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Author Topic: Photography Lesson DO  (Read 183960 times)

Offline alpicone

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #100 on: December 12, 2013, 06:06:54 PM »
Is there anything that we should be doing to prep for the DO?

I have been going over the Learn Photography Master Thread to learn the basics that you have described already. I am going to play with the setting on my camera to see how the different manual setting effect the pictures to more fully understand the differences.

I was also reading about your feedback on some pics that were posted in that thread on your take on the science of taking and framing the picture and what to include/exclude from the shot.

Any other suggestions so I at least have some basics or done you plan on starting from photography 101?

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #101 on: December 12, 2013, 06:34:22 PM »
Is there anything that we should be doing to prep for the DO?

I have been going over the Learn Photography Master Thread to learn the basics that you have described already. I am going to play with the setting on my camera to see how the different manual setting effect the pictures to more fully understand the differences.

I was also reading about your feedback on some pics that were posted in that thread on your take on the science of taking and framing the picture and what to include/exclude from the shot.

Any other suggestions so I at least have some basics or done you plan on starting from photography 101?

The second part of Exposure Basics is almost ready to go live, and I will be posting a "Composition Basics" right after (still before the DO). If there's still time I hope to post a basic filter lesson.

Also remember that we're gonna spend a lot of time on the DO discussing all this and applying it live, in the field.

If there's anything specific you guys want me to cover before we go please let me know.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #102 on: December 12, 2013, 06:42:16 PM »
If there's anything specific you guys want me to cover before we go please let me know.
Would love to here critiques on my Banff photos, composition, how they might be better if I leave my Auto comfort zone, etc. 
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #103 on: December 12, 2013, 06:45:37 PM »
Would love to here critiques on my Banff photos, composition, how they might be better if I leave my Auto comfort zone, etc.

Sounds good. I'll try to tackle that over the weekend.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #104 on: December 12, 2013, 06:45:54 PM »
4 seats remain on the 10am LGA-CLE flight...grab 'em folks!
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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #105 on: December 12, 2013, 06:53:41 PM »
I thought we settled on the 8:05 :o?
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Offline Dan

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #106 on: December 12, 2013, 06:54:54 PM »
I thought we settled on the 8:05 :o?
In case people want to make a 2nd shift :)

Can even hang around for a couple hours shooting some planes.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2013, 06:58:36 PM by Dan »
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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #107 on: December 12, 2013, 06:56:25 PM »
In case people want to make a 2nd shift :)

Can even hang around for a couple hours shooting some planes.

Now that makes more sense :D.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #108 on: December 12, 2013, 06:59:28 PM »
Now that makes more sense :D.
http://www.opshots.net/spotting-guides/kcle-cleveland-hopkins-internationa-spotting-guide/

Surprised more people don't have an interest in this DO, I'm really looking forward.
Now have 3 batteries for my Nex :D

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Offline alpicone

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #109 on: December 12, 2013, 07:10:11 PM »
Now have 3 batteries for my Nex :D

I guess I should get a couple more batteries for my camera. I only have 1  :(

Or maybe I will bring two cameras  ;)

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #110 on: December 12, 2013, 07:11:47 PM »
4 seats remain on the 10am LGA-CLE flight...grab 'em folks!

I thought we settled on the 8:05 :o?

I guess I should cancel the reservation I have on 10am which will make 5 seats available.

Offline Dan

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #111 on: December 12, 2013, 07:12:13 PM »
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #112 on: December 12, 2013, 08:47:40 PM »
I guess I should get a couple more batteries for my camera. I only have 1  :(

Or maybe I will bring two cameras  ;)

I guess now's as good a time as any to get started on a packing list ;)

Camera gear (see below if you don't have everything)

Required:
- Camera
- Wide-angle lens (18-55, 16-50, 24-70, etc.)
- Enough memory cards (at least 16gb, the more the merrier)
- Camera bag (backpack or sling would be easiest to carry)
- Tripod (doesn't have to be anything fancy; so long as it supports your camera/lens combo and extends to a comfortable height it'll be fine)
- Spare camera battery (absolutely vital. Batteries don't last long in the cold)
- Battery charger

Optional:
- Second camera (just in case, or for a specific reason. I'm bringing my GoPro).
- Longer (telephoto) lens
- Other lenses (macro, fast primes, etc.)
- Circular polarizer filter for your wide lens (the filters should really be required, but I assume not everyone has them - see below)
- Neutral density filter (either variable, or a 2/3 stop and a 8/10 stop)
- Graduated neutral density filter (soft, 2/3 stops)
- Another spare battery (pretty much required for mirrorless and P&Ss - their batteries don't last nearly as long at DLSR ones.)
- A way to carry your tripod (either built-in. On your camera bag, or a shoulder strap or similar. Will make your life easier.)

