/100.  The length and weight of the lens makes it a bit hard to manage, though I think the heft of the thing actually does help to steady the camera at low speeds.  I'll need some more practice at coordinating zoom and focus functions, and some kind of brace would be nice.

Off to the Races

The boats being raced this Saturday were of the One Meter Soling Class.  Colors vary, but all boats are identical in construction; so sailing skill is the key to winning (along with a little luck).

The racing captains control their boats with radio transmitters and receivers which activate solenoid movements of the rudder and sails.

The breezes over the ponds are always unpredictable; some sharp gusts had the boats moving along nicely.

The competition is keen and requires intense concentration to keep the boats on course to properly round the buoys at each end of the pond.

If boats pass the marker buoy on the wrong side, they must go back and try again.

The boat owners are mostly middle-aged and up; they all seem to having a very good time.

There is always a good crowd around the ponds on the weekend, with many enjoying the races and others interacting with the big flocks of waterbirds attracted by copious distributions of bread crumbs.

I was pleased with this first performance by my new Yashinon Zoom on my Pentax Spotmatic.  All the shots were hand-held at f8 and 1/500.  The film was Kodak Gold 100.