steve_robb1

Hi Everyone,

 

This photograph (if I can attach it properly!) is of a good friend of mine who

has been wonderful enough to offer to help me out with honing my portraiture

skills by sitting for me.

 

I know that she loves this picture (although it is quite small, I'm sorry I

couldn't get a larger one to attach), and I'd like to re-create the lighting as

a learning exercise for myself, and hopefully give her a few more pictures to

be proud of. My first thought is that there's two lights here, one on the

background, and one on the model, probably a snoot? However, I'm now wondering

if there isn't a third light, perhaps a fill, or large softbox lighting her,

with a tight snoot just on her face?

 

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

 

Cheers,

Steve<div></div>

Hi All,

 

A few weeks ago I was out with my Pentax 645 to finish off a roll. On the last

frame I thought to myself "You know, I've never used the multiple exposure on

this camera before", and I thought this was a good opportunity.

 

From my understanding, just turning the multi-exposire dial do that it clicks

into place will stop the film from advancing, right? Well, I did that, set up

the shot, clamped down the tripod, flicked the "ME" dial around so that it

clicked into place, compensated the exposure (was HOPING to get 8 exposures on

this frame, and was expecting to have to turn the "ME" dial before each one)

and hit the button. Once I hit the shuuter button, I heard the "ME" dial flick

back around, then heard the film advance along to the end of the roll.

 

So, I'm just curious, are you actually required to hold the "ME" dial in place

while you expose? Or is my multiple exposure dial perhaps a little dicky?

 

Thanks for your trouble eveyone.

 

Cheers,

Steve

"so I can abandon wrapping them in underpants and socks (this is usually ok at beginning of the week but not so good at the end!)"

 

 

...I can only imagine!

 

I know this is probably a pointless post, since you've already ordered you bits, but I picked up a block of foam to fit out one of bags recently. got it in a size that fits the bag perfectly, then cut out sections for all the gear I want in that bag.

I recently borrowed a friends Canon, not sure what model, but one would assume their error codes are consistent? I got "99" a couple times when my flash started lagging and I fired off before it was completely charged (I'm used to my V.283 where you can fire it off a little prematurely and it doesn't mind, was using a different third party flash in this instance). I just had to flick it off and on, and just make sure I check the flash now and then to be aware when it started lagging.

 

Don't know if that's any help to you though, but just in case it is!

I'd be interested to know how your friend goes at the craft markets Geoff. I've often toyed with the idea, but most of the craft markets around here are the more 'upper class' sort of markets, where vendors are paying hundreds to hold a stall, and all selling VERY pricey trinkets. At one market I pass through occasionally there is a guy who sells b&w prints, just 4x5's on black matting, with a little hand written blurb on each one. I remember looking at some of them and thinking they weren't THAT great, and the thought crossed my mind that I could always try my luck (since my pictures usually aren't THAT great either!)

 

A good friend of mine owns a record store, and often holds a stall at some of the more 'trash & treasure' type of markets, which also have some stalls of new items. I'm considering matting up just a dozen prints and seeing if I can tag along with him one day, just for the sake of testing the waters. At least then I can say that I've tried it, and either a) yes, this is well worth my time, some people really like what I'm doing, or b) forget this, I'd rather be in bed at 4am on a cold Sunday morning, than out making a measley $5!

 

But still... I like the idea, and I think it's a good way to get some sort of public response and see what peoples opinion is of your work.

A challenge eh? I like a good challenge!

Yeah, very nice print John. I love the stump in the middle, at first I didn't notice it, but once I did it it was a real "attention holder", almost like a hidden surprise, good job.

The other way, is to make multiple exposures with a faster shutter speed on the same frame. eg, if your meter is 1/60 @ f16, make eight exposures at 1/500 @ f16... with a tripod, of course!

Well, just thought I'd post a follow up here, just on the off chance that anyone's interested ;)

 

I sent another Email to KEH, this one to the Sales department (which makes sense to me, I thought it was od that the initial Email from the sales department recommended I contact the service department), and I got a reply the next day (dark of the world here, remember). Turns out that the Email from them to confirm my postage charges got abducted in cyberspace and never made it to my inbox, so, naturally, after not hearing from me for a fortnight, they cancelled the order.

 

The girl I've been talking to has been very helpful to say the least. She has even offered to adjust the total of my new order to reflect the saving I would have made if my last order had gone through (purchased an 'on sale' item that's no longer on sale).

 

So, at the end of the day, their great reputation still stands... to bad I can't say the same for this bundle of wires that connects us all!

 

Cheers for the support guys.

 

Steve

Yes, Inger and Fred are absolutely right, and don't be shy about asking people about their work. I am very cautious about approaching people regarding their work, or something really good they've done, because in some of the circles I move in (the non photographic ones)there is a real sense of secrecy when someone achieves something 'Great' or 'Different'. But I've learned that the people on here are wonderful! I contacted someone recently about a photo of theirs that had a 'special something' I couldn't put my finger on, but had been trying to capture myself. One quick Email to them, and they were more than happy to explain to me exactly how they went about it, without fear that I was going to 'steal their secret recipe'!

 

Good luck, I'd love to hear how you go, I think I'm in a similar position to you, my photographs are okay, but nothing I'd hang up in my living room (which is my ultimate aim).

Har... Har... someone's sure on their toes today ;)

Thankyou for all the reassuringposts guys, like I said, I don't doubt their authenticity one bit. Well, I'll zap them another Email, and if that doesn't do it, well, I guess I'll have to put the coffee pot on and stay up late to give them a call!

 

Thanks again for the reassurance, I do appreciate it.

 

Cheers,

Steve

Hi all,

 

I've heard great things from so many of you about KEH for second hand gear, and

I recently put in an order of a lens. I received their confirmation Email

saying that my order had been received and that they would Email me the total

including shipping for my approval before sending the order out, as is their

policy for international orders (I'm in Australia). However, I hadn't heard

anything more from them after three weeks, so I shot them an Email quoting the

order number, just incase it got lost somewhere along the way. That was about

a fortnight ago, I still haven't heard back from them.

 

So I'm just wondering, is this usual, or does it sound like I've slipped

through the cracks somewhere? I trust their reputation, and please don't think

I am berating them by this Email (was hesitant to even write "I am having

trouble" in the subject!) as I beleive they are a reputable dealer simply by

the number of referances I've read on PN, I'm just wondering if this is a usual

delay. If it's not, how would some of you 'prior customers' suggest I go about

contacting them, remembering that I'm on the other side of the world, and not

really keen on getting up in the middle of the night to have a chat with them

over the phone ;)

 

Thanks for any input.

 

Steve

I can tell you, Kangaroo Island won't be crowded, because it's damn cold down there at the best of times!!! I haven't been there in about 8-9 years, but it's a great place to visit. I know it's a bit of a 'cliche' shot, but the 'Remarkable Rocks' can make an amazing shot in the right light. Hope you have a great trip down there, I've been meaning to get back and spend some proper time, maybe one day...

Thanks for the response, it's good to know that I was misinformed! Thanks Gil, I'll look up that V750 too and read up on it.

 

Thanks again!

There's also another lab in St Kilda that has reasonable prices, haven't used them personally, and I can't think of their name off hand! Otherwise, Vanbar is pretty affordable too, and although I've heard some not-so-pleasant stories too, I've never had any problems with them myself. Their shop staff are generally very helpful too.

 

My only question is... well, under water camera? There's nothing down here to shoot! There's no fish left in the bay, and most of the water is murky and not very nice looking! Although, having said that, I've never scuba'd, so I wouldn't know what it's like down a little deeper.

 

Good luck though, and if you do find anything interesting down here, I'd love to hear about it (have been thinking of getting back into skin diving lately... but maybe after winter!).

Hi Everyone,

 

I've been trolling through past posts about scanner recommendations and found

lots of good info on film scanners (mostly flatbed). The Epson 4490 sounded

pretty good for my needs, until I read somewhere online that it's no good for

general document scanning... dang...

 

My situation is: My wife has returned to study, and is finding that a scanner

would be very handy to have around, so I need something that is a good general

purpose document & print scanner, as well as having the facility to scan slides

and negatives in both 35mm and 120 formats (whether that's built into the hood,

or a seperate attachment I don't know). I don't plan to send scanned films off

for print, I'd probably still get 'real' prints made from the original

negatives, but having said that, I know that once I get a few images in and

tweaked in PS, I'll want to get them printed. So while initially I thought I'd

just need something with good enough quality for monitor viewing, I guess

really I'll end up wanting for something of better quality.

 

So, does anyone have experience with a good 'general' all-round scanner? I'm

only looking to spend a few hundred $ at this stage, further down the track

when my Mrs has finished her study and we're back on two wages, then I might

look at a dedicated film scanner just for myself, but until then... compromise

is the key... as I'm sure you all know!

