steviewander

Thanks everyone for the great input! Yes, I do focus on the eyes

and do use a single focusing point with my EOS IV and am

aware, too, that a shallow DOF can be very flattering for a portrait.

I guess I just didn't realize HOW shallow it would be with this

lens wide open for head shots which, as one comment

mentioned above, leaves little room for error! I like very tight

portraits, so I'm usually in really close. Maybe backing up would

help?? I thought maybe camera shake at the slower shutter

speeds (I usually won't go much below 1/90 with this lens) could

be part of the problem, but the areas of the face that ARE in focus

are clear. The percentage of out of focus shots with this lens on

this trip was very high. I will need to experiment and find a

suitable f-stop, which, of course, may defeat the purpose of

buying that lens! I think the other comment above is right on too

that a faster lens doesn't solve all your problems! SO TRUE, it

just presents a new one!

Thanks everyone

Steve

Just returned from a 6-week overseas trip where I used my new

100mm f2.0 lens for the first time. I used it strictly for portraiture

when my 28-135mm IS lens wasn't fast enough. I've heard such

great reports on this lens, but 98% of all my pics came out OUT

OF FOCUS! I don't think it's the lens, rather the incredible narrow

DOF at ~f2.0. Is this lens really hard to work with?? Not sure why

almost all my portraits came out so bad. Anyone else have this

problem?

Any clues??

Thanks, Steve

Hey Cathy,

Since I've talked to you last, Ethiopia has slipped it's way into my

top 10 list. What do you think? Are you game??

Steve T.

My only concern is that you may not have a wide enough lens for

the vast interiors of some of those churches. My favorite lens is

the Canon 17-35mm (now replaced with the 16-35mm). I think

you'll find you'll need something wider than 28mm. A 81 series

warming filters may come in handy too.

Have fun!

Anyone know the tricks of using double exposures to place a full

moon in the upper corner of a photo? I would use my 100-400 IS

lens for the moon part. Any guidelines on how to expose for it??

Thanks

Everyone seems to be talking about how great Provia 100F is,

yet everyone also recognizes it's downfall (i.e. the infamous blue

cast). So why hasn't anyone tried Kodak's warmer GX instead??

To me this might be the solution. I have yet to try the GX myself,

but you can bet I will as I was totally annoyed with Provia 100F's

blue cast from my last trip. I've got 14 rolls of the stuff left over if

anyone wants them.

I haven't used either of these two films yet and was wondering

how each does on skin tones? I'm sure the GX is better than the

Velvia, but does anyone have experience with Velvia 100F on

skin tones? Is it any better than Velvia 50 (which is awful)?

Any opinions are appreciated.

I know the 550EX flash is 'made for' the EOS1V body, but I have

an old 540EZ that I bought for my A2 years ago. Would the 540EZ

perform the same on the 1V body as it does on the A2 (i.e. can I

use the flash the for my 1V)?

Thanks,

Steve

It seems that most [travel] photographers have all discovered

those special, photogenic countries. Browse anyone's travel

web-site (and we've all got 'em!) and you see the same

repertoire of countries over and over again. Here are some of the

places that come to my mind:

Guatemala, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, India, Cuba, Peru,

Cambodia (Ankor Wat, that is), Tuscany, Provence, Mexico, Bali...

Wouldn't you just love to see some photos from, say:

Haiti, Congo, Sao Tome, Paraguay, Suriname, Nicaragua,

Lesotho, Bangladesh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Finland, Latvia,

Ethiopia, or Cameroon?? : )

I had the same concerns about the security in Guatemala but

never experienced a single problem. Just use that 'gut feeling'

instinct all the time. I found the colorful villages of the highlands

to feel quite safe and relaxed. The people are so friendly, you will

soon forget the crime issue and get carried away with your

shooting. Bigger cities, of course, you need to exercise a little

more caution. In Antigua, you will feel quite safe around the main

square. I took some twilight shots of the cathedrals, etc and

never had a problem. Stay out of the cemeteries; they are

beautiful and very tempting, but there have been too many

reports of muggings there (esp Antigua).

Regarding the airport x-rays, if I remember correctly, they

hand-check my film, but I think that's up to the person at the gate.

