Photographers' Union Thread

[jets]

The 5d MkII is nice !

My dad has just come back from Coonabarabran in western New South Wales where there is almost no population (and almost no light pollution). Just near the Anglo-Australian telescope.

There is also a small private observatory that lets you attach your camera.

They're a bit noisy, but...how often do you get to do this !





I don't know details for the telescope, but these are 1600 ISO at 60 seconds.

[ntalwar]

Originally Posted by major_panic Tried out a mate's prime 50mm lens yesterday, and completely loved it. I'm now looking to buy one - it is amazing for portrait photography. Photos will come later.

I have that lens - it's nice quality lens for a good price. If you have a chance, try the 85mm f/1.8 - I love that lens for portraits and concerts. It's highly rated as well. I took the shots above with it (at f/1.8) - it's great for low light shots.

Originally Posted by jets I don't know details for the telescope, but these are 1600 ISO at 60 seconds.

Nice shots- always wanted to try astro. I wonder what the focal length on that scope is.

[Justin24]

Ok so I have the nikond200 its a 10.2million mega pixel camera. How big can I print?

[Diemen]

these kinds of things are easily searchable on google, Justin.

But since you asked...

Native resolution works out to about 12x18 or so. You should have no problem printing up to 16x24s if you want though. Hell, I've printed a few 20x30s and even a 24x36 from my 8.2MP 20D, and they came out pretty darn well.

[major_panic]

To keep this thread ticking over, some photos I took with my friend's 50mm f/1.2 lens:





I'd never gone to anything as high as 1.2 before, so this was a real learning experience for me. But the room was dark, and so this worked really well.

I'm also looking to make a little flash diffuser thing for my pop-up flash - another friend was using one, and it seems to really make a huge difference.

[ntalwar]

Originally Posted by major_panic To keep this thread ticking over, some photos I took with my friend's 50mm f/1.2 lens: I'd never gone to anything as high as 1.2 before, so this was a real learning experience for me. But the room was dark, and so this worked really well. I'm also looking to make a little flash diffuser thing for my pop-up flash - another friend was using one, and it seems to really make a huge difference.

Really nice lens. Try some outdoor shots with it if you get a chance (nothing against food ).

For flash, I would recommend a Speedlite unit. That will really improve the shots.

[Justin24]

Some Model photos I took last night

[Cactus Annie]

That's just reminded me, I need to get my film in my camera developed.

[Liesje]

Generally I am 10-20 feet away (I'm thinking in terms of my backyard and where I stand when the dogs play). If I'm too close I can't use that lens (like my 55-200VR lens). In that pic the dog is probably 8 feet from the bushes.

How far away should I be?

[ntalwar]

Originally Posted by Liesje Generally I am 10-20 feet away (I'm thinking in terms of my backyard and where I stand when the dogs play). If I'm too close I can't use that lens (like my 55-200VR lens). In that pic the dog is probably 8 feet from the bushes. How far away should I be?

Nikon's site says the minimum focusing distance for that lens is about 3 feet. To use a smaller aperture (e.g. f/6 to f/8) and still get the bokeh, I would get in a few feet closer and use a more distant background (e.g. 20-30 feet).

[Liesje]

K, thanks! At the moment the bush is all I have since it's an evergreen and we don't have leaves until late May or June 3 feet seems really close, I don't think I've ever been able to focus that close with that lens besides with my macro adapter on it (but the closer I am to the dogs, the more likely they are going to run and jump on me or lick the lens!).

[Liesje]

Is this one better? I was much farther from the dog than the previous pic, but and the background was farther back as well. Light was kind of bright but these women asked us to snap a headshot of their puppy and they wanted him to look nice and red/yellow. F/5.3, 1/640, 145mm.

When I look at the original of this one, the face seems to be equally in focus (rather than the nose or ears slightly out)


But then this one, the nose is out of focus (f/5.6, 1/500, 200mm)


This one turned out OK I think but it's from the side so there's not the same depth like there is from the nose to the earset (also f/5.6, 1/500, 200mm)

[ntalwar]

Originally Posted by Liesje Is this one better? I was much farther from the dog than the previous pic, but and the background was farther back as well. Light was kind of bright but these women asked us to snap a headshot of their puppy and they wanted him to look nice and red/yellow. F/5.3, 1/640, 145mm.

Those look good. Experimenting with smaller aperture + distant background should help.

[Mofo]

Justin you should buy yourself a grey card, they are quite cheap!! your white balance is way off in some pics, and the first and second are out of focus probably because of the shutter speed you were using, another tip with the black background the best way to achieve a true black is to put the subject as far as you can from the background

[Justin24]

Originally Posted by Mofo Justin you should buy yourself a grey card, they are quite cheap!! your white balance is way off in some pics, and the first and second are out of focus probably because of the shutter speed you were using, another tip with the black background the best way to achieve a true black is to put the subject as far as you can from the background

The background was actually blue. I should have used a faster shutter speed. I should have used a faster shutter speed. I used Daylight WB and Tungsten. I kinda like the effect. I also messed around in Photo shop.