Tag: Fujinon 70-300mm f/4-f/5.6

Kestral

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An American Kestral, hunting the sagebrush near the Carson River. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-03 11:54:18, 300mm, 1/450sec, f/8, ISO-640, SOOC.

Last week The Girl and I were on daily walkies out at Silver Saddle Ranch when I saw a flutter in the sagebrush maybe 10 meters from us. That caught my attention so I watched as we advanced along the upper trail that we walk a lot.

A few more meters down the trail, I noticed a bird perched atop a sagebrush. It was an American Kestral! I know that at least one inhabits the area we often walk, but it does not show itself frequently.

Anxiously, I removed the normal lens from my X-T5 and affixed the 70-300mm zoom. I raised the camera to my face to frame the shot and the small raptor flitted away.

Disappointed, The Girl and I (she was not disappointed, I was) moved forward. However, I kept my own sharp eye open for a reappearance of the tiny raptor.

Again, a few more meters down the trail, I spotted it perched on another sagebrush. I kept another bush between us to break up my outline, found a bare spot that framed the bird, and made a few captures. I could have used the longer 100-400mm zoom in my inventory, but it is very heavy and does not get carried without intent. The 70-300mm is much lighter and more compact, so it is easier to slog around with as a maybe lens.

In any event, it will do. I got a capture of the bird.

The Girl and I continued along our hike, she sniffing and marking, looking for the odd lizard to chase. I kept her on-lead, partly for practice and partly for safety. Snakes are still active, but probably not for much longer. The days are cooling and nights are cooler. They will hibernate before long.

That will give The Girl a little more freedom, but I will remain watchful and keep her close. I will make some exception to strictly on-leash once the risk of rattlesnakes abates for the winter. But, she still has a propensity to chase coyotes. I do not need any more of that and neither does she.

Despite a few sand burrs (she is a sand burr magnet), we had a good hike. It was a good day. Life is good.

The Work

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I admire the focus of this Basque mural artist. Captured with X-T5, 2025-09-18 17:32:01, 300mm, 1/450sec, f/8, ISO-1000, SOOC.

Here is another frame of the Basque mural artist working. Again, she was unaware of my presence at this point. She was very focused on her work. It is something that I admire.

The entire shoot took me only about 15 or 20 minutes. I grabbed my Fuji X-T5 and Fujinon 70-300mm zoom and walked toward the site. I made some images as I approached. I then stepped around to the north side for some closer shots. She noticed me, and smiled. We visited for just a few minutes so I could show a few frames and ask if she wanted a copy. She did, so I got her information. I have since sent her a few frames.

It was a good day. Life is good. I am grateful.

Leaning Into It

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She was really leaning in to her work. Captured with X-T5, 2025-09-18 17:31:39, 132mm, 1/200sec, f/8, ISO-500, SOOC.

I have an admiration for people who are good at their work. Well, really, good at anything that they do, be it work or avocation. I find it fascinating to observe and I think they make excellent photographic subjects.

I wrote about this artist a few days ago. I posted a couple of images from the set so far. Here is another of her leaning into her work, oblivious to my presence until I announcement myself a few minutes later.

It was a good day. Life is good.

Mural Painter

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This is another frame from the shoot of the two painters working on a mural. Captured with X-T5, 2025-09-18 17:30:03, 147.6mm, 1/220sec, f/8, ISO-400, SOOC.

This shoot was a lot of fun. It did not take me very long to make the captures, but I sure enjoyed working the scene. The interaction with the Basque artists was icing on the cake.

It was a good day. Life is good.

Clouds and Sky

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The Girl and I walked Silver Saddle Ranch one day last week. I carried a camera and the contrast of sky and cloud caught my attention, so I made the capture. Captured with X-T5, 2025-09-25 12:19:49, 35mm, 1/1600sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X film simulation, SOOC.

A few days ago I had a very busy morning. It had rained a bit and the house was cool. I thought that meant it was cool outdoors as well. So, I decided to take The Girl to Silver Saddle Ranch, thinking it was cool enough she would not overheat (and maybe the critters would be bunkered in).

Boy howdy, I was mistaken. The clouds cleared and the Son shone brightly. So, while it was not HOT, it was quite warm. We hiked the trail, nonetheless. The irrigation water is shut off from the Mexican Ditch, so we crossed the now-dry ditch and headed for the river. There is still water in the Carson River, although it is showing the late season growth of vegetation.

Again, nonetheless, The Girl jumped right in, swam a bit, got a drink, and cooled off. I took the opportunity to empty my bladder (getting old sucks in some ways).

Having turned the corner on our path, we headed back toward the ranch compound and the rig a bit farther on. I had the X-T5 bouncing on my belly and had an eye out for a possible shot. I noticed the interaction of clouds and sky over the river and paused. I set the camera to do an in-camera conversion to a favorite Tri-X film simulation and also set it to emulate a red filter to accentuate the contrast of the sky.

