Thread: ***DSLR Thread***

Had to take some pics of my house for a listing, so I wanted very natural looking HDRs so windows / sky wouldn't be blown, but I could still see in shadows. I have never really been a fan of HDR software, but then starting looking into doing it in Lightroom. Turns out, if you also have Photoshop, it is pretty kick ass. I was amazed at how natural they looked, and still retained contrast to make an interesting image. Highly, highly recommend this combo if you need HDRs that don't jump out and punch you in the face:

Lightroom Video: A New HDR Feature in Lightroom 4.1 « Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips

I just picked up a canon pocket camera for those times that I don't pack the big boy and still want pics better than a phone cam. Should be fun.

Where're you moving, Sam?

Hey guys, looking for a little advice from the crew.

I'm wanting to diversify a little and get more well rounded and into taking portrait type photos for people. I've lined up a few friends to let me practice on them and learn what to do, but I wanted to ask you guys if you've had any trial and error tips for me. Focal ranges, styles, settings, etc. Just some things that could help me not keep missing and getting them right from the start. I mean, I know a lot of it is trial and error, but just some general guidelines or things to look out for would be great. At the moment I'm trying to find my footing so, any and all tips are welcome.

We're staying in Burbank, just looking for a little bit more room and, well, to avoid your friendly 7:00am wake-up calls (although I am grateful that I can discern between a 737-700 and 300, mostly by sound, however I don't yet have the 800s down yet )

As for the portraits, the "standard" setup is usually 85-135mm on a full frame camera. For lighting, a very common recipe is short side lighting (especially for female subjects as it can be a slimming trick). If you have a model who is standing square to camera, then you rotate them a bit, the side of the model that is away from camera is the short side (because the nose is making the side of the face away from camera appear shorter than the broad side, which is the side of the model now facing camera). So you place your key light on that side of the model: Broad and Short Lighting in Portrait Photography - YouTube So, key on short side, fill on the other, sometimes a hair light to separate them from the background.

This of course is all just the plain pasta with red sauce recipe. The real trick is finding what you like and what you find interesting. I think that even before you get to your models, doing the same thing on a doll can be helpful, because then you can shoot thousands of frames and the doll could care less. People tend to get board, but do make for much more interesting photos. If you are going to keep them for a while, might not be a bad idea to have wine or other things to keep them jovial.

The other tip I would add is, start with one light, make sure you know what it is doing and it is pleasing before you add another. When you add another, turn of your first light until you see exactly what your second light is doing. When you have it looking the way you want, turn the first light back on, see how they look together. I think adding light very slowly in this manner makes it a bit easier to understand what each one is doing. Play with diffusers, distance between light and subject to see what it does, and of course angle and power.

Good luck with it. Post what you take Have fun.

Originally Posted by VF

We're staying in Burbank, just looking for a little bit more room and, well, to avoid your friendly 7:00am wake-up calls (although I am grateful that I can discern between a 737-700 and 300, mostly by sound, however I don't yet have the 800s down yet )

Glad to hear you're staying local, Sam. You don't have to worry about figuring out which of our 737's are -800s, because you won't ever see one in regularly scheduled service through Burbank. They're too long for the parking spaces!

I need a photography outing soon...

Originally Posted by FBJ

Glad to hear you're staying local, Sam. You don't have to worry about figuring out which of our 737's are -800s, because you won't ever see one in regularly scheduled service through Burbank. They're too long for the parking spaces!

I need a photography outing soon...

we should do an LGK street photo walk!


r4m (8) by Qmüngous, on Flickr

Originally Posted by Luc SkyBomba

we should do an LGK street photo walk!

LGK trip to Imperial Hill!!

Taxiway Alpha: Imperial Hill

Seriously, though...I've wanted to take a late, late evening/early morning photo trip downtown lately...primarily to try and capture some interesting night architecturals. The problem is that I don't care to do it solo due to the potential for having all my gear stolen at gunpoint. A big group of us could have a fine time, though.

before the summer started, i was shooting downtown 2-3 times a week after work. then it got too damn hot and i haven't done it much since. haven't seen any guns yet. i stick mostly to broadway and spring cause it's half residential and half business, lots of people walking around.