Practicing what Juice is doing

[LeoVampire]

Seeing we have the same camera I figured I would get into working with it more and see if I can start to do shots like he posts.

Todays shots.

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[bawazir]

nice zoom shots

[Juice]

Those are cool man! I really like the ant shot, definitely my favorite of the bunch!

What lens did you do that with?

[LeoVampire]

Okay I had on the EFS 18-55mm lens and it says 0.25m/0.8ft after it with a little flower next to those figures.

I was also experimenting with the screw on close up lenses that go onto any lens you use as well.

58mm +1
58mm +2
and 58mm +4

But seeing it was not overly sunny where I took the pics I took the glare filter off too.

[Juice]

So the lens that came with the camera. I mostly shoot with that one too, it's very versatile.

I've got a 28-135mm coming in the mail that I'm looking forward to playing with!

[TAKEDOWN]

Nice pics, but Leo... Where are the MARAUDER shots? Lol, you're killing me!

[LeoVampire]

So the lens that came with the camera. I mostly shoot with that one too, it's very versatile.

I've got a 28-135mm coming in the mail that I'm looking forward to playing with!

The other lens I have is a 70mm-300mm

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[LeoVampire]

Nice pics, but Leo... Where are the MARAUDER shots? Lol, you're killing me!

I want to take her up to Mt. Graylock and on the Mohawk trail in Mass and snap some shots of her up in those area's. From the top of Mt. Graylock you can see 5 state's and it is a view to die for. Should make some awsome shots as well as one's going up the Mohawk Trail.

But that has to wait till after Carlisle.

[CBT]

Seeing we have the same camera I figured I would get into working with it more and see if I can start to do shots like he posts.

Todays shots.

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What kind of plant is that in pics 6 and 7, it looks cool! Nice pics.:beer:

[Juice]

The other lens I have is a 70mm-300mm



You should use that lens and a tripod for your macro shots. Stand farther away and zoom in on your subject. It will make the subject in sharp focus and everything else extremely blurry, making the subject pop. This is where my lack of photography knowledge shows. I'm sure there's a technical explanation for this, but I just figured it out by toying around with it.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. I took this at 179mm zoom, so I'm actually standing pretty far away. Notice how blurry the background is. I like this style, so I have quite a few shots like that.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/JonesSoda/pics/060-1.jpg

[LeoVampire]

What kind of plant is that in pics 6 and 7, it looks cool! Nice pics.:beer:

Bleeding Hearts is the name of the flower.

[LeoVampire]

You should use that lens and a tripod for your macro shots. Stand farther away and zoom in on your subject. It will make the subject in sharp focus and everything else extremely blurry, making the subject pop. This is where my lack of photography knowledge shows. I'm sure there's a technical explanation for this, but I just figured it out by toying around with it.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. I took this at 179mm zoom, so I'm actually standing pretty far away. Notice how blurry the background is. I like this style, so I have quite a few shots like that.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/JonesSoda/pics/060-1.jpg

Yep I started to experiment with it a little bit actualy and I totaly understand what your talking about.

I am working on trying to perfect it a little bit more before I go posting the so so pictures.

There is a bee hive in the woods I am working on right now with the long distance lens a good one to practice on.

[TAKEDOWN]

I want to take her up to Mt. Graylock and on the Mohawk trail in Mass and snap some shots of her up in those area's. From the top of Mt. Graylock you can see 5 state's and it is a view to die for. Should make some awsome shots as well as one's going up the Mohawk Trail.

But that has to wait till after Carlisle.

OH... Now that sounds C00L:coolman:, I'm pretty excited to see how this one turns out!

[LeoVampire]

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[Juice]

Very nice. I especially like seeing what other people do with the same camera. It shows to me more what the person can do than the equipment, since I believe that is the more important part.

[LeoVampire]

Very nice. I especially like seeing what other people do with the same camera. It shows to me more what the person can do than the equipment, since I believe that is the more important part.


I want to start doing some of what you post. Travling around to find the right things to take pictures of.

First trip is up the Apalacian trail in Mass to the top of Mount Gray Lock.
There is a beacon tower @ the top dedicated to fallen in WWII it's light can be seen for 200 miles in any direction on a clear night. And there is an old log cabon type lodge as well. Views of 5 surounding state's from the top as well.

The whole trip up the Mohawk trail to it is a sight to see and a dead man's corner that make's most truck drivers :censor: a brick trying to go down it and make it through the turn with a cliff that seems like it drops a mile down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Greylock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohawk_Trail

[LeoVampire]

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[Juice]

Are you shooting in Auto?

[LeoVampire]

Are you shooting in Auto?

Nope I usualy use P portrate setting and sometimes I force a focus on a certain spot other times I let it pic capture on it's own.

