***DSLR/Photography MegaThread***

[VF]

...Tried playing around with the DOF to make them look a little more \"lifelike.\"

Speaking of this, have you guys seen any of the focus stacking that people are doing? Very interesting results, it is sort of like HDR, but instead of taking multiple frames with different exposures, you are taking multiple frames with different focus, then combining them to get greater (or different) depth of field.

Examples (all not mine):

http://jmelanson.smugmug.com/photos/343903737_BZuMU-O.jpg

http://jmelanson.smugmug.com/photos/341143810_YM4k3-O.jpg

[rinkrat]

wow

[Blurker]

Yeah... Photomatix and then some additional tweaking in Photoshop.

It's usually hit and miss for me. I don't usually have very good results with the single frame conversions at all. The multi-exposures are usually more cooperative.

[BleedingPurple]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2818600671_3bae1b65f1_m.jpg

That one is currently the 11th most popular image in the last 24 hours on airliners.net (\"http://www.airliners.net/photo/Southwest-Airlines/Boeing-737-7H4/1396031/L/\"). It's the first of my images to be accepted by them. Their panel of photographers that review images for addition to their database are discerning to say the least. They've rejected probably two dozen other pics of mine, and they say they only approve 1 in ever 200 that are submitted. To get accepted (finally) as a contributing photographer there is a pretty big deal for me since I've been trying so long. To have that image be so popular there is un-freaking real.

That's awesome! Congratulations, Glenn.

[VF]

Pretty cool online framing store with great prices for all your goofy sized prints:

American Frame (http://www.americanframe.com/)

Just placed an order with them, I'll let you know how it goes.

$110 for a nice, clean wood frame with double matte (!) for a 16" x 24" with shipping. Last time I had something like this framed, it was $300 for a single matte, if the quality is good, I'm sold on this place.

[Blurker]

There's a site that I looked into that was linked through Flickr.

Framed Art | Poster Art | Wall Art | Photography Prints (http://www.imagekind.com)

You post your photos similarly to Flickr, (you can import them directly from flickr if you want) and then people have the option to purchase your photos and you get a percentage of the sale. You can set your own markup and they'll cut you a check when you've accrued enough. I think you get a percentage of any framing, matting, or anything like that as well.

I haven't ordered anything from them but I did have them send me a paper sample kit. They've got quite a few options and custom frame size doesn't seem to be an issue.

[VF]

50D ISO samples (http://www.digitaldreams.com.sg/eos50dsamples/index.html). It looks pretty clean, the 12800 is certainly cleaner than anything Canon has currently, and it retains the detail pretty well.

[VF]

Carl Zeiss to offer ZE mount lenses for use with the Canon EF mount. As we all know, Canon is a bit weak on the wide end, the Zeiss wide angles could really be a nice fit. Currently they are offering a 50 and an 85.

Carl Zeiss lenses for Canon SLRs: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091501Zeissforcanon.asp)

[VF]

5D mkII is here (http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canoneos5dmarkII/). Same sensor as the 1Ds mkIII, some weather sealing, live view, 1080i movie, but its biggest strike (in my opinion) is it has the same AF system as the original 5D, so only one cross type sensor right in the middle.

[FBJ]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2818600671_3bae1b65f1_m.jpg

That one is currently the 11th most popular image in the last 24 hours on airliners.net (\\"http://www.airliners.net/photo/Southwest-Airlines/Boeing-737-7H4/1396031/L/\\"). It's the first of my images to be accepted by them. Their panel of photographers that review images for addition to their database are discerning to say the least. They've rejected probably two dozen other pics of mine, and they say they only approve 1 in ever 200 that are submitted. To get accepted (finally) as a contributing photographer there is a pretty big deal for me since I've been trying so long. To have that image be so popular there is un-freaking real.


Wahoo!! I won the Photographer's Choice award! That image is now featured on the front page of Airliners.net!!

Airliners.net | Airplanes - Aviation - Aircraft- Aircraft Photos & News (http://www.airliners.net/)


The Photographers Choice Award is given to the photo added within the
last 7 days that have received the most votes by Airliners.net
photographers. It is updated every day (but the same photo can remain at
the top for several days in a row). If you aren't reading this in time to
view your photo on the frontpage of Airliners.net, you will find it in the
Photographers Choice Award archive located here:
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?choicehistory=yes

Kick ass!

Don't know how long it'll be up for. My guess is it'll fall off after a day or so. But still.

This was a photo opportunity I almost passed up, too!

[rinkrat]

Excellent!

[DeaderFan]

Nice job!! It is a great photo.

[FBJ]

Ah crap. It fell off the #1 spot. It's still on the front page for now, but not in the big image under the Photographer's Choice banner. It's been replaced by a kick ass image of a B-52 in-flight taken from above.

[BleedingPurple]

Ah crap. It fell off the #1 spot. It's still on the front page for now, but not in the big image under the Photographer's Choice banner. It's been replaced by a kick ass image of a B-52 in-flight taken from above.

Personally, I think yours is better.

[VF]

A really nice looking short film cut together all from Canon 5D mkII video:
Canon Digital Learning Center - Sample Video: EOS 5D Mark II (http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2086)

Man, that 200mm f/1.8 makes for some gorgeous motion picture.

[HeShootsNScores]

I gotta admit... that b52 shot is somethin else. Can you take your rig out while you're flying FBJ?

[FBJ]

Yeah, but I can't get shots like that. The closest I ever get to another airplane in cruise is +/- 1000' vertical if it's at another altitude or 5 miles horizontal if it's at our altitude.

[Blurker]

A really nice looking short film cut together all from Canon 5D mkII video:
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2086

Man, that 200mm f/1.8 makes for some gorgeous motion picture.

I was just going to post that link.

I'd love to see it uncompressed for web consumption. Looked pretty friggin' good though.

[HeShootsNScores]

Yeah, but I can't get shots like that. The closest I ever get to another airplane in cruise is +/- 1000' vertical if it's at another altitude or 5 miles horizontal if it's at our altitude.

hm. Either way... I think aerial shots are cool... feel free to post more when you can!

[VF]

Pretty cool online framing store with great prices for all your goofy sized prints:

American Frame (\\"http://www.americanframe.com/\\")

Just placed an order with them, I'll let you know how it goes.

$110 for a nice, clean wood frame with double matte (!) for a 16\\" x 24\\" with shipping. Last time I had something like this framed, it was $300 for a single matte, if the quality is good, I'm sold on this place.

OK, I am sold on this place. The frame came today, extremely well packed, all the mattes cleanly cut, high quality frame, and cheap. The one difference between the frame stores I have been to in the past and this place is that I needed to attach the retention and hanging hardware (included, also of nice quality), but for a difference of + $200, I'll take it.

They get my recommendation.

[HeShootsNScores]

I went shooting in LA..... here is a few shots... still trying to get the hang of the Mac and stuff....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2884505132_678e9e31f8_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2884504274_37fee3b1d8_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2884505944_ca6a305f34_o.jpg

Set HERE (http://flickr.com/photos/14164469@N06/sets/72157607460394288/)

[Blurker]

I went shooting in LA..... here is a few shots... still trying to get the hang of the Mac and stuff....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2884505132_678e9e31f8_o.jpg


Great shot, I love the color of the light on this one.

WTF is that. Seems like an awful lot of lampposts in one place. No wonder California has a budget crisis.

[HeShootsNScores]

Great shot, I love the color of the light on this one.

WTF is that. Seems like an awful lot of lampposts in one place. No wonder California has a budget crisis.

Its right next to LACMA (LA County Museum of Art) and across the street from the A+D museum... I was hired (weird) to shoot for an event

[rinkrat]

Nice!

[VF]

Camera bodies are crazy expensive to rent compared to lenses. No substance to this message, just bitching.

[rinkrat]

I just took my 27-55 2.8 IS lens in for repair because it died at Frozen Fury just after the IS part of it died a month ago (right after the 12 month point of course).

As it turns out, Canon warranties their lenses for 14 months, so it was still covered for another two weeks. Hopefully it will work a little longer this time, it's my fave lens that I do most of my stuff with besides hockey.

[FBJ]

BOOM!! There goes the dynamite!!

I've just been asked to draw up a licensing agreement for my BUR Sunset picture (slightly edited) to be used on internet and print promotional material and internal corporate publications for SwissPort International (http://www.swissport.com/)!!!!

Cha-mother****ing-CHING!!!

[Birdman]

BOOM!! There goes the dynamite!!

I've just been asked to draw up a licensing agreement for my BUR Sunset picture (slightly edited) to be used on internet and print promotional material and internal corporate publications for SwissPort International (\"http://www.swissport.com/\")!!!!

Cha-mother****ing-CHING!!!

Congrats!!! Now call the attorneys!!!!

[BleedingPurple]

BOOM!! There goes the dynamite!!

I've just been asked to draw up a licensing agreement for my BUR Sunset picture (slightly edited) to be used on internet and print promotional material and internal corporate publications for SwissPort International (\"http://www.swissport.com/\")!!!!

Cha-mother****ing-CHING!!!

That's awesome! Congratulations, Glenn.

Not that I expect an actual figure but is the money decent?

