jerry_cargill

Yes, sacrifice an old roll of film for practicing purposes.

<p>So Dan do you recommend the Dynalite you left a link for, or the Profoto B! for a small studio? </p>

<p>Hello,<br> I would like to upgrade my current Genesis 400 system (I have two). The heads are stripped and no longer hold a softbox at a particular angle longer than a few minutes, they're only good for grids and umbrellas at this point. I have a pretty small studio, about the size of a two-car garage. I don't want to overpower myself should I need to open up a lens all the way.<br> I was looking at Profotos in particular, and could spend up to $1500. I have been looking at some used sets of monos as well as packs. I admit I'm a bit dizzy from the choices. I don't think any profotos out there are bad... but my concern, like I said, is to get a set that is better than my current set, which I can dial down pretty low for a small space. I also like the idea of upgrading into the pro realm. <br> Can anyone recommend some solutions? I don't have my heart set on Profotos, its just a brand that I have experience with. I have also used Speedotron Black in a small studio space and found that I could not really open up greater than f5.6 even with a softbox. </p> <p>Thank you.</p>

<p>Parvv some clothing stains may be temporary, or permanent but I still PS them out.</p>

<p>Jeff I see your point, and it's a good one. I find the blurry waterfall photos cliche, and I think they've been cliche for decades. Maybe what I am seeing here is the formation of a new cliche in (portrait) photography. Maybe what makes me uncomfortable is that it seems to me that the urge to iron out all of the supposed imperfections also erase the subtle characteristics that make us differentiated human beings. I find myself siding with Bernard because in my limited experience with portraits, I only eliminate what is temporary: pimples, odd hairs, cold sores, stains on clothes, etc. The irregularity of human beings is one of the charms that I enjoy in the appearance of human beings. <br> Furthermore, texture is a powerful element of photography, and when you iron it out with android-making, something critical is lost. But I don't deny anyone to say this is an artform, it is certainly an artform.</p>

<p>Craigslist gigs is good for that. I have found many good models there, mostly amateur.</p>

<p>I apologize in advance if this is a newbie question, but I am a newb...sort of. I shot film, mostly fine art, since 1985 and last few years I've been selling very little if any fine art at all, but am making some good extra money doing portraits, so I've been studying a lot of professional and not-so-professional work. I have been looking especially on Model Mayhem, which seems to cover the entire range of skill and creativity. I especially find Photo of the Day...interesting.<br> So when did retouchers start turning models into androids? What is the software that does this? Sometimes I look at a photograph and I think: 'this might no longer be a photograph; it's now something else, like a painting perhaps'. <br> What is going on here?<br> Thanks,<br> Jerry </p>

<p>Since Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can appropriate and sell our photos without notice or compensation, I feel very uncomfortable posting valued photos there. Is twitter safe for photographers? Or is there another better (free) option?</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>Jerry </p>

<p>Thanks for your replies, but even when I push halfway down and manually focus, the AF still overrides my choice of focal point while in MF. I cannot get it to take an out of focus photo, as the AF just takes over. I really was hoping that I would not have to make an issue out of this with ebay.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Hello,<br> Bought this lens used from a very reputable seller on Ebay. I just noticed that while AF works like a charm, no noise, lightning fast. However, I am unable to manually focus! I switch over to MF from AF on the lens and it keeps autofocusing. This is obviously a problem for food and portraits especially. I am an old-school film photographer and I am more comfortable with MF than AF. I should add that the body is a 60D, and that this is the first L series lens I have put on the body. I tried my EF 50mm just now and it MFs like a charm. <br> I am hoping that I am just overlooking something really obvious. At this point, I would welcome a flame-storm just to get the solution. I just got this lens new and I am right now on vacation in Greece and Italy for several weeks. I got this lens for the trip. <br> Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated. <br> Jerry</p>