Tina hosts this weeks ‘looking back’ challenge – Shapes and Designs. You can read her original challenge post here
Continue readingLens-Artists Challenge #383 – Looking Back to #174 – Shapes and Designs
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Tag Archives: photography
International Lego Day – 28/01/26
Yesterday, 28th January, was ‘International Lego Day’. I didn’t know, or realise, this until late in the day when I saw a related Lego post on Flickr. So, although I started writing my article yesterday I’m a day late posting as I didn’t have my Lego images available to upload.
Continue readingLens Artists Photo Challenge #382 – Rejected
Egidio has set this weeks challenge. He asks us to find a few rejected photos. Images that didn’t make the cut for some reason and see if we could fix them using photo editing software. You can find Egidio’s original post here.
Continue readingPhotography – Nikon NIKKOR-S.C Auto 50mm f1.4
I bought, yet another, vintage lens from Ebay last week. I’d read a favourable review of the Nikon NIKKOR-S.C Auto 50mm f1.4, a 1970’s classic and decided I’d like one. It’s still widely available and I bought a copy, in mint condition, for £100. I’ve never owned, or used, a Nikon lens before but I’m suitably impressed. The build quality is superb and it’s a dream to use.
Continue readingLens Artists Photo Challenge #381- Minimalism in B&W Photography
Ritva has set this weeks challenge – Minimalism in Black & White Photography. You can read Ritva’s original challenge post here. It’s a great theme for a challenge and one of those that makes you think about your own photography. I’ll confess that I never shoot in black and white or even with a black and white image in mind.
Continue readingLens Artists Challenge #380: What’s Around the Corner
Well this is really spooky. This week Anne challenges us to post images from photo opportunities we’ve stumbled across on one particular walk. I’ve done exactly that today, before I knew what was coming with this weeks challenge! Here’s the story of that walk.
Continue readingLens-Artists Challenge #379 – Favourite Images of 2025
The Lens Artist Team are asking followers to select their favorite images of 2025 – whether they’ve been included in previous posts or not.
So, I’ve organised a few of this years images into these categories.
Continue readingPhotography – New Vintage Lens Additions
Following on from the success and enjoyment I had using my vintage lenses in Marrakesh (blogged here) I decided to invest in a few more old lenses. I’ve spent hours researching on YouTube channels, blogs and Flickr and came up with a short list of lenses that might compliment those I already owned.
Continue readingPhotography – Converting Kodachrome film slides
I sadly lost my mum on November 1st this year (I lost my dad sixteen years ago). She was 90yrs old and had been diagnosed with a lymphatic cancer. The cancer didn’t help but her death certificate states she died from frailty and old age. She didn’t suffer, she wasn’t on any medication at all, and spent her last few weeks, quite content, in a local care home following a fall at home.
Continue readingVintage Lenses – Auto Takumar 50mm F1.4 (8 Element Version)
I’ve been shooting on and off with vintage lenses for a couple of years now. I always enjoyed using them but I didn’t really stick with it. I think it’s probably because I was prioritising shooting stock images, which need to be tack sharp. To that end using my modern Fujifilm lenses, with auto focus and coatings that have superb flare and glare control made more sense. There’s more on my drift into using vintage lenses in a previous blog – Vintage lenses and Flickr
So, since finding a new groove with these old lenses I decided to invest in some well regarded classics. I already own a superb an Auto Takumar 35mm f2.3 so I decided to buy another Auto Takumar, the 50mm f1.4. I sought out the early version of this classic which has eight elements and none of the flare control coatings the later lenses came with. I bought the lens on Ebay for £214. Much more expensive than any of my other vintage lenses but it’s been a superb investment.
I’m still getting to know the new lens. I used it on a recent trip to Marrakesh but, whilst we were there I made use of the photo opportunities to try out my other vintage lenses, so it didn’t get as much use as it should have done. I have a couple of other 50mm vintage lenses but this Takumar is proving to be a favourite amongst those.
The 50mm Auto Takumar is not quite my overall favourite vintage lens because the Takumar 35mm f2.3 is awesome and a more useful focal length on my crop sensor X-T5. Also, after much research, I have just bought a vintage Canon FD 55mm f1.2 which should prove strong competition for the Takumar. They all bring something different though and I’m hoping they’ll compliment each other and add another dimension to my images.
All images: ©Stephen Hyde 2007-2025 – All rights reserved.
Steve Hyde 