I am a Forum Slut

[RbnDave]

I am running these pics on both Fred Miranda and this forum. Way back when I first got into posting on POTN I received an email from someone at fredmiranda.com. They told me to stay away from POTN. They said I would recieve little to no feedback on this forum. That email really turned me off to the FM forum and I have been very faithful to POTN ever since. Now, three years after that FM email I am running a little test to see which forum draws more responses. I suppose it is not a fair contest because in my post at FM I didn't tell them it was a contest. Also, I have been posting on here for three years and on FM I have only been posting for a week. i am a bit partial to this forum I guess.


This is your big chance to show up the people at FM. Here are two pics I took this afternoon. Let me know what you think.

http://www.pbase.com/rbndave/image/40115929.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/rbndave/image/40111195.jpg

Have Fun

Dave

[Don Ellis]

The first shot is especially striking, Dave. I also used to post on FM -- still do sometimes -- but I found that I usually got many more responses here. There have been exceptions, however, so no reason not to share if that's your intention.

Cheers,

Don

[Ikinaa]

I really like the first, the only thing that disturbs is the outblown reflection of the sun in the top windows, perhaps half a stop less would have been better.

The second isn't bad, but the dark foreground is a bit disturbing, IMO it doesn't fit in the whole picture.

[Maz]

Nice photos. I was curious as to what city that is?
Thanks
Maz
http://www.homesteadsforsale.com

[thomascanty]

I like both shots, and felt compelled to add to your contest. :)

I started out at DPReview. Shortly after upgrading from the 28-135 IS to the 17-40L, I got a comment from someone in my PBase guestbook who said he could tell when I switched to the new lens even in the thumbnails, because the contrast and clarity was so much better. I mentioned that in the DPReview forums and got lambasted from several people about it. I haven't been back there since...

[Belmondo]

I posted a similar picture a while back, and every time I look at it, I feel like going back and fiddling with it. Wewere on the 39th floor of the 4 Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, and the windows are very heavily tinted. I've played around with it and tweaked it several times and haven't come close to something as nice as yours.

Re: FM. They do some things very well. Being friendly and welcoming isn't necessarily one of them.

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/TWilkin-Misc/Reflected_Sunrise.sized.jpg

[dewmuw]

I like the first one very much - nice choice of subject and composition. I also like #2 but the building on the left appears to be leaning a little - a job for PS?

Re FM - I have not posted there for some months. I'll be honest I say that I felt people there looked down their noses at me as I 'only' have a G3. Maybe just my misreading but a number of posts led me to believe that. I have always received much more feedback and advice here - and I am a better photographer today because of the guidance from people on this board. I also know I have a long way to go as well to reach the level of many of the guys here - but never feel like anyone looks down at me because of my equipment (oooh nurse) :)

[DoveKeeper]

I have a G-3 too. I like the second shot the best. I'm new to photography other than just snapping pictures. I have got to ask... Have you any pics of the statehouse there in Boston? I would be interested in seeing them.

[RbnDave]

Wow, that's a lot of responses. I posted this when I got home from the bar late last night. I just got out of bed and there are already 7 responses :D . You guys are way ahead of FM. So far they have only posted 4 replies. Here is a link to my thread over there so you can keep score at home ;) . http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/188053

DoveKeeper,

Sorry, I don't have any photos of The Boston Statehouse. I've only been to boston once. Didn't see the statehouse.

dewmuw,

Thanks for the comments. I think you're right about the leaning building. It might be perspective effect, or barrel distortion because all the other builings look straight up and down to me. I'll play in photoshop and see if I can fix it.

belmondo,

I like your photo, but then I am partial to anything with desert backgrounds. I can't tell that it was taken through a tinted window.

thomascanty,

i stay away from DPReview. They r just plane mean on that forum.

Maz,

It's Charlotte, NC. I guess I should have posted that originally.

Ikinaa,

I purposely overblew the highlights on the first one. i have one of the same shot with the highlights not over exposed and I like the over exposed version better. Sometimes I think it's ok to overexpose.

Don Ellis,

Thanks Don. Glad you like that first one. i almost didn't take that photo because for whatever reason I thought it wouldn't look good. I'm happy I took the chance now.

[stoneylonesome]

FEEDBACK,FEEDBACK,FEEDBACK,FEEDBACK,FEEDBACK, forward this to them.. All kidding aside those are really nice shots

[dsze]

Very interesting shots. I find the first one very hard to look at for some reason, but I really don't know why. The second one could do with just a bit less foreground, but I really like it. #2 probably my favorite.

... but why does it matter so much which forum gives MORE responses? 100 pennies are still $1. We all know which forum gives $1 responses.

-daniel

[sdommin]

Dave,

I like the "glowing" effect on the first one.

Do you still fly for USAir?

[RbnDave]

sdommin,

Yup, I still fly for USAir. Southwest hasn't killed us yet :D :D !!

They switched me to the CRJ and I had to move which is why I haven't been posting much over the past months. Next month I should be flying a lot so look for some more in flight pics. I had to take my airline gallery down temporarily, but it'll be back up in April.

dsze,

The first one is supposed to be hard to look at. You're getting sun reflected into your eye ;) .

stoneylonesome,

So far, it hasn't even been a contest. At FM all i got for feedback were some guys complaining about tight security at the large buildings in downtown Cahrlotte. This forum is still the best.

