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[brerwolfe]

Had to stop and just look around a couple times when driving down the California coastline. Incredible views in every direction.

As I got out of the car to walk around for a minute I noticed this one little house halfway down the cliff and had to take a photo. In my mind, this location was begging for a hermit to claim it as home. Isolated from the world with the perfect view.


Ideal Isolation by brerwolfe, on Flickr

The lighthouse from my previous post can be seen on that giant rock in the distance.

 

[JadedWriter]

Had to stop and just look around a couple times when driving down the California coastline. Incredible views in every direction.

As I got out of the car to walk around for a minute I noticed this one little house halfway down the cliff and had to take a photo. In my mind, this location was begging for a hermit to claim it as home. Isolated from the world with the perfect view.


Ideal Isolation by brerwolfe, on Flickr

The lighthouse from my previous post can be seen on that giant rock in the distance.

God damn, owner of that house better pray for no mudslide.

 

[captive]

My process is generally the same every time.

-Bring down Highlights
-Raise Shadows
-Hold "Alt" key and raise Whites until you see specs of color
-Hold "Alt" key and lower blacks until you see general shape
-Bump Clarity to +15 or +20
-Adjust Curves
-Adjust Color Luminance
-Adjust Noise Reduction
-Done

And in the case of this specific photo I played with the Split Toning panel a bit. It might sound like a lot, but I just work my way down the right panel in Lightroom and I'm done. If I spend 5 minutes on a photo then, personally, I'm taking too long.

your process sounds almost exactly like mine even down to your spilt toning on specific photos. Except for the bolded, which i learned something new today, so thanks for that!

 

[thespot84]

your process sounds almost exactly like mine even down to your spilt toning on specific photos. Except for the bolded, which i learned something new today, so thanks for that!

what does alt with the sliders do? I did curves for a while but I've now been dragging the histogram directly until I get what I want. I then do most of what's listed, though I usually do a lens correction and mess with vignette and the dehaze slider (which seems to do what edge glow in photoshop does).

Lightroom has look up tables too that I mess with from time to time

 

[snaffles]

what does alt with the sliders do?

It brings up a mask over the image so that you can see when the blacks and whites start to blow out. If you already use the histogram for the same thing it isn't really a necessary step.

 

[thespot84]

It brings up a mask over the image so that you can see when the blacks and whites start to blow out. If you already use the histogram for the same thing it isn't really a necessary step.

ah yeah i click those little arrows on the histogram, nice to know i can do it with sliders too.

 

[alundra311]

Wow! Thanks for this.

Really amazing what a good post processing can do to an image.

My process is generally the same every time.

-Bring down Highlights
-Raise Shadows
-Hold "Alt" key and raise Whites until you see specs of color
-Hold "Alt" key and lower blacks until you see general shape
-Bump Clarity to +15 or +20
-Adjust Curves
-Adjust Color Luminance
-Adjust Noise Reduction
-Done

And in the case of this specific photo I played with the Split Toning panel a bit. It might sound like a lot, but I just work my way down the right panel in Lightroom and I'm done. If I spend 5 minutes on a photo then, personally, I'm taking too long.

Nice!

I haven't really messed around much with post processing, but this is what I usually do (I'm not very good by the way):

-White balance (if necessary)
-Adjust Curves
-Adjust Highlights and Shadows
-Sharpening
-Noise reduction

Will try your adjustments and see how it will improve my image and post processing.

 

[JadedWriter]

DSC_0689 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0678 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0613 by Marcus Beasley, on FlickrDSC_0725 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0687 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0587 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0596 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
More here:
and Here:
I was quite active today...

 

[Schryver]

Got to try out my new camera with a tripod for the first time (and the first time going further than a block or two from my house with it). Also used the helpful tips from earlier about Lightroom settings.
20160304-PV Night by Matt Schryver, on Flickr
20160304-Lifeguard tower by Matt Schryver, on Flickr

 

[Pachimari]

I have started photographing as well guys, and I am gonna go take the education in photography. But I'm only now starting to learn about doing it manually, and using Lightroom, so I hope you guys who know more about it, will judge my photos when I upload some?

 

[M52B28]

Here are my photos from a hike that I did one week ago.

Question about 500px: do people generally swamp photos with likes? I had an Flickr, and the thing that feels different is that people are actually looking at the photos that I take and are liking them. I got an email that mentioned that my photo is "popular", but it has about 14-15 likes on it. I've only had my page for about a month or two, and I barely upload to it. I'm only using it for a portfolio, so it seems strange.

Anyone here want to comment on that?

