History Museum-Focus learning experience

philbaum · 04-16-2009, 10:24 AM

Visited a History Museum a coupla days ago and found it a useful experience in learning about AF.

When i entered the museum, i asked about photography. the answer was: Yes, except where marked. Also don't use flash. Also no packs allowed, leave your equipment here in the (lockable) lockers provided.

Until i got better acquainted with what they had, i selected my DA 35 f2.8 lens with my K10 and set off.

I encountered a lot of amber highlighted displays of various artifacts and human displays such as the following:

That was a realistic light level for this display. I did a AF image of the face and found it fuzzy when i checked the LCD. Shutter 1/30sec, ISO 400, f2.8, SR: ON. I remember reading about AF focusing problems with yellow light, so did a Manual Focus on the face and the above image resulted with the face in focus.

The other problem i encountered was with these spotlights that the museum loved to use with these almost life size sculptures. The spotlights produced these hotspots which required reducing the aperture size a few stops.

Anyway, i highly recommend this museum experience to test out one's focusing and perspective skills.

Phil

dave sz · 04-16-2009, 01:00 PM

hmmm, the bottom is very grainy/noisy, higher up a few plces as well, and that's only at iso400? Other than that I like the photo very much...

redpigeons · 04-16-2009, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by dave sz

hmmm, the bottom is very grainy/noisy, higher up a few plces as well, and that's only at iso400? Other than that I like the photo very much...

400 ISO on film gets grainy like 800-1600 on digital.
even thou film grain some times looks better then digital nois

legacyb4 · 04-16-2009, 01:59 PM

Agreed, shooting in a museum is very challenging with the way lighting is handled. Lots of hot spots that you go crazy trying to meter against.

Lots of fun though!

Originally posted by philbaum

Anyway, i highly recommend this museum experience to test out one's focusing and perspective skills.

OregonJim · 04-16-2009, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by legacyb4

Agreed, shooting in a museum is very challenging with the way lighting is handled. Lots of hot spots that you go crazy trying to meter against.

Lots of fun though!

Agreed - chanllenging and fun! I have a hard time with glass encased exhibits - it's usually too dark to use a polarizer and tripods are prohibited. Sometimes I can't seem to find the composition I want while remaining at 45 deg. to the glass. If only I had a 3-foot long rubber lenshood.

Aquariums are another good place to be challenged...

philbaum · 04-17-2009, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by OregonJim

Agreed - chanllenging and fun! I have a hard time with glass encased exhibits - it's usually too dark to use a polarizer and tripods are prohibited. Sometimes I can't seem to find the composition I want while remaining at 45 deg. to the glass. If only I had a 3-foot long rubber lenshood.

Aquariums are another good place to be challenged...

Tripods, i was going to ask that question, the ticket taker was on the phone and i didn't get to ask. I wonder what the problem with them is? Are they concerned about people stumbling with them, in which case is a monopod ok??

Ramitt · 04-17-2009, 08:46 PM

A photog with a tripod is a large obstacle to other patrons.

patrickt · 04-18-2009, 07:06 AM

We have a lot of museums where I live in Oaxaca and none allow you to carry a bag. I had a shoulder bag made of netting and they would allow me to put a couple of lenses in it and carry it because the contents were visible. Unfortunately, I loaned it out and never got it back. I'm looking for another one.

I visited a church where tripods were not prohibited. Some nitwite set up at the foot of a flight of stairs blocking the stairway. I asked him to let me by and I could tell I had seriously trampled his "rights". If it were up to me, yeh, I'd ban tripods simply because it's easier than arguing with nitwits.

I was in a museum and wanted a shot of an artifact in a case. There was a terrible reflection. I asked the guard if he would stand in a spot that blocked the reflection and he laughed and said, "Sure." It's nice to take photos in a place with nice people.

reeftool · 04-18-2009, 07:29 AM

I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown last summer. They allow cameras including flash but everything is inside glass so taking photos is a challenge. Flash reflects back off the glass and there are always reflections in the glass of the surrounding background. I don't know their tripod policy but it would be almost impossible anyhow. There was always a steady stream of people and you had to be quick. I used the kit lens at its widest and got as close as I could to any exibit I wanted a shot of because if there was any room at all somebody would squeeze in front of you. I finally just set my ISO to 1600 and green mode and the meter set on spot and took quick snapshots and those turned out to be the best photos I got.

philbaum · 04-18-2009, 09:43 AM

Thanks for the feedback and tips. I'm retired so i went to the history museum on a Tuesday and the middle of the day. It was great. Its like I had the spaces all to myself. I didn't have to wait for folks to move on or get their elbow out of the way, etc. A guard asked me if i was finding everything, very courteous.

