Photography tragics' thread

[tylerdurden]

Thought I would start a new thread for photographers. Post your pics here. Rabbit on endlessly about gear, setups, tips and tricks. Most likely it's been done already on this site, but WTF, a new thread is a good thing too.

I'm kicking off with some product photography. Took these last week at the SIHH watch fair in Geneva. Nikon D700, Nikon 105mm macro lens, flash setup was three off-camera flashes controlled from the camera. I shoot in RAW. Shutter speed mostly fixed at 1/250, apertures from f12 to f22 (usually f14). Everything set manually and exposure then manipulated by varying flash intensity.

Generally I get about 45 minutes to photograph between 10 and 20 pieces, so I work fast. The above settings allow me to hand-hold and get in close. They wouldn't pass muster as genuine product shots but that's not the point.

I post-process in iPhoto, again for speed. Results not professional level, but if there were ever any real need, I could go back to the RAW file and re-process using something fancier.

Click on images for larger version. All comments welcome.

[tylerdurden]

[tylerdurden]

[1626]

D700 doesn't look to shabby. I wish I was still working as a photographer to justify the expense.

Maybe some day.

You using the Nikon iTTL system or pocket wizards to fire your flashes? Oh wait you said controlled form the camera, so, iTTL then, I would guess.

Soft boxes on one or two of the flashes? From at least on of the reflections it looks like either it's soft boxes and sometimes they are a little further out or our using that white diffuser dome that comes with a SB700/900. I can't really tell.

Anyway, nice shots.

[tylerdurden]

You guessed right. iTTL with a controller on the camera. Soft box on the main flash, which is an SB800. I also shoot inside a light tent which diffuses everything nicely.

Main problem with watch photography is reflections - off the case, the dial, the goddam sapphire crystal (that's the worst offender). This is why tripods are bullsh*t. I can move every element around - all three flashes, the camera, the subject - until there are no reflections or bad highlights.

[KopyKatKiller]

Nice watches.

I started a Shanghai photographer's group here: http://www.sweetshanghai.com/group/27

I shall now chose a few photos for upload here...

[KopyKatKiller]

Critique please...

[KopyKatKiller]

More:

[KopyKatKiller]

This site's upload limit and photo size is not ideal for photo sharing

[Kickaha]

Tyler,

Could you provide a brief explanation of the benefits of shooting and saving in RAW mode. I have a Nikon D5100 and still exploring the best options for using it. While I am tech savvy, I have only recently acquired a reasonably good camera. Also I mostly use autofocus and auto exposure mode, but want to learn more about taking high quality pictures.

[KopyKatKiller]

^^ Good info here:
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/raw-vs-jpeg

[tylerdurden]

Dear Kickaha,

RAW mode essentially is just a digital record of the pixels which hit the camera sensor, with no processing whatsoever. Cheaper cameras always apply some processing to this data, usually just some digital compression to save the image in JPEG format. The type of processing/compression varies from camera to camera, but once that's done, it can't be reversed. In very high-def work, JPEG compression can introduce unwanted edge artefacts which become very apparent on magnification.

RAW files are much larger, but enable you to do any type of post-processing yourself and then save the file in any format you like.

Many cameras these days have an option to save images in both RAW and JPEG formats - this is a good idea if you want to start experimenting with RAW images. Be warned though, you will need to post-process the RAW files - at the very least, to convert them into web- or email-friendly formats such as JPEG, GIF or TIFF.

[KopyKatKiller]

Also good info here:

http://www.slrlounge.com/raw-vs-jpeg-jp ... sual-guide

[tylerdurden]

Hey KKK,

I love the street musician in particular. That is a great shot. I would play around with it in post though - maybe edit out the little black line at top of the frame.

Street shots should always tell a story. This photo's story is about the street musician. He is poor, he is playing for money, he is possibly homeless, but he can still manage a smile. Is it the music that brings him joy?

[Kickaha]

Tyler and KKK,

Thanks for the information. I will look over the links soon. The D5100 does have options for saving both RAW and JPEG and I have a 32Gb storage card, so I could save many pictures in both formats. But perhaps it is better to capture in RAW then process to JPEG once I download to my Mac. Currently using the Nikon supplied ViewNX 2software for viewing and minor corrections to tilt, etc. Any suggestions on better processing software?

[chingiskhan]

Thanks for starting this. I agree, so many so called photographers spend all their time arguing about equipment and not enough time taking photos. Here are some of mine.



A very late afternoon (around 6pm) shot of the Pudong skyline.



