Quote :

"I want a nice ND filter, but they're expensive. At least for good ones."

Quote :

"I, too, want some nice ND filters. But alas, the price tag is a bit steep."

They're not expensive at the thrift store.

Actually, I'm sure this isn't a "nice" one, but it'll be cool to play with nonetheless. Is there an easy way to adapt a filter to a lens that is smaller than the filter or should I just apply a couple pieces of duct tape.

11/19/2010 11:15:11 PM

Get a step down ring, they are cheap.

[Edited on November 19, 2010 at 11:29 PM. Reason : J]

11/19/2010 11:28:39 PM

Quote :

"Get a step down ring, they are cheap."

11/20/2010 2:19:58 PM

before the suck happened:

11/22/2010 4:40:21 AM

is an ND Filter the only option if i want to set 1-2 second exposures in full sunlight?

11/23/2010 10:51:49 PM

Quote :

"any of you guys have reco's for good camera bags?"

I have a Crumpler 3 million dollar bag ($55). I rock climb with it & find it comfy. There's a Crumpler 5 million dollar bag that's a bit bigger. I've only seen them at REI.

11/23/2010 11:45:10 PM

Quote :

"I want a nice ND filter, but they're expensive. At least for good ones"

If you look on Amazon.com for Tiffen ND filters, you can find some cheap ones for smaller mm sizes. less than $20 for 52mm and 58mm, perfect since most consumer lenses are that range. But it does get more expensive for 67mm ($25) and 77mm ($45) and that's just for the simple 1-3 stop ND filters. Any darker or better quality glass and you are gonna spend some money, specially for a set.

Quote :

"is an ND Filter the only option if i want to set 1-2 second exposures in full sunlight?"

Unless you are shooting with film and can grab ISO 25 or less film (probably more like 6), then no. For digital, you either have to have a specialized sensor for low ISO, which most medium format sensors can do at the cost of 8k+, use specialized lens to stop down, make ur own aperture hole (you can just partly cover the front element, similar to the play with Bokeh tutorials, it blocks a lot of light without impeding the image too much) or use ND filters.

Now like I mentioned above, you can get some cheap Tiffen filters that can do the job, but remember you are fighting the sun. Depending on what you are shooting, that's around f16 @ ISO 100 with a semi-decently fast shutter speed of 1/125. You'd be lucky to get 1-2 more stops from your aperture depending on what lens you have (f/22 or smaller). You basically are 7 stops away from just a 1 second exposure (60, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1", 2").

You can be cheap and stack some cheap ND filters on, but you don't want to stack no more than 3 filters on top of each other before you start getting some soft images and crazy vignetting. Personally, I'd say no more than 2 ND stacked, but that still could set you back $90 if you use 77mm.

If I was going to be cheap and don't want to spend a shit ton of money, I would grab some thick black paper and poke a very small hole in the dead middle and some how fit it between the lens and the body. Since you'd probably be shooting at f/16+ anyways, no need to focus and pre-frame before you slip the paper disc in. Basically like shooting with a large format camera without the cool glass back, flipped image or dark cloth (you could use one if you wanted, to look cool and all).

11/24/2010 5:05:04 AM

tried some light painting for the first time

11/26/2010 9:56:51 AM

A few shots from my Thanksgiving trip to J-ville

11/26/2010 10:35:05 AM

Would anyone in here be interested in selling me some hi-res shots of downtown Raleigh? I'm thinking I'll need shots like the one of downtown EVERYONE seems to take from South Saunders showing the taller buildings, a shot of the side of the new convention center, the outdoor auditorium next to it and possibly a shot or two down the length of a couple streets. I'm hoping I can PayPal someone $25 for 4-5 images. PM if interested.

11/26/2010 10:49:11 AM

is an ND10 filter worth the 50% increase from an ND8?

[Edited on November 26, 2010 at 11:05 AM. Reason : i've already got a nikon brand ND4 filter]

11/26/2010 11:03:15 AM

okay, someone with more experience and knowledge correct me if i'm wrong...

the "8" of an ND8 (or ND 8x, i've seen it written a couple of ways) refers to the factor by which you can decrease the shutter speed (for example, 1/800 becomes 1/100)...yes?

and ND8 generally only gives 3 stops of reduction? i think i read somewhere that a CPL could reduce by 2 stops, so if you stacked them, you could (in theory and depending on the light, of course) get 5 stops and get that blurred water look...right?

looking at my ND4, i'm betting Skack has something like d7freestyler posted, one of those 1000x (10-stop) filters (even if it doesn't say it on the filter itself)

11/26/2010 5:52:48 PM

Just switched from a Sony to a Nikon. What are peoples opinions about the tamron or sigma 18-250 lenses?

