Posts for: treadwl
Jan 17, 2012 22:38:31 #
I switched from Minolta to Nikon years ago and have never looked back. One reason i switched to Nikon was because of their dedicated flash system. I actually have 3 Nikon SB 800 units and love them. I even take at least one backpacking with me where weight is important. i use the flash off camera more than on it. You just have to go through the learning curve and practice.
Lenses----learn the camera first. Use the kit lens (that 18-105 lens is pretty good as a learner lens.) Decide what kind of photography you want to do and eventually get a lens or two that helps with what YOU want to do. Everyone is different. The Nikon D7000 is a very fine camera Most people will never use all the features it has which is why it is a good beginner camera--it will not hold you back.
A very good suggestion was made to check out Ken Rockwell and had camera reviews. You will learn a great deal about camera and lenses just reading that--- also try reading Tom Hogan he likewise has excellent reviews.
Read,shoot,take notes on everything you do, find out what works and what doesn't. When you find a style or type of photography you like---then read everything about that you can. I've been shooting for 40 plus years and am still learning.
But most of all, have fun!
Larry
Lenses----learn the camera first. Use the kit lens (that 18-105 lens is pretty good as a learner lens.) Decide what kind of photography you want to do and eventually get a lens or two that helps with what YOU want to do. Everyone is different. The Nikon D7000 is a very fine camera Most people will never use all the features it has which is why it is a good beginner camera--it will not hold you back.
A very good suggestion was made to check out Ken Rockwell and had camera reviews. You will learn a great deal about camera and lenses just reading that--- also try reading Tom Hogan he likewise has excellent reviews.
Read,shoot,take notes on everything you do, find out what works and what doesn't. When you find a style or type of photography you like---then read everything about that you can. I've been shooting for 40 plus years and am still learning.
But most of all, have fun!
Larry
Jan 17, 2012 22:13:55 #
If you are going to post photos like that at age 81----you can make all the typos you want!!
Post some more!
Larry
Post some more!
Larry
Jan 17, 2012 22:10:15 #
Jan 17, 2012 22:02:23 #
I teach photography and cleared $15000 from selling photos last year (so says my income tax) so put me in what ever category you like.
Larry
Larry
Jan 17, 2012 08:37:47 #
Jan 17, 2012 08:36:08 #
I do not mean this to sound harsh---but neither photo has that W-O-W factor. Both are pretty pictures, they use the photo rules and are nicely exposed----but I won't look twice.
Every pretty scene does not make a gripping, stunning photo.
My wife is my critic---if she doesn't sit up and take notice of the photo---I put it away.
Just my crummy 2 cents worth.
Larry
Every pretty scene does not make a gripping, stunning photo.
My wife is my critic---if she doesn't sit up and take notice of the photo---I put it away.
Just my crummy 2 cents worth.
Larry
Jan 17, 2012 08:18:56 #
My nature filter kit always includes three filters. A 2-stop GND SQUARE filter (horizon lines are not always in the middle of the photo), a 4 stop ND filter and a circular polarizer Combinations of these three will cover just about every need and they do not weigh that much. I also have a 2 stop GND that makes the trip if I know I will be facing harsh direct lighting. Almost every photo showing sky and land gets the GND treatment. I use lightroom for fine adjustments but I try to get it right in the camera.
Larry
Larry
Jan 13, 2012 07:55:36 #
mollymolly wrote:
sorry Larry, I didn't send the message.It was maybe 5p.m. I really want to learn how to "pan".
Sorry, I'm confused. What message didn't you send??
Larry
Jan 13, 2012 07:27:31 #
First you do not say exactly what aperture you actually shot these birds at or exactly what the shutter speed was. This makes it harder to pin point your problem.
In the first shot the focus looks to be on the branch not the bird that may be the problem. In the other shots look at the wings---they are not sharp, they appear to be shot with too slow a shutter speed and with the bird moving away from you, may be leaving the field of focus ever so slightly.
Generally for birds in flight I want a shutter of 1500 or higher and a depth of field of 8-11 to improve my odds. Wings at take off and REALLY moving frightfully fast, I usually want the sunlight to be coming from behind me so the bird is front lit and if hand holding I turn on the VR option on the lens.
There is also the issue of panning technique---which you would need for the third shot. This is a real science. I practice by bouncing tennis balls on my driveway and trying to capture and hold the focus on them as they move. Panning is an art and really needs practice. How you position your feet, how you pivot, where you place your elbows and hands on the lens all actually matter.
Start with the bird on the tree- work to get the light you want (bird front lit) be selective with spot focus and watch f stop and shutter speed.
I shoot birds quite a bit, but I do not always come home with a photo every trip out. I am selective.
You also might pick up Moose Peterson's excellent book Captured and read it very carefully. Lots of very good tips, but it takes practice.
You are also using a long lens (the 400 thing) and you may need to work on long lens technique. When I first got my 400 it took me nearly 6 months to really get comfortable and skilled with the lens. You can just pick it up and get lucky, but really learning the lens takes time and practice.
Sorry to be so long winded.
