PICTURE POST II!

[RandyS]

Not one of my best (my 50mm lens actually broke earlier today -- I was trying to manually adjust the focus, pushed too hard and the focus no longer works, so this was taken with an old kit lens), but my wife gave me the idea of the rings, and I took it further to incorporate a lens (she loves my photography and really wants to learn more about the art, and I am trying to teach her). I like the DoF, but this is not a fast lens and so I couldn't capture the detail I wanted. But I needed to take my photo of the day. Actually used a blank sheet of printer paper as a diffuser for the flash.

It's a little blurry, but it still looks like it came out alright.

 

[Timby]

Photo of the Day:

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Timby, I'm sorry to hear about your 50mm lens! I have the same one and would feel lost without it. Are you still able to use it? Which lens did you use for the pine needles?

Oh! And given your story about that lens and your reconciliation, I love the symbolism of the lens photo!

Two new photos from today (Kestra, I was thinking of your interior photos when I was framing the second shot!):

 

[auntiehill]

Love that first one! Great shot, nice composition.

 

[TheSeeker]

I took this one last fall and thought it might look good in black and white. I'm really still trying to get a handle on how to execute black and white.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

it's lovely!
Did you enhance the contrast or is that the original one? It's very difficult to photograph moving water. You caught it perfectly.

 

[Timby]

I took this one last fall and thought it might look good in black and white. I'm really still trying to get a handle on how to execute black and white.

Black and white really benefits from really strong contrast (that photo is honestly an excellent example). When I was shooting on film (2002 - 2010), I made sure to shoot exclusively on ASA 400 B&W film, which was just fast enough and allowed a little bit of grain. My Rebel T2i isn't great at capturing B&W, but my one pointer with digital B&W is to always slightly under-expose.

Timby, I'm sorry to hear about your 50mm lens! I have the same one and would feel lost without it. Are you still able to use it? Which lens did you use for the pine needles?

No, the lens is a loss -- the focus is completely broken. I called my local camera shop and they quoted at least $120 to repair it, and I can get a new one for $99 on Amazon, which is a no-brainer. The pine needles were captured with an old 28-90mm lens I've had for more than ten years (it beats the tar out of the 18-55mm kit lens that came with my Rebel T2i).

 

[Greylock Crescent]

I took this one last fall and thought it might look good in black and white. I'm really still trying to get a handle on how to execute black and white.

That's brilliant! Love it. The pigeon perched on the wing is a nice touch, too! As for executing B&W, it's something I'm always working on. I have a few presets in Lightroom that suit my style, but I'm always fiddling with the image even after the preset ... and it doesn't always come out the way I'd like it to.

Timby, I had that same setup - the 18-55mm kit lens on a T2i - for quite a while. I was happier when I upgraded to the 18-135mm ... much more versatile and better IQ, as well. My 70D came with the newer 18-135mm STM and it's very sharp for a kit lens.

 

[TheSeeker]

Thanks! We're having a lazy Saturday afternoon today.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Haha! Looks like a blast! Perfect timing on the capture! Also, I'm noticing that you're really good at using unbalanced camera angles. In this one, it really helps make it feel like your daughter is just flying through the air.

Here's one from yesterday:

 

[TheSeeker]

That is pretty sweet!

 

[selina]

I am trying to learn more about photography and how to handle my digital camera. So today I was strolling around in the garden and I ended up with taking several pictures of a peach-tree. Each with different shutter speeds or arpertures. Turns out that blossoms are nice motifs. They look pretty and they don't move much . However, my neighbours will certainly think I'm crazy because I was sneaking around the tree for quiete some time and it was pretty cold. Many of the pictures I didn't like but here are two of the more decent ones.

 

[cooleddie74]

You may be learning about your equipment, but those are beautiful shots and flowers make for some of the best nature photographs. You captured a substantial level of detail and I hope you post more of these shots!

 

[RoJoHen]

I have a camera that I'm just learning how to play with too. Can't wait to figure out what I'm doing!

 

[Mary Ann]

Ooh, selina, those blossom shots are beautiful!

 

[Greylock Crescent]

^ I agree! I'm especially fond of the second one.

 

[Pondwater]

^^^Third that.

 

[selina]

Thanks everyone. I will try to go out regularly to take pictures and to practice with the camera.

@ RoJoHen: Great. We can exchange experiences .

 

[rhubarbodendron]

awesome pics!!!

Selina, I do a lot of plant photography, too. With such transparent or translucent blossoms like peaches or cherries it's also nice to try a shot against the light. You get the most amazing light/shadow patterns
These are mirabel-plum blossoms (not quite sharp as the camera at my office suffered a scratch across the lense recently but I think you get the general idea)

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Lovely! For me, the lack of super-sharp focus gives them a dreamy quality.