[dsze]

dsze,

The first one is supposed to be hard to look at. You're getting sun reflected into your eye ;) .


...well, then I'd say you were successful. ;) I guess I'm just not sure what the focus of that image is. I love the color, but my eyes just don't know where to go.

-daniel

[CyberDyneSystems]

Great shots,. the first is really nice!

[RbnDave]

daniel

You're right there isn't much point to that image. I had my 100-400 L on the camera and pointed it to the spot in the skyline with the most interesting colors. It's kind of a throw away pic to add pretty colors to my Charlotte gallery. That type of shot is so easy that in a way I hate to take it, but on the other hand it is kind of hard to pass up. Just point an expensive lens at nice colors, add two coats of USM, and bump up the saturation. I guess there were some decisions involved. I decided to bracket the exposure because I wasn't sure if I wanted to have the highlights over-exposed or not. Overall, it is a cheap shot meant to impress the masses. I did say I am a forum slut. So cheap isn't below me. :lol: :lol:

[RbnDave]

Thanks CDS,

Two mods post on one thread. FM is fading fast.

[dsze]

RbnDave,

...I didn't say it was cheap :) That particular shot aside....I had a look at a couple of your galleries and you have some amazing images. Your talent with landscapes and cityscapes is something to aspire to. Truly interesting landscape shots are probably the hardest to achieve (at least for me) but, you have many great ones. Thanks for sharing them.

-daniel

[cmM]

Re: FM. They do some things very well. Being friendly and welcoming isn't necessarily one of them.
Exactly.
There are many knowledgeable people there, many great photographers, but that place is "cold".

This place has many knowledgeable people, many great photographers, and it is on the other hand "warm", as "warm" as it gets. I have received treatment from some of the memebers on this forum that one can only hope to get from closest friends. I have much respect for many people here.

Oh, nice pictures too :)

[RbnDave]

Daniel,

Thanks again. Glad you like my galleries. Landscapes are my favorite. Next month I am going to Arizona to get some wildflower pics. I can't wait.

cmM,

They can be abrasive over at FM. Some of the poeple there come up with fantastic images, but this forum is way friendlier and it also has a good variety of talent.

[RJSorensen]

Being from the 'sticks' I like City things . . . all very nice.

[sdommin]

sdommin,

Yup, I still fly for USAir. Southwest hasn't killed us yet :D :D !!

They switched me to the CRJ and I had to move which is why I haven't been posting much over the past months. Next month I should be flying a lot so look for some more in flight pics. I had to take my airline gallery down temporarily, but it'll be back up in April.

Yeah, I noticed that your gallery was down. If you've flown into BOS, PVD, MHT, PWM, etc., we've probably talked to each other. I'm a controller at Boston Center.

[Lamplight]

Beautiful, especially the 2nd one. :)

[DocFrankenstein]

What lens was it shot with?

[RbnDave]

Thanks again everyone.

Scott,

I must have talked to you at some point. We fly through Boston Center Airspace everyday. My company's call sign is "BlueStreak". Have pity next time a "Bluestreak" flight misses a radio call :) . Also, take it easy with those slam dunk descents into PWM. They were fun in the Dornier, but now in the jet I am not sure if we'll be able to make it down without doing a couple 360s :lol: :lol: :lol: .

Doc,

The first pic was taken with Canon 100-400 L, and the second was with my scratched Tamron 28-75 f2.8. I damaged my Tamron two days after it arrived from B and H. First, it fell out of my camera backpack, and then i scratched the rear element while testing it with my 2x teleconverter... don't ask why I tried that :rolleyes: . As you can see it still can take good pics. The scratch only seems to cause problems when I dial the aperture up past f11.

Glad you like my pics and, POTN totally slammed FM. You guys not only had twice as many responses, the content of your responses was more detailed.

[C.S.I.]

I posted a similar picture a while back, and every time I look at it, I feel like going back and fiddling with it. Wewere on the 39th floor of the 4 Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, and the windows are very heavily tinted. I've played around with it and tweaked it several times and haven't come close to something as nice as yours.

Re: FM. They do some things very well. Being friendly and welcoming isn't necessarily one of them.

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/TWilkin-Misc/Reflected_Sunrise.sized.jpg




I just stumbled upon this.......fantastic! Ive stayed at Mandalay Bay several times and didnt recognize it at first.....Interesting perspective! Great color as well!

[Scottes]

I like the first show - the golden color is awesome. I also like the second shot but not the foreground.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well,. at this point all I can say is.. thank god he didn't try this test with really sucky pictures! :lol:

[mrclark321]

Very nice shots!!!! Are we still winning??

Dan

[freddycr]

What can I say...I like'em both..each one in his own style; 1st one more "modernistic"-2nd one more classical in their composition, but both very good...I'm a little bit more partial to # 2, since the wider angle and the different architectonic units involved, give more sense of depth and proportion.
Regards

[Becca]

*Throwing in my vote for POTN*

Great photos! I really love the first one.

[Skip Souza]

Dave I like them both for different reasons. It is too bat about the foreground in the second one. Where is this?

[RbnDave]

Holy resurrection batman! Where did you guys find this thread? I think I took these pics back in february. Thanks for commenting, even if you're half a year late :D :D . Since I am without camera these days I guess I don't have anything new to contribute anyhow. :rolleyes:

BTW, you guys destroyed FM. I think this post got four times the response than the FM thread.

And you asked, "where were these taken?" Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.