Photography Chat and Questions Thread

[Ay Ay Ron]

With Fireworks night coming soon what settings should I be looking at using to capture decent shots?

Have a look on Flickr at some of the exif info of shots you like/would like to try.
That's what I'll be doing this year as last year's attempts were (s)hit and miss

 

[JHead]

550D kit lens, I tried some 30 second ones but couldn't see any stars on it! :L F22

 

[Brazo]

F22 was the problem. Wider apertures are needed.

 

[JHead]

Ahh ok, like... 8-12? I just had in my head I'd read that somewhere, evidently wrong! But apart from that there's the other problem... Which I'll upload tomorrow! :L

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Oh jebus ... shouldn't laugh did you read the star trails sticky !?

F22 is the wrong end of the spectrum More homework needed before next time !

30s @ f/4-9, ISO 100-400 depending how much light is about, 3000K and leave them all the same, or just use auto and adjust when you're home ... remote programmable timer. Do 3 mins worth or 3 hours. StarStax.net <--download and use.

30 mins will leave you with all sorts of issues ! :S

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

I tend to use lowest f number and bring my iso to about 1600 as you will pick up more stars but depending where you are, it will bring out the light pollution too much so maybe max it at 800?

I don't think you an change the white balance numbers on the 550 (if you can, tell me how) so I just keep it in auto and adjust after.

 

[JHead]

Ok... Yeah I have read it before and should have gone and read it again but my memory is crap!

 

[JHead]

startrail0001 by JHeadClioSport, on Flickr

theres one... you can see the mark i was talking about on the left.... approx 1/4 in?

here the other... just had the camera straight up.

startrail0002 by JHeadClioSport, on Flickr

they are both a little grainy as I edited so that the stars could be seen... whilst doing that i noticed a number of red, green and blue dots, although as the picture was not maximised i believe that they are dead/dying pixels from my screen, and hopefully not my camera?? :S cheers

 

[Coby.]

Any good guides to learning the basics on Photoshop CS5?

Just got it but have no idea what I'm doing.

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

Any good guides to learning the basics on Photoshop CS5?

Just got it but have no idea what I'm doing.

YouTube what you want to learn. Will be the easiest way to get your head around it IMO.

Good luck with it.

 

[planetx]

Coby - I've been with Photoshop 20 years and still only scratching the surface.

Take good photos worry less about Photoshop!

 

[Yanoo]

I think Google is your friend and you'll find what you are looking for (Adobe Photoshop CS5 Classroom in a Book)

 

[Niall]

So, is it just me who thinks that 500px has been made worse with the updates that have been gradually coming in over the past year/6 months? I used to love the site and the images were fantastic to look at, but now even pin sharp photos appear to be soft. This isn’t helped by the huge size that the images are now displayed at, which not only go off the page on my computer but make the images appear softer than they actually are.

The layout has also taken a turn for the worst, when I first joined roughly 2 years ago or more the layout was fantastic, everything was right where you wanted it and it was simple to navigate, finding photo info was a piece of cake; today the site looks shabby compared to those days and the top bar containing all of the information and buttons isn’t as nice to use as the older side bar layout.

I have really gone off the site of late and - surprisingly - I am enjoying using Flickr more than 500px. I’ve just sent an email to the 500px team expressing my pining for with the old layout to make a return and my disillusionment with the new layout.

 

[Niall]

I've just got an email back from 500px saying that they've taken what once said on board, as well as a number of other similar ones and are now working on bettering the quality and layout, so hopefully we'll see some good changes

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

Meant to post in here earlier regarding 500px.

First time logging in for a long time today and yeah, the layout is pretty horrible. The old layout was perfect really. Hope they take things on board and revert to the old style.

The same as Flickr, they have it good and then they ruin it. Have you seen the new Flickr "photo experience"? Not liking the new layout at all, I'm hoping it won't be mandatory and that they listen to the feedback (most of which has been slating it from what I've read)

 

[Šįk]

Just bought myself a canon es-f 10-22mm lens tonight!! Can't wait to use it this weekend in the lakes for some scenery shots!

Anyone had experience of this lens?

 

[JamesBryan]

Just bought myself a canon es-f 10-22mm lens tonight!! Can't wait to use it this weekend in the lakes for some scenery shots!

Anyone had experience of this lens?

Good lens for the money, only works on a crop body though.

 

[v15ben]

I've had that lens for about 2 years now.
Love it!
I've used it for so many different types of photo over the time I've had it and would never want to sell to be honest.
Hope you enjoy it!

 

[Šįk]

Ooo now you've worried me.. I did not know this, Which body's will this NOT work on? As I'm looking at changing body too..

cheers, really looking forward to using it

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

If it's crop it only works on then you won't be able to use it with an XD camera (apart from the 7D)

The XX and XXX ranges are all crop so should be fine.

What are you planning on upgrading to?

 

[Šįk]

I'm not 100% sure tbh, Budget is around £400 on a used body. I don't do any video etc. I did like the idea of a 50d but for some reason the newer little 100d shouts out at me..

I did um n ar about going down the Fuji x-e1 route too as I loved my x100.. But iv been and bought this lens now.

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

The Mrs has a 50d and it's cracking. Better ergonomically than my 550d and could be had within your budget.
I nearly went for the 60d but thought I'd use the video option (which I have done, twice!)

