Author Archives: unconventionaltravel.com

Shooting some ice with the Nikon D40 at Lilly Bluff Trails, TN.

Leave a Reply

My equipment for the day was the Nikon D40 and the Nikon 18-55mm VR lens. Now in a previous article I wrote my distain for the Nikon 18-55mm VR lens. But my back/spine has a different opinion and sometimes that opinion decides what camera and lens goes on the hike.

So I park my truck and put on my early winter hat. Check my gear for a slow two hour hike. The first place I go is a short walk to a very nice deck overlooking Obed River. The river is moving fast this time of year!

Then I proceeded to walk down a trail toward the bridge that crosses the Obed river. Sometimes you can catch some folks in kayaks running the rapids.

So maybe my opinion of the Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX is a little better this time around. Now you are not going to get the colors of these photos, unless you play with the saturation and white balance in post-editing! This is a cheap lens for under 50 bucks these days and just a beater to tramp around the woods with. Have fun and don’t sweat the small stuff!!!

The biggest hazard with ice is getting cracked on the head, when the temperature starts heating up.

Check that tree above! Hanging over the lip of the cliff!

Proceeding down the mountain you come across an area that is popular with rock climbers.

Get smacked on the head with a big ice rock and you die in heaven!

Experience the Obed in Tennessee! Smell you later!!!

Nikon D70, Nikon 70-210mm f/4-5.6 and Sandhill Cranes.

Leave a Reply

I took a day trip to the Hiwassee wildlife refuge in Tennessee. My camera gear was the Nikon D70, Nikon 70-210mm f/4-5.6 and a tripod.

I read about the sandhill cranes at the Hiwassee wildlife refuge. Apple maps got me in the vicinity and then I spotted a boat ramp from afar. There were some observation decks to overlook the broken bottles, trash and sandhill cranes. I must admit I was embarrassed for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. How about get off your lazy ass and clean the dump up? Probably working from home? Plus some lady had her dog unleashed chasing the sandhill cranes. Nice. She drove a white Subaru and I left a note on her windshield. Drop me a message!

This tire was taken with the Nikon D700 and the Nikon 70-210mm f/4-5.6

The old Buddha proverb that says, ” the best camera is the one you have.” So I was kinda impressed when I looked at the photos on my computer and even had one printed out poster size (20″x30″) and hanging on my wall now.

Probably my biggest complaint about the Nikon D70 is the small lcd screen, which makes it hard to see if the exposure is correct. But the white balance is pretty damn good where you don’t have to adjust it. So you take your chances with gut instinct and experience, like the old film days. Is it okay to complain about a camera that was introduced in 2004?

I probably have less than 100 dollars in this old kit. Fun.

Now do i wish they all could be California girls? Yes! Do I lust to be able to zoom-in with built in stabilization on a 15 thousand dollar lens? Yes! Plus the latest Nikon camera, kevlar kayak and a white Subaru? Yes!

Which brings me to that song:

Well, East Coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I’m down there
The Midwest farmer’s daughters
Really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night….

My first winter snow with the Nikon D700

Leave a Reply

I’ve been using my Nikon D40 a lot for hiking and to take the Nikon D700 out for a winter day was refreshing. The handling of the Nikon D700 felt professional and snappy. Armed with the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D lens, the weight is manageable on a 3 mile hike.

There is a family of beavers that live on the lake. Where their den is I don’t know. But they are busy beavers!

This old swing bridge is reaching the end of the line in safety. It takes a beating with the tourist jumping up and down on it. The bridge creaks and the space between the boards reveal the icy water below.

The paddle boats take a break after a hot summer. Moored in ice alone. The summer geese having flown south.

Nikon D40 and the Nikon 18-55mm VR.

Leave a Reply


So I was walking through the woods and this lady smacks her head on the biggest rock on the trail. Forehead split open. The family is wearing pajamas (crack heads?) — not sure. The temperature outside is like 29 degrees. Call 911 and take short cut through woods to road. Run for help at road. Cabin with car. No one is home. Go back. EMS shows up. Mission accomplished. No picture. It was personal and bloody.

But before the accident I took the pictures below. I adjusted the saturation and white balance in Apple photos.

The Nikon 18-55mm VR pretty much is a disappointment, but if you are desperate in 2025, it could be an option. I bought it for the wide range reach? Under 50 bucks, who gives a darn if it works? You will, trust me! Took some shots on a few hikes. I’d say stick with the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX (really the best lens for Nikon DX.)


Yeah, go old school DSLR full frame and hump that heavy gear!!!

Now if you have some good light, you can get some good shots. But on cloudy days I would not waste my time. Remember I was using the Nikon D40. Results would be different on a Nikon D7100, since you can shoot at a higher ISO.