Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Studio shoot, 5D MarkII or MarkIII

« on: March 26, 2013, 02:17:05 PM »

Sorry for not being clearer, what I was saying in my original post is I already have both a mk II and III and was wondering if there was a better one for studio.... I ended up taking the mk III which proved to be the right choice cause since it was a workshop we were having to take turns using the strobes; while I wasn't using the stobes (which had the model lights turned on) I pulled out my 50 and 85 1.2's and did some shallow dof shots which would have been a lot more difficult with the mk II since I would have been recomposing a lot more.  So it looks like the AF does need to be taken into consideration even for studio.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Studio shoot, 5D MarkII or MarkIII

« on: March 23, 2013, 06:10:16 PM »

I have the privilege of having the problem of having to choose between a MarkII or MarkIII for a studio workshop. 
I know the differences between the 2 will be minimal, but I'm curious which one y'all would pick for a studio lit, low ISO photoshoot.  People on here say that AA filter on the MkIII is stronger than the MkII which leads me to think the MkII would be a better choice; but then I'm sacrificing the AF of the MkIII which to my understanding has a "finer" focus than the 5D MarkII which might come in handy if I'm going to do any shallow DOF pictures (with a ND filter since the studio light is going to be too bright for apertures that large).  Thanks for the help!

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Software & Accessories / Which cloud storage solution?

« on: February 06, 2013, 05:48:08 PM »

I am curious what are y'all's opinions on which cloud storage you use or would prefer for transferring RAW files.  Dropbox, WeTransfer(temp download service but only at max 2gb), Box or any other platforms or solutions that may be out there.  Thanks!

4

Lighting / Re: Best on location lighting

« on: October 25, 2012, 09:26:30 PM »

I've read about alienbees, the problem being with them, although a great value, is that it is only compatible with other alienbees accessories?  Correct me if i'm wrong on that.  plus, if they do break, you have to get their parts to replace them with, compared to being able to buy generic

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Lighting / Re: Best on location lighting

« on: October 25, 2012, 06:32:11 PM »

So what size of a soft box would be large enough for group shots?

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Lighting / Best on location lighting

« on: October 24, 2012, 12:30:13 PM »

I'm looking to buy some lighting equipment which includes softboxes, strobes and battery packs for outdoor, bright shooting situations.  If budget was not an issue, what would be the best battery pack, best 1000w strobe and softbox for group shots outside.  I also have a 600ft and a 580exII.  Thanks!

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HDR - High Dynamic Range / Re: Post your HDR images:

« on: October 15, 2012, 11:43:35 PM »

First HDR not using in camera.

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Portrait / Re: Beach Portrait

« on: September 09, 2012, 05:47:07 PM »

Portraiture isn't my speciality, but the skin tones are far too warm, making her look like she's glowing or been out in the sun too long. I would pull back on the saturation levels to make the skin tones look more natural and possibly cool them too. Also there are quite a few blown highlights in the sky which stand out due to the high saturation. There are two possibilities to avoid this, either expose for the background and use some fill flash to get the exposure right on the model or use a grad filter on the sky, trying not to cover her leg; you would need a tripod for that ideally though, which may not be practical. Compositionally, you have chopped the side of her arm off, so take more care while framing.

Thanks for the input! The skin tones are too warm and that is me getting used to switching between sRGB and Adobe RGB.  I agree with the blown highlights as well and when I finally get some lighting(more than just a hotshoe flash) I would expose for the sky and fill the rest with the flash.  The chopping of her arm is me just missing the mark and agree wholeheartedly that it would be better not chopped off.  Thanks again for the input!

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Portrait / Beach Portrait

« on: September 07, 2012, 06:05:23 PM »

Curious what y'all think :-)  Any tips for PP, positions, cropping etc is fair game.  Thanks in advance!

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5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Pick your favorite.

« on: August 29, 2012, 10:14:37 AM »

I agree as well, the first one of the 3 seems to capture the moment the best.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Cheap Camera Ideas...worth it?

« on: August 24, 2012, 01:16:44 AM »

I'm sorry, but I don't think that most photographers understand what it means to backpack with gear. A tripod? for a beginner? an external flash?
her XT already has a flash. I have backpacked for the past 10 months in Asia, and it's a pain in the as$ carrying extra stuff around, and strapping a giant tripod on my bag or carrying an external flash for a beginner is like telling my mom to put nitrous in her prius.
way overkill. I understand that lighting is essential, and tripods help a ton, but please.... for a beginner, or someone not that interested at the moment, more accessories to make life more confusing, and her bag heavier is a bad idea.
i agree that the 50mm would be good, but on a crop, its too tight.
i'd upgrade to the 18-55 IS II if possible, and call it a day. or get an S100 or something like that. otherwise, just tell her to enjoy what she has and use it

Echo, I have to agree, I bet either she got the dslr as a gift or cause she wanted to take "better" pictures than a p&s not realizing that you have to have a different attitude carrying around a dslr and never got into it

She will not like the Idea of buying the second version of the same lens(and with that thought makes me think she is just more worried about documentation than quality)...at the same time, I do also believe that even if she did nothing she would still have better pictures than a $200 point and shoot....feel free everyone to shoot me down.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Cheap Camera Ideas...worth it?

« on: August 23, 2012, 09:57:19 AM »

My friend has a rebel xt (not xti) and is going to India.  She wants to know if, for $200, it's a better idea to buy a point and shoot or another lens to compliment her 18-55mm.  My problem is I don't believe there is a good answer to this question.  She says used lenses are not an issue, but $200 will still only get you so far.

As you can probably tell she really isn't that into photography as much as she just wants a record of her trip, but I would still like to give her good/correct advice.  What say you CR braintrust?

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5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Where am I ?

« on: August 23, 2012, 09:48:05 AM »

Lake Tahoe and las Vegas?

First one is correct (Lake Tahoe).  As far as the second one, it is not Las Vegas, but it does feel hotter than Vegas (and is a major city).

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5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Where am I ?

« on: August 23, 2012, 12:53:42 AM »

This may be difficult...this may be easy :-)

This was in March, and the water is actually that blue.

I think you'll have to give us a pretty good clue on this one...there's not enough info in the pic.  But the water sure is blue, could be many places in canada, alaska, great lakes, and/or northern europe.

Agreed, This one should help out, and here is another one that is a little bit easier and fun(big hint, that bay is called emerald bay) :-)

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5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Where am I ?

« on: August 22, 2012, 01:52:41 AM »

This may be difficult...this may be easy :-)

This was in March, and the water is actually that blue.