Anyone else get frustrated?

[FlipsidE]

I'm curious if anyone else finds themselves in the same situation as myself.

I am finding it hard to find things to take pictures of. All my friends are married, have tons of kids, are expecting their first (or second) kid, or have just had their first kid. So, needless to say they don't have a lot of time. So, unfortunately, portraits are pretty much out of the question. I've had people tell me that they really want me to take some shots of their baby or, in one girl's case, of her pregnant. But, each time I bring up trying to get it done, I always find out that plans have already been made, doctor's appts are getting in the way, etc., etc.

I would like to give landscapes a try, but unfortunately, I find myself w/out light. By the time I get home from my job and get wound down, it's already night outside. No light left to shoot with. I'd say the weekends would be a great time, but two out of the past four weekends, I've been stuck at home with off hours work issues (be it on-call or emergencies that have kept me indoors all day). The other two weekends were dark overcast and rain. I have tried many times to snap a few shots right outside my front door during what little daylight I might have while working at home. But, living in a townhouse complex, I find that cars and other townhouses tend to get in the way of a nice landscape shot...really no "landscape" around here to shoot. I live right off one of, if not the busiest street in a city of 60,000 residents (250,000 people on any given business day).

Another main focus of mine (and something I seem to really enjoy) is macro photography. Unfortunately, with all the other stuff on my wishlist plus limited funds, I haven't been able to come up with the cash needed for a macro lens. The Kit lens does A LOT better at minimum focusing distance than my other two lenses, but it's still nowhere near close enough.

Lastly would be action shots...and once again, I'm w/out a lens that would perform well enough. My longest focal length is 105mm, and that's at 4.5. I just don't have the cash for a 100-400L, and even then, during the winter months (meaning indoor sports), it'd be a tad difficult catching shots in low light with the 100-400L. I'd love to get the 70-200 f/2.8, but again, the cost factor.

So, right now, I come home each day from work to literally just stare at $2000 worth of camera equipment that I can't seem to find anything to do with. W/out a macro lens, there's only so much I can take pictures of inside this townhouse. It's frustrating, but also rather depressing. After spending $2000 in camera equipment, I find that I'm actually having less and less time to use it.

Anyone else have this issue?

FlipsidE

[PacAce]

If you're stuck at home with nothing to take pictures of, why not just practice using the camera to hone your camera skills? For example, didn't you just buy a flash bracket? Why not set that up with the flash and shot a couple of experimental shots to see how the flash behaves. Shoot a couple of dark colored objects and then a couple of light or white colored objects and see how the pictures come out. Too dark? Too light? Do you know why? Do you know how to compensate? Stuff like that. Learn as much as you can about your equipment by "playing" with it. And have fun while you're doing it. :D

[FlipsidE]

Oh...EXCELLENT idea. I forgot completely about that. Someone mentioned getting a somewhat flesh colored teddy bear to learn how to take portraits of small children (toddlers and infants). EXCELLENT idea.

Thanks for the reminder/suggestion. I'll look into getting a teddy bear tomorrow.

FlipsidE

[Scottes]

Flesh, tan, light brown... Somewhere around 18% grey is ideal.

If you see them, grab a white and black bear, too. Now you really get to play with EC and FEC. Put the black & tan bears together, then the white & tan... Against a dark background, and a light bg... Oh, the list goes on.

[FlipsidE]

Flesh, tan, light brown... Somewhere around 18% grey is ideal.

If you see them, grab a white and black bear, too. Now you really get to play with EC and FEC. Put the black & tan bears together, then the white & tan... Against a dark background, and a light bg... Oh, the list goes on.

- I don't wanna drop a ton of cash, but I'll definitely see what I can do. That sounds like a great idea. I really appreciate the suggestions! :)

FlipsidE

[Scottes]

Stop at a fabric store and get some scraps in various colors and play "dress up" with the bear!

Another idea, though maybe tougher to find, is to get one of those foam heads that department stores use to display hats. If you can find one it's a great tool for lighting effects on a person's face.

[FlipsidE]

Any suggestions on where to pick up and how to set up backgrounds? I've seen so many SMOOTH looking black velvet/felt backgrounds...not a single wrinkle. Any idea how to set them up? Not portrait size...more studio product size.