I have a walking stick that converts to a monopod. I suspect they wouldn't mind if i wasn't a pain with it. But it would take a lot more time to get it into position for shots. With these scupltures, it was kinda cool to pretend they were portraits and take real low shots of them. I would think it would be great practice for portraits of real people when there is less patience for do-overs.

thanks again for feedback,

alohadave · 04-20-2009, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by OregonJim

Aquariums are another good place to be challenged...

I shot in an aquarium a couple weeks ago, and it's a real challenge getting things sharp. Even if you have an empty spot of glass, nothing stays still for very long.

res3567 · 04-21-2009, 09:53 PM

Originally posted by OregonJim

Agreed - chanllenging and fun! I have a hard time with glass encased exhibits - it's usually too dark to use a polarizer and tripods are prohibited. Sometimes I can't seem to find the composition I want while remaining at 45 deg. to the glass. If only I had a 3-foot long rubber lenshood.

Aquariums are another good place to be challenged...

A fast lens and SR won't do the trick?

Wildnsyko · 04-23-2009, 06:41 AM

Has anyone been to the museum under the St. Louis arch and know what their rules are with cameras and bags? We're supposed to take a family trip up there one of these days.

**klh** · 05-21-2009, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by Wildnsyko

Has anyone been to the museum under the St. Louis arch and know what their rules are with cameras and bags? We're supposed to take a family trip up there one of these days.

It's been a several years, but cameras are definitely allowed. As I recall, we had two small backpacks, but not a large bag. There's not a lot of room up at the top (or in the lift), so I'm sure tripods and large bags would be a no-no.

04-16-2009, 10:24 AM	#1
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	History Museum-Focus learning experience Visited a History Museum a coupla days ago and found it a useful experience in learning about AF. When i entered the museum, i asked about photography. the answer was: Yes, except where marked. Also don't use flash. Also no packs allowed, leave your equipment here in the (lockable) lockers provided. Until i got better acquainted with what they had, i selected my DA 35 f2.8 lens with my K10 and set off. I encountered a lot of amber highlighted displays of various artifacts and human displays such as the following: That was a realistic light level for this display. I did a AF image of the face and found it fuzzy when i checked the LCD. Shutter 1/30sec, ISO 400, f2.8, SR: ON. I remember reading about AF focusing problems with yellow light, so did a Manual Focus on the face and the above image resulted with the face in focus. The other problem i encountered was with these spotlights that the museum loved to use with these almost life size sculptures. The spotlights produced these hotspots which required reducing the aperture size a few stops. Anyway, i highly recommend this museum experience to test out one's focusing and perspective skills. Phil

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04-16-2009, 01:00 PM	#2
dave sz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: carpentersville, IL Posts: 693	hmmm, the bottom is very grainy/noisy, higher up a few plces as well, and that's only at iso400? Other than that I like the photo very much...

04-16-2009, 01:07 PM	#3
redpigeons Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 943	Originally posted by dave sz hmmm, the bottom is very grainy/noisy, higher up a few plces as well, and that's only at iso400? Other than that I like the photo very much... 400 ISO on film gets grainy like 800-1600 on digital. even thou film grain some times looks better then digital nois

04-16-2009, 01:59 PM	#4
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Agreed, shooting in a museum is very challenging with the way lighting is handled. Lots of hot spots that you go crazy trying to meter against. Lots of fun though! Originally posted by philbaum Anyway, i highly recommend this museum experience to test out one's focusing and perspective skills.

04-16-2009, 03:53 PM	#5
OregonJim Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 1,327	Originally posted by legacyb4 Agreed, shooting in a museum is very challenging with the way lighting is handled. Lots of hot spots that you go crazy trying to meter against. Lots of fun though! Agreed - chanllenging and fun! I have a hard time with glass encased exhibits - it's usually too dark to use a polarizer and tripods are prohibited. Sometimes I can't seem to find the composition I want while remaining at 45 deg. to the glass. If only I had a 3-foot long rubber lenshood. Aquariums are another good place to be challenged...

