The Official Photography Thread - Vol. 3

[dragicon]

For those of you buying new equip, Nikon has lens rebates this month.... These are on top of the price drop from a month ago or so. Good time to buy.

 

[Y4BBZY]

Thinking about copping the EF-S 10-18 f/4.5-5.6 IS STM and EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM for my 550D.

Background: I usually shoot street, some landscape, and prefer the 35mm focal view. Have the Sony a6000 as my main camera with Sigma 19mm, Sigma 30mm, Sony 55-210mm (zoom), Sony kit lens, and a ton of legacy glass with a plan to upgrade to the Sony full frame down the line. I also have a 550D that was given to me and want to get a couple of lenses as it a bit cheaper than getting Sony glass equivalent. I have no plan on upgrading to full frame on the Canon mount but would like to get a 70D or 80D down the line. Lenses I already have: EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, EF 50mm f/1.8 II, EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 IS, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 III. Originally planned on getting the Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 but have almost enough paypal credit to cover both lenses above via Canon's refurbished sale, plus the combo covers alot of ranges. Thoughts?

 

[danyosahn]

i'm in SF this week. This rain is blowing me...

 

[ddh1122]

Just got my refurbished Nikon D3300 in, and it looks nice. The only thing I'm debating now is this: should I buy a completely new one? Because the refurbs only get a 90 day warranty. Spend $100 more and get a new one or keep this one? I know you guys said time and time again that refurbs and used are GREAT but I just want a second opinion. This one cost me $394 from the special. 

EDIT: Nevermind, guess I missed that special that was $100 more. Prices went back to where they were. BUT, question. With the refurbs, when they go past the 90 day warranty and something happens, how costly is it to get it fixed?

 

[djyoung08]

Just got my refurbished Nikon D3300 in, and it looks nice. The only thing I'm debating now is this: should I buy a completely new one? Because the refurbs only get a 90 day warranty. Spend $100 more and get a new one or keep this one? I know you guys said time and time again that refurbs and used are GREAT but I just want a second opinion. This one cost me $394 from the special. 

EDIT: Nevermind, guess I missed that special that was $100 more. Prices went back to where they were. BUT, question. With the refurbs, when they go past the 90 day warranty and something happens, how costly is it to get it fixed?

enjoy it!

Shoot like crazy with it for 2.5 months... if it hasnt broken on you I highly doubt it will.

 

[airnikesnhats]

Just got my refurbished Nikon D3300 in, and it looks nice. The only thing I'm debating now is this: should I buy a completely new one? Because the refurbs only get a 90 day warranty. Spend $100 more and get a new one or keep this one? I know you guys said time and time again that refurbs and used are GREAT but I just want a second opinion. This one cost me $394 from the special. 

EDIT: Nevermind, guess I missed that special that was $100 more. Prices went back to where they were. BUT, question. With the refurbs, when they go past the 90 day warranty and something happens, how costly is it to get it fixed?

Some would argue that refurbs could actually be better then new units right off the assembly line. Refurbs are put through rigorous testing, whereas......new units are randomly selected off the line for testing. I wish I could remember where I read this....

However, enjoy your new camera.

 

[dunksrnice]

I currently develop and print my roll of films. Are you developing 35mm or medium format? IMO steel tanks never worked out for me, the plastic ones such as Pattersons are way easier to use.

I need to scan and present my film stuff, got hundreds of photos not shown yet but I develop using HC-110. For 35mm & medium format I go with Kodak Tri-X 400 for both. I like how the blacks are more contrast. I use this site for all my development times. Whatever developer you use, it helps out alot. http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php

Oh wow didn't know you shoot film. I shoot 35mm Ilford hp5, but I plan to get medium format in the future. I don't know anything about the different film chemicals. We just use d76 in class. I guess I'll have to look into the different ones. I have used that chart. I use it when I push film to get the times. Do you use a changing bag? Also where do you hang your negatives to dry?

I tried Ilford HP5 and the blacks to me weren't as dark and contrasty enough to my taste but maybe it might have been my developing. The D76 is good too. I have the chart printed out from school as well. I either hang them in the heat dryer at school or cloths pin to cool off.

 

[growingupny]

Random, but how do you guys feel about off camera lighting? Recently upgraded to FF and want to practice/develop my strobe skills too. 

