| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/22/2008 2:57:01 PM | This thread has been created for those interested in photography to discuss techniques, and various interests.
I will start by showing two of my current favourites on my profile, maybe you would like to leave some feed back here on your thoughts. Eg improvement ideas etc. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/23/2008 2:35:07 AM | Focus is slightly out on the butterfly shot (the stick looks great tho) and I would have raised the lens just a little to get the insect in the lower right of grid. (if it was a cut out shot you can still do that). Did you use zoom or macro?
Colored clouds 1: Great shot. The tall tree centres the eye. Great movement in the curve of tree line and clouds, and the contrast/balance is bought with the clouds coming in from the left at that angle. Accenting the left top grid but not drawing the eye. Really really nice shot.
Colored clouds 2: Doesnt do a thing for me. Feels flat and isnt sharp enough. Nothing really draws the eye.
cheers | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/23/2008 5:00:04 AM | Hi Champrins are you refering to the background of the butterfly being out of focus? as this was deliberate for effect. Or maybe you mean the butterfly itself is out of focus? It was hard to catch as when trying to take the picture it kept flying off so was on a wild butterfly chase ha ha.
Yes I agree with the sunsets, have serveral more of the same setting but they are the best two. I will use a tripod the next time as I think I would get a better picture. Are you a bit of a photographer yourself? by the way nice to meet you | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/23/2008 6:25:39 PM | Ah but butterflies cant be chased :)
They run away....
Sit still and quiet
Let the shots come to you
After a while you start to really notice what's already there....
cheers | |
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Naamah
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Joined: 11/22/2007
Msg: 5 | |
| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/23/2008 10:12:17 PM |
Sit still and quiet
Let the shots come to you
After a while you start to really notice what's already there....
A beautiful way to approach life as well. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/23/2008 10:38:24 PM | Ha ha not so sure about that happens with life Naamah, if you sit still and too quiet you get forgotten about, its the squeaky door that gets the oil so they say!
Re the butterfly's yes you are correct there, however on the day time was an issue and was not on my own. I have some great shots of birds using that technique burried somewhere in the piles. I am so glad for Digital as now can stack em in the computer in files and easier to find, well sort of ha.
I am looking to buy a Digital SLR that will make things a bit easier as well, any suggestions on brands etc ? Champrins what are you using and why or anyone for that matter | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/24/2008 12:40:13 AM | The smile in the self portrait looks strained.
If you have a good smile then close your eyes for a few seconds, open them, smile quickly and pop!
If you look daggy in a full smile then its not essential to a good portrait. Plenty of people look fine with just the calm serene expression.
It isn't just the butterfly. None of the pics are razor sharp but it just shows a little morre on the butterfly. I'd guess that the camera is a little on the cheap side and it trying to do a little too much. All things considered, from macro to wide angle it's making a pretty good effort. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/25/2008 4:03:53 PM | | Canon has the advantage of you being able to use FD lenses from the pre-digital age. Also with the 400D hitting the market it was probably the first digital SLR to come in under the $1000 mark with a starter-kit lens. If you want to go for something more in the pro-sumer range go for the 40D, a very nice camera. P.S. I'm not a Canon rep! They make (in my opinion) really shitty printers. I stupidly, after having once bought that piece of shite BJC7100 inkjet that cost me more in ink refills than it would have if I go professional processing, 10 years later bought a 3 in one Canon laser, fax, scanner, and guess what..problems, problems! Cameras yes, printers no. HP lasers rule! I use them at work and I still have my workhorse HP1200, best damn piece of office machinery I've used. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/25/2008 7:57:19 PM | | Update: Thankyou wanelad2 for inspiring me; since my last post I forked out $1100 for a 400D (with the 2 lens kit and 2gb memory tossed in) from The Good Guys. Will give some more feedback after I've played with it! | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 3:21:59 AM | I'm wondering what the advantage is of having a digital/slr camera? Pedro, I will be updating my camera soon & would be interested to hear your review of the Canon400D, particularly close up shots, about 20cm's.
Wanelad, I liked the butterfly shot, I thought it showed great balance. The sunsets I didn't care for at all. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 3:28:57 AM | avocado - if you're looking to do macros (close ups) it's not the camera - it's the lens you have to think about.
