The Photography Thread

[MartyG]

TommyG - Portrait shots is where I find the biggest weakness of compact cameras, there's so much depth of field - unless you really want the scenery in the background, it's usually desirable to blur it out by using a wide aperture to give some nice bokeh and using a longer zoom helps too. Might also be worth looking up "Fill Flash" sometimes using a bit of soft flash on portraits removes the shadows cast on face ( although sometimes you might want them ).

With an SLR and a nice fast 50-100mm lens, you can create some great bokeh for portrait shots ...



Where-as it's much harder with a compact ..

[Alastair]

Problem with filters is if they break, they can scratch the front element anyway. I know of someone it happened too. Also with a £600 lens sticking a £10 bit of glass will degrade the image (and possibly have an effect on autofocus in certain light conditions). Personally I think the lens hood offers just as good protection for the front element. I have scratched the front of my 70-200 slightly though. This was when I stuck it though a fence to get a shot. My fault for being daft, still the scratch is off centre so doesn't show up.

This image (not mine) shows another downside for filters.

I'm a filter man myself. Was going to take them off over the weekend shooting all the gigs to stop reflections between them and the front element when the lights shone at me but I just couldn't bring myself to do it as was glad I left them on when I got covered in beer a couple of times!

What does that shot show? I don't get it. EDIT, just spotted the number plate reflection, that's what I'm talking about above too.

HaHa, I really like the sky over London and the tunnel shot, good job. Great shots as usual from everyone else.

[TommyG]

Thanks MartyG plenty to chew on there. First thing I had to do was look up the term Bokeh, nice word I like it. Will look and see if I have a flash fill feature later this evening, I do agree portrait pictures look so much better with some nice bokeh. Eager to try it now, thanks bud

[Alastair]

Fill flash isn't a setting (well not on SLR's anyway) it refers to lighting a subject rather than lighting the whole scene. A perfect example would be to shoot a person with the sun behind them. Usually this would leave the person as a silhouette or the sky completely bleached out depending on what you've exposed for. Using fill flash you can get the normal light of the sun/sky and use the flash to 'fill' in the details on the person that would normally be all black. It's a great tool when you get it right.

Like this:

[Malc]

That's a lovely looking shot there Alastair.

I reckon TommyG is either a professional photographer disguising himself as an ameteur on here, or he's using someone elses photo's. Your shots are just too good Tommy.

[spagmasterswift]

and this is old Billy, post op' bless him, still smiling

I love this picture

[tiz]

What a gorgeous dog

[Alastair]

That's a lovely looking shot there Alastair.

Not mine, should have said!

[tiz]

I also got a few portrait shots today, people are so much more interesting to take photos off, capturing human emotion is wonderful.



This fella has the best hair ever

[Malc]

For a second their Tiz, I thought you had the exact same mate as Tommy!

[EvilBoris]

I'm still a bit crap at this, I'm getting lots that look like they are taken on a handheld, as I am crap. But I am getting the odd one I like

[tiz]

For a second their Tiz, I thought you had the exact same mate as Tommy!

yup and i took the exact same picture too

[Richard.John]

Some wonderful shots as ever. Really must go out and take some pics again.

[Alastair]

Good to see you back R.J. Get out there and show us some more beautiful Japan.

I like that shot EvilBoris, very industrial and moody.

[TommyG]

lol @ tiz and Malc, thanks guys

Great shot Boris I likes it alot moody x10

Alastair, in regards to flash fill would I achieve better results with a bolt on flash rather than the one that's built in? Are there huge advantages to having a separate flash other than the chance of reducing red eye?

This ones for you tiz i took it yesterday but didn't include it. Yes he's got awesome hair!