For the photography geeks [Archive] - Colorado4x4.org Forums

ColoradoSkier

March 2nd, 2007, 01:53 PM

I think I can do this stuff with my Canon G5. I really want a DSLR though, so I can get more fps and maybe capture good action shots at baseball games, skiing, etc.

Sean Dogg

March 2nd, 2007, 02:06 PM

Doesn't seem too difficult, but how do you set your camera up so that it flashes at the end of a long exposure?

ColoradoSkier

March 2nd, 2007, 02:08 PM

Doesn't seem too difficult, but how do you set your camera up so that it flashes at the end of a long exposure?

Need to read the manual for your camera.

PhantomD AKA Zach

March 2nd, 2007, 02:38 PM

I really want a DSLR though, so I can get more fps and maybe capture good action shots at baseball games, skiing, etc.

I love my D50... INSTANT shutter release... no pause that some cameras have... it's only 3.4 FPS or something like that, but i really really like mine..

although I wish I had the bigger lens....

Zach

ColoradoSkier

March 2nd, 2007, 02:47 PM

It's hard to find any camera with more than 3-4 fps in continuous mode. Some high-end one I saw (Nikon maybe?) had like 12fps. That would be cool...

ScaldedDog

March 2nd, 2007, 03:44 PM

It's hard to find any camera with more than 3-4 fps in continuous mode. Some high-end one I saw (Nikon maybe?) had like 12fps. That would be cool...

My ancient Canon A1 will do 6fps, but it takes 12 AA batteries to do it. My Nikon D200 will do 5fps until the buffer is full, which is about three dozen frames.

Mark

FirecrackerKTM

March 2nd, 2007, 03:45 PM

So I'd kind of planned on looking into a digital Rebel, but have heard some good reviews of other brand SLRs. what's the best bang for your buck on the digitals?

Kris has a Canon Powershot, not sure which one. it's an awesome camera.

ColoradoSkier

March 2nd, 2007, 03:54 PM

I love my Powershot G5, but I think in the DSLR world, Nikon rules the roost. At least it seems like most of the pros use Nikon.

FirecrackerKTM

March 2nd, 2007, 03:58 PM

I love my Powershot G5, but I think in the DSLR world, Nikon rules the roost. At least it seems like most of the pros use Nikon.

Hmmm, I see a lot of Canons too. Not sure how to really define "pro" but we had a 20D at the last newspaper I worked for, and I've seen quite a few photographers at events carrying them around. That's a lot more than I'd like to spend though.

ColoradoSkier

March 2nd, 2007, 04:05 PM

A friend of mine takes some incredible pics with his Nikon...

http://www.powderday.us/

thenimirra

March 2nd, 2007, 04:06 PM

My photo guy at the paper says to get either Canon or Nikkon. That's what I'm going to be looking at...

supremebeholder

March 2nd, 2007, 05:43 PM

I played around with long exposure shots at a 4th of July show a few years ago. I thought the pics came out really well considering I was only using a Powershot A80.

http://www.theperfectpaper.biz/fire3.jpg

http://www.theperfectpaper.biz/fire4.jpg

http://www.theperfectpaper.biz/fire5.jpg

http://www.theperfectpaper.biz/fire6.jpg

I also took some cool ones where I wrote stuff on a wall with a laser pointer, and some weird effects with flashlight that made people in the foreground look translucent.

ColoradoSkier

March 2nd, 2007, 05:50 PM

I also took some cool ones where I wrote stuff on a wall with a laser pointer, and some weird effects with flashlight that made people in the foreground look translucent.

Nice pics. Hadn't thought of trying it with a laser pointer...

mrutledge

March 2nd, 2007, 05:58 PM

I love my Powershot G5, but I think in the DSLR world, Nikon rules the roost. At least it seems like most of the pros use Nikon.

Yup. All the pros seem to use the Nikons. They really are great units. I just couldn't afford one. I've had really good luck with my Pentax K110D.

http://www.fpcc.net/~rutledge/clara/aquarium2007/IMGP1419.JPG

thenimirra

March 2nd, 2007, 06:09 PM

wow, that's a beautiful shot...

CGuava

March 2nd, 2007, 06:29 PM

Got the Canon Digital Rebel 5D....I love it, very versatile for many occasions. Just hate getting used to carrying around an SLR when doing anything active. Makes it somewhat tough. But I love it so far.

ScaldedDog

March 2nd, 2007, 10:52 PM

Spend some time looking around http://www.kenrockwell.com.

