***DSLR/Photography MegaThread***

rinkrat said:
I love my EF-S 10-22, I'll have to try it on cars. ;)
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Yea, I like the lens also, but to be honest, it doesn't give me the "umph" i look for on landscapes, which is what I originally bought it for. Those cars were the first time I've gotten results I liked from it. For example, from a recent trip to Mexico, I took some pictures at the ruins at Tulum, which overlook the beach & ocean from a cliff. This should be ideal for wide angle IMO, but most of the shots looked like this:

10mm f/4.5
590704257_zAEAD-M.jpg


The only one I got that I like and thought was effective at wide angle (13mm f/4.5) was this one:

590701141_sPep5-M.jpg


So maybe I just need to play with the lens more, but I'll take any advice anyone has to offer on this.
 
rinkrat said:
This pic of Sun Trash gets more comments than any of my other pics on Facebook.
Something about it grabs people of a lot of different nationalities, who I'm sure have no idea WTF Sun Trash is.

This is one of the shows I set up remote lighting for, in fact it might have been the first one, which shows how easy it is to get it right.

Here's a link to the comments
Sun Trash at Alex's Bar on July 12 2008 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
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That's an interesting thought. I don't often go diving into my stats on Flickr, but your post got me to wondering what was my biggest hit-getter and comment-getter.

For views, it's this one (2700 views):

2639765549_00987ab4f7.jpg


For comments, it's this one:

2435165389_2a53d5bea0.jpg
 
Dr. Strangelove said:
Yea, I like the lens also, but to be honest, it doesn't give me the "umph" i look for on landscapes, which is what I originally bought it for. Those cars were the first time I've gotten results I liked from it. For example, from a recent trip to Mexico, I took some pictures at the ruins at Tulum, which overlook the beach & ocean from a cliff. This should be ideal for wide angle IMO, but most of the shots looked like this:

10mm f/4.5
590704257_zAEAD-M.jpg


The only one I got that I like and thought was effective at wide angle (13mm f/4.5) was this one:

590701141_sPep5-M.jpg


So maybe I just need to play with the lens more, but I'll take any advice anyone has to offer on this.
Click to expand...

If you didn't have one already on, which it looks like you didn't, try a polarizing filter. The blues, greens, and grays seem to be washed out a bit from the sun especially in the first shot. That sun is in a tough place in shot 1.

The composition looks fine to me.
 
nocturn said:
If you didn't have one already on, which it looks like you didn't, try a polarizing filter. The blues, greens, and grays seem to be washed out a bit from the sun especially in the first shot. That sun is in a tough place in shot 1.

The composition looks fine to me.
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You're right, I don't have any filters for my lenses. I'll start doing some research into them.

FBJ said:
For comments, it's this one:

2435165389_2a53d5bea0.jpg
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Great image, did you do any HDR post processing on that one?
 
Dr. Strangelove said:
Great image, did you do any HDR post processing on that one?
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Yeah. That's a five-shot HDR. The D3 makes it really easy to shoot RAW for HDR conversion. Since it can give me nine frames per second in Continuous High mode, I can shoot them hand-held (as that one was) if I've got enough light.

I don't do much HDR stuff anymore. I think it was sort of a phase I was going through (along with everyone else here at the time).
 
rinkrat said:
597631933_sy4Wf-L.jpg
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Yippeekayaay mini sirloin burgers!!

I like this shot a lot. The shallow DOF and the shiny countertop are what do it for me. But it might be a wee bit harsh on the highlights, I think. Maybe taking Lightroom and dialing back the exposure 1/3 of a stop or so and checking your highlight recovery to take the wicked bright spot off that right-hand burger's top bun and the onion underneath the front burger would make this one into a total winner?
 
Last edited:
Flash Suggestions

I'm in the market for a flash. I will be going on my honeymoon in about 3 months and would like something practical to use on the trip. We plan on taking a cruise, so I imagine I would be taking quite a few indoor shots and some outdoor shots while in Mexico.

I own a Canon Digital Rebel Xsi. I am by no means, a "professional." Just an amateur photographer who is looking to get better. Right now I am tossing between two flashes. Keep in mind that I am looking to spend as little as possible...but don't want to be cheap just for a short term solution. The two I have been looking at are:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Speedlite-II-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001CCAISE/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header"]Canon Speedlite 430EX II[/ame]

and

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Speedlite-270EX-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001XURPR2/ref=pd_ts_e_9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics"]Canon Speedlite 270EX[/ame]


Also, what exactly does a hood for your lens do? Does it block out the harsh rays during mid-day? Do they make a hood for the Canon Xsi kit lens or the Canon 55-250 telephoto lens?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions or comment.
 
I have the 430 EX II and it works great and gives great light. I use it even if it's bright sun to fill in the shadows (see pool party shots). Look at any of my shots and you will se it's effect. I use the little piece of tupperware as a diffuser to spread the light and make the shadows not so harsh. It makes a huge difference, I don't remember the last time I saw red eye on my pics. I use rechargable batteries and rarely have to switch to back up baterries. With a quality flash like this you can go nearly anywhere and get great pics.

The lens hood prevents stray light from getting into the lens and is worth getting and using. The only time I don't use this $50 piece of plastic over the lens is when I'm shooting hockey.

Both of these items are VITAL pieces to the puzzle that will make your pics better than the next guy's, it's all about the little things.
 
rinkrat said:
I have the 430 EX II and it works great and gives great light. I use it even if it's bright sun to fill in the shadows (see pool party shots). Look at any of my shots and you will se it's effect. I use the little piece of tupperware as a diffuser to spread the light and make the shadows not so harsh. It makes a huge difference, I don't remember the last time I saw red eye on my pics. I use rechargable batteries and rarely have to switch to back up baterries. With a quality flash like this you can go nearly anywhere and get great pics.

The lens hood prevents stray light from getting into the lens and is worth getting and using. The only time I don't use this $50 piece of plastic over the lens is when I'm shooting hockey.

Both of these items are VITAL pieces to the puzzle that will make your pics better than the next guy's, it's all about the little things.
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Do you use a hood when shooting outdoors (your pool party pics)?

Where do you find a hood to fit the kit lens for the Canon Xsi? I seriously can't find one...
 
Yep. I use it pretty much all the time. It really makes a difference and keeps the dark areas dark and prevents glare. It also makes your lenses look bigger. :)
 
rinkrat said:
I have the 430 EX II and it works great and gives great light. I use it even if it's bright sun to fill in the shadows (see pool party shots). Look at any of my shots and you will se it's effect. I use the little piece of tupperware as a diffuser to spread the light and make the shadows not so harsh. It makes a huge difference, I don't remember the last time I saw red eye on my pics. I use rechargable batteries and rarely have to switch to back up baterries. With a quality flash like this you can go nearly anywhere and get great pics.

The lens hood prevents stray light from getting into the lens and is worth getting and using. The only time I don't use this $50 piece of plastic over the lens is when I'm shooting hockey.

Both of these items are VITAL pieces to the puzzle that will make your pics better than the next guy's, it's all about the little things.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the info. Last question:

Can the 430 EX II be used away from the camera? Say I wanted to put it off to the side. Possible? I like the effect of this picture:

52 Beers Group, Week 43: Oregon Trail's Bourbon Barrel Porter on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
 
Yes, you can do it with a cheap cord right from the sync jack or a more expensive coil cord from the base (that will preserve auto exposure) or use a remote radio device like a Pocket Wizard (more expensive).
 
I hope that i can say I'd be speaking for a lot of us here on LGK that we would like you guys pro's post pictures of your equipments and let us drool over them, if its possible please....
 
RomJan27 said:
I hope that i can say I'd be speaking for a lot of us here on LGK that we would like you guys pro's post pictures of your equipments and let us drool over them, if its possible please....
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I don't it is allowed to with the new family-friendly rules.
 
RomJan27 said:
I hope that i can say I'd be speaking for a lot of us here on LGK that we would like you guys pro's post pictures of your equipments and let us drool over them, if its possible please....
Click to expand...

Meh...It's just as easy to tell you what we've got and let you go to the manufacturer's website as it is to set it all up in a crazy array of equipment.

Nikon D3
Nikon D200
Nikon lenses (14mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, 70-200mm f/2.8, 1.4x and 2x teleconverters)
Extension tube set
Three SB-800 Speedlights
Sb-600 Speedlight
SU-800 Remote Commander
Manfrotto tripod with pistol-grip head
Remote shutter release
And an assortment of gadgets and geekiness like a gray card, reflectors, etc etc ad nauseum
 
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