Photography Post Vol. 2

[superdupersang]

only use photoshop for resizing.

i think once you start using photoshop for adjusting light levels, saturation etc etc,

wheres the skill in composing a photo?

also ive no knowledge of photoshop except resizing

ive got my head around aperature/shutter speed

playing around with iso now

ive had it on the lowest setting so far

[goldengloves]

Here are some photos from New York when my family and I were there for a trip last week.

Although I can't take credit for taking them. My 16 year old sister took all the photos and I tried to help her with the photoshop stuff.

[wild_whiskey]

only use photoshop for resizing.

i think once you start using photoshop for adjusting light levels, saturation etc etc,

wheres the skill in composing a photo?

also ive no knowledge of photoshop except resizing

ive got my head around aperature/shutter speed

playing around with iso now

ive had it on the lowest setting so far

Lots of photographers in the film era did dodging, burning, etc. in the dark room, including Ansel Adams. Does that mean he doesn't have skill in composing a photo?

[RAISED BY WOLVES]

Lots of photographers in the film era did dodging, burning, etc. in the dark room, including Ansel Adams. Does that mean he doesn't have skill in composing a photo?

good point Mr. Whiskey.

[wild_whiskey]

Whiskey-

You really came with it on that one, and I don't have the time and energy to respond to all that at the moment. Suffice to say, I think you get what I am talking about, and where my opinions come from. I have no ill will towards people who use digital, I'm real familiar with all of the latest DSLR's on the market, and I understand the merits and capabilities of CSII ( though I don't see how "there is nothing that photoshop can't do that a leica can", that just doesn't make sense to me. They are fundamentally different tools, one for capture, one for post-production). Nearly all the photojournalists and "consumer" photographers I know shoot some kind of digital, or on occasion shoot negs and scan. Digital photography is the future, I am not denying that.

As for the blatant rejection, you're probably right. Maybe I am hurting myself, maybe it seems a little overbearing. But if someone asks me about photography, it's bound to come up, and I can be fierce about the things I'm passionate about. Both "film shooters" and those using digital have a right to that passion equally, no question. But The tactility and "object" quality of film photography is something that IS important to me in of itself, and influences the way I envision and present my work, as well as how I make it.

You make some excellent points, but ultimately I think its two different sides to the same coin...and I'm sure we can agree on that....

Guess I had more energy than I thought.

Yea we're eye to eye on this. I just like to present the other side of that coin. I've had this discussion many times with friends, one of which who thinks that digital photography is "fake." You can imagine my frustration with this. Ultimately as I'm sure we all know, it's all about that print in the end. Whether it's digital or film..

Anyway, here is one of my pictures I took. I did a project for class where I took photos that I felt portrayed how advertising has been integrated into daily life. This was my teacher's favorite.

With a subject as colorful as advertising is a bummer to have to restrict it to B&W, but that was one of the perameters of the project.

[RAISED BY WOLVES]

I actually think the B&W served you well on this one. It allows my eyes to focus on the framing, which is really what makes the picture interesting. Where you in school?

[sidneylo]

only use photoshop for resizing.

i think once you start using photoshop for adjusting light levels, saturation etc etc,

wheres the skill in composing a photo?

also ive no knowledge of photoshop except resizing

ive got my head around aperature/shutter speed

playing around with iso now

ive had it on the lowest setting so far

I second wild_whiskey. Dodging/burning/exposure in analog is the inherently the same step as processing a digital file in CS2.

In fact, to not use Photoshop for adjusting a digital file can be tough because a digital sensor does not read highlights the same as film. Film has more flexibility and tolerance towards blown out highlights, while a digi sensor goes awry when it creeps up towards white light--it just craps out and there is no detail. So proper exposure on a digita file requires a compromise of proper settings as well as proper adjustment in 'shop.

[superdupersang]

point taken

[wild_whiskey]

I actually think the B&W served you well on this one. It allows my eyes to focus on the framing, which is really what makes the picture interesting. Where you in school?