11/26/2010 7:04:49 PM

Looking at this one:

http://www.amazon.com/3-0-1000x-Neutral-Density-Filter/dp/B0012LO1UG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290816273&sr=8-1

11/26/2010 7:05:14 PM

^ Shit, I might pick that up. That's a pretty nice price for that filter.

11/26/2010 7:16:51 PM

bought a used 17-55mm f/2.8 today - i've rented it a few times and it was time to make the purchase before spending any more money renting

11/26/2010 9:05:06 PM

^ congrats. did it come with a hood? it sucks that just because its marketed as an EF-S lens it gets second-class treatment from canon

11/26/2010 11:49:55 PM

My little brother graduated from boot camp this past Wednesday. It was the first time I'd been to Parris Island since I lived there 20 years ago (my Dad was a DI there). It was fucking amazing to feel so proud of my brother. Highest PFT score in his platoon, tied for highest in his company (ran a 300 on his first try). Was promoted to meritorious PFC. Not particularly notable photos, but I'm proud and want to share.

My Dad talking shop.


Brother and his fiance.





Nonsense.




[Edited on November 27, 2010 at 11:43 AM. Reason : .]

11/27/2010 11:42:43 AM

Is there anywhere in Raleigh that rents Nikkor lenses? I need a lens for the weekend that has good low light performance. I know there are plenty of places on the internet that rent them but I don't have time to wait for delivery and even though the lens rental is only like $20 the shipping ends up being almost double that so it would be nice if there was somewhere local.

12/1/2010 1:39:26 PM

^ try southeastern camera off six forks

12/2/2010 12:19:14 PM

^^^ really like the last one. I think it's the colors that draw me in.

12/2/2010 1:10:03 PM

I walk by that Red VW almost every day.

12/2/2010 3:16:14 PM

^^^^ Southeastern for sure! They just moved, but are just down Atlantic from where they were before.

12/2/2010 3:27:31 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830994400&cm_re=dolicia-_-30-994-400-_-Product

Selling this brand new, still sealed for $50; figured one of you guys might want it

12/2/2010 10:46:12 PM

^Epic timing, I was just looking for a new bag this morning. I'll take it.

12/3/2010 8:28:28 AM

From my recent trip to Masai Mara





















































[Edited on December 5, 2010 at 12:12 PM. Reason : ..]

12/5/2010 12:11:14 PM

A TINY bit of post processing would do a lot of those photos a lot of good.

12/5/2010 12:17:40 PM

Yeah, they look a little washed out.

12/5/2010 12:18:22 PM

12/5/2010 12:59:37 PM

Shooting with a 5D MkII and a 35mm 1.4L gives me a huge boner. Shot with only available light.


Canon 580EX through umbrella, triggered remotely, camera left.

12/8/2010 5:44:42 PM

ronny.

i always thoroughly enjoy your people pictures.

[Edited on December 8, 2010 at 5:49 PM. Reason : your other ones are awesome too, but i have a soft spot for people in general. ]

12/8/2010 5:48:18 PM

Thank you. I need to take more of them, but most friends get weird when a camera is pointed at them.

A lot of them are fellow photographers, because we're all vain for the most part.

[Edited on December 8, 2010 at 5:51 PM. Reason : Vanity.]

12/8/2010 5:51:29 PM

are you interested in "model shoots"

(i hate to use that term but i dont know what other way to say it)

not necessarily sexy shots or anything, but something planned?


or are you more of an event person?

[Edited on December 8, 2010 at 5:53 PM. Reason : ??]

12/8/2010 5:53:27 PM

I've been trying to do more shoots, so yeah I'm def interested. Events are kinda my bread and butter though, given the photojournalism and all.

12/8/2010 5:55:34 PM

sweeet. i know cody said something about that a while back....under normal circumstances i have plenty access to both.

i will keep you in mind good sir

12/8/2010 6:40:48 PM

I have seen a few in the $250 range.