I know that some (all?) of you don't have everything in this list. Some things are a good idea to get anyway, so you may as we'll get them now (like a tripod or spare battery). Others (like filters or tripod straps) may not be very high on your shopping list. In that case, give me your camera info and I'll try to bring the stuff along. I could probably bring a tripod or two, filters, straps, batteries, and who knows what else. I'll need your camera and lens models (I know they're buried somewhere in this thread, but send them to me anyways ;)), and what you're missing.

I'm sure I forgot some things; I'll update this list as I (or anyone else) remembers them.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2013, 08:51:17 PM by Something Fishy »
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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #113 on: December 12, 2013, 08:49:36 PM »
Should I buy that Costco Tripod?
Any better options from Amazon?
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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #114 on: December 12, 2013, 10:42:09 PM »
Should I buy that Costco Tripod?
Any better options from Amazon?

The Costco one seems nice. There are many others on Amazon but nothing jumped out at me for being better or different than the one from Costco.
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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #115 on: December 13, 2013, 12:09:39 AM »
The Costco one seems nice. There are many others on Amazon but nothing jumped out at me for being better or different than the one from Costco.
I haven't tested my costco tripod yet, but just from taking it out of the box and holding it it feels more solid than I was expecting.
I haven't fully extended it or attached my camera yet, I'm going to try and get to that tonight.
ETA: It comes with a carry "case" with a (rather small) shoulder strap.


I have the T3i with the kit 18-55 lens and I'll probably get the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM before the trip.
How much should I expect these filters to set me back? Are there any particular ones you would recommend?
I'm capable enough to figure out that my filter size is 58mm, beyond that I'm lost :)

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #116 on: December 13, 2013, 12:33:23 AM »
I haven't tested my costco tripod yet, but just from taking it out of the box and holding it it feels more solid than I was expecting.
I haven't fully extended it or attached my camera yet, I'm going to try and get to that tonight.


I have the T3i with the kit 18-55 lens and I'll probably get the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM before the trip.
How much should I expect these filters to set me back? Are there any particular ones you would recommend?
I'm capable enough to figure out that my filter size is 58mm, beyond that I'm lost :)

For your lenses you could get away with Tiffen. A CP (circular polarizer) should run you about $20, while a basic 3-stop ND would be around $12.

Hoya filters will be multi-coated, eliminating some glare and offering better light transmission, but are obviously more expensive. You'd pay ~$35 and $21 for a CP and ND, respectively.
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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #117 on: December 13, 2013, 01:02:33 AM »
For your lenses you could get away with Tiffen. A CP (circular polarizer) should run you about $20, while a basic 3-stop ND would be around $12.

Hoya filters will be multi-coated, eliminating some glare and offering better light transmission, but are obviously more expensive. You'd pay ~$35 and $21 for a CP and ND, respectively.
Thanks!

CP seems straightforward enough. ND has way to many types and options going on, it's making my head spin, I'll have to get back to this after shabbos...

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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #118 on: December 13, 2013, 01:34:05 AM »
Thanks!

CP seems straightforward enough. ND has way to many types and options going on, it's making my head spin, I'll have to get back to this after shabbos...

Nah, it's quite simple actually once you know what everything means.

There are two things to know which will enable you to sort everything out: type and strength.

There are three types:
- Solid ND is completely dark and even all across, and comes in a fixed strength.
- Vari ND (also called Fader) is like a solid one, but you could vary the strength.
- Graduated ND (also called ND Grad) is half ND and half clear. (These come in hard and soft transition versions, as we'll as 'sunset' ones, which only have a dark strip in the middle.)

Strength:
This is how strong the filter is, how much light it blocks. There are three ways to describe this strength, and this fact contributes most to the general confusion.
- Stops: This is the simplest way of measuring an ND filter. Each stop of filter halves the light coming into the lens. Hence a 1-stop filter will halve the light, doubling your shutter speed. A 2-stop will quarter your light, quadrupling your shutter speed. And so on.
- ND Factor: This is not based so much on logic as it is on math. Basically every stop is considered 0.3. Hence a 1-stop will be called a 0.3 ND, a 3-stop will be 0.9, and a 9-stop will be 2.7. Basically if you decide the ND factor by .3 you'd have your strength in stops.
- X rating: Again, not very sensical.  In this scheme, 2x means 1-stop, 4x means 2-stop, and so on. But it's nearly impossible to use, since at one point it all goes to pieces. For example, a 9-stop, instead of being a 1024x, is actually called 400x. Thanks fully this meaning convention is very rarely seen without any of the others, so you should never have to figure stuff out just by this.

To further confuse things, sometimes you'd see the 0.3 scheme being referred to as the ND factor, and sometimes it'll be the 2x scheme. ::)

So for example, if you have a 1-stop filter your shutter speed will change from 1/500 to 1/250. With a 3-stop, it'll go down to 1/60. With a 10-stop, you'd be all the way down to 2 seconds.

A solid ND could come in any size from 1 to 12 stops, a grad is usually only 1 to 4 stops, while faders allow you to change the strength, usually 2-8 or 2-10 stops.
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Re: Photography Lesson DO
« Reply #119 on: December 13, 2013, 07:23:12 AM »
I wish I could come :(