Quote :

""

and this is an amazing image



[Edited on June 10, 2008 at 4:47 AM. Reason : sorry, double post]

6/10/2008 4:45:02 AM

Bonnaroo Thursday! hopefully I can get my 450D past security

6/10/2008 4:45:34 AM

Quote :

"What do people recommend for cleaning optics? I was thinking of a methonal wash and air drying it or maybe Kim Wipes. "

NO

Do NOT use alcohol to clean your lens. I had a guy come into my store recently that tried to do that. The alcohol seeped inside the lens and dried, leaving him a nice mess inside then lens and an expensive cleaning bill.

They make fluid specifically designed to clean lenses. Personally, I've used a lenspen, http://www.lenspen.com/ for years to clean my gear. It's super quick and there's no fluid to mess with.

6/10/2008 7:13:00 AM

Quote :

"that's a great shot, drew...you should show me some HDR technique"

Thanks. That's one of the first HDR shots I attempted, and I did it handheld. I used photomatix for the HDR processing, and then CS2 to clean up a few things. Let me know if you can't find photomatix.

This one ISN'T mine, but I thought it was pretty awesome.

Here's the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thepretender/457588089/ He's got a lot of good ones. There's also some other good ones in this thread.

6/10/2008 9:27:40 PM

thanks paerabol

6/10/2008 9:29:10 PM

I'm playing around with photoscape. Picasa's shortcomings were too much, and learning photoshop/GIMP scares/intimidates the shit out of me

Now I'll start getting to Lutra's wedding photos, and the pictures from my trip

I went ahead and played with some of the effects Photoscape offers on this one.


On a side note... I think the fucking mirrors in my lens are scratched! I'd been having a LOT of problems with debris (small pieces of dust, and sometimes fibers) getting in my camera behind my lens, and I was pretty damn careful in getting them out (at first, just dry nonwoven lens cloths, because microfiber was leaving behind more fibers; light-to-almost-no-pressure. Then I got a little blower with a brush on the end, and that worked fine). Of course, taking two pictures, taking off the lens, cleaning it, rinse and repeat wasn't the finest idea for 10 days, but it was better than not having pictures of my vacation. I took it to be cleaned in San Francisco, and I did indeed have some dust on the sensor, but it didn't solve the contamination issue.

I quit using my camera towards the end (I don't think I have any pictures after we got out of colorado Springs), and didn't touch it until this past Friday night, when I went to clean it one more time for a wedding I was supposed to shoot.

I look at it, and there is either a massive smudge or scratch on the mirror that wasn't there the last time I cleaned and used my camera!

Am I fucked, and in need of a new camera?

6/11/2008 1:10:13 PM

Quote :

"I'm playing around with photoscape. Picasa's shortcomings were too much, and learning photoshop/GIMP scares/intimidates the shit out of me"

Picasa is starting to piss me off because it doesnt support multiple computers on a network. anyone have suggestions for a cheap file sorting and tagging system?

6/11/2008 1:13:26 PM

Just picked up a rented EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS to use at a graduation in Reynolds tonight. So sharp and fast.. it's sick! I don't want to give it back tomorrow..

6/11/2008 5:50:29 PM

Quote :

" "What do people recommend for cleaning optics? I was thinking of a methonal wash and air drying it or maybe Kim Wipes. " "

Quote :

" NO Do NOT use alcohol to clean your lens. I had a guy come into my store recently that tried to do that. The alcohol seeped inside the lens and dried, leaving him a nice mess inside then lens and an expensive cleaning bill. They make fluid specifically designed to clean lenses. Personally, I've used a lenspen, http://www.lenspen.com/ for years to clean my gear. It's super quick and there's no fluid to mess with. "

Kimwipes have silica or some hard crap inside, I scratched one of my multicoated filters (thank god not a lens) using one to clean it. Use lens tissue or microfiber cloth instead.

Actually, I use methanol to clean my lenses/filters, AFTER using a blower to remove large particles. I apply (a few drops of) methanol to the cloth / lens paper (I use lens paper) and THEN wipe the lens element--don't put alcohol on the lens itself. If you're trying to clean for the first time, practice on a filter, not a (L series) lens. (Oh, you're trying to clean a filter. So much the better.)

6/11/2008 8:38:09 PM

6/11/2008 8:50:30 PM

Attention Fellow Shutterbugs: The smoke across Wake county today should produce some awesome sunsets if it stays properly lofted in the lower atmosphere.

Check this link for examples that what I expect to see.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=smoke+sunset

Have your cameras ready!

6/12/2008 11:31:03 AM

bttt

6/12/2008 3:09:29 PM

6/12/2008 9:02:49 PM

^^^ Was not so great. Sun was pretty orange though. Crazy man on the Lake Johnson bridge told me all about some time he saw a spot on the sun.