Lately, I've just been putting my film through, it's not going to hurt

it, unless it's been X-rayed multiple times (probably > 5 times or

maybe even more).

It's tough to look inconspicuous, I know, especially with all that

expensive gear, but it's a chance you have to be willing to take.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times. I find I'm always

"sizing-up" the people approching me, behind me, etc.

I spotted a shady looking character eyeing me and my gear once

in Guanajuato, Mexico, so I ducked into a nearby bakery, and

watched him through the window. He eventually left and I

bee-lined it back to my hotel! Had I not noticed him, I'm certain he

would have made a move.

You can't hide that flashy equipment, but you can a least dress

down and keep you gear out of sight when not using it.

If you want any travel specifics, or recommendations, e-mail me.

Have a great trip, I'm envious!

Steve

Boy it's a small world. Although I haven't met Karl, we have corresponded by e-mail and he is also a friend of a friend of mine(Jim Cline) who also lives in San Diego. I met Jim in Oaxaca, Mexico last November. Do you guys know Jim too?

Cathy, don't tell me; you're in Nevada's class right? I took her workshop in June 2001 and Jim Cline has taken it as well. It was such a blast.

Maybe I'll see you in India this fall!

Steve Taylor (original poster)

I may be doing a solo trip to Rajasthan's camel festival in

Pushkar this November. Has anyone been? Any photo tips, or

travel tips in general? Thanks,

Steve

Hi Onno,

I was in Vietnam last March/April and did an overnight trip to

Halong Bay. You are right, Halong is very difficult to photograph;

you need just the right weather. I think the best weather for

photography is heavy mist/fog. Sunny days would be pleasant for

travel (and indeed all your fellow tourist will be hoping for sun!),

but will create the usual contrast problems. Anything in between

(e.g. flat gray skies) are also lousy for photos. Mist and fog will

give you that wonderful mysterious feeling as you glide through

the limestone towers.

When we were in Hanoi, it was gray and dreary, and I knew the

conditions would be the same in Halong (being so close). Sure

enough they were, and I didn't get a single good shot. Oh well, it

is still worth seeing. Hope you luck out and get that photogenic

weather!

BTW, we used Fansipan (on the south corner down from

Hanspun) and they were fine, save for the corney tour-guide

rhetoric. Hanspun was not running tours that day due to SARS (if

you can believe that!) For $32/person, we got 4 great meals

(most on the boat), a cave tour, one night one the boat and

transportation to and from Hanoi. Can't beat it.

Like you, my wife and I are independent travelers, but opted for a

one-day tour, mostly cuz I knew the weather wouldn't be

condusive for photography. Had it been, we probably would have

split off from the group the next day and stayed on (probably in

Cat Ba) to hire a private boat for more and better photos.

When your boat stops off at any of the little islands, it's worth

climbing to the top to get that "aerial view" photo. Just don't let the

boat leave without you (which almost happened to me).

Vietnam's fantastic. Hope you plan to go up to Sapa and the

northern regions; those were the best for photography - very

colorful. Don't miss the Sunday market at Bac Ha.

You can see some of my photos in my Vietnam folder

(unfortunately, none of Halong Bay).

If you need any more tips, e-mail me, as you can see, I love to

talk : )

Have a great trip,

Steve

I've always wondered what some of the contributing factors

might be that result in some of my pictures being sharp and

others being crystal-clear sharp. (Where I notice it the most is on

the eyes of portraits). I solely use AF with my 28-135mm IS as

well as the 100-400 IS. Some photos are unbelievably sharp and

others just acceptably so. Any ideas??

Please help clarify something for me. Do you get the same

results when using TTL fill flash in the Tv mode as you would if

you used the Av mode? Someone once told me that you have to

shoot in the Tv mode in order to get the proper ambient light

exposure. Is this true, or does it make no difference? My pictures

- primarily outdoor portraits - seem to come back underexposed

by at least a stop when I'm in the Tv mode. What am I doing

wrong???? Thanks

Are you talking about the on/off/Tv/Av/M/CF dial? Yes, mine broke

once and I haven't had a problem with it since I had it fixed (that

was about 2 years ago). The first time it became hard to turn -

you could feel some resistance, then it just broke loose. Not

sure what the % is, but I have a feeling it has happened to many

people.