PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum - Photography Talk

I am so pleased... Thankful

Songman45 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:57:23 GMT

There are several places this thread might fit. I put it here because its not just about flash, just about business, just about people. It includes some of all those things.

Several members of the forum have indulged my ramblings about returning to photography by way of a rocky and winding path. I won't be wordy about that but I will re-state that gonig back to photography in a professional capacity was borne out of a need to re-build a shattered life. I needed to get away from it all and taking pictures was therepy as much as income opportunity. Once I discovered that no one on earth is happier than I when I have a camera in my hand, I decided to pursue it. I had nothing to loose, as I had already lost just about everything.

Over the course of the past couple of years I have invested every dime I could rake into this venture. I'm not flush with resources and my dime raking has been hard work and has produced modest results to say the least. I am blessed to say that I've not incurred debt to start a business. I've picked up what was necessary a bit at a time, saving and paying as I go. I previously battled a war with depression and the feeling of being over my head in debt was something I did not want to take on. I'd been enslaved financially before and would not be obligated to a bank or lender. This is a slow way to go but I'm not encumbered and burdened with debt.

I have refused to seek out a conventional job. I want to make my living as a professional photographer. If I were employed in some steady little job, I'd soon adapt to living off the resources it provided and I know the savings toward equipment would be modest and slow. A work-a-day job would also limit my time for pursuit of photography ventures. So what ever this endeavor will provide me is what I live on. By-the-way, hunger is a tremendous motovator.

Some time back I posted a thread asking for positive thoughts. The response was great and I'm so happy to have the well wishes. So, for those of you who have said a prayer, passed along encouragement, or snet positive energy my way, I want to say thank you. Here's a little pictorial review of the progress.

One of the first acquisitions beyond the camera was some studio equipment. The flash units helped me make this kind of picture.

That equipment set includes backgrounds, stools and incidentals. This picture is pretty much a SOOC example. The young lady is a contestant in a pageant. She won "Most Photogenic" from a print derived from this shot. The pageant was specifically for plus sized young ladies and served as a confidence and self-esteem building project. I was proud to be selected the official photographer for the first ever event. I am fortunate to be working with the pageant for next year.
(I need an additional stand and a snoot for a hairlight)

Now I am no expert with bracket mounted flash units. I shoot horse shows and have some experience with one. I recently was able to purchase a set-up. The flash is not new, it ain't pretty but it works. I needed output that would give me long range shooting distances for horses but that I could also use of other projects. I got to practice last night. A young lady I've known since her childhood is moving out of state to attend college. Her family gave a little going away party. As I said I am no expert with this. I was pretty pleased with the lighting on these. The flash was bounced off the celing (I'm guessing 9').

The guest of honor on the Rt. and best friend.

The grandmother preparing to serve the meal.

She and her family were pleased. I put together a little montage. The ship's wheel is a tie-in to the location. Her grandparents live in a boat club community and the little party was held in club hosue.

And finally, this young lady will graduate high school next May. She wants me to make her Senior portraits. This is a shot from the trial-run that started the wheel turning. I gave her an 8X10 print of this. She loved it so much that she's wagged it around and shown it off. I hope its a good picture because I'm getting a ton of advertising from it. I'm lucky that such a cute and bubbly girl let me take her photos. I am eagerly awaiting the "real" session.

I might seem to be bragging about a whole lot of nothing to some. This is my early Thanksgiving statement of what I have to be thankful for. There were so many years in my life when I couldn't think of anything I was thakful for. This has been a blessed year. Thank you to all who have been so supportive and encouraging.

Warmest regards,

Steve

Differences in JPG Quality Settings

Iric_S — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:18:24 GMT

I found this of interest and hope others will too. Tim Grey has a daily photoshop newsletter, and he made an online video of the differences to each quality setting, as well as with the TIFF original. Although the demonstration is in photoshop, I'm sure that it can be generalized to all digital editing programs.:)

Here is the link to the web site with the video. Today (Nov 19) it is the main video. In the future, it may be in the list.

YouTube - timgreyvideos's Channel

Enjoy!

