November Photography...

[trackdaynova]

I believe this is my first ever none-car related post therefore my first thread in Muppet Corner lol

Went out tonight as it's nearing the end of November, and I like to catch the Winter seasons crisp look without being bombarded with Christmas lights left, right & centre.

Thought I'd post a couple up, to show what I've been up to, alot of constructiony type, as I think its cool, man mahcines and all that.

All pics have a 1024px width to keep them all inline and looking nice.

Hope you like them :)

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember01.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember02.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember03.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember04.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember05.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember06.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember07.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember08.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q161/neocapture/Scenery/ncNovember10.jpg

[Spudly]

Impressive pictures, photography is something that has always interested me, do you use a slow shutter speed to catch all the light trails from the pasing cars then, im a total beginner but the more i see of your work the more it fascinates me!

[Stuart]

Impressive pictures, photography is something that has always interested me, do you use a slow shutter speed to catch all the light trails from the pasing cars then, im a total beginner but the more i see of your work the more it fascinates me!


DSLR in "Auto" mode FTW :D lol.

Top pics Oly

[trackdaynova]

Yep, you have it.

To get light trail you need the shutter to stay open for a long period of time, well, as long as you want the trail to go on for really, or until the vehicle goes out of shot.

In order to get starlights from the streetlamps, you must use a high aperature to limit how much the lens opens so it concentrates on the detail of the lense flare, as opposed to letting too much light in too quick which just makes the streetlights round blobs :)

Thanks for the interest :thumb:

[Jack]

DSLR in "Auto" mode FTW :D lol.
Boo!

Auto mode on my 450d is rubbish lol

[Sturge]

A couple of those look like tilt shift shots! Brilliantly caught mate :)

[Mazz]

Love the 3rd picture, its amazing how you'd pass something like that and not even look, yet take a picture of it and its totally different.

[Benn]

Love the road works with light blur... Great pics dude, the church ones a bit dirty tho.
B&w one looks so peace full...

[Count Vaux Alot]

top work my man they look cool as well done!

[Novaboi_1991]

2nd pic looks brill mate...

[Ste L]

great pic's as always olly :thumb:

[Lynsey]

I like the 8th one down, can I save it please? Might use it as a desktop for a while :)

[trackdaynova]

Anyone can have any they like :thumb: if the res isn't enough, just say, and I'll host the full res versions :)

[ade]

this could be the start of something beautiful!

Perhaps we should get a pics of the month going like Jack's car of the month...none car related...

Late Autumn / Winter are my favourite months for photography - low lying mists and cracking sun sets/rises...

[trackdaynova]

Think I've mentioned some sort of photography thing before, but I get the "this is a car forum, there are plenty of photography forums out there"

Similar to those that wanted photoshopping subforums etc.

[Lynsey]

Anyone can have any they like :thumb: if the res isn't enough, just say, and I'll host the full res versions :)
Cheers, I now have new desktop pic :)

Thanks anyway but that'll do, my eyes aren't high res so it'd probably look the same to me lol

[ade]

Think I've mentioned some sort of photography thing before, but I get the "this is a car forum, there are plenty of photography forums out there"

Similar to those that wanted photoshopping subforums etc.
Bah! this is muppet corner - anything goes...

Its random pictures like these that enspire people to take pics - opens peoples eyes up to see just what they can do with a camera.

It might also be helpful to some people in taking better pics of their cars!

[trackdaynova]

It's my pleasure Lynz :) I'm glad others are taking advantage of my work :thumb:

Ade - PM sent

[Lynsey]

I think it'd be a good idea. I love all the little hints and tips you give, you always convey them in such a simple, effective manner.

[Spudly]

Ill definately agree with ade, if you ever feel like posting pics with a how-to i for one would love to see/read them.

For next year i need to invest in a decent camera as ive caught some decent pics/angles before.

But the filters and angles and shutter speeds you use produce some stunning photos which i would love to attempt to match (i say match, as replicate or copy dont convey the inspiration your pictures hold for me)

[trackdaynova]

Thanks for the rep :thumb: :)

[Spudly]

Not a problem mate, just had a nosey around your site aswell......


Everyday scenes that we all experience, captured in such a compelling way... first class work:thumb:

[trackdaynova]

My site is currently appauling, and will let you know when I relaunch my new site :thumb:

[dhdev (Oli)]

All look good Olz, the one with the roadworks and '30' sign looks the best to my eye, the colours seem to be clearer and the picture looks the least fuzzy, if that makes any sense PMSL

[trackdaynova]

Yup total sense :thumb:

It's always difficult getting the natural coloured light that your eye sees when you're shooting under an orange/ amber street lamp as there will always be too much 'red' in the photo.