 

Thanks for your input, I'll look forward to researching any recommendations.

And I do sincerely appologise for yet another "Please Recommend" post, I just

couldn't find what I was after!

 

Cheers,

Steve

My first impression was the same as Craig's: "It's a picture of her armpit and her facial expression looks like she's smelling it."

 

In on eof my books on photography, there is a bit of a list of "Do's" and "Don'ts" for portrait photography (Yes I know, there aren't any "Rules" when it comes to photography, they were more like little tips, like showing a full hand of bent fingers will look like banana's, that sort of thing), one comment that I had a chuckle at at the time, but has always been in the back of my mind: "You should NEVER include an armpit in your photograph, unless you're an armpit photographer."

 

Aside from that, I agree with a little reflected light on her right side (our left) would bring her out of the shadows a bit, unless you meant for her to be in deep shadow?

I was surprised to actually see his name printed in the paper yesterday. At the time I thought the same thing "Gee, I wonder what Mr Adams would say if he read that?".

 

It was an article in the new technology section that they have in Wednesdays paper about getting your digital camera converted so it can read the full light spectrum from UV to Infrared. After a brief description of the effects after putting an IR filter on (white foliage, black skies etc) he said "The most ordinary landscape now looks like something taht has been captured by Ansel Adams himself."

 

Anyway... when I saw the title of this thread it made me think of that.

 

By the way, the few sample photo's in the article, well, they didn't quite look like any of his landscapes I've seen... but then, I haven't seen them all ;)

Hi everyone,

 

I recently gave in to my desire for a classic rangefinder style camera and

picked up a Yashica Lynx 5000. I'm yet to check it over and give it a good

clean and detail, but so far it looks good, other than a little dust in the

lens (to be expected on a 40+ year old camera?).

 

I just wanted to ask a quick question regarding the meter, does anyone know

roughly what it's angle of view is? I would have assumed it was fairly wide,

working similar to centre weighted metering, but the section in the manual on

exposure made me think. When it suggests to expose for the shadows, it shows a

very small area of the scene that they're metering off, almost as though it

were a spot meter (which I highly doubt... but you never know).

 

So does anyone know how much area the meter actually reads? When I track down

the right batteries for it I'll do some testing myself I guess.

 

Thanks in advance guys.

 

Steve.

Rubber stamps, Clone tools... hmmm, sounds like some fancy "Digital" stuff you're talking there ;)

 

I have to agree, there are a couple of streets around here that are just SO cluttered with cables I have stopped to take a few shots of them on purpose.

I remember as a kid my Dad telling me stories about HIS Father wanting to get a

good photograph of a sunset, he'd go out for drives in the early evening trying

to get the right shot, only to come back with prints of pretty good shots...

criss-crossed with power lines! (UNintentionally, mind you!).

 

I'd never really put too much thought into it until I moved to the city seven

years ago and would often frame a beautiful shot of some wonderful old house,

or church or old office building, or nice park, or river, or cloud scene, then

stop because I suddenly realised... THERE ARE POWER LINES EVERYWHERE!

 

At first I didn't notice (being a country boy and all), but now, I'm so

concioulsy aware of them, it's really bugging me! I guess on the good side,

I'm making a point of planning regular camping trips with the main aim being

photography, just to get away from the buggers!

 

Anyway... rant over... would love to hear your thoughts.

 

Cheers,

Steve

Wow! I'm still trying to find a good "Kodak Spot" near us.

Sometimes when I'm out and about just grabbing pictures in the city using BW400CN, I keep an orange filter on instead of a UV, it seems to ad an extra bit of depth to the prints that 'almost' make it feel like 'real' B&W.

 

At a friends wedding recently we were out in a bright garden afterwards, and his neice was running around in a big red overcoat, using the green filter really made her stand out and become the focus of the pictures, compared to the unfiltered shots.

Thankyou very much for the great responses guys, some very helpful information, especially about the developers. I have to admit, I don't remember exactly what chemicals I used to use, other that I'm pretty sure they were Ilford (I think I remember seeing the logo on everything). I had a rummage through my workroom last night and dug out all of my old prints that still had the negs grouped with them, so I could tell what films they were. I had a close look at them all under my big working magnifying lamp, and the FP4 looked noticably smoother than the other films (was also the only ISO125, the rest were all 400, which explains that!).

 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to refreshing my memory first hand and running a few films.

 

Thanks again for the advise. If you've got any other tips, recommendations, or other film preferances to compare with these, I'd still love to hear them.

 

Cheers,

Steve