[rinkrat]

SweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeT!!!!!!!!!!!


Where did they see it? On the airline site?



Congratulations!

[rinkrat]

OK, here's what is cool. If you can capture compelling images like FBJ, then you can pick whatever the **** you CHOOSE to take photos of, whether it's baseball, hockey or jets and somebody out there will appreciate your skillz and pay you for the **** you are creating.


GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[VF]

OK, here's what is cool. If you can capture compelling images like FBJ, then you can pick whatever the **** you CHOOSE to take photos of, whether it's baseball, hockey or jets and somebody out there will appreciate your skillz and pay you for the **** you are creating.


GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Hey, you never told us you got a 50D! Congrats on the new body.

[Blurker]

Balboa Lake on Monday morning. I didn't have my tripod with me, so there's a little bit of ghosting that I'm not very happy about. Photomatix's alignment algorithm is sometimes wonky for me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2905699708_75367a70ed_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2904856049_e4d722884f_b.jpg

[HeShootsNScores]

great job blurker

[rinkrat]

Hey, you never told us you got a 50D! Congrats on the new body.



They were released on Tuesday so I ran over and got it that day and used it the same night at the Kings/Ducks game. The thing is incredible. I love the new reviewing screen, it's so clear. Also I shot most of the pics at 3200 ISO and there is hardly any noise. I used all my chips though since each photo is over 20 megs. :)


Incredible detail too...


http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_0178s.jpg

[FBJ]

They were released on Tuesday so I ran over and got it that day and used it the same night at the Kings/Ducks game. The thing is incredible. I love the new reviewing screen, it's so clear. Also I shot most of the pics at 3200 ISO and there is hardly any noise. I used all my chips though since each photo is over 20 megs. :)


Incredible detail too...


http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_0178s.jpg

Nice! The only thing that strikes me as strange about that pic is the big fat bald, goateed, and bespectacled head right in the middle.

Oh yeah...Mark Hardy's back with the Kings again. I almost forgot.

;)

[FBJ]

Got my 28-200 back from Nikon today! The original estimate was for $253.50, and after the repair was done, they whittled my cost down to $129.50!!! And the lens is in FANTASTIC working order! In fact, I think it's better now than it was when I bought it!

[rinkrat]

Got my 17-55 back today, two days after taking it to Canon. No charge and they completely replaced the IS and backed it up with a 6 month warranty. Sweet! they even cleaned it up real nice which is a good thing after Warped Tour dust festival.

Looks like I'll be going to the Derby Dolls bout on Saturday after all!

[rinkrat]

My 12 gig CF card suddenly does not seem so large. I think I need another one.

[FBJ]

Here's a relatively easy way to self-promote a little. There's a company called danoo.com that puts vid screens up in retail locations in several major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. On the screen, stuff like news, weather, trivia, and horoscopes scroll and flash across it.

Photographers and artists can submit five-image galleries for danoo.com to consider featuring on their bulletin boards. Right now, I've got one up called "L.A. County Arboretum" that's running on screens in the L.A. area through Sunday, October 5.

Now Playing in Los Angeles - Danoo, Inc. (http://www.danoo.com/los_angeles.php)

[FBJ]

A few from Mission La Purisima de Concepcion, near Lompoc, CA. Playing with a sepia-tone preset for Lightroom.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2911378656_149a2da805_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2910530721_3dc22a495f_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2910531901_685ca19807_o.jpg

I'm kinda pleased with that garlic one.

[VF]

Yeah, garlic is nice, sometimes the simplest lighting is the best. Nice capture and nice framing.

[HeShootsNScores]

Okay, here is a story.

So FBJ, a few weeks ago, you were talking about how your BUR sunset photo was and someone asked about the strobe on the bottom of the plane and whether or not you did that on purpose and you replied with that it was one of life's pleasant surprises.

I just had one of those today.

I spent the day at the MCAS Miramar Airshow down in SD... and was shooting with my little rig. Being where I am financially, plus the fact that I just got married this past summer, I don't have the money to get a higher quality camera, but believe me, I'd love to have one.

So anyway... pleasant surprise number one, the folks down at Miramar are having a F-18F Super Hornet demo. Pleasant because at airshows, F-18C/D's are dime a dozen, but I have yet to see a Super Hornet fly. (If you don't know, a super hornet is much bigger than a regular hornet, and replaced the F-14 Tomcat as our Naval Air Superiority fighter.... ) I digress.


So the announcer is announcing that from show right, the Super Hornet was going to do a high speed pass at as close to Mach 1 as he can get.

The crowd cheers.

I and my dinky D40x and 55-200mm lens are stationed ALLLLL the way at Show left, at the edge of the tarmac where they still let us sit.


As the jet begins to tear through the sky at show center, I start snapping as many shots as I can, all in sports mode and RAW+B because I like (like everyone else here) to play with my photos when I get home.

Tough thing is, is once you get past the first oh, 5 shots, the D40x starts to lock up in sports mode and RAW+B because as I imagine, the poor little thing is trying desperately to write the RAW files and keep up with my uppity trigger finger.

By the time the F-18F is crossing in front of me, I'm freaking out, because its a GRAND sight with the vapor going off the plane as it screams by, the sound a couple seconds behind, and my camera isn't shooting. I'm squeezing off as many shots as I can, trying to hold the damn thing steady and praying I get something.....


here's the first shot as it approaches.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2914142270_c30f3c3781_b.jpg





and here's life's pleasant surprise for me (and to date, the shot of my life)... me freaking out, squeezing the button like mad.... as it crosses in front of me, I'm desperately hoping I catch something and......



.....


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2913304231_f7cea074d7_b.jpg



whew. It may not be much, but I have to say I'm very pleased with myself. Even if it was all luck.


Thanks for indulging!

I got some other shots too, none as lucky as this one, but I think they're good shots... let me know if you want to see them!

[FBJ]

That is freakin' NICE, Brig! Way to go! Show us the rest!

[rinkrat]

Wow, great one!

[BleedingPurple]

Awesome shot! Nice work. Right place at the right time, eh?

What else ya got?

[rinkrat]

I went to the Derby Dolls bout the other night and it was really strange to see photos that I shot being transfered into 20 foot high murals. It was kind of overwhelming and an honor to see them under construction up there right in the entrance.

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_0736.jpg

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_1503.jpg

[HeShootsNScores]

okay... here are the rest of my airshow photos... fun stuff.

I have to say, you guys have been my inspiration for photog work in the last year or so... I've always been into photography, but never would have done anything if not for the DSLR threads.....


okay... moment over.

Photo Set HERE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14164469@N06/sets/72157607747366065/)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2919836222_83758bb45f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2919854508_2ae5654ec4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2918985571_e1be46e1db_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2918988673_3f7c057cff_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2919839088_dacd5288c0_b.jpg

[FBJ]

Yo, everybody.

I'm in the process of swapping gallery software. Let me know what you think of the basic layout of one potential setup:

Glenn Calvin Photography (http://gcalvinphotography.zenfolio.com/)

Thanks.

[HeShootsNScores]

it looks real cool FBJ... uber professional!

[BleedingPurple]

Yo, everybody.

I'm in the process of swapping gallery software. Let me know what you think of the basic layout of one potential setup:

Glenn Calvin Photography (http://gcalvinphotography.zenfolio.com/)

Thanks.


I like it but it seems like the thumbnails and full-size images take longer to load than normal.

[Blurker]

okay... here are the rest of my airshow photos... fun stuff.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2919854508_2ae5654ec4_b.jpg




Awesome mother****ing shot!

If you've got this in RAW, make it HDR pronto. That'll be a badass looking HDR, methinks.

Oh, and congratulations on that F-18 shot in your earlier post. That's got to be one of the cleanest shots like that I've ever seen.

[VF]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2913304231_f7cea074d7_b.jpg


Very nice! That just goes to show great timing is still more important than spray and pray (even though it was the camera buffer that was doing the timing in this case) :) Great shot, the others you have from the air show are fantastic as well.


I went to the Derby Dolls bout the other night and it was really strange to see photos that I shot being transfered into 20 foot high murals. It was kind of overwhelming and an honor to see them under construction up there right in the entrance.

That is very cool, they are very lucky to have you shooting for them.

[VF]

I'm in the process of swapping gallery software. Let me know what you think of the basic layout of one potential setup:


I like it but it seems like the thumbnails and full-size images take longer to load than normal.

For me it seems to be pretty nimble, and one thing I really like is when in the sideshow-ish mode, it preloads the next images, so it is REALLY fast flipping between them. I like it, very slick and navigates well.

I need to get off my ass and rewrite my gallery.

[rinkrat]

I'm going to be putting up a gallery of some kind at MichaelZampelli.com as more of a portfolio. I'm looking at some simple flash scripts.

[FBJ]

I'm going to be putting up a gallery of some kind at MichaelZampelli.com as more of a portfolio. I'm looking at some simple flash scripts.

"HI!" back, btw.

[rinkrat]

Here's something I threw together. Need to tighten it up a little.

MichaelZampelli.com (http://www.michaelzampelli.com)

I need somewhere to send publicity people and band contacts where they can see what I do in a direct way without the clutter.

