Photo of the Day - January 2010

[pdxflint]

As always: Astute observations

I considered this and dismissed the idea outright. Pearly whites may kill the illusion, but gunky teeth would have killed the picture, demolishing almost any chance of the shot becoming an advert. Please continue in the cranky editor role--you have a sharp eye and a solid knowledge of what constitutes good photography.

For what you were trying to achieve, you hit it on the head. I certainly agree that if the goal was a possible advertising image, probably better the sparkly teeth are spotless. Just consider my previous comment in the context of seeing the picture simply as an artistic illusion rather than a commercial image... cheers! -phil

BTW: I'm always fascinated with what you'll come up with next.

 

[maddagascar]

dancing lights..first time messing with long exposure..hopefully i can get good at taking these..lol.

how come some people set night shots to like a slow shutter speed but with a smaller aperature like an F/22 or something.

then i see some photos where its slow shutter speed but a larger aperature F/3.5 or something...

help?

 

[flosseR]

the church cliché ... just had to do it

 

[EmiLy™]

Thanks a lot guys.
follow my flickr, I'm doing a project 365. a photo a day.

Today's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyxd/4296322362/
This is my dog, he's a 2 year old shih tzu. very cute, but hungry dog. So this picture is called "avoir une faim de loup." (french idiomatic expression)

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I found this big abandoned silo thing the other day with a friend and snapped some pictures.

I think it's pretty cool other than the insanely blown out background.

 

[Phrasikleia]

how come some people set night shots to like a slow shutter speed but with a smaller aperature like an F/22 or something.

then i see some photos where its slow shutter speed but a larger aperature F/3.5 or something...

help?

The relationship between aperture and shutter speed is the same for night shots as for day shots. Aperture gives you control over depth of field and over how much light comes in. Shutter speed also gives you control over how much light comes in. All exposures are a negotiation between these two, with ISO sensitivity as a third parameter. Which combination is right for your image depends on what effect you want to achieve and how much light is available. A good read on this topic is Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

the church cliché ... just had to do it

Some nice light on the church, but the blue duotone "cliché" comes from shots that try to emulate or emphasize the cold, eerie effects of moonlight. Since your photo has an obviously sunny sky with puffy white clouds, the blue tint seems out of place.

 

[Maxxamillian]

For what you were trying to achieve, you hit it on the head. I certainly agree that if the goal was a possible advertising image, probably better the sparkly teeth are spotless. Just consider my previous comment in the context of seeing the picture simply as an artistic illusion rather than a commercial image... cheers! -phil

BTW: I'm always fascinated with what you'll come up with next.

I always consider what you have to say. I have yet to meet anyone else with such an eye for detail. It shows in your comments and more importantly, your work. Thanks for taking the time

 

[TheReef]

Very beautiful work. Every time I see your photos, I wonder how magical you could make Easter Island look Have you ever been there by chance?

Thank you, sorry I haven't been to Easter Island but agree it would be a great place for sunsets! It's now summer in Australia (very hot today!), so after the regular late afternoon storm passes through I always keep an eye out for the big bright storm cloud.

dancing lights..first time messing with long exposure..hopefully i can get good at taking these..lol.

how come some people set night shots to like a slow shutter speed but with a smaller aperature like an F/22 or something.

then i see some photos where its slow shutter speed but a larger aperature F/3.5 or something...

help?

A reason for the difference (assuming identical natural lighting conditions) could be that the photographer was using a neutral density (ND) filter, which essentially blocks out light enabling you to shoot a longer exposure without having to use a smaller apperture like f/22 (or an even longer exposure at f/22). That's how you'd normally achieve blurred water (for example) during daylight conditions as there's too much light.

 

[BarryJ]

Fire tower, frosty morning

Exposure Mode: Auto exposure
Exposure Time: 1 / 500
FNumber: 4
Focal Length: 17.4
ISO Speed Ratings: 100

 

[CK Williams]

Grand Canyon view (clickable)

 

[wheezy]

A Nice Storm Rolled in....

Canon EOS 5D Mark II :: 40 mm :: f 8 :: 1/50 sec :: iso 2500

 

[maddagascar]

Thank you, sorry I haven't been to Easter Island but agree it would be a great place for sunsets! It's now summer in Australia (very hot today!), so after the regular late afternoon storm passes through I always keep an eye out for the big bright storm cloud.



