Any time I travel, I always try to include some street photography in my pictures. It kind of tells a story about the locale. I have been pretty successful in New York (especially Times Square and the theatre district), Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans (everyone wants to be in your picture), Washington D.C., etc. I have only ever been confronted negatively once. The guy was a street musician clarinet player in Washington D. C. I am a high school band director and was there with my band students. The guy’s playing was horrible and attracted the attention of my students. Some of the kids asked me to get their picture with him in the back ground. He obviously didn’t want to be in the picture although he was making a public spectacle of himself and made a somewhat harmless but threatening scene. Of course, my mistake was not being ninja enough. I tried to compose the scene and that drew his attention. When he started with me, I just remained calm. Some of my students politely told him that they felt that I would be glad to give him a clarinet lesson and help him with his bad tone quality! It got comical. However, there was a lesson learned for me as a photographer taking photos on the street. Unless you specifically ask someone if you can take his/her picture, which I often do when the subject is in a more individual setting, try to give the appearance that you are more interested in the architecture or the details of other inanimate objects than the people surrounding you. You often capture the best and most telling street images when people don’t realize you are actually shooting them. I often end up with many extra pictures because in the process I am taking pictures of tops of buildings or details of objects, storefronts, etc. Seldom do people even become aware that I am photographing them as well. I don’t think doing so is unethical because people are in public and for the most part, we can take pictures in any public setting. Of course, I try to avoid any situations that would be embarrassing to the subject(s) or that would compromise their integrity. I do tend to ask a parent if a child is going to be the subject. As well, in that case, I always offer to send them a copy of the picture. Often, they will take me up on my offer and give me a cell number or an email address. One other thing I have learned is to use a smaller camera with a smaller lens. I generally tend to use my Canon T6s with an EF-S 10-18, an EF-S 24 (pancake), or my EF-S 18-135 as opposed to my 6DMKII or 5DMKIV with a larger L Series lens up front. The smaller equipment seems less imposing and your intentions are not as obvious. I have considered getting a smaller mirrorless with a good street lens for that very reason (although the T6s is very capable and is not inferior in any sense). I think the main thing with effective street photography is to just not get into anyone’s personal space or to be overly obvious about what you are doing. Learn to be comfortable in the situation yourself. Developing that level of comfort takes a bit of practice. Just be prepared to be very cordial and non-combatant/non-confrontational if approached. Have fun and capture some great images!

I agree with Linda from Maine!

I am glad you found the lens and that were able to get the lens Marg. I honestly think it is one of the best lens Canon produces. Fortunately, it is an EF-S crop frame lens or otherwise it would have a red ring around it and cost three times as much. I really do believe it is as sharpe as most all L-Series lenses. You have obviously wasted no time in putting it to good use because these pictures are all spectacular. As well, the quality of each shot is stunning! You are a wonderful photographer (and friend 😀). I sincerely hope you enjoy it. I have already enjoyed the images you made while using it. I am going to give mine a spin in the Big Apple this weekend!

I have the f2.8 24-70 and the f4 version of the of the lens. It took me a while to understand the purpose of IS. It is to stabilize me not the subject. Sadly, I have to admit that for a while, I misunderstood the purpose of IS. The purpose of IS on a given lens is to allow you to use a slower shutter speed in an attempt to avoid motion blur using a smaller aperture for a given shot. Thus, with f2.8, you really don’t need it to the same degree as with a f4 lens. I occasionally do turn it on when using the f4 version in lower light conditions. However, not much is sharper than the EF 24-70 f2.8 series II version of the lens. I am glad I bought it. It was worth the additional cost.

I generally only turn it on when the shutter speed needs to be slower for exposure for a still shot. I really think the purpose is stabilizing the shot at slower shutter speeds. When shooting any sports, I like to use shutter speeds of at least 1/800. At that shutter speed or faster, I don’t ever use stabilization. It initially took me a while years ago to understand that it only controls my movement not the movement of a subject. Just kind of imagine a spinning gyroscope. It remains more steady in your hands. That is the way I think of it anyway. Just realize that I am not a professional in any sense of the word, but get a lucky shot on occasion! 😀

I honestly don’t think there is a mere simple and correct answer to this question. I think it depends on the variety of the things you like to shoot. I own a number of prime lenses and use them mostly with “planned” shooting where I have a lot of control over the situation. They are sharper than my zooms. Obviously, in the majority of the situations, I can’t control the situation so that is where my zoom lenses are most valuable to me. I have a nice variety of them also in various focal length ranges and f values. I have a lens that I like when shooting basketball and another I use when shooting a baseball game. I have the lenses that stay on each of my three bodies and at least a second in each camera bag. I have expensive lenses and often a similar lesser expensive lens when I go into a situation where I fear the lens could potentially be damaged, etc. I would rather lose a $350.00 lens than a $2200.00 lens.

No, I am not a profession photographer because it is not what I do for a living, but I want to be as good at the craft as I can possibly be. I tend to save and buy a new lens when I start coming upon a need for one. I will also occasionally upgrade a lens to a new version if the improvement warrant it in my mind.

The above is why I don’t think that there is any one standard lens set you can own. Problem is that photographers are not standard either! What you own has to fit what you enjoy doing!

Does anyone other than me remember the Kodak Instramatic and even the Pocket Instamatic. Shortly after them, we had disposable cameras. There has always been an alternative to serious photography.