[HeShootsNScores]

Awesome mother****ing shot!

If you've got this in RAW, make it HDR pronto. That'll be a badass looking HDR, methinks.

Oh, and congratulations on that F-18 shot in your earlier post. That's got to be one of the cleanest shots like that I've ever seen.

HDR -- heres my best shot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/HeShootsNScores/BlueAngelsHDR.jpg

[santiclaws]

The HDR shot doesn't quite work for me, I think it would benefit from being a more natural looking shot. That looks overprocessed which works for some shots, but I don't think works for that one. Oh, and one more thing - I'd crop it a little differently, leaving a little more space on the left for the jets to fly into.

Congratulations on the Hornet shot, that's an amazing one.

[HeShootsNScores]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2919854508_2ae5654ec4_b.jpg


here is the original, no processing

[rinkrat]

I think there is starting to be an HDR backlash.

[HeShootsNScores]

I think there is starting to be an HDR backlash.

it has lost a little bit of popularity, hasn't it.

[BleedingPurple]

Here's something I threw together. Need to tighten it up a little.

MichaelZampelli.com (http://www.michaelzampelli.com)

I need somewhere to send publicity people and band contacts where they can see what I do in a direct way without the clutter.


I like the Drew Barrymore photo! She seems to like you and/or your camera. :)

[Blurker]

HDR -- heres my best shot

HDR
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/HeShootsNScores/BlueAngelsHDR.jpg

Original.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2919854508_2ae5654ec4_b.jpg

I'm totally digging on the HDR version. The original is great, and could probably benefit from some curve work to bring out some more contrast. But the HDR version, for me, illustrates the surreal feeling that you must have had when shooting the shot.

I admit that I'm still on the HDR bandwagon. But as I've been sifting through some of the Flickr HDR groups I'm realizing that there are a lot of shots that don't deserve the HDR treatment. This one looks great and not overstated.

Good job.

[FBJ]

I appreciate HDR technique for two reasons: First, it gives us an ability to take a picture and give it a very interesting "illustrated" quality. Second, and on the opposite end of the scale, it has the ability to create "superexposed" images that really allow you to bring the details in highlight and shadow regions more into line with what the human eye can see.

How an HDR turns out really depends upon the processing techniques used. I've had some neat HDR images turn out both ways, and I can say the ones that turn out well with one technique often look like hell with the other. Realizing that, I've learned what to look for when looking at a scene and trying to determine it's "HDR worthiness." I've also learned that, more often than not, I'm completely wrong about what I thought would make a good HDR. I sometimes benefit from "happy mistakes."

My personal preference, although I've turned out a fair degree of decent HDR in both types I described above, are the types of images that are HDR, but aren't very obvious.

[santiclaws]

My personal preference, although I've turned out a fair degree of decent HDR in both types I described above, are the types of images that are HDR, but aren't very obvious.
Ditto. I like HDR when it makes a photo "pop" without immediately screaming HDR.

[rinkrat]

I was just contacted by the District Weekly and they are gonna use two of my photos in their Best of Long Beach issue. One of the lighthouse and one of the ferris wheel all blurred out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rinkrat/2481816027/in/set-72157603616828335/

They are including a bio too i think.

I hope it gots through, it's been one of my personal goals to get a photo published in the District Weekly.

[BleedingPurple]

I was just contacted by the District Weekly and they are gonna use two of my photos in their Best of Long Beach issue. One of the lighthouse and one of the ferris wheel all blurred out. Long Beach Pike Ferris Wheel on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rinkrat/2481816027/in/set-72157603616828335/)

They are including a bio too i think.

I hope it gots through, it's been one of my personal goals to get a photo published in the District Weekly.


Wow, you guys are getting published all over the place. Congratulations!

(I've gotta get off my lazy butt and take some photos.)

[rinkrat]

I sent her another photo to consider (the sailor statue) and she sent back a response like "I love this photo YOU'RE GREAT" and asked me if I would mind doing random assignments for the District Weekly.

This is so cool because one of my personal goals was to get a photo in the District Weekly and one of my dreams was to actually get some work there. it looks like it might come true if everything goes well!

[FBJ]

Awesome, man!

[VF]

Very nice!

[BleedingPurple]

Congrats!

[VF]

Shot my first wedding as the sole shooter, and my first same sex wedding, which was actually pretty challenging for me because there isn't the sort of go to standard shots that you have to make sure you get when you have a bride and groom. That and one of the families wasn't very excited about the event, so the couple was pretty reserved and wasn't very lovey with each other, which makes it hard to get that special moment if they really aren't giving you any. All in all though it went pretty well, I just delivered 300 some odd proofs to them, so I am breathing a bit of a sigh of relief of getting the job out the door.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2960122076_89179b1837_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2960122302_39fa10d657_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2960123064_90a724961e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2959282631_88941caaf3_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2960123436_5c1dac3a4e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2959282909_7741486914_o.jpg

[santiclaws]

Good shots. But if I can just make one suggestion? Lesbians.

[FBJ]

I like the overall tonal qualities in regards to contrast. Well done. The flower box could be $ on stock photo sites.

[FBJ]

I've pretty much gotten my zenfolio gallery set up the way I want it. I've finally ditched the old gallery and pointed my domain to the new zenfolio account.

Let me tell you, that is a smoooooth and seamless setup. For $100 a year plus a per-order service fee, you get a gallery site with a built in shopping cart and credit card processing. Customers can even customize their prints with mounting and framing, and its all priced out for them according to a pricing formula you set. The best thing is that there's an option to remove all logos and advertising references to zenfolio or the printing house from your web gallery, making it look 100% like your product.

Pretty cool. I'm pretty happy with it. I just need to do a little tweeking of the products and pricing lists, and I'm 100% up and running.

[rinkrat]

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/dis.jpg

Here's the Best of Long Beach issue of the District Weekly that I mentioned.

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/dis1.jpg

two other pics printed too.

[PuckMonkey]

Dude, you're like the Ansel Adams of Long Beach!

Congrats!

[rinkrat]

I like the use of the word 'artist'. :)

Ha!

[HeShootsNScores]

double props.... you're livin the life RR!

[FBJ]

More still-life stuff. I'm kinda getting off on finding old stuff to take pictures of so I can run them through the Lightroom sepia-tone preset.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2966992205_3a6e5f7cee.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2967839704_629917d969.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2966992831_9b23c98b3f.jpg

Rest here. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenn_calvin/)

[VF]

Good shots. But if I can just make one suggestion? Hot lesbians.

FTFY ;)


I like the overall tonal qualities in regards to contrast. Well done. The flower box could be $ on stock photo sites.

I'm glad you like it, my wife and I got in a disagreement over my toning of them. She felt that they were too muddled, but they are sort of a funky couple, and the venue they chose for the reception (and hence the formals) had a high class old school 60s feel to it, so I wanted to try and do something to compliment that. Hopefully it worked.

[VF]

More still-life stuff. I'm kinda getting off on finding old stuff to take pictures of so I can run them through the Lightroom sepia-tone preset.

Great shots, love the framing on the rosette.

[rinkrat]

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/wifekings6.jpg


Messing around with the remote lighting. Blue gel on the back wall, tungsten warming gel on the right side and an umbrella on the left side. Her new avatar. :)

[rinkrat]

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_2415.jpg


Tried flashes in a different configuration at the opposite end of the rink this time. I'm pleased with the results and will probably go with this for the finals next month. I like the way the colors pop.

[VF]

Messing around with the remote lighting. Blue gel on the back wall, tungsten warming gel on the right side and an umbrella on the left side. Her new avatar. :)

Looks great! The one thing I would comment on (and I'm sure you know) there is a lot of spill happening from your umbrella onto the back wall which is washing your purple gel out a bit. You might be able to mitigate the spill a bit by bringing the lovely Gal VanIZed away from the wall so there is a bit more fall off from the umbrella. I have also found it is really hard to add color via a gelled light on a white surface, it really helps if you are shooting against gray or black if you want to add color, otherwise you just keep adding light but don't get much color off of it.

[HeShootsNScores]

hey FBJ (I write in here because I know you'll check it)... it was nice meeting you last night!


I look forward to assisting you on the ice-girls photoshoot.


Cheers!

[FBJ]

hey FBJ (I write in here because I know you'll check it)... it was nice meeting you last night!


I look forward to assisting you on the ice-girls photoshoot.


Cheers!

Hah!

Likewise. But, somehow, I think rinkrat has an inside track to that ice-girls photoshoot. Maybe we can assist him?

[VF]

For the 50D owners (RR), there is new firmware (http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos50d/firmware.html) to address the Err99s that the camera might be throwing, along with a few other things.

[HeShootsNScores]

Hah!

Likewise. But, somehow, I think rinkrat has an inside track to that ice-girls photoshoot. Maybe we can assist him?

How 'bout it Mr. Z? Can we hold a lens, flash or something?

[VF]

Just a few from apple picking this weekend.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2984189531_c2a290ba02_o.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/sam_page/2984189531/)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2985045846_bf12b7d976_o.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/sam_page/2985045846/)

[FBJ]

How 'bout it Mr. Z? Can we hold a lens, flash or something?

