Photography

[tolyk]

Photography: Shutterbugs unite

Hey everyone, I've been noticing more and more lately the variety of people with "Photography" listed amongst their interests.

I'd love to discuss photography more in depth with the PG. I'm primarily a landscape and nature photographer, but I dabble in portrait from time to time. Let's discuss tricks and tips and photography in general.

Let's not make it a pissing contest about type of gear, etc.

So, fellow photo enthusiasts, joins me for an in-depth conversation about all things photographics.

-Tol

 

[Cashern]

I used to shoot a lot of photo's but I got out of it after my charger for my Nikon vanished.

Something I always had to struggle with was I only had an 18-55 mm lens which was great for nice tight up close portrait shots but terrible for anything far away.

Tol, whats your favorite way to do Macro shots?

 

[tolyk]

I used to shoot a lot of photo's but I got out of it after my charger for my Nikon vanished.

Something I always had to struggle with was I only had an 18-55 mm lens which was great for nice tight up close portrait shots but terrible for anything far away.

Tol, whats your favorite way to do Macro shots?

Doh, forgot to list Macro in the poll

I like to use a 100mm macro, gives me the working distance I'm most comfortable with. Whenever I can, I borrow a ring flash from work and try to balance it to the ambiant light. Or if I'm photographing bumblebees, don't care about the ambiant at all

Always tripod based (except for the scenario above), with a rail/slider system of some sort.

 

[Emhdtats]

Tol, do you shoot digital, film, or both? Years ago, I learned a really cool technique for printing positives on film, something I can't seem to duplicate with digital (well, not within my budget anyway).

Basically, the process involves printing a negative as though onto 4x5 photo paper, but using a 4x5 negative instead of the paper. You get a film "positive" and then you can sandwich several together between sheets of plexiglass. The outcome is pretty cool.

Thanks for thinking of this thread.

 

[tolyk]

Tol, do you shoot digital, film, or both? Years ago, I learned a really cool technique for printing positives on film, something I can't seem to duplicate with digital (well, not within my budget anyway).

Basically, the process involves printing a negative as though onto 4x5 photo paper, but using a 4x5 negative instead of the paper. You get a film "positive" and then you can sandwich several together between sheets of plexiglass. The outcome is pretty cool.

Thanks for thinking of this thread.

I shoot primarily with digital, my film camera gets dusted off every couple years and put maybe a roll through it. I've never developed my own film or paper. Honestly, never even stepped foot in a dark room (or modified bathroom into dark room).

Sounds like an interesting process. Have any scanned/digital copies of the outcome to share?

 

[Cashern]

I've never developed my own film come to think of it. I've shot both Digital and Film before but I've never done my own developing and I really should I know you can get a lot of different affects from that.

I always struggle with getting good lights. Never ends up working out well for me that and light gear is expensive. The college has some good stuff though.

I did get to do ad 360 degree panorama stitch last year and that was a fun project.

 

[tolyk]

I've never developed my own film come to think of it. I've shot both Digital and Film before but I've never done my own developing and I really should I know you can get a lot of different affects from that.

I always struggle with getting good lights. Never ends up working out well for me that and light gear is expensive. The college has some good stuff though.

I did get to do ad 360 degree panorama stitch last year and that was a fun project.

Yeah, panormaics are fun. Learning all about nodel points and paralax error, yay

All of the power comes in the dark room, or now, in the computer. It's where you bring out what you really saw in the photograph and make it your own.

 

[winegirl]

Yeah, panormaics are fun. Learning all about nodel points and paralax error, yay

All of the power comes in the dark room, or now, in the computer. It's where you bring out what you really saw in the photograph and make it your own.

When you do panoramas do you position the camera in portrait? It makes for a much taller panorama but I don't have the fancy attachment to keep everything lined up.

 

[tolyk]

When you do panoramas do you position the camera in portrait? It makes for a much taller panorama but I don't have the fancy attachment to keep everything lined up.

Yeah, I always go into portrait for it, but I've not done many panoramics.. I tend to go the cheater's way for a panoramic look and crop a picture to a 16:9 style crop

All you really need is an "L" bracket and a good nodal rail

 

[winegirl]

Yeah, I always go into portrait for it, but I've not done many panoramics.. I tend to go the cheater's way for a panoramic look and crop a picture to a 16:9 style crop

All you really need is an "L" bracket and a good nodal rail

lol - thats all I do too. I haven't done many either so I can't justify spending another penny on my tripod rig.

 

[tolyk]

There's gotta be more shutter bugs out there tonight Come join the conversation, let's get the ball rolling

Here's I'll link one of my snaps in the hopes it'll start some conversation:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6706449797_065502dedb.jpg

 

[winegirl]

There's gotta be more shutter bugs out there tonight Come join the conversation, let's get the ball rolling

Here's I'll link one of my snaps in the hopes it'll start some conversation:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6706449797_065502dedb.jpg

Lovely - I finally picked up a variable ND filter (so expensive for something so small) but I must admit the math is still a bit lost on me. One day maybe.

 

[tolyk]

Lovely - I finally picked up a variable ND filter (so expensive for something so small) but I must admit the math is still a bit lost on me. One day maybe.

That's what I used in that shot, a cameron brand one.. wasn't too expensive. especially since I use small prime lenses with small filter rings

 

[winegirl]

That's what I used in that shot, a cameron brand one.. wasn't too expensive. especially since I use small prime lenses with small filter rings

Ah - mine is 77mm for my wide angle lens so it was pretty pricey. Everything is expensive at 77mm though.

 

[tolyk]

Ah - mine is 77mm for my wide angle lens so it was pretty pricey. Everything is expensive at 77mm though.

Yup! Sure is! Heh.. which is one of the main reasons I love my little pancake prime lenses with their super inexpensive 49mm filter size

 

[winegirl]

Yup! Sure is! Heh.. which is one of the main reasons I love my little pancake prime lenses with their super inexpensive 49mm filter size

don't even talk about prime lenses! my wish list is a mile long and you don't want this thread to be about equipment - haha!

Do you do wildlife as well? I thought about it, but then i realized, wild animals kind of freak me out - lol.

 

[tolyk]

don't even talk about prime lenses! my wish list is a mile long and you don't want this thread to be about equipment - haha!

Do you do wildlife as well? I thought about it, but then i realized, wild animals kind of freak me out - lol.

Well, I don't want it to be a pissing contest about whose gear is better, because all gear is just a means to an end. Long as you get the photo you wanted, it doesn't matter.

I do some wild life, though most of my good ones are from the local zoo where I go to practise. I've got some great photos of chipmunks though *grin* (I can't resist taking their photo, they're so freaking cute)

 

[KikiRose]

I am definitely an amateur but I love taking pictures of things I happen to see when I'm out on the street or people I meet who I think look interesting. I love wildlife pictures. Like you mentioned, tolyk, the zoo is a great place to get some practice.

 

[tolyk]

I am definitely an amateur but I love taking pictures of things I happen to see when I'm out on the street or people I meet who I think look interesting. I love wildlife pictures. Like you mentioned, tolyk, the zoo is a great place to get some practice.

Welcome to the thread, and for that matter Lit

I enjoy going to the zoo, it's a nice walk and I get to use the big glass

 

[tolyk]

Going to bump this up before I head off.

Night all

 

[tolyk]

No more shutter bugs?

 

[akaSol]

Interesting thread tolyk. Thanks for starting it.

Going to say film is my favourite medium, although I can do anything with Photoshop. my favourite piece of gear is my full frame "hass"

>Sol

 

[tolyk]

Interesting thread tolyk. Thanks for starting it.

Going to say film is my favourite medium, although I can do anything with Photoshop. my favourite piece of gear is my full frame "hass"

>Sol

Noice! What style of photography do you like to do with your hassie?

 

[akaSol]

Noice! What style of photography do you like to do with your hassie?

Usually landscape stuff such that exists in Ireland, esp on the full frame. Done weddings on the side for a while but stopped when people became greedy about content.

>Sol

 

[tolyk]

Usually landscape stuff such that exists in Ireland, esp on the full frame. Done weddings on the side for a while but stopped when people became greedy about content.

>Sol

Do you prefer slide, c-41 or b&w for your film? When I use film it's either true B&W or slide/positive film