Your Own Photography

I'd love to do winter, it poses some problems though the UP sees an obscene amount of snow during the winter. The house we normally setup at during our trips usually sees 2-3 feet of snow, not sure any of the cars I have at my disposal would be able to navigate the roads up in the porkies with those kinds of conditions I've got a ton more from these trips but I don't want to spam the thread with a bunch of it. Here's one more before/after of the Summit Peak which is I think the highest elevation in the state park (there's a man built tower there to get you above the tree line), Lake Superior is in the background. Also a night shot of the bay that the house overlooks:

Very cool, I've been wanting to do stuff like that (HDR right?) I just picked up a Rebel T3 about 2 weeks ago since I wanted to get a DSLR figured it'd be a good starting point (the shots i've been posting were taken with a Canon SX 10 IS which is basically a point & shoot with a decent non-swapable lens ). Gotta start looking up guides & read up on stuff.


And for a change of pace/non-nature stuff couple photos from Ultra Music Festival. Rabbit In The Moon possibly one of the craziest and best live acts I've seen @ UMF 2010 & one of Armin Van Buuren headlining the main stage in 2009:

Long exposure shot, I think that one is 3 seconds long.

Love that 2nd last concert shot. Surprised by the lack of noise with such low light!

Got bored and decided to do a 3 mile walk around a place called Nelson Lake near by on Sunday. Surprisingly nice day didn't even need a coat in the middle of October

3 more from Japan:

So I did a maternity session with a couple of really good friends of mine. This was really my first experience in dealing with "models" and I have to say, trying to pose people is a whole added dynamic on photography that I found very challenging. I had a ton of fun on the shoot and learned a lot, but once I got the photos into the editor there are so many small details with the poses that I would do differently, but I just missed them due to my inexperience and the pace of the shoot. Still loved doing it. Shot the whole thing on a 1.4 Sigma 50mm and fell in love with the lense. Not mine, one of my parents but I'm not giving it back till they absolutely make me

(They were kind enough to allow me to share a few shots)

Love that last shot.

Yeah, it doesn't exactly highlight the 'maternity' aspect of it, but combined with the rest of the shoot it tells the story and the shot itself came out really well. Plan with that shot is to try to take the shot in a similar fashion with the kid (hopefully) yearly.

bumping! cmon guys!

Weather's been crappy and cold plus with the season change all my hike spots are pretty much just large areas of exposed tree branches and overcast skies Waiting for the winter to hit if it ever snows there's some areas around here that would be kind of cool to check out and do some photos at.

One more from this summer:

1,2, or 3?

3 for me

The crops on #1 and #2 give it a more 'intense' look but the skin looks better in #3. Also might be a lot of work but I'd see if I could edit out the reflections in the eyes.

Speaking of portrait shots, my Dad just pick up a pair of studio strobes/lights that I can barrow at any time. I'm hoping to do some boudoir stuff soon. I *doubt* my wife would be willing to let me share but we will see. My other potential model is far less shy, but currently very pregnant.

Kind of partial to #3 as well.

Been looking at picking up a Lens, most likely going to go the refurbished route because from a cost perspective new just isn't possible. Got a $250 gift certificate for Amazon so i'm looking at either:

1)EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens + a 75-300mm f/4-5.6 (Combined when used/refurbished about $260 before tax)
2)EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (runs between $290-310 so i'll have to throw some extra funds ontop of the gift cert.).

From what i've seen in youtube demos and other reviews the photo quality difference between the 50mm f/1.8 & the 50mm f/1.4 is kind of minimal but in terms of part & build quality it seems like the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is more durable. On the upside my coworker has the 50mm f/1.4 and doesn't use it for much since he does mostly large format black & white photography these days, so he's letting me borrow it for a month to see how it is and determine if I want to order one.

edit: he also loaned me a EF 85mm f/1.8 USM as well.

Speaking of strobe lights and flashes, does anyone here have a yungnuo? Looking to get a speedlight for my lumix and they come highly recommended for power and price point. They have a ttl/manual version and one that is just manual.

I own the manual one and I love it. Great flash just make sure you get rechargeable batteries and a charger