Icegirl?

[BleedingPurple]

Great Shots Valley. The first one has a look of innocence to it.

[rinkrat]

For the 50D owners (RR), there is new firmware (http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos50d/firmware.html) to address the Err99s that the camera might be throwing, along with a few other things.



I had a few Err99 errors so this is great. I had 1.0.1 and this is 1.0.3 :) :) :)

[rinkrat]

Looks great! The one thing I would comment on (and I'm sure you know) there is a lot of spill happening from your umbrella onto the back wall which is washing your purple gel out a bit. You might be able to mitigate the spill a bit by bringing the lovely Gal VanIZed away from the wall so there is a bit more fall off from the umbrella. I have also found it is really hard to add color via a gelled light on a white surface, it really helps if you are shooting against gray or black if you want to add color, otherwise you just keep adding light but don't get much color off of it.



Thanks for the tips. This is the first time I tried it so I still have a lot to learn. I was wondering why the background color wasn't saturated!!

[FBJ]

Crap. F'ed up. Will re-post in a few.

[FBJ]

Some images from the Dia de los Muertos Family Festival that happened in Canoga Park today.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/2996862353_62d6559883.jpg
Calaveras

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2996860961_a0b083bab6.jpg
Neapolitan

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2996864759_c8c7073417.jpg
Low-Rider Bike

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2996866819_60b7997d10.jpg
Pachuco

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2997715978_06a35094ff.jpg
Would you haul a load of rocks in this truck bed?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2996878509_5b01feb052.jpg
Si...fly.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2996886635_d7f266e809.jpg
Aztec Dancer

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/2997745558_ecb7c3cf7d.jpg
Painted Face

More here. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenn_calvin/sets/72157608600582988/)

[FBJ]

And a couple from the Farmer's Market today...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/3017152358_b1ae5a0595.jpg
Red Bells

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/3017151990_79ba46923d.jpg
Basket Full O' Fire

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3017153878_bed8280c0e.jpg
Georgia On My Mind

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/3017154442_1b21e31486.jpg
Chilis

Rest here. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenn_calvin/sets/72157608792174596/)

Where the hell is everybody?

[BleedingPurple]

Great Shots in both of your posts, FBJ.

I especially like the red & green chili's. Great contrast and just in time for Christmas. ;)

[VF]

I don't know where I have been, but I LOVE the truck bed (that would probably look fantastic printed on metallic). Pachuco is also a nice capture. Nice work!

[VF]

Also, while I was at art walk down at the brewery a few weeks back, I came across a photog who had some really interesting prints. Beyond just being fantastic photos, they all were printed with a process called front or face mounting (http://www.pccolour.com/services_mounting_frontmount.html), the company he was using was PC Colour Lab (http://www.pccolour.com). What it is is they print the photo on something like a Duratrans or a Fujitrans and using clear adhesive mount it to the face of acrylic or plexi, the result is a high gloss, very smooth, very bright, very cool.

The lab offers a free 8x10 sample, you pay shipping. It is pretty cool.

[HeShootsNScores]

I'm still learning how to shoot and make HDR photos look good in the dark. Any ideas?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/3020691817_bfcb58d44a_b.jpg

[FBJ]

Took this while walking around aboard the Star of India here in San Diego this afternoon.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3028930968_1f407bcc21.jpg

Not with the big Nikon, but with my little G9. Still, I rather like it.

[rinkrat]

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_4547.jpg

recunize

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_4368.jpg

http://laist.com/attachments/rinkrat/IMG_4029.jpg

A protest, Derby Dolls Championships and LA Kings. What a week!

[VF]

Not with the big Nikon, but with my little G9. Still, I rather like it.

Just goes to show it's the photographer, not the camera.

[HeShootsNScores]

I took these at my sister's dance recital... thoughts?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/3042237190_f78af8a725_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3042254966_4c5d684e08_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/3041403321_84b435e31a_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/3042227778_450a336e21_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/3041383779_061073867f_b.jpg

[FBJ]

Nicely done, B!

I shot my daughter's first dance recital back in June, and I have to say that it was THE MOST difficult shooting situation I've experienced. And that's even with the D3 and an f/2.8 lens! I'd love to get some more practice in those settings, but I'm not sure where I'd get it.

[HeShootsNScores]

Nicely done, B!

I shot my daughter's first dance recital back in June, and I have to say that it was THE MOST difficult shooting situation I've experienced. And that's even with the D3 and an f/2.8 lens! I'd love to get some more practice in those settings, but I'm not sure where I'd get it.

well... it just so happens that I run my own theatre company.... (we perform in the summer... its a summer workshop) This summer we'll be performing "Les Miserables".... so you may have to come out to Azusa and take a few shots!

[rinkrat]

Nice shots!!

[santiclaws]

Fooling around with some hockey pics...

Chase for the puck

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c127/santiclaws/hockey/PICT0139supersaturated.jpg

The Fox and the Hound
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c127/santiclaws/hockey/PICT0044.jpg

Going into the corner

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c127/santiclaws/hockey/intothecorner-midsaturation.jpg

Splitting the D
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c127/santiclaws/hockey/PICT0015.jpg

[VF]

Testing out a new HDR program, Photomatix and I never really got along so well. It is called Dynamic-Photo HDR, and it is certainly a LOT faster with the preview, and I think it does a pretty good job. It had a bit of a problem with alignment, but to be fair it has more fancy manual options that I didn't really play with yet (I was to excited to just spit something out). But I really am liking the results and the interface with the program. I tell you what though, this shot REALLY makes me wish I had a good, wide prime (if Santa is listening, the Carl Zeiss 21mm Distagon (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091901carl_zeiss_distagon_t_21mm.asp) now comes in an EF mount ;) )

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/3058247200_c8ce0e9aae_o.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/sam_page/3058247200/)

[VF]

Fooling around with some hockey pics...


Interesting, can you tell us more about them? Are they actual photos of a video feed?

[VF]

Playing around with star field shots, which I am really bad at. If anyone has experience doing this, I would love to know. Particularly, what is the best way to do this with a digital? Short shutter at high ISO, long shutter with low ISO and then a difference pass with a shot of equal length with the lens cap on? The first of the two is 8 minutes, and the second is two shots at 8 minutes each laid on top of each other in Photoshop. But I'm getting a LOT of noise from these. Also, it is SO dark, how the heck do you frame your shot? I totally guessed as to where I was pointing the camera.

The story behind the rather bland second shot is I went down to the beach where we were staying this weekend (Sea Ranch, northish central coast), got down there and freaked myself out thinking "what was that? Was that a pissed off sea lion? Oh crap, are there mountain lions around here? Am I going to lose my camera in the tide?" So I moved closer to the house to calm my nerves at the expense of an interesting shot.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/3058247636_c72302eedf_o.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/sam_page/3058247636/in/photostream)

Sunset shot of the same beach. (http://www.letsgokings.com/bbs/f15/hdr_photography-75769-12.html#post1326804)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/3057410685_d580eacb10_o.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/sam_page/3057410685/in/photostream)

[santiclaws]

Interesting, can you tell us more about them? Are they actual photos of a video feed?
Yep, the Kings-Caps game.

[rinkrat]

Bitchen star shots

[VF]

Bitchen star shots

Thanks! So if anyone is interested, the general consensus seems to be that ISO of about 400, with at around f/4.0, take a ton of 30 second shots (set the camera on continuous drive, manual mode, turn off noise reduction, and hold the shutter with a cable release), layer them in Photoshop using the Lighten layer blending option, or use a more automated program like Startrails (http://www.startrails.de/html/software.html) to do it for you.

Now if only I lived in a city where I could see the stars to test it out :)

[FBJ]

Spent the last two days down in Escondido at wife's Mom's house. She's an antiques nut and has a big Steinway grand piano, so I did some more still life practice.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/3070049310_704653b393.jpg
Mandolin

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3070047644_e2df4920a3.jpg
Old Dixie Recipes (Complete With Stereotypes!)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/3069214511_13a5607609.jpg
Appletini (wife and mother-in-law were drinking these...yucko)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3070044978_26e8a08d5d.jpg
Cracker Jack Toys!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/3069204833_2fa61ab98f.jpg
Pianist (I'm getting into this "pictures of hands" thing, I think...)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3070044172_d605e144ae.jpg
Steinway Guts

Also tried my hand at some fireside portraits. Holy crap it's hard to make these turn out halfway decent!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3070050944_7b97e1ff96.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/3070050280_3caccb8c14.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/3069212329_c7349a3a6b.jpg

The last one is a tad fuzzy...suitable for small prints and such is all, really. But their faces were perfect, expression-wise, so I had to keep it. That was the first pic I took in the series, actually.

Incidentally, firelight white-balances at about 3300k, in case anyone was wondering.

[Unfiltered]

I was wondering if any of you were able to get in on Amazon's Black Friday deal on Lightroom 2? They had it for $124.99. I missed out on that one, but they relisted it for $134.99 that night, so I still got an amazing deal.

I was on the fence with LR as it was $100 more than Aperture (which I like just fine), but I couldn't pass up a deal that was better than my NBC pricing on Aperture.

