david richhart

Regardless of how many stops the IS lens gives, I would use a tripod.

An old porn photographer's trick... the first picture you take is the model holding up the signed release form. Then proof is in the portfolio with the rest of your photographs of that model. <p>

It used to be a good way of proving you were trying to follow the law, but now, with the ease of altering images digitally I don't know if it would hold up in court.

I dont use a vest for weddings, but its handy as hell around the studio. Pockets for a pipe, lighter, matches, tobacco pouch, pens, drugstore glasses, notes to myself, etc. And even a pocket to keep my lens cap where I can easily find it, if I remember to put it there!

In past years, it was common for some of the better glasses to have bubbles. Some glasses with highly desirable optical properties couldn't be heated to a high enough temperate to become fully fluid so that bubbles would naturally escape. At one time bubbles were even viewed by some as a mark of quality. Now glass technology has advanced, and sometimes platinum crucibles are used, so bubbles are no more. One or a few small bubbles will have negligible effect on your images.

"I've been working on a friends images ... " <p>

That was your mistake. Don't deal with friends. Don't deal with relatives. When you deal with strangers you will have an agreement signed before any work begins. Things go smoother, you don't lose friends, and the family holiday dinner table is a much happier place.

Nice website Doug. A few years ago I had a chance to see an Edward Weston show at the Dayton Art Institute, and they had about 10 chromes 8X10 that Weston made in the 40s or early 50s NICE STUFF. <p>

Joshua, if you want to impress someone with large chromes, start here <p>

<A HREF="http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/f?fsaall:20:./temp/~ammem_bgcd:">THE PRETTY PICTURES</A> <p>

It's the library of congress collection. The uncompressed TIFF photos will knock your socks off.

I hope that linking photonet to youtube is not against policy, and I hope the

page I am linking to is not in any violation of copyrights. <p>

The videos posted <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?

user=Cybelephotography&p=r">HERE</A> are extremely well done. For those new to

photographic history, they are a wonderful introduction to those who came

before. <p>

The usual disclaimer applies here. I am in no way connected with youtube,

Cyberphotography, or any of the photographers or subjects appearing on the

website. I appologize in advance if watching the videos causes you to put-off

what you should be doing.

It's been a long time since I tried the html tags, so here we go. Pardon me if I don't get it right. BTW, the Rob Mitchel videos are very good info for beginners. <p>

<A HREF="http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/760_photography-tips-techniques.htm ">

Joey Gunz</A> <p>

<A HREF="http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/2524_photo-shoots.htm">Rob Mitchel</A>

From a found 5X7 glass plate negative<div></div>

.<div></div>

Here are a couple videos you can check out with some interesting beginner info... Joey Gunz is a real treat. He almost sounds like an Eddie Murphy skit on Saturday Night Live... <p>

http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/760_photography-tips-techniques.htm <p>

Rob Mitchel also gives some good basic info in his videos... <p>

http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/2524_photo-shoots.htm

I know that it is possible because I have several 5x7 glass plates of the same image... <p>

More than likely the copying would have been done by taking a photograph of a finished photograph. Making an exposure of a negative plate would result in a positive plate

One more thought... when I look into the viewfinder it is just too small to see everything. There are a lot of surprises when I first download the enlarged image to my computer screen. <p>

It is definitely nothing Like using a large format camera and contemplating a composition on the 8X10 ground glass with a loupe... <p>

I generally might take dozens of 35mm pictures in the time it would take me to do 1 picture with the 8X10.

Wow Forrest... I reread your post and I see you are in Kentucky, just a little south of me in Ohio. I know what you mean about no snow and lots of dreary rainy days... I hope you are surviving the tornados of the past week... and last night!

Mr Gagnon has a wonderfully simple and easily navigated website. Great photagraphs also.

I vote Pentax. Good cameras, good glass, good prices. <p>

Like Ed said earlier, you don't use the AAs all of the time. Its just handy to be able to run into an all night gas station, if necessary, at 3 AM, and grab some AAs so you can shoot a picture of the flying saucer that just landed with Elvis waving out the window. <p>

Why can't you shoot outside? We have all seen the "snow bunny" shots over the years. It might just make your photographs, and models, stand out from the crowd. When judges have to sort through a large stack of photographs it can get boring. You need something differrent that will encourage them take a second look at your work.

Get the Wein Safe-Sync hotshoe adaptor... Then you can use your onboard flash, a radio xmitter, and a PC sync cord. All 3 at the same time and you are voltage protected. Cost about $50 US.

With practice the technical aspects of taking a photograph become almost automatic. That allows you to concentrate more on the aesthetic. <p>

As Hector said earlier... with practice you begin to get a higher % of technically good photos and then your expectations start to rise. <p> After over 40 years of practice, I can shoot a roll of 36 and have a very good % of very usable negatives that will satisfy the customer. But I am my harshest critic, and I still consider 1 or 2 good photos per roll a good average. <p>

The truly "GREAT" photographs are a rare thing indeed

I recently bought my first slr digital camera. Starting with no photography experience, and using only the camera's instruction manual to help figure things out, would have been a terribly long and unhappy experience. <p>

Seeing my first digital pictures on the computer screen was fun, but doesn't compare to the magic of unwinding and seeing the images on my first roll of just developed and still wet Tri-X film. That was nearly 40 years ago.

Lincoln who? I know a lot of Lincolns.

If you want creepy read a few of his poems

My biggest complaint with the *istD concerning size is when I try to get my fat fingers in to remove the CF memory card... That is a real pain.

Andrew... the secret is learning to pre-focus...

One thing I forgot to mention in my previous post. Unlike many sellers, I am willing to ship internationally, and I have never had any problems. I have received many kind emails from overseas photographers who are grateful for the opportunity to buy equipment that would otherwise be unavailable to them. They are willing to pay outrageous shipping prices. <p>

 

Who knows, Maybe I am giving the next Cartier-Bresson or Lartigue a chance ?