I thought this might be relevant, though, admittedly, I have not watched this yet. B&H just sent out an update email, this was one of the highlighted videos: "Splash Photography At Home: Photoshoot and Photoshop Tutorial"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=246yHkqDJhc
Bridges wrote:
The Sigma 10-20 (15-30 in full frame equiv.) gets very good reviews. KEH is showing used in excellent condition for around 250.00. I would start there and if you decide to upgrade to a pro style lens later, you will not have a big investment in that lens. You could turn around and get almost all your money back for it.
I own this lens, and its actually the only one I kept for my D3200 after upgrading to the D750. The 10-20 is a GREAT lens, and certainly on the more affordable side.
Boone wrote:
Here are some I did years ago. They are not good, as you can see. I have all that I need to do as you suggested, but I was looking for a "Cheap Kit" (for the lack of another way of saying it)
Thanks,
Boone.
I don't know man, I like those. For what you said, having not done this much, I think you're right on with this. If it were me, I'd crop these as much as possible to only show the droplets' splash (IMO, the background is distracting). I really like the second one, you caught the drop at a spot where you don't see very often.
Glass baking dish full of water, sitting on a colorful tablecloth, towel, etc. Suspend a ziploc bag full of water over the baking dish. Poke a tiny hole in bottom of ziploc bag, start shooting (on burst mode)! Once you determine the best settings (for gear and camera), try using drops of food coloring, or sprinkle some glitter or cake sprinkles in the baking dish, so there is some "action" when the droplets hit.
No need to spend money, just use what is around you. if you get to the point that you really enjoy this, then you might be inclined to spend money to do it "better" but give it a shot with this method first.
Post some results once you give it a shot.
Good luck!
-Mike
Check out www.lonelyspeck.com and www.nationalparksatnight.com for some good blogs on shooting stars (whether you want star points, or star trails), there is a ton of really good information on those two sites. You can also look into the PhotoPills app for help determining settings based on your camera, lens, geographic location, etc.
Enjoy it! I really enjoy night photography, including stars and Milky Way photography.
billnikon wrote:
Really guys!!!! Nikon 14-24, that is what you are recommending to the OP, really??? His budget is $800.00 and folks here are recommending a lens that lists for almost three times his budget.
Does anyone read a whole post before writing, maybe that should be a new requirement for everyone here.
OK, OP, here are my suggestions for you for under $800.00.
Nikon 20 mm 1.8 G ED $796.95
Nikon 24 mm 1.8 G ED $746.95
And yes, the Nikon 16-35 f4 is over your budget at $1096.00. Some folks here have discounted this lens, that is too bad as I have found just the opposite. I do some landscape and I carry two lenses that both have take a 77mm filter. The Nikon 24-120 mm f4 and the 16-35 mm f4. I use a ten stop ND filter for water. Below is a shot from Vermont taken with the 16-35 mm f4, it has won many awards and continues to be one of my favorite lenses for landscapes. I love wides for their ability to capture foreground and background in one shot.
Wides are different than normal and telephoto's, you need to consider a lot of things before making a decision. Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
Really guys!!!! Nikon 14-24, that is what you are ... (
show quote)
You're irritated that people don't read the entire post before replying, then you list 2 lenses that are NOT zoom lenses, and you recommend a zoom that is almost $300 over the OP's price range...
Maybe take your own advice before harping on others.
To the OP, sure the 14-24 is a beautiful lens, but it is likely not something you'd use very often. I bought this lens after a night photography workshop at Bannerman Castle, and I'm really glad I have it, but truth be told, it may be my least-used lens (next to a LensBaby that I bought on the cheap).
The fact is, you are getting a lot of recommendations for lenses that don't fit your criteria. There is always the used market, and purchasing from a reputable source online is key. If going the used route, make sure you understand what the return policy is, in case there are issues.
Best of luck!
-Mike
Nice shots, especially for being hand held!
The best thing about the internet is that everyone has a voice.
The worst thing about the internet is that everyone has a voice.
I really think that people feel that they can be who they really are when they aren't face to face with others. Its a striking reality that so many people are truly jerks at heart that they attack others on a site like this, with a focus of bringing a community of enthusiasts like this.
Its probably best to ignore them, but admittedly, that is hard sometimes.
Just got my 3 free months as well! I was ready for the Adobe rep to (politely) tell me I had been fooled. Just got the email confirmation.
Really, if you think this is an April Fool's prank, so what? You have nothing to lose. Took me less than 4 minutes on their chat.
Great shots! I really am a fan of vertical landscape shots, mostly because it takes more creativity to "pre-visualize" from my experience.
I have a couple questions about your post processing:
Did you add the "dark" edges, or is this a result of perhaps a circular polarizer?
Are you able to open the shadows a little more in the first and final shots? I think the first could benefit from opening up shadows along the left edge, near where the dead tree meets the cliff. The last shot could benefit in the upper right corner and under the rock face.
I really hope I dont come across as being critical, that is certainly not my intention. My eyes noticed how dark those areas are, and I dont know how much you did in post.
Thanks for sharing! I hope to get out this weekend (Mid-Hudson Valley of NY) to get some shots. Been cooped up too long, these are inspiring.
When I was using my D3200, this was the lens that was used most often. I captured landscapes, the kid's baseball games, and events with this one. It allowed me to get the shots I wanted, and I was always pleased with the results (from the lens, not always the case with my composition, etc).
Its a great lens, and I would recommend it, for sure. However, one of the previous posters suggested getting the Z-series version of this lens, and I'd agree with that. Adding an adapter could present results that are less than desireable. If you already have this lens and are making the move to the Z-series, see if you can borrow or rent the adapter to ensure you like the results. If you are buying a lens, I'd say go with the Z-series version.
Good luck!
Id recommend looking into the Peak Design Slide strap. I chose this over the BR models because you can use the strap on the lugs, or a lug AND the tripod mount. Easy to swap between them too.
Worth a look. I didnt want a single point of failure for my camera.
-Mike
Interesting topic. As a lifelong baseball fan, I had never really given this much consideration, though I certainly noticed that advancements in technology to create lighter, "better" alternatives to the way it used to be. I used to work for a AAA team in Oklahoma City, and worked with the umps. This was from 2000-2004, and they mostly used the ones that went under their shirt. However, they were not as thin as they are today. I think they mostly use some sort of impact gel in those cells on the protector, and it helps to disperse the impact of a ball. The old pads they would essentially hold in front of them didnt disperse the impact as well, and if a hand, or forearm was in the spot that got hit, it still hurt like crazy. Not to say its better than getting hit with no pad at all, but if you watch a game now, the umps generally keep one hand behind their back, and the other hidden behind the catcher.
What scares me is when someone gets hit in the facemask. I don't think there is much you can do to lessen the impact of that.
sorry, can't help with your request, but I wanted to say how much I miss New Braunfels (and specifically Gruene Hall).
"There's only one S in New Braunsfels"