Thread: ***DSLR Thread***

I've cleaned sensors on all three of my Nikons and had no problems. I've never used fluid swabs, it's always been either a bulb blower or canned air.

Yep. Canned air. If you stand the canned air can on a flat surface like your desk and move your camera body instead of the can (and use short bursts of air), the chance of fluid coming out of the canned air tube is minimal. I used to use the bulb only, but then I had some more stubborn specks and tried it for the first time about a year ago. Since then, I haven't met a dust spec that hasn't been eliminated.

When I was at Canon in Irvine, there was a guy dropping his camera off for sensor cleaning. It's free if your camera is under warranty and they told him to pick it up in 2 hours.

Whenever I turn my 50D on or off it says "Cleaning Sensor". I hope it works.

Yikes.

That might have been dust on the lens. I'm not sure that my sensor could EVER get dirty since my XTi has that nifty sensor cleaning message that comes up every time I turn the camera on and off.

Plus the fact that I only own one lens, so I'm not sure how dust would have gotten in to begin with.

Either way, I'll see about doing a dust cleaning pass on the flag and throw some color correction on the Merry go Round for y'all.

Regarding the timed exposure of the Merry Go-Round, it was definitely a situation of a low planter holding up the camera and limited ability to frame and shoot before my wife got even more ticked at me for neglecting the family on our trip to the train park. Heh.

Does anyone know if it's possible to replace a photo on Flickr without losing any of it's comments or pool affiliations?

I'm not seeing anything in my *cough* non-pro account *cough* settings...

I suppose I could re-up the cleaned up flag and cc'd Merry Go Round, but I'd rather replace them.

Setting goals.

Well, as the year grinds to an end, I have to look back at how far things have come.

My New Years' resolution last January was to take photography seriously. Based on the beliefs of my lovely spouse, I decided to set goals for myself to keep my eye on the prize.

My first goal was to shoot at a Derby Dolls roller derby game. DONE!

After I did that, my goal was to shoot from INSIDE the track where the skaters are. DONE!

I wanted to win a prize in a photo contest. DONE!

I needed to get a gig where I could have a reason for bands/events to let me in as media to concerts or exclusive functions. DONE! (When LAist contacted me through my Flikr account ad asked me to come on board)

I wanted to shoot a big concert by a major arena band. DONE! Nine Inch Nails at the Forum.

I wanted to shoot Kings games. DONE! (Huge goal achieved)

I wanted to be in PRINT. DONE! (People Magazine was the first followed by a few others).

I wanted to be in the District Magazine. (One of my original big goals that I thought was a pipe dream). DONE! (Three pics the Best of Long Beach Issue and my first PAYING gig, including a shot that spanned 1 1/3 pages) This one was a huge goal that I had from the beginning.

I wanted to get paid. DONE! (see above).

HERE ARE SOME GOALS THAT I AM SO VERY CLOSE TO:

I want to be a regular contributor on the District Magazine (Work in progress, I have had a few assignments that fell through but we have big plans for 2009!)

I want to be in Rolling Stone Magazine. It's the pinnacle of music publications. Is this too lofty of a goal? I thought it might be, but a couple of weeks ago they contacted me and wanted to use a photo for their online version. To me, this doesn't count as being in Rolling Stone so I am still working on this one. Featured again in their "2008's Wildest Rock Photographs" this week.

So the reason for this message is not to brag since I feel like I'm just getting started and have so much to learn. It's to confirm what my wife has been preaching for years. SET YOUR GOALS and it gives you something to strive for. By the time you achieve it, you have had a vision of it happening for so long that it just seems right when it finally occurs.

Set your goals!

See you in Rolling Stone Magazine.

I'm surprised by your, well, surprise. You shoot a lot of great stuff. Consistently. The only thing that actually surprises me is that this didn't happen a long time ago.

Congrats of the great year, Mike!

Originally Posted by Blurker

Yikes.

That might have been dust on the lens. I'm not sure that my sensor could EVER get dirty since my XTi has that nifty sensor cleaning message that comes up every time I turn the camera on and off.

Plus the fact that I only own one lens, so I'm not sure how dust would have gotten in to begin with.

If it is on the lens, it is going to be out of focus enough that you won't notice it. Even on the sensor, shooting at low apertures, it will be out of focus enough not to notice. You only really see dust that is on the sensor, and you only really see it when shooting stopped down.

Is your one lens a zoom perchance? That increases the chance of pumping air (and dust) into the mirror box, which has a chance of landing on the sensor. Even if you only have a prime, with every atmospheric change, you are moving air (and whatever else) into and out of the mirror box.

The self cleaning sensors do move some of the "easy" stuff off the sensor, but it isn't a substitute for a good shot from the rocket blower (or if you have huevos of steel like Glenn, a shot from the canned air).

That was a fantastic year for you Mike, congrats on both setting and reaching your goals. I certainly could stand to set a few for myself

Originally Posted by ValleyFan

That was a fantastic year for you Mike, congrats on both setting and reaching your goals. I certainly could stand to set a few for myself

When you have Labarbara in net, you are bound to see a lot of goals happen.

Sorry, too soon?