I have started photographing as well guys, and I am gonna go take the education in photography. But I'm only now starting to learn about doing it manually, and using Lightroom, so I hope you guys who know more about it, will judge my photos when I upload some?

I'll give you some criticism, I guess. I'm not the best, but I feel like I can give some good advice for a beginner. Throw some pictures up, or if you'd like, just drop a PM my way.

 

[Pachimari]

Bottle of Wine (correction) by Anders Pedersen, on Flickr

This is the first of my photographies I have been playing around with in Lightroom.

What are you guys doing for watermarks?

[edit]
I just noticed those smashed out tones of black and white. Strange, that effect only comes up when I add my watermark in Photoshop, and save it as a .tiff.

 

[Pepto]

What are you guys doing for watermarks?

I leave them out. They usually are ugly and ruin the photo.

 

[Pachimari]

I leave them out. They usually are ugly and ruin the photo.

Alright. I'll think about it.

Do Flickr compress ones photographs? And should I save my photos as .tiff's?

 

[VisceralBowl]

Alright. I'll think about it.

Do Flickr compress ones photographs?

Anything other than the full resolution image option is compressed and sharpened.

 

[Pachimari]

I see. So the photo everyone in my family will see is the compressed one, unless they know how to go to my Flickr and see the original sized version.

I don't know if this belongs here, or if it is better to ask in the camera equipment thread, but I'm currently practicing shooting manually with the Exposure Triangle. Changing the ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture depending on conditions. But even after an hour of coaching, I'm still not sure when to change the aperture, iso or shutter speed.

If my shutter speed is open longer, then that allows more light, but also for blur effects on moving objects? And the higher the iso, the more grainy it becomes, but can be necessary in dark areas. While aperture is letting in more light, as it is opening up like an eye.

 

[Number45]

Aperture also controls your depth of field - the bigger the aperture (smaller number) the shallower the depth of field.

 

[vern]

Question about 500px: do people generally swamp photos with likes? .

Yes. 500px people just like everything and leave empty comments with the hope that you'll like them back and get their photo "popular."

 

[JadedWriter]

First actual photoshoot using a flash gel and off camera lighting, I got some interesting results.
DSC_0769 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0766 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0752 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0743-2 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
More here:

 

[jongkookie]

Cross posting from Auto-GAF... here's the 15 best pics I took from the Cars and Coffee meet here in Dallas today:

















And here's the link to the entire album: https://flic.kr/s/aHskuZrvnL

 

[VisceralBowl]

-
random pointless bokeh

 

[Pachimari]

Aperture also controls your depth of field - the bigger the aperture (smaller number) the shallower the depth of field.

And the bigger the number, the wider the depth of field?

How do I know which one to configure (of the iso, aperture and shutter speed) ? Because when I am practicing and shooting photos now, I can take 10 different pictures until I get the lighting right, and the photo to look natural.

 

[Koriandrr]

So I did my first lingerie/boudoir shoot. It's still cosplay, but really felt more like lingerie shoot in the end. I'm quite happy with the results. Was using my new 60inch umbrella as a shoot-trough and two speedlights on it for the soft look. Criticism welcome and appreciated.

Slightly NSFW (lingerie)

P3050879-1 by Rossi Ivanova, on Flickr
P3050525-1 by Rossi Ivanova, on Flickr
P3050742-1 by Rossi Ivanova, on Flickr
P3050933-1 by Rossi Ivanova, on Flickr

full gallery here

 

[sfedai0]

Late night Kyoto by sfedai0, on Flickr

 

[Number45]

And the bigger the number, the wider the depth of field?

How do I know which one to configure (of the iso, aperture and shutter speed) ? Because when I am practicing and shooting photos now, I can take 10 different pictures until I get the lighting right, and the photo to look natural.

Think about what you want from the picture.

If motion is important - you want to freeze the action or show some motion blur - your primary focus would be shutter speed (or use shutter priority).

If depth of field is important - you want to isolate a subject or shoot a scene with everything in focus - then your primary focus would be aperture size (or use aperture priority).

ISO should always be as low as you can get it without going too low in shutter speed (too slow and you may struggle to hold the camera steady while its open) or as high as you need it to get an acceptable shutter speed while giving you the aperture setting you want.

So decide what your picture needs and make the call.

 

[Pachimari]

So the higher number aperture, the more depth of field I'll get? I'm going to a Miss Philippines event next month and want to shoot all the models with some zoom, so I imagine my priority should be the aperture.

 

[VisceralBowl]

So the higher number aperture, the more depth of field I'll get?

Yes.

 

[JadedWriter]

So the higher number aperture, the more depth of field I'll get? I'm going to a Miss Philippines event next month and want to shoot all the models with some zoom, so I imagine my priority should be the aperture.

