Looking back, rubbish photos, part 1

So, there I was, had had a 350D and kit lens for a couple of months. I had discovered RAW and thought that I had all the camera I would ever need . One Autumn day I headed out to Bolton Abbey with my kit lens and Hama 12" telescopic tripod (about as stable as three drinks straws when extended). The day wasn't super, dark and light and cold but I did meet an old chap who inspired me more than anyone else to date, remember Les? There I was with my 350D and along comes this fella with a dog who pulls a 1D mkIIs out of his kit back. Looking though the viewfinder with a 17mm lens I nearly fell over.

Anyway, as I am experimenting with my methods of post process I thought I would start going over some old forgotten Photos of 2005 and redo them. No large versions as some of them were taken long before I discovered POTN, Defraction, mirror lockup and Mafrotto So some of these are taken at f25 or f32 but I did have a CPL on there.

All comments welcomed as usual.

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Wow, those are very nice. I have never seen moss grow on rocks so perfectly before.

These are gorgeous! Aside from the clarity, the depth of the photo's is incredible. Care to share your sharpening techniques?

Neil, great shots even with the 350D. It is nice to see that this camera (which I own) can produce these results! Great detail, DOF and colour. Thanks for posting these!

Also funny story about meeting Les, right place at the right time I guess! I am really hoping I don't meet anyone with a 5D anytime soon, because my bank won't be able to handle it!

Hi Neil
I can see that your fascination with water has a long history.
Nice shots and your experimenting in PS is producting good results.
Paul

Rumrunner wrote in post #2596559
Wow, those are very nice. I have never seen moss grow on rocks so perfectly before.

We have some great spots in Yorkshire, but for Moss to look good it generally has to be damp cheers.

zeker wrote in post #2597151
These are gorgeous! Aside from the clarity, the depth of the photo's is incredible. Care to share your sharpening techniques?

I am playing with various techniques but there were simple USM, a little sharpening of the full size image (120%, .5px, 10threshold) and then a further 80%, 0.3, 2 on the small web image - nothing complex for these images as they were so soft to start with.

ErikM wrote in post #2597219
Neil, great shots even with the 350D. It is nice to see that this camera (which I own) can produce these results! Great detail, DOF and colour. Thanks for posting these!

No problems, thanks for commenting. I

It is worth noting that I am trying to get as much colour and clarity out of these shots as possible to show how the kit lens can perform with a little nouse (I am interested to find out if the L's are so much better). The thing I found with the 350D RAW files is that you can over and under expose the file alot more in Post than you can a 5D file. With the 5D you have to get it spot on in camera as trying to underexpose causes whites to turn pink and over exposing causes noise, more so than the 350D.

Seaboarder wrote in post #2597226
Hi Neil
I can see that your fascination with water has a long history.
Nice shots and your experimenting in PS is producting good results.
Paul

Cheers dude! I was lucky that day as I met Les, who pointed me at his images online and I thought WOW, Yorkshire is gorgeous, lets go see it! The fact that with a DSLR you can look and sort your images out straight away meant I was hooked - before that it was Kodachrome 200 in the EOS500n but only on holiday!

Looking at these against your "I got wet" photos, these seem too green the colours don't look natural where as your other set does. Then again it could just have been green

MAH wrote in post #2597255
Looking at these against your "I got wet" photos, these seem too green the colours don't look natural where as your other set does. Then again it could just have been green

It was!

Neil, lovely shots, your style shines through regardless of 5D/L's or 350D/Kit lens. I'm surprised to hear about your findings when over/underexposing RAWS with the 5D, I would've guessed it to be superior to the XT.

If these are your "beginner" photos, you got off to a running start. Speaking of old codgers, I'll hopefully see him myself next weekend in Glencoe.

Cheers guys. The real difference in lenses comes down to print resolution and sharpness, ease of use, focusing..etc.. But the kit lens and toy camera got me off to a good start

The old codger has been absent of late, probably in bloomin' Whitby again