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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
11-30-2014, 05:23 AM
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I gave up my first idea to place a figure skater on the "ice". :lol:
In Camera Raw: Cropped, warmed up white balance. Exposure up and just a little clarity and vibrance. A strong contrast curve. Fixed CA, and a touch of sharpening.
In PS: Darkened the sky and reflection with a curve and mask (almost back to original exposure). Boosted saturation with curves in Lab color mode. Sharpening.
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Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories
11-25-2014, 09:15 PM
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I forced myself to learn a little Photoshop this week. I used Lightroom 5 and Photomatix Pro to get the buildings and reflections the way I imagined the scene. I then used Photoshop for the sky and foreground reflection. I manually masked this (because I don't know how to do it any other way) and had to watch a few tutorials to learn how to mirror the sky for the reflection. I used a photo I took recently for the sky.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
05-03-2011, 03:47 PM
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Hey guys! Just checking back in with some of the photos I took thanks to your help.
I ended up using a shutter speed of 1/3200 with AF.C so I could catch the rockets on descent. AF was turned off during launches.
Maximum rocket height was just about 1000 meters, so the rockets were unfortunately tiny.
Here are some of my favorite launches:
Spjutnik by hangstar, on Flickr
Blue Flame by hangstar, on Flickr
High Visibility by hangstar, on Flickr
I'm really getting a great bang for the buck with the Tamron 70-300.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-26-2011, 06:13 PM
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The Money shots for triathlon are typically
1. group shot at start (mass chaos)
2. exit from the water
3. anywhere on the run with a scenic background. Trying to capture the character of the area with either wide or long lens. This may be lakes and mountains or it may be downtown skyline
4. tight shot with long lens head-on with arms on aerobars
5. slow shutter panning on the bike
6. wide-angle look-up shot at finish line with the clock. this is virtually impossible to get unless you have press credentials but try to find a finish line-shot that includes the clock
These shots are available at virtually every race. There's lots of others to get but if you can get these 6 shots of the same person then it tells a great story
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-22-2011, 05:06 PM
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As a wearer of bifocals, the diopter adjustment has been a god-send.
Recently, at a show, the Pentax representative indicated the proper way to set the diopter adjustment was to remove the lense look towards a light source and adjust the slide until the focus lines appeared clear in the viewfinder. The implication was the actual numerical strength of the adjustment was secondary to gaining comfortable functionality.
Previous to this "lesson" had always checked/set the diopter with the lense on and auto-focused on a detailed subject. Since adopting this new process, I find the images a little clearer and I can shoot without glasses on.
Al
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-28-2010, 01:07 PM
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Hi guys,
I got my new K5, after some time needed to solve the stain sensor - with a replacement - and calibrate the focus, I'm proud to publish my first shots with the K5+FA*600 f4; the FA* got the body it deserves ! Image quality is nothing but outstanding now; enjoy :
This one was cropped to 3000*2000 approx
100 % crop; see image details (sweet spot of the lens, 1/350 s f8, iso 200)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
10-22-2010, 09:43 AM
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Very cool. Your lens at 200 should be able to do the job, and here are my hints:
1) Chances are, they're going to drop some parachutists. If you can get as close to the landing area as possible--which won't necessarily be the best viewing for other stuff--be there when they come down, but don't bother shooting until they get close.
2) There's usually a schedule telling you when and where things will be happening.
3) Be ready for +1, +2 Ev all day. Otherwise, you'll be metering for too bright a sky, or white clouds.
4) If you want to ignore #3 above, and depending on the color/tone of the plane, this might be the time to use Spot Metering--and lock it in if you're shooting in Av mode.
5) If they have aerobatic biplanes, resist the temptation to click too early. Wait until they're at the very top of their altitude and they "stall" before coming down. That's when they're at their slowest and you can capture them the sharpest.
6) It's going to be tricky selecting ISO to match the shutter speeds and aperture you're going to want, but definitely set ISO manually. Also, shoot everything at the sweetest sharpness your lens can muster, or just stop down two stops. You're going to be shooting stuff at a far distance, and DOF ain't going to be much of an issue, so 5.6 or 8 should do you all day. If it's a sunny day, I say just set it at 400.