Keep an eye on Amazon for Cyber Monday. Word is they're going to have a CS4 deal that cannot be ignored.

[VF]

Love the mandolin, and I think using something a piano as a photo study is a fantastic idea, there are a lot of great photos hiding in that piano that you found.

To unfiltered, I'll have to keep an eye an Adobe, I've been looking to upgrade to CS4, thanks for the heads up.

[Unfiltered]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/3070049310_704653b393.jpg
Mandolin

Beautiful! The DOF is great.



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3070044978_26e8a08d5d.jpg
Cracker Jack Toys!

I love the blend of the varying colors. Very nice!



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3070044172_d605e144ae.jpg
Steinway Guts


I LOVE it! Anyone playing a piano would love that one for the wall. (I would, anyway. ;)) Was that cropped?

[VF]

D3x announced today (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0812/081201nikond3x.asp). Looks pretty nice, 24.5mp at 5fps or 7fps at 10mp. It sounds like it will start out at $8K, but it can't stay there for long. This might start a nice price war between the D3x and the 1Ds MkIII (lets hope ;) )

[FBJ]

Ah...the portrait version of the D3.

No thanks. I like the fps of the standard D3.

Only thing that's bent me about it is the tiny buffer that they're charging $500 to increase. That should be a recall item, IMO.

[VF]

http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0812/Nikon/nikon_d3x_50_front.jpg

What are the two buttons that both look like the depth of field preview buttons on the left (in this view) of the lens mount?

[FBJ]

They can be programmed however you like. I have mine programmed with the first one as exposure lock and the second one activates the in-viewfinder "artificial horizon."

[HeShootsNScores]

$8k!

wow... the things I would do with $8K....

[FBJ]

$8k would buy me the 300mm f/2.8 and a sweet studio lighting setup.

Or it could pay off a credit card.

No more gear for me for a good while.

[VF]

They can be programmed however you like. I have mine programmed with the first one as exposure lock and the second one activates the in-viewfinder "artificial horizon."

OK, that is pretty hot. Both the multiple programmable buttons and the artificial horizon. The only thing I have in my viewfinder is dust ;)

[VF]

$8k!

wow... the things I would do with $8K....

There is no question it is expensive, but to keep it in perspective, the only cameras before this and the 1Ds MkIII that were at all comparable in terms of resolution and image quality were $18,000 645 digital backs, and the only "features" of those bodies are auto focus. And it isn't frames per second, it is seconds per frame :) So while a $8K 35mm SLR body is ridiculously expensive, an $8k digital back is ridiculously cheap. I know that the pixels are a lot smaller on the 35mm than the 645, but the bodies themselves are a lot more versatile.

Also, I don't think that $8k price ($7K for the Canon equivalent) will hold for very long. Currently the difference between the 1D MkIII (which is the same body as the 1Ds but with a 1.3x crop sensor) and the 1Ds MkIII is around $3K, which is more than the whole cost of the 5d MkII, which has the same size but updated version of the 1Ds sensor. Certainly there will be people who need the features and the sensor of the 1Ds MkIII (or the D3x) and are going to be willing to pay the price, but when you can get the same body or the same (even better) sensor for $3K to $5K less, that is going to put a serious dent in the number of bodies you can move for $8K. Once the 5D MkII really starts shipping, look for the price of the 1Ds MkIII to fall, that might drive down the cost of the D3x.

Then what ever comes out next will be at the $8K price point again ;)

[DeaderFan]

I agree that it is pretty impressive but it doesn't get me real excited the way the introduction of the D3 did. Once you start getting upward of 12 mega pixels, I'm pretty happy with resolution. When you get to 24 mp I think you need expensive glass to get real value from it, and the workflow with such huge files means a whole new system.

With the D3 they went after Canon in photo journalism and sports photography. Now they are countering Canon in the commercial/fashion niche.

I will be very interested to see some images taken with this camera. My understanding is that this uses the same sensor as the new Sony A900 which sells for just $3K. The rumors I heard were that they would package that sensor in a midrange D800/D900 model rather than the pro level D line. So if it is the same Sony-built sensor as in the Alpha, what makes this camera worth $5K more?

It was the D3's ground breaking high ISO performance that really got me going last year. That and the Fx format. Because the D3 uses a home-grown Nikon sensor, there is nothing out there quite like it. The only thing I didn't like was the size and cost. Fortunately, now there's the D700. That would be my next purchase if I had the money.

[VF]

So who has Flickr streams? FBJ I got, I don't think I have anyone else. Deader, HeShoots, PuckMonkey, RinkRat? Anybody?

I'm at Flickr: SamPage's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_page/)

[rinkrat]

Flickr: Michael Zampelli's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rinkrat/)

[HeShootsNScores]

Flickr: HeShootsNScores' Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/heshootsnscores/)

[FBJ]

"Early concept art for the D3." I don't know if I buy that or not, but:

http://gcalvin.com/files/D3Concept.jpg

Holy crap I wish it looked like this!

[DeaderFan]

So who has Flickr streams? FBJ I got, I don't think I have anyone else. Deader, HeShoots, PuckMonkey, RinkRat? Anybody?

I'm at Flickr: SamPage's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_page/)

Cool stuff VF. I need to put one of those up. I did one for my kid's hockey team, but have not gotten around to doing one for my other shots yet.

[IMPACT]

So who has Flickr streams? FBJ I got, I don't think I have anyone else. Deader, HeShoots, PuckMonkey, RinkRat? Anybody?

I'm at Flickr: SamPage's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_page/)

I have a few up. I'm at Flickr: Mike Santiago's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94635456@N00/)

[FBJ]

I ran across this lady's (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22533227@N03/) photostream today and found this image:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2576845084_5bbefded43_o.jpg

It seems she's completely forsaken her Canon for her D3. ;)

Her photostream also makes me really jones for the 135mm f/2.0 Defocus Image Control lens (http://nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Camera-Lenses/1935/AF-DC-NIKKOR-135mm-f/2D.html). It takes amazing portraits!

[VF]

Jesus, take the $2k non sealed lens off the front of it before you make your point! :)

[BleedingPurple]

Wow, I hate to break up the love-fest for the new Nikon but we've had some beautiful sunsets up here in Thousand Oaks that I thought you might enjoy. :3smile:

Nothing earth-shattering but beautiful nonetheless. I played with my exposures a little bit to see what I liked best. Any thoughts?

-2/3 step
http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/41202/2487167830050855533S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/43418/2555295210050855533S600x600Q85.jpg

-1/3 Step
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/40843/2922229360050855533S600x600Q85.jpg

-2/3 Step
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/35671/2853513270050855533S600x600Q85.jpg

[FBJ]

Cool, Greg.

[VF]

Very nice. I like 1 and 2. I find the second one is a very nice silhouette, and there is still some interesting things going on at the top of frame, but the lights at the bottom of frame are a little distracting. Nice gets though!

[BleedingPurple]

Cool, Greg.


Very nice. I like 1 and 2. I find the second one is a very nice silhouette, and there is still some interesting things going on at the top of frame, but the lights at the bottom of frame are a little distracting. Nice gets though!

Thanks, Guys.

VF - I'll have to crop #2 little bit. My wife and I were literally walking out the door to go to the grocery store and I looked up and saw the incredible sunset so I ran back inside to grab the camera and I fired off a few frames.

[HeShootsNScores]

going through your guys' flickr accounts made me think we should have a LGK photo pool. Thoughts?

[BleedingPurple]

I need to actual add items to my Flickr account. I have everything on Webshots and I really need to move stuff over.

What is a "Photo Pool?"

[FBJ]

going through your guys' flickr accounts made me think we should have a LGK photo pool. Thoughts?

That'd be entirely up to Rinkrat.

[VF]

We should have some sort of fun little photo contest to encourage people to post photos ;)

[rinkrat]

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_7948_381142.jpg

LA Live

http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_7970_872946.jpg



http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/files/1/img_8000_919160.jpg

[rinkrat]

going through your guys' flickr accounts made me think we should have a LGK photo pool. Thoughts?

Excellent idea! I'll put one together and then let you guys know so you can join it.

[rinkrat]

Here it is. I still have to tweak the settings.

Flickr: LGK DSLR Group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/lgk/)

[santiclaws]

Only somewhat related, but this dude's got brass balls - I'd still be suffering from my heart attack and trying to find new underwear, not remembering to get the shot.

Nerves of SteelVideo (http://www.break.com/index/nerves-of-steel.html)

[rinkrat]

What is a "Photo Pool?"



It's a place where we all swim naked and take pictures of each other.

[HeShootsNScores]

It's a place where we all swim naked and take pictures of each other.

ooooh.... THHHAAAATS what it means!

[santiclaws]

That's all we need - shots of pasty fat asses.

[PuckMonkey]

We should have some sort of fun little photo contest to encourage people to post photos ;)

Yeah, we could pick a theme, and everyone take pictures of that theme. That could be kinda cool.

