Digital SLR / DSLR Camera Question / DSLR Thread 2

[wannabe]

What do you mean "now"?

I was always the loser, but I've totally geeked out. I don't look at magazines and women like I used to. It's sad. My buddies look at FHM and Maxim and check out the hot chicks. I look at the same magazines and try to figure out how the shots were lit and try to figure out what I could have done to improve the pics.

I'm screwed.

 

[Joebar4000]

***NWS links***

Latest 2 shoots, first for the book ("Choke chains are bad for dogs (but chains can be fun for people)")

www.yahphoto.biz/galleries/private/choke done/gallery.html

Second was just for fun. Barely scratched the surface here, took over 600 shots, mostly abstracts of body parts (the pic in here is the most 'graphic' tho).

This gallery is *really* NSFW, but hopefully stays artistic, at least IMO:

www.yahphoto.biz/galleries/private/freya1/gallery.html

 

[Cycle61]

I was always the loser, but I've totally geeked out. I don't look at magazines and women like I used to. It's sad. My buddies look at FHM and Maxim and check out the hot chicks. I look at the same magazines and try to figure out how the shots were lit and try to figure out what I could have done to improve the pics.

I'm screwed.

Sucks, huh?


Non-lighting related. I hate fake looking DoF stuff. So I did one. Laid in the muddy, sandy gravel in the middle of the road for this. And rode through the corner four or five times just to make sure.

 

[mosquito]

I was always the loser, but I've totally geeked out. I don't look at magazines and women like I used to. It's sad. My buddies look at FHM and Maxim and check out the hot chicks. I look at the same magazines and try to figure out how the shots were lit and try to figure out what I could have done to improve the pics.

I'm screwed.

Hahahaha! Know the feeling of disappointment and shifted excitement well. I knew I was hooked on motos when I saw a shot of a beautiful young thing and my first thought was, "What's she riding?" (... it's in some BARF photo thread.)

On the upside, it's not *really* sad, it's liberating, challenging and inspiring. Heh. I could spend hours with a skin coffee table book that's really well done. I could check out the bodies, the nudes, (say) the bikes, the lighting & photography, the printing / binding, typography, layout & design, writing / editing, blah, blah, blah. It also means I'm never bored ;o)

OK, two more added to the contest:

1. Wannabe
2. TylerW
3. jbleezyj
4. Joebar4000
5. cycle61
6. VeloceMoto
7. BrassPremier
8. Storm Shadow
9. Mosquito
10. Bapistro

Wait! I'm in this contest?

OK. Missed the start, but lessee what I can do. )

 

[mosquito]

Image Editing / Color Correction

Just in case anyone is interested, here's a link to an overview of my process for one particular image that I'll apply to the photo I originally asked about:

... Anyone have suggestions on image editing to get red LED's to look right (with a night-time background)?

The best key I'm finding so far for very red lighting is reducing the boost in the RAW decode, cf. the initial crop with the final version:

.

--

Steps in the process

The final has these adjustments:

Crop
WB: 3000 K, tint -10
Boost: 0
Exposure: -0.33 stop, blackpoint raised
Levels: red-black 10%, white 100%
Desat: reds 20%, oranges 30%
Contrast tweaks
--
Nikon D200, 35mm f/2
ISO 3200, f/2, 1/20

 

[Joebar4000]

***NWS links***
...snip
EDIT - BARF URL parser doesn't like spaces, try this:

http://www.yahphoto.biz/galleries/private/choke done/gallery.html

...snip...


Can't think of anything I can get done by the end of the contest. Hopefully something will come to me.

FYI, please select your fave image from the above gallery. I had numbers in there, but had to take them out - too distracting.

Numbering is:

1 2
3 4
5 6
etc...

 

[drizz]

These are all work safe, they just look better on black. Did my first round of dance pics last night. I learned a LOT. The pics turned out not all that great, but I'm going back for another round.

http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4364702170&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4364702328&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363937307&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363960631&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4364702654&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363960943&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363961089&size=large

It was my first time:

Shooting dance
Shooting on black
Shooting with static light only in a studio environment

and one of my first times really using the new 5d2. I've got my work cut out getting used to the controls still...

Thanks again for the advice going into this.

 

[Joebar4000]

Hey Dave,

Are you shooting in RAW? If so, you might be able to rescue the legs. Shooting black legging against black, man, you made it easy for yourself didn't you? lol!

Have to look through the rest later - first impression, need a reflector for more fill, and up the exposure. It's easier to push down than push up, if you take my drift Other than that, good results from a technically challenging shoot...

 

[mosquito]

I particularly like this one:

http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363960943&size=large

Initially I thought it was a photoshop montage / multiple exposure. *Grinn*

 

[wannabe]

These are all work safe, they just look better on black. Did my first round of dance pics last night. I learned a LOT. The pics turned out not all that great, but I'm going back for another round.

http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4364702170&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4364702328&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363937307&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363960631&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4364702654&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363960943&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4363961089&size=large

It was my first time:

Shooting dance
Shooting on black
Shooting with static light only in a studio environment

and one of my first times really using the new 5d2. I've got my work cut out getting used to the controls still...

Thanks again for the advice going into this.

Not too bad for your first pass at it. Are you starting to see why I love shooting dancers? Here are some questions/comments for you:

1. When you said 'static light' did you mean that you used a strobe, or what is static stage lighting?
2. The reason I'm asking is that when using a strobe, there is typically no reason to shoot high ISO (unless you specifically wanted the grainy effect). Just turn up the power and adjust your shutter speed as necessary.
3. Did you use any light modifiers on the strobe? (if it was a strobe) I find that a shoot-through umbrella is good for lighting groups. But, it's still hard to control the shadows from one person to the other with just a single strobe.

But, keep at it. The next ones will be better. Enjoy the steep learning curve while you're there.

 

[BrassPremier]

So my dad and I went halfsies on the new Nikon 70-200 2.8 VRII. Initial impressions are that it is badass. Came in late tonight so only a few shots with it so far. Went up to the wall tonight and got this shot, handheld at 1/20

It is a little noisy, shot at 1600 ISO, but it's pretty damn sharp for handheld at such a slow shutter speed.

Link to full size. Check out the detail in the stadium at the bottom

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4367468994_827c03430c_o.jpg

 

[Storm Shadow]

nice

 

[mosquito]

Nice. I like the 70-200 a lot. I still haven't gotten a good one from up there though. )

 

[Storm Shadow]

moar behind the scenes of my friends shoot at emeryville...

 

[pitslave]

So my dad and I went halfsies on the new Nikon 70-200 2.8 VRII. Initial impressions are that it is badass. Came in late tonight so only a few shots with it so far. Went up to the wall tonight and got this shot, handheld at 1/20

It is a little noisy, shot at 1600 ISO, but it's pretty damn sharp for handheld at such a slow shutter speed.

Link to full size. Check out the detail in the stadium at the bottom

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4367468994_827c03430c_o.jpg

Must be nice.
I wish I could talk my parents into going halves on some equipment.

Got a question for some of you guys. Any of you know which one of the ebay off camera flash triggers work the best? I can't afford the pocket wizards right now. But just wanted some type of trigger system for the mean time to play with.

 

[drizz]

Not too bad for your first pass at it. Are you starting to see why I love shooting dancers? Here are some questions/comments for you:

1. When you said 'static light' did you mean that you used a strobe, or what is static stage lighting?
2. The reason I'm asking is that when using a strobe, there is typically no reason to shoot high ISO (unless you specifically wanted the grainy effect). Just turn up the power and adjust your shutter speed as necessary.
3. Did you use any light modifiers on the strobe? (if it was a strobe) I find that a shoot-through umbrella is good for lighting groups. But, it's still hard to control the shadows from one person to the other with just a single strobe.

But, keep at it. The next ones will be better. Enjoy the steep learning curve while you're there.

Thanks guys I've got another go in a couple weeks. I most definitely do see the appeal to shooting dance. It's practically begging to be photographed.

By static light, I mean to say that the studio lighting was all on full blast. I did not use a strobe. In retrospect, I should have for this... it may have made things a bit easier.

I was very unsure (since I'm used to using a flash or daylight) about where the sweet spot was as far as aperture and ISO.

 

[wannabe]

Thanks guys I've got another go in a couple weeks. I most definitely do see the appeal to shooting dance. It's practically begging to be photographed.

By static light, I mean to say that the studio lighting was all on full blast. I did not use a strobe. In retrospect, I should have for this... it may have made things a bit easier.

I was very unsure (since I'm used to using a flash or daylight) about where the sweet spot was as far as aperture and ISO.

Welcome to the dance game.

Ah, I see. Yes, if I have the option, I always use my strobes. If it's just a photo shoot, I bust them out. For performances I don't because I want to get the stage lighting in the shot too.

As for the sweet spot, when not using a strobe, I always shoot wide open when shooting dance. It forces you to absolutely get the focus right, but it tends to minimize the background junk. I usually shoot in Aperture Priority with natural lighting. Just set the lens wide open, and go to town. Just from my quick and dirty experience, I try not to shoot dance below 1/100th unless I specifically want a blur in my pic. So, this is my setting plan when shooting dance with just ambient:

1. Aperture Priority
2. Lens wide open
3. Adjust ISO until you can get the shutter faster than 1/100th of a sec
4. Adjust ISO as necessary depending on how fast the dancers are moving. (if they are moving fast, and you see motion blurs, crank up the ISO until the motion blurs go away.)

Things get a lot more fun when you decide to use strobes.

Keep at it. The next set should come out pimp!

 

[Joebar4000]

Wot he said.

The Mk2 allows you the luxury of using ISO as a legit means of controlling the exposure, not just a way to 'get the shot' and then have to clean up noise after - or just live with the noise.

Been shooting all the way up to 800 and it's fine at reasonable zoom. 100% looks like ass, but for screen or 8x10 the noise is pretty acceptable, IMO. Tiny bit of cleaning with NeatImage and they look great without having that filtered look. I've even shot up to 6400 and they are about as good as the old Rebel at 400, lol!

Might find the nifty fifty is good at 1.8, or the 85mm L series (on my shopping list, sigh...).

 

[zypher]

LOL...whos that spy?

 

[Joebar4000]