6/12/2008 10:10:08 PM

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/pho/705616498.html

Somebody on Craigslist selling a Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D for $175 (new for $300), 50mm 1.8 for ($75), and a battery. Just a head's up...

6/12/2008 11:02:54 PM

Quote :

"Attention Fellow Shutterbugs: The smoke across Wake county today should produce some awesome sunsets if it stays properly lofted in the lower atmosphere."

These were taken at Radio Island and Atlantic Beach last weekend as the fires were raging to the north. Honestly, I wasn't too happy because everything was so hazy down there. Areas outside of the actual smoke zone will get all the color while still getting crisp images.

They're not bad photos, but I'm not particularly fond of them either.

6/13/2008 12:24:00 AM

that last picture is pretty wild


also, I'm having a problem with my camera...I'm getting two little dark spots that are in the same place in EVERY picture they appear in. It's not the lens, as I have cleaned both my lenses and switching the lens still produces the same spots. I'd say it was something on the exposure plate, but it's not in every picture.

they tend to manifest in brighter pictures, or brighter areas of pictures, but not always...and this is what is confusing. I'm planning on taking it to Peace Camera (where I bought it) to have them look at it, but I won't have time to do that for a few days. Any ideas?

6/14/2008 5:47:49 AM

Sounds like there's something on the sensor. Use a blower and set the camera to allow sensor cleaning so the mirror gets out of the way. I had some trash on mine once and that's all it took.

[Edited on June 14, 2008 at 8:59 AM. Reason : mine didn't show up in every picture either]

6/14/2008 8:58:36 AM

Went to the mountains of Tennessee and this is what I cam up with. I'm actually pleased with them as I thought most of them would come out horribly according to that tiny screen. They haven't been digitally altered but if anyone wants to take a swing at it I'd be interested in seeing the results. Also, any advice owuld be great as I'm about as amateur as they get!





Not mine but I love the perspective


































Thanks!

6/14/2008 11:25:52 AM

I'm sure you've said this already Kiwi, but what camera and lens(es) are you using?

6/14/2008 2:57:56 PM

Nikon D40, the uh wide angle lense?

My bro is going to school for photography and he mentioned something about the f stop needing adjustment. He's coming to visit me at the end of July and is going to show me some tricks. I also have a few friends with degrees in photography who have offered to guide me, I just haven't done it yet and didn't want to miss an opportunity to practice with the camera.

Be as harsh as possible, if they look shitty let me know but tell me why too!

6/14/2008 3:01:18 PM

Got to playing around a little bit...

Before


After

6/14/2008 4:31:20 PM

Tried to recover the sky as much as possible. What program are you using?

6/14/2008 5:16:16 PM

Uh I think it's "Preview" on this mac ha it's very limited in it's tools.



[Edited on June 14, 2008 at 7:19 PM. Reason : another one]

6/14/2008 7:08:09 PM

some BONNAROO pics eh.























[Edited on June 17, 2008 at 5:54 AM. Reason : fdfdf]

[Edited on June 17, 2008 at 6:14 AM. Reason : fdsfd]

6/17/2008 5:52:13 AM

i watched the webcast of the sigur ros

looks like you had a great perspective

6/17/2008 6:17:45 AM

^yeah the set was amazing, I got the spot by skipping pearl jam entirely like i said in the bonnaroo thread.

some more from 'roo


israel vibrations




ladytron




aimee mann




broken social scene












[Edited on June 17, 2008 at 6:49 PM. Reason : fhds]

[Edited on June 17, 2008 at 6:51 PM. Reason : fhds]

6/17/2008 6:47:46 PM

I have a question about photo etiquette. How do you go about taking pictures in a public place where you might catch a pedestrian on accident, or even on purpose? do you ask them before taking the pictures?

6/20/2008 5:14:12 PM

sometimes i ask...other times i just snap away.
i got some funny pictures of this guy who was passed out in a starbucks over the weekend in while in Times Square.... this girl said it was rude as hell but her boyfriend thought it was fucking hilarious.

depends i guess

6/20/2008 5:15:36 PM

Quote :

"How do you go about taking pictures in a public place where you might catch a pedestrian on accident, or even on purpose? do you ask them before taking the pictures?"

If it's by accident, hell no I don't ask. If I were wanting to take the pedestrian's picture, I'd aim for it. They aren't the subject of my picture, so no, I won't ask.

If I'm trying to take someone's picture, I'll ask if
- I'm near them
- they look amenable

If they look grumpy, are on a cell phone, or otherwise make me not want to give them a headsup, I definitely don't ask. Reasonable expectation of privacy - you give it up the moment you step out in public.

