The Photography Thread

**Fhqwghads** · 2012-03-02 07:37

I don't mind the trend at all. Hope more people stop buying DSLRs and stick to shitty cell phone pics. That way those of us with a clue will always blow other people out of the water. Cracks me up, especially when shooting at MMA events, people with their cell phones are always asking why their photos look blurry as hell.

**noblemountain** · 2012-03-02 10:52

I just started playing around with a DSLR at work (it's a Nikon d200 I think). A part of my job is to go out and take pictures of the elephants I take care of. I took all of the pictures on this slideshow here -> http://www.elephants.com/eleNotes.php?recordID=178

My question is, am I doing anything wrong that you can tell from those pics? I think I got some decent shots, but am not happy with a few of them I feel could have been much better with a better photographer than I.

Here they are...I have the high res, unedited files as well. Is there anywhere to upload those size pics?

Spoiler: show

**Tyche** · 2012-03-02 12:11

Get a better day or time to shoot. Early morning as the sun is rising. Also, get closer...a lot closer. You have a lot of empty space a little subject.

**Doombear** · 2012-03-02 12:56

Originally Posted by Fhqwghads

I don't mind the trend at all. Hope more people stop buying DSLRs and stick to shitty cell phone pics. That way those of us with a clue will always blow other people out of the water. Cracks me up, especially when shooting at MMA events, people with their cell phones are always asking why their photos look blurry as hell.

Haha, sure sure. I like this in theory and it mostly pertains. Sadly most of my friends are letting their gear collect dust. And the fact that it is gear I WISH I had, well it just makes this shitty trend even less bearable.

**noblemountain** · 2012-03-02 13:17

Originally Posted by Tyche

Get a better day or time to shoot. Early morning as the sun is rising. Also, get closer...a lot closer. You have a lot of empty space a little subject.

I can't get sunrise, but I can get sunset. They don't eat until 8 am...so I don't see them until then. I have to drive a 4 wheeler out to most of the places they'll be in the spring/summer/fall...in the winter however they're closer to the barn and I can get shots like these from a distance of 40-400 feet or so. In the habitat I can only get about 40 feet away on the 4 wheeler and still be safe. I will be on the back of the 4 wheeler while someone else drives. I have a 70-300 lens and a 28-55 kit lens that came with the camera. Is there any sort of lens I should ask for? I can get anything within reason by putting it on our wishlist and having one of our donors underwriting it. I would like to be able to get some better pictures for our donors and fans.

Thanks for the ideas, keep em coming!

edit: here is all the pics I took that day in their original form...

http://iloveelephants.shutterfly.com/pictures/8

**zoobernut** · 2012-03-02 13:47

So instead of defending his position this "friend" defriended me and then called me a passive aggressive asshole and a dickhead on his wall. I guess he couldn't give me a legitimate reason why the iphone was a better camera than the canon 40D.

noblemountain those are a great start. I am jealous that you get to photograph those elephants so cool. Tyche had great suggestions also the other thing that would help would be to get the backgrounds behind the elephants more out of focus which can be accomplished by using a wider aperture on the lens.

**Fhqwghads** · 2012-03-03 01:44

I think a safer alternative to getting a lot closer would be to get a better prime lens. If they really won't have any issues paying for it, then this bad boy right here is for you. It ain't cheap, but considering your subjects aren't exactly going to pose for you, this will get you fantastic shots at a very safe distance. It's a MONSTER of a lens though. Freakin' HUGE.

**zoobernut** · 2012-03-03 02:25

Haha yeah that is an amazing lens but it is also a beast. Get a monopod if you are using that lens. You could even pair that lens with a teleconverter for some extra reach.

**noblemountain** · 2012-03-03 11:20

I don't think I could talk myself into asking for 10k for a lens. It might happen if I did...but I just can't spend that much when there's so much to spend our donations on. (feeding 1 elephant for a year is over 100k...we have 14)

Is a fixed 400mm best or should I get one of the 80-400 or 135 to 400 or even maybe one that's goes beyond 400?

like this thing: http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-650-260...791261&sr=1-14

**Tyche** · 2012-03-03 11:47

Go big or go home.

It comes with a 2x teleconverter, so it can be a 400-1000. Good news? Free shipping with super saver on amazon.

