***Official Ants Photography Thread***

[AJF_41]

Originally Posted by AJF_41

Looking forward to your Europe pics Ben.

still waiting.

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by AJF_41

still waiting.

Yeah, I'm still working on them. Hopefully I can get them done this week (Twins are back at home this weekend, so I'll have no time to work on them during that time).

[mattyande]

Just upgraded to Photoshop CS6 from CS4... I'm going to be working on learning a lot more about PS and incorporating it into my workflow...

Tried a HDR with PS this morning and I can see the potential, but I'll have to practice it quite a bit.

[Benny003]

If you ever decide you want to do more HDR, you should seriously consider using Nik's HDR Efex Pro. It's really a slick piece of software for making HDR photos. I'm using it a lot on my photos from Europe and I know it's going much faster than it would if I was using Photoshop. The results are also much more pleasing to me simply because it makes it so easy to try different options and then fine tune them once you get to a good starting preset.

You should try out the Content Aware Fill in CS6. It will blow your mind.

[mattyande]

Here's something I tried from yesterday... I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by mattyande

Here's something I tried from yesterday... I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

You overcooked it way too much in my opinion. That's the danger in HDR unless you're one of those people that likes that look. My goal with all my HDR shots is to make them look natural. I like to achieve things using HDR that isn't possible with a single exposure, but I don't like to draw a lot of attention to the process that created it. I don't mind exaggerating clouds and stuff, but they should still resemble how I saw them with my own eyes.

[mattyande]

Yeah, I cranked the knob, so to speak... Without really boosting the "detail" I feel like HDR just makes images flat, and I don't like it much.

Again, I need to play more.

[AJF_41]

i always struggle with pictures of the sun...never seem to work out for me, although they seem like a great idea at the time.

[Benny003]

Yeah, it's tricky and that's what I always struggled with when using Photoshop or Photomatix Pro to do HDR. It's a balance of maintaining the dynamic range and maintaining a natural level of contrast. That's what I like about HDR Efex Pro so much. It just makes it so easy to get the look I want.

[Benny003]

Here they are. I finally finished my photos from my trip to Paris and London. The first link is to my main gallery from the trip. I used the new Nikon D800 on the trip of course and it performed incredibly. The only problem is it takes a little extra time to edit all those 36MP raw files!

Main gallery: http://benckphotography.com/galleries/Europe_2012/

This second link is just small gallery of photos I shot and edited completely on my iPhone. It was kind of fun making more candid snapshots of various details from the trip where it was too cumbersome to use the D800.

http://benckphotography.com/gallerie...e_2012_iPhone/

Lastly, you can see some of my photos on Flickr if you use that site at all:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benckph...7630016542807/

[HoldemHart]

That is some incredible work, just phenonmenal.

[AJF_41]

great pics ben. thanks for posting!

[mattyande]

Agreed, nicely done Ben. What's your favorite image from the trip?

Let me know if you're interested in any outside perspective on any of these...

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by mattyande

Agreed, nicely done Ben. What's your favorite image from the trip?

Let me know if you're interested in any outside perspective on any of these...

Probably 5 (Louvre fountain), 25 (b&w Eiffel Tower with fountains), or 60 (London Eye at sunrise) are my favorites. I can find things I don't like in just about all of them. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to find more photos that told better stories and I knew that before I even transferred them to my computer. While pretty to look at, I felt like most of the shots were too one dimensional or don't do enough to make you think. Some of them work simply because they are landscapes and frankly there generally isn't a great narrative to be found in landscape shots. That's why I was saying I wished I was better at street photography. I think that takes a lot of patience though to find those shots. I also tend to shy away from photographing people, which is obviously a problem. I haven't become comfortable with that.

Unless you're deliberately looking to photograph people, one of the problems is everywhere you go there are people blocking the sites you came to see. So it's hard to get good compositions of whatever it is you're trying to see while avoiding a lot of distracting people unless you do everything in the early morning hours or at night. I wished I could have photographed everything we saw during the "magic hour" to get better colors and fewer people around us, but that's simply not possible.

So from what I did manage to take home I am reasonably happy I was able to process enough of them into shots that at least had some kind of visual appeal and tie into the memory of being there. We had to balance our time between spending the time to look for great photo opportunities and actually having the time to see everything we wanted to see. Whenever there was a good light I was trying to exploit it as best I could. Most of our travels were during the middle of the day though, so that was tricky. Really what I ended up doing was simply trying to make the best out of whatever I had to work with where ever we were.

I'd be open to hearing your thoughts of course since you've had formal training where I have not.

[AJF_41]

Originally Posted by Benny003

I was disappointed that I wasn't able to find more photos that told better stories and I knew that before I even transferred them to my computer. While pretty to look at, I felt like most of the shots were too one dimensional or don't do enough to make you think.

i feel like this all the time. at the end of the day it's what separates great shots from decent shots.

[SYDM6]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Here they are. I finally finished my photos from my trip to Paris and London. The first link is to my main gallery from the trip. I used the new Nikon D800 on the trip of course and it performed incredibly. The only problem is it takes a little extra time to edit all those 36MP raw files!

Main gallery: http://benckphotography.com/galleries/Europe_2012/

This second link is just small gallery of photos I shot and edited completely on my iPhone. It was kind of fun making more candid snapshots of various details from the trip where it was too cumbersome to use the D800.

http://benckphotography.com/gallerie...e_2012_iPhone/

Lastly, you can see some of my photos on Flickr if you use that site at all:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benckph...7630016542807/

Some great shots in there, especially love the London Eye at sunrise, my favorite. Also, like you mentioned, so many times when I'm out shooting I get back and feel disappointed or feel like the photos are missing something...

