As i have neglected this blog for so long i fet the need to update with my latest picture, In fact my flickr stream is sadly lacking too but not for the fact im not taking pictures.
Im actually not taking pictures I feel like sharing with everyone, Im not taking "public" pictures at the moment which was a surprise to me and also a revelation.
When i picked up my 400D my main goal was to be able to take better pictures of family and friends and maybe take a picture or two that said something to others out there that didnt know me. I wished to be more technically competent yet also be able to capture people with a natural look and not just the stiff posed deer in the headlights look and with a lot of pictures im taking now im actually doing just that.
I know i have quite a way to go but i have relaxed into the pictures a little more now, They dont have to be pixel perfect technically superior pieces of "ART" i can actually take a snapshot again which to me seems to say i have gone on to another stage of shooting, One where I actually can make the camera do what i wish most of the time without having to RTFM and i can also play a little more with the subject and make them enjoy having thier picture taken like my son who is still smiling in the picture and not looking bored at me while i adjust/tweak/changelens/batteryfiddle etc etc.
So here is to the exciting times ahead where i try to find thing i can and want to share with the public again instead of just for and of family and friends.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Friday, 16 October 2009
Voyeuristic intentions.
People watching is fun !
No honestly it is, Im not confident enough to stick my camera in peoples faces yet i find some of the street reportage style work posted on flickr great.
I have a limited number of shots that i have taken while people watching but i seem to miss the "decisive moment" as it were and think to myself wow that would of made a great picture, I guess its all in the timing and the ability to predict the event and my timing is still a little off.
I am working on it though so i expect there will be a few more pictures in my portfolio of street scenes if i can get my timing right.
Anyway here is a link to Stephen Wright's flickr stream who does manage to get the timing right and he has a great ability to predict the picture before it happens.
No honestly it is, Im not confident enough to stick my camera in peoples faces yet i find some of the street reportage style work posted on flickr great.
I have a limited number of shots that i have taken while people watching but i seem to miss the "decisive moment" as it were and think to myself wow that would of made a great picture, I guess its all in the timing and the ability to predict the event and my timing is still a little off.
I am working on it though so i expect there will be a few more pictures in my portfolio of street scenes if i can get my timing right.
Anyway here is a link to Stephen Wright's flickr stream who does manage to get the timing right and he has a great ability to predict the picture before it happens.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
The race
Yes its that time of year again when the summer starts to end and the nights draw in, People often get discouraged in their photography towards the winter and you really shouldn't as with autumn just around the corner the trees are starting to look great with all the greens yellows browns and reds.
Find an established old woodland and break out that flash to get some great shots of the many varied fungi that will be making its appearance shortly as it gets damper, The morning light is easier to catch too as it pops its head up later and later in the day so you can practice those misty morning sunrise shots just remember to wrap up warm !
Find an established old woodland and break out that flash to get some great shots of the many varied fungi that will be making its appearance shortly as it gets damper, The morning light is easier to catch too as it pops its head up later and later in the day so you can practice those misty morning sunrise shots just remember to wrap up warm !
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Not all it seems
After getting excited at finding these little caterpillars and taking a few pictures i decided to try and find out about them and what kind of moth/butterfly they would turn out to be, It turns out they are not what they seem as they are the larvae stage of the Sawfly and they wont be turning into anything nice and pretty (depending on your viewpoint) so im still looking for a couple of real caterpillars to make a chrysalis and show the kids...Bah !
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Fixing a 430 EX
Whilst playing with my flash + umbrella + light stand i managed to drop my 430 on the carpeted floor which I didn't think had caused any damage.
Sadly this wasnt the case as when i turned off the flash and then turned it back on again it gave a scary sounding grinding noise and wouldnt switch mode, I realised this was due to the motor not operating as it should so with all due care ( and thoughts of zapping myself silly with the inner workings of a strobe) I removed the 8 screws hiding under the circular parts on the sides of the head which allowed the case to come apart.
A little slight pressure on the front of the flash (with the fresnel screens removed) and i heard a little click as the motor re-engaged and with a quick test i was ready to put it all back together again.
PHEW another strobe saved ! its all working as it should again.
Sadly this wasnt the case as when i turned off the flash and then turned it back on again it gave a scary sounding grinding noise and wouldnt switch mode, I realised this was due to the motor not operating as it should so with all due care ( and thoughts of zapping myself silly with the inner workings of a strobe) I removed the 8 screws hiding under the circular parts on the sides of the head which allowed the case to come apart.
A little slight pressure on the front of the flash (with the fresnel screens removed) and i heard a little click as the motor re-engaged and with a quick test i was ready to put it all back together again.
PHEW another strobe saved ! its all working as it should again.
Thursday, 4 June 2009
The importance of notes
Once again i have fallen foul of my own short-sightedness/laziness as I have been out taking pictures without notes, So what ? you may ask.
Take this picture as an example while taking the four or five different angles it wouldnt of hurt to take a picture of the label that was at the base of the plant and i would of been able to tell you the common and latin name of this beautiful plant, I could of added the names to the tags in Flickr helping out some other lazy person with a shot of the same flower and maybe even driven some views to my account as they searched for pictures of the same, As it is its just a pretty flower that i do not know the name of.
All that for the sake of a few seconds to take a picture or make a note, No contest really is there ?
Take this picture as an example while taking the four or five different angles it wouldnt of hurt to take a picture of the label that was at the base of the plant and i would of been able to tell you the common and latin name of this beautiful plant, I could of added the names to the tags in Flickr helping out some other lazy person with a shot of the same flower and maybe even driven some views to my account as they searched for pictures of the same, As it is its just a pretty flower that i do not know the name of.
All that for the sake of a few seconds to take a picture or make a note, No contest really is there ?
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Lightbox !
So anyway adding more to the DIY lightbox topic, I found the walls made from white tissue x2 are very thin and fragile so im going to try to update it next week when i have time with some tracing paper or greaseproof paper and take some test shots to see if there is any sort of colour cast or any problems.
The lightbox is fun to use and I have a queue of items that need to be photographed so if anyone is watching my Flickr stream i will say sorry now as it may get a little lightbox heavy as i play with the materials its made from and the actual lightsources used for illumination.
The lego picture is rather grey at one side due to the single lightsource but overall im happy with how this first image turned out.
The lightbox is fun to use and I have a queue of items that need to be photographed so if anyone is watching my Flickr stream i will say sorry now as it may get a little lightbox heavy as i play with the materials its made from and the actual lightsources used for illumination.
The lego picture is rather grey at one side due to the single lightsource but overall im happy with how this first image turned out.
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