[FBJ]

It's been done:

Index of /files/PhotoChallenge1 (http://gcalvin.com/files/PhotoChallenge1/)
Index of /files/PhotoChallenge2 (http://gcalvin.com/files/PhotoChallenge2/)
Index of /files/PhotoChallenge3 (http://gcalvin.com/files/PhotoChallenge3/)
Index of /files/PhotoChallenge4 (http://gcalvin.com/files/PhotoChallenge4/)

Someone think of something new...

[BleedingPurple]

LA Live




Hey RR, can you post your photo data? I'm always curious with nightshots.

[VF]

It's been done:

Someone think of something new...

"Think of something new..." as in think of a new subject for the challenge, or "think of something new" as in "I am so tired of the challenges and the fact that people lose interest over time I don't even want to think about it and you are an a-hole for bringing it up"?

[rinkrat]

Hey RR, can you post your photo data? I'm always curious with nightshots.

La Live - Los Angeles Kings Fan Photo Gallery (http://www.letsgokings.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=8474&c=252)
It's at the bottom

5 sec at ISO 100

[FBJ]

"Think of something new..." as in think of a new subject for the challenge, or "think of something new" as in "I am so tired of the challenges and the fact that people lose interest over time I don't even want to think about it and you are an a-hole for bringing it up"?

Nobody was calling anybody an a-hole...ya jerk! ;)

I dunno, though. The Challenges served the purpose that they were meant to serve, really. Interest was lost on them, bigtime, towards the last one. Not as if it took a whole lot of my time to run the things, but I'd just rather not visit that particular method of getting me off my ass to take pictures again. There's got to be something different we could all do that would take us all to the next incline in the learning curve rather than re-visiting previous plateaus.

Maybe we could all raid a random wedding simultaneously, ninja-style, with everyone taking pictures only as long as it takes for them to have someone remove us, and then donating our results to the bride and groom afterwards?

Or we could all go out together one Saturday night and be total paparazzi, trying to get pictures of celebrities around L.A. and trying to sell them to magazines. Any earnings we get are put into a communal pot to pay for any legal fees we might need to pay as a result of our actions.

Or maybe we could get a big list of participants together. The first one on the list could find an interesting and non-expensive item in their house and spend a day photographing it, keeping his images off the net. Then they could send that item to the next person who would spend a day photographing it, and so on and so on until we get to the end of the list. When the item has been to everyone, we all post our images simultaneously to see how similar and different they all are.

Stuff like that.

(p.s. I think the 'Ninja Photographers' thing would be frickin fun as hell.)

[HeShootsNScores]

Nobody was calling anybody an a-hole...ya jerk! ;)

I dunno, though. The Challenges served the purpose that they were meant to serve, really. Interest was lost on them, bigtime, towards the last one. Not as if it took a whole lot of my time to run the things, but I'd just rather not visit that particular method of getting me off my ass to take pictures again. There's got to be something different we could all do that would take us all to the next incline in the learning curve rather than re-visiting previous plateaus.

Maybe we could all raid a random wedding simultaneously, ninja-style, with everyone taking pictures only as long as it takes for them to have someone remove us, and then donating our results to the bride and groom afterwards?

Or we could all go out together one Saturday night and be total paparazzi, trying to get pictures of celebrities around L.A. and trying to sell them to magazines. Any earnings we get are put into a communal pot to pay for any legal fees we might need to pay as a result of our actions.

Or maybe we could get a big list of participants together. The first one on the list could find an interesting and non-expensive item in their house and spend a day photographing it, keeping his images off the net. Then they could send that item to the next person who would spend a day photographing it, and so on and so on until we get to the end of the list. When the item has been to everyone, we all post our images simultaneously to see how similar and different they all are.

Stuff like that.

(p.s. I think the 'Ninja Photographers' thing would be frickin fun as hell.)

oooh ooh ! Could we wear all black??

that.... or we could all wear our Kings garb. Though I think we may be out of place.

I'm thinking wedding crashers, LGK DSLR thread style.

[rinkrat]

I just joined SmugMug so I can sell my **** like FBJ. It looks really cool and it totally customizable. They do all the printing etc and it's pretty cheap. I talked to another photog who recommended it and says the prints are great. Here is a link to a free trial. You can save $5 on a subscription by using the coupon eSCBLmEj9DYVk at signup.

Free Smugmug Trial (http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-790669-10394879)

[BleedingPurple]

Nobody was calling anybody an a-hole...ya jerk! ;)

Maybe we could all raid a random wedding simultaneously, ninja-style, with everyone taking pictures only as long as it takes for them to have someone remove us, and then donating our results to the bride and groom afterwards?

Dude, that would be sooooo awesome!



Or maybe we could get a big list of participants together. The first one on the list could find an interesting and non-expensive item in their house and spend a day photographing it, keeping his images off the net. Then they could send that item to the next person who would spend a day photographing it, and so on and so on until we get to the end of the list. When the item has been to everyone, we all post our images simultaneously to see how similar and different they all are.

This is a GREAT idea. It would really make everyone use their imagination.



(p.s. I think the 'Ninja Photographers' thing would be frickin fun as hell.)

Agreed.

[VF]

I would be all for a "photo safari" as it were, but I have to say, I am hesitant about something like crashing a wedding. I don't want to be the guy that cost some poor bride $8K and the prints from the photog that she has hoped and dreamed of getting since she was proposed to.

I perhaps am more lame than most, but if it were things like the LA river, Mt. Baldy, a Kings practice, or the Derby Dolls where we could all try and get in RinkRat's shot, that would be great ;)

[Blurker]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/3067832394_c46faf055d_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/3066994165_a217cabb5b_b.jpg

[DeaderFan]

I'm prolly even lamer than lame because I not only agree with VF, I still like the challenge concept. Weddings don't do much for me, and I certainly wouldn't want to ruin someone's special day. Doing a designated sports event, festival, parade or just a "day in LA" kind of thing might be fun.

I definitely agree with FBJ that the challenges (and this thread) have served its purpose well. There has been a lot of photo skill developed around here. Especially when you look at what FBJ, RR and a few others have been doing lately. Nice work!

[FBJ]

I would be all for a "photo safari" as it were, but I have to say, I am hesitant about something like crashing a wedding. I don't want to be the guy that cost some poor bride $8K and the prints from the photog that she has hoped and dreamed of getting since she was proposed to.

I perhaps am more lame than most, but if it were things like the LA river, Mt. Baldy, a Kings practice, or the Derby Dolls where we could all try and get in RinkRat's shot, that would be great ;)

I was only somewhat serious about doing one of the activities in the post I made above. Take a guess at which two weren't the serious one.

:nutkick:

Has everyone around here lost their sense of sarcasm? Sheesh!

[FBJ]

Like the second one a lot...

[rinkrat]

Come on you guys, join the flickr pool and start dumping your best stuff in there. It should be a great collection and I can tell you from experience that it's a great way to get your name out there. (Actually if you read way back, FBJ clued us into this a long time ago)

Flickr: The LGK DSLR Group Pool (http://www.flickr.com/groups/lgk/pool)

JOIN NOW and start adding your photos

[FBJ]

The key to getting things seen on Flickr is extensive tagging and titling your pictures. I'm very lazy, so my list of tags is very short on most of my images.

And damn...what's with the five pics per day limit? :P

[rinkrat]

Isn't five plenty? That way it keeps the quality high. Some groups have a limit of one per week!

I gotta spend more time tagging. :)

[FBJ]

One thing I hope the LGK Flickr group doesn't cause is this thread to be utilized less.

[rinkrat]

I think we can keep the talk here and the photos there. It makes it easy to share them without worrying about hosting. Plus, with the 5 a day limit, we can add several a day and not feel like we are bombarding the conversation.

[VF]

Yeah, they are nice, my personal taste would be to back off just a touch, but they do look good. My one little nitpick (not to be that guy), I find the sky being brighter through the windshield of the cab than it is outside the cab to be a bit distracting.

[DeaderFan]

I think we can keep the talk here and the photos there. It makes it easy to share them without worrying about hosting. Plus, with the 5 a day limit, we can add several a day and not feel like we are bombarding the conversation.

OK, I'm in. Just added 5...

under the alias P Ward. DeaderFan is my real name of course.

[PuckMonkey]

I fear Flickr for some reason.

[DeaderFan]

Can I make a suggestion? How about a sticky thread with the link to the LGK Flickr Group Pool so folks can check it out?

[VF]

I fear Flickr for some reason.

It is a similar time suck to LGK, but you can search for nudie pictures, so it all works out :)

[FBJ]

Can I make a suggestion? How about a sticky thread with the link to the LGK Flickr Group Pool so folks can check it out?

Seconded...and I suggest you put it in the Reality Hipcheck forum, since only techie geeks like us come into this forum.

[BleedingPurple]

Just joined but all my photos are on my PC at home. Will start adding later this weekend.

I head to Europe for 2 weeks over the holidays so I should plenty of photos to add once I'm back! :)

[IMPACT]

This is the best thread I have ever read! I decided to start at page one and just finished. You all are really awesome. I have been interested in photography for awhile and this thread had just inspired me to push myself into it even more. RinkRat's story of where he started and where he is at now was amazing!

I joined the flickr group and will start uploading some of my pics this weekend. I don't have a DSLR yet but hope that one of the gifts under the tree this year will be one. I have looked into the Nikon's. What's hot right now with Nikon and what would you all recommend for a beginner?