I use a 400d - have good results from it - but all of the entry level dslrs are about the same quality, it's finding the right "feel" for you. It's the lenses that really make a difference. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 3:34:11 AM | This may sound like a stupid question, but with al the software available now, is it really imortant to have great equipment when it can be touched up so well.
It may sound like a dumb question, but I'm just curious | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 3:58:53 AM |
avocado - if you're looking to do macros (close ups) it's not the camera - it's the lens you have to think about. Thanks CC, I kinda thought as much, but just want a camera that does close ups without the added expense. I've seen some results, from some new & expensive cameras, that are less than desirable, from that distance.
is it really imortant to have great equipment I would say it s very important, just look at some of the cam shots that people have up for their profile pic's, no amount of photohopping can make them look any better, as in regards to quality, you're only as good as your weakest link. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 4:55:34 AM | Brizguy
Yeah, it's important to have the right equipment. First of all "all that software" is not all that easy to use, or at least to use well. Second, there's no software in the world that can "fix" a bad photo.
Avocado, you may find the worst thing about the 400d is the size - a lot of men complain that it's too small for their hands. (adding the battery pack makes it bigger and more comfortable I'm told). Go to a camera shop and hold different cameras, see how you feel. You might even be happy with one of the more sophisticated point and shoot cameras. Still - it's the lens that's important. Look for "macro" capability. And optical zoom if a point and shoot - digital zoom is crap.
Plus... keep in mind - it might not be the camera - it's the photographer in a lot of cases. Just because you spend a lot on a camera (or software) it doesn't mean that you'll end up with good images.
www.dpreview.com is a good site for camera reviews. If you're interested in seeing what I produce with the 400d email me, I'll send you a link to my website. Won't put it here, or I'll be accused of spamming, lol. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 5:02:40 AM | Thanks CC....We paid a guy to come in and take a bunch of product pics, and now we're learning the software so we can trim them and give them a white background so it looks like product sitting in mid air on our new website.
Thanks...Was just curious | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 5:05:45 AM | hehe - you should have flown me up there to do it :P Actually, you should have just gotten me when I was up there for 10 days, lol.
Cropping and changing a background is not the same as "fixing" a bad photo. If the photo isn't in focus, badly underexposed, improper depth of field, etc, there's nothing you can do with software to fix it. I'm surprised the person you hired didn't shoot them in a light box to eliminate the need for so much fixing... again, a lot of the time, it's not the camera - it's the person weilding it. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/26/2008 5:38:44 PM | Photography -Thank You all for the great info on this topic..
I love taking landscapes and macros on my travels out.. I have a Kodak that
I am using at this stage and was looking to buy a new one. Canon..
But which one. ? and reading your data I think that the 400d might be the option
as I have smaller hands and want something easy to handle. I was looking at a couple of others , one being the A65015 .
I do scrapbooking and make albums with my photos and also do my own photos
having a program and a HP photosmart. C7180 All in One.. Printer Fax Scanner Copier. All I need is the new camera.
So I will be watching for the info on the 400D .. Thanks. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/27/2008 12:12:35 AM | Read read read....
Set your budget, see what fits into that price range, then go to a real camera shop and actually hold the models you're thinking of. They'll understand the need :) Play with the buttons, see how they feel, change lenses, etc.
Don't be dazzled by a sales pitch, and don't be afraid to walk away and think about it. (and check for prices on shopbot.com.au) Avoid grey market cameras though - you could end up with warranty hassles. Unless you're willing to take the chance, in which case you could get a great price.
There's a lot more to think about than the initial purchase.. accessories, lenses, bag(s), etc etc. A dslr is a serious investment - make sure you know you really want one. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/27/2008 12:30:49 AM | I have always wanted to know how come some people just look great in photos no matter what and other people are really hated by the camera.
Why is this so? (said in my best Prof Julius Sumner Miller voice!) | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/27/2008 12:56:07 AM | CC, he did have a light tent with lights that had all sorts of controls on them. The pics were good, but we are just trimming them. We've also taken some shots that need a bit of trimming and we're learning to do that.
Another thing we are doing is making a pic from several pics. For example, a kit might have 3 or 4 of a certain component but we just have the one shot, but the final pic has several.
Another thing for example was we placed a component on an engine to get a "fitted" pic, but the engine had a hole in it where a conrod came out while racing. This was brushed in and now you'd never know!!!!...some of the tools are awesome.