Nikon d3100 Digital SLR
Canon Powershot SX130 IS

IF your looking for a cheaper model what kind is reccomended? Looking for it as a Christmas gift.

12/8/2010 10:01:01 PM

35 1.4L is da shit. If I had to choose a single walk around L prime lense to have, that would be it. or a 24L... Hard to choose.

12/8/2010 10:05:52 PM

I feel like it is impossible to take a bad photo with that lens. Colors are beautiful, focuses very fast and accurate... it is possibly my favorite lens I've ever shot with. Mega boner for it.

12/8/2010 11:57:11 PM

honestly, I never liked the 50 range, even on a full frame. I'm def more of a wide angle or tele guy. I really want an 85L... well one that isn't encrusted with a shit ton of salt crystals. lol I wished I had some fishes cause I'd love to put the 1DsmkIII and 85L in it.

12/9/2010 12:44:21 AM

Ronny did you get a 5D?

12/9/2010 12:51:05 AM

Not yet. I was borrowing a buddy's for a wedding I was shooting.

Soon, though. Soon.

[Edited on December 9, 2010 at 1:03 AM. Reason : .]

12/9/2010 1:02:21 AM

took a few of my brother and sister since I was home for the holidays...

taken with T2i, tamron 17-50 f2.8, and 3 soft boxes:

12/19/2010 8:51:01 PM

3 softboxes and that's what you got?

How big were they and where did you position them?

Also, a rule of thumb for framing/cropping is never cut someone's limb off where it bends. Always make it between joints, for the most part.

[Edited on December 19, 2010 at 11:25 PM. Reason : .]

12/19/2010 11:22:57 PM

yeah they were tiny ones...

I had one overhead one camera left and one 45* camera right.

I cropped at her leg because her under skirt was showing if I didn't... Also I had to do some weird cropping because the backdrop wasn't that wide.

12/20/2010 12:03:20 PM

Three softboxes is a bit much I think.

I don't know if they were hot lights or if you were triggering flashes (or how you were triggering them), but a bare bulb high and behind them would have been nice. Hair lights are often a HUGE difference maker. I'd have gone one softbox near the camera for key light (since these are pretty close photos and you don't need too much of a flood) and a hair light.

Also, I'd lose the background and meter the flashes to the ambient light in the background (maybe a stop or so over) so you can shoot at a wider aperture and get some softness going on.

I realize you didn't ask for my input, but I'm bored at work and have had probably too much caffeine. I always like to see something other than natural light, so mad props on that.

12/20/2010 1:04:16 PM

Ronny,

Thanks for the input, it always welcomed! I'm no professional (obviously) and had no lessons, so I'm just figuring this stuff out on my own when I've got time.

I personally usually shoot with ambient light, but I figured I'd experiment with this a bit.

These were hot lights, and honestly they weren't that bright (these are cheap). I was shooting at f2.8 and usually 1/100-1/80 ISO 100. Also, the backdrop was my dad's idea... personally I didn't like it at all because it was an off-white and almost matched their skin tone...

Personally I like pictures like this better:


I feel like it makes the subject more connected with the light/atmosphere. I think you can relate because you seem to shoot mostly abmient as well, but I'd like to experiment a bit with flash photography (mainly because I'm not that great at it yet).

I've got a metz flash right now, and I like that... but I think I'd like to get another one with a stand and trigger and work from there. Anyone got recommendations on books for that?

12/20/2010 4:47:09 PM

http://strobist.blogspot.com/

Spend a few hours checking out this site (in particular the guide sections that law everything out for you) and you're good. It is incredible.

12/20/2010 10:59:08 PM

Any recommendations for lens?

I have the t2i, and I'm looking for a macro lens, and a telescope type lens.

12/21/2010 12:35:20 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-100mm-2-8L-Macro-Digital/dp/B002NEGTSI/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IAK6HFKGKHZU4&colid=2KDOBCC9BGL74

12/21/2010 1:47:53 AM

I snapped these of the lunar eclipse. 10-15 second exposure with my dslr, iso400
I used the 55-200mm lens






[Edited on December 21, 2010 at 3:39 AM. Reason : lens]

12/21/2010 3:39:26 AM