Manual DSLR Users...

Laurelin

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#81
I love my 50 mm but the problem I have is mainly that my dogs are so tiny unless I'm *RIGHT* there and they're above me somehow, I can't get good backgrounds on action shots. I seriously think it is a lot easier to get nice shots of taller subjects. It's something that's really frustrated me lately since most my shots look so similar.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#82
On camera flashes stink but you can make them work in some situations, off camera are tons better.

I'm on my phone at work but I'm happy tackle any questions about them, I can only do photos on a computer though for those visual learners.

Definitely bouncing the flash is your best option though inside. Meaning, instead of pointing your flash at your subject you point it at the ceiling or a bounce board, this balances the flash and softens your light while preventing hard exposure and red eye.

What type of flash do you have?
 
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#83
Any help Adrianne would be wonderful! Really appreciate it!

I just have the flash that's on my 40D
 

Equinox

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#84
I know nothing about external flashes except I must have one. A HUGE improvement over the camera flash in every type of lighting, and not just for indoor use - I've seen some stunning results with external flash outside, in the sun. A lot of my senior portraits from a few years ago were taken by a photographer who used her flash during our morning/noon photo shoot. I don't know enough about lighting to even begin to understand it, but I'd still really like a SB700 (Nikon) for poorly lit and/or indoor shots. I can't always be shoving my dog by the window for pictures.

Laurelin, I can see how that would become an issue :( My 50mm has a MUCH easier time getting nice shots of Trent than it does of a friend's Pomeranian. Even when I am just trying to get portrait-y shots I wind up crawling after (and around) the Pom. I can only imagine how difficult it is outside with dogs in action!!

I noticed a while back that all my shots wind up really similar as well. I've been trying to get more creative and "out of the box", which has more to do with me being terrible to Trent and less with me learning how to use my camera. Leaf hats, blanket capes, and fancy scarves...
 

kady05

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#85
Oh that is a gorgeous shot! I am loving the bokeh. I always insist that I don't really have a need for anything that goes beyond 100mm (despite having a 55-200mm) but I wouldn't mind trying that one out, especially if it's a fixed aperture lens. I'm going to add the 70-200mm f/4 to my list of lenses to rent in the future.
Thanks! It's one of my favorites I've taken in the past 6 months or so, that's Sako's aunt :)

I rarely use a flash, but used one for our Christmas picture, this was bounced off my ceiling:

 

crazedACD

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#87
I saw a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge difference in the pictures of my birds indoors when I got an external flash. I haven't had a lot of time to do the cats, etc but being able to bounce it is great. I just picked up a cheap ($35?) generic brand from Amazon to try it, it was really worth it. I'm sure an off camera flash would be better but the external works.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#88
Alright, I wrote up about 58 assignments and will organize and wean them down. I'll probably do them myself but I'd love company and I'm more than happy to help in any way. It could be a lot of fun even if not everyone wants to participate each week. We'll likely post the challenge each Monday? The only true stipulation is you'll need to use your manual settings. :)
 

BostonBanker

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#89
The only true stipulation is you'll need to use your manual settings.
Stop scaring me!

I'm definitely in though. I hadn't made any New Year's Resolutions yet. This is it! I'm going to figure out how to shoot in manual.
 

SaraB

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#90
So excited for that!

Linds, I use an external flash and bounce it off my ceiling for indoor shots when I have limited light. I'm still getting used to it and really have no clue what I'm doing, but it does make a huge difference than using the on-camera flash.
 

crazedACD

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#91
See now you guys motivated me to run around and torture the dogs and cats...IN the house..until my battery died (sigh). Will upload in a few..if they are any good.
 

katielou

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#92
Alright, I wrote up about 58 assignments and will organize and wean them down. I'll probably do them myself but I'd love company and I'm more than happy to help in any way. It could be a lot of fun even if not everyone wants to participate each week. We'll likely post the challenge each Monday? The only true stipulation is you'll need to use your manual settings. :)
Yeah!
 

JessLough

Love My Mutt
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#93
Alright, I wrote up about 58 assignments and will organize and wean them down. I'll probably do them myself but I'd love company and I'm more than happy to help in any way. It could be a lot of fun even if not everyone wants to participate each week. We'll likely post the challenge each Monday? The only true stipulation is you'll need to use your manual settings. :)
Can you give like... an idea of what the assignments are? I think I'm just not grasping the concept, really :lol-sign:

It's awesome you're willing to set it up! :D
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#96
I will attempt the 52 week thing - maybe third time's a charm? lol
I know, they've always intimidated me... lol but hey, we'll try it!

Can you give like... an idea of what the assignments are? I think I'm just not grasping the concept, really :lol-sign:

It's awesome you're willing to set it up! :D
Sure...

Example:

Light writing


In the style of, I'll give a bunch of suggestions but you can pick your own artist and challenge yourself to attempt to shoot in their style. This has taught me a lot. (ie, since we're on a dog forum, William Wegman)


Bokeh or shaped Bokeh




Motion, make the drag interesting.


Long exposure.


Minimal DOF

maximum DOF

Monochrome

Silhouettes

Sunrise/sunset

Macro

Color challenge

Period piece

Food, the product shot! How to photograph food.

Abstract

Anticipate, use a 1 second timer, no cheating. Teaching you about timing.

Grain, use the highest ISO possible, play with it and use it to your photos advantage.

Sun spots, not post production!

Pouring liquid, how can you photograph this interestingly? What settings would be best?

Downsize. How small can you make something in the frame and have it still be the photo's primary visual subject? This is more conceptual than technical but it will be great practice for cropping rules.

I can list all of them in advance or do them weekly (probably moar funz). Each week I'll post an explanation and examples of the goal so people can have a starting place.

We'll start a bit more technical and then move into more conceptual shots hopefully using some of the new found skills.

I've never led one of these so I'm totally open to suggestions and input of any sort.
 

Equinox

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#98
AWESOME!! I'm really excited for this, those are some great ideas. I don't know a thing about 99% of what's listed so it will be a great learning experience. Are we sticking to dogs exclusively or will any subject be okay?
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#99
AWESOME!! I'm really excited for this, those are some great ideas. I don't know a thing about 99% of what's listed so it will be a great learning experience. Are we sticking to dogs exclusively or will any subject be okay?
I considered this and I initially thought we should encourage stepping out of the box both technically and conceptually but for those who're more comfortable incorporating dogs in each shot I say go for it. Some will be more difficult than others but it could be a lot of fun to try.
 

JessLough

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okay, that makes a lot of sense and gives me a good idea, even though I have no idea what any of that means, LOL

So... dogs are ok... but so are no dogs? My dog sucks at being in photographs LOL
 

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