I'm probably going to try to upgrade to a 7d next year. Not sure if can make the jump to full frame just yet. Too expensive with the need of new glass too.

 

[Niall]

For £400 I’d say the 50D is a good choice, that way you can keep that lens. Plus, for £400 you could only just about get a 5D Mark I in the full frame market which isn’t exactly the most up to date camera in the world.

 

[Šįk]

Cheers guys, 50d is well within my budget is there anything to look out for with the 50d's other than the usual things?

 

[Niall]

Not that I'm aware of

 

[Šįk]

Just got home to see my 10-22 lens had arrived! Love it. Shame its dark and s**t weather outside!! Grr..

To those guys who have exp with this lens, what's have you found the sharpest aparture setting is? landscape style shots is what I'm going to try out tomorrow if the weather is dry!

thanks.

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

You'll probably find its sharpest at f/8.
Apparently my Sigma 10-20 is sharpest there.

 

[Šįk]

Cheers, il give that ago tomorrow!

 

[Brazo]

There you go! F5.6 in central areas and f8 in the extreme corners!
http://www.photozone.de/reviews/174-canon-ef-s-10-22mm-f35-45-usm-test-report--review?start=1

 

[Šįk]

GUYS!!! I need your help.. Iv just been and said yes to do a charity nude calendar shoot for cancer In my
local area.. What the hell have I got myself in for!?

no location or anything has been sorted but it's all being planned now. All I have is a 50mm prime lens and the 10-22mm lens. Will these be good for the job? I'm looking into buying a flash gun, I guess this will be important too. Anything else I should get that's would be a must?

Oh n cheers for the link Brazo!

 

[jam.]

Think this is as best a place for this..

I'm after (my first!!) camera, as I really want to have a go at photography.
I've signed up to an (admittedly fairly basic by the look of it) online Photography course, more so I've not got an excuse to get a camera and leave it. Well that's the idea anyway.

Was looking at Canon 450Ds and the like. Then stumbled on somewhere selling the Nikon J1 for what seems like a bargain price (£165), worth going for or should I just keep an eye out for eBay bargains?

 

[JHead]

@Šįk check out JaysBoudoir He hasnt posted recently, but he does that kind of stuff,

 

[Niall]

That is a good price, but personally I’d just go for a DSLR, it’s the most tried and trusted tool.

 

[Brazo]

GUYS!!! I need your help.. Iv just been and said yes to do a charity nude calendar shoot for cancer In my
local area.. What the hell have I got myself in for!?

no location or anything has been sorted but it's all being planned now. All I have is a 50mm prime lens and the 10-22mm lens. Will these be good for the job? I'm looking into buying a flash gun, I guess this will be important too. Anything else I should get that's would be a must?

Oh n cheers for the link Brazo!

Stick with the 50mm, last things nudes want is a distorted wide angle look! Yup look into flash preferably off camera and get yourself a flashbender too.

 

[Brazo]

Jam I would go for a dslr initially!

 

[Red Cup]

ll I have is a 50mm prime lens and the 10-22mm lens. Will these be good for the job? I'm looking into buying a flash gun, I guess this will be important too. Anything else I should get that's would be a must?

50mm will do fine. I'd get a flash, long sync cable (£10), basic light stand (£13 odd) and one of these bargain £25 softboxes: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004XY65WQ/?tag=cliospnet01-21

That should get you some fairly decent light without costing too much. Then get reading Strobist and Neil van Niekerk's Tangents!

 

[Jay_A]

GUYS!!! I need your help.. Iv just been and said yes to do a charity nude calendar shoot for cancer In my
local area.. What the hell have I got myself in for!?

no location or anything has been sorted but it's all being planned now. All I have is a 50mm prime lens and the 10-22mm lens. Will these be good for the job? I'm looking into buying a flash gun, I guess this will be important too. Anything else I should get that's would be a must?

Oh n cheers for the link Brazo!

Ping me a line if u need any help. You may need more than a flash gun for lighting tho. Ring flashes are awesome, or studio lighting. Perhaps look at hiring a studio for a few hours, as you'll also benefit from someone there doing all the lighting arrangements so u can get on and shoot.

 

[Šįk]

Think this is as best a place for this..

I'm after (my first!!) camera, as I really want to have a go at photography.
I've signed up to an (admittedly fairly basic by the look of it) online Photography course, more so I've not got an excuse to get a camera and leave it. Well that's the idea anyway.

Was looking at Canon 450Ds and the like. Then stumbled on somewhere selling the Nikon J1 for what seems like a bargain price (£165), worth going for or should I just keep an eye out for eBay bargains?

My canon 1000d is up for sale mate.. That's what iv used to took my recent pics in "iv taken a pic and kinda like it" thread. A great beginners DSLR! Good condition and comes with original box, manual, 18-55mm lens, memory card & cables £175 posted, PM me if your interested.

 

[Šįk]

Thank you guys, I will get those accessories ASAP. What about lens filters?

Jay, il PM you nearer the time when I have a set location etc

Much appreciated, Piers.

 

[Šįk]

Just bought a 50d!!!

Regarding flash, iv also been offered a job doing club shoots.. I'm looking at the 430EX. will this flash suit my needs? Anybody have experience with it?

Thanks in advance!