Messages

61

Lenses / Re: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II Current Price

« on: November 28, 2011, 11:23:19 PM »

Next Christmas, do you reckon that the price will reach this low again or even lower? or is this as good as it will get?

62

Lenses / Re: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II Current Price

« on: November 27, 2011, 01:21:30 PM »

According to camelcamelcamel the lowest price this lens ever went for was $2,048.96.. but at $2,074.00, its so close. Will it ever go lower than $2000 or is that wishful thinking? this current rebate is going to last until early january...

63

Software & Accessories / Re: To HDR or Not To HDR

« on: November 27, 2011, 12:59:52 PM »

I love HDR but I know it doesn't work on all photos. I was also intrigued when I first saw such photos. They were breathtaking.. at least the first few I saw. Later, I observed HDR photos that were too overdone but that didn't make me hate it.

I don't think it will be an expected standard for all photos as it just doesn't work on all photos. Personally, I do not like the effect on people but on landscapes, it can be amazing.

I tried dabbling in HDR. I use Picturenaut (a free program) to merge photos but then I edit in PSE7 as I am not too familiar with all the tools in Picturenaut..

This is the 3rd hdr attempt i ever did... haven't really gotten a chance to try this effect more as now I do portraits.. xD

64

United States / Re: Homecoming pics, tips?

« on: November 02, 2011, 03:33:39 PM »

Thank you so much Old Shooter! I really appreciate how you took the time to critique! Yeah, before the shoot I browsed several photos, looking at the poses I liked for inspiration. Your critique gave me lots to think about. =D And this was at a neighborhood park.

And for the first one, I don't own a reflector but I used fill flash with the popup flash from my XSi.

65

United States / Re: Homecoming pics, tips?

« on: October 26, 2011, 11:48:07 PM »

I had a lot of fun taking photos! Yeah I had to use flash as it got darker. This was my first every paid photography I did. Well.. friends were free but I charged nonfriends/people I don't know $5.

Anyways, I'm thinking about doing another shoot for prom but I am not sure on setting prices. I feel $5 is too little for the time I spent editing.

I should introduce myself better, I am just a high school student seriously interested in photography, looking to go pro as a side job one day. xD

So how should I be setting prices?

Here's some pics..

66

United States / Re: Homecoming pics, tips?

« on: October 16, 2011, 11:12:30 PM »

Wow that's so cool! I asked a photographer on flickr for tips and I just checked my FlickrMail and he directed me to same blog! I'm definitely checking it out! =D

67

United States / Homecoming pics, tips?

« on: October 16, 2011, 05:52:16 PM »

Given, that my friends weren't going to hire a pro photographer anyways, I offered to take photos for them. It'll be good practice for me for portrait photography and since it will be free -they can't complain!

But I'm looking for tips. I've been looking at flickr and stuff and what I really love in some photos is how, even in the evening, in a dark background, their subjects just pop! and the subjects aren't flooded with yellow light either.

I'm pretty sure they are using flash.. Is it fill flash? what exactly is fill flash vs regular flash and do I do anything different with my camera? I hardly ever use flash.. but i think it is time to learn!

How can I get my subjects to pop so perfectly? do I need to go out and get a better flash? all i have is the pop up flash on my xsi. If thats the case what can I do without flash? Maybe I'll get one in time for prom pics.

Thanks for reading!

68

United States / Re: Upgrading lenses

« on: October 10, 2011, 07:30:25 PM »

And another pic from the football game:


Also back to the suggestion of monopods, anyone know a specific model that is cheap and sturdy?

69

United States / Re: Upgrading lenses

« on: October 09, 2011, 10:15:44 AM »

Just out of curiosity, the noise level when the XSi is at ISO 1600 is comparable to what noise level on the 7D?

70

United States / Re: Upgrading lenses

« on: October 08, 2011, 10:28:55 PM »

and now I am reconsidering whether the next thing I get.. should it be a lens? or should I upgrade the body so I can use higher ISOs? Which would get me farther with the shutter speed? (Thanks to Hillsilly for bringing this up) extra ISO or the smaller f-stops? The camera I would be looking at would be the 7D then..

71

United States / Re: Upgrading lenses

« on: October 08, 2011, 10:14:14 PM »

I went to the game yesterday! =D Honestly it was the first high school football game I ever went so it was really fun in general. For photography, it was very very frustrating. I swapped between the 55-250mm and the nifty fifty.. The tele for the game and the nifty fifty for our non existence half time due the rain(but that allowed me some shots of cheerleaders and standing players)

Anyways, having a sharp picture was so rare with the 55-250mm(faster shutter speeds ended up with dark pics =( ). but at least I had.. eh.. better than what I anticpated.

Enough talk here's the best action(aka while the game was seriously going on) pic with the tele:


and that is after sharpening so... xD

Edit: sorry about the copyright, only small pic I had uploaded. also planning to use these pics as leverage to gain a press pass instead of hiding behind the yearbook press XD


Exif:
Camera:   Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Lens:   171 mm
Exposure:   Manual exposure, 1/64 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600
Flash:   Off, Did not fire
Date:   October 7, 2011   7:45:56PM (timezone not specified)
(23 hours, 31 minutes, 18 seconds ago, assuming image timezone of US Pacific)


and this was all handheld. I don't have a monopod......yet.

72

Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* Black & White - Post Here.

« on: October 05, 2011, 08:33:54 PM »

Belligerence
Two American White Ibises fighting over another ibis.

73

Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: Contest Announcement!

« on: October 05, 2011, 08:07:08 PM »

So if you have a black and white photo that fits in other categories, which do we put it in? does it matter? Is HDR okay?

74

United States / Re: Upgrading lenses

« on: September 20, 2011, 10:13:51 PM »

Thank you all for replying! Certainly gives me more of a better idea of what I should be looking for. I do not really want to go over $2000 at this point but then again this is something I'm going to save up for, so I have time.

I'm going to try out using the 55-250mm for football, just to really see for myself how bad the noise/light is and see if the reach is ok. I never considered primes before, but now I see there is a nice price difference. Hmm.. but there is no IS..

and between 70-200mm L mk 1 and mk2, is the $500 difference justified?

75

United States / Upgrading lenses

« on: September 19, 2011, 09:11:26 PM »

Hi! I am an amateur photographer that mostly focused on flying birds when they come into the area. But now, I'm thinking of shooting some high school night football games (time while I spend waiting for the birds to come back).

However, given the lack of light, and the uncertainty of being on the sidelines(although I'm going to try!) I am not sure if my ef-s 55-250mm mk 1 will be able to serve me well. The fastest lens I have is just the nifty fifty f/1.8 but I will need the zoom. and then I have the kit lens....

What lens should I look to be saving up for first, keeping in mind that I mainly to birds and now trying to get into night sports?

I'm looking for a light lens(to handhold) that will allow me to take photos with little noise/blur. Which lens do you recommend?

Meanwhile, any tips on using the 55-250 for football?

Currently I am using the Canon Rebel XSi -my first dslr, acquired 2 years ago.

Thanks to all who read! =D