7) The Thunderbirds (I've seen them several times at the Ft. Lauderdale Air and Sea Show) are trained to look beautiful from the ground, and they don't fly half as fast as you would imagine and make for some beautiful shots. Your best ones will be with your lens at the WIDER end, getting them all in frame when they're closest to you.
8) If you don't bring a polarizer, don't bother going.
Have fun!!!
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Forum: Photographic Technique
10-04-2010, 06:14 AM
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Dayton Metro Parks has a working historical farm that offers many photo ops throughout the year. I don't get up there quite as often now, as my kids are getting older.
Tim
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-05-2010, 10:54 AM
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I was thinking about how to respond to your question and came to the conclusion that the best answer would be to post some pictures:)..all taken with the k200d (same sensor as your k10d) all shot in RAW and developed in the Sylkipix Pentax software, color setting VIVID. (Lens used DA16-45, DA12-24 with polarizer-some contrast/saturation added in the post process..and I have to tell you I don't really like computers and have no idea how to use "complicated softwares":eek:)...I don't spend too much time with the post processing.
I have to tell you that although I have a K-x, plan to buy the K5, this k200d with this sensor will never be replaced in my camera bag.
12-24:
16-45
Andras
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-16-2010, 11:01 AM
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Oh, yeah! At bow range they'll hear it!! How concerned they'll be is the question. Using manual focus and pre-focusing on the likely path eliminates that issue.
If you just can't resist using AF, again, pre-focus to minimize AF motor-time but don't count on a solid focus lock under those lighting conditions anyway.
Once the mirror flops around, focus noise will be the least of your worries. Think about everything that's happening at that point in time, not just the camera. Que your camera action on the sound of the bow string.
Buck a3.jpg photo - Pacerr photos at pbase.com
H2
Re the confusing EXIF: Was using son's Canon. Copied title line from other images and couldn't correct it later. That is aCanon image.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
09-09-2010, 02:06 PM
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My Favorite Focal Length Lens for Shooting Beauty
Studio Beauty
In my last article I discussed which focal lengths I prefer for shooting Studio Fashion and my reasons.
Beauty photography like Fashion is really a very subjective matter and the focal length one chooses will have a major effect on the final perspective rendition of the image. However in saying that, I have often been one to create controversy in my choices that more often than not break with convention.
My choice for most Beauty shoots is from 40-70mm in APSC reduced format sensors or around 50-105mm in full frame full 35mm sensor camera's. As of late I have been using my FA 50mm f1.4 and DA 70mm f2.4 Limited Pentax lenses for most of my beauty stuff and on the rare occasion my DA* 16-50 f 2.8 Pentax zoom at the longer end for shots that I find it necessary to benefit by the versatility of a zoom lens.
I really like the perspective this focal length produces and am not presently a big fan of "THAT COMPRESSED" long telephoto look that was so popular throughout the 80's & 90's. But hey things change and perhaps one day i'll do a beauty shoot with my Tamron SP 500mm Mirror Lens.
So the next time someone tells you that you NEED a certain focal length to get a Beauty of Fashion shot, think twice and consider this...A good kit zoom lens, shot at optimal aperture i.e. 2 stops down from wide open, will do quite well for most applications.
If you are not using flash, it would be preferable to get a fixed focal length lens as optimal sharpness in most cases is around f3.5 to f4.0, which most kit lens are not capable of matching. You would need to stop down to around f6.3 to f8.0 to accomplish similar sharpness. Flash renders images in a manner where they seem sharper, due to the augmented perception of contrast.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to share them with me here.
Benjamin Kanarek Blog | Benjamin Kanarek Blog |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-02-2010, 11:30 AM
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The correct answer would have been to point at your Limited lens and say "I shoot Pentax because Nikon doesn't have anything like this!"
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Forum: Photographic Technique
04-30-2010, 05:56 PM
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Hehe, this thread reminds me once again why there isn't enough money in the world to get me to shoot a wedding for hire. Shooting one for fun is great. If you mess the whole thing up nothing is lost but your time. :cool:
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