A reason for the difference (assuming identical natural lighting conditions) could be that the photographer was using a neutral density (ND) filter, which essentially blocks out light enabling you to shoot a longer exposure without having to use a smaller apperture like f/22 (or an even longer exposure at f/22). That's how you'd normally achieve blurred water (for example) during daylight conditions as there's too much light.

is a neutral density filter a filter to just pop on, or do you have to be at a certain angle like the polarizers and actually move them around. is it like the UV where you just pop it on and leave it?

 

[redbuzzybug]

is a neutral density filter a filter to just pop on, or do you have to be at a certain angle like the polarizers and actually move them around. is it like the UV where you just pop it on and leave it?

Maddagascar , ND filters just need to be screwed on to the lens, no angles to worry about. A neutral density filter looks like a grey tinted lens, it minimise light from entering the lens and camera. There are several grades ND4 , ND6 ND8, 8 being the darkest tint. The idea of using ND filter is so that you can slow the aperture (a stop slower on). Typical example of using the filter is creating waterfall effect (misty look) whilst in daylight time.

There are many other reasons , it does give landscape clouds and sky, a bit more 'pop' , Some filters are 'graduated ND filter' which only tints the upper half of the lens, its what most landscape photographers use when the landscape is unbalance in light, eg. sky is too bright in comparison to the foreground ,

An example of ND filter used, I shot this at sunrise, morning in Sydney

 

[TheReef]

is a neutral density filter a filter to just pop on, or do you have to be at a certain angle like the polarizers and actually move them around. is it like the UV where you just pop it on and leave it?

Yes it's only graduated ND (half half) that need to be positioned specially to darken the sky.

Here's an example of using both a ND and a ND grad stacked (using a Cokin holder in my case but you can get screw on ones like UV filters).

Pentax K10D - 8 sec - f/6.7 - ISO 100 - 15mm (22mm eqiv)

 

[mcavjame]

very nice, i like it. did you do like a really fast shutter speed and a larger aperture opening? very nice, i wanna try that combination setting.

Thanks for the kind feedback. I know it's not a really great content photo, but I was just walking into work from the parking lot and noticed the sun peeking up on the horizon with nice reflected colours in the snow. I didn't have a tripod with me so I bumped the ISO up to 1600 and shot aperture priority wide open at f4 with an ND grad 6. The resulting shutter was 1/8000.

 

[Doylem]

Captions would help, yeah. Also, Doylem, do you really need to restrict the participants to owners of a "digital SLR"? Wouldn't any camera with manual controls be sufficient? Even a point-and-shoot with M mode?

I'm sure your participants will get a lot out of your workshops. I almost feel as though I owe you a workshop fee for all I've gleaned from your contributions to this forum!

Thanks to everyone (on the forum and via email) who's offered both encouragement and advice about my new business venture, running landscape photography workshops. I've taken them all to heart.

I've tried to define our potential customers - in terms of experience/ability - so that people will be kinda on the same wavelength. But nothing's 'set in stone'...

Phrasikleia... you know you'll feel better when you've posted that cheque...

 

[grassland]

Northern Ontario

Canada Geese

 

[Designer Dale]

Clear Creek. Mountain Loop Highway, North Cascades in January.

EXIF Summary: 1/4s f/8.0 ISO100 28mm


Dale

 

[LittleCanonKid]

Overlooking

 

[BarryJ]

Donny, Ice Fishing

Sony DSC F717
Fill Flash
Exposure Mode: Auto exposure
Exposure Time: 1 / 160
Flash: Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected
FNumber: 4
Focal Length: 10.2
ISO Speed Ratings: 100

 

[Maxxamillian]

Deliciously nostalgic for me. Well done

 

[Keebler]

Sony DSC F717
Fill Flash
Exposure Mode: Auto exposure
Exposure Time: 1 / 160
Flash: Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected
FNumber: 4
Focal Length: 10.2
ISO Speed Ratings: 100

dangit BarryJ! That makes me wanna go ice fishing nothing but peace and quiet out on a lake

 

[romanaz]

snagged this sunset shot at the last minute tonight up @ Merrill Creek Reservoir in NJ.

 

[NathanCH]

Canon EOS 5D Mark II :: 40 mm :: f 8 :: 1/50 sec :: iso 2500

holy-scape! Is this a pano?

 

[Phrasikleia]

We finally had some nice weather (for a few hours) today. A shot for the architecture admirers out there: