Shutterbugs read this :)

[Saturn V]

quick q - my lens came with a W-shaped lens hood. when should I use this? I've tried pics with it on and off and couldn't figure out what its for (other than the fact it kinda looks spiffy)

Yeah, it's to reduce glare. But it can cause vignetting at low focal lengths (which can be a nice effect).

[Saturn V]

Just curious, what is the minimum f-stop range on your lens? It should say on the lens, something like f/3.5-5.6 or something.

The reason I ask is it didn't take me very long to become frustrated with shooting indoors with my f/3.5-5.6. There always seemed to be enough light to my eyes, but not to my (slow) lens. In the next couple of weeks, I'm ordering the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8. Fast lens, excellent depth-of-field.

[Bioture]

Just curious, what is the minimum f-stop range on your lens? It should say on the lens, something like f/3.5-5.6 or something.

The reason I ask is it didn't take me very long to become frustrated with shooting indoors with my f/3.5-5.6. There always seemed to be enough light to my eyes, but not to my (slow) lens. In the next couple of weeks, I'm ordering the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8. Fast lens, excellent depth-of-field.

it's f3.5-6.3. And I'm starting to figure out that it isn't fast enough for low light shots as well. It's better with flash, but sometimes shiny surfaces reflect too much (like taking a picture of a car):



I took this picture with flash, and it still came out dark. I used about 125mm zoom on this.

btw that's car replaced my old concord

[Saturn V]

Oh, and I recommend some kind of air blower for dust issues (especially for dust on the sensor). I have the Giottos Rocket Air Blower (please... don't use canned air). It's ~$10 from B&H Photo/Video.

Dust can become obvious at high f-stops (such as f/22).

[Saturn V]

I keep thinking of things to add.

To edit RAW files, I use RawShooter Essentials 2006. I don't think it's officially available anymore as Adobe bought the company that made it and is trying to move everyone towards Lightroom (which is a good program, it just runs slow as hell on my computer).

[Galleleo]

[R1pp3r]

[Scurvy]

almost none of my traditional b&w is like this...much more abstract and figurative. ah well...digi can be fun.

[Scurvy]

Ripper- visually stunning, mildly cliche. go into the postcard business

[Liquid Blue]

these are nice fucking shots

[Bioture]

here come the newbie pictures

[Bioture]

[R1pp3r]

Ripper- visually stunning, mildly cliche. go into the postcard business

Haha, thanks I'll take it as a compliment. I find Your comment about that I should go into the postcard business kind of cliché too, since I get to hear that alot. :P

[Saturn V]

The first and last shots are when I first got my camera and was running around taking pictures of everything I could find (which can probably explain the terrible crop/framing on the first one). :)

[Squeezer]

damn, you guys are all really fucking good photographers.

Seriously, each of you have some awesome shots.