External flashes

[jann1033]

this must have gotten buried fast cause i never saw it either
it shouldn't be hard to get low light here in winter so maybe this weekend i can try something
nice shots gdad, reallylike the alley

 

[fitzperry]

Thanks Jen- I just got the S5 a couple weeks ago but really like it so far. It seems to have very good colors in auto WB- especially skin tones. It also supposedly has much better dynamic range and controls blown highlights better than Nikons but I have not really had anything to test that out on yet.

Most of the reviews I've read rave about the dynamic range and the jpeg quality (although that doesn't interest me much since I usually shoot raw). I'll be interested to hear how you think it compares to the D300 (that's quite a kit you've got going there--getting ready to quit your day job? ) We're planning to spend some time in the Rockies this summer and I really want to upgrade before that trip. I've been intrigued by the S5 since it was introduced and since Nikon isn't going to cooperate and give me the D90 I was hoping for, it looks like it may come down to that or the D300.

 

[cpbjgc]

I have some to contribute. These are all handheld shots using apeture priority.

From the first week of January at our Children's Museum, these are pictures of animated window displays that a local store used to put in at Christmas time:

Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 70.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.033 s (1/30)
ISO Equiv.: 400

Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 70.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.025 s (1/40)
ISO Equiv.: 400

Also from the first week, from a visit to the Conservatory at Assiniboine Park (our main city park). Nothing like some fake ruins!

Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 36.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.050 s (1/20)
ISO Equiv.: 400

Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 70.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.040 s (1/25)
ISO Equiv.: 400

Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 57.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.033 s (1/30)
ISO Equiv.: 400

These last two don't officially count for the assignment, as I did use the on-camera flash to help freeze the action and give a fill lighting on the subject. These are pictures of the Lion Dancers from our Chinese New Years celebration. (We belong to a group of parents who adopted from China, and this is one of our annual get togethers.)

Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 70.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
ISO Equiv.: 800

Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 70.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
ISO Equiv.: 800

 

[handicap18]

I just about forgot about this one too. I haven't had many photo op's this month.

If nobody minds, I'll just keep this assignment going through Feb. I'll try and get some shots myself to help keep it going.

I took a few pics of my good friends new baby. I wasn't thrilled with how they came out. Didnt get much of an opportunity as his wife had a bunch of her friends over and of course her being the first of her friends having a baby, they were all over the poor kid.

Maybe I'll try and get over there this week and take a few more for them.

I'm starting to get the photography gitters. I haven't had much opportunity at all over the last month. I think the last time I took a picture was almost 2 weeks ago.

I did make an almost desperate move the other day. I went to a local photo shop to drop off some B&W film to be developed. After dropping it off I went over to the camera area and asked if I could see/hold the Nikon D300. OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH YEAAAHHHHH Man did it feel good in my hands. Love the rubberized grip. Its also a bit larger than my D50 and it seemed to fit better. And that 3" LCD screen is HUGE!!! I need to get me on of those camera's.

 

[Gdad]

If nobody minds, I'll just keep this assignment going through Feb. I'll try and get some shots myself to help keep it going.

 

[Suburbanmom]

Good! I'm glad you are keeping this one going. I'll try to get out and do some more shooting too.

I didn't take this shot recently. I took it in November 2007 at Lake Erie. It's the shot I wanted all summer, but there were always too many people around or it didn't get dark soon enough.

Nikon D50
ISO 400; 1/25; f/20; 18-55mm at 20mm

 

[TwoOldPoohs]

I have some to share! We went to the Princeton University Art Museum last weekend. This was our first visit and we were pleasantly surprised. Of course we were disappointed to learn we missed the Ansel Adams exhibit by 2 weeks.

Canon 40D : 1/200s f/2.0 at 50.0mm iso1600 (this was in a glass case)

Canon 40D : 1/250s f/4.5 at 50.0mm iso800

Canon 40D : 1/60s f/1.8 at 50.0mm iso1600 (this was in a glass case)

Canon 40D : 1/500s f/2.2 at 50.0mm iso400

 

[Miller1412]

It's an older one from September, but I really loved the way it came out. From a Friend's backyard wedding:

 

[DueyDooDah]

OK, here's some images I shot using a new 50mm f/1.4 lens. I intentionally took some very difficult shots to learn its capabilities and my faults.

The first is a shot, which I've shown before, from our room in Paradise Pier at CA in Anaheim. This is a shot through glass, with the lights off in the room. Adjustments made were cropping, WB (florescent), and a bump in clarity and saturation.

