The Photography Thread

[Gareth C]

Wow!

I haven't been on here for quite a while (been away n holiday). Anyway, too many to comment on right now but some beautiful images.

Here's one from my Hong Kong trip that I just got round to processing.

[EvilBoris]

Alien fruit invasion!

[spagmasterswift]

Winky your marco pictures raise the level of amazing each time I visit your flickr. The ladybird ones are stunning and summer is only just kicking off.

[Alastair]

Wowy, the quality of shots in here just gets better and better, and the quantity.

Alastair, that second skateboarding shot is amazing. Well captured. I'd be tempted to crop out the ramp, so that it looks like he's flying. Would be fun

You've gotta show the ramp Mag, otherwise it all looks like a bit of a cheat and he could have just jumped up the in the air and pulled the grab.

I really enjoyed doing those shots. I have a few more to post when I get time to process them and send them over to the kid. Very sunny day proved a big challenge to get the subject and the sky correct. In the end I used a polariser and the flash gun to get the sky nice and blue and also the subject well lit. That second shot was in Manual mode, 1/400, f/9, ISO 400. Think I learnt a lot that morning. I also saw a lot as the skate park was next the the starting point of the Brighton naked bike ride

[Ish]

Love the fruit!

Went back out again this evening to last nights spot. Very different early evening light tonight. I've still got soooo much to learn about how light effects a scene.

[funkydan]

Oh My God! I've just checked my emails and I have been added as an accredited photographer for the Big Chill festival - shock horror probe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a pass with a +1 (for the missus ) and cannot believe my fecking luck! I'm cacking myself! Any advice as I've never shot a festival before? I think I'll be fine as I have shot many bands in the past. I suppose it'll be a press pass with a +1, and we'll be camping backstage will we? Anyone know - I'm still in shock

EDIT: Just emailed them back to confirm that I can do it! I also asked some questions about the access that the photo pass will allow me and where we'd camping etc (i.e in with everyone else, or perhaps backstage somewhere)

[spagmasterswift]

Nice one man, take lots of drugs.

[Ish]

If you're staying in a tent I recommend putting your camera kit at the bottom of your sleeping bag and sleeping with it down their. Seriously.

Anyway - nice one dude!

I did a lot of shooting at last years Womad though just from the crowd with a 200mm lens - my advice would be take a fast lens. Might even be worth hiring a 2.8 200mm for the weekend if you don't have one. Many of my shots were at a very high ISO level as at 200mm my zoom (the 55-200mm Nikon VR) is f5.

I'd take a wide angle too. I didn't have one last year but mine will be in my bag this year.

[funkydan]

If you're staying in a tent I recommend putting your camera kit at the bottom of your sleeping bag and sleeping with it down their. Seriously.

Anyway - nice one dude!

I did a lot of shooting at last years Womad though just from the crowd with a 200mm lens - my advice would be take a fast lens. Might even be worth hiring a 2.8 200mm for the weekend if you don't have one. Many of my shots were at a very high ISO level as at 200mm my zoom (the 55-200mm Nikon VR) is f5.

I'd take a wide angle too. I didn't have one last year but mine will be in my bag this year.

That's good advice about the sleeping bag storage plan - I'll definitely do that!

As for equipment, I have a Nikon D200, Nikon 18-135mm lens, Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens, SB600 speedlight (although I'd rather not use that - flash is frowned upon isn't it? Even at festivals?). If I needed to hire a 200mm zoom, where could I do that?

Thanks for the advice dude

[funkydan]

Might get one of these - sounds pretty good from what I've been reading online - also, I don't have a huge amount of cash at my disposal so that one is £99.99

[Ish]

Personally I'd save my pennies and go for a faster 200mm (still approx. 300mm on a DX format camera). Bulkier though I guess.

Something to bear in mind - with a 300mm lens at f5 you're going to be fighting both vibration (if you're shooting handheld) and motion in your subject.

I guess it all depends how close you are to the musicians. If you're right down the front the 50mm might work out (good lends that - I keep meaning to pick myself one up).

As for hiring - all I can suggest is Googling. I know a friend of mine looked into it for a safari in Africa. Would have been worthwhile for a weekend but for two weeks it was worth just buying the lens (which she's done - juicy big pro Nikon zoom).

I have to admit I've got kind of obsessed with shutter speed lately though. If you're shooting handheld or moving subjects being able to get a fast shutter speed in a range of conditions makes such a difference to the shots you can take with natural light.

BTW - I'm so damn jealous!

[spagmasterswift]

[funkydan]

Personally I'd save my pennies and go for a faster 200mm (still approx. 300mm on a DX format camera). Bulkier though I guess.

Something to bear in mind - with a 300mm lens at f5 you're going to be fighting both vibration (if you're shooting handheld) and motion in your subject.

I guess it all depends how close you are to the musicians. If you're right down the front the 50mm might work out (good lends that - I keep meaning to pick myself one up).

As for hiring - all I can suggest is Googling. I know a friend of mine looked into it for a safari in Africa. Would have been worthwhile for a weekend but for two weeks it was worth just buying the lens (which she's done - juicy big pro Nikon zoom).

I have to admit I've got kind of obsessed with shutter speed lately though. If you're shooting handheld or moving subjects being able to get a fast shutter speed in a range of conditions makes such a difference to the shots you can take with natural light.

BTW - I'm so damn jealous!

Maybe I'll just stick with what I've got then as I think I will have access to the pit at the front of the stage. My zoom is great as is the 50mm. I'll see what they say with regards with where I can go in relation to the stage.

Did you use flash at all at womad, or should you not at festys either? I don't use a flash at indoor gigs (although now I have a sexy SB600, I might start using it )

[Ish]

I've got a SB600 too - cool piece of kit But I didn't use it at Womad - but then I wasn't in the photographer space at the front.

Absolutely no idea if its considered good form or not.

I'm going to have to say it again - I'm so very jealous! Your live music shots are going to come on in leaps and bounds after the festival I'm sure. Look forward to the postings

[funkydan]

Thanks for all your words of encouragement and advice Ish - I really appreciate it. And I realise that you are jealous, I'm even jealous of myself and I'm the one going!!