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Since the last post, the D600 was returned from Nikon with a new shutter and firmware and I needed to check it out. But outside it’s cold, wind and rain mixed with snow and generally not pleasant. The tulips on the table are looking pretty good to me now. There is a nice soft light from the south window and it falls nicely on the tulips. All shots taken with the D600 and macro lens. The shots had 50mm of extension tubes added. These shots turned out to be more experimental than I had planned as all of my default settings were gone, replaced by the new software Nikon installed. Of course, I did not have a list on my default settings so I had to play around with the camera more than I like to. But at least it’s warm and dry inside.
By the way, the tests showed no sign of the persistent sensor spots I had seen before I sent the camera in for repair. Essentially, it’s a new camera. Actually, better than new.
Click on any image to enter the gallery.
2clicksaway 
Nice photos. Glad you have the camera back. Bummer about the settings.
Thanks, E. I worked on it this weekend and the only thing left to do are the two user definrd settings I had made that are now gone. One was for flash use and one for macro.
Excellent.
Thanks, Rabirus.
I’m happy for you, Ken.
Not for the weather, but for the camera.
And fantastic images… almost erotic. (Sorry…) But they are. 🙂
Beautiful colours – and I really like the two in b&w.
Thanks, Malin. Erotic? This is a PG rated blog!
😉
Edward Weston’s photographs of peppers are often seen as erotic.
Weston’s photography was an early influence for me and I still love his work.
It’s been a while since my last visit. Nice to hear you’ve bought another Nikon, despite the obvious problems you were having and getting it fixed. I like the tone in these images and the detail, but, I must say, those raindrops look like they’ve been added in Photoshop…a lot of work I know…maybe I’m just being a tad skeptical (they look too neat and tidy, no drops running or dew-furrows…you know….)!
I’d like to see some more closeups as these are very good.
Thanks, Janina. My Photoshop skills are not that good. When I water flowers I not only add water to the vase but I also spray a fine mist from a bottle onto the petals. That’s makes these fine water drops.
I actually did not buy another camera. My D600 was recalled by Nikon, which was out of warranty, and they replaced the shutter,the alleged cause of the sensor spot problem. They were nice to do that.
The water spray…yes, I guess you were very quick in capturing it all. Still love the photos and the tone…beautiful!
Just goes to show, I know nothing about you and your camera gear, except for the D80! LOL. 😉 Anyway, glad to hear everything’s fixed now and you can continue to produce wonderful photos like these.
These are superb, Ken. Hope the camera is finally sorted. I’ve read quite a lot about the dirty sensor problems with the D600 recently.
Thanks, Andy. The camera seems fine on the initial test. We’ll see how it performs over the long run.
Very nice series, Ken. It must be a lot of work to get all those water drops on and off the flowers. 🙂
I don’t bother much with custom camera settings, as it seems like I’m always changing them anyway. Although the default settings on some of the newer cameras really require that you at least look at them.
The camera seems to be working just fine!
Thanks, Tom. I liked the idea of the custom settings for situations I don’t use much, like flash photography. The macro setting was there just to practice using the user settings. And yes, the water droplets were a lot of work.
Sorry to hear you’ve still got cold weather. Austin has been overcast four days in a row but at least the afternoon temperature is in the 70s and 80s, and many kinds of wildflowers are out.
We are now getting temperatures in the upper 30s and low 40s now. The snow is melting but we still have plenty of it around. If we get a few 50 degree days it’ll be all gone.
Glad you’ve gotten your camera back, Ken. These shots look fantastic. Hopefully, the weather turns more toward Spring for you soon so you can get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
Thanks, Jimi. I’m looking forward to being outdoors more in the coming weeks
These are beautiful shots, and I agree with Malin’s comment that they have a certain eroticism to them.
Thanks, Mel. Maybe I’m just looking at them the wrong way!
They have a certain…shall say…Georgia O’Keeffe-ness about them.
So . . . The birds and the bees . . . and the wet tulips?
I also notice no one is specifically describing what makes them erotic. I would set my puny cognitive abilities to the task, but I am afraid of what I might conjure up.
Thid might be a new direction for my photography-erotic flowers and cement.
I foresee flocks of followers flooding in . . . and I venture money can be made from it.
I’m glad your D600 came back without sensor dust. Wish I could say the same for mine. It’s way way better, but as soon as I got it back, I took a photo of the sky and still see five spots. Trying to decide what to do. Hate to be without the camera again.
The 600 seems prone to sensor spots. I had the D80 for 6 years and never had the problem. I bought the 600 at a local store and the offer free cleaning forever. They do a better job than I am able to,too.
Ken, I had to go through that same process of remembering what I had and hadn’t set before on my D600 and getting the U1 and U2 back the way I had it. I, like you, didn’t have sensor spots on my D600 when returned. I hate Linda (above comment) is facing spots on her repaired D600 and I hope Nikon “really” fixed these recalled cameras.
Also…lovely photos! 🙂
The spot problem bewildered me on the 600 because I seldom changed lenses and when I did I was very careful. It’s a technique I learned with the D80 which never had the problem in the 6 years. I hope the new shutter eliminates the problem as it was the only thing that annoyed me with it. Time will tell but I won’t hesitate to tell Nikon if the problem persists.
beautiful photos … and, hopefully the ‘spot’ issue is resolved …
and, again, love the photos! all very Georgia O’Keefe….
Thanks, John. O’Keefe is a favorite of mine, so that’s quite a compliment.
Lovely photos, Ken. I, of course, didn’t have trouble with a D600, because I don’t own one! 😀 Lovely shots and that’s some great light coming in from that window!
Thanks, Paul. I love the D600 and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend one in spite of the problem. I think Nikon’s solution was admirable and I think they’ll stand by the repair.
Ooooh! Vulvas! 😀