The Photography Thread

[Herbalizer]

wow the ladybird shot is incredible.


Went out for a short walk today behind my house, I had no idea such beautiful countryside was so close.

[EvilBoris]

I really can't get the hang of this, they either come out blurry or grainy! I just can't win!

[EvilBoris]

Anyways, enough of me bitching. Here is a funny picture of a duck

[MartyG]

Practice - practice - practice - that's the key - just take lots of photos - the more you take the better the chances of you getting something decent.

I reckon that duck shot is nicely composed - I like the water streaks in it a lot.

And Wicky - they are are all great dude.

[EvilBoris]

Thanks!
I'm slowly reading some books bit by bit, which is helping me understand certain thigns better, but I guess staying in a playing games somewhat limits photo potential :P

[MartyG]

There's such a wealth of knowledge on this thread that you only have to ask about things - the key of photography though isn't so much technique as having an eye for a shot and composition - and no amount of money or equipment can help that. There are however, "rules" that can aid perfecting framing.

Just shout if you need any pointers

[Ish]

Damn this dreary weather

[TommyG]

Thank you for your kind comments Marty and Winky it really helps to have guys like you around who are happy to share your knowledge

I'm honestly blown away with your 3 shots Winky, simply incredible, congratulations

I love the duck shot Boris, it's ace, great contrast of light and shadow and the ducks pose is perfect!

I'd love a waterfall like that near me Herb, awesome shots and the colours on the wood are lovely and rich

I've taken quite a few pictures this weekend but haven't had time to go through them yet. I had a surprise 30th birthday party and i'm still feeling a little tired but once i've got the time i'll post some more.

In the mean time I've just tried editing together my first HDR image (starting to play with photoshop, well watching 'how to' videos on youtube tbh )

Here are the first three images





and the final outcome...



As I said this is my first attempt at a HDR image so it's nothing great but I can see it being a lot of fun and a way to get some great landscape pictures. If anyone has any tips or comments to help me improve, that would be great.


ps, how do you link images from flickr so you can click on them here to go to the bigger version?

[Ish]

I normally pick the "medium" sized image and at the bottom is some HTML - you just need to edit it a bit so it uses the forums img and url tags.

I'm sure one of the many flickr app's out there must be able to do this automatically in forum format though.

[EvilBoris]

I've been doing it by adding the picture I want people to see on the forum with the button, then in the wysywig /advanced editor clicking on the image that has just appeared in preview and pressing and pasting in the link I want it to link to.



Anybody tell me what the Depth of Field preview button does and ideally how it works as it seems to make no difference most of the time.

[PeteJ]

The first post of this thread has details on the Flickr linking.

Someone may correct me on this, but the Depth of Field button shows what the exposure will be like with your current settings. I'm probably way out to be honest though! I only use it when a flashlight is attached because it makes it flash like crazy

[Anpanman]

It closes the aperture down to the one you've set for the exposure, today's camera's use 'open aperture metering', meaning that since the aperture is kept at its widest you get a bright view all the time.

If you are using a small aperture like F11 say, the view will stay bright and only stop down to F11 when you fire the shutter.

The idea behind the preview though is that when you use a smaller aperture you get more of the shot before and after the point of focus in focus.

Try it anywhere, a magazine or book cover in your front room is ideal, if you can, switch to manual focus and make sure the thing you are focussing on is out of focus slightly.

Now set the aperture to a small one, F11 will do and now press the depth of field preview button, although the view will darken you should see the subject come into focus.

[EvilBoris]

Ah yes I see!

It's getting darker as the aperture gets smaller and the depth of field increases(?) which is why it is also coming into focus. That right?

[Magnakai]

Spot on Boris.

Great shots from everyone lately.

Nice HDR attempt Tommy. I might try bringing down the grass a touch - it looks a little unreal there. I like the fire poi shots too.

I love the texture in that third shot Herb. Nice scenery around you! I'd be there everyday.

EvilBoris, I don't know what you're complaining about. That duck shot is excellent, and those night shots are really atmospheric.

Space Monkey, I really like that landscape. Very pretty indeed.

Winky, all three of those shots are simply stunning. I think you're allowed to feel a bit smug. That one of the dandelion is amazing, and the timing on the ladybird is just sublime.

Sorry if I've missed anyone out. I've been consistently impressed by the stuff in here lately.

I took a few shots at a Fall gig on Thursday and The Bays on Friday nights. Today I went around Highgate Cemetery and forced myself to only use my £8 manual focus 135mm f/3.5 Meyer-Optik lens. Quite interesting manually focusing all the time. I had to spend far longer per shot, and often missed the focus. I tried blaming the viewfinder or the lens, but I think it's just me. Anyway, quite an interesting exercise.

[fuse]

I took a few shots at a Fall gig on Thursday and The Bays on Friday nights. Today I went around Highgate Cemetery and forced myself to only use my ?8 manual focus 135mm f/3.5 Meyer-Optik lens. Quite interesting manually focusing all the time. I had to spend far longer per shot, and often missed the focus. I tried blaming the viewfinder or the lens, but I think it's just me. Anyway, quite an interesting exercise.

You sound just like me