I feel very proud of the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. Had to wait ages for everyone to walk out of the way to get this from just outside the entrance (I didn't fancy lining up for 4 hours just to go 2 metres closer).

[chingiskhan]

Tyler and KKK,

Thanks for the information. I will look over the links soon. The D5100 does have options for saving both RAW and JPEG and I have a 32Gb storage card, so I could save many pictures in both formats. But perhaps it is better to capture in RAW then process to JPEG once I download to my Mac. Currently using the Nikon supplied ViewNX 2software for viewing and minor corrections to tilt, etc. Any suggestions on better processing software?

I always shoot RAW + JPEG not just RAW. If you take 200 photos it will be a pain to convert each one to JPEG (yes, there is software to do this as a batch but still). If you have a 32GB card, you shouldn't have any worries!

[tylerdurden]

Beautiful shots, Chingis.

You should try a few different crops of that skyline shot. For instance -

I would also try to edit out the little white mark near top right. Very easy in iPhoto, just use the Retouch tool in Quick Fixes.

[ThomasCaron]

A few shots. (Click to enlarge.)

[chingiskhan]

Click on images for larger version. All comments welcome.

Great stuff mate. I like the very first shot as I know how hard it is to avoid the reflection. I also love watches so this is like watch fluffy for me. May I ask why you're taking these? Is it work related or just a hobby?

[Kief]

I go to a professional photography forum to discuss my work these days.

[chingiskhan]

Beautiful shots, Chingis.

You should try a few different crops of that skyline shot. For instance -

chingis.jpg

I would also try to edit out the little white mark near top right. Very easy in iPhoto, just use the Retouch tool in Quick Fixes.

Thanks Tyler, yes, I should explain the reason there was so much water in the foreground is because I could not tilt the camera upwards otherwise as I'm sure you know, the buildings in Pudong would all converge and slant (I don't have a tilt shift lens), but yes, I should definitely crop out some of the river, thanks. Comments / critiques ALWAYS welcomed. As for the white mark, just laziness. Sorry!

[chingiskhan]

I live just next to the Yu Gardens so it was easy for me to run over there with my tripod just before the sun set, to get this night shot with still some colour in the sky. This is an 8 second exposure at f/11 (ISO 100).

[KopyKatKiller]

chingiskhan: I love the Pudong shot. Especially the moon rising in the background. Must have been taken during the clean air days of Expo past was it not?

[KopyKatKiller]

Beautiful shots, Chingis.

You should try a few different crops of that skyline shot. For instance -

chingis.jpg

I would also try to edit out the little white mark near top right. Very easy in iPhoto, just use the Retouch tool in Quick Fixes.

Thanks Tyler, yes, I should explain the reason there was so much water in the foreground is because I could not tilt the camera upwards otherwise as I'm sure you know, the buildings in Pudong would all converge and slant (I don't have a tilt shift lens), but yes, I should definitely crop out some of the river, thanks. Comments / critiques ALWAYS welcomed. As for the white mark, just laziness. Sorry!

Your camera should have a corrective firmware app for that: On my Nikon it's called "Perspective Control".

[KopyKatKiller]

Hey KKK,

I love the street musician in particular. That is a great shot. I would play around with it in post though - maybe edit out the little black line at top of the frame.

Street shots should always tell a story. This photo's story is about the street musician. He is poor, he is playing for money, he is possibly homeless, but he can still manage a smile. Is it the music that brings him joy?

Either the music or the 15rmb I gave him

[chingiskhan]

chingiskhan: I love the Pudong shot. Especially the moon rising in the background. Must have been taken during the clean air days of Expo past was it not?

You got it SPOT ON. August 2010, bang in the middle of the Expo - we may NEVER see a skyline like that again in our lifetime!

[Kief]

I live just next to the Yu Gardens so it was easy for me to run over there with my tripod just before the sun set, to get this night shot with still some colour in the sky. This is an 8 second exposure at f/11 (ISO 100).

Sure that was 8sec? The people in the background seem awfully sharp, and no other motion blur. Suffering from food coma perhaps?

[chingiskhan]

Your camera should have a corrective firmware app for that: On my Nikon it's called "Perspective Control".

I shoot with a Canon 5D (original, not mark II). Canon doesn't have any of that fancy app stuff!

[KopyKatKiller]

I shall go to photograph the Empty Expo grounds tomorrow weather permitting. I'll upload any decent pics here: http://www.sweetshanghai.com/albums/view/116 in my Abandoned Development Series