Larry
In the first shot the focus looks to be on the branch not the bird that may be the problem. In the other shots look at the wings---they are not sharp, they appear to be shot with too slow a shutter speed and with the bird moving away from you, may be leaving the field of focus ever so slightly.
Generally for birds in flight I want a shutter of 1500 or higher and a depth of field of 8-11 to improve my odds. Wings at take off and REALLY moving frightfully fast, I usually want the sunlight to be coming from behind me so the bird is front lit and if hand holding I turn on the VR option on the lens.
There is also the issue of panning technique---which you would need for the third shot. This is a real science. I practice by bouncing tennis balls on my driveway and trying to capture and hold the focus on them as they move. Panning is an art and really needs practice. How you position your feet, how you pivot, where you place your elbows and hands on the lens all actually matter.
Start with the bird on the tree- work to get the light you want (bird front lit) be selective with spot focus and watch f stop and shutter speed.
I shoot birds quite a bit, but I do not always come home with a photo every trip out. I am selective.
You also might pick up Moose Peterson's excellent book Captured and read it very carefully. Lots of very good tips, but it takes practice.
You are also using a long lens (the 400 thing) and you may need to work on long lens technique. When I first got my 400 it took me nearly 6 months to really get comfortable and skilled with the lens. You can just pick it up and get lucky, but really learning the lens takes time and practice.
Sorry to be so long winded.
Larry
Jan 13, 2012 07:11:26 #
Start with a lens that has a VERY shallow depth of field. Maybe something like the nikon 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 lens. Be certain that you are nearly as close as possible to the subject to avoid the lens jumping to an infinity setting and focusing on everything. Use spot focus setting and make certain that the focus "square" in the view finder is positioned "DEAD CENTER" on a particular piece of the arrangement.(front most object) Take first shot. The change the focus "square" to another section of the photo (green thing in the back) and shoot again.
It might be rough to do in an arrangement that small because you are working with a DOF issue and it will come down to how the lens actually reads the subject. But the more shallow the DOF the more selective the focus will be.
Larry
It might be rough to do in an arrangement that small because you are working with a DOF issue and it will come down to how the lens actually reads the subject. But the more shallow the DOF the more selective the focus will be.
Larry
Jan 12, 2012 07:43:09 #
Sorry, but I'm on the negative side.
The vision is lovely, the reflection is grand, but
I'm not sure what this is a picture of??
The building looks crammed into the photo---both at the top and on the left. I actually almost missed the building as the trees seemed more dominate.
The clouds above the building look interesting, try a gnd filter to bring them up.
Sorry to be an old stick in the mud. :-(
Larry
The vision is lovely, the reflection is grand, but
I'm not sure what this is a picture of??
The building looks crammed into the photo---both at the top and on the left. I actually almost missed the building as the trees seemed more dominate.
The clouds above the building look interesting, try a gnd filter to bring them up.
Sorry to be an old stick in the mud. :-(
Larry
Jan 12, 2012 07:30:32 #
First----lose that tree on the left!
Second, fix the horizon.
This should all be done before you even consider exposure time. I carry a bubble level that fits on my hotshoe to help with that horizon issue.
As for the photo, the second is better. The slower shutter time give the water the feel of motion. Try photoshop to brighten and saturate the colors to give a bit more pop.
Larry
Second, fix the horizon.
This should all be done before you even consider exposure time. I carry a bubble level that fits on my hotshoe to help with that horizon issue.
As for the photo, the second is better. The slower shutter time give the water the feel of motion. Try photoshop to brighten and saturate the colors to give a bit more pop.
Larry
Jan 12, 2012 07:23:33 #
For many years I shot the nikon 300 f4 with tc1.7 and was quite happy and it was a cheap way to get long.
2 Years ago I got the nikon 200-400 and added a tc1.4 and have never looked back. I love my photos. The lens is much better than the nikon 80-400 and the big difference is how fast it acquires focus.I like the zoom for composition more than the fixed primes but I will note that the 300 2.8 is really great for low light. I normally shoot my D300s body, I have a D200 as a back up and will note that the lenses all preform much better on the D300 than on the D200 so that might be a consideration.
Larry
2 Years ago I got the nikon 200-400 and added a tc1.4 and have never looked back. I love my photos. The lens is much better than the nikon 80-400 and the big difference is how fast it acquires focus.I like the zoom for composition more than the fixed primes but I will note that the 300 2.8 is really great for low light. I normally shoot my D300s body, I have a D200 as a back up and will note that the lenses all preform much better on the D300 than on the D200 so that might be a consideration.
Larry
Jan 9, 2012 09:38:26 #
Just in case BIF are preferred to those perched--- here is one of a hunter...
Larry
Larry
Jan 9, 2012 07:20:50 #
A pair of Ibis found at Green Cay, West Palm Beach Florida on Sunday Afternoon.
Captured with Nikon d300s w/ 200-400 vr lens + tc 1.4 on tripod
Larry
Captured with Nikon d300s w/ 200-400 vr lens + tc 1.4 on tripod
Larry