Thanks

FlipsidE

[Scottes]

You can get much at a fabric store. You can get muslin wide, like up to 120". White or off-white only, but you can dye it, crinkle it & spray paint. For going on the cheap you can do a lot with it.

"Studio product size" as in fairly small? That's even better, since the fabric usually comes 54" wide. A yard of fabric can go anywhere from $4 to $10+ a yard, with the nice black velvet at $7 or $8 I think. Often you can dig through the leftovers bin - a "scrap" to a dressmaker is plenty for backgrounds for small product shops, and you can often get it 1/2 price.

[Olegis]

Another idea for indoor shooting - floral macro on black (http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/guides/floral_black/floral1.html). The setup will costs you only a few dollars, but the results can be extremely rewarding.

[ejwebb]

If you want to get outside, how about some night cityscapes or shots of lighted buildings with interesting architechture. Night photography is a whole other world and provides lots of chalenges to overcome. Someone recently commented to me that winter is better for these type of shots as the air is clearer and the office building windows are more lighted since you can go earlier in the evening when people are still in the office. Never thought of that but it is probably true. Just another opportunity...

[HJMinard]

This is a little off topic from the other ideas expressed, but have you looked into a photography club in your area? Mine, via competitions, trips and sharing photo op ideas has provided me with a lot of inspiration and opportunities I would not otherwise have thought of ...

[pradeep1]

When I was in your situation many years ago, I used to take my camera to work and go shooting in the woods and parks around my office on my lunch break.

You seem like you need a good vacation to do some photography! 8)

[Olegis]

That's not my work, of course :)
I wish it was, but it isn't ....

[Scottes]

Another idea for indoor shooting - floral macro on black (http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/guides/floral_black/floral1.html). The setup will costs you only a few dollars, but the results can be extremely rewarding.

That just got marked down on the list of things to try. That's sweet.

[JmprSteve]

My friend went to cosmotology school and purchased her head (foam) at a Beauty supply store. I believe the stores name is Sally's and has shops at least in Arizona and Minnesota.

Hope this helps.

[daduke1954]

you said : Another main focus of mine (and something I seem to really enjoy) is macro photography. Unfortunately, with all the other stuff on my wishlist plus limited funds, I haven't been able to come up with the cash needed for a macro lens. The Kit lens does A LOT better at minimum focusing distance than my other two lenses, but it's still nowhere near close enough.

******************

"macro" filters can be purchased at any camera store, for relativly little $$$. They just screw onto your kit lens, and boom !
you've got a poor mans macro lens. Add a doubler, and you've got roughly the equivilant of a high dollar macro. Plus the doubler will be good for long shots, further justifying the expense.
Good luck !

[FlipsidE]

This is a little off topic from the other ideas expressed, but have you looked into a photography club in your area? Mine, via competitions, trips and sharing photo op ideas has provided me with a lot of inspiration and opportunities I would not otherwise have thought of ...

- That's definitely a good idea. I may look into this option. Unfortunately, I don't even know where to start looking for them. Ask at my local camera shop? I've been to the three camera shops in my city (two wolf cameras and one independently run one called Cameras Unlimited). As someone once told me, Wolf isn't really a "real" camera shop. And, the other shop just doesn't seem like a good atmosphere for newbies to get started (a kind of disgruntled, somewhat rude old man runs the place). So, I'm rather at a loss. Maybe I can find something on the web.

Thanks

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

When I was in your situation many years ago, I used to take my camera to work and go shooting in the woods and parks around my office on my lunch break.

You seem like you need a good vacation to do some photography! 8)

- Man I wish. First off, I don't think that my new company (the one that outsourced my team and quite a few others) would mind that badly if I brought a camera to work with me. But, at the same time, our client has a strict "NO CAMERAS" rule. If you are caught on-site at a client location with a camera, you are immediately escorted off site (I'm sure to never return). So, I don't feel comfortable bringing a DSLR on-site, and I'd really hate to leave it in the car. I know that you can get away with a camera phone at my current company's location (CANNOT at the client location). But, Camera phones are a lot easier to hide than a DSLR. There is some beautiful scenery around where I work, but my trips up there would have to be done on my own time (days off or weekends only).