To eliminate this, or reduce the amount of red, I chose to shoot on 'Flourescent' which will tell the camera too add more blue, thus neutralising the over red-ness.

[Smurf-Xx]

Some photography comps and games would be cool remember the car pic thread where you had to get a pic of your car next to the one wanted, we could do this but get your nova next to certain places/scenery??

[Riggy]

awsome pics olz , as someone already said , its just everyday life that you would never give a thought about , but in a pic it just looks so cool lol

[Spudly]

awsome pics olz , as someone already said , its just everyday life that you would never give a thought about , but in a pic it just looks so cool lol



That would be me then;)lol

Sterling work:thumb:

[Jack]

Some photography comps and games would be cool remember the car pic thread where you had to get a pic of your car next to the one wanted, we could do this but get your nova next to certain places/scenery??
The photo challenge thread? Look what happened to that thread - dead. lol

SWPC has a photo section which works quite well.

[trackdaynova]

Whats SWPC RJ?

[Stuart]

South West Peado Club

[trackdaynova]

oh right lol i'm glad i'm not aware of it then lol

[Martin]

Noice pics Olz, would you be interested in doing a Pet photoshoot sometime next year when i get my Blue staffys?

Speaking about low mists and sunrises Ade sum1 i kno took this pic..

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm223/jjbulls/DSC00802.jpg

[trackdaynova]

Yep sure will Martin :thumb:

Takes me back to 2006 when I was one of the photographers for Crufts :D

Lovely lovely pooches!

[Martin]

Kool,there will be 3dogs all together, maybe a pic a nice wildlifey location near you?

[trackdaynova]

plenty of woods & fields :thumb:

i do a fair bit of work up near you thinking about it. Got a few clients in Brigg & Retford actually

[Martin]

Kool Brigg is only 5mins away.. give me a shout next time youre down m8

[trackdaynova]

lol @ "down"

PM me your mobile number, and I'll pop in for a brew!

[Jack]

South West Peado Club
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9481/pedobear4dzya2.jpg

South West Performance Car Club. Ok, so I forgot the other C lol

[Martin]

Pm'd olz

[Count Vaux Alot]

Here i a pic of my spaniels as we are on the subject of dogs but for no good reason really!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/DSC00241.jpg

[ade]

these are 2 I look a while ago - the 1st is NIA - a black lab puppy - was a colour print but converted the B&W on photoshop.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/puppy015bw.jpg

The second is a telegraph pole at twilight - took a reading from the sky so the pole was thrownin to silhouette and set the white balance to "tungsten" - gave a rich blue backdrop...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/pole0001.jpg

[Welsh Dan]

This is my attempt at capturing a clear november sky:
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/novaload/novembersky.jpg

[novait]

^ i like that picture...

[trackdaynova]

Awesome photo Dan, what ISO did you use? appears to be over 320 due to noise, still lovely shot, I presume with a tripod or resting on something?

Did you reduce the gamma in photoshop on the sky? due to the light halo around the tractor, it appears that way.

Cracking though, should be mega chuffed with that!

To find out your information on shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation, right click the image on your computer, and click properties, then go to the advanced tab. This is known as the 'EXIF' data.

[Jack]

I'd cheat in a situation like that and use bracketing :D

Here's a bracketed image I took in St Kitts (whilst being accosted by one of the locals lol)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a266/razorjack/Scenic/St%20Kitts/2008_09_18_1034_2_3_tonemapped.jpg

[Welsh Dan]

Awesome photo Dan, what ISO did you use? appears to be over 320 due to noise, still lovely shot, I presume with a tripod or resting on something?

Did you reduce the gamma in photoshop on the sky? due to the light halo around the tractor, it appears that way.

Cracking though, should be mega chuffed with that!

To find out your information on shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation, right click the image on your computer, and click properties, then go to the advanced tab. This is known as the 'EXIF' data.

Thanks :D.

The EXIF is still intact on the image I posted actually. It was shot on ISO800 with a 30 second exposure, some of the noise is down to a heavy-handedness with unsharp mask on that shot. I think its time I bought a remote release. I did reduce the contrast on the sky, but the halo around the tractor is down to me not noticing it whilst sorting out the layers. I was using a tripod. The dog bumped into the tripod on the previous attempt lol.

http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/novaload/dogbump.jpg

[trackdaynova]

Both brilliant shots mate, I do have a good eye for changes on photographs though lol

lol lol lol @ your pooch! :D gotta love em

[mowgli]

I can't believe you took that many nice photos of that place & its new bypass, I have never thought of the place being photogenic.

