Photo Comp - Chat Thread

[dizzyblonde]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_8zKrDFralEI/SdRNqMUYtRI/AAAAAAAAFhc/sdzlOyyXs1o/s640/LGIM0089.jpg



MIster C....where is that house, I want to explore it, buy it and live there:p

[mister c]

MIster C....where is that house, I want to explore it, buy it and live there:p
Just tagged you on FB with another shot of it. Hit me straight between the eyes when I saw it :)
Its a place called Bromfield near Ludlow

[Bluefish]

MIster C....where is that house, I want to explore it, buy it and live there:p

slight chance of flooding, methinks ;) but does look quite nice/ isolated.

[Geodude]

http://184.72.239.143/mu/5c09efb7-ef7a-2bd9.jpg

not sure if this will work.

Taken with my desire at a place near to me in October.

Sent from my mobile telefenone
Love this pic mbk, the place it was taken looks lovely.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Thanks. It's a place called The Otters Pool which is on the Raider's Road in the middle of the Galloway Forest Park.

[Geodude]

Thanks. It's a place called The Otters Pool which is on the Raider's Road in the middle of the Galloway Forest Park.
Cheers thats on my photo trip list :)

[Bluefish]

My money's on mbk to win this month :( :D

[sv4me]

Ok thats just blatantly unfair, ofcourse mines not going to win it has no cleavage in it :mrgreen:

[minimorecambe]

Muhahaha, I didnt realise mine did, I just like the reflection in the window :rolleyes: :smt019

[DarrenSV650S]

Yep she gets my vote :smt112

[sv4me]

Muhahaha, I didnt realise mine did, I just like the reflection in the window :rolleyes: :smt019

Womens eyes obviously work different to mens then ;)

Yep she gets my vote :smt112

Down boy :smt040

[missyburd]

Aha, guess this month's photo comp subject is a fantastic excuse to get me a new spangly phone, seeing as I don't have a cable to upload photos taken on my current one! Cheers Brettus! :-D








(now to find some of those shiny round metallic things....)

[Brettus]

Cheers Brettus! :-D
You are most welcome!


I've got to say I'm really impressed with all the entries so far, shows that camera phones are getting far more capable.
Really liking Geodude's entry! although I think its still bested by minimorcambe's, corker of a shot for a phone.

[davepreston]

im waiting for ollie to send the hitman after me

[dizzyblonde]

(now to find some of those shiny round metallic things....)

wot be those then? Chocolate coins?

[Brettus]

Aww, after the flurry of activity its all dried up, still, 18 entries isn't bad going! and some corkers there already, still time for some late breaking ones though I guess.

[Reeder]

Aww, after the flurry of activity its all dried up, still, 18 entries isn't bad going! and some corkers there already, still time for some late breaking ones though I guess.

Mine is in planning ;)

[Richie]

mine too :0)

[Richie]

Damn I was too late to enter the comp....
any way glad that Minimorocambe won :0)

[DarrenSV650S]

Minxer, wtf is that?!?

[minimorecambe]

Its a big ugly moth :-?

[andrewsmith]

thats a small bird on the insect kind!

Thats another good one this month!

[Richie]

I think I may need a tiny wee duster..... ;0)

[Richie]

some right posers MACRO photo's... :0) this month....

[davepreston]

OFFICAL WARNING TO RICHIE

This months comp does not mean you can take a pic of your privates and enter that, this is a u rated forum thank christ, its only your lovely mrs whom has to suffer that (what little there is of it)
















quick someone hide me before he comes back

[Reeder]

That moth is horrrrrrible!

[L3nny]

Can I use this?

http://www.dmuth.org/files/claws/images/79_large.preview.jpg

[andrewsmith]

haha nice one lenny

[Milky Bar Kid]

Aww, I don't have a macro lens!

[minimorecambe]

That moth is horrrrrrible!

Yes it is.
I only have 2 fears and they are moths and butterflies :-?

Aww, I don't have a macro lens!

Not got a digital camera with just the macro setting? Or just get a close up shot of something :)

[Milky Bar Kid]

Nope, me doesn't. Only got my DSLR now!

[Filipe M.]

Aww, I don't have a macro lens!

Nope, me doesn't. Only got my DSLR now!

Now there's a good reason to come visit, I'm sure someone will let you have a play with one :lol:

[Dave20046]

Nope, me doesn't. Only got my DSLR now!
HTC ting?

[Richie]

OFFICAL WARNING TO RICHIE

This months comp does not mean you can take a pic of your privates and enter that, this is a u rated forum thank christ, its only your lovely mrs whom has to suffer that (what little there is of it)

quick someone hide me before he comes back


I've a 15 year old pen.... called Dave. :cyclopsani:


How old is your Pen ? I hear you say...


"Pen15"


:0)

[Milky Bar Kid]

Now there's a good reason to come visit, I'm sure someone will let you have a play with one :lol:

Nice try....:rolleyes:

HTC ting?

Erm, dunno...will have a look see...

[Filipe M.]

Erm, dunno...will have a look see...

Your 18-55 lens will allow pretty good close ups when at its longest setting (55 mm), as it focus down to 28 cm (from the sensor plane, which is almost at the back of the camera) or something like that. Not exactly macro territory, but great for close-ups.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Cheers Filipe...will have a fiddle at some point.

[mister c]

I dont have a macro lens, but, if you take the lens off, turn it around (I know it sounds stupid, but it does work) then move your body backwards & forwards to focus on the item in question, press the shutter & hey presto, Macro photography :)

[Reeder]

Cheers Filipe...will have a fiddle at some point.

:smt112

[tactcom7]

Got a new canon 50mm macro lens for me birthday, not had time to practise yet but I shall try and get some ideas for this months comp :)

(this was a pointless post I guess)

[Milky Bar Kid]

:smt112

Go away....

[Richie]

just received this... a tad late me thinks :0) lol
as it's now March !

WooooHoooooo

Just seen this. Cheers Richie :D

Right I've counted them Twice and just by a whisker Stuartboy has it by 1 vote.


So .....
Please put up a post titled "Feb 2011 Photo Comp, Theme :- "
and I'll sticky it and lets go again :0)

Congratulations stuartyboy :0)

[stuartyboy]

bleedin hell, hardly ever here, comes on, and wins with his bleedin billy elliot photo, then on his way again ;)

Sorry folks - my huge bad. I didn't realise I had to post the next competition and I've only just seen the PM 20 mins ago.

[Reeder]

Go away....

Non

[Richie]

Cheers Filipe...will have a fiddle at some point.

:smt112

Go away....

Non


Why do you want to play the violin ?:-({|=:smt020

[Reeder]

:cyclopsani:

[Brettus]

Sorry folks - my huge bad. I didn't realise I had to post the next competition and I've only just seen the PM 20 mins ago.

Gutted, unlucky mate. If I should get a win (yeah, sadly not that likely heh) you have first refusal to post the topic of your choice.

[Bluefish]

well just been oot in the garden trying to get some macro type shots, not easy with a d90, my compact is better, but got some half decent shots won't post my entry till later in the month, but here is a couple of shots i took, The bottom two have been cropped, and so zoomed in, anybody got any tips for macro?, cheers andy.


http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/andysv/DSC_0049.jpg

http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/andysv/DSC_0045.jpg

http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/andysv/DSC_0038.jpg

[Filipe M.]

well just been oot in the garden trying to get some macro type shots, not easy with a d90, my compact is better, but got some half decent shots won't post my entry till later in the month, but here is a couple of shots i took, The bottom two have been cropped, and so zoomed in, anybody got any tips for macro?, cheers andy.


Get a dedicated Macro lens or a set of diopter filter adaptors, and a tripod.