 

[khankussionz]

Random, but how do you guys feel about off camera lighting? Recently upgraded to FF and want to practice/develop my strobe skills too. 

I enjoy it.

 

[djyoung08]

Random, but how do you guys feel about off camera lighting? Recently upgraded to FF and want to practice/develop my strobe skills too. 

Off camera >

 

[growingupny]

I enjoy it.

I see why. She's amazingly well lit. I'm getting out of the natural lighting/landscape stuff and heading towards the model/people subjects. I see I'm gonna have to grow my off camera experience. 

What gear did you have on this shoot? 

 

[khankussionz]

I see why. She's amazingly well lit. I'm getting out of the natural lighting/landscape stuff and heading towards the model/people subjects. I see I'm gonna have to grow my off camera experience. 

What gear did you have on this shoot? 

As weird as this seems... if you can shoot natural light, I feel like your flash work will benefit greatly from it because it's a balance of both. It's easy to pop a flash and expose your subject, but if you don't understand the light in the rest of the scene then your shots will suffer.

I used a Yongnuo YN-560II speedlight and my modifier was a Westcott Rapid Box.

 

[Fong$tarr]

^^^^Yeah, I'd like to know as well. I swear I can't seem to figure off flash stuff. I try and shoot straight off the flash (no diffuser) and I get just some cruddy stuff. Do I need a defuser? It seems unless you are shooting strobes, you are really limited to what you can do unless it's dusk or you are in low light areas. I am shooting indoors this Wednesday at City Hall and wonder if I could use an off flash but won't dare to try just because i have a better chance shooting natural light with the limited time I have.

 

[growingupny]

As weird as this seems... if you can shoot natural light, I feel like your flash work will benefit greatly from it because it's a balance of both. It's easy to pop a flash and expose your subject, but if you don't understand the light in the rest of the scene then your shots will suffer.

I used a Yongnuo YN-560II speedlight and my modifier was a Westcott Rapid Box.

I feel you there. I pushed my T4i to the limits. My little crop body did me good. I've still got a ways to go but I got pretty decent at working with natural light and even minimal touch ups in LR. I've just seen how well the subject is with strobes and it's really opened my eyes to the reality of advancing my skills effectively. 

 

[djyoung08]

^^^^Yeah, I'd like to know as well. I swear I can't seem to figure off flash stuff. I try and shoot straight off the flash (no diffuser) and I get just some cruddy stuff. Do I need a defuser? It seems unless you are shooting strobes, you are really limited to what you can do unless it's dusk or you are in low light areas. I am shooting indoors this Wednesday at City Hall and wonder if I could use an off flash but won't dare to try just because i have a better chance shooting natural light with the limited time I have.

diffusers will help make the light softer

set your exposure for how you want the background to look then use your flash settings to compensate for the underexposed subject.

 

[growingupny]

^^^^Yeah, I'd like to know as well. I swear I can't seem to figure off flash stuff. I try and shoot straight off the flash (no diffuser) and I get just some cruddy stuff. Do I need a defuser? It seems unless you are shooting strobes, you are really limited to what you can do unless it's dusk or you are in low light areas. I am shooting indoors this Wednesday at City Hall and wonder if I could use an off flash but won't dare to try just because i have a better chance shooting natural light with the limited time I have.

I've been following your Flickr since about 2013.... You could've had me fooled. You use light pretty well in what you have posted. I would have never guessed you weren't already shooting off cam. 

 

[Fong$tarr]

I've been following your Flickr since about 2013.... You could've had me fooled. You use light pretty well in what you have posted. I would have never guessed you weren't already shooting off cam. 

I now enough about light to get what I want but there are times I just have to shoot till I get it right. Trust me.....I got a ton of B roll shots of absolute garbage. My goal is to really just come out with a photo or two per shoot. Before I would just get a gang load of photos but lately, I have been more reserve for whatever reason. That is why doing an engagement shoot is a little intimidating for me just cause I can't just come out with one good photo. Luckily I got City Hall down to a degree where I know at least I will get a handful of stuff.

diffusers will help make the light softer

set your exposure for how you want the background to look then use your flash settings to compensate for the underexposed subject.

Does that explain why when I shoot with flash that I'll get a blue light? I know skate photographers that only shoot with one flash and still manage to obtain some strong light from it and yet not get it under or over exposed. I just feel like i am doing something wrong. I'll get a defuser regardless just to experiment with that. I am glad I bought a reflector when I did. I find that really useful when I used it.

 

[khankussionz]

I now enough about light to get what I want but there are times I just have to shoot till I get it right. Trust me.....I got a ton of B roll shots of absolute garbage. My goal is to really just come out with a photo or two per shoot. Before I would just get a gang load of photos but lately, I have been more reserve for whatever reason. That is why doing an engagement shoot is a little intimidating for me just cause I can't just come out with one good photo. Luckily I got City Hall down to a degree where I know at least I will get a handful of stuff.
Does that explain why when I shoot with flash that I'll get a blue light? I know skate photographers that only shoot with one flash and still manage to obtain some strong light from it and yet not get it under or over exposed. I just feel like i am doing something wrong. I'll get a defuser regardless just to experiment with that. I am glad I bought a reflector when I did. I find that really useful when I used it.

My wedding was at City Hal and my friend shot on camera flash during the ceremony. He bounced the light off the walls and ceiling. When it was over we should inside City Hall with the Rapid Box and speedlight. One shot he put a speedlight in the elevator on the ground behind us for a silhouette.

I would say your blue tint on the flash is coming from your white balance. If your environment has warm light and the camera bring that down to something more balanced then the daylight color temp of the flash will be cooler causing it to be blue.

sLRLounge has a great video of Pye using a flash on camera and shooting it into a reflector positioned where he wants the light to hit the subject from. I haven't tried it but he got some amazing results

 

[mylesp]

I tried Ilford HP5 and the blacks to me weren't as dark and contrasty enough to my taste but maybe it might have been my developing. The D76 is good too. I have the chart printed out from school as well. I either hang them in the heat dryer at school or cloths pin to cool off.

cool. i'll have to test out the different films to see what i really enjoy. i've only ever used Ilford Hp5 or Delta 3200. i like it so far though.

 

[ddh1122]

Thanks fellas. 

 

[djyoung08]

Doing my first boudoir shoot this Saturday.

I've already gotten a lot of tips from a couple local pro photographers and through youtube.

Doesn't hurt to ask the NT brethren though!

Anyone here with experience in that area?

I'd love to hear your tips from your first hand experiences!

Thanks!

 

[mjbetch]

I
Does that explain why when I shoot with flash that I'll get a blue light? I know skate photographers that only shoot with one flash and still manage to obtain some strong light from it and yet not get it under or over exposed. I just feel like i am doing something wrong. I'll get a defuser regardless just to experiment with that. I am glad I bought a reflector when I did. I find that really useful when I used it.

You can always change the hue in post

 

[mjbetch]

How did you guys find your "style" in photography?

To be honest, you don't really find it until you develop it. (If that makes sense)

You're always going to have a certain way you take photos. Composition, editing, type of lens, etc. The more and more you shoot, the more you develop. Some people may begin to notice your style even before you yourself begin to notice. I guess it's something that is developed more than found. Just shoot what you like to shoot, and you'll know when it hits you.

 

[mjbetch]

Doing my first boudoir shoot this Saturday.

I've already gotten a lot of tips from a couple local pro photographers and through youtube.

Doesn't hurt to ask the NT brethren though!

Anyone here with experience in that area?

I'd love to hear your tips from your first hand experiences!

Thanks!

They're fun! Just have fun, don't worry about feeling awkward. You have a job to do. You'll really just look at it as another person posing for photos clothed or not clothed.

I recommend some kind of soft lighting. If you're in a bedroom, make sure it's free of clutter/unwanted visuals. The photos below are more test shots and just edited on my phone, but yeah haha.

NSFW, (no nipples or anything like that)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

 

[djyoung08]

Doing my first boudoir shoot this Saturday.

I've already gotten a lot of tips from a couple local pro photographers and through youtube.

Doesn't hurt to ask the NT brethren though!

Anyone here with experience in that area?

I'd love to hear your tips from your first hand experiences!

Thanks!

They're fun! Just have fun, don't worry about feeling awkward. You have a job to do. You'll really just look at it as another person posing for photos clothed or not clothed.

I recommend some kind of soft lighting. If you're in a bedroom, make sure it's free of clutter/unwanted visuals. The photos below are more test shots and just edited on my phone, but yeah haha.

For sure.

I have 2 studio lights w/ big soft boxes. I"m pumped.

I'm trying to get her to book a nice room.