Quake3World

I wouldn't call the 1Ds Mk III cheap though. That's as good as Canon makes for the pro photographer isn't it? The next body I get will be a 5D Mark II I think - when I finish my national boards I'll be getting a $5000/year stipend for 10 years and think that the Mk II and a couple lenses might be a gift to myself for putting up with over a year of hoop jumping bullshit that goes with any sort of professional advancement.

DB - regarding sharpness - I know that I bumped the sharpness slider up too high on a few - I've just been experimenting with the different settings trying to figure out what I like. Many of the shots here are examples of that learning process so I appreciate the feedback.

there's two types. the 1d and the 1ds and about 2.5k difference.

sharpening is very subjective but one of the warning signs to lookout for is halos on edges. like the dark lines on the twigs.

i normally use x2 or x3

amount 25%
radius 0.8 px
threshold 0 levels

this works very well with my 5d and was great with my old 20d.

but like i said, everyone has their own way.

Here are some macro 'attempts' - I wish taking good macro was as easy as putting on the lens and shooting a close up shot. Form, I really see now what the benefit of focus stacking would be.

First, a couple kidney stones - one smooth and one not so smooth.
Sort of gross.





A photo of the stigma at the tip of the pistil from one of the lilies in the garden.
Was kind of a pain to get just that part in focus. There's been no thought into
effective processing of this image, right now I'm more concerned with learning the lens.

My mother wanted a picture of a golfball for a birthday card for my dad - here's an early attempt.

ey maybe u can ps hisage number on there!

tnf, put that ball in some grass and do the same. Would be cooler...

Well, I tried an insect shot - but it isn't a good one - I hate bugs and these things don't stay still very long. I wasn't able to get very close because of that and because the riverbank was completely swarming with them - focus isn't the best. A pathetic effort compared to the bug shots form does. I am even more impressed with his insect shots after getting this macro lens.








And a bit of waxing gibbous moon from June 30.

what settings did you use for the moon shot?

exif

Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D
Image Date: 2009:06:30 20:42:27
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 500.0mm
CCD Width: 3.99mm
Exposure Time: 0.0013 s (1/800)
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO equiv: 400
White Balance: Auto
Exposure Mode: Manual

ok i can do all that except the 500mm, which is kind of important

You can do decent stuff at 200mm too with the moon.

here's a 200mm shot, not at full resolution.

Doombrain wrote: I'm guessing it's a remark built of the back of the job topic intended to back up the claims of high earning manufacturing line engineer.

I'd love to get into it again with you DB, because I know I ruffle your feathers, but I will refrain and be a nice guy. Fact is what tnf asked was a "WANT" list. Sure we all want better gear, and if I said the wrong "Ghost" model off the cuff, sue me as I don't actually have them all memorized.

I recall at a time I started posting macro photos and you said, about as good as any idiot with a macro. Truth is, it really ain't that easy. We macro photographers don't just point and shoot and get "Great" shots as you would like to believe.

And as per the comment from the quote, you could not be farther from wrong. Goofup makes nothing and contributes about the same to this forum and life other than to let us know how the moons going to be bombed and how 9-11 was so wrong on so many levels, and like him I actually believe it was all the government and Bush, but that would be saying I'm giving him leeway, yet he lives on someone else's coat tails. Whatever works.............(refraining from a loser comment)

So anyway.....many are liking the super close up shots I take and shearing. That's one thing about taking a good shot. To hear or read, "Good Capture."

If I did it for a living then it would not be "Fun" anymore. Then it would be like a job. If I make a few bucks from it then great. At least I'm doing what I want to do when I do it.

If you want me to stop posting my photos or giving advise, just say so, and I wont post in this thread again.

tnf, is it possible you could post a full rez version of those moon pics?

Stu - I'll look at them and see which one is sharpest in full res and send you a link.

Hiked a bit further down the river this morning and found this nice little spot -



A circular polarizer gives those nice blues.

the best part about that river is geoff isn't in it

Found a powerline support where someone had put a metal bucket with holes drilled in the bottom of it at the very top to help nesting osprey. There was a pair living in there and bringing sticks back to it, but they were having a bitch of a time getting them set up right and each time one stick would be dropped off, it or another would fall down, making all sorts of noise as it bounced and clanged off the metallic support - the birds would both sit there with their heads sticking over the side of the bucket looking down at their failure, then the male would head off and bring back another stick.


Unfortunately the only angle I could get a shot with had them really backlit, so it was tough to get a lot of detail in the birds themselves for many shots.

Tonight's moon -



An attempt at using photostitch. You can easily see the seams as I didn't get the sky exposed just right in each shot as I was moving towards the sun. But you can see the full riverbend - lots of bird activity around here.




Delivering more sticks to the bucket.

Your moon shots are tops!



here's some from yesterday








Rest are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/28767875@N ... 805831499/

not all were uploaded

I really like that middle one. Those look like you've gotten a lot better at exposure. Good shots.

Found some good nesting sites today - young osprey in the nest with a protective parent, there were young heron as well, but no angle to get them into the picture.

^ nice

I thought this staredown between mother and child was similar to what I see with people who have 2 year olds that decide to give their parents a 'fuck off' stare while doing something they aren't supposed to.

TNF, what's your colour space set to?