The Official S-T.N Photography (methods) Thread

[Thunder7]

How do these conversions look to you guys? Using a new plugin from CS3. A little too dark?

All IMO, here- The top one is definitely better left alone in color. Losing the color info takes away from the playful nature of the image. Also, her face is too washed out.

The bottom one is lacking something as well but I cant quite put my finger on it. Also, and this may be a matter of taste and nothing more- I prefer a more defined contrast in B&W images.

[torags v2]

Great bokeh #1. The shot works for me.

#2 The dof is so narrow it blurs the hand in the foreground. That doesn't work for me in this one, but foreground blur can work in other shots. I was drawn to the hand after the face.

Nice work, interesting subject with good subject separation. You're hooked....  

You'll get an invite to the next LA meeting... Lensaholic Anonymous

This thread is pulling members out of the woodwork.

 

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I will play with them a little more. I am working with uncalibrated monitors so it might look different to me from what you guys see. I will have to get something to fix that. Thanks for the info Fred.  

[torags v2]

I will play with them a little more. I am working with uncalibrated monitors so it might look different to me from what you guys see. I will have to get something to fix that. Thanks for the info Fred.  

What... You think our monitors are calibrated????............      

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I dunno?    

[doodah man]

Both mine are.  Datacolor Spyder 3 Elite.  Amazing how my prints match my screen now.

http://spyder.datacolor.com/product-mc-s3elite.php

[Thunder7]

I will play with them a little more. I am working with uncalibrated monitors so it might look different to me from what you guys see. I will have to get something to fix that. Thanks for the info Fred.  

Joe, I have nothing but uncalibrated monitors. As I've no intention of spending the kind of money it would take for that quality level I've managed to develop the eye for what an image will look like when it comes off of one of my printers (Epson 1800 for color and 2400 for B&W).

Also, what comes off your computer may look quite different from when others see on their own monitors. The shot of the bride in the doorway I took in Cozumel looks like 24 bit color vomit on this one monitor at a friend's office.

If I get a calibration unit, it will most likely be this one towards the end of the year: http://www.colormunki.com/

To clarify- My eyes are NOT better than a fully calibrated system. Calibrating my system would certainly make things easier and when my budget allows for it, I'll get into to full on.

[denydog]

Both mine are.  Datacolor Spyder 3 Elite.  Amazing how my prints match my screen now.

http://spyder.datacolor.com/product-mc-s3elite.php

I've been thinking of monitor calibration since I recently started shooting RAW format, and trying to do some post processing, but the cost of the Spyder2express is about all I'd be willing to spend.  I wonder if this version would meet my basic needs?  I haven't looked into it very much yet.

[Thunder7]

I've been thinking of monitor calibration since I recently started shooting RAW format, and trying to do some post processing, but the cost of the Spyder2express is about all I'd be willing to spend.  I wonder if this version would meet my basic needs?  I haven't looked into it very much yet.

Many of the less expensive units are useless when it comes to printing. They are nothing more than an active photocell for you monitor, brightening and dimming according to ambient light readings. The Pantone Huey and Huey Pro are the best examples of this. They were originally created for hardcore gamers who would piss themselves in a tantrum if their shadow detail and other crap werent perfect for their "World of Wardoomencrafthentaistein" games. I made the mistake of buying a Huey a couple of years ago and i did nothing for me.

JohnnyB is quite knowledgeable about the usefulness of the better devices I think.

[Mr. Whippy]

Absolutely stunning and perfectly captured. Great job!!!
Post a gallery link. I want to lots see more!

Welcome back!

Thanks.  I thought I posted this before. Huh.

Some of my favorite pics from the trip

[kurtw]

Thanks.  I thought I posted this before. Huh.

Some of my favorite pics from the trip

Sorry I must have missed it. Those are all amazing!

[torags v2]

Great pics indeed....

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Crap work computer will not allow me to view them.

[Avigar]

Any of you guys have a favorite style or brand of diffuser? Any recommendations? I've been looking into Gary Fong's Origami fold flat diffuser. I like the style, but it's a bit pricey for a piece of plastic. I'm in the process of making one of my own.    

[doodah man]

Any of you guys have a favorite style or brand of diffuser? Any recommendations? I've been looking into Gary Fong's Origami fold flat diffuser. I like the style, but it's a bit pricey for a piece of plastic. I'm in the process of making one of my own.    

Three words: NO DIRECT FLASH.  All you need to know right here:

http://planetneil.com/tangents/2007/12/13/my-choice-of-flash-modifiers/

Also see

http://abetterbouncecard.com/

Damn right Gary Fong's stuff is pricey.  I spent about $7 for two modifiers a la Planet Neil, $2 for two sheets of foam and $5 for a big pack of hair bands.  If you have daughters and hair bands already your cost will be minimal.

Also browse back to page 38 of this thread for my related post and pics using the above flash modifier.

[torags v2]

Hey doodah.. thanks for the snoot link.

I like it more than Fongs unit. Its more portable, foldable and can fit in my case with the flash

[torags v2]

I went to a local art fair today. I figured I'd try my 10/20mm. These things get real crowded (as do car shows). Car/bike shows I usually get there when the exhibiters are setting up, no spectators (but not everybody is set).

Well the 10/20 worked like a charm. With a longer reach lens I would have to back up, then the crowd in the aisle gets in the way, it can drive you crazy (and you can't wait for hundreds). the 10/20 allows you to get 18" to 24" away from the subject to shot, and cut out the surrounding viewers. On straight line subjects you will get deformation at 10mm. Here's a shot of a painting that had people damn near touching my shoulders. I cropped out the frame.

[doodah man]

I did a spur of the moment concert shoot today after running into a couple of musician friends setting up for an outdoor concert.  I ended up shooting over 600 pics!  It was good though as I had a dismal shoot last Sunday in Nelson BC as I seemingly forgot how to operate a camera that weekend.  I returned to my favorite style (candids) and lens (70-200 f/2.8).

It was difficult lighting as the band was under an unlighted bandstand shell (read: dark) and the sky varied from cloudy to bright sunshine to open shade in the park.  I also stubbornly shoot full manual so there was frantic knob turning when switching from shooting the band to shooting the crowd.  I didn't blow a lot of shots, mostly erring on the side of underexposure with few blown highlights, so I must be getting better.  Thank buddha for Canon RAW and DPP.  I did use a direct fill flash (420EX) at -2 EV to try to fill in the band's faces but was also on continuous drive mode, so the flash would only fire on the first shot of any series.

It's funny, but for most of my life I haven't liked to shoot people.  I think it is because I hate snapshots, which seemed to be all I knew how to do before with people.  But since getting my SLR last November, I have really enjoyed shooting candids.  I think I would like to try some studio lighting portraits.  I am going to start taking a photography certificate course from the local technical institute in November.

I have only just begun to sort through the pictures but here are some samples.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Nice doodah, I hope to get out more in the next few weeks and do the same. I went out looking for lighthouses this weekend I have a few, I hope next month to hit Chicago downtown and some Wisconsin water falls.

[torags v2]

It's funny, but for most of my life I haven't liked to shoot people.  I think it is because I hate snapshots, which seemed to be all I knew how to do before with people.  

Me too.

Great shots and seeing them made me think, perhaps interesting people subjects are the key to people shoots. Whereas snapshots you don't have the discretion (You have to take a shot of boring uncle Harry).

#2 is a nice couple that I would have preferred more depth of field to bring the chaps face in more focus. I wrestle that issue with multiple bikes or horses to try to get the entire group in focus and have the background blurred.

Excellent work.

Rags

PS

I now have 2 snoots (white & black) in my flash bag.