The End of Summer Random Discussion for TPBM (29)

cfpackerfan wrote in post #8618886
I'm losing my tiny little mind.

short5 wrote in post #8618895
We know.

LOL

I am for sure getting way less shots out of the 5D than I did with my 40D, but I'm still happy learning. I strive to get it perfect in camera, hence the low keeper rate I guess...

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #8619376
I'm not bashing PS at all. I couldn't imagine photography without it. I just want to get to a point in my photography where I can use it if I WANT to, not because I HAVE to.

Shooting with a DSLR, I think we have no choice but to use Photoshop, or something similar, to at least sharpen the images a bit. That's about all I do to probably 95% of my photos, other than resizing and slapping my logo on it somewhere.

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #8619099
OK, here it is. My quarterly serious set of photographic remarks. I'm going to lay it all out on the line here and write out the things that I'm thinking and learning in regards to photography.

I'm sorry, but I only discuss re organizing my camera worldview on the first Tuesday of every Month. I do have a free hour in November, I'll pencil you in under "Get camera skillz"...

Although that does bring up a good point. I would have a lot more time to eat ice cream if I could take a picture right the first time...

off to vet w/ the Hal-ster.

I think I just found what has to be the most extreme pixel peeping example so far...

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=8619272&p​ostcount=1

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #8619433
off to vet w/ the Hal-ster.

G'luck!

JWright wrote in post #8619435
I think I just found what has to be the most extreme pixel peeping example so far...

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=8619272&p​ostcount=1

Why do you still waste your time in the gear forums?!?

cfpackerfan wrote in post #8619384
Oh GOSH, Becky, THIS one is breathtaking.

I agree! She's a cutie and the light is great!

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #8619099
OK, here it is. My quarterly serious set of photographic remarks. I'm going to lay it all out on the line here and write out the things that I'm thinking and learning in regards to photography.

As you know, Lisa is starting out in her journey of professional photography. I'm kinda on the sidelines watching this happen, learning as she goes. I just want to relay what I've noticed so far. This does not mean that I'm the all-knowing, experienced photographer with all the answers. These are just my observations. There's a good chance I'll look at this again in two years and scoff uproariously at myself.

So, we live in a digital age. Where we can take a photo of something, download it into our computers, tweak the pixels and the 1's and 0's and when we're done, it will look NOTHING like the original. Take a photo and it can be a diamond in the rough, just waiting to be cut and polished.

Unfortunately, it has to start out a diamond in order for it to end up as a diamond.

Meaning, all the photoshop skills in the world won't help a bad shot. One of the many problems that I see in myself is a laziness that comes from being able to tweak a photo in post processing. Because I can do that, I allow sloppiness to creep into my "shooting protocol".

There would be so much less work in post if I would take the time to get the shot right "pre-shutter".

• Am I using the lowest possible ISO and still have a desirable shutter speed? or do I just set it at some high ISO and forget it. By using a lower ISO whenever possible, I'll get higher quality shots in the end.
  
  
• Am I "looking for the ugly" in the shot? This is something that Lisa is teaching me. Is there a light pole in the background that looks like it's sprouting out of the top of someone's head? Is there some brightly colored object in the back that will become a large, colorful "bokeh ball"? Telephone wires?
  
  
• Don't fall into the trap of "Oh, I'll just fix that in Photoshop." That's a slippery slope. Especially when you're there, the client's there, the setting is there.... just recompose or remove the object in question and reshoot. Get it right "pre-shutter" and you won't have to worry about it in post.
  
  
• Get in the habit of taking 3-5 shots of every pose/composition if possible. This will reduce the chance of mistakes, e.g. closed eyes, hair in face, goofy grins, etc. I'll get into why it's necessary for so many shots later, but let it suffice to say that we're not using film, but digital. The extra shots don't cost extra and you're able to purchase some peace of mind with them.
  
  
• Do NOT settle for anything. Too often I settle for my less than stellar lens because I'm too lazy to swap out for the better one. Or I settle with the composition that's before me because I'm too lazy to stand up on a footstool or a bench to get the better angle. Or I settle for handhold even though I know that the shutter speed is waaaaay too low just because I won't get the tripod. What's the point, really. I mean, if you're doing a second rate shot, you're not going to be happy. But with a little extra effort, you could fire off a couple of real keepers.

More later.

That does it! I'm tired of your wisdom getting lost in the random chatter. I've started tracking "The Sage of Albany" as part of the master TR index. If anyone happens to have bookmarked any of Dan's earlier discourses on the art of photography, let me know so I can add them.

Harm wrote in post #8619147
A nice check list, Dan....I am learning the same things via you guys, and the hard way too...

Pete wrote in post #8619158
Dead right, Dan... Especially the second point you made.

What I try and do is look through the viewfinder and do my best to "see" the end photo. Does what I see through the viewfinder "work" as a photo?

Something i'm trying to get the confidence to do is to move things out the way to make the photo more interesting (by removing distracting elements)

Examples:-

I should have taken the umbrellas away before taking the photo
http://www.the-aperture.com …mal/20090903__P​ER0689.jpg

The little sign in the door there would have been easy to ask Ali to take away for a second
http://www.the-aperture.com …mal/20090831__P​ER0611.jpg

Both distractions will now be a pain to remove in photoshop.

Becky N wrote in post #8619177
It's a ...

^^^ that..

I'll get a...

...link

Thanks Cat.

You won't be disappointed. LINK

Very good points. In fact I just remembered, after converting, I have to run some of my Ren shots through Noise Ninja, late day shadows, I had to boost the ISO a bit.

Happy lunch hour all.

Jon wrote in post #8619458
That does it! I'm tired of your wisdom getting lost in the random chatter. I've started tracking "The Sage of Albany" as part of the master TR index. If anyone happens to have bookmarked any of Dan's earlier discourses on the art of photography, let me know so I can add them.

My signature has a link to the posts about the photography afflictions, that one was my favorite!

lol Jon! I love "the Sage of Albany". He needs that in his title


Becky nice gallery and I agree with Cat and Little...that one shot is absolutely lovely.

Dan is trying to get us media passes to the one next weekend.

JWright wrote in post #8619435
I think I just found what has to be the most extreme pixel peeping example so far...

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=8619272&p​ostcount=1

Good grief he just takes the joy right out of photography doesn't he?

thomascanty wrote in post #8619455
Why do you still waste your time in the gear forums?!?

I go there for the entertainment and it gives me something to read when things slow down in here...

JWright wrote in post #8619435
I think I just found what has to be the most extreme pixel peeping example so far...

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=8619272&p​ostcount=1

OMG.....he defintely must have more time than talent.

CrazieCricket wrote in post #8619470
Good grief he just takes the joy right out of photography doesn't he?

I concur!

JWright wrote in post #8619480
I go there for the entertainment and it gives me something to read when things slow down in here...

You have a weird definition for the word "entertainment"!