Tag Archives: Nikon

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. L-R, Judge STEVE LAMPASONA and First Place winner JAN GUARINO are flanking her watercolor at The Art Guild reception for its Figuratively Speaking exhibition. (photo © 2022 Ann Parry, FromLongIsland.com)

T.A.G. You’re It! – Nikon Z9

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
March 25, 2022

Figuratively SpeakingThe Art Guild
Exhibit: March. 13 – April 2, 2022
200 Port Washington Blvd., Manhasset

The Art Guild’s Figuratively Speaking Reception

I went to The Art Guild’s Figuratively Speaking reception with my Nikon Z9 and BOB STUHMER, who had his colorful “Jack and The Beanstalk Giant” illustration in the exhibit:

“The Art Guild

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. BOB STUHMER poses next to his illustration “Jack and the Beanstalk Giant” at the The Art Guild reception for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

The reception was days after my Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera arrived – 4 months after I ordered it!

I used the only native Z lens I had at that point – the macro Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens.

Though a brilliant prime lens for capturing portraits, the 105mm is hilariously ill-suited as a solo pro lens for capturing events. That’s why I used my iPhone 13 Pro to capture the group photo near the start of this post. I would have had to back up into the next room to capture it with the 105mm lens.

But I was more interested in getting used to the new lens than the new Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II that makes it possible to use my array of F-mount lenses on the Z series camera.

It was a fun challenge.

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. Judge STEVE LAMPASONA and winners, L-R, MELISSA MORA - Honorable Mention, MICHELE GARFIELD - 3rd Place winner, JAN GUARINO - First Place, ALICE RIORDAN - Honorable Mention, KAY VICKERS - 2nd Place, and JUDY VINE - Honorable Mention, pose during Reception for The Art Guild's Figuratively Speaking Exhibit at Elderfields.

Manhasset, NY, U.S. March 13, 2022.  The Art Guild’s Figuratively Speaking reception:

(above photo) At center, Juror of Awards STEVE LAMPASONA, & winners (L-R) • MELISSA MORA, Honorable Mention • MICHELE GARFIELD, Third Place • JAN GUARINO, 1st Place • ALICE RIORDAN, Honorable Mention • KAY VICKERS, 2nd Place • & JUDY VINE, Honorable Mention • pose at The Art Guild’s Reception for Figuratively Speaking Exhibit. (iPhone 13 Pro)

Here’s a portrait of First Place winner JAN GUARINO. The JPG is straight from the memory card:

““The

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. First Place winner JAN GUARINO attends The Art Guild’s reception and awards ceremony for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Here’s another portrait of Jan Guarino. I used Nik’s Silver Efex Pro 3 to process the raw file:

““The

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. First Place winner JAN GUARINO attends The Art Guild’s reception and awards ceremony for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Here’s a portrait of LUCAS VICKERS with his wife. I used Nik’s Viveza to slightly adjust the JPG.

““The

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. LUCAS VICKERS and his wife, of Astoria, attend The Art Guild’s reception and awards ceremony for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. His mother KAY VICKERS won Second Place for her pastel “Union Square” of Lucas. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

KAY VICKERS‘ “Union Square” – a pastel portrait of her son Lucas (see above photo) – won Second Place:

““The

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. KAY VICKERS won Second Place for her pastel “Union Square” of her son, at The Art Guild’s reception and awards ceremony for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

I captured this portrait of a cheerful visitor during the awards presentation, but later on I couldn’t find her or anyone who knew her. Woman of Mystery:

““The

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. T.A.G. painting instructor JOAN STEVENS smiles during The Art Guild awards ceremony for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Here’s STEVE LAMPASONA, the Juror of Awards:

““The

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. STEVE LAMPASONA, the Juror of Awards of The Art Guild’s Figuratively Speaking contest, participates at its reception and awards ceremony. at Elderfields Preserve. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Steve Lampasona has his silver point and graphite portrait “Rén with the Mane” on display at the Figuratively Speaking exhibit:

““The

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. Juror of Awards Steve Lampasona has his silver point and graphite portrait ‘Ren with the Mane’ on display at The Art Guild reception and awards ceremony for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Here’s a portrait I captured of a young woman as she and her companion chatted with Lampasona at the exhibit:

““TAG

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. A young woman listens to the juror of Awards during the Art Guild reception for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Here’s the same above photo processed differently:

““TAG

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. A young woman listens to the Juror of Awards during the Art Guild reception for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

MELISSA MORA won an Honorable Mention for her printmaking Chine-collé “Don’t Let It Enter (1/4).” RAPHAEL, almost two years old, and his mom were two of her family members who attended the reception:

“The Art Guild

Manhasset, New York, U.S. March 13, 2022. RAPHAEL, almost two-years-old, and his mother, whose sister Melissa Mora won an Honorable Mention, attend the The Art Guild reception for its Figuratively Speaking exhibit. (© 2022 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Some who helped make event happen:
SHELLEY HOLTZMAN, Co-President T.A.G.
LISA GROSSMAN, Executive Director T.A.G.
SONA HYDE Gallery Manager T.A.G.


Photo processing software

DxO PureRaw 2 covers the Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 lens combo, so I used it to process the raw files before working further on them in any other software, such as PhotoshopOn1 Portrait AI – and, from the Nik Collection: Silver Efex Pro 3 and Viveza.

NOTE: LINKS to others’ products & sites are for readers’ convenience only.


FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post): Manhasset, N.Y, U.S. March 13, 2022. L-R, Judge STEVE LAMPASONA and First Place winner JAN GUARINO flank her watercolor at The Art Guild reception for its Figuratively Speaking exhibition.


T.A.G. Reception: my Photo Gallery

The Art Guild:  theartguild.org

Michele Garfield: michelegarfield.com

Jan Guarino: janguarinofineart.com

Steve Lampasona: lampasona.com

Bob Stuhmer: bobstuhmer.com

Judy Vine: instagram.com/judy.vine/

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Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Scene of split rail wood fence and beyond at Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view, 3 digital versions.

180° Fisheye View: Mill Pond Park

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
February 24, 2019

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. During snowfall, 2 swans and some mallards swim in Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. During snowfall, 2 swans swim in Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

When it started snowing Wednesday, I decided to go to a local park to test my new Nikon fisheye lens* that arrived a few days earlier. 

I’d capture 180-degree fisheye, 31-degree Fahrenheit landscapes.

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Split rail wood fence and beyond at Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Split rail wood fence and beyond at Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Eisenhower Park, in East Meadow, with its beautiful lake and Veterans Memorial area, was too far from the pet supply store also on my itinerary, so I went south to Norman J Levy Park, in Merrick, where I found a “Park Closed Due to Weather” sign on the entrance gate. 

So I headed east to Wantagh and parked along Merrick Road near the wood gazebo at the gate-less south border of Mill Pond Park.

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Snow falls at Mill Pond Park, with partly shoveled path leading to wood gazebo on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Snow falls at Mill Pond Park, with partly shoveled path leading to wood gazebo on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Slowly, I walked on the partly cleared path, passed the wood gazebo, and very slowly approached the snowy shore, with a pair of swans swimming nearby and a small flock of mallards further out.

*Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED Lens


  • fisheye lens set at 170-degrees – cropped series, swan in pond:

3 views of swan looking around on pond during snowfall at Mill Pond Park, Wantagh, NY, Feb. 20, 2019.


180-Degree (Fisheye Lens – Nature):  my Photo GALLERY

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TMB Model Train Club’s O-mazing Open House

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
November 30, 2016

Where can you see a three-ring circus, NYC subway line, and real prop used in a mob hit scene on The Sopranos?  At the Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club HQ in Long Island!

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. An Amtrak model train speeds through a tunnel at the Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club's Open House. Visitors enjoy a 4000 square foot O Gauge model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track and an underground subway system. Watching O Scale model trains traveling on tracks through various elaborate scenes was family fun, free and open to the public, during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. An Amtrak model train speeds through a tunnel at TMB Model Train Club’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Last Saturday, during the long Thanksgiving Weekend, I spent a couple of hours that sped by all too quickly at TMB’s Open House, which was free and open to the public, as all their Open Houses are.

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. BAKE TURNER, of Melville, holds a blue Electromotivee Division EMD model train engine at the Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club's Open House. Visitors enjoyed a 4000 square foot O Gauge model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track and an underground subway system. Watching O Scale model trains traveling on tracks through various elaborate scenes was family fun, free and open to the public, during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Nov. 26, 2016. TMB club member BAKE TURNER, of Melville, holds a blue Electromotive Division EMD model train engine at the Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

BAKE TURNER, a TMB Model Train Club Board Member, told me how the club – which is a Lionel Ambassador for 2016-17 – moved from Lindenhurst to their Farmingdale location four years ago, and they’re still expanding the elaborate O-Scale layouts, including developing one vertically up a wall!

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. Tiny high wire aerialist model figure, about two inches tall, is part of the circus scene display at Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club's Open House. Visitors enjoy a 4000 square foot O Gauge model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track and an underground subway system. The free and open to public event was family fun during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Nov. 26, 2016. Tiny tightrope walker model figure, about two inches tall, is in circus scene display at Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Young children perched on parents’ shoulders; adults bent down to inspect the subway line; and lots of arms, short and long, pointed to trains whizzing around the 19 scale miles of track winding through fantastically detailed landscapes, towns, tall cityscapes….

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. At TMB Train Masters of Babylong Model Train Club's Open House, visitors look at actual train display - complete with blood stains - seen in'The Blue Comet' episode of'The Sopranos'. Photo above layout is scene with character Bobby Baccalieri at L.I. model train store. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. At TMB Model Train Club’s Open House, visitors look at actual train display seen in ‘The Blue Comet’ episode of HBO’s ‘The Sopranos.’  (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And then there’s the club’s star attraction: the actual train layout featured in “The Blue Comet” episode of The Sopranos HBO television series. It wasn’t until shortly after my visit I realized the layout was complete with “blood stains” from Bobby Bacala’s execution, so I want to return to the scene of that crime during a future Open House.


UPDATE January 2019

In the Jan. 2019 issue of Model Rail, the UK model train magazine, editor Richard Foster writes that The Blue Comet episode of HBO’s The Sopranos is his favorite TV episode featuring a model train.

Along with info about the episode and TMB Model Train Club, Foster’s “Backscene” article (page 146) includes one of my news photos of the actual TV prop on display during TMB’s Open House.

The Model Rail  January 2019 digital back issue is currently available for purchase at the PocketMags site (which I have NO relationship with).


TMB Open House:  PHOTO GALLERY 

Train Masters of Babylon: TMB site  |  2016-17 Lionel Ambassadors

Feb. 28, 2018 blog post: “TMB Model Train Club: Big Room with Big (and Small) Views

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