Iric

Digital "Backgrounds" & "backdrops" ?

shadowlands — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:18:51 GMT

I'm needing to locate some nice "digital" backgrounds and backdrops.
I own a green muslin/stand, and I'm ready to take some lovely shots of my wife to place on different "digital" backgrounds.
Any cool (free) websites to obtain some?

Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Early Tuesday Morning

Gna — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:29:32 GMT

Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Early Tuesday Morning

Unless cloud cover is spoiling your view this promises to be a spectacular show again. Possibly the most impressive meteor shower of the year. So get out your kit and your tripods and drive to a spot with as little as possible light pollution from built-up areas, neon signs, or street lamps.

Stressful Jobs That Pay Badly

aam1234 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:44:58 GMT

Look at No.8.

I suprised myself

nwtbretts — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:44:53 GMT

Well,
I happened to be testing a new remote flash trigger and once again was hassling my wife. In this shot, I actually was watching the light meter indicator and paying some attention to try and get a nice image. I stopped down one F Stop to try and adjust for the flash that would fire and I ended up with an image that actually made me say "wow, that came out nice". I really feel it was the first one that gave me that reaction.

Post edit includes a frame crop, some saturation changes and drop in colour. My wife did not have on her usual make up (that she lives by) and thought the photo came out well also.

I'm more than willing to take tips but please note: I know it can be better. This really was my first DSLR shot that made me think "this is a really nice photo"

F - 3.2
Shutter 1/5 sec
ISO - 200
Focal 50 mm - Fixed
Flash - Remote behind

Problem using viewfinder

Drifter — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:00:04 GMT

I know this is a real "rookie" question but I can't seem to find the answer to what I would think is a common problem.

When I look thru the viewfinder of my Canon 30D I have alot of trouble seeing the lightmeter/exposure info especially outdoors.

I wear glasses so my first question is "on or off".

I purchased an eyecup and with the glasses off, that seems to be the best bet. It's just taking the glasses on and off slows me down and is a hassle.

I can't find any way in the camera manual to increase brightness in the viewfinder.

Draping my coat over my head looks sort of odd and I really don't want to get contacts.

Anyone else been down this road? thanks

Flash

RLR — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:34:10 GMT

Hi Everybody

I have a Sony Alpha a300 and I was wondering what kind and type of flash should I buy first. I'm looking for something that would help with my daughters talent show and Girl Scouts events where the lighting might not be the best. Also not very expensive either.

My Blown Out Sky

capshook — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:39:02 GMT

I know of Grad-ND and CP filters. They work great with flat horizons and/or if perpendicular to the sun's rays. What can be done when the background sky is irregular and interrupted.

Below is my Blown Out Sky. Fixed the converging lines, but what can be done to get my blue sky back? As you can see in the glass' reflection, it was a beautiful blue, but washed out to expose the main feature.

Thanks, in advance.

How do you feel about your photography

400duser — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:26:02 GMT

The reason why I am asking this, is because I personally think I am s*** at it, to be honest, I feel that something is lacking in my photos that even a photography student, at the beginning of their course has more in it than me

Question on Sharpness

sarae_61764 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:47:13 GMT

Okay so I have been doing some shoots for people, mostly outside using natural lighting. Often the images will be very sharp, clear, crisp. However there are times when this doesn't happen.....very soft, not as sharp. What am I doing wrong?

General Liability Insurance

Songman45 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:41:43 GMT

Who's getting a decent rate and with what company?

The perfect portrait lens?

Gna — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:53:17 GMT

Canon introduced the EF 100mm F2.8 L IS USM Macro lens. Possibly the ideal portrait lens:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i3...tsforthree.jpg

Photog Adv. detained for taking Pics in LA

LongShot1972 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:12:30 GMT

Figured this would be the most appropriate spot for this.

I think both the Officer and the Photog were being a little one sided without viewing the other ones side. Fault : Both.

If it came down to the Photog taking the Cop to court though...who do you think would win.... based upon legalities?

YouTube- LA Sheriff Threatens To Submit Photographer to FBI's Hit List

Tripod buying

cappy1927 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:00:30 GMT

I am an amature photographer who has a wide interest in photographic subjects and am now interested in buying a tripod...What are your thoughts on a tripod for this amature that won't break his bank. Thanks for your thoughts.....:)