Bruce, You and J.Tainter both an excellent point with the following:
> Based on the scarcity of this > lens, I wonder if Pentax Colorado would have > any front elements available? I guess I didn't even think about that. We'll see. > So here is a big question - If you had put a > UV/protective filter over the lens, do you think that > it would have saved the front element Oh, certainly! I know it would have. And yes, I know that such filters are a whole lot less expensive than new lenses (or front elements). So, yep, get in line and you can kick me in the butt right after I kick myself first. Whats worse, is that simply using the hood would have avoided this accident... but here's the thing: I don't know if it's just my sample or not, but the hood to the DA 16-45mm simply will not STAY ON. I swear, the diameter of the threads on the hood seem to be just a hair or two larger than those in the lens. If I put the two together, the doggone thing will quite literary come aloose if I shake the lens for 5 seconds. So instead of the hood being on my lens (where it wound consequently end up on the forest floor in 10 minutes of hiking or less)... it's probable somewhere at home, under my bed perhaps... snickering at me and my cracked lens. Oh well. Anyhow, > The shots look marvelous - you are pretty close. Thanks... and I appreciate the pretty close comment. And, in all honesty, that's been the frustrating part. I feel as if I've been stuck in the same place (the same rung on the photo ladder) for a very long time. I'm starting to think that I won't be able to reach that next rung without some help. Photo class? seminar? Another hike to a mountain top with Mark Roberts? Or just taking more photos, and more photos, and more... I haven't a clue where it'll come from... but I often feel like I've leveled out, and (quite honestly) it stinks since I'm nowhere near as decent as I'd like to be with this photo stuff. I know that Mark Cassino (who I always credit with getting me started down this slippery slope) has spent a decent amount of time in photo classes and the sorts despite what I consider his elevated status as a worthy photog... and he has mentioned on numerous occasions of how worthwhile such experiences continue to be for him. And so, I'm thinking the same. <shrug> we'll see. But in the meantime... that "next step up" continues to elude me. > Herb talks about sandwiching exposures together to > get a larger range. <snip> once darker and once > lighter. <snip> Then blending them together.I have just > begun to play with that concept. I've actually tried that before. Both of the following photos are a product if such tactics: (especially the second). http://exposedfilm.net/jonesrun016.htm http://exposedfilm.net/doyle005.htm ... but to have to do that each time... I couldn't imagine. But again, I'm struggling as to what else I can do ~in camera~ to solve such issues. > Perhaps Herb will chime in with more details on how he does it. I'd be quite curious! Thanks again for your comments, Bruce. - jerome _____________________________ Jerome D. Coombs-Reyes, Ph.D. Norfolk State University, Math Dept. http://exposedfilm.net
