The Photography Thread

[MonkeySteve]

See, it looks level to me - maybe I need my eyes tested

Anyway cheers, I will have a play around later. Someone on flickr suggested a crop which looks pretty good so I will try that too.

[charlesr]

My Ixus 50 broke. It works if I smack it on the desk while turning it on. Not ideal though, so got a cheap Ixus 70 - amazing how much technology crashes in price. It was half the price I paid for my 50.

Anyway, just testing it works as expected.


Shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 70 at 2008-02-21


Shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 70 at 2008-02-21

heheh.

[funkydan]

Charles, please stop it!

[Alastair]

eurgh, gross

See, it looks level to me - maybe I need my eyes tested

Have had a play on flickr now with a long straight note as a level line and it does appear straight yeah, there's something about it though that seems wonky, maybe it's my eyes!!

[Magnakai]

Charles, can you make that a bit bigger? I can't quite see it clearly enough. From what I can see, fantastic lighting, and the leading lines just draw the eye round the subtle curves. I must say, looking at that tiny little jpeg really gets my heart pumping.

[MonkeySteve]

OK, decided on this crop, and I think I actually prefer it to the original now.

[winky]

See, it looks level to me - maybe I need my eyes tested

I have looked at it with a ruler and it looks dead straight! So apologies on my part. Im not sure if my eyes are wonky either. Perhaps its because one light is bigger than the other, tricking my eyes.
I also prefer the original.

Charlesr: Thats some great detail around the eye on the first picture but the second one is just disturbing

Winky - those shots aren't quite my thing, but they are still blummin' fantatsic! Are you sure you're only a beginner with this photography lark?!

Winky, I back up Steve's comment there too, you're not new to photography are you! Maybe to digital SLR but I get the feeling you already knew about composition and exposure

Thanks guys. It means a lot from people who post such great pictures. I have very little experience behind the lens. I did do a lot of studying on the subject over the last few months - managed to get through 3 books.
I also don't go anywhere (bar work) without my camera, much to the annoyance of my family and friends

I am also still taking a lot of pictures to get the results I want, usually tweaking the exposure up and down a stop, or playing with the depth of field to see what is best. Its a good way to learn how things work and the magic of digital I guess.

I shoot raw increase sharpness and contrast and usually fix the white balance. Shooting raw also gives me half a stop margin that I can tweak if the image is under/over exposed. Also lets me tune the contrast if I want a bit more 'pop' - you know what I mean I hope
Occasionally there will be additional Picassa processing which is either a little more sharpening, sometimes a little more colour saturation or contrast. And of course, where necessary a black and white filter and/or grain if necessary. I love a black and white picture that has been warmed in Picassa. Means the image isn't quite sepia and I like the tone.

So the images I am posting are not straight out the camera, although they are not heavily post processed, and the canon software allows you to batch apply a set of settings for quickness.

For example I have uploaded the unprocessed shot of the Iris.

[MonkeySteve]

Big up to you winky - if you've come this far in just a few months, then the sky is the limit for you my friend!

Hope you didn't take my comment the wrong way btw; I wasn't accusing you of lying or anything - I just can't believe how good your photos are already!

[Alastair]

For example I have uploaded the unprocessed shot of the Iris.

Oh God that's ****, it's all smoke and mirrors!

Seriously now though, your shots are a clear testimony of what learning and understanding can achieve, you've come an awful long way in a short time mate, keep it up

Monkey, like the crop, seems to hold more interest that way and certainly focuses attention on the light people more.

[winky]

Hope you didn't take my comment the wrong way btw; I wasn't accusing you of lying or anything - I just can't believe how good your photos are already!

Absolutley not, I took it as a compliment, unless it wasn't meant that way .

I know macro isn't everyone's thing, and this isnt an original shot but it was another technical exercise, this time with flash:



Flash is possibly the most complicated thing I have come across, I just can't get any of the principles to make sense in my head.

[Shotski]

Finally got a chance to use my new camera, and i took a few photos at a gig last night. I took a good few photos and i'm happy with what i got. Anyway heres some samples.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53536857@N00/2285229418/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53536857@N00/2285206298/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53536857@N00/2285198982/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53536857@N00/2285162686/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53536857@N00/2284356233/

[PeteJ]

Absolutley not, I took it as a compliment, unless it wasn't meant that way .

I know macro isn't everyone's thing, and this isnt an original shot but it was another technical exercise, this time with flash:



Flash is possibly the most complicated thing I have come across, I just can't get any of the principles to make sense in my head.

That's a lovely shot, the colour is perfect. I agree about the flash, one thing I really haven't grasped. I've got an expensive 580ex flashgun and haven't even read the manual, may as well be using the onboard flash! (well, not quite, but you see what I mean!).

Off to vegas soon, can't wait for all the photo ops

[MartyG]

Cool - Las Vegas should given some great shots - just remember to watch out for Tangos.

Bit better than Barnsdale Gardens that I'm going to today to take a few shots. I'll take the Speedlight SB600 with me, which I've also not read the manual for

[MonkeySteve]

Great shot winky, love the 'Glass-like escape' shot on flickr even more. All that effort definately paid off!

Some good first shots there Shotski, the first one is my favourite.

One from me that I have been playing around with

[MartyG]

A couple from today - unfortunately the gardens were mostly barren - I suspect it will be a much better place to visit in the spring or summer.