The capture made, we continued our hike back to the rig… and then proceeded home. It was a good day.

Life is good.

Focus

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This young Basque woman was working on a mural over near Smith’s grocery store. After a quick shopping trip inside, I mounted the Fujinon 70-300mm on the X-T5 and walked over to work the scene. Captured with X-T5, 2025-09-18 17:35:05, 198.9mm, 1/300sec, f/8, ISO-2000, Tri-X film simulation via PhotoLab7.

A few evenings ago I drove up to Juan’s Mexican Diner for a taco and a beer. On my way home I remembered I wanted some ranch beans, so I stopped by the Smith’s grocery store on my way home. As I pulled in to the lot, I noticed two artists working on a mural.

My quick shopping stop done, I mounted the Fujinon 70-300mm zoom on my X-T5 and walked over to work the scene. I came away with a few nice captures and will share a few.

I also had a nice visit with this young Basque woman and offered to send a couple of captures.

It was a good day, a good outing, and I am grateful. Life is good.

Frontyard Wildlife

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Headshot of one of the two fawns that appeared in my front yard. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-05 17:31:43, 300mm, 1/450sec, f/8, ISO-4000.

Last week, I think, I stepped out the front door one afternoon for whatever reason. (I do not remember.) I was startled to see two fawns nibbling at the weeds in my front yard. I greeted them, softly, then returned inside to pick up whatever camera was handy.

The Fuji X-T5 and Fujinon 70-300mm zoom were handy. I stepped back out the front door, quietly, and made a few images while they permitted the intrusion.

I win! Life is good.

Coopers Hawk

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This Cooper Hawk few into the trees in front of us, scattering the other birds. It waited patiently for me to make an image. Shot with the Fuji X-T5 and Fujinon 70-300mm f/4-f/5.6 zoom.

The day before yesterday, The Girl chased a black bear that bolted across the trail not ten feet in front of us. It was blasting down the hill and she was off before I could even react. There was no calling her off.

Fortunately, the bear was faster. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard her heavy breathing before I caught sight of her. She was working her way back up the hill, totally gassed.

I gave her time to return to me, then checked her over carefully. I found no wounds, but for a couple of light scratches from bombing the brush.

It was too steep to put out water, so we humped back up the hill to more level terrain. Then, I doffed the pack, retrieved her bowl and water bottle, and gave her as much water as she wanted.

We then proceeded back to the trail and then back to the rig. I took the pace easy and she recovered on the way back.

It was a fright that I did not need. I spent much of the afternoon in a state of mild shock, after thinking it likely that I lost her. We stayed pretty close together the remainder of the day.

The following day, yesterday, I had a full schedule and it was relatively cool. So, we walked the linear parkway not far from my apartment. She was able to run about a bit and sniff plenty. We got in a couple of miles of hiking on the flat.

It was good enough.

Along the way, I saw a bunch of birds scatter from the trees in front of us. I figured a hawk had flow in, looking for lunch. Sure enough, the Coopers Hawk above was perched in the tree. It waited patiently for me to make the capture.

Life is good.

Front Yard Wildlife

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These two little ones appeared in my front yard. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-05 17:31:22, 70mm, 1/105sec, f/8, ISO-800.

Yesterday afternoon I was working on my folding table in the living room and thought I smelled smoke. It being that time of the year, I stepped to the front door to check. What I found was two fawns grazing on the vegetation in my neighbors’ front yard.

I spoke to them softly, then stepped quickly to pick up my Fuji X-T5 and the Fujinon 70-300mm zoom I had affixed to the camera. Then I carefully stepped out the screen door and made a couple of captures, one at 70mm and the other at 300mm (a head shot I will share later).

I think the lens is a keeper. It provides a useful range of focal lengths in a very compact, if a little slow photographically.

Life is good.

First Quarter

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I stepped out the front door and made this capture Saturday evening. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-02 20:51:09, 300mm, 1/500sec, f/5.6, ISO-500.

After a YouTube video by Dan Bailey and a subsequent discussion in the comments for his video, I rented a Fujinon 70-300mm f/4-f/5.6 zoom lens from Lensrentals. It arrived Wednesday, but I have had little downtime this week.

I made a few captures with it and this one of the first quarter Moon pleases me. I shot it handheld and used the Sunny-16 rule to set the exposure manually. Focus was manual as well.

I did a little editing with Photolab 7 after the capture, but not much.

The capture below was made a few days ago (maybe Wednesday evening) on walkies with The Girl. We had a beautiful sunset, so I made this capture.

I think this lens might be a useful addition to my kit. It is much lighter than the 100-400mm and will fit into my regular bag for the X-T5.

While walking Sera one evening, we had enough clouds to have a nice sunset. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-01 20:13:22, 70mm, 1/105sec, f/8, ISO-640.