On a side note, anyone that comes through here happen to have a tumblr account? If so, follow! I haven't made a true website, so this is all I have at the moment (link in my sig).

[mattyande]

I followed you... Follow me back... Mattyande

[SYDM6]

Ah yes, saw that. Done. Nice little page ya got there.

[mattyande]

Originally Posted by SYDM6

Ah yes, saw that. Done. Nice little page ya got there.

Thanks, you have really nice work... Keep it up! I use this tumblr for my phone photography, and I love the ability to quickly publish these fun shots... The specific images link to my more focused work...

[mattyande]

Here's something from a recent shoot I did with a buddy...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthew...ream/lightbox/

[Benny003]

That turned out well. The thing on the ceiling or wall definitely makes the photo work. What was the idea for that photo or how did it come about?

[mattyande]

Thanks Ben. The thing on the wall was precisely why we did this shot in this location. The overall concept was just an attempt to capture the feeling my buddy gets on pre-dawn runs in Santa Monica and Venice. This was at the very beginning of the shoot, and I'm working through the rest of it soon. Fun stuff.

[mattyande]

Everyone who can should apply for this... I did...

http://www.statravel.com.au/travel-photography-job.htm

[water into wine]

So I'm going to be purchasing my first DSLR camera before I take a month long trip out of the country. I really have no experience or knowledge, but it's something I've been looking to invest in for quite a while.

After a little research, I've been leaning towards the Nikon D5100 with an 18-55mm lens. I've seen package deals that also include a 55-200mm or 55-300mm lens as well as a 16gb memory card. I'm also considering an 8mm fisheye lens. I'd like to get 55-300mm lens and the fisheye, as I feel they'll open up more shooting options. I believe the 55-300 is used for sports shooting and similar action, and see as how I'll be in Africa, it seems like the right choice for photos of animals. If I'm wrong just correct me. And the fisheye lens would just be an awesome addition. The effect that this type of lens provides is so awesome.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as well as explanations or run downs of products and lenses as well as their differences and what they're used for. Pretty much any knowledge you have to offer. I like to do my research before any purchase, especially one that will probably cost more than a grand.

[Benny003]

That's a lot to answer. The short answers are the 55-300 would be for things that are far away. 300mm on crop sensor camera like the D5100 would be good for things that are probably up to 100 to 150 feet away. Sure you could crop in for things farther away, but image quality will degrade of course.

A fisheye lens is a rather specialized lens. I wouldn't recommend getting that unless you really know you have a specific use for it. A normal wide angle lense would probably serve you much better unless, again, you know you have a very specific use that you will need it for a lot.

Other than that learn how to use the camera in the different modes (A, P, S, and M). You'll be much better off if you don't use the Auto modes and you understand why the other modes are used. For basic camera function understanding and other general topics, Ken Rockwell's site is actually very useful. He explains things in pretty simple terms. He has some strange opinions on some things, but he just writes that stuff to get views. The technical information on most things is pretty good.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/

Use that to get a good basic understanding of how to work the camera and how ISO, aperture, and shutter speed interact.

[water into wine]

Thanks! I'll start checking out that website.

As for the fisheye, I'm just fascinated with the view it provides. I wouldn't say that I have a specific use for it, as I'm really just interested in experimenting with it and figuring out what works and what doesn't. I have a feeling I'd get one eventually since I like the images they produce, so it's just a matter of getting it before my trip or sometime following. Can you offer any insight as to common uses for them? Like I said, I think they just make photos look awesome and it seems like there's a lot of room to try new things.

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by water into wine

Thanks! I'll start checking out that website.

As for the fisheye, I'm just fascinated with the view it provides. I wouldn't say that I have a specific use for it, as I'm really just interested in experimenting with it and figuring out what works and what doesn't. I have a feeling I'd get one eventually since I like the images they produce, so it's just a matter of getting it before my trip or sometime following. Can you offer any insight as to common uses for them? Like I said, I think they just make photos look awesome and it seems like there's a lot of room to try new things.

Common uses are inside large buildings trying to get as much in the frame as possible and sports photography (behind the backboard, high above the heads of the post-game on-field meetings to get the coaches or key players in the same frame, skateboarding getting super close to a trick). There are probably others, but I've never used one. Basically it's any time you want to shove a lot in the frame where distortion doesn't bother you or you want to get super close to your subject and still keep it all in the frame.

If you really want one who am I to say you shouldn't? It's just definitely not one of the first lenses I would ever recommend someone buy is all.

[Jwarren244]

Originally Posted by water into wine

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as well as explanations or run downs of products and lenses as well as their differences and what they're used for. Pretty much any knowledge you have to offer. I like to do my research before any purchase, especially one that will probably cost more than a grand.

Here is some really good stuff on ISO, apperture, and shutter speed:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...a-exposure.htm

Also, if you are getting a fisheye (which is great, just practice to get the exposure and focus right), do yourself a favor and get a 50mm prime as well. The most plain Jane lens of them all but an absolute must have, and they are cheap! You'll end up using the 50mm a lot.

[daveshookme]

Does anybody have tips on getting a DSLR into a show? I just dropped the hammer on a T3i last week and want to get it into Bethel this weekend.

[Jwarren244]

Originally Posted by daveshookme

Does anybody have tips on getting a DSLR into a show? I just dropped the hammer on a T3i last week and want to get it into Bethel this weekend.

The two shows I went to this year, Houston and Dallas, I got a pat down. They made everyone life up their shirts and pant legs. They also thoroughly searched every girl with a purse. It was on the excessive side. I'm sure its different every where; just a heads up.

Enjoy the T3i. I'm a big Canon fan.