Photo sharing: Sony Alpha

[HPS3]

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For the castle/fireworks shot, I would definitely use a tripod and remote shutter release. I'm not sure how you shot that one but I'm guessing handheld because the castle is out of focus maybe due to motion blur.

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For the night portrait, I would try to expose the background with a tripod and use rear curtain flash setting to light your daughter. There is a good YouTube episode on this from Adorama.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zivVBDKbhI

I think that's the link. If not search rear curtain flash photography.

 

[Hockeyman]

Its that time of year again

Halloween Masks by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr

 

[HPS3]

Mike, those are some pretty spooky masks. COOL. Where was this taken?

 

[polkadotminnie]

Mike, those are some pretty spooky masks. COOL. Where was this taken?

I kept thinking that I hope nobody wears one of those around the keister coaster at BWI...

 

[Hockeyman]

Mike, those are some pretty spooky masks. COOL. Where was this taken?

Those were taken at Universal Studios last year in front of the main gift shop. last year we went over to Busch Gardens for How-o-Scream but had a day at universal and Sea World for the kids Halloween party. If your ever in the Orlando area around halloween and into those type of events I highly recommend Halloween Horror Nights, one of my favorite events at any of the parks. Would love to get out and shoot some pics there for sure.

 

[rjvose17]

I am uploading some photos onto Flicker so I can share them. I have a Sony A55 and have had it about a year now and am still learning how to use it. I have been experimenting with HDR photos and really want to learn to take better night shots. I am also just learning to use editing software. I need to understand the differences in ISO settings and F settings. I don't exactly even know what they mean. I try to read about them but it gets really confusing some times. With that said, i'll post some of my pics from our last trip in April. We leave again on Oct 3rd and I am contemplating a new lens. I am ready for thoughts and opinions...let them fly. I can take it......I think.

 

[Hockeyman]

I am uploading some photos onto Flicker so I can share them. I have a Sony A55 and have had it about a year now and am still learning how to use it. I have been experimenting with HDR photos and really want to learn to take better night shots. I am also just learning to use editing software. I need to understand the differences in ISO settings and F settings. I don't exactly even know what they mean. I try to read about them but it gets really confusing some times. With that said, i'll post some of my pics from our last trip in April. We leave again on Oct 3rd and I am contemplating a new lens. I am ready for thoughts and opinions...let them fly. I can take it......I think.

Welcome to the club Im a fellow A55 shooter and also fairly new to photography in general myself, been shooting for a little over a year now. I found it easiest to learn on the fly, I went out experimented and saw how changing a setting would change the picture and learned from that, along with reading some stuff here and there. What lenses do you have now?

 

[rjvose17]

Yo Ho by rjvose17, on Flickr

jurassicgood by rjvose17, on Flickr

Jambo Library by rjvose17, on Flickr

Honeydukesgood by rjvose17, on Flickr

Hogwartsw:sign by rjvose17, on Flickr

Cheetah Hunt by rjvose17, on Flickr

Cheetah by rjvose17, on Flickr

Boma by rjvose17, on Flickr

besthogwarts by rjvose17, on Flickr

yacht globe by rjvose17, on Flickr

 

[rjvose17]

Welcome to the club Im a fellow A55 shooter and also fairly new to photography in general myself, been shooting for a little over a year now. I found it easiest to learn on the fly, I went out experimented and saw how changing a setting would change the picture and learned from that, along with reading some stuff here and there. What lenses do you have now?

Thanks for the welcome I have the lens that came with it, or kit lens I guess is the term, the 18-55 and my husband bought me a Sony 55-200 zoom and I hate it! I never use it, the pics are blurry and its super slow. I would really like the (I think) is the 18-105 lens. It runs about 650 on Sony.com but hate spending that kind of money on another lens and not be sure it's going to change my photos that much. I would love to hear some hints and tips. I agree totally about learning on the fly. That seems to be where I have been able to pic up the most info. Thanks again.

 

[Hockeyman]

^Those are great shots and looks like you have the hang of it pretty darn good

 

[rjvose17]

Thanks again. I worry about them being over processed or looking TOO HDR. It's a really new medium here where I live and people don't seem to "get" it so I wonder what I am doing wrong, I have seen some amazing HDR examples on the net and hope to be able to do that at some point. My goal for this trip though, is to get some great night shot/firework shots. I am bringing my tripod but just don't know what settings to use. Any thoughts?