The Macro lens option is more expensive, and it'll probably be of a focal length you already have covered with other lenses, making it almost redundant for anything but the Macro shots. The one we use over here is the Tamron 90 mm f/2.8, which is absolutely brilliant, and not as expensive as the Nikon ones. The f/2.8 max aperture is also nice to have if you want to grab a quick headshot portrait of someone, but due to the optical formula, by the time you focus to headshot distance you're down to f/3.5 or thereabouts, eating away some of the advantage.

The diopter option is a lot less expensive, especially if you go for cheap stuff. They're just an optical element, filter like, that screws in front of your current lens and allows you to focus much closer than normal. The image quality won't be anywhere near a dedicated macro lens, but it'll allow to you have a play with the lens you currently own without spending a fortune.

As for the tripod, you'll need it, and a good one at that. At macro ranges, the depth of field even at very small apertures is virtually non-existent, so any movement from your part will translate in blurry out of focus pictures. And since you will need very small apertures to carry as much depth of field as possible, your shutter speeds will go stupid slow, making it impossible to grab anything without blurring it.

Final note: there are some tele 70-300 zoom lenses on the market that claim macro ability. While these are not true macro (they will usually go to 1:2 or 1:4 magnification, while real macro is 1:1 - the size of the object is the size it gets recorded on the sensor), they might be a decent way of killing two birds with one stone... you get extra telephoto reach to play with in normal situations, and very close focusing ability. Again, these will probably not be as good as a good telephoto like the Nikon 70-300 VR and a dedicated Macro lens, but depending on what you want out of them, they might be good value for money.

[TC3]

My entry this month was taken with D90 and 18-105 with a cheap Sigma Achromatic close up filter I got on eBay for cheap. I use a step down ring which allows me to use the 52mm filter thread on my 67mm filter thread the Nikon lens has. While no where near the quality a decent macro lens would give it still allows some form of close up photography. I just got a pretty powerful close up filter called Raynox dcr250 but yet to really give it go.
Using a flasgun while adjusting the power output against aperture is a good way to freeze movement. However I don't want to open another can of worms in regards to flash units.
As Filipe said some 70-300 zooms allow pretty decent close focus. I used to have the Tamron 70-300 which was cheap but surprisingly decent for the money.
If you do look at filters go for achromatic type or Maybe a Raynox dcr150 which is not to powerful and has great image quality. I myself never use a tripod. I prefer to either use an off camera flash or raise the iso. The D90 has great high iso especially if you shoot in Raw and s process the noise.
You are better off switching focus to manual and zooming all the way to telephoto end if using a zoom kit lens. Then move to and fro the subject slowly. You may want to put camera in continuous shooting mode while you move slightly to change focus. Takes practice but I rarely find bugs that stay still while I move a tripod about. However there are some bugs as well as many other subjects such as flowers that a tripod will be useful.

[Filipe M.]

My entry this month was taken with D90 and 18-105 with a cheap Sigma Achromatic close up filter I got on eBay for cheap. I use a step down ring which allows me to use the 52mm filter thread on my 67mm filter thread the Nikon lens has. While no where near the quality a decent macro lens would give it still allows some form of close up photography. I just got a pretty powerful close up filter called Raynox dcr250 but yet to really give it go.

Oh yes, I had forgotten about the Raynox. Those are supposed to be pretty damn good, but you're still limited to the quality of the lens you mount them on, plus the added glass. At least with the Raynox you know you're not using complete crap.

You are better off switching focus to manual and zooming all the way to telephoto end if using a zoom kit lens. Then move to and fro the subject slowly. You may want to put camera in continuous shooting mode while you move slightly to change focus. Takes practice but I rarely find bugs that stay still while I move a tripod about. However there are some bugs as well as many other subjects such as flowers that a tripod will be useful.

