Topic: Photography

[whokrz]

I am just getting into photography. I recently picked up a REBEL XTi.
Mini what filter did you use in the Yosemite shots?
Here are some shots I took. What do you guys think?
 

ISO: 100
Shutter Speed: 3.2s
Aperture: f29.0
Focal Length: 31.0mm
Flash fired: No

ISO: 100
Shutter Speed: 1.6s
Aperture: f32.0
Focal Length: 55.0mm
Flash fired: No


ISO: 1600
Shutter Speed: 30s
Aperture: f3.5
Focal Length: 18.0mm
Flash fired: No


ISO: 250
Shutter Speed: 1/500s
Aperture: f5.6
Focal Length: 300.0mm
Flash fired: No

[MiniSimp]

Mini what filter did you use in the Yosemite shots?

I don't use filters, except when shooting B&W. For color I use the Landscape setting and push it up a point.

As for your photos:

#1 & #2
Try to push the exposure as far as you can to the right for brightness without overexposing. The water's brightest point should be your pure white and will also properly WB your shots. Also try speeding up your shutter once in a while. Slowest is good, but you lose the motion of the water. Try 1/6th of a second, works perfect for ocean shots.

#3
Avoid star movement by shooting at 25 seconds or less. Also the shot is OOF so you will need to learn how to set your hyperfocal distance since it's near impossible to properly focus on stars automatically. Use your fastest fstop number.

#4
Also looks OOF, maybe the flower was blowing in the wind. It does have excellent DOF though. It's just a bit overexposed as you can see by the pinkish looking white areas on the petals. At 300mm you can shoot at f8 and still get good DOF and your odds of being in focus increase greatly.

Hope that helps.

[MiniSimp]

Before & After

Shot this tonight, lighting was horrible.

Before (straight out of camera):

Berkely Harbor "before" edit by Simpson Brothers Photography, on Flickr


After:

Berkeley Harbor "after" edit by Simpson Brothers Photography, on Flickr

What do you think?

[Sway]

I think you're better then me at taking pictures What did you edit it with?

[MiniSimp]

CS3

[whokrz]

Thanks for the help.

#1 & #2
When I tried to brighten up #1 it made the rock on the bottom left to bright.. The same would happen on #2 but it was the rock on the right. Is there a a way to counter this affect in the camera?
I was trying to get the falling water to blur like in this picture http://www.alexwisephotography.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/21.jpg (not mine). When I set the shuuter speed under 1sec I started to loose that affect.
In some other pictures with faster shutter speed it was catching water drops and spray that was cool too.

#3
I was using a tripod and pushing the button to take the shot. I think this caused a lot of the blur. 
I need to use the miror lockup and Long-Exposure Noise Reduction
I used the EF 18-55mm lens. 18mm and focus was turned all the way counterclockwise to focus at distance. Is this hyperfocal distance or is that something else?
By the fastest fstop number do you mean f/1.8 letting more light in? f/3.5 is as high as that lens goes. My other lens is 75-300mm not to nice for stars.


In the 2 pictures I like the second better. It appears crisper with less glare. What is CS3?

[MiniSimp]

whokrz:
http://www.dofmaster.com/hyperfocal.html
http://www.dofmaster.com/digital_coc.html
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop#CS3

[whokrz]

Mini thanks for the links. I read them but I have the cheap lens which doesn't have numbers on the lens except for focal length.
It sounds like making the aperture smaller will help to sharpen the picture quality in a larger depth of field. Hopefully I understood it correctly if not please correct me.

In #3 iso 1600, f/3.5, 30 sec exposure and focus was infinity.
If I understand correctly for stars, I should try I should try iso 1600, f/4 - f/4.5, 25sec exposure and do my best to focus on a bright star not just focus on infinity. Does this sound correct to you?

[MiniSimp]

Mini thanks for the links. I read them but I have the cheap lens which doesn't have numbers on the lens except for focal length.
It sounds like making the aperture smaller will help to sharpen the picture quality in a larger depth of field. Hopefully I understood it correctly if not please correct me.

You should have a focal length on your camera that has an infinity symbol, that will be close to your hyperfocal distance. Set your focus manually on infinity.
Your sharpest photo with that lens will be shot at f22, that fstop will provide the least amount of distortion.

[whokrz]

When I tried f/22 and iso1600 I got a black image.
I don't have a infinity symbol on my lens I have this mess http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_s_18_55mm_f_3_5_5_6_is

I want a Sigma Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro they take really nice pictures

http://www.pbase.com/marcro/image/84270780

Well I went out back to night and played around with my camera and my EF-S 18-55mm.

Settings for the following pictures
ISO: 1600
Shutter Speed: 20s
Aperture: f4.5
Focal Length: 18.0mm
Flash fired: No
WB: Tungsten 3200k
Mirror lock: Enabled
Long Exp. Noise Reduction: On
Timer: 2sec

The only thing that changed was the focus.
I developed a crude method of measuring focus on this lens.
Starting with the lens all the way counterclockwise I holding my finger nail across the texture of the focus ring and I can count clicks. Did I mention I want a nice lens, but at least the focus is improving.


IMG 7340, Focus: 0 clicks (focus turned completely counterclockwise)


IMG 7341, Focus: 2 clicks (clockwise)


IMG 7342, Focus: 4 clicks (clockwise)


IMG 7343, Focus: 6 clicks (clockwise)


IMG 7344, Focus: 8 clicks (clockwise)


IMG 7345, Focus: 10 clicks (clockwise)


To my eye the focus on IMG 7342 came out the best. If there is anyway to get better quality with this lens please let me know what settings to change.

[toe]

Yep, the 7342 looks more focused.....

I'd try focusing on the moon (close enough to infinity) and see what happens.

[MiniSimp]

When I tried f/22 and iso1600 I got a black image.

sorry, I ment f22 setting for daytime only.
Nice trick with the focus. It works.
The one you picked does appear the best.
Sigma does make a nice lens, out of the two I own I love them. Just make sure you research all options and match it to what kind of photography you want to do. Lenses are a long time purchase, I've gone through 3 cameras and just keep adding lenses.
If you are going to be doing mostly landscape then I recommend the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM
To finished the kit get the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM and the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG APOMacro HSM II
But, that is a lot of green to dish out.
You will get a feel for which lenses you use the most, for me it's anything wide angle.

Edit: Also any time you are on a tripod make sure the IS is off. For night turn on the High ISO Noise Reduction and the Long Exposure Noise Reduction, both in camera.

[rockin86runner]

ok mini got a few questions for you

just got this ne w set up for a killer deal

camera is a nikon d80
 lenses are a af-s nikkor 18-135mm, af nikkor 28-80mm, and a af nikkor 70-300

what else would you recommend this is my first 35 camera any info would help new to this photography deal and i like it 

[MiniSimp]

ok mini got a few questions for you

just got this ne w set up for a killer deal

camera is a nikon d80
 lenses are a af-s nikkor 18-135mm, af nikkor 28-80mm, and a af nikkor 70-300

what else would you recommend this is my first 35 camera any info would help new to this photography deal and i like it 

for what type of photography?

[rockin86runner]

well any really i do alot of backpacking and am in the back country all the time. so just wonderin what kinda of filters or programs to get to edit them or just any good info you can give a newbie

thanks for the help

[MiniSimp]

So...landscapes? Animals? Close-up? Day? Night? All of the above?

[Cheesemaker]

For backpacking, I'd look into a smaller camera.  A point and shoot will weigh in around a pound, and a DSLR will run ya at least 4 to 5 pounds without extra lenses.  A good point and shoot, now, will have at least 10 to 14 megapixels, and look for one with great optics.  Panasonic Lumix is producing a couple of models with killer optics, made by Leica, and has 14.1 megapixels, and with a 12X zoom.  So, you can get some killer pictures, and later go home and tweak them on them on the computer.  With programs like any from Adobe, or if you run Apple based system they have a good program.  Also a free photoediting program is Picassa from Google.   

I know after several hours lugging my camera (nikon D70) around, I wish I had a smaller camera also.   

[MiniSimp]

 Check this out (clicky)

[MiniSimp]

Rockin,
I agree, if weight is an issue than I would shoot a Canon Powershot S90
Size of a compact, benefit of being able to shoot RAW.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons90/

[Sway]

Check this out (clicky)

So whatever happend with the logo one?

[MiniSimp]

Nothing really

[Sway]

Nothing really

Well hell, I wanted a hoodie

[whokrz]

I got better shots with focusing properly
I am also learning to edit the images







Thanks for the help!

[MiniSimp]

Good to hear! I'm in SF right now shooting. So far did the GGB and the Rock, now I'm headed for the pano! Love coffee!

[MiniSimp]

Alcatraz by Simpson Brothers Photography, on Flickr
Camera   Canon EOS 40D
Exposure   30
Aperture   f/8.0
Focal Length   50 mm
ISO Speed   200

[MiniSimp]

The next time you are in San Francisco at night go to the corner of Embarcadero and Howard for this lovely view. On a clear night, like this one, you can see across the bay to Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda without any problem. This shot was taken at 1am on September 11th, 2010

Never Forget



Bay Bridge Reflection by Simpson Brothers Photography, on Flickr
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.3
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 15 mm
ISO Speed 1600

[MiniSimp]

One more...


Golden Night by Simpson Brothers Photography, on Flickr

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 30
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 15 mm
ISO Speed 100

[PBrown]

^^^ that one is awesome

[whokrz]

Golden Night is very nice.
Which magic wand did you wave above your head to get the water to calm down like that?

[MiniSimp]

The magic wand of time.