The other day at the park I saw a photo shoot. The guy was armed to the teeth with cameras and a back pack that would make a marine cry. Anyway he also had two very large umbrellas that were black when ever he took a picture they would flash. He moved them all over the place. It was mid afternoon the sky was clear what did he expecte to get using a flash on a clear bright day. The way he set them in didn't look as if he was trying block the sun. He was taking pictures of a guy and he would put hem in front of a tree or next to a light pole. After he was done I walked over and said Hi with the hopes of asking about the umbrellas he was very rude and told me to get lost. I was just wondering what they were for

I am one of those guys who likes to try new and OLD things. I have a vinyl collection where I have been replacing records I had from the 50's and forward. Turntable et al.
Sold my SLR's years ago; shot Canon and Konica back then.
So now I have a Nikon 7000, 3100 and a Sony a6000 with a couple of lenses (28-70) AF-D and a 50mm. They both obviously work on my 7000. (I also have several other DX lenses. ) No Canon lenses.

When I was shooting film, I was always too poor to purchase Nikon. At least that is what I thought.
So now I have the 'itch' to finally own a Nikon 35mm SLR.
Regarding the issues of finding labs to develop and print, I understand the cost and time wait.
I am thinking that perhaps shooting film, will slow me down, only take good pictures (I can't seem to force myself to do that with the digital) and really learn composition.
Nikon FM 100 I understand is a great camera and can be purchased relatively cheap.

Will the two Nikon lenses I already own, be good enough? The 50mm 1.8 D lens takes great shot on my 7000.

Most of my photography of late has been landscapes and I am wanting to branch out more into B&W.

Thoughts?
Thanks
Jim

I frequently enter our local paper's weekly photo contest. They pick the subject and you enter the appropriate picture(s).
Yesterday's subject matter was called "CROWDED". I entered about 4 pics that fit the category and waited to see what happened.
Their photographer contacted me via email and said my pic was in consideration and she wanted to know the specifics of the picture. What camera I used and where the pic was taken, etc. I emailed her back with the info.
Sunday's paper arrived and I checked the section that contests are in and lo and behold, mine was it. Put a little lift in my day that's for sure.
I included a screen grab of the article for you to see. I also included the original pic that I posted. Plus a couple extra from that day.

Can you remember why it was important to buy a camera? Does it still satisfy that particular need or has it just become a part of 'what you now do'?

I took up photography when I discovered that my sketching skills were lacking. I love the way that a simple line can convey 'the whole look' of a person's face. Anyone who has sat in Montmartre will know the speed and yet delicacy of capturing an image in chalk or pencil. However I still can't get that right. My portraits do not satisfy ME... The camera captures too much detail. My best shot was a high key accident where only the most contrasting areas showed . I need to work harder both in B&W to see how this achieves my aim.

Book illustrations are masters at creating a cameo view. The lonely cottage by the stream on the hill side and a single shade tree. It is composition at its finest. Now this I look for, It is why I bought a camera. I have images of castles ruins. Cottages and bridges etc. My mind sees the illustration of Poplar Trees at dusk, fields fading into a patchwork of hedges against defined cloud formations and I rejoice when that translates into a print. 'Nice view' is what people call them. 'But what were you photographing?' ask others. I care not...To Be There and get exactly what I wanted is reward enough. To look for , is inspirational and makes any walk or drive in the countryside a quest in itself.

Do you recall the Plant Folio books that libraries had. The large folio's of Victorian watercolours of single specimens. I cannot watercolour to save my life. However, I can capture 'copies' that I can print A3. The nuances of shading that I admired in print I can control with light . The backgrounds that 'made or age the picture' I can reproduce. I even get the joy of actually growing or buying the plants I photograph. It is fantastic to re-look at the watercolour images in a book and then go home and reproduce them or create an amalgam of elements that please with the flowers that I have. Once again the rules of composition and light transcend art into photography. It may be simplistic, but it satisfies my needs.

I 'forget' my good camera at weddings and parties I attend. Birds in Flight seems to me like stamp collecting. Even holiday snaps are a chore, it seems. I am probably not a good all round photographer, but I do get, with my camera, what I paid for.

