Another photowalk - hooray!
Yes, I got in early enough to host another photwalk. This year I will be co-running the one in Perth with Ric one of the most interested applicants I have met.
It will be another great day.
If you are worried you don't have the latest gear - that is more than ok! The only things you need are:
- walking shoes/gear
- camera (any will do)
- a desire to take pictures
That is seriously it! The benefits are great - to all levels of photographer - as we all get challenged by what and how one another are taking photos. I highly recommend it as a great way to get your photography revived.
If you have a few peices of gear to choose from, I would go with an all purpose lens (perhaps two at most) and a small tripod or monopod. Keep it flexible and light.
Anyway, better sign off - catching a plane soon.
Cheers - Mark
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Thursday, June 04, 2009
AHH - only one post this year!
Can't believe it!
Yet again months have flown by without a post.
Update - now living in Perth (when not flying for work) and about to organise another photowalk.
Anyone reading this - get yourself on a photowalk, no excuses! They are great - and don't think you need the greatest camera gear. Even the best pros seem to admit that it is more about understanding what you have and getting out there than how many toys you have.
For me, 1 lens (maybe 2?), a monopod/tripod and a flash is about all you need. The more mobile the better. A p+s (point and shoot) is good too. Last year some of the best pictures came from the p+s's - mainly because they didn't get hung up by the technical and just looked around more for photos.
As a keen amateur, this is what I love most about photowalks. Everyone has such a different perspective and different gear that we are all trying to learn what one another is doing - almost like a fast food style camera club - AND I WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH AGAIN!
Better sign off - still at work and have some stuff to do. Before I go, here is the link to the photowalk site - sign up today and get ready for some great photography fun!
worldwidephotowalk.com
Yet again months have flown by without a post.
Update - now living in Perth (when not flying for work) and about to organise another photowalk.
Anyone reading this - get yourself on a photowalk, no excuses! They are great - and don't think you need the greatest camera gear. Even the best pros seem to admit that it is more about understanding what you have and getting out there than how many toys you have.
For me, 1 lens (maybe 2?), a monopod/tripod and a flash is about all you need. The more mobile the better. A p+s (point and shoot) is good too. Last year some of the best pictures came from the p+s's - mainly because they didn't get hung up by the technical and just looked around more for photos.
As a keen amateur, this is what I love most about photowalks. Everyone has such a different perspective and different gear that we are all trying to learn what one another is doing - almost like a fast food style camera club - AND I WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH AGAIN!
Better sign off - still at work and have some stuff to do. Before I go, here is the link to the photowalk site - sign up today and get ready for some great photography fun!
worldwidephotowalk.com
Friday, February 06, 2009
New year, new post
I was looking at my list of blogs in Google Reader and realised that I have not posted to my own blog in some time! But with a new year comes new (delayed) resolutions, and I need to keep up at least a few posts.
Woops, it's February already! Oh well. With the new year and my birthday I got some new drive for photography. Latest addition is Scott Kelby's 2 volumes on taking photos. Well worth it and has been a little bit of an encouragement to get back out there.
Also, if you want to start this year with a better picture print out, I can recommend getting a monitor calibration tool such as the xrite i1 or Huey Pro. I am selling mine on Ebay (see here) if you don't mind my plug!
On a good note, I can share my method for getting the picture. The setup is relatively simple.
First get yourself a good small 60cm cube light tent
Setup your tripod + camera
Setup your flash
Play!
This picture was taken with these settings: lens at 17mm, ISO100, f14, 1/200 sec, flash compensation +1
I did experiment a bit to get here and did minor white balance adjustment in photoshop raw.
The light tent is really a light diffuser and background all in one. You probably could get away with a clean background and, say, a Stofen diffuser or a diffuser typically part of most flashes (at least the 430EX and 580EX). Before I got the light box, I used to line an old box with white paper and take pictures in that. The trick to avoiding having visible lines is to make sure you have enought light - don't hold back as it's not like taking pictures of people!
Must sign off now and check how my selling is going - it will go towards maybe Lightroom 2.0 or the BH-55 RRS tripod head. Which one....? Maybe I will make it a poll?
Anyway, have a great time in the photography fray and hope your new year is filled with all kinds of new enthusiasm (and cool gear!).
Woops, it's February already! Oh well. With the new year and my birthday I got some new drive for photography. Latest addition is Scott Kelby's 2 volumes on taking photos. Well worth it and has been a little bit of an encouragement to get back out there.
Also, if you want to start this year with a better picture print out, I can recommend getting a monitor calibration tool such as the xrite i1 or Huey Pro. I am selling mine on Ebay (see here) if you don't mind my plug!
On a good note, I can share my method for getting the picture. The setup is relatively simple.
First get yourself a good small 60cm cube light tent
Setup your tripod + camera
Setup your flash
Play!
This picture was taken with these settings: lens at 17mm, ISO100, f14, 1/200 sec, flash compensation +1
I did experiment a bit to get here and did minor white balance adjustment in photoshop raw.
The light tent is really a light diffuser and background all in one. You probably could get away with a clean background and, say, a Stofen diffuser or a diffuser typically part of most flashes (at least the 430EX and 580EX). Before I got the light box, I used to line an old box with white paper and take pictures in that. The trick to avoiding having visible lines is to make sure you have enought light - don't hold back as it's not like taking pictures of people!