Get a constant F4 aperture zoom or 2.8 if you can afford it.

 

[VisceralBowl]

 

[JadedWriter]

So I did my first lingerie/boudoir shoot. It's still cosplay, but really felt more like lingerie shoot in the end. I'm quite happy with the results. Was using my new 60inch umbrella as a shoot-trough and two speedlights on it for the soft look. Criticism welcome and appreciated.

Slightly NSFW (lingerie)




full gallery here

I have a feeling that set up only works indoors. I tried using my umbrella on my last outdoor shoot and the wind kept trying to slam that and my flash into a brick wall. I'm contemplating just getting a small softbox to put on my flash to diffuse it for off camera flash outdoors.

 

[sneaky77]

So I did my first lingerie/boudoir shoot. It's still cosplay, but really felt more like lingerie shoot in the end. I'm quite happy with the results. Was using my new 60inch umbrella as a shoot-trough and two speedlights on it for the soft look. Criticism welcome and appreciated.

I think you do great work and I am no where good enough to really comment much but the one thing that usually gets at me from your photos is that you tend to cut off limbs at weird spots, like just the elbow is missing, or the tip of the fingers.. which would probably be fixed by taking a step back. I don't know, it strikes me as odd.. but I do enjoy your posts.

 

[Pachimari]

Get a constant F4 aperture zoom or 2.8 if you can afford it.

I don't think I can afford anything but this Top-Max 420-800mm f/8.3-16 High Definition Telephoto Lens before going to the Philippines. Might that do a good job for me while zooming in on the models?

 

[VisceralBowl]

edit: cont in equipment thread

 

[Hyoushi]

Tripod selfie, Sony a7 + Sony Zeiss FE 35 f/2.8. Turned out OK, maybe should have gone to 3.5.

 

[Koriandrr]

I have a feeling that set up only works indoors. I tried using my umbrella on my last outdoor shoot and the wind kept trying to slam that and my flash into a brick wall. I'm contemplating just getting a small softbox to put on my flash to diffuse it for off camera flash outdoors.

Well, in an indoor setting, I'm surrounded by 4 pure white walls, which changes everything. For outdoors I would really recommend carrying some sort of weights. I LOVE outdoor shoots, but I've had flying umbrellas all over the place far too many times, so I just got the smallest possible heavy weights that I could find and just put them on my light stand. Either that or have a person to hold them, a helper or two are always great to have on fashion type of shoots.

I think you do great work and I am no where good enough to really comment much but the one thing that usually gets at me from your photos is that you tend to cut off limbs at weird spots, like just the elbow is missing, or the tip of the fingers.. which would probably be fixed by taking a step back. I don't know, it strikes me as odd.. but I do enjoy your posts.

Thank you very much, I'm really flattered. Also you're absolutely right - I do it all the time. Thank you for noticing too, really means you looked at my work as a whole haha! My perfect excuse - 25mm (on a micro 4/3 so essentially a 50mm) is the widest lens I have and when I end up shooting in tiny spaces there's only that much I can do. That said, it is just an excuse, there's ways to work around it and I do ask my models to move a lot. I actually just finished a shoot on which I finally borrowed a 14mm just to avoid that from happening again, as I was shooting at my place again.

12-40mm is literally the last lens I have on my wishlist that I want to get. I have a tele lens that I use for concerts and the 25mm. Once I get my 12-40 my life is complete lol. But once again, that's an excuse. I really shouldn't be doing this shit to begin with

 

[Astral/H3X]

Been too busy to really get out and get photos, but here we go!

Night at Lake Michigan Yacht Club by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr
20160305-DSC00385.jpg by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr
Dancin' Green by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr
She Said Yes by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr
Tunnel by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr
Sweet Blues by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr
20160217-DSC00217.jpg by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr

 

[NysGAF]

Afternoon Paella by Pieter, on Flickr

Ford Park by Pieter, on Flickr

Tami and Eddie's Wedding by Pieter, on Flickr

 

[JadedWriter]

Well, in an indoor setting, I'm surrounded by 4 pure white walls, which changes everything. For outdoors I would really recommend carrying some sort of weights. I LOVE outdoor shoots, but I've had flying umbrellas all over the place far too many times, so I just got the smallest possible heavy weights that I could find and just put them on my light stand. Either that or have a person to hold them, a helper or two are always great to have on fashion type of shoots.

How do you attach them to the stand? I like the look of off camera flash a lot, but I don't want to have to replace my flash anytime soon cause of the wind and the fact that my flash is attached to a parasail.
I was fucking around with some statues and took pictures of them at different angles when my shoot ended yesterday:
DSC_0786 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0794 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr
DSC_0795 by Marcus Beasley, on Flickr

 

[snaffles]

Afternoon Paella by Pieter, on Flickr

These are great, this one is my favourite of the bunch.

Been too busy to really get out and get photos, but here we go!

Night at Lake Michigan Yacht Club by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr

Really like this one too, nice long exposure shot. Did you buy a new camera? I thought you were using an A6000 previously?

 

[Koriandrr]

How do you attach them to the stand? I like the look of off camera flash a lot, but I don't want to have to replace my flash anytime soon cause of the wind and the fact that my flash is attached to a parasail.

You get a light stand, any will do imo (some people will argue that you need the ones that have a bounce-back thing so that you don't damage your flashes, I'm just being extra careful and it's been all fine) and then you get a mount with hold for flash or multiple flashes and umbrella hole. Like this. I also carry a small screwdriver around, to make sure it's tight on my flashes, don't want them falling off the coldshoe.

 

[JadedWriter]

You get a light stand, any will do imo (some people will argue that you need the ones that have a bounce-back thing so that you don't damage your flashes, I'm just being extra careful and it's been all fine) and then you get a mount with hold for flash or multiple flashes and umbrella hole. Like this. I also carry a small screwdriver around, to make sure it's tight on my flashes, don't want them falling off the coldshoe.

I meant how do you attach the weights to the stand. I have one of those umbrella hole things already.

 

[Koriandrr]

I meant how do you attach the weights to the stand. I have one of those umbrella hole things already.

Oh right, sorry! I just leave them at the base
I think there's actual weights for that specific purpose, but I haven't really looked into them. I've seen other photographers use like two balls that weight around 5kg each and they're connected with a cord and they wrap them around the stand. I just improvise, whatever works. I also live in the UK, so the wind here is like INSANE. But I'd still take my umbrellas for every outdoor shoot lol.

 

[JadedWriter]

Oh right, sorry! I just leave them at the base
I think there's actual weights for that specific purpose, but I haven't really looked into them. I've seen other photographers use like two balls that weight around 5kg each and they're connected with a cord and they wrap them around the stand. I just improvise, whatever works. I also live in the UK, so the wind here is like INSANE. But I'd still take my umbrellas for every outdoor shoot lol.

Yeah I should get something for that, but I don't want to carry around more weight for a shoot. I only have one stand currently so I'm thinking about just getting a small case for that one stand and just see if I can cram an umbrella into it.

 

[Astral/H3X]

These are great, this one is my favourite of the bunch.


Really like this one too, nice long exposure shot. Did you buy a new camera? I thought you were using an A6000 previously?

Yup! Got an A7II with my tax refund, but sadly haven't been able to take too many photos with it. T-T

That was also taken with the Samyang 14mm, which IIRC is the widest possible lens for the A7II without going into fisheye territory.

Wait, I can add the lenses to the metadata... I should go do that lol.

 

[Koriandrr]

Yup! Got an A7II with my tax refund, but sadly haven't been able to take too many photos with it. T-T

That was also taken with the Samyang 14mm, which IIRC is the widest possible lens for the A7II without going into fisheye territory.

Wait, I can add the lenses to the metadata... I should go do that lol.

Man, the A7II looks so sexy. I had a really hard time choosing between that and the Olympus E-M1 which I'm getting in the end, but still, a very close call. Just can't justify the price difference for the full frame. If it was on sale I would've chosen it lol. Can't wait to see photos!

 

[Cheddahz]

 

[Pachimari]

Night at Lake Michigan Yacht Club by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr

How was this shot? Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed?

I'm a beginner, and would really like to know, how clean photos like these are captured, especially at night time.

 

[JadedWriter]

How was this shot? Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed?

I'm a beginner, and would really like to know, how clean photos like these are captured, especially at night time.

He's probably using the 14mm Samyang at maybe F4, maybe F11 tops? The camera being a mirrorless full frame means it handles noise and iso cranking pretty damn well. Whatever noise there was was probably cleaned up in post processing. Is that a 30 second shutter speed? It's a definite long exposure shot done on a tripod.

 

[Astral/H3X]

It has all that info in the photo link on Flickr haha.

But ISO 400, 30 seconds, at f2.8, on the 14mm.

It looked pitch black outside.

 

[JadedWriter]

It has all that info in the photo link on Flickr haha.

But ISO 400, 30 seconds, at f2.8, on the 14mm.

It looked pitch black outside.

The aperture and focal length wasn't stated on Flickr, I pretty much just estimated everything in the above comment. I was dead on except for the aperture.