So much to see! A little known gem in the area is Max Patch Bald. It is off the Harmon Den exit on I-40. It is dirt roads, but good ones. You can drive it in a luxury vehicle as long as there is no ice. Take the Harmon Den exit, go towards the mountain (opposite the Pigeon River side) and stay left at every juncture on the dirt road. Plenty of spectacular scenery and wild flowers abounds. I have photographed elk in the area as well. One of my favorite places in the Smoky Mountains. While you are that close, you should go see the Biltmore House as well.

Cameras on phones and especially the newer smart phones have evolved significantly over the past ten years. I remember well the basic cameras that were first installed on flip phones that became known as camera phones. I mean my new iPhone XS has a 12mp camera. That is six more mp than my first digital bridge camera years ago. However, 12mp on a chip of a sensor will never compete with the 30mps on my full frame 5DMKIV or the 26mps on my 6DMKII or even the 24MPs on my crop frame T6s. Nor will the fixed lenses on my smart phone camera ever produce the clarity and IQ of my L-Series lenses. I would never consider my cell phone camera as being a serious piece of camera equipment even though I have made some wonderful and printable pictures with it. I am glad I have it because I cannot carry my DSLRs with me in my pocket, but I cannot for one minute believe that camera phones will replace serious DSLR or mirrorless crop and full frame cameras. I can see then adversely affecting the point and shoot market, but even my wife who has a very nice Canon point and shoot has far more capabilities with that camera than her phone camera. The phone cameras have their place. They are perfect for snap shots for FaceBook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, etc. I suspect that more pictures are being taken than ever before, and sadly in 30 years we will have trouble finding anyone who can run for political office because somewhere a picture of them doing something stupid in their youth will emerge. Thank goodness there were no camera phones during my teenage and college years! However, would anyone be pleased if they hired a wedding photographer and he/she showed up with two camera phones to do the job. From a serious photography point of view, I find the video capabilities far more appealing than the still picture capabilities, but even that will not replace my GoPro and other video cameras. Regardless, I do enjoy the capability of ALWAYS having a good camera in my pocket. I just don’t suspect serious photographers will ever replace their cameras with a cell phone nor do I suspect that a cell phone camera enthusiast would have purchased an expensive DSLR or Mirrorless camera in the first place. The downward trend for high end camera sales just might be something else.

Where in GA is this location?

I am by no means a professional, but fortunately I own three cameras. I use them for different purposes. I have a Canon T6s, 6DmkII, and a 5DmkIV. You probably see a progression here being that I got them in the order they are listed. The T6s is now kind of my travel camera. It is smaller, lighter, lens are less expensive, and takes good images. If I have to travel on a plane or leave it in a motel, I just don’t have the same fears as leaving one of the other two paired with a couple of L-Series lenses. Ironically, some of my favorite pictures are taken on it. My 6DmkII has become my backup/second camera; however, for a year, it was my number one until out of the blue my sweet wife surprised me with my 5DmkIV. It too (6DmkII), it an exceptionally good camera. The 5DmkIV now holds the number one spot, but it is often used in conjunction with the 6DmkIV. Often, if I am shooting say a band contest/concert or a chorus concert, I will use both cameras one with a wide angle prime or zoom lens and the other with a telephoto zoom. That way, I can simply pickup one camera or the other for the shot I need regardless if it is a wide or tight one. Do I need three cameras? ... NO. Do I enjoy having three cameras? ... YES, very much so! (Also for travel, my wife has a Canon SX60 and she loves it. It is a very competent point and shoot! If I don’t want to mess with one of my DSLRs, she will let me take it!)

I have discovered that different manufacturers’s hiking boots/shoes can be sized significantly different. Keen boots and shoes tend to have larger toe boxes than say Chaco or Merrell. Also arch support placement in the shoe or boot vs the size can vary. For mountain hiking with a lot of steep downhill walking, you will need a shoe or boot slightly longer than your normal size so you don’t continually cram your toes into the end of the shoe and mess up your toe nails. Good socks are equally important and your sock choice should be what you wear when trying on hiking boots or shoes. It boils down to finding the right boot or shoe for your foot. It is not about price, etc. From personal experience and after trying many different brands and size variations (kind of like picture exposure, more than on setting/size can work!), I found that for my foot a lesser expensive shoe works best and now that shoe in the size that works is all I buy. I just hope they don’t change it! So far so good! I do encourage you to go to a store with a knowledgeable sales staff that knows the ins and outs of hiking boots/shoes. The average Joe shoe salesperson who is not a hiker can really misinform you regarding hiking footwear and the appropriate size/fit for your foot, etc. Good luck!

I think you’re in good company! I kind of do the same as well.

Love to photograph those falls! I know the steps are necessary, but they sure mess up pictures of the falls. Very nice picture!

I saw that you live in Alabama. There is a great camera store in Auburn (Cameragraphics) run by nice people who are also great photographers. They will let you try lens, etc. They are very helpful. They also often have used lens that are clean as can be at substantial savings. I bought many of my lens in New like condition from them and have saved lots of dollars over new ones.

I have the 100-400 II and love it. It is very sharp. I also have the version One of the 70-200. For shooting birds, I would try to 100-400 first.

One warning... L-Series lenses can become addictive! 😜