Official Misc Photography Crew, Part IV "You're not close enough."

[EatingPancakes]

Greetings Misc, and welcome to the Official Misc. Photography Crew thread.

Part I found here.
Part II found here.
Part III found here.

This thread is for anything about, of, and related to Photography. Here you can ask for advice or critique, discuss technologies new and old. From film to digital, come on in.

To start it off!

[Skunk]

First.

[SenorMachoPepe]

in.

[Dominik]

Subscribed.

[Final_Rep]

In on 1rd page

[Burtle1]

first page

[Avalanche3319]

Newbie, rookie photog here, hoping to contribute to this thread in the near future. Some talented folks in here.

[cunfewzed]

in>

[anonymous]

In on part IV. Only a hobbyist, but I'll def be more active in this thread now that school is done. Saw a lot of talented miscers in the other threads. Hoping to learn stuff from all of you.

[anonymous]

Recently took some shots at a pier. Pretty simple framing/composition, but I wanted to try and see what I could achieve with the people that came and went. Set up about a third of the way down the pier just before a break in it with my tripod and took shots during sunset/twilight. Here's what I'm most happy with. Would love to hear people's thoughts/feedback.

Did some post-processing in lightroom but it was just subtle tone curve, contrast and warmth stuff.

2nd one is probably my fav. I love how I managed to catch the motion blur of the boy that jumped first. It looks like the 2nd boy is there visualizing his jump and trying to muster up the courage to take it.

[ko300zx]

Recently took some shots at a pier. Pretty simple framing/composition, but I wanted to try and see what I could achieve with the people that came and went. Set up about a third of the way down the pier just before a break in it with my tripod and took shots during sunset/twilight. Here's what I'm most happy with. Would love to hear people's thoughts/feedback.

Did some post-processing in lightroom but it was just subtle tone curve, contrast and warmth stuff.

2nd one is probably my fav. I love how I managed to catch the motion blur of the boy that jumped first. It looks like the 2nd boy is there visualizing his jump and trying to muster up the courage to take it.

Take what I say lightly because I'm a very new beginner as well and these are just opinions. I really like the second shot as well (I like the third more though, beautiful colors!), but I feel there is way too much black hiding the detail of the pier unless that's something intentional. I feel that as the focal point, you would want that detail though. I did two quick edits just to show the detail in the pier.

[anonymous]

Take what I say lightly because I'm a very new beginner as well and these are just opinions. I really like the second shot as well (I like the third more though, beautiful colors!), but I feel there is way too much black hiding the detail of the pier unless that's something intentional. I feel that as the focal point, you would want that detail though. I did two quick edits just to show the detail in the pier.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/R1ZFeVE.jpg[img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/PVajvtD.jpg[img]

That wasn't intentional at all. Solid point though, hmm. I didn't even think of that. They definitely look better with the pier's detail imo, namely the 3rd one. Will revisit all of those shots on Lightroom again and see what I can do. I don't want to lose the dreaminess of the first 2 shots.

What exactly did you do in the edits? Is there a specific workflow that can make textured surfaces pop like that or is it something I just have to play around with to achieve the look I want?

Thanks for the feedback man.

[TheCohbrah]

In like Flynn

[ko300zx]

That wasn't intentional at all. Solid point though, hmm. I didn't even think of that. They definitely look better with the pier's detail imo, namely the 3rd one. Will revisit all of those shots on Lightroom again and see what I can do. I don't want to lose the dreaminess of the first 2 shots.

What exactly did you do in the edits? Is there a specific workflow that can make textured surfaces pop like that or is it something I just have to play around with to achieve the look I want?

Thanks for the feedback man.

I moved highlights to -100, shadows to +100 then adjusted whites and blacks a hair. This will pull out the hidden detail like that. To keep some of that mysteriousness in the second one you can do highlights to -100, and shadows to +50 or so. I follow most of what this guy does for quick easy lightroom editing and he always starts with highlights all the way down, shadows all the way up. I find that it works well for most shots (for my tastes), then you can tweak from there. Of course it's not an answer to every shot.

[gadiper]

brb learning how to embed.

[EatingPancakes]

^^^ Gadiper brah, get rid of the S. Forum censors HTTP Secure links.

That wasn't intentional at all. Solid point though, hmm. I didn't even think of that. They definitely look better with the pier's detail imo, namely the 3rd one. Will revisit all of those shots on Lightroom again and see what I can do. I don't want to lose the dreaminess of the first 2 shots.

What exactly did you do in the edits? Is there a specific workflow that can make textured surfaces pop like that or is it something I just have to play around with to achieve the look I want?

Thanks for the feedback man.

Might be an out of line question, but would you mind actually putting the RAW file up to download?

Bringing out details in LR is usually a combination of the clarity, and sharpening sliders. Then exposure helps it along and you can drag out some shadows. Play with the sliders and see what you get. I remember when I started off I would just hit the standard filters of "Medium Contrast", "Punch", and the sharpening one for landscapes and just mess around further until it was the way I wanted it to be.

[ShoryuBrah]

inn

[cunfewzed]

That wasn't intentional at all. Solid point though, hmm. I didn't even think of that. They definitely look better with the pier's detail imo, namely the 3rd one. Will revisit all of those shots on Lightroom again and see what I can do. I don't want to lose the dreaminess of the first 2 shots.

What exactly did you do in the edits? Is there a specific workflow that can make textured surfaces pop like that or is it something I just have to play around with to achieve the look I want?

Thanks for the feedback man.