If you are going the non-tripod way you might want to try setting your camera to the so-called "trap focus", which will allow you to keep the shutter release pressed while moving back and forth, and the camera will only fire when it "sees" something in focus under the selected focus point.
The way to do it on the D90 is as follows (noob enabled instructions, please don't feel like I'm trying to teach the more experienced members how to suck eggs):

1- Make sure your lens is set to A or A/M mode, and camera switch near lens mount to AF;
2- Set the AF mode to AF-S (press AF button - on the top panel, near the right strap lug - and rotate the rear command dial);
3- Set Custom Option a1 to Single Point;
4- Set Custom Option f4 to "AF-ON" (quick way to get there is by pressing INFO on the back of the camera twice, then move to the rightmost button and press OK to enter the f4 menu).

By doing this, you're activating autofocus (step 1) and setting the camera to operate under "focus priority" mode (step 2)*, which will only allow the camera to fire when whatever is under the active focus sensor is in focus (as opposed to "shutter priority", which will always allow a picture to be taken, independent of correct focus). Step 3 makes sure the camera is not choosing the focus area for you, and finally step 4 will decouple the autofocus activation from the shutter release, by moving the autofocus initiation to the AE-L/AF-L button on the back of the camera near the viewfinder.

What this now means is you can focus with your thumb, release it (effectively locking focus) and then press the shutter while you rock very slowly back and forth, and the camera will only fire when it detects stuff in focus under your focus sensor.

*higher end cameras like the D300 and upwards allow you to set shutter of focus priority independently of AF-S or AF-C; the D90 doesn't, so this is the way to do it.

[TC3]

Filipe thats a very good tip about the focus trap for the D90 which i failed to mention :D

After ignoring my D90 for several months while i played with the new Canon compact i could not remember half of the functions when i picked up the D90 again today.....:rolleyes:

[Filipe M.]

Filipe thats a very good tip about the focus trap for the D90 which i failed to mention :D

After ignoring my D90 for several months while i played with the new Canon compact i could not remember half of the functions when i picked up the D90 again today.....:rolleyes:

Yeh I know that feeling... been out shooting again yesterday after a long hiatus and felt like I was struggling with my brains to remember how to do stuff. :|

[Bluefish]

Ok thanks for the info will try out the focus trap in a mo, bought some cheap nd filters and some of those diopter macro lenses today, so will try them out later this week hopefully. edit, although i did figure out it was better to use manual focus, as you could get a bit closer, right trying focus trap now.

[Bluefish]

well tried it, seems a bit hit and miss, guess you have to move quite slowly, ah, you have to take your finger off the shutter button sometimes , so yeah it works :D

[Bluefish]

macro lenses came today, first impressions, you can focus a hell of a lot closer, so hopefully will be able to get some half decent pics, although that last pic by 1210tech i think is very good, bummer lol.

[Bri w]

I've got the Tamron 70-300 but not that impressed with the macro aspect.

[Filipe M.]

well tried it, seems a bit hit and miss, guess you have to move quite slowly, ah, you have to take your finger off the shutter button sometimes , so yeah it works :D

Using trap focus for macro stuff only works if you have a fast enough shutter speed (or flash) to freeze your own movement, otherwise you're blurring the picture by doing the exact opposite of what everybody teaches you to do (hold still!). To me there's still nothing like setting up a tripod and shooting a macro the proper way (remote control, mirror lock-up or shutter delay, blablablagh), but trap focus will work when you can't (be arsed to...) do it properly.

[Brettus]

The thing I really like about macro photography is the portrayal of texture. sometimes shown in normal pics but most macro stuff shows it off really well. gonna be a tough decision for my vote this month I think!

[Geodude]

After mutch deliberating, and lots of macro pics taken lately, here is my entry.
Bottom cropped, taken with cannon 710is at a distance of about 2 inches.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu94/andysv/europe3168-1.jpg
Nice bfm :) its got things living on it eeew

[Bluefish]

yeah, total eco system dude ;)

[Teejayexc]

April's comp...

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=164783

That's a good start then...huge piccy and two of 'em to boot ;-)

[sv4me]

Nice theme tech, living on the coast like I do I better come up with something good :)

[Richie]

April's comp...

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=164783

That's a good start then...huge piccy and two of 'em to boot ;-)

the person posting the comp ( ie the winner of the previous month) can put up as many examples of the theme as they like , as they are not entered into that months photo comp. :0)

[DarrenSV650S]

My mild OCD is kicking in....... must.....straighten.....horizons.....8-[

Sorry its taken so long, had a few busy days and couldn't think of a theme but with Summer on its way (hopefully) lets see what you lot get up to when you're at the seaside/beach.

Heres a couple of my faves from last summer:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5590320702_0762634265_b.jpg

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt282/speedplay/photo-5.jpg

Taken by me on a canon 40D with a 100-300mm tamron lens.
Went Kiting at Hoylake with the mrs on her birthday (my bloody kite too!!)

Until I change my mind....:

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/milkybarkid196/Stuff/DSC_0230.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii151/D4rkr34per/IMGP9501800x600.jpg

June 2009 - Taken with a Pentax K100D/18-55 standard lens.

[Filipe M.]

My mild OCD is kicking in....... must.....straighten.....horizons.....8-[

LOL

I was thinking the same :lol:

[Milky Bar Kid]

Life would be boring if everything was straight and linear n stuff....

[Filipe M.]

Life would be boring if everything was straight and linear n stuff....

There's a very good reason why the horizon line is straight, though ;)

[Milky Bar Kid]

Which is???

Btw...I was standing on a slope....so there!

[D4rkr34per]

Yeah mine is a bit... off. I do have another photo somewhere, in the same position (with a straight horizon) but the clouds went and I thought this one looked better.

[DarrenSV650S]

Tell me to bugger off if you want. Just thought I'd stick it up

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/096007d9.jpg

[D4rkr34per]

No, I won't tell you to bugger off. That's exactly how mine turned out when using 'Curve Bend' in GIMP 2.1 but I haven't bothered to change it, haha :)

Is it worth changing my original photo post to this I wonder?

[Jimmy2Feet]

there is nothing worng with taking a shot on the slant, and sometimes the best thing to do is just that, but i do agree i was thinking that some of those were very ****ed!!

The one above tho, dont see anything wrong with that!

[1210tech]

My mild OCD is kicking in....... must.....straighten.....horizons.....8-[

you try taking a level photo on a beach after copious amounts of Sol without a tripod with the camera on B setting while resting it on a stone so it doesn't come out too blurred!!! :smt016

[appollo1]

decision decision

i have just found lots of beach pics that would be suitable for this months competition but cant make up my mind which one to use......aaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhh

[speedplay]

I got some of the same shot level, but liked the one I posted.

[Jimmy2Feet]

i am spending the weekend this in devon, on a surf trip, however due to a broken metatarcel wont be doing any surfing, so a good oppertunity to......

1. try out my new tele lens.
2. have my first real attempt of surf photography
3. get that winning pic for the comp! :)

On that note tho, anyone ever do any/much surf photography? any good tips?

Obveoulsy is will be from the beach, its a beach break so they wont be to far out from the coast, so my 300mm should be fine.....i hope.

I plan to just set up the tripod, and get differing angles, some close up, some wide and see what happens.

[Bluefish]

Which is???

If it wasn't straight you would fall off the edge ;)

[Milky Bar Kid]

If it wasn't straight you would fall off the edge ;)


Ahhhh! lol!:D

[1210tech]

i am spending the weekend this in devon, on a surf trip, however due to a broken metatarcel wont be doing any surfing, so a good oppertunity to......

1. try out my new tele lens.
2. have my first real attempt of surf photography
3. get that winning pic for the comp! :)

On that note tho, anyone ever do any/much surf photography? any good tips?

Obveoulsy is will be from the beach, its a beach break so they wont be to far out from the coast, so my 300mm should be fine.....i hope.

I plan to just set up the tripod, and get differing angles, some close up, some wide and see what happens.

My tips:
You should be ok with the 300mm depending on how far out the breakers are, the pics below were all taken with a 70-300.
I've found that the tripod is more of a hindrance than help because of the speed/movement of the surfer when doing close ups.
Try and get as close to the edge of the water as possible without getting drenched but with as much angle as possible to capture the height & shape of the wave rather than being head on to the surfer
Oh, and putting the camera on the continuous high speed photo mode helps ;)

Look forward to seeing your pics

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5263/5595284133_eb0fdb3464_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5595857360_6ed8beafed_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5595277969_e8fd3ce796_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5595859578_aef9519a3d_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5595279987_2c04bdde99_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5595282147_aefd3ca1ee_z.jpg

[Jimmy2Feet]

some nice pics mate, i was kinda thinking that t tripod would eventually do my head in!!! my tripos is quite small once folded up so will take it with and try both!

i will add some pics next week when i am back, hopefully will come up with some good ones.










i would still rather be in the water on a board tho!!!!! dam broken foot!!!!!

[anna]

I love this months entries, but have to say that there are those "almost" amazing shots in the thread.

Minimorecomb if only the horizons and the crop hadnt cut out the boat that would have been a great shot, and G that was a fantastic shot if only those horizons were straight.

I get how playing with horizontals and verticals are part of the artistic licence in photos but, when you are taking photos of water then you have to make sure those horizon lines are straight. The reason, its water, and water will "run off the page" if not balanced straight. There are many, many rules to photography and many can be known and ignored if the artistic reason behind them applies but, you also have to know and be aware of why the rules are there in the first place.

Im certainly no expert, was just answering the question that others had posted about why it mattered so much.

[Jimmy2Feet]

I agree to a point, water should be straight and level in horizons, however fron time to time there is good reasons for not being straight, for example, i think that kenzie's pic works great at that angle, as you have a point of reference in the car in front of the water.

[Filipe M.]

I agree to a point, water should be straight and level in horizons, however fron time to time there is good reasons for not being straight, for example, i think that kenzie's pic works great at that angle, as you have a point of reference in the car in front of the water.

Yup, and it works because you can't really see the horizon. ;) You know it's there, but you can't see it ;)

[Jimmy2Feet]

Yeah that is what i was getting at, needs to be straight in horizons, but water doesn't always need to be straight! i.e. in this example.

[Richie]

i recon this would be a good contender if entered :0)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5589725451_7903c37117_b.jpg

[DarrenSV650S]

That's a brilliant pic. Why wasn't it entered

[Filipe M.]

Quick, grab the bottle, it's about to fall! ;)

[Richie]

'cos he the one that set the ball rolling :0)

[Rai86]

Soooooo are you allowed to vote for yourself? :p :)

[Bluefish]

You can, but...[-X not in good taste imo

[Brettus]

Have we learned nothing from Pirates of the Caribbean? :)

[Rai86]

You can, but...[-X not in good taste imo

good job i didnt then really ;)

[Jimmy2Feet]

great idea for theme this month anna, Time to get my thinking cap on me thinks!

[YellowMonkeyBoy]

I was going to take a picture of an egg but I decided to fly over the otehrside of the world and pelt a certain Mr beiber ;)

http://music.uk.msn.com/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=157279129

[Bri w]

does it have to be a chicken's egg?

[anna]

Thanks for the votes this month, there were some cracking shots in there.

does it have to be a chicken's egg?

No I dont think so, obviously chocolate eggs are cheating a little perhaps ;)

[Filipe M.]

No I dont think so, obviously chocolate eggs are cheating a little perhaps ;)

... bugger... 8-[

[Richie]

Filipe love your shot BTW.. :0)
so black white and eggy

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5691453155_fbeaf0a93c_z.jpg

[Filipe M.]

Filipe love your shot BTW.. :0)
so black white and eggy


LOL
thx :lol: