Anyone else into cameras and photography?

[steve91tt]

Arne, tridawgn...those are some serious camera skills. Beautiful shots!

[Arne]

Arne, tridawgn...those are some serious camera skills. Beautiful shots!

That's the beauty of digital - it doesn't cost anything to shoot LOTS. And if you shoot enough, some of them will turn out...

As it turns out, I just realized that the first shot I attached above (the picture of Cape Kiwanda) was actually one that I took before I got my D40. It was taken with a Sony DSC V3, a fairly high end (at that time) point and shoot. Good PnS digitals can take nice shots, as long as the subject is willing to hold still for you. But if your subject is moving, you probably want a DSLR.

[cygnusx1]

Yes Arne, I carry a backpack of heavy DSLR gear when I intend to go shooting. OTOH, I ALWAYS carry a tiny Point and Shoot digital, capable of HD video. Most times, the best opportunities are not when you intend them to be. A decent Point and Shoot can capture a moment as well as anything.

Initially I felt guilty about processing my digital stuff, but when RAW came around, you had no choice but to process the shots, digitally. I enjoy the processing now as much as the shooting.

[Arne]

I have intentionally tried to keep my equipment to a minimum, so I don't have too much stuff to pack around. That was also why I picked the D40, it is about as small a DSLR as you can get. I keep the 18-55 on the body most of the time, and for many trips that is all I take with me. I've got the 55-200 if I think I'll want a longer lens, an SB-400 speedlight for indoor shots (built-in flash is too wimpy and doesn't bounce), and a full size tripod that I rarely use.

[cygnusx1]

I tend to keep my long lens on the SLR body because things that I usually shoot with the long lens, are time sensitive, like an Eagle, or a Jet...something with a small window of opportunity. I use my Point and Shoot about as much as I use the SLR, unless I am set on doing something truly printable, or need speed.

Edited November 1, 2010 by cygnusx1

[TriDawgn]

Arne "I have intentionally tried to keep my equipment to a minimum"

cygnusx1 "I tend to keep my long lens on the SLR body"

That's why i love my 18-200mm. Good range, no swapping, and less to carry.

[70 Cam Guy]

Great photos guys! That 500mm is a cool lens. I don't have anything nearly that long. It must be like shooting with a telescope.

I love photography and cars as well but strangely enough I don't ever seem to photograph cars.:paranoid:

Mostly I take wedding photos but keep the car photos coming!

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These are great! Shots of people and landscapes in my mind can be hard to get great captures. There are many little details when posing a subject that most of my favorite people shots are candids

The 500mm lens is pretty ridiculous and essentially is a telescope with the double mirror design. I put on the loaner doubler and that long lens and got the moon shot above with no cropping. It was so sensitive with the doubler that I swear the shutter movement was blurring the pictures. I set it on a 10 second delay and watched the viewfinder image vibrate. I use an old light meter my dad had because my camera doesn't can't light meter with it. It essentially makes it something I need to set up for and be patient with

Case in point:

DSC_0864 by AYates Photos, on Flickr

A recent favorite of mine of my friends..

DSC_1235 by AYates Photos, on Flickr

Edited November 1, 2010 by 70 Cam Guy

[70 Cam Guy]

Yes, some serious talent showing here! Search the archives on this subject and you will find some great conversations about photographing cars. There are many articles on the net about shooting cars; both at-speed and close-ups. I like a star filter when I shoot cars in bright sunlight.

This site has great articles - http://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/the-basics-of-exposure-1-overview.php - this one in a series about exposure. That's what happened to your colors at Infineon. Here are a couple of the pan shots cropped.

Thanks for the tips! Cars in sunlight I use a circular polarizer, I haven't tried a star filter.

I figured the colors on my Infineon shots were the color cast from the rain. I usually shoot in Aperture priority but these were shot in shutter priority. Before I processed them it seemed many were overexposed off the camera. I shoot in raw+jpeg, so thankfully it wasn't too bad processing them. I know you can't bring back the blown out whites but never thought about the colors being washed out a little.

[70 Cam Guy]

Arne "I have intentionally tried to keep my equipment to a minimum"

cygnusx1 "I tend to keep my long lens on the SLR body"

That's why i love my 18-200mm. Good range, no swapping, and less to carry.

oo nice I've been eying the 18-200, or at least an 18-105 like the D90 comes with.

I certainly don't expect to achieve 'pro' status or anything but I certainly enjoy shooting pictures. I get inspired when I see others' great photos and think about how I can improve my compositions and subjects. I've never had anything remotely artistic that I've wanted to share with others so this is new territory for me. I love my guitars but don't usually record anything or share.

[70 Cam Guy]

Arne, tridawgn...those are some serious camera skills. Beautiful shots!

agreed

[HS30-H]

One for the hardware fans, perhaps: Until just a few days ago, I had this sitting on a shelf in my office. A beautiful thing.

Ironically, these photos of it were taken with my little Ricoh GR Digital II, which is what I tend to grab anytime I think I'm going to need a camera. I have a Nikon D70 too, but somehow it seems to get in the way when I'm carrying it around and I always feel like I'm going to bash it or drop it.

[Arne]

Arne "I have intentionally tried to keep my equipment to a minimum"

cygnusx1 "I tend to keep my long lens on the SLR body"

That's why i love my 18-200mm. Good range, no swapping, and less to carry.

I tried one of those, and I really wanted to like it for the versatility it brings. But I found it too big and heavy on the small light-weight D40 body. It felt awkward and unbalanced to me. If I use a neck strap the camera hung lens-down with the 18-200, but normally with either of my current lenses. While I agree that the 18-200 should be an almost ideal everyday lens, it didn't work for my purposes.