Landscape shots need a point of interest close to the foreground (IMHO). The detail he touched on adds something to look at, although I'm hesitant to push any slider to its max. That's almost guaranteeing noise, but to each his/her own. With that said, I think your shot would have been much better past the vacant portion of the pier on the other side of the expanse. From there, I would have kept detail of the wood grain in the shot and kept the same lines with the pier itself trailing into the distance.

All a long way of saying I think the foreground is a bit empty. Great colors though!

[Kokiwi]

In on first page

[TheCohbrah]

my first contribution to the new thread. Thought I would try shots where you drop something into water and photograph it. Not sure what the technical term is but you get the point . I could not find a flatter container so this was what I had to work with. Also, this is straight from the camera with no editing besides the cropped out excess image space that was irrelevant.

[anonymous]

I moved highlights to -100, shadows to +100 then adjusted whites and blacks a hair. This will pull out the hidden detail like that. To keep some of that mysteriousness in the second one you can do highlights to -100, and shadows to +50 or so. I follow most of what this guy does for quick easy lightroom editing and he always starts with highlights all the way down, shadows all the way up. I find that it works well for most shots (for my tastes), then you can tweak from there. Of course it's not an answer to every shot.

[youtube]Vi1-8qYHWaQ[youtube]

Alright, i'll give that a go soon and will check out that video. Thanks again.

Might be an out of line question, but would you mind actually putting the RAW file up to download?

Bringing out details in LR is usually a combination of the clarity, and sharpening sliders. Then exposure helps it along and you can drag out some shadows. Play with the sliders and see what you get. I remember when I started off I would just hit the standard filters of "Medium Contrast", "Punch", and the sharpening one for landscapes and just mess around further until it was the way I wanted it to be.

Which picture do you want the RAW file for? I don't mind sharing that seeing as I'm just a hobbyist/amateur.

Landscape shots need a point of interest close to the foreground (IMHO). The detail he touched on adds something to look at, although I'm hesitant to push any slider to its max. That's almost guaranteeing noise, but to each his/her own. With that said, I think your shot would have been much better past the vacant portion of the pier on the other side of the expanse. From there, I would have kept detail of the wood grain in the shot and kept the same lines with the pier itself trailing into the distance.

All a long way of saying I think the foreground is a bit empty. Great colors though!

Well said. I always forget to keep these kind of things in mind whenever I compose shots. There always manages to be 1 or 2 things that make me say "fck how did I not think of that or remember that" AFTER I see the shots on the computer.

[M0tibation]

In hurrr

[obmas]

IN ON FIRST PAGE.

New thread, new toys! Picked up these today:


294 Aluminum Monopod 4 Sections

and


Manfrotto 804RC2 Basic Pan Tilt Head

[TheCohbrah]

IN ON FIRST PAGE.

New thread, new toys! Picked up these today:


294 Aluminum Monopod 4 Sections

and


Manfrotto 804RC2 Basic Pan Tilt Head

Nice buys...what do you plan on using the monopod for? Just curious...

[anonymous]

IN ON FIRST PAGE.

New thread, new toys! Picked up these today:

[img]http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/2747/product_image/thm/t320x320_20fb961d0b4ad575619fe761df172c7c.jpg[img]
294 Aluminum Monopod 4 Sections

and

[img]http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/2747/product_image/4b9d81b68b1cd1533ce581560fbddd52.jpg[img]
Manfrotto 804RC2 Basic Pan Tilt Head

What type of setting/photography are those monopods typically used for?

[obmas]

Macrophotography at botanical gardens and greenhouses. A tripod is just too clumsy and handheld macro is.... yeah.

With my 100mm lens + DSLR + flash units, the gear can get tiresome lugging it around shoulders/neck going place to place. Also chasing bugs around is much fun...

Decided to use a monopod for mobility and added stabilization.

here are pictures I took lastnyear all handheld with softbox attached to 480EXII flash
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5587753...7634605946824/

[TheCohbrah]

Macrophotography at botanical gardens and greenhouses. A tripod is just too clumsy and handheld macro is.... yeah.

With my 100mm lens + DSLR + flash units, the gear can get tiresome by going place to place. Also chasing bugs around is much fun...

Makes sense now. I have one...actually I stole my step dads...and have never found a use for the monopod. Then again, I was just starting and I never took my time on photos. Also disregarded the histogram haha

[KRANE]

Is this still the first page?

Anyway, new speedlight transmitter from Yongnuo came in today and build quality looks pretty good. It came in quality box with a box inside of that. There's also a nice pouch just like the one used with Canon's speedlight.

All the switches and knobs look substantial and are about 95% the quality of Canon. Its exterior is not as shiny as the version from Canon, but otherwise its identical. I powered it up and everything is bright and easy to read. I just wish they made some type of accessory so that the transmitter could be angled 90-110 degrees or so.

Anyway, hope it works as well as it looks. BTW, the battery door is spring loaded it seems substantial enough. Can't wait to try some off-camera footage.

[TheCohbrah]

Is this still the first page?

Anyway, new speedlight transmitter from Yongnuo came in today and build quality looks pretty good. It came in quality box with a box inside of that. There's also a nice pouch just like the one used with Canon's speedlight.

All the switches and knobs look substantial and are about 95% the quality of Canon. Its exterior is not as shiny as the version from Canon, but otherwise its identical. I powered it up and everything is bright and easy to read. I just wish they made some type of accessory so that the transmitter could be angled 90-110 degrees or so.

Anyway, hope it works as well as it looks. BTW, the battery door is spring loaded it seems substantial enough. Can't wait to try some off-camera footage.

Which one did you get? How much?

[KRANE]

Which one did you get? How much?

Cost = $140ish vs Canon $280.

This one.