josh_miller6

My primary thought is for use taking portraits at the front of a dark church or in some

other indoor space where I want to include the big space in my shots.

 

 

I am guessing I could add a third SB to my set and still shoot it into an umbrella like my

first two and then just have that much more power. Maybe my first investment should be

a real lagit light meter rather than the in camera meter.

 

Thoughts

So I just asked another question about the SB800 and about how much power it has compared to that of a

say 400watt mono light.

 

I am wondering how many people are really using strobes. I have been getting buy using two SB800's

slaved and I am trying to decide if I want a third or if I should be buying a couple of say Alen Bees.

 

For the big jobs what are most people using?

So I am thinking about maybe investing in some mono lights or a strobe kit. At this point I have been

using SB-800's in the same manner as I would a pair of big lights. My issue is that I need more power for

big rooms, so I don't have to shoot wide open. So how much power in watts do people think I am getting

from these units? Once I have an idea of that I can think about how much more power I need to buy in my

flash units.

 

Are most people getting by with speedlight type solutions or for the big jobs do I really want to invest in

some big lights. Thinking I will probably want 2 main lights and maybe a third for hair/back (I might slave

my 800 for this). How much power do I need.

I regularly do trips of up to a week at a time with a pack and camera gear. I also do multi

day ski trips in the winter as well. I do this with just enough gear that it allows me to

shoot publishable results while maximizing my mobility. You will find lots of stuff if you

read some of Galen Rowell's writings on the subject found on his website

www.mountainlight.com

 

For me personaly I have found that a small waste pack such as the Lowepro photo runner

works well (the brand is really not important). Rather than attaching it the normal way I

have rigged some short straps that attach from my sholder straps of my Pack. This takes

the weight off while allowing me fast access throughout the day. In this bag I carry a DSLR

and a small zoom 18-70 (quality is as good as a pro lens as long as you stop it down). I

often will also take a 70-300ED if I think I need the length. I carry only filters I would use

while shooting with my pack on ie. Polarizer.

 

 

I then carry all the rest of my stuff in my pack (a large top brand internal frame

backpacking pack). I use my GND's mainly when I am stopped and focused on

photography.

You have to take a tripod or it is a waste of time to carry all your gear. I recently bought a

small Gitzo carbon fiber one that weighs in at 2lbs with the head. Before this I used a

small garage sale tripod that went weist high and cost $15 bucks (still 2lbs).

 

Give it a try, once you attach the bag to your back pack straps you are golden. Also if I am

going really light I may only take a small chest pack that attaches to my sholder straps.

All these ideas come from NOLS guides and of course Galen.

I have posted before on this topic, but I am running the Grand for 21 days this march. I am looking for

books or magazine articles that people have done while rafting the canyon. I am just looking for

specific places that I want to make sure we stop and shoot.

Any advice

I would guess you are on your trip right now, but let me know when you are back. I would

love to hear how it goes and if you have any great ideas for my issues regarding batteries and

such.

Looks like I am going to have the chance to do some arial work around Tahoe this comming week. The

plan is to shoot the fall colors and the lake together. I have read all the common stuff about shooting with

manual lenses if you have them and shooting focused on infinity. Don't touch the plane...

 

My question is what time of day is best. It would seem that normal "golden" light might not be what I

need. Though I would love to shoot early light is this going to be to dark? And would I have better

contrast once the sun is higher assuming I am using a polarizer?

 

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

I recently was asked to shoot photos of small invertabrates for a upcoming scince resource book. The

only problem is that don't know how to get good shots out of a microscope. I have a nikon 55mm manual

Macro and PK-3 27.5mm extension tube. I have been using this combo on my D70 without the meter

successfuly for some time.

 

How do I attach the lens to a microscope. Or is there some other solution to this problem.

When are you doing the trip? I would love to hear how it goes. I have somewhat worked

out the card storage issue. I bought a 80G wolvereen FlashPro and used it this summer in

Alaska away from power. I may take two of these (one as a backup of the first). I can get

about 12G uploaded on a single batt, bats are about 15 each so I would have to buy 10 of

them? Solar doesn't seem to very cost effective either. I don't have it all worked out yet.

 

I think I may just get a P&S for on the boat shots that way dealing with big gear and or

storage is not an issue. Was planning on taking two bodies in two different 1500 cases

on two different boats with my lenses split between each box. Everything from wide angle

to 300 F4 and 1.4, 2x macro, multiple flashes... I am planing on shooting for an article

while in the canyon.

My real issue is getting the final OK for 3 weeks off from work which has yet to be

secured.

How long would you recomend? is 400 enough?

There is a strong chance I will be doing a 3 week private trip down the Grand Canyon this March. I am

starting to look into sometype of waterproof set up. The trip will most likely lead to several articles and

photo sales so I need to be very productive while on the rafts as well. I was originally planning on buying/

renting a housing for a D200, but with the starting price of about 1500 I was wondering if anyone had

other thoughts. A good waterproof point and shoot that has a high frame rate and no shutter lag to use

only while actually running the rapid is a possable option. Any advice, from other serious photographer/

rafters.

I forgot to say... After you visit Yosemite valley, drive Tioga pass (spend a few days at Toulimine then go down the Eastern Sierra toward Bishop. Lots of great stuff their as well. Whitney, Alabama hills, Mono Lake. Get on it MAN!

With out a doubt to Yosemite! I have been all these places, and the one that stopped me in my tracks (or car) was the Valley. Off course their will be thousands of people, but hey they all came for the same reason (to see the amazing place). After a little while in the valley head up to Toulimine (the high country) it is not as packed and great photos (less done).

