dspindle

<p>Thanks, everyone! Appreciate the suggestions. I've fixed the gallery button and taken off the shopping cart and blog menu buttons until I'm ready for them. Next is setting up the images for sale! What an adventure creating your own website is! Thank god for Wordpress and themes, or I'd be totally and completely lost!</p>

<p>Just getting it off the ground and would love to hear your thoughts. I plan to sell prints eventually of my photographs. Has anyone heard of "Fine Art America"? They offer a $30 a year on demand shopping cart that I can link to from my website.<br>

Anyway, any suggestions or changes or ideas regarding the layout, colors etc would be appreciated. <br>

Here's a <a href="http://davespindle.com/">link</a> to my site.<br>

Thanks!<br>

Dave Spindle<br>

http://davespindle.com/</p>

<p>When I upgraded to Elements 9, I went straight to the editor.exe file and put a shortcut on my desktop. Now I go straight to the Editor. I've had several versions of Elements and have never used their Organizer. I'm quite happy using Windows Explorer. There are lots of organizing type software programs but none that actually interface with Elements that I'm aware of. I also like the Nikon software for organizing that came with my D90...but mostly I use explorer.<br>

Forget the organizer, it isn't worth getting frustrated over. However, you certainly didn't get what you paid for, so I'd complain to Adobe! I wish they'd just sell the Editor!</p>

<p>When I upgraded to Elements 9, I went straight to the editor.exe file and put a shortcut on my desktop. Now I go straight to the Editor. I've had several versions of Elements and have never used their Organizer. I'm quite happy using Windows Explorer. There are lots of organizing type software programs but none that actually interface with Elements that I'm aware of. I also like the Nikon software for organizing that came with my D90...but mostly I use explorer.<br>

Forget the organizer, it isn't worth getting frustrated over. However, you certainly didn't get what you paid for, so I'd complain to Adobe! I wish they'd just sell the Editor!</p>

<p>Thanks, Dave and B Christopher! </p>

<p>I am looking into selling some of my prints from my website. I plan to use an on line lab. To prevent customers from having to deal with custom framing, I would like the overall image size to fit standard off the shelf frame sizes, and I want a white border around the image.<br>

I want to have a 5x7 with a white border resulting in an overall image for printing of 8x10. Or, an 8x10 with a white border resulting in an overall image for printing of 11x14.<br>

I use a Nikon D90 and Elements 9. <br>

Do any of you use this technique? Any advice on creating the border and how to make sure the overall image size ends up being 8x10 or 11x14?<br>

Thanks,<br>

Dave</p>

<p>Thanks to all! Your responses have all been very helpful. I really did not want to dislike this lens, since for all other applications it has been wonderful. <br>

Michael, I checked your numbers, and you are correct. What I was trying to do however, was get good focus with distant background and a foreground subject appx 3 feet from the camera.<br>

Kent, I am going to take a look at Helicon Focus, since I've heard very good things about it.<br>

Here is a quote from Brenda Tharp I found last night in her book..."<em>For most landscapes, it's more pleasing to the eye if the foreground is sharp and the background falls into softness, as that is the natural way the eye would see the scene.</em>" Hmmm.....maybe I'm being to fussy!<br>

Thanks<br>

Dave</p>

<p>I've been trying to shoot landscapes with my Nikon 18-55 VR lens. I've been shooting at 18mm and I want close foreground as well as distant background in sharp focus. Since there is no dof or distance scale, I've been eyeballing the hyperfocal distance (from dof master). I've tested over and over, and the best that I can say, is that the distant background at f/8 and f/11 are less soft than at other apertures. The foreground at f/8 through f/22 is sharp, but the background is never in sharp focus.<br>

Am I asking to much of this little lens? What lens, hopefully at less or around $500 would you recommend? I've been looking at the 20mm 2.8 AF-D. I have a D90.<br>

Thanks!<br>

Dave</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for you input! Special thanks to Maris...exactly what I was looking for!<br>

Thanks again!</p>

<p>In "Closeups in Nature", John Shaw shows his home made flash bracket. Has anyone tried to make this? If so, where do I get a small ball-head like that? I have a D90 and would like to use the SB400 on a bracket (with flash cord).<br>

Any tips for making the bracket would be appreciated!</p>

<p>What is the quickest way to set up a tripod? I don't think this is a silly as it sounds! Recently, I was fighting with my tripod, trying to get the head in correct height position for an appx 4 foot high shot and kept thinking there must be a better way to do this. <br>

I have been holding the head appx where I want it, and with the legs still closed, dropping one leg and locking it. Then setting the other two to match and opening the legs. I try not to raise the center post, but adjust the legs if I need more height. Same if I need to lower the head.<br>

After watching some other people struggle with their tripods, I realized I'm not the only one who has problems doing this!<br>

Is there a "correct" way? What method do you use?</p>

<p>I just read about this on Ken Rockwell's site http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/00-new-today.htm, and I'm afraid that I don't get it. I don't understand why they did this, and also don't understand Rockwells endorsment of the move (ironic sarcasm aside). I also don't understand how this could possibly work. From a distance, a person can't tell if I'm shooting with my D90 or my F6.<br>

What's your take?</p>

<p>I've heard I can adjust my "flash sync speed" on the D90 to allow shooting close-ups at hand-holdable shutter speeds of 1/125 or 1/250 while using small apertures. But, I can't figure out how..is this only available with an external flash?</p>

<p>I love my Slik Pro 700 tripod. In particular, the rock solid sturdiness, the round quick-release plate and the height (I am 6'). I shoot mostly close-ups and macros, sometimes with a focusing rail and long lenses.<br>

My only complaint is the 7lb+ weight. Is there a lightweight tripod that can tightly hold a D90 plus long lens and focus rail in both horiz and vert formats? Without breaking the bank? I looked at Really Right Stuff and Gitzo and almost passed out. I'm looking for something in the $300 price range.<br>

Or, am I dreaming? I think it was John Shaw who said there is no such thing as a "sturdy, lightweight tripod".</p>

<p>Thanks all, I believe I'll keep my current set up. Appreciate your comments!</p>

<p>I have the D90 and the 18-55 II as well as the 55-200 VR. I love both lenses. I shoot mostly nature and flower close up photos. The 18-55 is on the camera most of the time, and I use the 55-200 for close ups generally at the 200mm end. I've heard such good things about the 18-200 VR and I'm tempted by it, since it would save me from changing lenses. However, if I would be giving up any performance optically, (especially at around 24mm and 200mm) then I'll keep the set up I have. Any suggestions are appreciated, and thanks! </p>

<p>Thanks, Joseph, for the excellent information! I agree that it is years away from commercial or consumer use. <br>

I have to say though that I find it exciting to learn that boundaries are being pushed, and that perhaps the industry isn't quite as "static" as I'd assumed.</p>

<p>Soon we could take a picture, and change the focus later!<br>

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/09/22/adobe-plenoptic-lens-tech-lets-you-change-the-focus-in-your-images</p>

<p>James and Michael; A special thanks for taking the time to slog through Adobe's site! Just downloaded the latest ACR and it works perfectly. Again, thanks for answering my question as well as saving me tons of time!! You guys are great!</p>

 

<p>I upgraded from the D70S to the D90. I was always able to open Raw files from the D70 in Elements, but can't from the D90. Elements doesn't "recognize" the file. Do I need a plug-in for Elements? A newer version of Elements (I have ver.6)?<br>

Thanks!</p>

<p>Thanks everyone! Fantastic suggestions and tips<br>

Dave</p>

<p>I ordered and just received a nikon 55-200 VR lens. The lens is "reconditioned" by Nikon, and comes with a 90 day warranty. It was advertised as "like new condition". I ordered from an online camera store. I'll be using it on a D70S.<br>

Have you purchased a used lens? What steps did you take to examine it?<br>

Without getting to technical (I'm not a pro), what are the key points to examine?<br>

I plan to check focus and sharpness at minimum, mid, and max focal lengths, probably at f/8. Smoothness, speed of AF. Obvious distortion at min or max focal lengths. What's the best way to check for lens scratches etc? I'll take test shots wide open and stopped down at varying focal lengths. If I've never had this particular lens (new) on my camera...how do I know if what I see is what I should be seeing?<br>

Your help or comments would be greatly appreciated..thanks!<br>

Dave</p>

<p>Dan, thank you! I just finished Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure", and sure enough, there are several examples of F/22 landscapes that look fine to me. I've had Shaw's book for years, "Nature Photographers Guide....", and while it's an older book dealing with film only and fixed lenses, he makes a point of using F/22, and that's where I originally got the habit.</p>

<p>Thanks! I appreciate the help.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone. This has been a real eye-opening learning process, and I appreciate your help!</p>