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

[obmas]

Misc, I'm a beginner photographer and I only have maybe 1-2 shots on my flickr. Does anyone else only really put up stuff that they really like/inspire them or am I just being a pretentious prick?

you probably arent taking enough pictures then. not all your shots are gonna be worthy of posting, but what matters is that you are going out there and using your camera

[vindemiatrix]

I just received a sigma art 18-35 1.8 that I will be giving my brother for his birthday when I head home in June ( I have 2 months to juice it up). I headed downtown tonight and snapped a few, my impression of this lens is that is heavy and well built, solid autofocus (nailed about 95%), I think the possibilities this lens offers to cropped sensor users are pretty awesome, I would recommend this lens, not for me as I it's too heavy and I prefer small primes for the few times that I actually take my camera out. This photos have no processing. By the way, if anyone uses pentax, I am selling da hd 15, da hd 70 and fa 31.

[microspot]

I just received a sigma art 18-35 1.8 that I will be giving my brother for his birthday

one of the best lenses there are out there with an amazing price. great gift.

[NinjaKix]

These are really pretty, I bet she loves them. LOVE your bw conversion. Are you using actions on these(or presets) I especially like the last two, would love to know how you edited them if you feel like sharing. Highlights look a little hot on second to last, might want to tone down for print. Really pretty work!

The main things I do on Portraits besides regular sliders

Radial Filter to help make certain aspects (Usually the persons face) pop from the photo
Split Toning to warm Highlights and Cool Shadows
Tone curve adjustments across all Channels to compliment the split tone

I absolutely do not use presets

[tomdotcom]

Misc, I'm a beginner photographer and I only have maybe 1-2 shots on my flickr. Does anyone else only really put up stuff that they really like/inspire them or am I just being a pretentious prick?

I haven't used Flickr for years, it was always rubbish. Never got anywhere near as much interaction with people on there as I do on Instagram, other than stupid spammers with their "like for like" sh*t.

[Dominik]

I was considering the Lee system, but man does that add up quick...

You don't need all of those filters right away nor do you need them in half stops.

ND: 3 and 6 stop would be my choices for shooting waterfalls and longer exposures. If you're into long daytime exposures then get a 10 stop. I prefer NDs to be made of glass but provided you keep resin filters free of scratches there shouldn't be any problems.

Graduated ND: 2 stop soft and a 3 stop hard. Add a 3 stop soft and a 2 stop hard later and finally a 3 stop reverse grad for when the sun is right on the horizon.

If I could only take 3 filters with me I'd take a CPL, a 3 stop ND, and a 2 stop soft grad.

As for filters and filter holders, you get what you pay for. The Lee holder for $90 is proven. The Cokin Z-Pro holder for $70 is also a solid product. You'll need to buy adapter rings to fit the filter thread size of your lenses. 4x4" and 4x6" filters sold for both systems will fit provided they're no thicker than 2mm so you don't have to use Lee filters on a Lee holder.

It's also worth mentioning that you can always use screw-in ND filters and handhold a 4x6" graduated filter until you buy a filter holder.

[LOLZBRAH]

really good stuff on the last pages
@final rep: how did you shoot the second pic(esp. the ice in the foreground)?

[LOLZBRAH]

Click this link and watch all these videos. They'll help a ton with composition.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...Q_AyJSS_A1GD7N

really interesting, will get you on recharge

[litljay]

I just received a sigma art 18-35 1.8 that I will be giving my brother for his birthday when I head home in June ( I have 2 months to juice it up). I headed downtown tonight and snapped a few, my impression of this lens is that is heavy and well built, solid autofocus (nailed about 95%), I think the possibilities this lens offers to cropped sensor users are pretty awesome, I would recommend this lens, not for me as I it's too heavy and I prefer small primes for the few times that I actually take my camera out. This photos have no processing. By the way, if anyone uses pentax, I am selling da hd 15, da hd 70 and fa 31.

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

[img]http://i.imgur.com/Sx80VKw.jpg[img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/NB0A6NG.jpg[img]

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

[img]http://i.imgur.com/SeTcx0e.jpg/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/J3x2x9M.jpg[img]

Man, I miss Vegas. Haven't been downtown in years.

[Foques]

speaking of ND filters..
thoughts on this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Altura-Photo-P...ustomerReviews

[Final_Rep]

really good stuff on the last pages
@final rep: how did you shoot the second pic(esp. the ice in the foreground)?

Small aperture, laying on my belly on the ice in front of a crystal pond

[Dominik]

Small aperture, laying on my belly on the ice in front of a crystal pond

All look amazing on my display and I feel like I'm standing there. With the last one I'm going to be greedy and say I would have liked a little more foreground.

[Lamborg]

finally joining the club, so excited right now


My battery has been charging for the last 4 hours I think somethings wrong lol....I just want to use the camera already =(

[obmas]

finally joining the club, so excited right now


My battery has been charging for the last 4 hours I think somethings wrong lol....I just want to use the camera already =(

canon battery technology is old as fuark. It really needs to be updated. My 6" smartphone charges from 0 to 100 in like an hour. the canon batteries take goddamn forever its annoying

[acrawlingchaos]

finally joining the club, so excited right now


My battery has been charging for the last 4 hours I think somethings wrong lol....I just want to use the camera already =(

Connect the battery to the charger before you plug it in. May not charge otherwise.

[obmas]

some auroras borealis tonight. should get some good shots

[KRANE]

[img]http://puu.sh/h7N3k/6372f241fd.jpg[img]

finally joining the club, so excited right now


My battery has been charging for the last 4 hours I think somethings wrong lol....I just want to use the camera already =(

First rule of camera buying: Purchase more than one battery. Actually, that rule applies to any portable electronic device. So keep it in mind when you purchase your flash, remotes, etc. That said, its likely just not seated properly.

One more thing, welcome to the guild.

[Lamborg]

Finally charged! this camera is amazing compared to my D5100, feel like a little kid right now

btw,

I can get "free" access to creative cloud PS/lightroom as long as I "don't use it for commercial purposes" and only for educational purposes. Can commercial use be proven? Through like EXIF data or serials or something, not too knowledgeable on this. Or else I'll just use Darktable

[acrawlingchaos]

Finally charged, this camera is amazing compared to my D5100! Feel like a little kid right now

btw,

I can get "free" access to creative cloud PS/lightroom as long as I "don't use it for commercial purposes" and only for educational purposes. Can commercial use be proven? Through like EXIF data or serials or something, not too knowledgeable on this. Or else I'll just use Darktable

I love my 6D as well... even if the autofocus sucks.

As far as can it be proven? I wouldn't go there, it's not worth it. The program costs $80 or $10/month...

[mitch2147]

These two are from my holiday at the start of the year. Overlooked them when I was editing, but seeing as I haven't done much over the last few weeks I thought I'd go through them again. I think they turned out alright. Had the X100S up against the glass waiting for the right moment.

[microspot]

Here's some of my heavily post-processed stuff for you bras

all great really like the second one, love the colors

[Dominik]

finally joining the club, so excited right now

Full frame club?
Canon club?
High ISO club?
Focusing on black cats in the dark club?

this camera is amazing compared to my D5100

Entry level full frame is a significant step up from an entry level crop sensor camera released 4 years ago. You'd probably be equally impressed with a Nikon D610 or D750.

We've reached a point now where you can't really blame a lack of results on gear at any price. Entry level gear in the right hands is capable of professional results.

[obmas]

this just happened..........



canon 6d and tamron 24-70

[nvrstopworking]

this just happened..........



canon 6d and tamron 24-70

Damn.... Heck of a shot! That 24-70 is next on my wish list.... What kind of settings did you use?

[azurejer]

Sorry brahs, been uber busy.

Some recent stuff - kpop star Ailee:




Jay Park


Random engagement sesh:

[pieceofdebri79]

^ dope shots, J. On that last one, I probably would've turned his head sideways some to accentuate his jaw a little more. People look strange to me when they're laying on their back looking straight up. But then again he does have pretty eyes, so that'd probably be a mistake on my part? Either way, good stuff. Your lighting is terrific. Subtle. I like it.

[VmissileX]

Full frame club?
Canon club?
High ISO club?
Focusing on black cats in the dark club?

Entry level full frame is a significant step up from an entry level crop sensor camera released 4 years ago. You'd probably be equally impressed with a Nikon D610 or D750.

We've reached a point now where you can't really blame a lack of results on gear at any price. Entry level gear in the right hands is capable of professional results.

The best photographer in my area (IMHO) shoots with a cannon t3i

[obmas]

Damn.... Heck of a shot! That 24-70 is next on my wish list.... What kind of settings did you use?

i think it was ISO 2000, 8 second exposure, at f/2.8

[obmas]

The best photographer in my area (IMHO) shoots with a cannon t3i

I shoot with both a crop and fullframe... and the difference in gear actually does make a big difference, unless you are doing indoor studio work.

For most things from portraits to night shots/auroras, pictures from my 6D always comes out cleaner than my rebel t4i, and more "pro" looking. I know people want to sugar coat and pretend gear doesnt matter, but it really does, IMO. However, just having good gear doesnt mean you can neglect good skill and technique.

[Dominik]

I shoot with both a crop and fullframe... and the difference in gear actually does make a big difference, unless you are doing indoor studio work.

For most things from portraits to night shots/auroras, pictures from my 6D always comes out cleaner than my rebel t4i, and more "pro" looking. I know people want to sugar coat and pretend gear doesnt matter, but it really does, IMO. However, just having good gear doesnt mean you can neglect good skill and technique.

The importance of gear is overstated IMO. Someone with a great eye for composition who travels to beautiful locations is going to capture better images than someone walking around their house with an expensive full frame camera and fast lens. Forums are full of cat photographers using flagship gear.

Shallow DOF portraits jumped the shark a long time ago. Still an effective technique but it doesn't make an image look more "pro." What makes an image look professional is the lighting, the choice of subject, their expression, and how they're posed. I've seen some incredibly wooden looking subjects shot with pro gear. Someone who captures that same subject in a more relaxed, natural setting with entry level gear will come away with a better image, period.

The 6D uses sensor technology from 2004. Can't hold a candle to the Sony stuff. Does that mean your work looks less "pro" because you choose to use decade old technology reheated and repackaged for 2012? Of course not. What really matters is what you're shooting and how you're processing it.

I'm not saying someone using entry level gear now shouldn't aspire to own something better but there are many other factors that will improve their photography than simply dropping more cash on expensive gear.