[BleedingPurple]

This is the best thread I have ever read! I decided to start at page one and just finished. You all are really awesome. I have been interested in photography for awhile and this thread had just inspired me to push myself into it even more. RinkRat's story of where he started and where he is at now was amazing!

I joined the flickr group and will start uploading some of my pics this weekend. I don't have a DSLR yet but hope that one of the gifts under the tree this year will be one. I have looked into the Nikon's. What's hot right now with Nikon and what would you all recommend for a beginner?

Paging FBJ.... Please answer the White Courtesy Phone.

http://www.wintermutestudios.com/Wintermute/Paging%20Ms.%20Toit/9AB61212-631D-4729-860D-11754B687B4E_files/PC170083.jpg

[FBJ]

"Give me Hamm on 5...hold The Mayo..."

Decorating the Christmas tree at the moment. I'll get back to you.

[FBJ]

If you're set on Nikon, a good beginner's rig might be something along these lines:

Nikon D60 10.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Outfit w/18-55+ 55-200mm DX VR Nikkor Lenses and Nikon School DVDs - Canoga Camera (http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=43886)

(Damn that's a good deal for $589.99!!)

A nice compact DSLR camera body and a pair of lenses. That's a smoking deal and will give you a good place to start.

[BleedingPurple]

Great Job, Blurker.

I like both but like VF said, the difference in brightness is noticeable. Nevertheless, great shot.

The first one really tells a story for me. The sky is bright and beautiful but the world of these two people holding each other is in jeopardy. Pretty neat shot.

[FBJ]

Well, I've finally started culling the rejects from my Lightroom database, and also clearing them off my disk drives. I've probably deleted 2,000 crap images out of almost 20,000...and that isn't even a quarter of the way through the database, either.

Wonder how much space I'll save when I finally do empty the recycle bin?

[rinkrat]

I just removed a lot of programs to make room for photos. I'm only keeping the best shots now because there are so damn many. I might have to go back to when I was saving everything and do some pruning.

[rinkrat]

This is the best thread I have ever read! I decided to start at page one and just finished. You all are really awesome. I have been interested in photography for awhile and this thread had just inspired me to push myself into it even more. RinkRat's story of where he started and where he is at now was amazing!


I am amazed myself sometimes. It's strange to get testimonials from nearly everyone I see at Staples Center. What's weird is that I feel like I am just getting started.

Since most of this is over last year's New Years' resolution to take photography seriously, I'm kind of looking over the last year though and saying, "Dayam".

I set a lot of goals and reached many of them. This year's resolution should inspire me to push it to the next level.

This thread helped me so much in picking the right gear. Also, when everyone is telling you that your pics rock, it's kind of nice to have someone say "Hey,, that would look better if you did this" or "Why is the horizon crooked?" or whatever. There is always room for improvement, in fact the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know.

So THANKS to everyone once again for taking part. It's great to know one can ask a specific question and get quick knowledgeable responses and suggestions without a lot of politics.

[FBJ]

I don't think I've found (yet) anywhere else to get constructive criticism about my images. On Flickr, all you get are sparkly banner type things that scream "AWESOME PHOTO!" in some foreign language that show up in your comments.

Everyone here kind of pushes everyone else. Some of us have careers in other fields and are looking at this as serious hobbyists. Others, like rinkrat and PuckMonkey, are looking to use photography as their main job. Either way, this thread has created a very useful network for the people that are involved in it on a regular basis.

So, as it must be time for the yearly "I love you, man" fest that this thread goes through, I'd just like to say, "I love you, man" to this thread and everyone here.

[PuckMonkey]

I don't think I've found (yet) anywhere else to get constructive criticism about my images. On Flickr, all you get are sparkly banner type things that scream "AWESOME PHOTO!" in some foreign language that show up in your comments.

Everyone here kind of pushes everyone else. Some of us have careers in other fields and are looking at this as serious hobbyists. Others, like rinkrat and PuckMonkey, are looking to use photography as their main job. Either way, this thread has created a very useful network for the people that are involved in it on a regular basis.

So, as it must be time for the yearly "I love you, man" fest that this thread goes through, I'd just like to say, "I love you, man" to this thread and everyone here.

I oughta take a picture of the broner I'm sporting right now.

[FBJ]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/241875902_b41023400f_m.jpg

Oh. You said "BROner."

[BleedingPurple]

I love you guys! ;)


fyi... I loaded some pictures in the photo-pool but my name is different.

Limjelo = ME.

[BleedingPurple]

Plus, with the 5 a day limit, we can add several a day and not feel like we are bombarding the conversation.

Crap, with 5 a day, I've got a lot of work to do.

[KernCoKingFan]

I know I haven't posted a lot here. But have read and lurked quite a bit. I've learned quite a few things, and FBJ was also very helpful in my first DSLR purchase. Would also like to thank everyone that has participated in this thread..You all ROCK!

Will join the flickr group and finally post some pics...Nothing earth shattering like FBJ, PuckMonkey, RR & the too numerous to name great photogs around here, but still learning...Keep up the great work everyone!

[VF]

Yeah, this thread has been a great resource. Thanks to everyone involved, it has been quite inspiring whenever I'm feeling a little low on the photo mojo.

[HeShootsNScores]

I'm not going to lie... this thread is solely responsible for the fact that I carry around my camera EVERYWHERE now. (I actually annoy my wife a bit because of that.) Major props to FBJ and VF, RR and PM for my inspiration. :) ....


.... thought I'd share in the love going around here.

[rinkrat]

I'm hoping the 5-a-day limit will inspire everyone to upload their best **** and not everything they do ;)

[nocturn]

Wow. I need to get my ass in gear and post some **** so I can share in some of this love.

Just spent the weekend in Colonial Williamsburg and got off some nice shots of Rev War architecture and a killer Fifes and Drums procession.

[nocturn]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/FD1.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/FD2.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/FD3.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/FD5.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/COURTHOUSE.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/MAG.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/MOSSWALL.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/DSC_0147.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/BUST.jpg

[rinkrat]

So I got my lens back from Canon Repair in Irvine (the EF L 70-200 IS 2.8) after getting hit by a Sean O'Donnell slapshot and having the filter smashed in and the zoom suddenly turn real sticky. The original estimate was $232.74 to cut the broken protective skylight filter off and replace the front ring unit that got chewed up when the Zamboni guy and I tried to remove it (unsuccessfully) with a huge wrench.

It was supposed to take a couple of days, but it took two weeks so I've had the challenge of shooting hockey with a 17-55 lens for a few games. When I went in to pick it up today they told me that once they opened it they had to replace a whole slew of **** including the barrel, the IS, the 3rd lens element, the focus ring and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember.

Instead of calling to let me know it would be another $900, they fixed it all and charged me the original estimate amount.

Merry Christmas to me from Canon!

[VF]

So I got my lens back from Canon Repair in Irvine (the EF L 70-200 IS 2.8) ...The original estimate was $232.74...

It was supposed to take a couple of days, but it took two weeks...

Instead of calling to let me know it would be another $900, they fixed it all and charged me the original estimate amount.

Merry Christmas to me from Canon!

That is interesting that they took so long with it, usually they are super quick, with my 24-70 they had to replace the whole lens barrel and they did it in two days. Perhaps they are getting slammed with the 5D MkII black dot issue ;) Very cool that they repaired it for the original estimate.


You should still have O'D sign it :)

[FBJ]

Good stuff, Nocturn! Love the DOF, and my favorite of the lot is the second one. Love that crop.

[VF]

So, I stumbled upon this cool little site (http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh) that shows you how to make your own bokeh shapes, so I had to give it a test drive:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3120861414_211da632b5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_page/3120861414/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3120861462_a342c5229a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_page/3120861462/in/photostream/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3120861392_d0cccbda80_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sam_page/3120861392/in/photostream)

Still leaning what makes the best size cutout, and how to improve. I think that you want it as big as possible, while still being smaller that the max aperture of your lens, the longer the lens the better. Also, I think it wants to be right up against the front element as much as possible to cut down on the blurring of your shape.

[Golfnut]

My first tries - from 5 photos taken at the beach

http://x58.xanga.com/6abf1a3148433225494805/b177272204.jpg

http://xb5.xanga.com/a6df102663633225473334/b177253581.jpg
off of PV

[FBJ]

Okay...time for a Lightroom WTF type question...

http://gcalvin.com/files/WTF.jpg

Image #730. WTF??

This is the ONLY image in my entire Lightroom database that has that "special color" to it when looking at it in the Grid View mode of the Library module. I can't find anything in the documentation about why it would be that weird shade of gray-blue instead of just pure gray like the rest of them.

Does anyone know WTF that's about?

[VF]

It has been flagged "Blue", you probably did it by hitting a 6 through 9 key on the keyboard when it was selected. I don't have lightroom in front of me, but I know 6 is red and they go up from there. You can get rid of it by selecting it and go the the photo menu, and I believe go to the "Flagged" sub menu, and you can uncheck "Blue".

