romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Hi CheetahB73, Welcome to UHH. You have fantastic equipment but I sense you haven't mastered complete control of it yet. The first image of the young lady on the rock-the background is distracting and could easily be dropped out by choice of f stop while maintaining sharpness in the model with the 24-70;, 85mm or 70 to 200. The portrait image of the young dancer in white is WAY over processed. No young person needs to be softened this much- it destroys their natural beauty. Please don't think of my comments as destructive. PM me if you'd like some suggestions on where to get some online help with your photography.

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Welcome & primes will most always be sharper & very nice post!

CheetahB73 Loc: Detroit

That is a beautiful photo, thanks for sharing that ;) Well, I definitely don't have a NEC monitor as I don't even know what that is... lol. I edit on an IMac. I shoot w/ a Nikon D800 and I do use a tripod most of the time when shooting portraits unless I'm at a weird angle or on the floor. I do have a good job. It's secure and pays well. But money isn't everything. I turned 40 this year. I'm not going to live forever. This has been a dream of mine since I was about 27 years old and yes, it is a pretty demanding profession and it requires so much learning, trial and error and a lot of money spent on equipment and gadgets but it challenges me. Nursing doesn't challenge me the way it used to. It's like riding a bike. I still love it some days, but other days I wish I would never have to step foot back into a hospital. Ever. Photography is my outlet. It lets me feel in control and what I learn is apparent in my work and it's rewarding. Thanks for your input :)

CheetahB73 Loc: Detroit

Thank you :) Glad to be here.

CheetahB73 Loc: Detroit

(I think you're right... ;) Thank you fellow Michigander :)

CheetahB73 Loc: Detroit

Hello. Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be here. And I'm here for posts like yours. No offense at all. Criticism fully noted and critiques accepted. The young dancer photo I think looks that way because first, i didn't get the sharpness where I wanted it to be through the lens, so I sharpened and softened to sort of mask that? The mom LOVED the shot so I had to do something with it. And you're right. I have not mastered my equipment and I'll tell you why. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find a photographer who has, first of all, will even give you the time of day to teach you ANYTHING? not to mention the technical skills you need to be able to teach you and physically walk you through your technical issues. I have ONE photography friend that will actually help me out on occasion, but he uses Canon. He can't help at all w my Nikon equipment. I've PAID good money for classes that I've still wondered.. what the hell did I actually just learn? Answer was usually.. a lot about that instructor and his education, career, etc. etc.. (which is why I swear NEVER to pay and attend a seminar ever again) Most photographers, especially really established/successful ones, spend most of their/your time talking about themselves. It drives me crazy. You can throw a model up on stage w/ your equipment, backdrops and props that cost thousands of dollars, most probably donated by the fact that you are advertising for them, and this wonderful portfolio is produced but it always goes smoothly. There's no errors or note to possible errors or troubleshooting that has to happen, because they've done the same set up on 22 other stages in other cities and it's cookie cutter. Problems will always arise for me when I have no one to bounce it off of. There's "what if's" I'd like answered... i could continue to ramble on but I think you get my point. I subscribed to StudioStyles.net last October.. has lots of instructionals and videos by this guy whos actually pretty good at explaining lighting and strobes etc and the videos actually walk you through set ups in the studio and on location but again, no discussion of camera equipment. I think he shoots Canon too. Out of all the videos that have been shared with me, like Ben Wilmore's Photoshop and Sue Bryce's videos (both are still sitting in dropbox, no time to watch them). I have multiple books, again, no real time to dig into and really absorb all this info. I'm an ICU nurse. I learn best hands on. Always have, probably always will. I strive for perfection and my being just keeps striving and I will until I get this right and it finally becomes 2nd nature. Thanks for reading all this. I realize now.. it's a bit lengthy and I probably owe you a psychotherapy office call. lol. Thanks again, hope to hear back from you...

CheetahB73 Loc: Detroit

I'd love to be on the East coast in the FALL! I bet you have a field day with those landscapes. The colors must be amazing. I've been reading A LOT about the D800E and landscape photography. i hear they're like peanut butter and jelly. It's not so good for what i like to do, but for you I think you'd be in love with it. Ive also heard rumor of a D400... hmmm that's a tough one. When I upgraded to the D800 I absolutely did have to upgrade my computer..although, my Dell computer was 6 1/2 years old when I got the 800 so it was already due time to get a new one. But, I was able to hold out until May of this year.. I just kept all my files on an external and pulled them into the computer only when needing to edit them. I have a 1TB and a 500GB WD external that i use to back up files, because the MP's do take up space, esp the RAW files. But so worth it Ed... I can't tell you how much more I love the 800 than the 300.. the clarity and the quality is just amazing. No comparison. I still have my D300 and use it when I need a back up. But when I do, I notice the difference on the back of the camera right away. So worth every penny I'm still paying on it...lol. I'd love to hear what you decide to do. I'll be around. It's only been two days and I'm really enjoying the critiquing, advice and feedback I'm receiving. it's refreshing and motivating. It's a good thing for me right now. Thanks for your time Ed.. ttys :) Leslie

CheetahB73 Loc: Detroit

This is probably the coolest response I've received yet. lol. Thanks for the giggle. I just got a 35mm 1.8 in the mail today. Excited to use it. Nothing like a brand new lens. Now, to just master this one and all the others.. I already bought my kids summer clothes... it's a good thing too.. ha ha. Thanks for the welcome. :)

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

Hello, There are high end monitors such as the NEC models. These monitors are for people and businesses that demand the highest color fidelity and resolution. These monitors are self calibrating and when the demand is there for the highest quality these monitors are the best. These monitors are used by high end labs and businesses that demand perfect color and fidelity. A monitor like this can easily cost upwards of $5,000. I own the Nikon D800E and it is a beast of a camera. I had to totally change the way I process and print my images. I fully understand how you can yearn to have a photography business but you have to realize that anybody with a camera today considers themselves a photographer and your competition will be people that will do a job for peanuts or the company will know someone that has a camera. This is more commonplace today. You have to establish yourself in such a way that you command the attention and respect in the photography world. Believe me, I know people that are extremely experienced and wonderful photographers that have day jobs to pay the rent.
I used to have all prime lenses. I decided to go with Nikon because of the quality of there mid range zooms, one of which is the 24-70. I am not trying to convince you of anything but you have to consider a couple of things. Theres nothing wrong with prime lenses they are great but to replace the 24-70 you will have to get at least 3 replacement lenses, a 24, a 50 and an 85. Thats a lot of glass to carry around. My set of lenses consists of the 14-24 2.8, the 24-70 2.8, a 60 macro, a 105 macro, a 180 2.8 and a 300 F4. I have a combination of fixed and zoom lenses and they all serve me well. The lens I use the most is the 24-70.

Both of my macro lenses can easily be used for people also. I am a photographer (professional) and I also am a custom printer. I also teach photography. The photographic world is a wonderful world but there is so much competition its insane. . Learn as much as you can, read a lot of books, look at a lot of other peoples work and be open to new and interesting techniques. If you really want to learn about the professional world work for a pro photographer as an assistant. The best thing is to get your feet wet.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Cheetah- Another resource you might consider is"the Nikonians.org", a worldwide group of people with Nikon as their interest. They sponsor classes, have online programs, tutorials and offer several levels of membership with different advantages. Oh yes, check for the Private Message i sent you yesterday, eh?

KMRShots

Welcome and beautiful work.