scatts
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Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Sept 23, 2006 11:50:42 GMT -7
The Sony Alpha is being very heavily marketed. It's about time they got the Sony brand into the SLR market and I'm sure it's a good camera. It is essentially a Konica Minolta who Sony purchased some time ago, certainly the lenses are. I think these Sony SLRs will improve a lot as the two brands come together closer. The sensor is "based on" that used in the Nikon D200, although Nikon add that the one is the D200 has 'extra features'. Personally, I would only ever use Nikon or Canon and from those two my preference is entirely Nikon. It is hard to say one is better than the other but Nikons feel absolutely right in my hands and Canons do not. Photography is a hobby, nothing professional involved at all. I've never had any training, read a few books and looked at a lot of photos by much better photographers. I would love to be able to earn enough money from photography, but I don't think I would like having to shoot weddings and stuff and I think it being 'work' would spoil it for me. Colleague of mine is pals with the guy now running Nikon Polska and in the midst of negotiations over discounts on D200s and lenses. Price here for D200 body is around $2,000 and both the lenses I want are the same, or more!!!
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Post by rdywenur on Sept 23, 2006 13:57:45 GMT -7
Scatt...the JPII foto was shamelessly stolen off the Internet when he died. It is my favorite photo of him that I have so far seen. The Warsaw fotos are probably Jans fotos that she shared with me. I have only been to Warsaw twice ...coming and going to Kracow. (my experience in there was not a pleasant one for being in Poland the first time... some rude Polish woman in the airport)
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nancy
European
Posts: 2,144
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Post by nancy on Sept 23, 2006 18:13:07 GMT -7
scatts,
The D200 (body only ) is selling here for ~$1600-1700. I might have to look at the D80 instead.
which lenses would you buy?
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scatts
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Sept 24, 2006 0:50:54 GMT -7
Nancy, at the moment the list looks like this - Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8G IF ED
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35 f/2. IF-ED
105mm f/2.8G IF AF-S VR Micro Nikkor lensProbably over $5,000 worth of glass there, so it's just a dream for now! I currently have an old 24-120 fiited to the F100, a 50mm prime, the 18-70 DX kit lens and an old 70-300 zoom (auto focus broken). All from the cheaper end of the range.
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Post by rdywenur on Sept 24, 2006 3:55:30 GMT -7
Well maybe if I hit the lottery. One for me and one for all of us. Scatt how did you take the foto that is all black background and only the profile is lit from the back. (I think it was Zosia) My friends brother took a foto long time ago of his mom done that way and I admired it and wished to know how it was done. Just head shot but it made a great portrait foto. (Maybe I can use my old Nikon to get the shot where I have better control) I currently am using a Fugi A210.
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scatts
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Sept 24, 2006 10:19:29 GMT -7
We went to "Cyrk Zalewski" today, a few snaps here - www.pbase.com/scatts/warsaw_cyrkRdy - If you mean this one, it was with the lights off and holding a fairly weak torch. I recommend you get someone else to hold the torch though, Zosia was holding this one and it's a bit of a hit-and-miss process that way! (Mind you, looking at it again, maybe I'd called mummy in to help because her arm does not appear to be going the right way.)
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scatts
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Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Sept 24, 2006 10:31:14 GMT -7
This one also has a black background but was taken in bright sunshine exposing for the skin. This is my favourite portrait shot, "Uncle Janusz".
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Post by rdywenur on Sept 24, 2006 14:36:53 GMT -7
Scatts, Thanks for the tips , I will now be looking for a participant in my photo "shoot". When you say torch I am assuming you mean a flood light or a "flash".
Great fotos Scatt. Lets see what my cameras do for me.
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nancy
European
Posts: 2,144
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Post by nancy on Sept 24, 2006 20:08:13 GMT -7
This one also has a black background but was taken in bright sunshine exposing for the skin. This is my favourite portrait shot, "Uncle Janusz". SUPERB! But please tell more of your secrets - black background but taken in full sunlight? Perhaps Photoshop has a role here?
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scatts
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Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Sept 24, 2006 23:27:21 GMT -7
Rdy, something like this, is that a flashlight in American? If you have the ability to do so, take the picture as RAW format so you can adjust the white balance afterwards. As this is not daylight the camera will probably get confused. I didn't do this myself and I'm not happy with the results. I'll change those images when I do it properly next time. Nancy, no secret, he was sitting in bright sun and behind him was a wall that was more in the shade. When you expose for the bright face the rest just comes out black, or close to black. All I did in photoshop was to adjust the levels very slightly and sharpen a little.
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Post by rdywenur on Sept 25, 2006 3:17:58 GMT -7
Scatts, Okay a flashlite and looks like a little maglite...I have both. It looks as if the light is coming from above so for Zosia to pose and hold the torch must have been a feat in itself. Great job. I love those type of shots as the one of Uncle J. I usually see them being taken that way photographing flowers.
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Post by leslie on Oct 2, 2006 7:43:28 GMT -7
Nancy Unless Scatts tells us otherwise, instead of his '/maingallery' site ending on our list, for his recent superb Krakow shots go to www.pbase.com/scatts/krakowIs that OK Scatts? Leslie
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scatts
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Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Oct 2, 2006 12:17:09 GMT -7
That's correct, Leslie. I think I've finished the gallery now including many notes on what you can see. It takes time to do the notes but I think it's worth it.
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nancy
European
Posts: 2,144
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Post by nancy on Oct 4, 2006 20:21:53 GMT -7
Scatts, I added the specific Krakow link to the first post. Wonderful pictures - and notes --- I learned a good bit from reading them.
I take it the weekend was a big success?
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scatts
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Oct 6, 2006 2:23:52 GMT -7
Thanks Nancy. It is always nice to get out of Warszawa for a while! I'm glad the notes were useful, they are mostly copied from a mixture of other sources but I find that, unless the photo is clearly meant to be admired just as a photo, the notes help anyone browsing the album to get a little more from it.
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