[FBJ]

Okay. That did it. You can select the images, then right-click, select 'Set Color Label" and choose. I had a couple others selected as red and yellow, but they're not as easily visible (the image border is the selected color, rather than the entire "slide").

Wonder how it got like that and I wonder how one would utilize those labels to begin with?

[FBJ]

Now in the flickr.com group for critique (http://www.flickr.com/groups/lgk/discuss/72157611429526115/):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3126571914_372b47fc84.jpg

[Blurker]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/3130046458_5571536ec5_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3129217025_f815b58001_b.jpg

[VF]

Wonder how it got like that and I wonder how one would utilize those labels to begin with?

They are just another handy way to organize (besides stars, picks, and the quick collection). I use them to make notes to my self, for instance I use blue to indicate that I want to go back and make some local adjustments, red to say it might be a reject, but let me play around with it. Then I often use green and yellow as a temporary quick collection. That kind of thing.

[VF]

Now in the flickr.com group for critique (http://www.flickr.com/groups/lgk/discuss/72157611429526115/):


Now that we have the flicker group, where should we critique, here or there?

--EDIT--
Never mind, I just went over there and saw the thread.

[VF]

Love the framing, saturation, vignetting on the flag image! As for the carousel, I'm not on a calibrated screen, so it is hard for me to tell, but it looks like the white balance might be a little green, and for a cozy carnival ride, it might suit the image to warm it up just a touch (in my opinion on a non-calibrated screen so who knows what I'm looking at ;) ) Also I imagine that you are resting the camera on something to get the shutter speed, so you are limited in your framing, but I find the railing cutting right through the center of frame slightly distracting. If you had a choice (which again I realize you might not have due to trying to find something to rest the camera on) I might try and get the camera point up a bit to try and get that railing a bit lower in the frame.

[FBJ]

Flag image is bangin'...except for one thing: There is a TON of dirt on your sensor, man! Get busy with that dust-off!

And I concur with the "slight green-ness" of the carousel image...from a calibrated screen.

[BleedingPurple]

Great shot of the flag, Blurker. That thing Jumps!


Flag image is bangin'...except for one thing: There is a TON of dirt on your sensor, man! Get busy with that dust-off!



I'm not seeing the dirt. Where is it?

[FBJ]

The largest specs seem to be about an inch above the top right corner of the blue field of the flag. There's about five of them there. They basically look like round dark blue blobs about 1/8 inch in dia. I lost count at seven of them.

[BleedingPurple]

The largest specs seem to be about an inch above the top right corner of the blue field of the flag. There's about five of them there. They basically look like round dark blue blobs about 1/8 inch in dia. I lost count at seven of them.

I see 'em now. I'll have to look out for stuff like that on my own shots.


That brings up a question:

Do you guys clean your own sensors or do you bring the body to a shop for cleaning? If you do clean your own, what process do you use? Products?

Thanks.

[HeShootsNScores]

That brings up a question:

Do you guys clean your own sensors or do you bring the body to a shop for cleaning? If you do clean your own, what process do you use? Products?
Thanks.

AS said on the board in so many other places..... THIS.

I'm having problems with that too... spots appear on the image. While I spend a considerable amount of time on photoshop anyway, I'd like to not have to fix the spots in all my images.

[VF]

A bulb is your best weapon, but if you have stuff that is "welded on" that the blower can't get, I use Eclipse II fluid (which is no where near as good as the original Eclipse, but it doesn't damage my particular sensor) and sensor swabs, which are just pec pads wrapped around a stick that is the size of your sensor. The company that makes the stuff stands pretty firmly behind their product in that it won't damage your camera, they in fact will replace your camera if the product does damage it.

Photographic Solutions site here (http://www.photosol.com/products.htm), which will tell you what size swabs and which Eclipse fluid. You can also get it on Amazon. A sensor scope A sensor scope (which is the link to the left there, amazon with their webby powers wrote over the text I wanted as a link with "Amazon") is also handy so you can actually see if you still have junk on there without having to put the lens back on a shoot a shot to see.

With all that said, it is almost always remedied with a few strong shots from the blower bulb.

[FBJ]

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.

[rinkrat]

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.

[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.

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.

[Blurker]

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.

[rinkrat]

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. (http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/24754931/the_year_in_random_notes_2008s_w/photo/155)

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. ;)

[PuckMonkey]

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!

[VF]

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).

[VF]

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 :)

[PuckMonkey]

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?

[santiclaws]

Way to go, Mike. Your wife sounds an awful lot like my wife. Time for some New Year's resolutions.

[Blurker]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/3130046458_5571536ec5_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3129217025_f815b58001_b.jpg

Cleaned up the flag photo and tweaked the color on the Merry go Round.

[KernCoKingFan]

Congrats on achieving your goals Mike!

[PuckMonkey]

OK. I just uploaded my first batch of images to my very own Flickr stream. Check it out, add me as a friend, add my stream, do whatever it is people do on there. (I'm such a n00b)

Flickr: Cindrome's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindrome/)

[FBJ]

OK. I just uploaded my first batch of images to my very own Flickr stream. Check it out, add me as a friend, add my stream, do whatever it is people do on there. (I'm such a n00b)

Flickr: Cindrome's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindrome/)

You aren't a n00b unless you post n00b images. So take those l33t ph0t0g images down!

;)

[FBJ]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3136640731_9eba52c566.jpg

[Blurker]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3136640731_9eba52c566.jpg

Nice. Needs some afterburner action, but that'd probably be an obvious photoshop job...

Looks like the sunset in Phoenix last night.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3137729860_0034b0115c.jpg

[VF]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3136640731_9eba52c566.jpg

Wow, that is beautiful. Very nice.

[FBJ]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3139008312_023cc163c4.jpg
Kansas Christmas Sunrise.

[nocturn]

Random Stuff:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/contrailstrees.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/looplightning.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/yellowflyonprimrose.jpg

[nocturn]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/appomattoxfall.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/maliatree.jpg

[FBJ]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/yellowflyonprimrose.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/appomattoxfall.jpg

Awesome. Simply.

[nocturn]

Awesome. Simply.


Thanks dude. They're my favs also. Clean and colorful.

Anyone get any new goodies for xmas?

[FBJ]

We haven't really had our Christmas yet...Wife didn't get me anything photography-related (LittleBigPlanet is a hoot, though). I'm hoping someone gets me a Magic Lantern D3 Guide, though.

[FBJ]

Heh...just realized something.

I rolled my D3's "odometer" over a couple days ago!

All my file #s start with _GC3 (my initials and the 3 for D3) and end with four digit frame numbers. I cycled back to 0000 by running through 9999.

I know it means precisely jack...but I thought it was kinda neat.

[FBJ]

From my walk around the frozen hotel in Seattle, WA on the 23rd:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3139740864_6f16459455.jpg
Delicately Frosted

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3138910481_1de21430b0.jpg
Cold Crotch

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/3139738598_5970fb8d7d.jpg
Thawsplash!

More here. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenn_calvin/sets/72157611696389442/)

[nocturn]

Here's a few more and I'm pau.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/maymountcastle.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/maymountstaircase.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/maymountstaircaselion.jpg

[nocturn]

Heh...just realized something.

I rolled my D3's "odometer" over a couple days ago!

All my file #s start with _GC3 (my initials and the 3 for D3) and end with four digit frame numbers. I cycled back to 0000 by running through 9999.

I know it means precisely jack...but I thought it was kinda neat.

Wow dude. Ive had the D80 for 2years now and just hit 6600.
You must have a lot of time on your hands to shoot and process all that.

[nocturn]

From my walk around the frozen hotel in Seattle, WA on the 23rd:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3139740864_6f16459455.jpg
Delicately Frosted



Nice contrast and comp. My fav.

[nocturn]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/maliabeach4x6landscape.jpg
Bonus pic of the little miss eating sand in Hawaii. Good Times

[FBJ]

Wow dude. Ive had the D80 for 2years now and just hit 6600.
You must have a lot of time on your hands to shoot and process all that.

50% of those frames are crap images that get rejected and are now floating somewhere in the ether (after my delete-fest last week). The other half are worth keeping, but only 15% or so make my personal list of "good images."

[nocturn]

50% of those frames are crap images that get rejected and are now floating somewhere in the ether (after my delete-fest last week). The other half are worth keeping, but only 15% or so make my personal list of "good images."

Yea. I keep about 1 in 20 myself.

I have a series of the moon/Saturn/Jupiter traversing the sky over a 5 hour period that I still need to process. It has 600 shots by itself. Not looking forward to that.

[FBJ]

Some from work the last couple days:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3138952283_0299fc0566.jpg
Another Burbank Sunset

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/3139781212_fbe8610178.jpg
Captain Jose (by the Light of the OPC)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/3138951761_82f89036b5.jpg
Jeppgauges

[rinkrat]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/rdnelan/maliatree.jpg



Love it!!

[nocturn]

Love it!!
Thanks Mikey.

I figured since this year's Christmas wasn't going to be as fruitful as in past years...gear wise, it was time to revisit the old camera bag and tool around with ye ole filters, Star and Red.

Momma did get me a nice 'Rough and Ready' 1 body/2 lens bag for when lugging the whole 40lb backpack is unnecessary.