Messages

31

Canon General / Re: Why you should take your camera to family Weddings

« on: October 03, 2012, 06:03:31 AM »

I got the shots of her coming down the aisle, which he missed completely. Said his card filled up

Good thing you had your cameras. It's not acceptable for any professional photographer to miss a shot due to lack of memory space. It's preventable and in the photographer's control. For an 8-10 hour event, a single 64 gig card is sufficient 99.9% of the time. Shooting with 5D2 or 5D3, the card has enough space for approximately 2300 full size raw files. If the shoot rate is 100 images per hour, the card will not even be filled 50% capacity. Plus, a good pro photographer carries extra cards too for added security and freedom of shooting. But then also, if the photographer was shooting  in raw, he could have switched to jpegs as soon as he realized he did not have enough memory space, and should have been able to cover those last crucial shots which he obviously missed.

32

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Upgrade from 40D to 5d mkii

« on: October 02, 2012, 05:33:54 AM »

Is the 5d mkii focusing better or worse than the 40d for birds in flight?  I understand that the center point is more accurate, but is it faster than the 40d?  I only shoot birds about 25% of the time, I use for BIF a canon ef 400mm L f5.6 and for stationary birds an old Heinz Kilfitt 400mm f4.0 manual focus lens as well.  The other 75% of the time I know the 5d mkii would fit me perfectly. 

 I am happy with my focusing on the 40d with the smaller aperture (f8.0-f11.0) required for birding.  As long as it is at par I will be happy. 

I understand that the 1dx 1dmkiv and 5d mkiii are better cameras.  I have just installed a new furnace new air conditioning and have completed a basement reno(aka I have no cash flow),  I am finding the cheap price of the 5d mkii very tempting, And I would like to know if anyone else has made the switch from the 40d?

I have used both and still own both. I find that the center points in both cameras comparable, but overall the 40D has an advantage focusing in that its non-central points seem to aquire focus faster and more accurately. Burst rate is much faster too, but the smaller file size has a lot to do with it. I would advise you to save up on the 5d3 and get more advantages (better IQand ISO performance, faster burst rate) aside from faster and more accurate autofocus.

33

Canon General / Re: How come Canon never responds to anything?

« on: October 02, 2012, 05:17:01 AM »

How come Canon, and a lot of big companies never explain or answer any questions.  Why make a new sensor for the 6D when everyone was hoping for the same 5DIII sensor?   Why limit the video compression?  etc. etc..
Are there good reasons or are they just protecting other lines and/or money, as everyone keeps on guessing.

McDonalds answered this one:
why don't the hamburgers you get, look like the photos?
Behind the scenes at a McDonald's photo shoot

Simply because it will drive them nuts even just in trying to. Have you seen all the gripes we gear geeks post here? 

34

Canon General / Re: I'm mulling over 2 lenses (70-200mm f/2.8L USM or the EF 200mm f/2.8L USM II)

« on: October 02, 2012, 05:09:09 AM »

Obviously there are similarities in focal length and aperture.  Neither have image stabilization.  I have heard the 70-200 is tack sharp between 70-135... which raises the question, is the additional range I will get worth the additional 400 dollars.  I've already bought the 70-200, so I've answered my question, but I got it as such a good price, that I could sell it within a matter of days and then just get the 200 prime.

At the moment, I am shooting a ton of football games (pee-wee level).  And I imagine I will be shooting indoor girls basketball games here in the next few weeks. 

I already have a 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, and 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro.

Any advice is appreciated.  If the 200mm prime is incredibly sharp wide open... or isn't head and shoulders better than the 70-200mm... I'll stick with the zoom.  But I also don't want to use the 135-200mm range and be so disappointed that I never bother to use the lens.

With the kind of images you like to shoot, the zoom will better serve you. The 200mm is good, but you'll likely miss more opportunities/shots than with the zoom. Keep the zoom, use it for a while before finally making a decision.
 

35

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Wedding Photography 5D mkIII 24-70L Sigma 70-200

« on: October 02, 2012, 04:51:36 AM »

We are always trying to improve my photos so tell me what you think!!! most of these shots were by Natalie berry from Natalie Berry Photography and I did the editing. We partner together on weddings, she shoots photos and I shoot video. The video should be up tomorrow. Will post a link when it's ready =-)

the album is here on my site: http://www.stockhammedia.com/2012/10/01/san-diego-wedding-photography-christina-carlos/

Thank you for posting. In general, the images are alright and so is the processing.
We, as photographers would like to create our own look based on our own personal visions. And nobody should be faulted for that. Whether the images appeal to the majority or the minority, it's another story. At the very least, it should appeal to the people paying for them. Having said that, it is also unavoidable to apply our own set of values when looking at others' images. In this case, (again, based on my own values), there's room for improvement with regard to composition in general,  to create images that tell the story. For example in image 8, what is the photographer trying to convey? Would it make the image more effective if the focus point were on the bride's fingertip and/or thestrap? Or in image 10, would it have been better if a deeper depth of field was created rendering sharp focus from the tips of the shoes to at least the midway down the length of the shoes, if not the whole length?
But then again, that's just my vision and my two cents.

36

Canon General / Re: Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 25, 2012, 09:10:40 AM »

I really wanted to photograph this event as it was happening all around me.  Was inundated with work support calls tying me up all day.  However, I wanted to catch the shuttle as it went from LAX to exposition park science center.  Found it very hard to get the info on this journey but finally located the date and map of course.

Will happen on Friday, October 12th, 2012.

http://graphics.latimes.com/storyboard-space-shuttle-endeavours-final-journey/

Select "Leaving LAX" on dropdown to get map.

Now, with this map, does anyone have some best spots to photograph the large bird driving down the street at 2MPH?  First thought was Randy's Donuts on Manchester Ave and the 405 freeway.  Would love to know other's thoughts.

Wow, this is some neat piece of info! Thank you for sharing this. I'm sorry it did not work out for you last Friday.
 
I'm going to scout the route one of these days.

37

Canon General / Re: Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 25, 2012, 09:00:45 AM »

I was lucky to be home when the Endeavour flew over Hollywood about 3 times. I quickly set up my IDX using EOS iTR AF utilizing the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L, unfortunately, I forgot to set for raw - was only in jpeg mode. Here are a few pics. I've downsized them because I don't know the file size limitation.

Endeavor's three laps around the LA basin was a story in itself. It was unannounced and most people including me believed that after the first one, it was done. A lot of people started down the trails, and some were already driving their cars on the access roads. By chance, one of the guys near me was on the phone with his bro at home who was watching live network coverage, and we learned that it was announced that two more passes would be made. Those two bonus passes gave me the opportunity to vary my compositions.

38

Canon General / Re: Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 25, 2012, 08:49:15 AM »

Full resolution images can be found here:
 
http://www.lightcrafterphotography.com/p17977279

Thanks. Great to see a good photographer got some great shots! Preserve this stuff.

 
Thank you and I will surely do, sir.

39

Canon General / Re: Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 25, 2012, 08:46:36 AM »

WOW!  I was able to see it up here in the Bay Area where it passed over the Golden Gate Bridge twice.  Sadly, no great shots for me... Yours were phenomenal, well done!

Thank you. But did you really try shooting though? The Bay area is beautiful with lots of iconic structures and it will be more likely that you'll have some keepers like the one posted by BMT. I was actually tempted to shoot in the Bay area; I have family there and could have gone in the guise of a visit, haha.

40

Canon General / Re: Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 25, 2012, 08:39:59 AM »

Great postings guys! We're seeing some good stuff.

41

Canon General / Re: Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 24, 2012, 11:15:10 AM »

Full resolution images can be found here:
 
http://www.lightcrafterphotography.com/p17977279

42

Canon General / Re: Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 24, 2012, 11:04:53 AM »

Awesome I envy you being in an area where you catch the shuttle.

Thanks. I feel really lucky to have had that first and last opportunity.
 
Here's another one:

43

Canon General / Space Shuttle Endeavour's Last Flight

« on: September 24, 2012, 10:53:20 AM »

I was lucky enough to witness the historical event in Los Angeles. An image is posted here. A few more images can be found with this link:
 
http://www.lightcrafterphotography.com/blog/2012/9/witnessing-history---the-last-flight-of-space-shuttle-endeavour
 
Post your Endeavour or any space shuttle images.

44

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: The 5D Mark II: Happy 4th Anniversary!

« on: September 17, 2012, 01:21:34 PM »

I'm still using mine. Happy anniversary, Cheers!

45

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 85mm f1.2 II - issue or am I just overreacting?

« on: September 17, 2012, 11:33:33 AM »

In this case, you already have it all figured out. You have the right tool for available light photography. What remains now is for you to get that vision in your images. The 50mm 1.2L is also useful for that purpose.

Thank you all! This is really great to see such feedback. It's also good to know, that there is nothing wrong with my copy. Although I still find this phenomenon somehow disturbing, I can live with it. In other words – it's relieving to not to be the only one .

The 85mm 1.2L II is a specialty lens. With the right vision and good hands, its a tool to make beautiful images with. It boils down to what did you buy that lens for? How are you going to use it?

I bought it basically with event photography in mind. All other lenses I have are 2.8, which often turned out to be not enough, especially while taking pictures in pubs, clubs, etc. Flashgun can help of course, but its application is sometimes very limited by the location and in the long run it also can be annoying for the artists as well as the public.