And because we are using them on the net, they look fine.
We have to be careful doing this as it can look fake, so we're learning as we go.
I know it sn't true photography, but it's still working with pics.
I'm trying to stay away from it....lol...I'm much better designing and writing programs than working with pics. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/27/2008 5:45:58 AM | Hi again all some great posts in there; Cuddly, I would like to see your site could you send me the link? Thanks in Advance
Pedro - youve had that camera a few days now how is it going ha ha come on where all waiting now! I am soon to purchase a decent one myself as only using a Cannon Power Shot A95 a present just a toy really compared to whats available, but still have enjoyed it.
Avo - some of the advantages of the SLR is being able to change the lense and what you see is what you get, non SLR's you can sometimes chop bits out when not concentrating.
Briz - i use photo shop a bit as well, however it is not always that easy to repair a photo or improve and is often noticable. Do love playing around in there though!
Hilly - I think half the time some people are un photogenic is because they do not give much consideration to posture, preperation etc as I bet a professional could obtain a great shot. I was reading an article the other day and by just changing the posture of the persons shoulders can improve a shot (eg not square, rather have one side higher than the other), maybe face side on, the smile some smile to hard others not enough. Peep from behind a tree or something creative, I have seen some pretty ordinary people come out looking good. Experimentation and being creative and not just going for the ordinary stand and pose. | |
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Naamah
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Joined: 11/22/2007
Msg: 23 | |
| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/27/2008 6:23:56 AM |
Peep from behind a tree
... I find standing behind the tree and not peeping out always drastically improves pics of me....zooming right out...a soft focus lens or just ensuring the focus is right out of whack...or simply leaving the lens cap on. All of these tips and tricks are most effective. | |
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pedro!
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Joined: 9/22/2007
Msg: 24 | |
| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/27/2008 7:24:30 AM | | OK, update time...consider that it's been a decade since I was splashing around in the darkroom, dodging and burning for that one 11x14 B&W money-shot and producing my own Kodak E6 slides (Even with today's DLP video projectors I think the most basic slide projector and a roll of Ektachrome - or Kodakchrome if you're really lazy - has the edge - amazing colours). Otherwise though I feel that, dollar for dollar, the digital thing has well and truly surpassed those halcyon days of bulk-loading and contact sheets. Just using the point and squirt settings on the 400D I'm getting images that are very impressive - the metering is extra-ordinary, flash especially good. The integrated software is certainly a lazy person's delight, but yes cuddlycannuck, you're dead right, the lenses are where it's won and lost. I can't get over how nasty the action is on the standard 75-300 zoom, talk about cheap and nasty! Not even on-par with the old FD range of Canon output. Optics seem to be sufficient though. I'm interested to see what Tokina has on offer (are they still a good cost effective after-market lens?). Having not played with the Nikon offerings I can't make any comparison, but so far the bang-for-buck on the Canon is certainly there. | |
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| Photography - those interested in this topic
Posted: 1/27/2008 2:19:49 PM | | I bit the bullet not so long back and got a canon 400d from the good guys even got a better price than photo continental. Up until then I had a minolta 7000 slr all ways been a film man and never liked the idea of digital. Well now I’m converted and have seen the light and has reinvigorated my hobby again. All I can say is get as much pixels for your dollar as you can and find some more cash you don’t have because its worth it. Think about the money you save on film and developing helps. I got a shot of a green and gold bug the other day that was about 5mm long on a stem of a leaf. I got the shot with the 18-55mm lens that came with the camera. I let the camera get as close as the auto focus would let me and push the button. The shot was nothing but ordinary when I viewed it on the little screen at the back. When I got home and down load it to the white boxy thing and started to muck about. In the end all I did was crop the pic. Now have a 6x8 framed and hanging on the wall. The detail still gets me as I can see the hairs of the plant on the stem and to my surprise the bug was guarding eggs that I never saw when I took the pic. Trust me I have a crap computer, printer and only used the soft wear that came with the camera and still marvel at that pic every time I see it. All I can say is pixel, pixel and more pixel and to all my ex-girlfriends out there that said I had a small ……..well you know there is a photograph in the mail as we speak. As for old faith full mr 7000 now takes pride of place in my camera collection. | |
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