Must sign off now and check how my selling is going - it will go towards maybe Lightroom 2.0 or the BH-55 RRS tripod head. Which one....? Maybe I will make it a poll?
Anyway, have a great time in the photography fray and hope your new year is filled with all kinds of new enthusiasm (and cool gear!).
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
As promised
I am back!
Thought I would get back into it by referring to this great method for getting that grunge look in portraits.
See here for how it is done. Scott Kelby was mentioned several times by Chritian Fletcher and I feel good for finding out more about Scott and knowing that even the great photographers are out there learning from guys like Scott.
I was going to post a picture of Christian but thought I should get his permission first (that is the right and legal thing to do after all).
So I will post my application of Scott's grunge look another time.
In the mean time, here is a nice picture I took while in Perth. You don't have to like it but leave a comment/criticism! It is one thing that I took away from Christian's course, sometimes us photographers like things that might not ever sell - do you think this one might? High art or wishful thinking :) ?
Have fun in the photography fray - until next time.
Thought I would get back into it by referring to this great method for getting that grunge look in portraits.
See here for how it is done. Scott Kelby was mentioned several times by Chritian Fletcher and I feel good for finding out more about Scott and knowing that even the great photographers are out there learning from guys like Scott.
I was going to post a picture of Christian but thought I should get his permission first (that is the right and legal thing to do after all).
So I will post my application of Scott's grunge look another time.
In the mean time, here is a nice picture I took while in Perth. You don't have to like it but leave a comment/criticism! It is one thing that I took away from Christian's course, sometimes us photographers like things that might not ever sell - do you think this one might? High art or wishful thinking :) ?
Have fun in the photography fray - until next time.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Re-invigoration
Like all things, it is nice to be re-invigorated occassionally.
I found the opportunity to get an extra dose of enthusiasm by going to a workflow workshop by Christian Fletcher (http://www.christianfletcher.com.au/). For those that don't know of him, he turns up first when you do a google search so that shows that you probably should know him! (or perhaps the guy that improves his exposure on search engines!).
I thought I would quickly write a comment on his workshop and encourage anyone interested in re-invigoration of their photography hobby to get to one. He is both easy going and informative. I will follow up more (and with a few concepts) in the next posting!
Maybe with a little encouragement from other photographers we can get out there more often and do something new.
I found the opportunity to get an extra dose of enthusiasm by going to a workflow workshop by Christian Fletcher (http://www.christianfletcher.com.au/). For those that don't know of him, he turns up first when you do a google search so that shows that you probably should know him! (or perhaps the guy that improves his exposure on search engines!).
I thought I would quickly write a comment on his workshop and encourage anyone interested in re-invigoration of their photography hobby to get to one. He is both easy going and informative. I will follow up more (and with a few concepts) in the next posting!
Maybe with a little encouragement from other photographers we can get out there more often and do something new.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Mt Nameless - Pain, pleasure and photography
Mt Nameless is the local mountain. Apparently the tallest vehicle accessible point in Western Australia. And I climbed it rather than driving it! With 20kg+ of camera gear - I am obviously looking for punishment!
Oh well, some great photos came out of it! That is all that matters (other than the guy/boy thing for climbing stuff!).
So this is the image straight after making some adjustments in RAW. I am still in CS3, can't commit to the expense of going to CS4 (just got comfortable with CS3!) but maybe Lightroom 2 next?
I digress. I thought I would try out some tricky black and white stuff. There are TONNES of ways to convert to B+W. I thought I would share the one to convert to Quadtone - gives a really nice touch. The steps I followed:
- add a gradient adjustment layer. Tweak to suit.
- flatten layers
- image>mode>greyscale
- image>mode>duotone (only accessable after you have converted to greyscale)
Now that you are here, there are a lot of choices including duo, trio and quadtone. Have fun. I chose to go with a PANTONE Quadtone Bl 541 513 5773 - funny name, nice colours.
Finally, for "extra credit", I copied this image back into the original psd file as a layer. Turning down the opacity allows the original colours to come through.
So there ends todays thought. Sometimes a little less colour makes a picture!
Oh well, some great photos came out of it! That is all that matters (other than the guy/boy thing for climbing stuff!).
So this is the image straight after making some adjustments in RAW. I am still in CS3, can't commit to the expense of going to CS4 (just got comfortable with CS3!) but maybe Lightroom 2 next?I digress. I thought I would try out some tricky black and white stuff. There are TONNES of ways to convert to B+W. I thought I would share the one to convert to Quadtone - gives a really nice touch. The steps I followed:
- add a gradient adjustment layer. Tweak to suit.
- flatten layers- image>mode>greyscale
- image>mode>duotone (only accessable after you have converted to greyscale)
Now that you are here, there are a lot of choices including duo, trio and quadtone. Have fun. I chose to go with a PANTONE Quadtone Bl 541 513 5773 - funny name, nice colours.
Finally, for "extra credit", I copied this image back into the original psd file as a layer. Turning down the opacity allows the original colours to come through.
So there ends todays thought. Sometimes a little less colour makes a picture!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