 

Yosemite NP is the most amzing place on earth! Or at least in the lower 48

Get a lowpro Orian AW bag. It comes with a backpack that is detachable, the camera part

is both fanny pack or over the sholder. Don't waste your time with sling bags all pro's who

used sholder bags have back damage from it. The Orian will take all you gear plus filters

and you will have a little room to grow.

So I started looking at smugmug and simplephoto. So with smugmug after you do any

post processing you upload your images (JPEG's I would assume) to their website. Is that

it? Then your clients can just visit a specific web address that you are given from the

company. After clients place all prints into their basket and check out, you recive a check

at the end of the month. Thats it? you never have to deal with the printing stuff again?

How much do you get for a $22 5x7 print?

 

Simplephoto you upload your stuff and their service just takes the order for you and then

you deal with your personal lab. What cut do they take from it?

I am looking to start doing web image viewing/ordering. I feel like along with a proof album given to

the B/G that I could really boost my sales mainly to distant friends and fam. I am sure there are a few

of you out there who set up some type of web viewing. Do you just run the Adobe Bridge web program

with your final folder? How do you then post this? Is their a specific site set up for this process or do I

need to some how include it on my personal web site?

Josh

I am using a D200 with this set up. Anyone have any advice to tell if this converter is a

Lemon? Should I return it? The shots I was doing were wide open at at lest 1/600 so I feel

like camera shake should be gone.

So I just bought a TC-301 for my Nikon 300 F4 AF (Non S version). I have the 1.4 for

years and always had good results almost as good and the 300 strait. I just bought the 2x

for a cheep step up unill I can afford $4000 on a biger lens. I was amazed at the lack of

quality from the 2x. I shot off a tripod at F8 (Wide open) between 600-1000 shutter.

Everything came out so soft that I couldn't really even bring it back with unsharp mask. I

was shooting at iso 400 from the D200. From what it looks like it is not due to camera

vibration, but rather just a general lack of sharpness. Is this normal or did I buy a bad 2x?

 

I know people have good (not amazing) results using the same 2x on a 500 F/4 P all the

time. Does it not work well on a 300 F4?

I have been traveling to Costa Rica and Panama at least once a year for the last 4-5 years.

I always carry all my pro gear. This latest trip I carried digital for the first time. On some

trips I have taken an entire photo backpack, while other trips I take a sholder bag. The big

think is you just can't set your gear down anywere. San Jose is the worst place for theft in

the country. I personaly don't even bring my gear out while in the city. I usually am

shooting people and wildlife but never in San Jose. Nearly everyone I know who has done

lots of traveling in Costa Rica has been robed in San Jose.

 

Just be smart, don't have your gear on you at night or in bad areas of town. Carry a

pocket full of small cash to through on the ground if someone holds you up. As soon as

they stop to pick it up you turn and run (with your main cash and passport in a neck pack).

 

You will absolutely love CR though. I personaly don't feel like it is any more dangerious

than visiting the US. There are places in San Francisco you wouldn't go either.

Have a great time You will love it. Don't stress about it, just inusere it!

Yea so I just recently bought the Pro Trekker AW backpack (I replaced a nature trekker

because it was too small). The bag is great for taking everything in one place. I personaly

carry two bodies, 80-200, 300, two flashes, 105 macro, and a couple of other lenses

carries them like a dream (at least as much as that much gear can be carried like a dream).

I would say if you are planning on taking everything somewhere thats the bag for you. I

am a backpack guide and of all the bags out their this carries closest to my high end

internal frame mountaineering pack. Just dont think that you are going to carry all that

crap very far into the field, thats when you take the day pack and a couple of smaller

lenses. (big guns for close, small consumver versions for long overnight trips)

good luck

Yea I had heard that you hire the water taxi and they will carry Kayaks if you rent them in

town. I wasn't planning on paddling all the way to these cabins, but I would like to use

them once at the cabin to travel and look for wildlife to shoot. I figure I could probably

get close enough with a 300 f4 with a 2x on it (840 f8) that is hand hold able as long as

the light is good!

I am going to be spend a good chunk of time in the Backcountry of Alaska this summer

doing wildlife and Landscape work and I need a effective storage device. I know there are

lots of these devices on the market, but I need something that runs on regular batteries

(AA most likely). I know many of these devices need to be plugged in to recharge them,

but I need to be away from power for as much as 2 weeks at a time.

 

I am also unsure if I really need one with a image viewing screen (would rather save the

money). I can review images on my camera if needed prior to storage, and then once I

transfer them to the computer I can do serious editing. I would figure something in the

40-60gig range is most likely enough for at least the next few years. Ideas?

 

thanks

I have also heard about some Forst Service cabins in the General Seward area that You can

get dropped off at (with a Kayak) and spend a few days in one area all alone. Any one

know anything about his?

So I am realizing that a Solar panel is not going to meet my needs/cost. We are planning

on spending a few days at Wonderlake I think the plan will just be to head into Kantishna

and pay for a meal/charge.

 

I am still interested in any type of large capacity battery I could charge my camera

batteries from?

 

Also I think I may want to buy a portable storge device. Something that idealy will take AA

batteries for longer trips planned to Tibet next year. Any thoughts?

I am trying to decide if it is better to go to coast first or Denali first. Later in the season in

Denali maybe a little more color in the tundra & earlyer on the coast better chance for

bears fishing and whales? I know I only have three weeks, but I would love to find out if

doing one or the other first would be more photographicly productive?

josh