The Photography Thread

[Ish]

I hate spiders.

[PeteJ]

Great job keeping it in focus! I assume you now have your macro lens?

[Ish]

Nope!! That was just with my standard 18-55mm lens. The same one I did my dragonfly shot with a few pages back.

Hopefully my macro lens is being dispatched this weekend. Then I'll have to try and find this spider again

[Ginger Tosser]

Thought i'd take the macro and the dog for a walk today. Discovered that because of the small DOF with the macro it's bloody hard work trying to get anything decent even with a slight wind (and wobbly photographer!).

[Alastair]

...Discovered that because of the small DOF with the macro it's bloody hard work trying to get anything decent even with a slight wind (and wobbly photographer!).

I get that problem all the time trying to do macros outside. I've decided that a tripod is the only answer, even if there is NO wind I wobble far to much to get a decent shot.

That storm trooper macro I posted a few days ago went a bit crazy on flickr, made it into the top ten best shots of the day, got loads of comments and people adding it as a favourite(ten times better than my next best shot). Pretty sure I'll never have another such success, I've peaked too soon

EDIT: Pete, get a ADIDT remote for your camera off ebay, should be under a tenner delivered. They feel a little cheap (cos they are) but do what they should well enough.

[PeteJ]

I get that problem all the time trying to do macros outside. I've decided that a tripod is the only answer, even if there is NO wind I wobble far to much to get a decent shot.

That storm trooper macro I posted a few days ago went a bit crazy on flickr, made it into the top ten best shots of the day, got loads of comments and people adding it as a favourite(ten times better than my next best shot). Pretty sure I'll never have another such success, I've peaked too soon

EDIT: Pete, get a ADIDT remote for your camera off ebay, should be under a tenner delivered. They feel a little cheap (cos they are) but do what they should well enough.

I also struggle with outside macro - at f2.8 I can go handheld with good lighting but generally use a tripod. If it is windy then I don't even bother trying.

Congrats with the stormtrooper shot getting onto Explore - been trying to get on there myself but so far have just looked desperate Still, I scored 44.5 (I think) on the Score Me group which I was chuffed with. Really impressed with your macro stuff btw, very cool images. Bet if you frame them someone will buy

I actually bought a remote on saturday - disappointed the cable is so short but it is still a vast improvement.

[Alastair]

Really impressed with your macro stuff btw, very cool images. Bet if you frame them someone will buy

I actually bought a remote on saturday - disappointed the cable is so short but it is still a vast improvement.

That's peaked my interest ($?$). Where could I sell them though? I'm always a unsure about that sort of thing.

Thanks for the compliment, I won't bother investing in a dedicated macro lens then

My cable is dead short too (~40cm), doesn't really bother me for what I'll be using it for.

I'm going to look at the score me group now, more pimpage!

[PeteJ]

I have enquired previously about selling though have not gone any further. Generally you will need to print and frame yourself (which can cost a fair amount) and take the shots into local gallerys, or perhaps visit with some low quality\watermarked images to show off I have been told of places 'stealing' images if you send in high quality prints that are not marked.

The problem is most places ask for extremely high commision - one place local to me asks for 60% of the cut, though they do ramp up the price of the photo massively.

Another option is to visit local pubs - your macro's have that retro cool vibe which they may go for.

[Alastair]

Good idea with the pubs. My next door neighbour used to be a landlord in a 'trendy' pub so has loads of contacts.

I'll need to do a series on true white backgrounds to save me some ink costs though!

Thinking about this, I think you may have me confused with Ish, I've not done many macros at all.

Ish, get to the local pubs!

[PeteJ]

Well they're almost macro's

You could use someone like photobox to do the prints, works out quite cheap. It's the framing that adds up the cost. Not that I've ever done it!

[Alastair]

Only got 39 in the score me group

I have a photo printer that is more than good enough to display at A4 so I may look into going round some places and hawking my work!

[Ginger Tosser]

I actually bought a remote on saturday - disappointed the cable is so short but it is still a vast improvement.

I don't know if you able to but its worth enabling the mirror lock up for macro, this eliminates camera shake on a tripod.

[Ish]

I have an infra red remote for my D50. Its great for small stuff as you can stand well back from the camera and object.

Just had an email saying my macro lens has been dispatched. Can't wait for that

[Ish]

Ish, get to the local pubs!

Hee hee that could work for me - I spend a fair bit of time in pubs

[bangaio]

On the selling front as soon as I finish teaching this year my focus is getting some sales from prints. I have had a fair bit of interest from people - the key is pricing and archivability.

The problem with inkjets is that some are fantastic but when it comes to achivability for art prints they don't stand up. This means using pigment inks as if you sell a print and it fades in a couple of years your reputation will plumet.

I thinnk the main avenues are:

Art fairs
Word of mouth
Pubs/Cafes etc
Web site

and I intend to focus on these. I am at the moment sorting out a portfolio of about 20-30 photgraphs but will pair this to about 15 max at the mo and re processing them to the absolute best of my ability and printing and matting. People don't necessarily want you to frame them althouh some do.

The only problem I have is pricing. Once you see a big 10x15 inch or more print they blow you away - should be dead easy to sell.

People also love fine art papers like hanemules and ilford etc - and these give the best archivability going.

I have much work to do!