I go to San Diego State University... I'm a graphic design student there but I'm doing some photo stuff alongside.

[Brooklyn Zoo]

untouched older shot

[chris_n]

[wild_whiskey]

thought you guys might get a kick out of this character:

[simcoo]

Some Shots from my recent trip Down Under

[Carl]

whisky - damn! both are almosts! Top one the moment is there, but the composition is better on the lower one. Combine the two and youve got a smoking frame.

[nairb49]

man, these photos are great! so inspirational.

ok, some of my first attempts-criticism and more importantly, suggestions on how to improve are most welcome and appreciated. Haven't photoshopped anything yet.

These had an SF-esque theme....

Had to squat in the middle of a street for this dodging cars, hence the somewhat off centre tilt.

[nairb49]

hhehe, jokes jokes

[sidneylo]

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e300/nairb49/viyella001-1.jpg

hhehe, jokes jokes

Haha that was a good one. I scrolled for a second and then went... wait, when did this become wayw....oh.

[nairb49]

hehe, got one

[Carl]

Your lucky i like you nairb! I should delete that shit...

Something recent...

[nairb49]

[tweeds]

just got home from rockhampton (rocky) down under, but here are some of my snaps there

[chris_n]

[mike lowrey]

re: bikes

[wild_whiskey]

tweedles, very geometric, mathematic. I like those pictures a lot.

[chris_n]

re: bikes

[freshtakk]

Hey guys, 'not too sure where to put this, but I was just wondering if anybody had any tips on shooting portraiture...i just want to get that real clean, crisp look..what do you guys usually shoot on? Any flashes or lenses recommended for a nikon dslr?

[Carl]

Post a picture of the look your going after and i can probably help you with the lighting.

[tweeds]

tweedles, very geometric, mathematic. I like those pictures a lot.

thanks w_w,

but i have to ask, what do you mean by geometric, mathematic?

i've no background in photog so my terminology whether technical or composition etc are all over the place.

i hate point-and-shoot cameras...nikons seem to be particularly bad at doing their job.

[RAISED BY WOLVES]

Hey guys, 'not too sure where to put this, but I was just wondering if anybody had any tips on shooting portraiture...i just want to get that real clean, crisp look..what do you guys usually shoot on? Any flashes or lenses recommended for a nikon dslr?

-Medium or large format Camera: Larger neg's = enhanced "crispyness"

-shoot with a fixed lense, not a zoom

-Fuji NPS 160 Film: A nice cool tone film that gives you a decent latitude

-natural reflected light, window light, or sometimes the flat look of a nice partly cloudy day ("nature's softbox) is the typr of lighting I prefer. But I perfer a natural Clean crisp look. Buy a basic guide to using strobe on location if you want to build on that. But an understanding of the aforementioned natural light goes a long way towards your use of flash in the future.

-Avoid on camera direct flash at all costs. (unless what you mean by crisp is overexposed, blasted, or flattened)

-Work on your composition. Minimize distraction within the frame. Don't have light posts, beams, or other environmental features coming out of peoples heads.

-Use you're depth of field (aperture) to control what aspects of the portrait you want the viewer to focus on.

-Keep in mind that Light of any kind has a "color temperature". Learn to look at a given situation and understand what it will look like on the Films emulsion. Study the basics of color theory, and begin to undrstand how Color temp and choice dictates mood.

-Use a tripod. Even if there is enough light, a tripod will slow you down and help you learn to compose more skillfully.

I looked at your question again and realized you were asking about DSLR specifically. Most of the above still applies, but don't rely on the godamnned white balance too much...understanding of the psychology of color is very helpful regardless of wether you shoot film or digital.

Enjoy.

[airfrogusmc]

A few portraits the square ones shot with Hasselblad 500 CM the others Canon F-1. T-Max film devoloped Rodinal 1:50.