 

[rjvose17]

HOCKEYMAN,

Great shots. I was looking at your previous posts and you really do a great job. I especially love the panoramic shot and the sunset shots. I also envy your colors. I was looking at the palm coast boat pic and really admire the crispness of the photo and the colors. What kind of lens do you use?

 

[Hockeyman]

Thanks again. I worry about them being over processed or looking TOO HDR. It's a really new medium here where I live and people don't seem to "get" it so I wonder what I am doing wrong, I have seen some amazing HDR examples on the net and hope to be able to do that at some point. My goal for this trip though, is to get some great night shot/firework shots. I am bringing my tripod but just don't know what settings to use. Any thoughts?

Thank you! Your HDRs look great and dont look over done. I personally like both natural looking and also over done HDR photos lol.

This site has helped me a lot with with shooting at Disney and show you how they do certain things. Some great photographers on that site. I also bought their e-book on firework photography and its another great source of info for shooting fireworks. Tripod and remote shutter release are a must along with an ND filter, low ISO, slow slow shutter and smaller aperture (higher F number) are generally what you want to be around for fireworks .

http://www.disneyphotographyblog.com/

I myself have only had a chance to practice one night at Illuminations and I did so so. Didnt pick the best spot and didnt know my way around my camera and what settings I needed to use for that situation.

 

[Hockeyman]

HOCKEYMAN,

Great shots. I was looking at your previous posts and you really do a great job. I especially love the panoramic shot and the sunset shots. I also envy your colors. I was looking at the palm coast boat pic and really admire the crispness of the photo and the colors. What kind of lens do you use?

I started out with the Sony kit 18-55mm and Sony 55-200mm and shortly after picked up more Sony lenses, the 50mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/1.8. I have since sold all of those but the 35mm and replaced them with a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8(sweet lens) and a Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0 (just so so, lots of purple fringe) but wnated a reach of 300mm for times like Kilimanjaro.

The picture of the boat was taken with my Rokinon 8mm Ultra Wide Angle f/3.5 Fisheye Lens. Its a sweet lens and super sharp now that I figured out the manual focus thanks to Harry (HPS3) here on these boards . That lens is by far the most sharp in my bag and produces some great colors. Also I use Lightroom and more importantly Nik Color Efex (love love love this program ) to bring out a lot of those colors and details in my pictures.

 

[HPS3]

rjvose17,

I think this are some really nice shots. The focus and colors look great. I'm a fan of HDR but find that these new cameras have such a great dynamic range that I seldom use it. As far as F stops(aperture):
1. The lower the number, the less the depth of field( area in focus), allows faster shutter speeds in lower light and lower ISO, used for portraits

2. The higher the number, the more area in focus, uses slower shutter speeds in dim light, used for landscapes

For your firework shots you'll need a tripod and remote shutter release. You'll need to set your shutter in bulb mode. I use a shutter speed around 5-15 seconds( depending on brightness of bursts), F 16, ISO 100. You'll want to shoot in RAW( it's easy to save a photo if shot in RAW). Fireworks are a lot harder to shoot than I imagined


Illuminations1 by Harry Shields, on Flickr

 

[HPS3]

A Vacant Hollywood Studios by Harry Shields, on Flickr

 

[Danjocass]

Thank you so much for the advice. I will check out the rear curtain flash. And yes you are absolutely correct, I shot the castle with fireworks by hand and I actually just held up the camera and took the shot...LOL....but it's the crisp, clear colors that I wish to get. Practice I guess...

 

[rjvose17]

Thanks HPS3 and Hockeyman! I am super excited to get home from work tonight and start messing around with my camera and checking out your tips. They are very much appreciated! I'll keep you posted.

 

[Hockeyman]

Thanks HPS3 and Hockeyman! I am super excited to get home from work tonight and start messing around with my camera and checking out your tips. They are very much appreciated! I'll keep you posted.

No problemo I find it great having these boards along with others and even the internet in general has helped me immensely along this path of photography. Honestly without any of it I most likely wouldn't have ever thought about picking up a DLSR.

 

[Hockeyman]

Predawn Boating by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr