aurel1

<p>Didn't know about the Adobe license working with two computers - thanks for the correction!<br>

Melanie: If you have no preconceptions about photo software try GIMP. It's legally free and not bad if you're not locked in to Adobe products. At least it can't hurt to give it a try.</p>

<p>It is illegal to use one software license on two machines unless that license specifically mentions that it can be used more than once, for instance when a big company buys a corporate license for Windows to use on all its computers. Even when that's the case the license still has strict terms attached about only using it within the group that it was purchased for so you can't legally install your corporate Windows on 10,000 of your closest friends' computers.</p>

<p>Working near dawn or dusk is good advice. Besides getting more interesting light than what you'd get during the rest of the day you'll have less dynamic range to worry about. If you decide to shoot in the shade at noon and a single ray of light finds its way through your shade expect to do some post processing to darken up the blown out highlights.</p>

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<p>But imagine the outcomes! A camera with the ease of use of 20 different distros of Linux!<br>

A tinkerer's dream, the rest of us, maybe.</p>

 

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<p>I tried to imagine... and I think I died a little bit inside. On the other hand, maybe some clever person will take the Frankencamera as a base, make it "just work" for the rest of us, sell it for substantially less than the major camera manufacturers, and make out like a bandit.</p>

<p>Another one of those recurring discussions - except for the conspiracy theory stuff, that's new. Question is, what are you gaining by challenging local authorities and standing your ground despite the strange looks you get? If this makes you happy in some strange, perverted way, then by all means, please martyr yourself for the rest of us. But this environment of mass hysteria isn't going away until a calm society with civil liberties for all becomes more profitable than war and panic. Take solace in the fact that future photographers will probably have it worse than we do. At least we can still buy cameras without a special license and take certain kinds of photos (nature & landscapes come to mind) without harassment.</p>

<p>A less cynical way of looking at it - photography is a hobby to me and many others on these forums. It entertains and relaxes me. Arguing with cops and crazy, ignorant people is neither entertaining nor relaxing so I'll go take my pictures in places where I don't have to deal with those types and politely take my leave if I happen to encounter them.</p>

<p>Central NY has many, many corn fields, streams, lakes and other natural sites. The NYS DEC is a good source of info on those as are sites like cnyhiking.com.</p>

<p>I'd suggest getting a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 until you know what else you want and why - from experience rather than from something somebody else has written. The 50/1.8 is a cheap, quality lens.<br>

Same thing with regard to the tripod. A cheap, light, reasonably tall tripod with a quick release is a fine way to start. Depending on what you prefer for your landscape photography it may be all you ever trust yourself with. Climbing/falling down the side of a cliff with a fifty pound, $400 tripod will be a very unpleasant experience. You can weigh down your tripod with your backpack and have a nice platform to work with. A remote shutter release is very helpful, but wired or wireless makes no difference.</p>

<p>My full kit <em>is</em> my walkaround: 350D, 50mm 1.8. I imagine there are plenty of other amateurs getting by on the cheap without making the distinction.</p>

Thanks for the advice so far! I do wonder sometimes if I'm shortchanging myself using Gimp, but I think there's more I can do to improve my technique behind the lens and in front of the computer before shelling out more cash for fancier tools. Gimp does let me play with curves, but I feel like I'm poking around in the dark even after reading up on it on these forums and looking at other links on the subject that have been given here. The information is just too scattered and there are just too many options for a beginner. HDR, again, seems like something to get into later after I've mastered more basic image techniques. I like some things people have done with it, but I know there must be more basic techniques to learn first. Can anyone recommend a good post processing book or a very comprehensive tutorial website that's not specific to Adobe products? I already work full time and take evening classes so a photo class isn't an option right now. This is just something I hope to develop slowly in my free time. Thanks again!

I've seen many photographers create photos that are sharp and vivid, yet don't show any graininess or distortion

that I can see. Here's a link to one example: http://www.photo.net/photo/7359035&size=md. When I try

to create vivid colors they seem to look unnatural or else not as vivid as I recall them being. For examples,

I've uploaded two of my photos. The colors in my bird photo just don't pop the way they did that morning. I got

the colors to look alright in the Oneida Lake photo, but there's one big cloud on the mid right side that seems

overly warm and I can't get it looking right without the rest of the image losing its punch. Resizing photos for

use on the net also makes them lose that silky smooth appearance I've seen in so many photos on here, including

the one I gave above as an example. How do you resize/sharpen and not get those little jaggies and other tiny

imperfections? I'm using Canon's DPP and the Gimp to process my photos.

The easiest solution is for everyone to take up nature photography. Trees won't come at you wielding shotguns.

I don't think it should be any different for crop or full frame cameras. You can use all full frame lenses on your crop camera anyway. It's only the extreme wide end that suffers any and if you can spend the kind of money needed for a quality extreme wide angle lens you can probably spend the money for a full frame camera too.

No major spending here either. I hope to get a Nikon -> EOS adapter to take advantage of a friend's collection of

old Nikon lenses, but that's about as much as I can spare right now. And if I can't spend that either then my 50

mm is 'good enough' and I'll keep enjoying doing what I do.

I was looking around for a good first tripod to buy to support my Digital Rebel XT for low light shots. The only

lens I've got is the 50mm f/1.8 II - not a heavy lens. After looking around the forums I was a bit disappointed

that I'd have to set myself back $100+ to get a 'decent' tripod. Then I saw a dirt cheap no-name tripod on

meritline.com for $15 (with free shipping) and got it almost immediately, ignoring the little voice in the back

of my head telling me this was a bad idea.

 

So what's it like? The advertised height is 53"... with the middle piece cranked all the way up. Oh well. I have

to bend over to compose my shots, but I could use the exercise anyway. It has collapsible legs with sturdy

latches, a 3-way adjustable head, and even a quick-release. It came with a nice canvas bag that's actually useful

because the tripod doesn't feel any heavier than 5 lbs. It's rock solid when I attach the camera and even lets me

flip the camera for vertical (portrait) shots.

 

With all the advice that you've got to buy a name-brand, expensive tripod I thought I'd just mention my own

experience. I'll probably have to buy a new tripod within 5 years, but by then I'll probably be able to afford

it. For what I paid it will have cost me less than a penny a day to own this tripod and it meant that I'm out

shooting dawns and sunsets months before I could have otherwise. What do others think? Any similar experiences

out there?

I did way too much camera research and finally my brain exploded. I'm not sure what happened next, but now I have a Canon.

If he's genuinely interested in photography I'd say get him the 30D, give him about 10 minutes worth of instruction, and let him shoot to his heart's content. A DSLR is a great camera because he won't have to worry about developing pictures, which is expensive and takes too long, but it lets him grow with more features than a P&S. Don't bore him with details after those first 10 minutes until he comes asking. He'll definitely ask for advice, especially if you get interested in what he's doing, trade stories, and make him feel comfortable and confident.

All of the cameras mentioned above are fine choices. Play around with them at a local camera shop and see which one feels best in your hand. You're not buying a camera for life at this very moment.

 

If you choose a Canon, get the 50 mm f/1.8 II lens with it. The kit lens should also be good and offers some flexibility with the zoom. Again, you're shouldn't worry about buying for life before you've even started, though the 50/1.8 is a lens you will probably keep. Save your money because if you stick with photography you'll very quickly find yourself knowing exactly what you want and lacking only in funds to buy it.