Life through a Lens

[dolt45]

Originally Posted by cam62

Awesome!!!
What lense did you use for those close up shots! The detail is fantastic!

Thanks.

I use a variety of lenses/add ons/tricks for macro shots and almost never write down my settings and/or equipment for each shot anymore. I'm too busy playing. Having said that, I do remember how I got a some of them.

For example, on this one I used a Sigma 105mm macro lens with (probably) a small extension tube behind it, double flashes mounted on rails to be focused about 1/2" in front of the lens filter (that's how close I was to this guy's face).
This is actually a composite of 2 or 3 images due to the serious lack of depth of field when shooting macro. The shots were taken as fast as my flash would re-charge using tiny adjustments in focus.
The reason he didn't move is that I was out at the crack of dawn on an extremely cold morning and he literally couldn't move yet.
FWIW: I used an old 3 megapixel camera for this (Canon 30D).

[Okie Boom]

Loving the macro work Dolt. I wish I had the patience for it. LOL

I was beginning to think I was going to be the only one contributing in here anymore!

[dolt45]

Originally Posted by jrv2kgt-s

http://www.dpreview.com/

Check out this site and pay close attention to the image cross comparisons and decide which DSLR works best for what you want to do.

My first foray into the digital realm was a Nikon D100. Once Canon came out with the 5D, I sold all my Nikon equipment and went all in on Canon (now have both the 5D and 5D MK 2).

I personally HATE that site. There is a lot of good info there, very true, but the forums are full of whiney "I'm better than you and your gear sux" haters/trolls.
When I want a serious hardware review I go to Steve's digicams.

Just about every digital camera on the planet (for the last 10 years) has been reviewed there. You'll get information overload on each review with specs, sample pics, pros/cons and just about anything else you could want.
NOTE: For some reason a lot of folks never notice the 'jump to the next page' link at the bottom of each review's first page and never see the next 5 or 6 pages of info on the camera in question. Don't be one of them.
Go there. Now. http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/


There is even a page listing the best in each class. http://www.steves-digicams.com/best-cameras.html


EDIT: I just re-read this... sorry if it sounded preachy. I just have bad blood with dpreview.

[dolt45]

Originally Posted by Okie Boom

Loving the macro work Dolt. I wish I had the patience for it. LOL

I was beginning to think I was going to be the only one contributing in here anymore!

Thanks.

I just found the thread. I'll drop a pic or two here every now and then now that I found it.

[Okie Boom]

Awesome, I look forward to it.

One of my pup....love this dog!

IMG_1446edit by Okie Photo, on Flickr

[Okie Boom]

Our other pup...and robo dog!


Maxx vs Robo Dog by Okie Photo, on Flickr

[Okie Boom]

Some of my portrait work:


AJ & Sophia by Okie Photo, on Flickr


edit_IMG4962 by Okie Photo, on Flickr

[cam62]

Originally Posted by Okie Boom

Loving the macro work Dolt. I wish I had the patience for it. LOL

I was beginning to think I was going to be the only one contributing in here anymore!

I'm such an amateur compared to you guys that I'm too intimidated to post anything

[cam62]

But here goes anyway. I still have a lot to learn about everything. Composition for starters. I like the way Bellas' head is angled at about the same angle as the dark stripe, but I think the stripe may be distracting.

[Okie Boom]

Originally Posted by cam62

But here goes anyway. I still have a lot to learn about everything. Composition for starters. I like the way Bellas' head is angled at about the same angle as the dark stripe, but I think the stripe may be distracting.

No, you did well. You nailed the focus on her eye in the foreground which really draws the eye in. I really didn't even notice the stripe until you said something about it. Cute pup btw!

[dolt45]

Originally Posted by cam62

I'm such an amateur compared to you guys that I'm too intimidated to post anything

Originally Posted by cam62

But here goes anyway. I still have a lot to learn about everything. Composition for starters. I like the way Bellas' head is angled at about the same angle as the dark stripe, but I think the stripe may be distracting.

That’s a great shot! Especially the great expression on the dog’s face. The #1 goal in photography for me is to elicit an emotional response and you did that with this shot.

I think you’ve got a decent eye but, sure, you could improve your skillset (don’t feel bad, I’m in the same boat). I suggest getting a good photography 101 type book and joining one of the better shutterbug forums. Trading critiques with others will improve your skills faster than anything else.

Be careful though, a lot of the forums are full of jerks who just want to trash other’s work. I suggest http://fredmiranda.com/ I haven’t been there for a while but it was always my favorite for USEFUL critiques. It was well monitored and seemed to attract a more mature membership than many of the others.

Originally Posted by Okie Boom

Some of my portrait work:...

Really cools shots Okie. I can't decide which I like better, portraits or pooches.
(yeah, I know, technically the dog shots could be called portraits. So sue me)

[Okie Boom]

Thank you. My pups tend to be my practice dummies most of the time. People just pay the bills! ROFL

[cam62]

Because I want you all to keep posting your GREAT shots, I'll try to keep contributing. Hopefully you'll see improvment over time.

A little grainy and depth of field was too shallow. :(

[Okie Boom]

Actually I like the depth on this one. The picture is a tad warm, which can be corrected in post processing, but yes you are correct, it is very noisy. Did you hand hold this shot at a high ISO?