I zom into something or zome out and then let it set the focus but always have the image stabalizer on for the lens.

[Juice]

Try shooting in manual. Keep your ISO low, lower stop to let in more light, higher stop to let in less, then adjust your exposure accordingly. Your stop also dictates depth of field. A lower number will keep the subject in focus and blur out the background, and a higher stop will keep everything in focus.

Someone with actual photography experience can expand on this, but that's what I've found from my own trial and error.

I think I'll take a few different pictures of the same thing to illustrate the stuff I'm talking about. I'll try to get that taken care of tomorrow.

[LeoVampire]

Try shooting in manual. Keep your ISO low, lower stop to let in more light, higher stop to let in less, then adjust your exposure accordingly. Your stop also dictates depth of field. A lower number will keep the subject in focus and blur out the background, and a higher stop will keep everything in focus.

Someone with actual photography experience can expand on this, but that's what I've found from my own trial and error.

I think I'll take a few different pictures of the same thing to illustrate the stuff I'm talking about. I'll try to get that taken care of tomorrow.


WWWWWWWWEEEEEEE that just all went over my head LOL!!

Time to pick up the book again LOL!!

You mean shoot in full manual?

Um okay I need to work on this just tryed a couple of shots and can not get them to focus properly or be totaly clear.

[Juice]

Yes, full manual, the M on your dial. When you are set to full manual, the most important settings are the 3 that are on the top of your LCD screen.

The one on the top left is your exposure, which can be set as fast as 1/4000 of a second to BULB (unlimited exposure time). The longer your shutter is open, the more light you let in. However, anything under about 1/50th shutter speed requires a tripod.

The middle setting is your f-stop, also known as aperture. The lower the number, the bigger the aperture (more light you let in). This number is actually a ratio of your focal length and the diameter of what's called the "pupil" (same concept as the pupil in your eye). If you are at 100mm zoom, and you are at F5.0, then the diameter of the pupil is 20mm (100mm/5=20mm).

Like I said previously, a lower F ratio will let in more light as well as create a shallow depth of field (sharp subject, blurry background). A higher F ratio lets in less light and creates a deep depth of field (everything is in focus).

The setting on the right is your ISO speed, and in manual can be ranged from 100-3200. This is adjusting your camera's sensitivity to light. The lower the number, the less sensitive your camera is to light, therefore the more light required to capture a visible picture. Lower ISO is advantageous because it produces more saturated colors and reduces graininess. A higher ISO will allow you to shoot in lower light/faster shutter speeds, but at the cost of having a grainy image. I generally try to shoot in 100 or 200 settings, but you'll generally see higher ISO speeds in action shots where you require a higher than normal shutter speed. You can reduce this by using lenses with larger lens diameters. Don't freak out if you have to shoot at a higher ISO to get the shot you want, our cameras actually handle it quite well, so don't be afraid to experiment.

Hopefully that helps and didn't just dig you deeper into the hole. :)

[LeoVampire]

Yes, full manual, the M on your dial. When you are set to full manual, the most important settings are the 3 that are on the top of your LCD screen.

The one on the top left is your exposure, which can be set as fast as 1/4000 of a second to BULB (unlimited exposure time). The longer your shutter is open, the more light you let in. However, anything under about 1/50th shutter speed requires a tripod.

The middle setting is your f-stop, also known as aperture. The lower the number, the bigger the aperture (more light you let in). This number is actually a ratio of your focal length and the diameter of what's called the "pupil" (same concept as the pupil in your eye). If you are at 100mm zoom, and you are at F5.0, then the diameter of the pupil is 20mm (100mm/5=20mm).

Like I said previously, a lower F ratio will let in more light as well as create a shallow depth of field (sharp subject, blurry background). A higher F ratio lets in less light and creates a deep depth of field (everything is in focus).

The setting on the right is your ISO speed, and in manual can be ranged from 100-3200. This is adjusting your camera's sensitivity to light. The lower the number, the less sensitive your camera is to light, therefore the more light required to capture a visible picture. Lower ISO is advantageous because it produces more saturated colors and reduces graininess. A higher ISO will allow you to shoot in lower light/faster shutter speeds, but at the cost of having a grainy image. I generally try to shoot in 100 or 200 settings, but you'll generally see higher ISO speeds in action shots where you require a higher than normal shutter speed. You can reduce this by using lenses with larger lens diameters. Don't freak out if you have to shoot at a higher ISO to get the shot you want, our cameras actually handle it quite well, so don't be afraid to experiment.

Hopefully that helps and didn't just dig you deeper into the hole. :)


Thanks Juice I will give it a try from time to time. With a subject like a moving car or insects I think full manual is out of the question but I will do some practicing with stationary stuff.
But after those fountain shots I took yesterday I want to find some more to take pics of I loved catching the water splashes.