6/20/2008 5:40:09 PM

i couldn't have caught this guy if i'd wanted to, so no, i don't ask most times



btw, yes, that's a guy offering free popcorn from an upside-down umbrella while riding a bike...copenhagen, i think, but it might have been oslo...i'd need to check my notes

[Edited on June 21, 2008 at 8:44 AM. Reason : .]

6/21/2008 8:43:32 AM

huh...wha?

did somebody call?

6/21/2008 10:48:27 AM

its both overexposed and under exposed. how do I go about correcting that when im shooting?



[Edited on June 21, 2008 at 8:09 PM. Reason : ..]

[Edited on June 21, 2008 at 8:11 PM. Reason : .]

6/21/2008 8:06:46 PM

You can shoot multiple exposures and do an HDR, but most of the time, it's just best to shoot when there's even light, such as early morning or late afternoon. It also depends on the location so best to scout the area at different times to discern what the best time to shoot. You can also use a specialized ND filter that has half of the glass to be 1-2 stop darker on the top than the bottom. Those are pretty expensive, specially if you have a wide angle lens with a large filter attachment.

6/21/2008 9:16:01 PM

I just ordered a D40 with standard 18-55mm kit lens, 55-200mm VR telephoto (taking advantage of that $100 rebate ), 2GB SD card, and UV filter for the lenses. Maybe within the week or so I can start contributing to this thread...

6/22/2008 8:17:58 PM

so I'm looking to get a 50mm lens.

Should I go with the cheap 1.8 or is it worth it to save for a little while for the 1.4? opinions?

6/23/2008 12:40:53 AM

Quote :

"so I'm looking to get a 50mm lens. Should I go with the cheap 1.8 or is it worth it to save for a little while for the 1.4? opinions?"

The niffy fifty, or the 1.8 50mm, is the best bang for the buck lens out of the whole EOS lens line up. For being a cheap plastic POS lens, it does a great job in terms of image quality. If you only have the stock kit lens, then the 50mm 1.8 should be on your list as your next lens.

I have the 1.4 50mm and while that's a great lens and the bokeh is superior than the 1.8, the 1.8 still makes fantastic images for being a sub $100 lens. The 50 1.8 can be had for $80 or less used on forums.

6/23/2008 2:03:47 AM

Some "Deer in the headlights" or in other words "Paparazzi" pictures of some friends.






Bike Night with friends.










Get together with co-workers.

6/23/2008 4:02:23 AM

2nd to last is my fav

6/23/2008 7:41:15 AM

Quote :

"so I'm looking to get a 50mm lens. Should I go with the cheap 1.8 or is it worth it to save for a little while for the 1.4? opinions?"

save and get the 1.4... better getting it now then having to kick yourself in the ass for not getting it right the first time. the extra stop and higher build quality is worth the difference in price.

I didn't think it was until I got it and took two pictures with it, one with f/1.4 and the next with f/1.8... the f/1.4 was far clearer and amazingly sharper. These were taken with very low light. That sold me right there and then.

6/23/2008 9:18:17 AM

Anybody want a paying photography gig for a couple of hours Thursday afternoon? Location, downtown Raleigh

PM me ASAP

thanks

6/23/2008 10:17:16 PM

6/24/2008 10:42:36 PM

^I like that, interesting shot. Is it HDR?

6/24/2008 11:27:36 PM

It's exposure bracketed. At f/9 with 4, 10, and 15 second exposures.

6/24/2008 11:45:55 PM

^^^ great shot/composition, where was it taken?

6/25/2008 3:19:05 AM

nice picture. i love that

here is some interesting subject matter i came across yesterday.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/29024355@N00/pool/
Abandoned Couches pool

[Edited on June 25, 2008 at 8:55 AM. Reason : word]

6/25/2008 8:55:24 AM

How can you bracket exposures without moving the camera at all? It seems like I slightly bump the camera too much on a tripod when I try to move the wheel. I have a remote switch so that's not a problem, however it just seems like there are a lot of shots that would look a lot better composed from multiple exposures.

6/25/2008 9:15:16 AM

i can change the exposure without moving the camera at all and just turning the dial while my eye is still focused through the view finder
its not that hard

6/25/2008 9:18:37 AM

I thought some cameras have a bracket button, no?

6/25/2008 9:37:09 AM

My tripod is kinda on the big and heavy side, so it makes things a little bit easier. So then I'm just careful making adjustments and use a remote to control shutter. I also find it helps in low light to use a flashlight on the focal point I want, compose the shot, let the camera autofocus, and then move the switch to manual so focus is locked in and I can worry about exposure with the flash light off.

That photo was taken in a mental hospital that has been abandoned for 30+ years in new york. I visited several hospitals over the weekend, and have film to develop in addition to the digitals.

6/25/2008 9:40:05 AM