Mark

crawlinyj

March 3rd, 2007, 01:02 AM

Here's one of my cooler photo moments. I took this photo for a class in college 2 years ago. 1 minute exposure...I taped some glow sticks to my drum sticks and went to town for a while. I did four different shots at different time intervals, and the 1 minute shot looked the best. Here it is...:D

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/crawlinyj90/Drums.jpg

starbreaker666

March 3rd, 2007, 03:31 AM

How do I set that up with my Polaroid?

ScaldedDog

March 3rd, 2007, 09:35 AM

My photo guy at the paper says to get either Canon or Nikkon. That's what I'm going to be looking at...

Hey thenimirra (how do you say your name, anyway, and what does it mean?), I just noticed that Ken Rockwell (http://www.kenrockwell.com) reviewed the Canon A460 and A550 on his site here (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/00-new-today.htm). See the February 27th section. He's also got a great article on "Why your camera doesn't matter" (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm)

BTW, my wife likes her Nikon 7900. Like all non DSLR's, it's too slow for action, but otherwise great.

Mark

CGuava

March 3rd, 2007, 04:14 PM

Yup. All the pros seem to use the Nikons. They really are great units. I just couldn't afford one. I've had really good luck with my Pentax K110D.

http://www.fpcc.net/%7Erutledge/clara/aquarium2007/IMGP1419.JPG

You didn't take that picture in Vegas did you? I have almost the exact same shot from the MGM in Vegas. I need to find it.

Jocko

March 3rd, 2007, 05:00 PM

Doesn't seem too difficult, but how do you set your camera up so that it flashes at the end of a long exposure?

It's called rear curtain sync. Not all cameras have this function.

As far as brands go, Nikon and Canon dominate the DSLR market. Photographers are loyal to their brands a lot like four-wheelers are. Most photographers agree it is not the camera but the nut holding it. Kind of like telling your Grandma, "Your apple pie sure is good, what kind of oven do you use?" Really, the quality comes in when selecting lenses. There is really good glass and not so good glass, and not all lenses are made alike. Canon and Nikon have the best glass for DSLRs.

I personally like Nikon, but to each their own (kind of like Jeep versus Toyota). There is some really good reading in the forums section at dpreview.com. I also like Photo.net. Plenty to read there too.

potter

March 3rd, 2007, 10:27 PM

I use a Canon. Nikon's are alright, I just prefer a Canon. I love long exposure night shots. Have not yet had the right chance to play with lights, besides retarded stuff with glowsticks and laser pointers. Nothing of real merit yet.

Here are some 10-15 minute exposures. Taken last year at around 2am with a full moon, no flash.

http://inequal.com/content/in/equal/zz.jpg

http://inequal.com/content/in/equal/zzz.jpg

CGuava

March 4th, 2007, 12:13 AM

Very nice fisheye, LE composition. I like that idea, might have to try it out next full moon. Interesting how much those starts moved during your exposure.

PhantomD AKA Zach

March 4th, 2007, 12:40 AM

long exposures are great... it's the one serious weakness with digital, I can only do 30 second ones... and then I have to clean up the noise...

it's the one reason I keep my film camera...

Zach

potter

March 4th, 2007, 01:57 AM

long exposures are great... it's the one serious weakness with digital, I can only do 30 second ones... and then I have to clean up the noise...

it's the one reason I keep my film camera...

Zach

?? Mine is Digital.

AMMOtj

March 4th, 2007, 10:57 AM

Potter -

Is there a program that allows you to format the photo's to include that border in a batch mode? It stinks to do it each and every time.

Some great pics in here though. I've been eying the Canon 5D. I like the full frame feature of it.

mrutledge

March 4th, 2007, 02:06 PM

wow, that's a beautiful shot...

Thanks. The camera and the tiger did all the work. All I had to do was wait around for the cat to move to a spot with better lighting.

You didn't take that picture in Vegas did you? I have almost the exact same shot from the MGM in Vegas. I need to find it.

Nope. That was taken at the aquarium in Denver - through a couple inches of glass. I've got some other good shots from that day too. Fish are neat.

We wanted the SLR just to get better pictures of our daughter. Kids move too fast for most digital cameras. I'm having a whole lot of fun learning with this thing.

-Matt

ccondrey

March 4th, 2007, 03:07 PM

Doctor: "You mean you get a burning sensation when you urinate?"

Eddie: "No doc, I mean fire shoots out my dick!"

Eddie Murphy Raw :D

PhantomD AKA Zach

March 4th, 2007, 03:17 PM

?? Mine is Digital.

are you using an external shutter release? because I can only set my D50 to 30sec of max exposure..