[ctrlraven]

Less flowers, more females! lol


Nice pictures, turned out good!

[LeoVampire]

Less flowers, more females! lol


Nice pictures, turned out good!

HE HE HE not many females around here you want to take pics of believe me.

But thanks.

[Juice]

Thanks Juice I will give it a try from time to time. With a subject like a moving car or insects I think full manual is out of the question but I will do some practicing with stationary stuff.
But after those fountain shots I took yesterday I want to find some more to take pics of I loved catching the water splashes.

Shooting moving objects in manual just takes a little practice. The way I got the hang of it was shooting in Sport mode to see what settings the camera was choosing for a given shot, then tweaking it based on that. Sport mode usually jacks the ISO up really high to get the fastest shutter speed, but sometimes that isn't necessary.

Also, shooting in manual opens you up to a wider range of settings for shooting motion. I think Sport mode maxes out at 1/1250 second shutter, and I know it maxes at 1600 ISO. In Manual you can go up to 1/4000 second shutter and 3200 ISO.

A vast number of my water shots are done at 1/2000 or 1/4000 if I can get away with it. For example, this shot was done at ISO 200 and 1/4000 shutter, as shot not possible unless you shoot in manual.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/JonesSoda/pics/051.jpg


Less flowers, more females! lol


Nice pictures, turned out good!

Go check out my newest bikini bash thread. Lots of tasty in there.

[LeoVampire]

Damm I need to find some good fountains around here so I can practice pictures like that.

Maybe I can get some great shots @ the glacier pot holes in ShelburnFalls when I head up the Mohawk trail @ the end of the month on my way to GrayLock in Mass.

[Juice]

Yeah, I am very lucky to have such an amazing fountain right here. However, I move to New York next month, so I'll have to find a replacement!

[LeoVampire]

Yeah, I am very lucky to have such an amazing fountain right here. However, I move to New York next month, so I'll have to find a replacement!

Actualy there is a lot to photograph in N.Y. and many fountains throughout so I think you will be doing just fine that way.

Just not going to be doing much driving around and not worth it with that transit system and taking a chance on getting the Marauder hit stoping some where to take a snap shot.

I drove there once with her and will never ever do that again talking about being a scared rat around all those crazy Taxi's

[Juice]

For the record I'll be in upstate, about 3 hours from NYC, so I suppose most of my pictures will come from that area. However, I haven't been to NYC since 97 so I definitely plan on making day trips out there. I've been itching to do a proper night time cityscape shot.

[LeoVampire]

For the record I'll be in upstate, about 3 hours from NYC, so I suppose most of my pictures will come from that area. However, I haven't been to NYC since 97 so I definitely plan on making day trips out there. I've been itching to do a proper night time cityscape shot.

Sleepy Hallow, Bear Mountain and a ton of other places like Niagra Falls to take pictures @ while in the state. Plus now you will have the Fall foliage as well.

[LeoVampire]

I was over a friends house today and he has a pool. He wanted to go swimming so I asked if I could do some action shots that I wanted to practice with.

Here are the results from 2 jumps in the pool side view first.

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[LeoVampire]

Now here it is from the front.

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[LeoVampire]

Thanks to your teachings about how to do manual shots I managed to take this picture of the moon tonight.

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BTW I took it with the Ultrasonic Macro Ef 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM
Because I knew you would ask what I used.

BTW this was the best I could do before I went full manual like Juice was trying to teach me. I tryed every thing from portrate to landscape shots and this next photo was the best I could pull off.

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But this Saturday the 28th is a partial Luner eclips so I am going to see what I can do with photo's of that as well.
Should be cool if it is a clear night.

[Juice]

That Moon shot is impressive, very nice!

What settings did you end up using for that?

[LeoVampire]

That Moon shot is impressive, very nice!

What settings did you end up using for that?

"HE HE HE" To be honest I do not remember because it took a lot of playing around with the manual controls to achieve it till I got it right and I was so excited getting the shot I forgot to document it.

I think but don't quote me I used 1/5th for the shutter speed

I used 100 for the ISO

Those I kind of remember.

[Juice]

The original image files contain that information in the meta data. You can either check it or send me the original and I'll look.

[LeoVampire]

The original image files contain that information in the meta data. You can either check it or send me the original and I'll look.