What inspired you? Does it still make you happy?

After a recent trip to Europe, I had trouble remembering where some of the picture I took were taken. Luckily I had also used my I Phone and that had geotags on the pictures.
I am interested in getting a DSLR, but would like to have the geotag information available when I review the pictures that were taken. I have looked at Cannon and Nikon beginner cameras, but they don't have geotag capabilities.

Any suggestions as to what camera may work out best for me when taking trips.
Thanks
Bob

Hello:
I've been monitoring the UHH forum for awhile and decided it was time to join.
I shoot with a Nikon 7100 and, until recently, used only Nikon lenses. None of the Nikon's required any lens calibration.
I'm on my second copy of the Tamron 24-70 1.8. The first front focused to the extent that a +20 adjustment would not completely correct the issue. The second copy required a +15 adjustment.
I'm wondering if anyone else is having issues with Tamron lenses on Nikon bodies.

Thanks in advance.

I cannot remember if since 2001 I ever heard of anyone that wanted to set up an optical darkroom till now. I am not saying that what you want to do is wrong I am simply saying that setting up a darkroom sounds strange today when the majority of photographers are using digital technologies.
It was precisely in 2001 that I donated all of my optical darkroom. My favorite paper, made by Agfa was already getting difficult to find and Kodak was having all kind of financial problems at the time.
Fuji was still selling their films with a large part of their sales going to the medium and large format. Ferrania in Italy was gone and Ilford was on its way out. Drugstores and Department Stores had less and less supply of film and those left were very expensive. It still took a few years before my professional lab informed me that they no longer were developing film and printing was only on especial orders. The majority of their work was digital.
I miss the darkroom, perhaps because I worked in it for so many years with my favorite b&w film which was Tri-X. I did color work but my fascination was with b&w development and printing.
Today, even when I still keep two Nikon film bodies they have not seen any use in years and I question if they will ever see any further use. It is not that I do not like and enjoy working with film but the fact is that film is now difficult to get and expensive to have it processed. I have not heard of anybody lately shooting slide film.
As I said, if you want to set up an optical darkroom and you have good access to film, paper and chemicals go for it. Nothing beats the thrill of looking at those negatives after development and inspecting a good print that is been developed in darkness.
Good luck to you!

Just a good ole bear to hang out with!!!!!

Russian Couple Adopted An Orphaned Bear 23 Years Ago, And They Still Live Together

Meet Stepan, a domesticated bear who lives with his humans Svetlana and Yuriy Panteleenko in Moscow, Russia. The Panteleenkos adopted Stepan when he was just a 3-month-old orphaned cub. He was found by hunters in a forest all alone and in a very bad condition, so Svetlana and Yuriy decided to give him a home.
23 years later, Stepan has grown into a loving bear who helps around the house by watering plants and loves watching TV with his humans.He absolutely loves people and is a really sociable bear despite what people might think, he is not aggressive at all, said Mrs Panteleenko. œWe have never been bitten by Stepan.
Stepan eats 25kg of fish, vegetables and eggs every day! But the goofball manages to stay in shape thanks to his love for football. He also keeps himself busy with acting in films and posing for photoshoots.


Cheers and Beers
Graham/098\

Yes, I used the word SNEAK!!!
The new section is a WILD success. Many postings quickly get 2000 views and several pages of participation. I'm in two other special sections and you can hear the paint drying on the walls. Not so in the new section.
I would have never guessed that there were so many nude aficionados among the Hogs.
Now back to sneaking in! There are WAY to many views in a very short time to be entirely from subscribed users. I just assume there are a LOT of closet participants. Do you view but have never left a comment. Yes, leaving a comment will invariably blow the door right of the closet!! LoL
I don't expect anybody to identify themselves....., but hey, maybe we can double our closet readership with a little awareness that the nude section exists! And some out of closet participation as well.
This is an invitation to tell others if you like the new section or don't. Could it be better, sure.
I'd like to see it become educational and the go-to place for lighting and posing as well as pretty pictures as the section matures.
What do you think???
So come one, come all and enjoy a little skin...., we do, after-all, all have skin!!! LoL
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