ISO 100
F/5.6
10 sec (yes, I did this on purpose - just trying something different)

This next shot was handheld from the bridge in CA. I added alot of fill light (+60), a bump in brightness, clarity (+79) in slight adjustment to saturation and a bit of sharpening.

ISO 100
F 1.4
1/50 sec

These next images were taken at the Seattle Aquarium. All were in very dark surroundings with dark enclosures and, of course, complicated by dirty and scratched glass and movement. Aquarium photos are incredibly challenging. I tend to gravitate to them to try and get that perfect shot, but alas, I'm still working at it. These shots were all handheld so not very clear. We decided not to bring tripods this time due to crowds.

ISO 400
f/2.8
1/15 sec

ISO 400
f/1.4
1/8 sec

ISO 640
f/2.0
1/100 sec

 

[Steve's Girl]

These were all taken on Christmas morning with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens. I used manual settings, ISO 800, f1.4, 1/60 sec. Last Christmas, I used a flash for the Christmas morning photos and really didn't like them at all. So, this year I was determined to take no flash photo. I started with a 2.8 lens but the photos still were way too dark. So, I switched to the 1.4 lens. I was much happier with this years photos in that they seemed to better capture the moment.

 

[ukcatfan]

Just a friendly reminder, but the photo assignment threads are meant to inspire you to take new shots and not to show off your old shots.

Kevin

 

[Steve's Girl]

Just a friendly reminder, but the photo assignment threads are meant to inspire you to take new shots and not to show off your old shots.

Kevin

I am aware of that. Sorry, I cheated by 6 days. But haven't had any opportunity yet this month and wanted to help keep this thread going since it seemed to have gotten lost when it was initially posted. I'll refrain next time.

 

[ukcatfan]

I am aware of that. Sorry, I cheated by 6 days. But haven't had any opportunity yet this month and wanted to help keep this thread going since it seemed to have gotten lost when it was initially posted. I'll refrain next time.

Don't take it so personally and I was talking about shots taken much earlier than yours anyway. What is the point of having a thread that is supposed to inspire you to go out and shoot if you do not go out and do it?

Kevin

 

[fuse04]

Handheld EOS 400d

Winchester Cathedral with Tripod

Fuse04

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I managed to crank a few decent low light/no flash shots out of my Canon S3 IS last week.

I was debating about getting a dSLR prior to the trip, but I decided to wait so I could just relax instead of feeling stressed out with a new camera. I'm glad I did.

I don't have the EXIF data (Photobucket no longer lists it??) but all were handheld and most taken using Program mode with ISO @ 400-800, then filtered - no other post processing.

 

[cpbjgc]

I just returned from a business trip and had a chance to wander around Old Montreal for a short time one night. Here are a few shots - all taken at ISO 800, handheld with a Rebel XTi and my favourite lens, my Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5.

Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 30.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.067 s (1/15)

Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 17.0mm
Time: 0.100 s (1/10)

Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 25.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.050 s (1/20)

I am, overall, pretty happy with these. I have been working on trying to do steady handheld shots, and I think these show some improvement on my technique (or luck, but I'll go with improvement for now...)

 

[handicap18]

Took this the other day. To get her to keep this pose I had to use the tripod with remote shutter and have her mimick me. If I put my hands on my chin then she did it, by the time I would get the camera to my eye she would change positions. So she's actually looking at me doing the same pose. Very tricky DADDY!! hehehehehe



ISO 800
f/3.2
1/50th
Center Weight metering
Aperture priority
auto white balance

 

[fitzperry]

That's a sweet picture Kyle. I love her expression.

I took these at a nearby science center last weekend. All were shot in aperture priority.

ISO400
75mm
f/3.2
1/40
(Nice snaggletooth, huh? We've been calling her Nanny McPhee for weeks because she could close her mouth with only that tooth sticking out but she wouldn't let us pull it; the night after this was taken though (and in the middle of the Super Bowl no less), her little sister kicked it out for her )

ISO 640
75mm
f/2.8
1/200

ISO 640
75mm
f/2.8
1/320

 

[Gdad]

Here are a couple from Friday night- on Peter Pan's Flight. D300 w/ 28mm f2.8.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I don't find this time of year very inspiring photographically. So, about the only thing I have been photographing lately is DH's latest barbeque obsession. He and his bbq buddies are trying to outdo each other for who can cook the most in the coldest weather.

ISO 800
f5.6
1/8 shutter
18-200VR lens

Not a low light photo, but given for context - DH shoveling his way to the grill

That is 9 degrees