I have a "bulb" setting, but no external shutter release...

Zach

potter

March 4th, 2007, 03:52 PM

AMMOtj -

I'm sure any photo editing software would easily allow you batch add a border. I use PhotoShop. I manually add the border to each pic, But PS could do it for sure.

PhantomD AKA Zach -

I have a remote switch ( this (http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/541163390.htm) ). Which allows you to "lock" the shutter, as well as keeps you from moving/shaking the camera when taking the picture. I'll use it (or at least a tripod) for almost any exposure shot over 1/2 a second. Keeps myself from getting blurry photos. :thumbsup:

NZ Darren

March 4th, 2007, 06:45 PM

Here you go mrutledge

http://www.definitivephotography.com/images/Tiger.jpg
This was about 30 seconds of photoshop.

mrutledge

March 4th, 2007, 10:19 PM

Here you go mrutledge

This was about 30 seconds of photoshop.

Dang. And I thought it looked good to begin with. One of these days I'll break down and figure out how that software works.

Thanks!
-Matt

rddtld6

March 4th, 2007, 10:19 PM

Impressive.

ScaldedDog

March 4th, 2007, 11:16 PM

Here you go mrutledge

http://www.definitivephotography.com/images/Tiger.jpg
This was about 30 seconds of photoshop.

Ok, so tell us what you did during that 30 seconds. :D Also, are you using Elements or CS2?

Mark

PhantomD AKA Zach

March 5th, 2007, 01:16 AM

looks like a sharpen mask (filter?) and messing with the color levels...

it's amazing what can be done when you tweak with the color levels...

EDIT: Oh I found out how do to up to 30 min exposures... I have to have an infared shutter remote, the D50 has no wired release, and no mirror lock up... so I guess a hat trick and a universal remote (for your TV no less, I am about to raid my junk drawer to find out) will work for me... although there is a 30 minute limit on the exposure... I do have a NR setting...

WOOT!!! I got my old universal remote to work! I programmed it to use a sears TV (got that hint from nikonians.net) and it works awesome!
I am excited!

and new egg has a 2gb SD card for $16 (kingston memory too)

Zach

Colin

March 5th, 2007, 01:18 AM

well darn, my crappy Nikon won't do it. I was hopin to have some fun with a glow stick attached to my jeep driving around in the dark.

NZ Darren

March 5th, 2007, 02:45 AM

Ok, so tell us what you did during that 30 seconds. :D Also, are you using Elements or CS2?

Mark

I use CS2
Its only 30 seconds for me as I use photoshop daily as part of my business, so if you have never used layers and masks it may take you a few minutes.

Made 3 layers
Just ran auto levels, create layer mask, quickly/roughly paint over tiger so the levels are only applied to it.
2nd layer is a customer clarify/sharpen action I use
3rd layer is a a vignette to darken the outside of the image.

Using keyboard shortcuts prob 20 seconds of work.

If you want to send me the high res file then I can do some fun stuff with it. Or if anyone has any photoshop questions I am more than happy to help.

ColoradoSkier

March 5th, 2007, 09:25 AM

ColoradoSkier

March 5th, 2007, 09:26 AM

I use CS2
Its only 30 seconds for me as I use photoshop daily as part of my business, so if you have never used layers and masks it may take you a few minutes.

Made 3 layers
Just ran auto levels, create layer mask, quickly/roughly paint over tiger so the levels are only applied to it.
2nd layer is a customer clarify/sharpen action I use
3rd layer is a a vignette to darken the outside of the image.

Using keyboard shortcuts prob 20 seconds of work.

If you want to send me the high res file then I can do some fun stuff with it. Or if anyone has any photoshop questions I am more than happy to help.

I actually should have a couple of Photoshop books coming today. One is "The Photoshop Show" which, I think, should help me with the stuff you were talking about. Been using Photoshop since 3.1 I think, but always at the most basic level.

potter

March 5th, 2007, 06:51 PM

Which Canon do you have?

I have the 300D

ColoradoSkier

March 6th, 2007, 09:19 AM

Nice. How many fps do you get in continuous mode?

potter

March 7th, 2007, 01:05 AM

Continuous Drive mode: 4 frames at 2.5 fps (1/250 second or faster)

But I have not used i yet.

ZJbrandon

March 7th, 2007, 07:13 AM

Just an idea for those with 30 sec limits on shutter time - you could manually setoff flashes (or another light source) during that time, and get some similar results to the guys with sparklers.
:beer: