The Photography Thread

**miokomioko** · 2009-07-26 17:48

The most basic thing to learn about any manual functions are as follows:

First, set your SLR on Auto/Program/whatever. Aim it at something normal and press the shutter trigger half-way down so it auto-focuses/meters the light of whatever you're pointing it at (keep it a low-contrast situation for now).

Read the shutter speed/aperture settings that it chose for what you were aiming at.

For example, it might be something like "1/500@f/8" in a daylight situation.

Now, there's a lot you can do with that reading, but the most important thing is: as one number goes up, the other must come down in order to keep the amount of light getting into the camera a constant. (numerically they seem to be going in the same direction, but you probably get what I mean)

Shutter speeds in full-stops are:
1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000... and so on

Apertures in full-stops are:
f/1.4, f/2, f2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16 ... and so on

<--------lettinglotsoflightin------------------------------lettinglesslightin-------->

You may see the patterns.

So, if you want your depth of field to be shallow (more blurry foreground/background) open up your aperture a two stops from f/8 to f/4.

Since this action opens up the hole in the front of the camera letting more light in (by two units of light, or "stops"), you need to somehow restrict the amount of light coming in by 2 stops through another means so the overall quantity of light hitting the film or CCD is the same.

Speed up your shutter so it lets light in for a shorter amount of time, exactly two stops from 1/500 to 1/2000.

Thus, your original 1/500@f/8 reading and your new 1/2000@f/4 are equal exposures.

The first exposure is a bit slower, so moving objects might be more blurred. Also, the aperture is more closed, making more things in focus (like squinting your eyes).

The second exposure is quicker, potentially better at freezinig moving objects. However, since the aperture is opened up more, the plane of focus will be much more shallow, creating a lot of blurry backgrounds/foregrounds.

This is the basis of pretty much everything you can do with a basic manual camera without manipulating light itself.

Taking a meter reading, and manipulating your exposure by compensating shutter speed for aperture or vice versa to get the desired effect... whether it be everything in focus, or freezing a car in motion, blurring your background, purposely motion-blurring, etc.

There are loads of other tools you can use to do the same things while not having to comprimise any of your settings. If you are shooting at 1/5000@f/4 and you want your aperture to be open by 2 more stops to kill that depth of field, but your shutter speed can't get any faster to make up for the increase in light from doing so, you can put Neutral Density filters on your lens. Putting a 2-stop Neutral Density Filter on your lens will reduce the light coming in by 2 stops without affecting color or focus. Incredibly useful tool when you're shooting via the sun and you know exactly what kind of effect you're going for.

edit:

Originally Posted by mootsfox

Lecia's are for trendy fucks with more money than sense.

You'll have a better time with a 5D MKII and an L lens over an M8. All the M8 does it make you look like a faggot.

I was referring to this, which was on the same page and sounds incredibly harsh.

The only reason I snapped at it really. I just feel like it's a luxury sports car vs. american muscle car argument. Both mechanically capable and could possibly be equal, while one is more of a hand-engineered piece of artwork which comes with decades of history, service, quality, etc. I had attended a seminar put on by one of the wacky German owners of Leica and I was quite surprised by their technology/quality/etc. Before then, I just thought they were shitty P&Ss. No way in hell it's a "starting camera" for sure, but it has its place in the industry and not just for trendy fucks. I think trendy fucks are more likely to spend $60~$100 on a $15 Holga or Lomo at Urban Outfitters or something.

**mootsfox** · 2009-07-26 17:58

Originally Posted by miokomioko

edit:

I was referring to this, which was on the same page and sounds incredibly harsh.

Yes, this happens after coming from Spam. I apologize, but the followup point still remains.

**mootsfox** · 2009-08-20 17:27

New lens came in today :D

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...x/DSC_7120.jpg

**zoobernut** · 2009-10-07 16:53

Necro bumping this thread because it is really great and I don't want it to disappear completely. Here are two photos I took with my cell phone. I know lol cell phone but I like the way they turned out and it was the only camera I had with me at the time.

Wanted to see what other photographers here thought.

Edit: where has everyone else been? Lets see some more pictures.

