Why Not a Blog 11

[stmv]

This is Blog 11, daily additions added in the comment section, over 220 days so far or so, which is pretty amazing to me how fast time flies.

I went to the followup to the night photography class that I was co-hosting/teaching last night for the showing of the results.

All but a couple were able to show up to display their works on the large screen. I was really pleased/amazed at the wonderful pictures. Vibrant, interesting, some took the breadth away.

The class was mostly serious photographers and a few pros. Each photographer had their own style and angles which really made the evening entertaining. Nobody was bored, and the showing flew by.

I have been having teaching at these sessions about once per season, with a theme for each season. A couple classes ago, we added this return to display your results, asking the participants to bring their best of the night. We buy pizza, people bring drinks, and it becomes a fun gathering, and a continuation of the learning experience. Every person had a great shot in thier group, and some had several. This kept the excitement of the previous event fresh, and best of all, gets them thinking of the next event.

The next event will be in the spring, with a focus on the rebirth of life, lots of farm animals, birds, plants, with an emphasis on macro and focus stacking. By then, I am so looking forward to color, and fresh greeen after a drab of early spring.

So,, onto Blog 11!

 

[stmv]

so often we hear the advice,, lens lens lens,, and camera second,,,

but,, I kinda disagree, my vote is camera first, lens second, for the primary reason that the camera is your primary tool controlling so much of your decision making even down to what portion of the lens catalog and history is available to you.

I actually advise getting the right camera, with the right quality, and even if you cannot afford more, then start with the 50 mm prime 110 dollar lens.

You can have a 2000 dollar 2.8 lens, but without knowledge and control of the camera and skills in compositio, might as well hang the lens on the wall,

I view lens kinda as the gravy of the journey, as the skills with the camera grows, so will your thirst to tailor the lens to the shot, or the thirst to squeeze out the last pixel quality possible, or that ever lasting thirst of fast lens or longest reach or widest reach, etc.

but,, first.. its the camera and you knowledge that should come first... or well, my opinion for whatever that is worth..

 

[stmv]

why is always dull gray on days I could spend some photo time, and of course on the work day,, beautiful sunshine. yes, you can get good pictures on overcast days, but it is more a motivation issue,, I am so looking forward to a trip in a few weeks to Nevada/az/ca,, etc for the blue sky days! and great light.

 

[stmv]

ouch,, lid from my tea kettle came off, and a big puff of steam hit the hand, wow,, steamed hand,, took a few hours for the pain to be low enough to type, did not blister, but some burn,

oh,, phototgraphy, I have been having a blast converting a bunch of pictures to Black and white. using the Silver Efex pro trial demo, I am not sure it is better than just converting in PS, but it seems to work, easy work flow. not super cheap, so not sure if I will turn on the license..

if it was 100 dollars,, sure,,, 200 dollars,, mm bit too much for me personally.

I also use TOPAZ plugin, fractilus, Neat Image, and a few more, I tend not to use any filters/layers to heavy handed, but like blending in here and there
an effect. So, I am always curious on new plugins,

Most plugins can be obtained in in PS, but the plugins make it a bit more less work.

 

[stmv]

I found the Oscars to be very good for photo editing, not that exciting of a show, but then again, during the time that the software was cranking away, a good diversion.

Which is why I have the TV on typically when I am editing photos, because there is a lot of dead time, so,, between the two, seems to be a right balance.

I have not been a batch type of photographer, well, because it seems that I am tweaking every photo differently, so, I don't have a set sequence that I would do on a large number of photos, so settng up the batch process would cost more time then just doing the edtis.

I also, tend not to take a lot of shots on any one subject. This is actually a bad habit, comes from my film days when shots meant money, and well, you could blow thru a roll of film in no time. So, I tend to take maybe a few shots and then get back home, and go darn,, why did I not take more shots!

On the otherhand, maybe that is the challenge, to get the shot right in the fewest possible shots, because that way you will be ready, when you only get the one moment to take the shot (sounds like hunting).

 

[stmv]

I wish I had gone out this morning, looked like there was fog, and a nice thin coating of snow on the trees, but then how do you wake up a model at 6 AM,,, just joking on a model, but sometimes a photo is improved with the inclusion of an extra dimension. I am going to be up and about tomorrow morning, maybe it will still be nice then.

Can feel spring around the corner, soon the white world will fade and the green will return.

