Photo of the Day (January 2008)

[srf4real]

This morning, 6:30am....

I can really appreciate the timing involved in this shot. Nice work.

Here is one from my day at the inlet Saturday.

 

[Maldini]

If you feel like all your shots are underexposed, you should set your EV to + something, not - something (tell it to overexpose, and in theory get proper exposure). Or you could just do it on manual mode.

Great I was just confused by the tons of info i read from the manual.

If you are getting underexposed photos using a -0.3 or -0.7 will only hurt matters. How are you metering? exp. compensation is great but it only goes so far. You kind of have to meter the scene properly first.

I used the default matrix metering ,never knew its so important..
And I just ordered Thom Hogan's ebook..some friendly Nikon guys suggested this book

At the risk of telling you what you already know, it's a low-key pic: ie a fairly dark subject against a black background. Even the cleverest of camera metering systems will try to 'average out' the information in your composition. The camera would also be 'fooled' by a very light background. In these conditions, I'd switch to 'manual' and make some small adjustments... based on a quick review of the pix while shooting.

When I used film cameras, I'd regularly under-expose by, say half a stop, to get the effect I wanted... not what the camera 'wanted'. This disparity was consistent, at least, so I never felt it to be a problem. If you feel your camera gives you a consistent level of under- or over-exposure, then you could adjust the exposure compensation.

Thanks for the tip..I bought this camera to give me the features and options that were missing in my old P&S. I'm going to start experimenting with different settings soon, after i feel comfortable with the camera and its menus.

I actually like this photo

Thanks glad you liked it

Underexposure FYI: It is often best to underexpose than to overexpose. Once you blow the highlights by overexposing, you can not recover them. One stop underexposure is right where I like my images from the camera to be.

I normally would not take the liberty of editing someone's photo but, as an example of what I mean, here is your image, adjusted however. All that was done is, import to Aperture, increase exposure, export back out, upload to here.. Nice photo by the way!!

Thank you Thats much better, I'm going to order Aperture soon but i have minimum experience with photo editing..hope it will be easy

As do I. I think its a good composition, and I like the subject against the black background. But as others have said, it is very slightly underexposed.

Whats on its face? Its like a shell, is that to make it so the falcon doesnt get spooked or try to fly away?
Also, to obtain that black background, did you put the bird infront of a black background, or did you do it in Photoshop?

Thanks, the picture was taken outdoors with minimum light.
yes the shell is there so he cant fly away, and when they go hunting the owner attaches a small device to his wing that peeps 'like Sputnik' so he can track the falcon. Its not my thing but its really interesting, here is the hungry falcon

He even flew inside our house , it was scary though.

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

Crap. I really want a Falcon now. I always have, for some odd reason.

Anyway, a local CEO at a ceremony, post ribbon cutting:

I hate how the D40 meters; its default color profile is crap too, in comparison to my D70s.

 

[Doylem]

Great I was just confused by the tons of info i read from the manual.

I'm going to order Aperture soon but i have minimum experience with photo editing..hope it will be easy

Yes, I really don't know why camera manuals are so complex. Like you, I read the manual for my D200 and simply didn't understand it. Nikon (and others) could take a leaf out of Apples's book about being intuitive and easy to use. With manuals, it's like something gets lost in translation...

Aperture, easy? Well, it's an amazing piece of kit, IMO, but I wouldn't say it was particularly easy to understand. Of course, I may just be a bit slow...

On the basis of walking before you can run, you may find iPhoto a little less daunting... certainly while you're still getting to grips with the camera...

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

It's technically a new day, so here's another from the same event as above, but this one's taken with my D70s:

EXIF:

 

[Clix Pix]

From my condo unit balcony, Falls Church, VA
January 6, 2008
Nikon D3
Nikon 200mm f/2
f/2 @ 1/2000 sec
-1/3 EV
ISO: 300

 

[Doylem]

There's something I've always wanted to know: where DO you buy a big pair of scissors for cutting ribbons at ceremonies? And can you get a big stapler too?

 

[Doylem]

Another stormy sky... over South Walney lighthouse in Cumbria, UK...

 

[mckvakk]

Another stormy sky... over South Walney lighthouse in Cumbria, UK...

Damn, that's nice.

Btw, that lighthouse looks like it's drawn on

 

[Eric Lewis]

 

[Crawn2003]

Blueberries

Blueberries shot I did for a promo.

~Crawn

 

[studentmac]

I was at a round of the winter RC championships yesterday and took along my camera. Good shots were hard to come by thanks to the indoor location and the speed of these things (around 40mph indoors).



Shutter: 1/500
Aperture: f5.6
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO: 400

 

[Doylem]

Damn, that's nice.

Btw, that lighthouse looks like it's drawn on

Thanks. I love these extreme lighting conditions. They don't usually last longer than a minute or two. It was VERY gloomy before the clouds parted... and then, briefly, VERY bright. It's that contrast that makes the lighthouse stand out so much. And a dark sky means no need for grey grads, HDR, post-production, etc. This is pretty much the way it came out of the camera...

 

[epicwelshman]

Love this one. All of your bird shots are great, but I love the dynamism of this shot.

I hate how the D40 meters; its default color profile is crap too, in comparison to my D70s.

How exactly is the D40/x different in metering terms than your D70s?

Anyway, mine for the day:

 

[valdore]

Three handheld RAWs // HDR
Shutter: varied
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 17mm
ISO 100

 

[Chillijam]

Today's effort from me :

I'm not too sure that anyone else will see the same value as I do from the shot, but it pretty much captures how my nephew felt about being the centre of attention at his christening yesterday.

 

[Carl Abudephane]

.

 

[D34th]

Nobska Lighthouse, Cape Cod, MA, 1/5/08
Nikon D40 w/ Kit lens
f/8
1/1000
ISO 200
18mm

 

[TimJim]

Picture of my desk and i made the hue blue

 

[xcalibre]

The gate to Zeus's temple, Athens, Greece...

1/200
f/8

 

[Vanilla]

My contribution for today
Vanilla

 

[jordygreen]

 

[TommyD]

Three handheld RAWs // HDR
Shutter: varied
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 17mm
ISO 100

Having been a regular 'lurker' on this forum, i have decided to sign up and make this, my first post.

This photo is absolutely amazing, i cannot believe how much some of your photographs have an almost painted feel and look to them. I have been checking this forum daily now for around a month, and i'm blown away by the HDR pics you post, as well as the pictures from Doylem. Keep up the awesome work guys.

Now, to save up for a SLR and photomatix.

 

[valdore]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Carl and TommyD - welcome to the forum as well Tommy.

 

[ACbc]

Doylem...the last two pictures were really really cool. That really is weird lighting! and your pictures take advantage of it perfectly!

Here's another I took while at home. This time in the house.

Nikon D300
17-55 f/2.8 @ 18mm f/3.5
1/100 shutter
ISO 400