Manual DSLR Users...

stardogs

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#41
I got my 80-200mm Canon from Adorama for under $70. Have I said how much I love used gear? LOL
 
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#42
The one time someone else (as in, someone other than me) threw the ball for my dog, I was so excited because I actually got to take pictures of Trent playing catch. THAT turned out to mean "hey, I'll stand here across the field while you throw the ball at me, because then Trent will be close enough and facing the right direction for pictures"
YES!

The pictures of Didgie I just got in the 'snow' involved me sitting in front of my sister saying "ok, throw the frisbee at me. But try not to hit me" and then a lot of ducking, rolling and throwing myself to the side.

I don't think during the summer I ever leave the dog park dry since I'm always thigh deep in the water :D

But I will say my dogs stays are AWESOME because of all the "You stay here while I walk aaaaalll the way over there, throw your toy, situate myself and then release you"
 

Grab

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#43
Yup, you can only go as low as your lens will allow. For example my 24-70mm f/2.8 can go to f/2.8 but my 50mm f/1.8 can go down to f/1.8. A standard 18-55mm f/4.5-5.6 can only go down to f/4.5 or f/5.6 depending on the zoom.

Again, the 50mm 1.8 is only 92 dollars on B&H.com right now so that's a great option to buy and tinker with before you start laying down some serious cash.

Your glass will always be the most expensive part of photography.
I have a Nikon, though. So with my camera I have to stick with the AF-S lenses if I want the auto focus option :)
 

Grab

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#45
Definitely!! A more expensive option is the 50mm 1.4 or a 35mm.

These were 50mm of my nephew


Hmm, there's both a 35 mm and a 50mm 1.8 with only about a $20 difference... Things to ponder :)

I do mostly still photos (or attempted still photos...I do have a child who throws himself at me whenever I take a pic). But once in awhile the dogs or kiddo are running about :)
 

Equinox

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#46
YES!

The pictures of Didgie I just got in the 'snow' involved me sitting in front of my sister saying "ok, throw the frisbee at me. But try not to hit me" and then a lot of ducking, rolling and throwing myself to the side.

I don't think during the summer I ever leave the dog park dry since I'm always thigh deep in the water :D
Hahaha, you know, I think that really renews my appreciation for good action shots. Most never realize the amount of time and crazy that goes into them :p

But I will say my dogs stays are AWESOME because of all the "You stay here while I walk aaaaalll the way over there, throw your toy, situate myself and then release you"
THIS. I do this. All the time!! I look ridiculous because our games of catch go like this -

Me: "Trent, stay" *throws ball*
Trent: -sigh-
Me: *shuffles over to where the ball landed, and then a few feet beyond that, sometimes straight on and sometimes to the side*
Trent: -sigh-
Me: *fumbles with camera settings*
Me: *psychs Trent out a few times because by now he is bored and I want an alert look*
Me: "Okay, GO GET IT!" *snaps away*

- Trent gets the ball, I take it, we go back to where we started, and repeat -
 

Equinox

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#47
Have I said how much I love used gear? LOL
Me, too! I buy almost everything used. My Nikon D90 was $500 with under 2,000 actuations from a hobby photographer who upgraded to a D700.

My 50mm f/1.8 D was $50. Best $50 ever spent!
 

noludoru

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#48
A couple examples:
1/640 Æ’/2.8 ISO 6400 59 mm

The light was awful in this forest so I pumped the ISO up to 6400 and the dogs were not holding still well so I pumped the shutter speed up as high as I could without losing too much light which was 1/640 (for action shots I try to stay above 1/1000) and to compensate for these other two settings I dropped my f stop to f/2.8. Notice how his nose is out of focus but his eyes and anything on the same plain, such as the wubba, are? The last number is the zoom distance. I have a 24-70mm lens on and I had it at 59mm.

Grain, but not bad and frankly I enjoy grain. This photo needed it's white balance adjusted and some moderate exposure adjustments because like I said, tinkering.
You are AWESOME. Thank you so much for the breakdown! I saw those pics, loved them, and was wondering what your settings were and how to re-create that. I think I have my ISO too low in natural light settings. I need to be a little more adventurous.

Just in case Leah happens to see this thread - could you tell me what your settings were for the recent snow photos? I fail at getting pictures exposed properly with a dark-colored dog and a light background.

I'm going to have to read this thread, play with my camera, read this thread, play with my camera etc to really "get" what you are showing me. I'm such a noob :(
That's the trick. Playing with the camera. My suggestion, because this was what I did - pick some shots people have revealed their settings for, write them down, fold up the paper and keep it in your camera bag. Then when you're in a similar lighting situation, you can set your camera to those settings and adjust from there.

This better mean we see more pictures from you. :p
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#49
Hahaha, you know, I think that really renews my appreciation for good action shots. Most never realize the amount of time and crazy that goes into them :p



THIS. I do this. All the time!! I look ridiculous because our games of catch go like this -

Me: "Trent, stay" *throws ball*
Trent: -sigh-
Me: *shuffles over to where the ball landed, and then a few feet beyond that, sometimes straight on and sometimes to the side*
Trent: -sigh-
Me: *fumbles with camera settings*
Me: *psychs Trent out a few times because by now he is bored and I want an alert look*
Me: "Okay, GO GET IT!" *snaps away*

- Trent gets the ball, I take it, we go back to where we started, and repeat -
:rofl1::rofl1::rofl1:

My dogs are SO tired of me faking them out. It is much easier with the herding breeds, mind you, Arnold and Shamoo roll their eyes and sigh no matter how often I fake them out.
 

Equinox

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#50
:rofl1::rofl1::rofl1:

My dogs are SO tired of me faking them out. It is much easier with the herding breeds, mind you, Arnold and Shamoo roll their eyes and sigh no matter how often I fake them out.
LOL. I've recently started hollering the names of every dog in the neighborhood - he recognizes some of them so I pretend they're approaching and make a huge fuss. Our cats' names work even better, but usually all it takes is a "OMG LOOK AT ME. I'm super excited about absolutely nothing!!"

The lies I feed my dog... and the poor thing still falls for it, too. Granted, he will catch on after a few minutes, but I've gotten more creative over the years. I just don't want to know what my neighbors think of me xD
 
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#51
I always do that stuff with Traveler to get him looking at me all interested but Didgie is such a butt about it because as soon as I make any noises or things to get her attention she starts snapping her jaws and talking back. She's a snot.
 

kady05

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#55
Since we're already all over the board I have a question.

After the new year I'm going to start saving up and looking around for a nicer zoom lens of some sort. I want it under 1000 dollars but one that I'm going to be happy. Any ideas? I don't mind older or used as long as they are still quality.

You all see what I take pictures of :) Dogs running around like crazy. I don't want to have to use a tripod but I would like something that I don't have to be right up close to the dogs like I do with my 50.

Ideas?
70-200mm, hands down. I have the f/4 (non-IS) version which (you shoot Canon, right?) you can get for around $550 used. It's my go to lens and I use it for just about everything. The 2.8 version is more expensive, it's next on my list.. but I have a love affair with my f/4 and I'm afraid to sell it!

My camera is a full format, it allows for a finer grain. I use and abuse high ISO regularly because of this.
This is one thing I need to get braver with.. I'm like.. afraid of high ISO for some reason, yet I have a camera that's basically designed for it. Most of my shots are at ISO 800 or lower!
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#57
This is one thing I need to get braver with.. I'm like.. afraid of high ISO for some reason, yet I have a camera that's basically designed for it. Most of my shots are at ISO 800 or lower!
I will say one of the benefits of classes is we're forced to explore our cameras more. For years I worked with film, manned the dark room, explored assignments requiring only 400ISO film or 60ISO film, 35mm or medium format, only natural light or only artificial, only abstract or only in the methods of an assigned photographer.

When we moved to color film and then digital we repeated the process of assignments. I've been more classically trained and yet I honestly have the least "fine art" eye than my classmates. Most went on to do fine art work and push for gallery positions, I went on to work as a commercial photographer. I have a very strong appreciation for fine art but it's taken a long time to find my place, too much of my fine art (like many students at a younger age) was forced yet I have always had an eye for both classical and contemporary portrait and commercial work so I went where I fit best at the time.

I can't seem to find any scans of my film work, which I swore were on here, but this is an example of an assignment that forced us to work in a certain way and explore our cameras in addition to our visions.



This project was similar to a beauty and blythe assignment, no people allowed but it's an attempt to show the landscape how you see it.


An assignment working with hot lights for the first time


The critiques are the most important, the balance of helping but not destroying an artists confidence is challenging, each student can take a varied amount and a "oh that's pretty" when it's really a mess won't ever make a better artist. I've had some of my work slayed and gone home crushed but some other artists go home with a renewed passion. Find a good teacher/mentor is my best advice for anyone seeking expansion. My professor was fantastic, she knew long before I did where I was best suited in the art world and helped me find my strengths.

I still wish I could have lived out my dream of documentary work for TIME or Nat Geo but the lifestyle isn't conducive to my other passions so instead I'll just teach about it if I ever get the courage up for my praxis and application in for my M.Ed.
 

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