The Photography Thread

[Rossco]

by Rossco 7, on Flickr

Still haven't got the camera out yet but looked through it and found some shots I took when I was last out which was 4 months ago now! These were the only decent ones, I actually really like the golf one.

[PeteJ]

I like it too, lovely light in the last one also. I've been rubbish this year with the camera, haven't used mine since Silverstone back in July.

Next weekend I'm off on a photography workshop with the Dawn to Dusk lot (http://www.dawn2duskphotography.co.uk/), last year I learnt more in one day about photography than I had done in five years before hand. Can't wait but I hope the weather holds I highly recommend these guys if you are interested in learning about landscape photography by the way.

Lyris - Weddings are a tough gig. I've done...around eight I think but I can't say I enjoyed any of them. They pay well but the official shots are my worst nightmare - trying to organise two sets of families you've never met before is incredibly difficult and I have huge respect for people that manage it. Thankfully, and this is going to sound awful, most punters don't know what makes a good photo so you can actually get away with some pretty average photos. I've gone to each wedding hoping for some really nice shots but at the end of the day so long as the subjects are within the frame and in focus then its job done! Scope for creativity is almost ziltch, which is why I never want to step foot into a wedding as a photographer again!

[Garf]

Pete - just had a look at that website. Those workshops look fantastic. Which one are you doing ?

I keep toying with the idea of taking a few days out, solely for photography, and have been trying to convince my wife that me going to Iceland (not the supermarket ) for a few days is a good idea, but one of these might be an easier sell.

Upgraded my camera to a Nikon D90 a few weeks back, and feel like I am learning all over again ! My biggest issue is finding time to get out with the camera, and balancing that against family time, work and real life in general. Just started a photo a day challenge for October, so will hopefully be forced to get out and get snapping.

A few recent ones from me..

2 of 31 - Escape by GarySmith70, on Flickr

Grey by GarySmith70, on Flickr

One More, Please by GarySmith70, on Flickr

1 of 31 - Wet, Wet, Wet by GarySmith70, on Flickr

[HaHaUK]

Always like your shots Garf - great stuff! And Rossco - that golf shot is great!

I used to dislike doing portrait shots, and limited myself to shotting in landscape only, but Ive recently overcome my stubborness and Im glad I did!

A couple of recent shots from London and Belgium...

Four Square by HaHa UK

I'm Loving It by HaHa UK

Underground Overground by HaHa UK

Dereliction Of Colour by HaHa UK

Starry by HaHa UK

Seeing Double by HaHa UK

Tube Of Yellow by HaHa UK

So Fresh, So Clean by HaHa UK

[Garf]

Cheers HaHa -something excellent shots there yourself. Yep, gotta give portrait a whirl !

Do like these shots, especially So Fresh, So Clean. I am guessing I missed Open House again based on some of these ! Must get on it next year, but it always seems to clash with weekend when I have to work..

[Spatial]

Watermarking photos you put on Flickr - pointless waste of time or necessary evil?

[PeteJ]

Lovely shots both, I feel guilty for not using my camera more!
Garf - I'm doing the Wild Dartmoor workshop this weekend. Last year I did the one in Swanage.

Spatial - I don't bother, can't say I'm that bothered about people stealing my shots as none of them are up for sale anywhere anyway (well, technically you can buy them on iStock but I've yet to sell anything). If you think it is worthwhile then it doesn't take long to setup something in photoshop.

[Garf]

Lovely shots both, I feel guilty for not using my camera more!
Garf - I'm doing the Wild Dartmoor workshop this weekend. Last year I did the one in Swanage.

I have my eye on the Dorset/Jurassic Coast one next October...

[Spatial]

Spatial - I don't bother, can't say I'm that bothered about people stealing my shots as none of them are up for sale anywhere anyway (well, technically you can buy them on iStock but I've yet to sell anything). If you think it is worthwhile then it doesn't take long to setup something in photoshop.

It's weird. I could do it easily, but it can ruin half your shots when you put one on there (naturally it's obtrusive and tends to draw your eye away from anything else in the photo).

I'm torn between doing it and not knowing if I should even be concerned about doing it - after all, there are far more talented people on there (and in this thread even) that don't watermark their stuff. Plus I have no aspirations to make a living off my stuff (ha ha, like I could even!), so why would I be bothered if someone uses it for free... but then you read some of the stories out there and it narks me just on principle...

[PeteJ]

Finished my Dartmoor weekend, was a really useful workshop however we were unfortunate with the weather. Both sunset and sunrise (which I got up at 05:30 for ) were covered in heavy fog. Meant I didn't get as many shots as I had hoped but still good!

[Garf]

Shame about the weather spoiling the sunrise and sunset, but looks like you have still ended up with some good shots.

That first one is an absolute belter, and I think may look great as a B&W too.

Had approval from the big boss that I can attend one of these next year, so looking at the Dorset one in October.

[PeteJ]

Thanks, will give B&W a go.. The weather was a bit gutting but it can't be helped. Thankfully now I know where the good sunrise\set locations are I can go again as dartmoor is only an hour away (it's a big place and I don't know it as well as I should do). My main problem at the moment is motivation to get up at 5:30!

I did the Dorset one last year, it was extremely helpful. Learnt more in one day than I have in five years previously!

[EvilBoris]

I like that first one the most

Here is one of many from my travels
IMG_1250-Edit.jpg by EvilBoris, on Flickr

[Brad]

I'm constantly amazed at the quality of the photos we see here on a videogame website. Inspiring stuff chaps. I'm just about to ditch my 35mm kit for something digital. been looking for weeks now and can't make my mind up what to get!

[MartyG]

Watermarking photos you put on Flickr - pointless waste of time or necessary evil?

Just don't upload really large images that can be easily used if you're concerned. I stopped uploading large files after an exploit was discovered on flickr that allowed people to grab the big sizes even if set to contacts only (which I think has since been fixed). Now I tend to upload a maximum of 800x600 with a small watermark in the corner.

Not that I think anyone is that likely to use them commercially. I have seen a couple of uses of my pics on blogs, but they're marked as creative commons (as the shot below is marked).

Pete - shame about the weather :/ - but it does appear it wasn't a wasted trip

EB - liked the "Clean off the clouds" in your stream. Gives a good sense of scale.

I've been a bit lazy on the photography side of things the last couple of weeks, best I've come up with is this one ..

Graveyard Shift by MartyPG13, on Flickr