[Benn]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a266/razorjack/Scenic/St%20Kitts/2008_09_18_1034_2_3_tonemapped.jpg


Thats great picture!

[Stuart]

WTF is bracketing?

[Jack]

Taking three (or more) pictures at different exposures - one normal, one high and one low (i.e. 0, +2, -2), then overlaying those pictures to create a final image.

Gives the ability to pick out detail in both high and lowlights, and can be tweaked to give cool effects. I use it quite a lot in my photography, here's a few more examples (pics from facebook as I cba to upload them all lol):

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v332/183/37/667958884/n667958884_1436177_4145.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v332/183/37/667958884/n667958884_1436365_3301.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v332/183/37/667958884/n667958884_1358076_845.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v332/183/37/667958884/n667958884_1358082_2938.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v332/183/37/667958884/n667958884_1357910_8017.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v332/183/37/667958884/n667958884_1357934_7366.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v203/183/37/667958884/n667958884_715516_5466.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v203/183/37/667958884/n667958884_715517_6017.jpg

[trackdaynova]

total cheat way to produce a good shot - but a good way to learn :D ;)

[Lynsey]

Awesome RJ, I'm definately going to be trying some of that at the weekend.

It might be a cheat's way but it looks good lol

[Jack]

total cheat way to produce a good shot - but a good way to learn :D ;)
Yup, but its easy lol

Plus I can't be ****d to buy a decent flash to fill in the low lights so this makes up for it lol

[trackdaynova]

For those above pics are you on +/-0.3 bracket?

[Jack]

More than that, I think the car ones were 1, the rest about 1.5-2

[trackdaynova]

lol wicked!

[Stuart]

and how doth one control the exposure time?

[Jack]

Stu, what camera do you have?

Look in the menus, there should be an AEB option - set that to the required exposure difference and the camera will take three pics for you. My canon needs to be set to continuous shooting first though.

[trackdaynova]

Does Stu not mean just exposure time in general?

If your camera has "P", "A", "S", and "M"

Easiest way to learn long exposure shots is to shoot on "S", which is shutter priority, which means you choose the shutter speed, and the camera will chose the Aperature for you to get the (so called) "best" shot.

Depending make and model of camera, your index finger should be able to change the length of time the shutter is open for :thumb:

[Benn]

Very good tip^

[Stuart]

Stu, what camera do you have?

Look in the menus, there should be an AEB option - set that to the required exposure difference and the camera will take three pics for you. My canon needs to be set to continuous shooting first though.


Sony A100...
Just want to play with that bracketing thing... I know how to force the length of exposure if that helps lol

[trackdaynova]

On the A100 you have a button on the back of the camera, top right iirc, that has "+/-" on the button itself, and AV next to it.

Hold this button whilst in shooting mode, and with your index finger rotate it clockwise to increase Exp Comp.

As RJ has stated, your camera will need to be continuous shooting mode (which is on the TOP of your camera) so it shoots three times, one under exposes, one normal exposure, and one over exposed photograph.

Hope this helps dude

Olly

[Stuart]

ahhhh the A100 has a 0.3 cont/single braket mode in the continuous shooting menu :D easy

[trackdaynova]

You should be able to up that to 0.7, 1.0, 1.3 and so on...

[Stuart]

I'll dig the manual out.... although for my 5 min try of it, I'm not impressed lol

[Jack]

You'll ideally need a tripod too.

I recommend a program called photomatix - I used it to create the images in my earlier post. Stick the images into it, and play around with the settings til you get an effect you like

[ade]

Jacks technique is called HDR (high dynamic range) photography. Most "consumer" cameras have a limited tonal range (can only see so many tones between black and white) so taking 3 shots at slightly different exposures (one dark, one standard and one light) captures a greater spread of tones. Layering them together gives a great result. I'm not too sure about them TBH - They're more like oil paintings than "proper" photography - but theres no denying the results are stunning!

Theres a detailed HOW TO here - even explains how to do it in photoshop.

http://backingwinds.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-create-professional-hdr-images.html

and for some stunning examples look here -
http://www.flickr.com/groups/hdr/pool/

http://abduzeedo.com/20-beautiful-hdr-pictures

and if youre really anal heres an indepth understanding of HDR and tonal range
http://www.hdrsoft.com/resources/dri.html

[trackdaynova]

absolutely ridiculous imo :tard:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/3062260920_efb1d04fee.jpg?v=0

[Jack]

Obviously thats to the extreme, heck I consider my pics to be extreme as well... lol