The Photography Thread

[IanE]

Having a course would be good, if you're hesistant about £200 (which really isn't that much for education!) then I'd suggest putting a hold on it and doing it yourself as it doesn't sound as if you're too inclined to go for it?

[RobRoy]

it isnt that im not inclined to go for it, just the course starts in 2 weeks and i dont know how much progress i could make doing it with a canon ixus camera, although im guessing alot of it will be theory.

[funkydan]

I really want a macro lens for my D200 - any ideas if this one would be any good as funds are limited. I know it's not a true macro lens as such but I should still get the desired results, shouldn't I (I want to be able to take very close-up shops of flowers etc)?

[Alastair]

MonkeySteve - I like that shot, very nice.

RobRoy - You'd get more from the course if you used a DSLR I think. The people on my course without one really struggled, particularly when it came to metering a shot correctly as the compacts seemed to lack light meter displays. I'm surprised a camera with true manual mode isn't a requirement of the course.

Funky - dunno, sorry.

[Magnakai]

It certainly would be possible to use it for macro photography in theory.

Try checking out the reviews on fredmiranda.com.

Robroy, £200 sounds fairly tame fee-wise for a year-long course. If you're really hurting for cash then maybe you can get reduced fees?

[MonkeySteve]

A few seaside shots from my Ma & Pa's neck of the woods:

[MartyG]

I really want a macro lens for my D200 - any ideas if this one would be any good as funds are limited. I know it's not a true macro lens as such but I should still get the desired results, shouldn't I (I want to be able to take very close-up shops of flowers etc)?

That lens will work ok for macro stuff - but be aware you're only going to get the 2:1 macro at the 300mm end, and it'll be softer there. You won't get the same results as some of the macro shots I ( and others ) have posted up with the dedicated 1:1 macro lenses - but it'll also give you some options for other types of shot. It isn't that suited to the D200 either really, it's a low end entry lens and the D200 is a pro-end camera - with the speed of the D200 auto focusing, it's going to be thrashing the mechanisms inside the glass.

Personally it wouldn't be my first choice if its macro you're really interested in - it might be better getting the Sigma 50/2.8 EX macro which is a true 1:1 ( and not quite as pricey as the 105mm ).

Don't discount the older 2nd hand macro lenses either - I suspect you'll be able to get the previous generation 90mm Tamron macro lens for decent money.

[Alastair]

Had a great idea for a night shoot for the last few days since I saw a location over the weekend. Drove up there last night (about 10 miles each way) and forgot to check my ISO. Was still set at 400 and all the shots are noisy as hell (stupid 300D). Not the end of the world but I missed focus by a fraction in the dark too so they're all out of focus as well as noisy Wasn't happy last night when I reviewed them.

May be able to turn one of them into a kind of toy camera soft noisy effect but I got so disheartened last night I just turned the PC off.

MonkeySteve, where is that? Looks a nice place to live. Make the links on your photos link to the flickr page rather than the static image, that way we can all add you as a contact.

[funkydan]

Thanks Marty, that's helpful - I'm still not entirely sure what it is I'm looking for but under £300 will be good. Was this the sort of thing you meant when mentioning the Tamron lens? I'll have a hunt around for bargain prices!

[MonkeySteve]

MonkeySteve, where is that? Looks a nice place to live.

It's down in Dorset. Top one is Bridport where my folks live, one below is Portland Bill, below that is Durdle Door. It is such a nice place, I hope to move down there one of these days. I'm looking forward to taking my new Nikon for a spin down there in a few weeks.

Make the links on your photos link to the flickr page rather than the static image, that way we can all add you as a contact.

Noted - I'll get it fixed shortly (ish..)

[MartyG]

Thanks Marty, that's helpful - I'm still not entirely sure what it is I'm looking for but under £300 will be good. Was this the sort of thing you meant when mentioning the Tamron lens? I'll have a hunt around for bargain prices!

Yeah, that's the new one - the older one will work just as well - but for less money.

I notice a bat was flying around at dusk in my back-garden. Has anyone tried shooting these? I suspect my current setup probably isn't ideal, and would require a far more powerful flash.

[Gareth C]

Nice shots MonkeySteve. Bought back memories of a very drunken week in Portland when I was at college!

A couple of shots from the beach...

[Alastair]

The first looks more like the moon than the beach Gareth!

[Gareth C]

Hehe, I know. I thought that it would be interesting to process them a bit more heavily than the usual shot to try and make somethin mundane a bit more interesting. Kind of works IMO.

[MonkeySteve]

I really like that top one Gareth. The way it’s been processed, coupled with the lone guy in the background and the lonely beach ball and bucket up front give it a really isolated, post-apocalyptic type feel (I’m thinking along the lines of that scene in The Terminator where there are loads of kids playing on the playground one moment, and then it’s burnt out and empty the next). Maybe reading a bit much into it, but hey