Ruin's Photography Thread

[Ruin]

Helawk, I got serious about photography when I was 13. I started with simple fundamentals: what does my camera do? If I do this, what results will I produce. It's kinda like cooking. I know what onions taste like, I know what bratwurst tastes like, I know what cheese tastes like... but together what a great combo! Look around online, there are virtually thousands upon thousands of beginner's "how to" guides on photography. And don't read just one, read two or three or six. You might miss something.

Viz is right though, you will shoot better with a Nikon


Viz, I love the last two the best. Excellent shots. Looks like you found the perfect aperture setting for the last pic to really make that Juke pop. I've got a pic similar to the second one of your kiddo too...


PB3, that's not a bad idea. I'll update my original post with my info as soon as I get these next few pics up.


My goal for every photo is to use the least amount of post-processing possible. For most, this is zero, and I like that. If I do anything at all it's for fixing any slight flaws in the photo (my D80 had a bad dust problem, so I spent a lot of time fixing sensor flaws).


Ok, batch for today:

Britsol Night Race - Sharpie 500 - August 23, 2008; Shocked Girl - Bele Chere, Asheville, NC 2008; Orangutan in Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia 2010.

[Hemlawk]

See, when I take a bad picture, I DON"T know why it was bad. Where did I go wrong? etc...

I def need to read some book and could use some guidence.

[Hemlawk]

I took these pics recently

[PB3]

Originally Posted by Ruin

Helawk, I got serious about photography when I was 13. I started with simple fundamentals: what does my camera do? If I do this, what results will I produce. It's kinda like cooking. I know what onions taste like, I know what bratwurst tastes like, I know what cheese tastes like... but together what a great combo! Look around online, there are virtually thousands upon thousands of beginner's "how to" guides on photography. And don't read just one, read two or three or six. You might miss something.

Viz is right though, you will shoot better with a Nikon


Viz, I love the last two the best. Excellent shots. Looks like you found the perfect aperture setting for the last pic to really make that Juke pop. I've got a pic similar to the second one of your kiddo too...


PB3, that's not a bad idea. I'll update my original post with my info as soon as I get these next few pics up.


My goal for every photo is to use the least amount of post-processing possible. For most, this is zero, and I like that. If I do anything at all it's for fixing any slight flaws in the photo (my D80 had a bad dust problem, so I spent a lot of time fixing sensor flaws).


Ok, batch for today:

Britsol Night Race - Sharpie 500 - August 23, 2008; Shocked Girl - Bele Chere, Asheville, NC 2008; Orangutan in Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia 2010.

What program do you use/recommend for any adjustments or corrections?

[Ruin]

Hemlawk, that first pic has a lot of potential. It's not a bad photo, it just needs to get a bit more thought. For instance, I would move left a little bit and change the angle, see more of the badge and grille and less of the background. Move the second car close and use it as a secondary subject also. Right now it looks kinda like it's just... there. Maybe move it closer, pull it forward and get a good shot of the rims in there? Or pull it perpendicular and use it's grille also as a background?

The second picture is just a "snap shot" it says "hey, here's the back end of my two cars." Now, take the same two cars... drive to a nice background (lake, mountains, industrial area etc.) park them at an angle and get lower to the ground... most photos of cars you want to get lower - it gives them a great presence.

Look online for some guides or just general information on composition, the rule of thirds, picking a subject, etc. Heck, google "what makes a good photo" or something like that. Keep in mind though, background plays just as much of a role as your subject does. As an example, which of the two below do you think looks better? This was an experiment in lighting for me using glass and wood flooring (read: my dining room and table ). Notice the first one is just a snap shot "hey, look at my junk." But the second one has more thought, isolation of the subject, awareness of the background and proper lighting.


PB3, Adobe Photoshop - bar none. But, there are other programs that are free. Gimp is a good one if memory serves. I've just been in PS for years so I'm so used to it I can't adjust to anything else.

[Slick1]

I really dig the sunset one and the alley one (only thing that could have made it better would be no cars or sweet cars instead).

Hey Hemlawk where on the shore are you? I'm from Point Pleasant (in DE now)

[The Viz]

Originally Posted by PB3

What program do you use/recommend for any adjustments or corrections?

The obvious for touchups and editing would be Photoshop. I also use Lightroom alot for adjustments.




No offense to Ruin for editing the photo, it was just a good photo to edit a few things to use as an example.

You can use Photoshop to go in and correct small things that look out of place, enhance colors, crop, rotate and level, etc.

[Ruin]

Viz, Lightroom is good too. I actually used it on that alley picture to get that effect. The original is fairly different. I submitted that to a contest in Asheville. That pic was a judge's favorite, but a different one was the one that actually made it on display in a gallery.

Slick, thanks! I believe in street photogrpahy, I pose very little. The contest the alley was in was for a 24 hour period, taking pictures of Asheville that made it "come alive" kinda too artsy fartsy for me, but I enjoyed it.

[Overflow]

Those pictures are amazing!


Please more!

[mfr1950]

The first time I saw this alley picture from Asheville I pictured a Camaro driving out towards the camera, can anybody do a photoshop???

[CamaroFemme]

Really like the alley shot, and saved the sunset.

[jcamere94z28]

the nascar pic... i think some paint might have been scratched... lol

[helmincamaro]

Originally Posted by ontheaccount

I agree with Viz, Nikon FTW. I enjoy all types of photography. From photojournalistic shots (street photography as you called it) to studio photography, I enjoy it all. Here are a few examples of my work which ranges from photojournalism to studio photography.

The Subway shot was actually displayed in the Smithsonian for 6 months as part of the 6th Annual Photography Contest (1 of 50 finalists among 17,000 entries) and is an example of my photojournalistic style. The light house was manipulated by me by "light painting". I used a 15 million candle power flood to illuminate the lighthouse during a 25 sec exposure at night. The third is a studio lit shot of my dog (total control of environment).

Keep shooting! Looking forward to seeing more shots.

hey, where's that lighthouse at? I know I've been to it..... just can't place the name at the moment

[Ruin]

Originally Posted by jcamere94z28

the nascar pic... i think some paint might have been scratched... lol

Nah, that'll buff out


ontheaccount,
Those are some cool pics. I like the grainy effect from the high ISO on the subway one. It's always been something I like seeing in more candid shots. A nice touch. The lighthouse has great colors too! Reminds me of one of mine I'll add below. Some fun stuff to do with tall buildings and dusk.



Today's batch:

Washington Monument 2006 (D80 - right after I bought it); Indonesian Fisherman, Java island near Krakatoa 2008 (a little under exposed, but I love this pic); and a self portrait while in Iraq 2009.