awaraagard

<p>Andre Bazin, French film theorist, said that photography saves time from its proper corruption. To my understanding, nothing can be more spiteful than to allow an epoch to pass without credible visual references. Any deliberate apathy makes existing chronological and referential data gravely treacherous and untrustworthy. Question of reliability of modern day research since the beginning of 20^th century took several exciting twists with novel insight and intriguing exploration of world cultures through the lens of a camera. This discovery of photographic evidence also unleashed a new perspective on modern history. A photograph is a substitute for seeing the real thing; so availability of images related to themes in history strengthened specificity of research. Twentieth Century academics extended reliance on what we now call ‘a culture of visual memory. It is just one aspect of why photography is so important.</p>

<p>I find "The Photographic Portrait" by Robin Gillanders very helpful. But shooting portraits without understanding human character and face aspects doesn't takes anyone too far. That's where we need to probe deep into what Yosuf Karsh or Annie Liebowitz or any other of that creed accomplished. You may also find FACE: The New Photographic Portrait by William A. Ewing very interesting.</p>

<p>in a chaotic world deteriorating evey minute, i do agree to a certain extent that artists concsiously imbibe such imagery! most recently i have seen a few exhibitions around various parts of the world and all i see is deterioration and decay painted and photographed! indeed images of death recklessly being displayed on media and literature and art play a pivitol tole in this growing consciousness among the artists and photographers around the globe! regards!</p>

<p>initially we all begin to tread the same road, that is, achieveing certain pre focused ends. it is only somewhere in the middle of this ART Journey, that some of realize what the whole phenomenon is all about. so some of us take less travelled roads and probe into the unknown....they become genuine artists! so the aim, CLEAR or OBSCURED is always there! I do believe that ART is DEFINITELY NOT A MARATHON, IT IS NEVER EVER ABOUT WINNING! ITS ALL ABOUT KEEP GOING! yet again, we can never be qualified enough to comment of OTHERS' JOURNEY, because whe have no idea WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT! REGARDS!</p>

<p>I don't know about your place, but here in Pakistan we have this amazing guy HAMIDI who repares and sometimes substitutes such items for a paltry amount. I had this problem with a slightly over used C330 I bought and HAMIDI did an amazing job on it. He has a lot of broken, used and repared C330, 220, 645s etc so finding or replacing parts is not a big deal for him. Regards!</p>

i've been using this lens for over a year now with Canon 60D and 40D and found it an amazing possession. it has come up extremely well for portraiture and surprisingly sharp and accurate when stopped down between f2 and f4. i have no problem with color cast or distortion. most recently i shot some portraits [extreme close ups] at f2 ans f 2.8 in very low light and i notice nothing unusual about them. great lens! regards!

i agree with Ben Quinn , but there's another very important factor. which camera you use and how much ISO it allows

you to go for acceptable image. with a camera body allowing you to work between 400 and 800 ISO, 70-200 f2.8 with

a steady grip is good enough. I've seen people using it at fashion shows and concerts with pretty good results. if you

get any chance to get closer then 24mm f1.4 L is a classic! kind regards!

well, i believe that its "ART FOR ART'S SAKE" now. one shouldn't be focused at being a Michelangelo, but instead should sincerely adhere to the artistic need and aesthetic sensibility of his/ her times. let time be the judge. regards!

there is no art without Technique and Inspiration! Afterall, you've got to learn how to do it. the trick is to get educated and keep yourself inspired. education is a never ending process. its got nothing to do with fashion or cliches. Become a master of technique and a Slave to inspiration. regards!

i agree with Brendan, it cause softer pics if on in all situations all the time. Canon states that IS function takes 1 sencond 2 get fully activated. so it depends how quickly u take the shot. in good light u can turn it off, & so on a tripod. but with caono 70-200mm f2.8 L IS, u can keep IS on all the time, even on a tripod. regards!

life itself is a visual dairy, find inspiration from life. its within ur soul. discover it. its everywhere around u. regards!

" best parts of a book are the wreckage of a writer's whole damned life ", earnest hemingway. two words are important here, WRECKAGE & DAMNED LIFE. i do believe that keeping in view hemingway's contagious optimism, one can pressume safely that what hemeant was impact of transition/ change & sadness on an artist's mind. and also an artist's sensitive reaction to what's happening around him. i don't believe that drugs dependent mind is sensitive enough to produce lasting art. troubles do give a better understanding of life and various isues and highten an artists response and drive to overcome them, developing into a hightened sensitivity which normally results in better work on part of the artist. regards!

35 f 2.8, 50 f 2.5 macro or 85 f 1.8/ 100 f2 4 details. regards!

85mm f 1.8, i say!

color saturation & sharpness matter a lot but they r not the only deciding factor. i agree that u should consider ease of use with 24-105 rather than a stop of light with 24-70. u get image stabilization with that lens & that works wonder instaed of 2.8 aperture which is not even required in many sitautions. i go 4 24-70.

1. by moving saturation slider all the way 2 the left.

2. by selecting sponge tool/ setting it 2 desaturate & adjusting value accordigly & moving it on the areas u want 2 desaturate.

3. by selecting the areas u want 2 desaturate & then moving the saturatuin slider 2 lower values.

try Dream Suit. u'll get excellent borders the way u want them. if u confine urself 2 PS only then select the area that u want 2 appear as a border. turn it into black by paint bucket or stroke. revive some film strip like parts by using history brush. then type in yellow whatever film brand u use. i hope it works. i also suggest Auto Fx graphic edges. u gonna love it. regards!

if u want 2 start with single lens then 17-40mm f4 is excellent. but if ca afford 2 spend extra bucks then i say 10-22mm & 24-105mm f4 L. both will help u enjoy ur work in exciting ways. regards!

i suggest any of the following:

1. Canon 18-55mm

2. Canon 20-35mm

3. Canon 24-85mm

4. Sigma 15-30mm

try Sigma 15-30mm, wide & wild. its a jot 2 use as much as canon 20-35mm.

100-400 is an awesome piece of lens. but i agree with chardon & crowe about IS being a disappointment in certain conditions. it's not wise 2 collect a bunch of IS lenses when u don't really need IS in most of the sitautions. regards.

although auto WB on 20D is superb, but it is no solution, just an easy escape. in tricky situations u got 2 work out settings manually. i suggest setting cutom WB. follow the method described in camera manual 4 those proceedings & u'll get perfect color tones. regards.

the best way is what Seven Stuartson suggested. regards.

sensor dust 4 sure. the dust on ur filter was cleaned up when u whiped that off. but its surely the sensor dust!

both lenses r good, but u got 2 decide which DSLR u r going 2 buy. full frame or with crop factor. still both of these r quality lenses & 4 certain situations both r a nessacity. 100mm f2 is another great option asmany fellows mention that. but if u really need quality & r not concerned about budget, then 85mm f 1.2 is a super buy. the rendering of light & DOF is mind blowing, which's not possible with any other lens of its creed. regards.

well, i've been fortunate 2 experience working with some photojournalists lately. the scene was crowded & 2 of them were using sigma 12-24mm & 1 was working with canon 10-22mm. all had lens hood on the lenses. they were being pushed, jolted, elbowed etc etc as they tried 2 get closer 2 the political leader protesting against some amendment in the law. i acknowlegde that it was lens hood that saved their lens in really rough situation where lens glass could easliy b damaged with any contact. so, get 1 soon.