What's the deal??? / Where are they?

[mtgoat]

I have noticed that there doesn't seem to be a lot of people very interested in photography. There are thoses of us hardcore maniacs but I don't see very much response from very many people on what they like to do, camers they use or asking any questions on the subject. Come on prove me wrong and lets hear from you! There is so much to shere with each outer in this department and we should all take advantage of it.

[Wildernessphoto]

Re: What's the deal??? / Where are they?

Originally posted by mtgoat
I have noticed that there doesn't seem to be a lot of people very interested in photography. There are thoses of us hardcore maniacs but I don't see very much response from very many people on what they like to do, camers they use or asking any questions on the subject. Come on prove me wrong and lets hear from you! There is so much to shere with each outer in this department and we should all take advantage of it.

Hi Mtgoat!
I agree! I check in every once in a while to see if someone has started a new thread, but don't see any. I'm one of those "hardcore Maniacs" you spoke of with many years of wilderness photography under my belt. I'm thinking maybe we can learn from each other!
What do you like for Camara's, lenses, and film?? (or digital)
-Gary-

The Photography of Gary F. Dean

[Kevin]

I left photography as an art years ago and just enjoy the well framed point-and-click shots with my 2.0MP digicam nowadays. While there's still a part of me interested in the quality of my work, less of me is interested in making it more than a scrapbook.

I used to do a lot of portrait work, here's one of my faves (apologies for the rough, uncropped nature of the photo... haven't gone through my portfolio in a while):

[redhawk]

I do wildlife and nature photography.

Not into shooting people at all, well, some people maybe, but not with a camera!

Ironically I have one picture that has taken first prize in every contest I ever entered it in is my grandaughter. Shot it with a $200 Minolta Point and shoot on 200 speed color and blown up to 18x24 there is no loss. The perfect picture!

I prefer Analog, I have yet to see the same clarity in digital. I use a Canon SLR, APS EOSII. I like the panoramic format. I shoot a lot of landscapes, but usually close up as opposed to pulling out.

Some of my work is on my photo website Hawk's Nest Photography

Some of my photography has appeared in magazines and one of my photos is currently in the Hamilton County Tourist Guide.

[mtgoat]

I have a couple of Canon F1N-AE's, an old Canon FTB that refuses to die, a Bronica SQ, a Lynx 4x5, an Olympus C 50 (5.0mp digital) and just got a Canon EOS-10D (6.2 digital). I am a true diehard film and fully manual nutcase. I like my Canon 800mm f5.6L the best out of all my lenses followed by my 300mm f2.8L. I am more into wildlife and some outdoor photograpy with people occupying my private pics only. I used to do weddings, model portfolios and the whole thing for quite a while but gave it up as animals are easier to get along with.

[Wildernessphoto]

LOL!! That's Good!

Originally posted by Kevin
I used to do a lot of portrait work, here's one of my faves

LOL!! That's a GREAT shot Kevin!! I wish I took it! I can see why it's your favorite!
-Gary-

[rondak100]

I have an EOS 650 ....

that takes great shots. I use to take it everywhere, and have tons of Photos. I never became very good at it, I guess.

I broke it twice while hiking and decided, since it was not making me money, it would have to stay home on the tough trips untis it pays its way!

Mike

[windsong781]

I'm also interested in photography, but am no expert as I have no formal training, just trial and error and what I learn from reading. I use a Pentax Zoom 105 R point and shoot while hiking because of it's small size. It takes pretty decent pictures most of the time and has the ability to adjust exposure, etc. I also have a Pentax ME Super with several lenses, that I inherited from a friend and have never used. I have a Minolta XG SE with a 45MM 1:2 lense which I used extensively in the past, but not so much recently. My first SLR was a Yashica Lynx 5000 that took some great pictures. I wonder if it still works. I am interested in the Canon EOS 20D for digital, but the cost has been holding me back for a long time now. I have a picture that I need some help with. It was taken with my Pentax Zoom 105R with flash on. I had to act fast due to what I was photographing, an Eastern Timber Rattlesnake, so flash was necessary as there was very limited lighting and the snake was in a defensive posture. I need to know how to get rid of a shadow in the picture that is very obvious, to me anyway. Under the snakes tongue, you can see a shadow of the tongue. I know that there is professional software out there that will clean up the picture, but is there anything else in the less expensive versions that would work. I will try to send the picture. Hopefully I have sized it properly. It looks great on my desktop.

[Kevin]

Windsong, in that case I would take the photo into Photoshop (yes, it is expensive software) and manually lighten the shadow. It's not that hard to do really, but does take some know-how.

Don't know of any free photo editting software that will allow you to lasso the section. That's a tool I've only seen in photoshop. In other programs you could color match the shadow and then lighten the matched color in the palette, then literally paint the lightened color over the shadow to create a blending effect (which is all my lasso method would end up doing anyway). One mothod (painting the shadow manually) takes longer than the other (lasso-highlighting the shadow and lightening it). Mileage will vary based on experience with photo editting software.

[kurtteej]

I'm very into photography -- http://www.outdoorphotoguide.com, click on "photo gallery" down on the right side to see some of my stuff.

My only problem is that my wife goes a little nuts when I want to go into the woods by myself to take pictures. She's watched too many movies with maniacs in the woods killing anything that moves. I'm heading up to the High Peaks in September to do some shooting.

[redhawk]

Windsong, in that case I would take the photo into Photoshop (yes, it is expensive software) and manually lighten the shadow. It's not that hard to do really, but does take some know-how.

Don't know of any free photo editting software that will allow you to lasso the section. That's a tool I've only seen in photoshop. In other programs you could color match the shadow and then lighten the matched color in the palette, then literally paint the lightened color over the shadow to create a blending effect (which is all my lasso method would end up doing anyway). One mothod (painting the shadow manually) takes longer than the other (lasso-highlighting the shadow and lightening it). Mileage will vary based on experience with photo editting software.

Jasc Paint Shop Pro is as good as Photoshop and about 1/4 of the price.

Pretty much all the same tools.

You can download an evaluation copy at Jasc.com. You'll need a broadband connection though since its about an 80 meg download....

[jareth6]

My fiance has a Canon Digital Rebel that she bought for herself last summer. Before that she used an older Minolta SLR, with various lenses. (She has since switched to slide film with this camera.) We also have a Canon Powershot A60 that takes nice shots for a little 2MP point-and-shoot. I just bought her a 75-300 mm telephoto Canon autofocus lens for the Rebel with the Image Stabilization to get those close-ups of loons, otters, beavers, etc.

She's an artist and teacher. She was sort of at a loss for inspiration for a few years - couldn't get excited about shooting. Until I brought her to the Adirondacks. She has found all kinds of inspiration in the lakes, streams, and mountains of the Southern 'Dacks (Fall Stream, the Kunjamuk, the East Canada, Snowy Mt., little Evergreen Lake).

Now all 3 cameras come with us on our excursions. I am her pack mule - I usually have to lug the ones she's not using at the moment. Photos are good but these days are mostly used as material for printmaking (linoleum reductions and jigsaws).

[windsong781]

Thanks to all for the suggestions on the different software products out there for editing photos. If I ever buy the digital camera that I am interested in, I will want to invest in a full version of profession editing software. I am going to download the trial version of Jasc Paint Shop Pro to see what it can do for me. In the mean time, a friend of the family is going to edit the photo at work where he uses Photoshop Professional. I had to log a lot of miles hiking many different regions in NE to get this photo. The picture will never get old for me and will always remind me of the unbelievable feeling that I had when I first saw the rattlesnake, which is an endangered species in NYS. I guess this is the beauty of photography, to engrave in our minds the images of things that are such an important part of our lives. I have attached another picture taken last year in NH.

[jareth6]

Photoshop Elements is a much less expensive than the full version - $99.99 on Adobe's website. Not sure if the lasso is there, but many of the other Photoshop tools are.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/overview.html

[Adk Keith]

OK you guys have shamed me into it.

I have a Olympus OM-1 that has been with me since '78 and an OM-G. Lenses include the 50 mm that came on the OM-1, 70-210 macro tele, and I recently picked up a 28-80 marco tele to replace my 28 mm wide angle. Also have a 500mm. Other equipment includes a Bogen and compact tripods, a couple of flashes including a nice Sunpak and various optical slaves and cable releases, flash brackets etc.

I have been a Kodachrome shooter for ever, Mostly ASA64. I love the greens and saturation of the film. Currently I am experimenting with Ectachrome 400 for the speed and in an effort to ween myself from Kodachrome.

I shoot mostly nature with lots of close-ups. I've been known take lenses off and shoot through them backwards and hold odd combinations of lenses, flashes and reflective items to get shots.

A couple of years ago my oldest daughter, then 15, expressed an interest so I got her an Olympus OM-2000 and built a dark room. I did allot of B&W during High school and college and decided to get back into it with her. Well, she lost interest and I have let a few batches of chemicals go bad for lack of use, but the dark room stands ready. I have a few rolls waiting to be developed and generally keep one camera loaded with bulk rolled Tri-X.

I also have a $5 35mm pos for snaps. I would like to get a digital but haven't been moved enough to actually spend the coin.

Anybody want to rent a darkroom?