**Fhqwghads** · 2012-03-03 12:29

No... no, no no ....no. You see the f-stop on that thing? f/8-16?! f/32 with teleconverter. Good luck with that. A prime 400 would be infinitely better, assuming you get a 400 with a decent aperture.
Here's a somewhat "cheaper" lens that I think would be spectacular for what you're doing:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-200mm-AF.../dp/B0042X9LBK 200mm prime f/2. It has a silent internally focusing motor, and vibration reduction. Since the f/stop is so low, adding a teleconverter really gives you 2+ lenses, depending on how many teleconverters you buy. Buy the 2x teleconverter and you've now got a bad-ass 200mm prime, and a bad-ass 400mm prime. Since you're using a DX format camera, the crop factor will also come into play, meaning that the 200mm will photograph as if it were a 300mm lens, and with a 2x teleconverter you're looking at a 600mm lens! I can't think of a better lens that can do so much for anywhere near that price. You start stepping up in focal length, and you lose aperture, and the price jumps significantly if you want to keep a similar aperture (like the one I suggested in my other post).

Hope this helps. Looking forward to what you choose, but DON'T get that Opteka... ugh.

**zoobernut** · 2012-03-03 13:44

Lol I feel really ironic saying this but you could really save some money and gain some versatility if you don't go for a prime and instead get the 70-200mm f2.8 from Nikon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

It is considerably cheaper than the primes still a VERY high quality lens, still would work with the 2x teleconverter. The 70-200mm f2.8 and the 2x teleconverter together are cheaper than the 200mm f2. The prime lenses are big, unwieldy, specific, quite heavy and aren't as useful for other situations. At least with teh 70-200mm you would gain some versatility for taking other photos as well as the ability to take photos from various distances.

**noblemountain** · 2012-03-03 17:12

Thanks for the ideas on lenses guys. I will do some research and probably bring back some questions. I uploaded another folder of pics that I took a few weeks ago. These are closer up...taken in one of the yards right next to the barn from a hill overlooking the fence. We try and get pics without the fence in it, which isn't a problem except in the winter when they are near the barn because it's cold and they come in at night. I was obsessed with trying to get a good eye shot for awhile...ended up with a couple decent ones overall.

http://iloveelephants.shutterfly.com...es:albumId=116

**Zansho** · 2012-03-03 22:26

Might I suggest the 50-500 from Sigma? It's a pretty good lens, very sharp, but a bit slow in the aperture department. I'd start at ISO 800 for that one.

Failing that, I suggest going to www.lensrentals.com or www.borrowlenses.com to rent a lens for your needs for a couple of days, maybe even a week. Get some primo shots with a lens you'd normally not be able to afford, much less use, and then send it back.

**Zansho** · 2012-03-03 22:38

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6...999ffe1c_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6...dfe38263_b.jpg

**Corresapolonia** · 2012-03-05 10:58

hello everyone of you photographing folks

i am finally getting over my own hate on photography and i want to find a Camera that is not too expensive (someone mentioned a canon t2i to me or so).
I don't want to start with the big stuff just plain calm starting of getting to know digital cameras in general.

do you guys/gals know a camera that has a good quality and is between the 450$ mark? even that would be expensive but i will see what i can get.
I am open for any kind of camera old or new it should not go over that pricing range however.

**zoobernut** · 2012-03-05 12:37

Nikon D3100 or the Canon t2i would be the two places to start for digital make sure you play with both of them and decide which one based on how they feel ergonomically. They are pretty close in quality though I think the D3100 has a little bit better low light performance (I haven't seen direct comparisons so I am not 100% sure on that).

If you are willing to shoot film you could get a whole slew of amazing cameras in that price range in 35mm or 120.

**fengzi597** · 2012-03-07 03:56

#924
wow,it looks fabulous.I wanna go to aquarium.

**nickross2008** · 2012-03-07 06:08

@ Zansho
the black & white pic is awesome! The first one is also good but I like 2nd more

**zoobernut** · 2012-03-13 14:22

Hey fellow photo enthusiasts of BG. I was thinking of picking up a wide angle lens for my camera. I really need something better for landscapes and other dramatic photos than the kit lens I am using at the moment. I have a lead on the Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 but it might be grey market. What are your thoughts on grey market and what are your thoughts on buying a used lens?

I have never purchased a lens this expensive used before except from KEH which comes with a warranty so I am nervous about it.

Link to the lens on Adorama for reference. http://www.adorama.com/NK1424AFSU.html

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