04-17-2009, 10:38 AM	#6
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659 Original Poster	Originally posted by OregonJim Agreed - chanllenging and fun! I have a hard time with glass encased exhibits - it's usually too dark to use a polarizer and tripods are prohibited. Sometimes I can't seem to find the composition I want while remaining at 45 deg. to the glass. If only I had a 3-foot long rubber lenshood. Aquariums are another good place to be challenged... Tripods, i was going to ask that question, the ticket taker was on the phone and i didn't get to ask. I wonder what the problem with them is? Are they concerned about people stumbling with them, in which case is a monopod ok??

04-17-2009, 08:46 PM	#7
Ramitt Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 36	A photog with a tripod is a large obstacle to other patrons.

04-18-2009, 07:06 AM	#8
patrickt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Posts: 247	We have a lot of museums where I live in Oaxaca and none allow you to carry a bag. I had a shoulder bag made of netting and they would allow me to put a couple of lenses in it and carry it because the contents were visible. Unfortunately, I loaned it out and never got it back. I'm looking for another one. I visited a church where tripods were not prohibited. Some nitwite set up at the foot of a flight of stairs blocking the stairway. I asked him to let me by and I could tell I had seriously trampled his "rights". If it were up to me, yeh, I'd ban tripods simply because it's easier than arguing with nitwits. I was in a museum and wanted a shot of an artifact in a case. There was a terrible reflection. I asked the guard if he would stand in a spot that blocked the reflection and he laughed and said, "Sure." It's nice to take photos in a place with nice people.

04-18-2009, 07:29 AM	#9
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown last summer. They allow cameras including flash but everything is inside glass so taking photos is a challenge. Flash reflects back off the glass and there are always reflections in the glass of the surrounding background. I don't know their tripod policy but it would be almost impossible anyhow. There was always a steady stream of people and you had to be quick. I used the kit lens at its widest and got as close as I could to any exibit I wanted a shot of because if there was any room at all somebody would squeeze in front of you. I finally just set my ISO to 1600 and green mode and the meter set on spot and took quick snapshots and those turned out to be the best photos I got.

04-18-2009, 09:43 AM	#10
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659 Original Poster	Thanks for the feedback and tips. I'm retired so i went to the history museum on a Tuesday and the middle of the day. It was great. Its like I had the spaces all to myself. I didn't have to wait for folks to move on or get their elbow out of the way, etc. A guard asked me if i was finding everything, very courteous. I have a walking stick that converts to a monopod. I suspect they wouldn't mind if i wasn't a pain with it. But it would take a lot more time to get it into position for shots. With these scupltures, it was kinda cool to pretend they were portraits and take real low shots of them. I would think it would be great practice for portraits of real people when there is less patience for do-overs. thanks again for feedback,

04-20-2009, 05:54 PM	#11
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Originally posted by OregonJim Aquariums are another good place to be challenged... I shot in an aquarium a couple weeks ago, and it's a real challenge getting things sharp. Even if you have an empty spot of glass, nothing stays still for very long.

04-21-2009, 09:53 PM	#12
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876	Originally posted by OregonJim Agreed - chanllenging and fun! I have a hard time with glass encased exhibits - it's usually too dark to use a polarizer and tripods are prohibited. Sometimes I can't seem to find the composition I want while remaining at 45 deg. to the glass. If only I had a 3-foot long rubber lenshood. Aquariums are another good place to be challenged... A fast lens and SR won't do the trick?

04-23-2009, 06:41 AM	#13
Wildnsyko Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 366	Has anyone been to the museum under the St. Louis arch and know what their rules are with cameras and bags? We're supposed to take a family trip up there one of these days.

05-21-2009, 08:07 AM	#14
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	Originally posted by Wildnsyko Has anyone been to the museum under the St. Louis arch and know what their rules are with cameras and bags? We're supposed to take a family trip up there one of these days. It's been a several years, but cameras are definitely allowed. As I recall, we had two small backpacks, but not a large bag. There's not a lot of room up at the top (or in the lift), so I'm sure tripods and large bags would be a no-no.