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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
07-17-2018, 03:49 PM
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It could look something like this...
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
07-17-2018, 09:19 AM
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The best you can do is (no matter what you end using, but you should be fine with k3 and and a yongnuo 585 (to have ttl, if you just want manual flash yongnuo 560 III or IV or any other flash above that):
1) know your equipment and its limitations
2) read the manual... if you are unfamiliar with some words or functions, search more about that, articles, tutorials, etc
3) practice, practice, practice
4) learn how to control manual flash (distance from subject, aperture, flash power...
5) learn how to control ttl (flash power compensation, exposure compensation)
6) pratice, practice and keep practicing
7) go deep with flash: first and second curtain, hss, off camera flash, diffusers, flash zoom, etc
8) Understand how Av, Tv, P, and manual works and when to use those modes
9) refer to 3 and 6 in different situations of light (indoors, outdoors, dark ceilings, tungsten light, etc)
10) go step by step (and go back often), you have plenty of time...
11) read, practice repeat... and keep practicing
12) and after the wedding... don't stop!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-28-2018, 09:35 AM
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Made by Cosina.
Old Vivitars with serials starting with 9 were made by Cosina.
Try it, some lenses of the same vintage are really surprising.
I don't think it will prove super sharp, but B/W rendition and bokeh could make it an interesting addition to your modern lenses.
I use old not-so-sharp lenses more often than expensive AF zooms. Especially on full frame, the character of some vintage glasses gives the kind of beautiful rendition of OOF areas that I find so pleasing to the eye.
In most of my pictures, at night and with OOF highlights, with the subject off-center, a "vintage look" nicely complements my shooing preferences.
cheers
Paolo
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
07-01-2018, 09:48 PM
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I second this statement. Having shoot weddings on film using flash, the DSLR has many advantages over film. Having shoot weddings with a K10 I can honestly say forget it for photography at a wedding since you have a K3. It is to challenged at anything above ISO 200. You want to bounce the flash and to make it really pop I shoot at 640 to 2000 ISO on my K-3. If you don't, you will not preserve any of the ambiance and the light fall off will make the photos look like flash photography. Good light greatly decreases the noise effect of high ISO. As for hardware, I switched from Pentax branded flashes to the Yongnuo YN585EX. The reason for the switch is the similar output of the Pentax 540 with much faster flash compensation adjustments on the gun itself. I don't even think about adjusting flash compensation in camera anymore. I recently shoot a wedding in a 2000 square foot ballroom with 20 foot high ceilings and was able to cover the wide end of my 10-24 lens (with the diffusion panel out on the flash). Like others have said, practice, practice and then some more practice. The first image was shot at f4.5 1/50 ISO640 the second image was shot at f5 1/30 ISO 640
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
07-01-2018, 06:26 PM
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Regarding weddings, you really have to love to try them. If you have a knack for photojournalism (aka "the unpredictable"), really care about your subjects, both photographically and as people and have backups for your hardware (and files, once the wedding is over), you should be fine. Now practice, practice and (did my memory fail?), practice beforehand.
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Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio
07-01-2018, 05:52 PM
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I am going to give my 2 cents here for what it's worth. Since you say it's a favor to the couple and just doing it as a gift AND you say they actually hired a photographer, I say go for it! Use it as a learning experience. And you have a good chunk of time to prepare. All you really need to do is get that one photo that totally WOWS your friend..... wedding gift is taken care of. But, I love doing weddings, so that's just my opinion.
I use a Metz Flash on camera, I'm not super thrilled with it however, so if I book another wedding this year (I usually do just a couple a year and I've already one 2) ( I also have a cheaper manual flash I use on a light stand and fire it wirelessly during some receptions) I think I am going to look for something different to use as my on camera flash. So I will be following this thread closely.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
05-20-2018, 12:21 PM
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LOL! What a carefree lot!
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-17-2018, 10:34 AM
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From 2007. Lens F* 300. Detail lost in highly compressed jpg.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-13-2018, 05:01 AM
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Another one with the 18-55mm WR (UC).
 Pony Having Breakfast by David Holland, on Flickr
Can anyone recommend a photo hosting site other than Flickr without all that "You fave me and I'll fave you" stuff? I've been moving towards a slightly brighter, slightly more saturated look recently, and it has started generating comments and faves on Flickr from complete strangers that I feel like I have to respond to (that old British politeness). I'm really happy with Pentax Forums as my only photographic social media fix, so I'd rather host photos somewhere where that's not involved.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-10-2018, 10:11 AM
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K10D with DA 16-45
1) Ruins of the Great Tower, Raglan Castle. This was the keep of the last medieval castle built in Britain :-
2) River Wye Old Bridge, Chepstow. This is looking from Wales into England. Incidentally, the writer J K Rowling grew up in a house beyond the trees on the extreme left of the picture. It is hard to imagine that this 200 year old single track iron bridge (followed by a single track town gateway) was part of the route of the main road from London to Cardiff until about 1968 :-
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
10-16-2017, 06:44 PM
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Here is another photograph of Mystic Falls. I really enjoy waterfalls, but there is something uniquely special about this one (at least to me).
X-Posted in Scenics &'Scapes
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
02-06-2010, 03:59 PM
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Yeh, Stevebrot suggested " Ummmm...maybe a new thread? "Show Us Your Chair/Furniture Shots!" I also like that idea.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
08-02-2017, 07:34 PM
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Finally I finished the insert for Osprey Daylight.
Here are the pictures with a bit explanation. In case someone wants to repeat that pain :)
I decided to stitch by hands partly because I was lazy to take out my sewing machine I've not used for a couple of years, and partly because I could use the machine for only covering the foam.
Molding the shape with polyethylene packing foam was the most time consuming part to make the insert fitting perfectly, and leave the room for the fabric as well.
Then it was time to do the "upholstery" of every single piece of foam. I bought the yard of Veltex loop fabric, it's velcro, so I can put dividers wherever I need. I don't not need to make divides, have plenty of them from the collection of bags for now.
The backpack inner pocket fits my Dell XPS 13" laptop. Not like I'm going to take it outside all the time, but it's good to know that I can. The laptop size is 8x12 inches. There is also a water pocket on the back, good for the wallet to carry close to the back. It's also small front pocket, for batteries, cellphone, memory card.
The final look, holds K-1 with DA*300, still place either for 2 or even 3 primes, or flash. It may fit two cameras with primes, and probably the flash (need to try it ). Sirui small travel tripod fits perfectly in the side pocket, secured with the strap.
So far I like this as a replacement for camera slings and bags. It's light, small, breezy, and not black! :D
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-28-2017, 11:38 AM
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Deal :) I will take pictures there for the models I may find adaptable for the photo backpack.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-24-2017, 07:31 AM
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The good news- babies grow fast :)
Take a look at this, it was taken from the distance, but the baby seemed very comfortable with the ride
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-22-2017, 09:35 PM
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I have been using a Thule Covert backpack for the last 2-3 years and I love it. It holds all my gear, has room for extras, is durable as hell, and doesn't scream out that you are carrying around a bunch of expensive camera gear. It's not the cheapest, for sure, but after a couple of years of pretty good use, it still looks brand new. It has the side entry for fast-stowing/retrieval of your camera. After having used regular (i.e. non-camera/photography specific) backpacks with inserts for a number of years before that, i definitely love not having to remove my pack and dig in it to find my camera. Also, the Thule has a number of extra pockets along with a big open section above the camera insert, which is also removable so you can use it as a backpack. It has a large pocket for a laptop as well. Oh, and it is very comfortable on the back. Once on both shoulders, it feels much lighter than it does when you are picking it up.
Here is a link: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1060206-REG/thule_tcdk_101_covert_dsl..._backpack.html
Hope this helps.
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
07-22-2017, 05:49 PM
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I found what I feel is an ideal solution:
Osprey Stratos 24 Backpack
Put one of your shoulder bags in it for the lenses and camera, which will still leave room for a couple of water bottles, a light rain jacket, a few essential bike tools, extra socks, snacks etc. That's what I've been using for my day- hikes and I barely know it's there.
The Stratos is great for staying cool since it doesn't lay flat to your back, leaving space for airflow and the waist strap in combo with the other adjustment straps keeps the weight on the hips and off the shoulders. When the baby comes it will hold a bit of baby gear too (perhaps at the expense of some of the camera stuff but that's family life :) )
I've tried a couple of dedicated camera backpacks but they're are not nearly as comfortable on a full day out and about, nor as adaptable to the other stuff you want to carry besides photo gear.
Watch for sale prices as I bought mine for under $90 a few weeks ago. Regular pricing seems to be closer to $120. It's a really good backpack that serves multiple purposes.
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