**Cougarclaw** · 2009-10-08 17:14

I'm no photographer, but I took this a few months ago and thought it turned out pretty nice.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a40...w/100_0872.jpg

**mootsfox** · 2009-10-09 00:43

I've started shooting B&W film for a class. Here's a few from my first roll.

http://d.furaffinity.net/art/mootsth...untitled-3.png

http://d.furaffinity.net/art/mootsth...untitled-4.png

http://d.furaffinity.net/art/mootsth...untitled-2.png

This and the above are from last weekend.

http://d.furaffinity.net/art/mootsth...x_dsc_7655.jpg

**zoobernut** · 2009-10-13 12:18

A couple of sunset pics I took at lake Tahoe last weekend.

**deshende** · 2009-10-13 16:14

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/...5de44b716a.jpg

A capture from last weekend's Bob Evans Farm Festival.

**mootsfox** · 2009-10-24 01:23

From a few days ago

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/...e420c176_o.jpg

**Spikey** · 2009-10-26 00:23

Just a couple from my trip to the Dominican Republic last year.

ImageShack -

**Tyche** · 2009-12-10 21:41

OK, so I finally dove in and bought my wife a Canon T1I (500D). From what I could gather from DPreview and a few other sites, it's most of a 50D stuffed into a smaller package. It came with the kit 18-55 lens. Two questions. I'd like a good portrait lens and a good zoom lens, any suggestions? Also, the only memory card I have is a 60x 1GB Lexar. Will that suffice? Where can I find some alternatives if it won't.

**Nightbreed** · 2009-12-11 01:10

I would definitely get a bigger memory card, especially if she is going to be using the video. Costco usually has Sandisk Ultra 2 4GB cards two for $30. If buying online check out Abes of Maine, Adorama, B&H, Amazon.

As far as lenses go many people start with:

Canon 50mm 1.8:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...0mm_f_1_8.html

Canon 55-250IS:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._4_5_6_IS.html

Just linking to B&H since they have nice reviews up, can probably find both cheaper.

For the price the 50mm 1.8 is hard to beat.

50 1.8 thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...0+1.8&page=376

55-250 thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...5-250&page=140

**mootsfox** · 2009-12-11 02:47

The 50mm f/1.8 is a good starter lens.

I wouldn't recommend the 55-250 unless you actually see a need for it.

**zoobernut** · 2009-12-11 17:35

Yay the photography thread is back.

Since it has been a while I now have the Nikon D3000, the kit lens, the 55-200mm AF-S, and the 50mm f1.4 AF-S. (I really like the 50mm)

Here is a gallery of my recent photos.

http://photo.net/photos/KyleE

Moots nice waterfall picture. I like the sepia treatment. The long exposure created a neat effect with the swirling leaves.

**mootsfox** · 2009-12-11 18:21

Thanks

That 50mm f/1.4 is a great lens. I've got the 50mm f/1.4 AI and F models of it (manual focus).

Have you thought about the 35mm f/1.8 AF-S? I hear it's really nice.

**zoobernut** · 2009-12-11 18:24

I was bouncing between getting the 35mm and the 50mm and I opted for the 50mm for now because I could afford it, and it is an FX lens and I hopefully will eventually upgrade to a D700 or the equivalent when I have the money.

I might pick up the 35mm AF-S at some point because I have heard great things about it and it is only $200 which is a steal for such a quality lens.

Right now the lenses I am looking to pick up in the future are the 70-300mm VR, the 10-24mm and the 105mm Macro (or Micro)

**mootsfox** · 2009-12-12 16:27

Just got the 17-55mm f/2.8

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...g?t=1260652326

**zoobernut** · 2009-12-12 18:00

That is an awesome lens. I probably will skip it though because I think if I have the 50mm prime and the 35mm prime and the 10-24mm ultra wide I will be covered for the lower focal lengths.

**Tyche** · 2009-12-14 19:19

Alright, the 500D came in, now to engulf into more books =/

http://imagebeast.net/images/qtk04k9zzah1vjtiaml9.jpg

http://imagebeast.net/images/6zk3fvq2g30xc1bvnca8.jpg

**Mayareira** · 2009-12-21 10:30

Lost charger of my DSLR so got stuck with a lolRegularDigicam. took some pics otw back from work, it was friggin cold :/ There will be more once I find my charger.

HUEG images below.

Continental Asia from Europe (where I'm standing).
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...reira/Asia.jpg

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