Calling all T3i users!!!

I like them Mona!! Maybe crank up the contrast a bit in the first one, make it a bit darker.
You have blown out highlights in 3 of the 4..
I'm going to the Mansfield Reformatory when I get back from my travels, can't wait.

Dutch

DutchinCLE wrote in post #16142817
I like them Mona!! Maybe crank up the contrast a bit in the first one, make it a bit darker.
You have blown out highlights in 3 of the 4..
I'm going to the Mansfield Reformatory when I get back from my travels, can't wait.

Dutch

Thanks - I will try to work on all of them. I 'm just beginning to shoot completely in manual, so I know that I'm making some mistakes - but I'm trying!

I have done worse a lot worse...

I think what I next need to tackle (as I dive into this) is how to deal with blown highlights in harsh lighting situations. A lot of the pictures were in those dark cells with only a little bit of light being let in from a hole up on top. Is this something that having a flash would help with? I have one, I just need to learn how to use it. Learning. Always learning! I guess that's part of the fun of all of this.

A flash might help to lighten up the darker parts, so now you can use a faster shutter to make sure you do not blow out the highlights.. Or you can take several shots of the same place, exposing for the highlights and the darker places and then blending them, either by hand or in HDR software...

Personally, I don't mind the blown out parts that much, you can reduce them in LightRoom and as you said, they add to the mystique

DutchinCLE wrote in post #16142955
A flash might help to lighten up the darker parts, so now you can use a faster shutter to make sure you do not blow out the highlights.. Or you can take several shots of the same place, exposing for the highlights and the darker places and then blending them, either by hand or in HDR software...

Personally, I don't mind the blown out parts that much, you can reduce them in LightRoom and as you said, they add to the mystique

Thanks! I didn't use a tripod for this trip, so I didn't play with multiple shots at the different shutter speeds. in this particular case, I played with settings in lightroom until I found things that i liked.

I did do some contrast adjustments to that first picture. You're right - this is better:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93446689​76/

Personally, I'd do the following to the picture:
1. straighten it, it seems to be leaning to the right
2. crop of the top, cut of right below the lamp
3. Darken the darks a bit
4. turn down the highlights
5. add a slight vignette
Just my $.02

Dutch

You rock, Dutch:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93449711​22/

Little macro this morning

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

Ace and Deuce wrote in post #16142539
I didn't know the math, but I do know it's pretty hard to get a great shot using tubes or an extender outdoors. When you do get a great shot, it really is impressive, but I like my 'keeper' rate being 75%+ instead of 5%.

That really sums it up.

riekkuja wrote in post #16145331
That really sums it up.

Yes - I haven't had much luck with tubes outside except on flowers on a very still day. Looks as though my Christmas present to myself will be the Tamron 90 f/2.8 - or the Canon 100 if I win Lotto!!

Ace those last shots are incredible - AGAIN! I'm not that much into insects as subject matter, except perhaps dragon flies and butterflies/moths - but shots like that take my breath away.

mcarol wrote in post #16142787
I had the opportunity to go to Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia yesterday with a friend. Both of us are amateur photographers, and we spent a few hours wandering around just shooting pictures of whatever struck our fancy. I have a new to me Tamron 17-50 lens that I'm trying out, and the jury is still out as to whether or not I like it. It seems to have some trouble with autofocus when shot completely open - something I only began to read about after I had already spent the day shooting - so next time I might try choosing a different f-stop and reserving 2.8 for when I want to do something a little more artistic.

Here are a few of my favorites:


This is another favorite:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93400185​30/
IMG_3306 by monasings, on Flickr


And the required picture of Al Capone's Cell:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93372441​81/
IMG_3351 by monasings, on Flickr

They all look better full size. Full set here:

http://www.flickr.com …k/sets/72157634​735349179/

Hi Mona and welcome - nice to see another gal The others seem to have disappeared . I really like the second of your shots, and was amazed at the comfort of Al Capone's cell!

Looking further down I liked the edits. The other thing I wondered about was a faux HDR as a possibility? Depending on your software do four virtual copies, process at different exposures then merge to HDR. Might bring out some more detail ....


But nice shots anyway.

mcarol wrote in post #16142839
I 'm just beginning to shoot completely in manual, so I know that I'm making some mistakes - but I'm trying!

I'm not sure that shooting completely in manual is necessary. There's an advanced computer in the camera which can be used to advantage a lot of the time IMO. Personally I shoot 95% of the time in Aperture value because I like to control the depth of field, depending what I'm shooting.

Then when I want a special effect eg silky water, I set the aperture for desired depth of field, see what shutter speed the camera suggests, then put on filters, and change to manual. Then I play around with shutter speed. I guess I'm lazy - but why try to compute myself what the camera can do in an instant ....

I've read a lot around this, because for a long while I thought I was inadequate because I could't/couldn't be bothered, to continuously work out the manual settings. I find enough to worry about with composition etc

Just my opinion, but guess I'm trying to say use the camera's computer. When you know what special effects you want - then go from there. You clearly have a good eye, and that's a huge advantage.

Good luck and look forward to more of your shots.

hey guys, first post, was out last night with my new 600D ... there was a few sparks about.
caught this beasty in iso 200 f5 30s exposure with exp comp at -2 i think ... a little over exposed but i think thats dude mostly to grabbing this in the last half second of the exposure ... what do you think?
second shot was what was behind the action
oh on the stock 18-55 lens