 

[stmv]

Had my camera in the bag this morning, but the scene did not warrant taking out.

always good to have it handy, but often it stays safely tucked away. so many places look nice in person, but do not convey effectively to the 2D fixed frame world of picture.

but not having it,,, and then yup,, perfect light, some cool suject, and the regret of not having the camera, so,, the few extra pounds go with me.

I lately been carrying the D700 with the 18-105 lens, nice range.

 

[stmv]

too bad I have other high priorities expenses for a while, the lens rebate would have been nice, I still would like a FX wide angle zoom like the 14-24 and an updated midrange zoom like the well considered 24-70 2.8 that people call like the best ever.

but,,, these will have to wait,, ....

 

[stmv]

Dear Nikon,, PLEASE update the NON G lens,, I just checked out in person the 28 mm G 1.8,, holy cow.. what a large lens,, compared to my 28 mm 2.8 D,, it is HUGE,, I know I know, 18 versus 2.8,, but is the extra stop worth the size increase

What with the D800, D600, and D7000 plus of course the mega Pro cameras,,, there is plenty of models that don't need the G lens,, so please consider updating the
more compact lens,, for those that don't want to haul these modern beasts of lens.

thank you.

 

[stmv]

I was at one of my local camera stores, and the clerk was showing me the new Promaster carbon tripod, compared to my Manfrotto carbon, and it was really nice, more compact, and such, and still stiff.. they wanted 259 dollars, which was a bit high,,

anyway,, I wanted to do some more research, and found it on sale for 99 dollars! threw on a manfrotta ball head that was on sale for 70 dollars, and for 170 dollars got a really nice compact tripod. I want to compare it to my manfrotta 190, the clerk who was also a photographer, claimed he switched out from Manfrotto to this Promaster, and love its..

Way cheaper than Gitzmo, etc, I'll report back on its endurance.

 

[stmv]

so,, getting ready for a photo trip,, thinking about gear,,, not as exotic as the photographer going to Africa, but till you are disconnected from your base. so,, still come to some planning.

I am debating about mostly primes versus my zooms,,

but,, can't resist the 20-35,, then the 50, 105, it is the long range that has me debating,,,
I am thinking of the 80-400. its big, but could get me shots that would not be possible with any other lens, but is the quality there. mmmmm well,, guess I'll just have to see.

so,, a 15mm prime, 20-35, 50, 105 micro, 80-400. sounds like a lot, but not really, remote release. tripod, and focus beam (flash light).

 

[stmv]

Cleaning lens before my trip out West. Darn,, found a scratch on my 15 mm,, won't effect the pictures, and easy to clone out for the few times that it can be visible.

People do get unglued a bit about scratches, Someone was telling me a video that was made, where they on purpose tried to scratch a lens to see at what point it became an issue, and well, it took a lot of damage to start effecting the shots.

yes, you don't want to scratch the pretty glass, but a scratch here and there will not ruin a lens.

but mental note, be more careful with that 15 mm lens, one of my favorites.

 

[stmv]

Pre-entering the GPS coordinates to the places of interest. So hard to decide, when you only have 4 days of actual exploring. So,, going to pick a couple and explore.

I am excited to see Death Valley,, of course, I suspect it is almost impossible to get an orginal picture of any of these places, imagine how many millions of shots have been taken.

but, you make your own versions, and enjoy. Last trip out there added maybe 25 photos to my portfolio which is not bad.

I am happy with 20-40 printable keepers on any photo trip. and of course, the really really wow shots. well 1-3 is a goal.


In my life, I would guess I have maybe 20-100 wows depending on my mood.

Lots of shots I love on my wall, but they don't mean that they are wows..


and taste difference, what I consider a wow,, others might yawn.

 

[stmv]

I was at my local pro camera store, and a gentleman came in with his wife looking to buy an additional body from the 300S.. Poor guy,, waiting and waiting for a 300 upgrade.

The clerk kept giving him wrong information,, so,, I could not resist helping a bit with the sale,, to a D600.

About the only real thinig holding back the D600 is the buffer depth,, so wish Nikon would not hold back on that element, with today's cheap memory, easily should be up to 50 raw bursts by now.. Shows that they have not updated their buffer on the Exceed processor,, that is where it is failing,, easy to fix,, but would need a redesign.

anyway,, he was happy,, and most likely is walking out a proud owner of a D600.

 

[alawrence]

What do you know about the garage doors in Sherwood Park? I am in dire need of a new one. Are they overhead doors and stuff or not?