File Name 2010_06_2108_18_17EOS REBEL T1i1156.JPG
Camera Model Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Firmware Firmware Version 1.0.9
Shooting Date/Time 6/21/2010 8:18:17 AM
Owner's Name
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/160
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
ISO Speed 100
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Focal Length 300.0mm
Image Size 4752x3168
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
FE lock OFF
White Balance Mode Daylight
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style Standard
Sharpness 3
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Long exposure noise reduction 0:Off
High ISO speed noise reduction 0:Standard
Highlight tone priority 0:Disable
Auto Lighting Optimizer 0:Standard
Peripheral illumination correction Enable
File Size 1318KB
Dust Delete Data No
Drive Mode Single shooting
Live View Shooting OFF
Date/Time(UTC)
Latitude
Longitude
Altitude
Geographic coordinate system
Camera Body No. 0970349621
Comment

[LeoVampire]

I got some interesting stuff today with the storm we had and into the totaly clear night and almost full moon.

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[Ladyhawke]

Nice pics. Love those moon shots.

[Big Black Beast]

Nice Iris.:)

Now go take some more Marauder pictures!:D

[LeoVampire]

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But yes your right Big Black Beast I do need to work on my Marauder shots. I am just dead in the water right now
with no gas or money so trying to occupy my time on the cheap side for a while. I want to take that trip up the Mohawk
trail ASAP to get some awsome shots and also down to Lighthouse park for some there as well.

Tomarrow Saturday the 26th is the actual full moon and there will be a partial Lunar Eclips so I a hope I can get some cool shots of
that to post.

[Juice]

Oooh I like those rain shots. Nice!

I might have to give the Moon a looksie tomorrow as well.

[LeoVampire]

Oooh I like those rain shots. Nice!

I might have to give the Moon a looksie tomorrow as well.

Thanks Juice I just wish we did not have so many power lines on our street.

[Juice]

Power lines are the bane of my existence when shooting buildings, especially ones in downtown Charleston. There are a lot of shots that I have scrapped because of it.

[LeoVampire]

You seem to enjoy insect shots here you go Juice

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[Juice]

Creepy! I like it!

[CBT]

You seem to enjoy insect shots here you go Juice

Nice, a DTR Beetle!

[LeoVampire]

Nice, a DTR Beetle!

:lol:

Well it is a slow bettle I know look out!

I just wasn't going to put my finger near those pincers that is for sure!

[LeoVampire]

I had a chance to catch and work with some shots of fire works Sunday and here is what I came up with.
Granted not as perfect as the 1 Juice posted but I got some interesting shots as well as some cool effects experimenting a bit.

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[Juice]

I like them! #3 and #5 in the first set are my favs. What settings were you shooting with?

[LeoVampire]

I like them! #3 and #5 in the first set are my favs. What settings were you shooting with?

Most of the shots were made using the sports action setting on the camera so I could catch a lot more of the fire works and I took shots with both of the lenses to see what would look and work the best.

With low light like that @ night using the action setting for multiple shots when you hold down the button it waits for the light of the explosion before snapping a picture @ least that is what it did for me most of the time so I captured more of what I wanted rather than a ton of photo's to go through and toss out.

[Juice]

That's what I would have guessed since it looks like your ISO is jacked up really high.

Next time grab a tripod and a remote, set ISO 100, and f5.6-8.0 and bulb and do 10-15 second exposures. Longer for more fireworks in one shot, shorter for less.

The shot I posted a few days ago was a 36 second exposure.

[LeoVampire]

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Just caught this spider sitting on a web infront of my porch window.

[djv5150]

I want to take her up to Mt. Graylock and on the Mohawk trail in Mass and snap some shots of her up in those area's. From the top of Mt. Graylock you can see 5 state's and it is a view to die for. Should make some awsome shots as well as one's going up the Mohawk Trail.

But that has to wait till after Carlisle.

Nice Pics, when you go up to the Mohawk trail stop by Berkshier East Ski Resort my mom and dad are snowbirds and they stay on my uncles property at the foot of the mountain, I would like to see their faces when a black Marauder pulled in their driveway. I'm originally from Westfield. Ma
I have some good black and white pics from Mt Graylock in 1974, I will have to dig them out.

[LeoVampire]

Nice Pics, when you go up to the Mohawk trail stop by Berkshier East Ski Resort my mom and dad are snowbirds and they stay on my uncles property at the foot of the mountain, I would like to see their faces when a black Marauder pulled in their driveway. I'm originally from Westfield. Ma
I have some good black and white pics from Mt Graylock in 1974, I will have to dig them out.

I will try to remember to do that for you! I had friends and family in Westfield @ one time and use to go to an Italian restaurant there a lot.

It will be a bit yet things are just too crazy right now to handle the trip but it will happen.

[LeoVampire]

A friend of mine's reef aquarium.

I goofed though resized them too small and did not make them seperate images due to what he needed to send these out in an e-mail for a magazine. :mad2:


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[LeoVampire]

Even the dogs avoided it when it clicked the pinchers together as a warning.

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