Secondly, you have no idea how much I'd love a vacation...how much I'd love to get out of this city for a while. But, it's just not going to happen. Work is too hectic right now, and while we aren't officially on-call except about one week out of every six, we are unofficially on-call 24/7/365...w/out question. And, there has been A LOT of things going on off hours as of late (as I shared in my original post). So, even though I still have vacation time, I can't just up and go somewhere.

Honestly, my day job and photography just don't mix.

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

you said : Another main focus of mine (and something I seem to really enjoy) is macro photography. Unfortunately, with all the other stuff on my wishlist plus limited funds, I haven't been able to come up with the cash needed for a macro lens. The Kit lens does A LOT better at minimum focusing distance than my other two lenses, but it's still nowhere near close enough.

******************

"macro" filters can be purchased at any camera store, for relativly little $$$. They just screw onto your kit lens, and boom !
you've got a poor mans macro lens. Add a doubler, and you've got roughly the equivilant of a high dollar macro. Plus the doubler will be good for long shots, further justifying the expense.
Good luck !

- I've heard a lot about using extension tubes for Macro Photography. They aren't expensive at all, but they supposedly shorten your working distance from the subject. So, I'd have to get REALLY close to make that one work. Plus, a 2x TC would run me about $280, and I'd probably lose autofocus capabilities (which I find quite nice for macro work). Extension Tubes + 2x TC would probably run me close to $400. One of the best Macro Lenses canon makes is only another $70 (the 100mm Macro).

FlipsidE

[FlipsidE]

I did take the advice on the teddy bear portraits and got this. Such a great idea, IMO. This is taken from the Critique Corner board where no one has responded to the topic yet.

---------------------

Ok, I took the advice of a couple of people on this message board, bought a brown teddy bear and a 2 yard piece of navy velour (wow what a great way to practice). Now, here's what I'm getting. The first shot is pretty much I think what I'm looking for. I think it worked out well. The second shot is what 90% of my shots ended up looking like...a tad underexposed. I was using the 28-105 at apertures ranging from 4.0 to 4.5 and a shutter speed of 1/60 in P mode. These shots were all handheld with a flash bracket. Any advice would be appreciated.

Looks pretty good
http://www.wesculbertson.com/teddy1_800.jpg

A tad underexposed
http://www.wesculbertson.com/teddy2_800.jpg

FlipsidE

[Scottes]

This is a little off topic from the other ideas expressed, but have you looked into a photography club in your area? Mine, via competitions, trips and sharing photo op ideas has provided me with a lot of inspiration and opportunities I would not otherwise have thought of ...

- That's definitely a good idea. I may look into this option. Unfortunately, I don't even know where to start looking for them. Ask at my local camera shop?

A google for "south carolina camera clubs" yield http://se3c.homestead.com/ as a first hit. Southeastern Council of Camera Clubs. Here's the member clubs page: http://se3c.homestead.com/MembshipMembClubs.html

[Scottes]

I agree with you on the shots, and the first one definitely looks good. Now march the little guy around the house against different background and with a variety of objects around. If you've got an off-camera shoe cord try moving the flash around for different looks. Also, put the bear at different heaights around and try bounce flash.

[stoneylonesome]

I agree with your frustration this time of year, I leave for work in the dark and come home in the dark, I do take my camera with me and try to take some shots on my lunch hour. as far as a backdrop goes I saw someone use a slide/movie screen close to a table, they than draped what looked like 36" wide navy blue paper could have been cloth but looked awfully smooth over the screen and table. What they were taking photos of was artist paint brushes laid out on the backdrop single and grouped and other small objects, than printed them out (8x10) and framed them for wall hangings, the looked great.

[daduke1954]

Where I live, there is a great camera shop, that has both the snooty old guy, and the very helpful, and genuinly patient sales person. I always seek out the latter. I purchased the macro filters for approx $20.00, and the doubler for $90.00. I haven't seen any macro lenses for that cheap, especially when you can use the doubler for other things. Go on the web Lawrence photo and video, Springfield, Mo. U.S.A. I don't know the url, but a quick google should get it for you. I don't have any affilliation with them other than I spend alot of money there.

Good Luck,

duke

[Harry Settle]

What frustrates me is that I like to take pictures of old barns, fences, houses and such. I see them all over the place when I'm traveling, but can't afford the extra time to stop.

We are planning a vacation next year to stop and get some of these shots, but I know it will end up the same way. I need to prioritize better.