taking pictures
I’m finding out, I spend entirely too much time reading about photography, and looking at others work online, and very little time out taking pictures. I’m going to try to change that. I’ve been taking pictures, getting used to my gear, and having some fun. I’ve got a small boatload of images to share, the big hang up now seems to be post processing or not. I’m not sure what to do with most of my images. I’m extremely happy with 95% of the images I am keeping, as shot, but there is that 5% or so that could use some ‘punch’. I’m kind of a purist as far as my images go, afraid to have someone yell “Shopped!” as in Photoshop, and afraid to ruin an image by going overboard. I’ve got Kelby’s books on the subject, which the bits and pieces I’ve read are excellent, but I have not actually had the time to read them through.
Here’s one of my favorite photos from late June. Shows you how behind I am. Photo links to a bigger version at the Photoblog.
change orders
Just over a week ago I purchased the Sigma 10-20mm lens to experiment with wide angle photos, to shoot some landscapes and architecture. Unhappily, I don’t seem to get any satisfaction from this lens or these types of photos. I did take some keepers, but nothing I could not have taken with my 18-200 and been happy with. 10mm certainly is wide, but I just didn’t care for the photos.
So I hatched a plan, taking advantage of B&H’s awesome return policy. After returning the lens downstairs, I headed upstairs to handle (okay, you got me.. fondle is a better word), Read the rest of this entry »
handling
For about a month or so, I’ve wondered often if I made the right decision when I sold my D80, replacing it with a D300. Most troubling was the way the camera felt in my hands after I owned it. I’m fairly close to a major camera retailer, so it’s not like I didn’t handle one before I bought it. I did. I even liked it. However, once I owned it, and started to use it, I kept finding my little finger would slip off of the bottom of the camera, and the stability I had with the D80, even though that body did not fit my hand perfectly either, seemed lost.
“Get the grip” said a friend. ‘The grip balances the D300′ read many a forum post. I succumbed. I purchased the MB-D10 this past week. In hindsight, I should have gotten it with the camera. Yes, the camera is bulkier. Yes, it’s heavier. Yes, it now barely fits in my older Tamrac Velocity 8, (which will probably need replacing). No, I don’t need or plan to shoot at 8fps. Yes, I love my D300 again.
I’ve had it on for a week or so now, and don’t plan on taking it off except to remove the battery from the internal compartment. Not that the 18-200VR is a big or heavy lens, it’s not, neither is the 50mm f1.8, but the camera feels better balanced with the MB-D10 and either one of these lenses. Same with the Sigma 10-20mm. I do wish I had gotten the grip Nikon makes for the D80. Next purchase will be a RRS L bracket. Followed sometime later this year by a BH-40, (or BH-55 if I follow Thom Hogan’s advice).
Digital photography is so much less expensive than film. Groan.
Kit
Agonizingly difficult. The wrong decision. Too many choices. Any of this sound familiar? We can apply this to many aspects of our daily lives, but in this particular instance I’m talking about the tough time I’m having choosing some new photography equipment, or what some refer to as ‘kit’. Aww, “poor baby” you are probably saying to yourself. Ouch. Yet in a way, you are right . I am fortunate enough to live in a country where this is possible, fortunate enough to have a job that pays me well enough to once in a while purchase something besides the necessities, fortunate that I am able to work hard. I am also blessed, in that I have a fiancée who understands creativity, artistic needs, and plain ol gadget envy. While I myself can’t tell the difference, I am certain she sees right through me, and loves me anyway.
After the recent camera upgrade, Read the rest of this entry »
Dropping the ball
It happened a long time ago, I’ve just been loathe to admit it. I’ve been a loyal Palm user since the 2nd generation device, the Palm Pilot Personal. I loyally progressed as I outgrew the models or gadget envy took over, moving first to a Palm IIIx, then a Palm Vx, a Tungsten T3, (my favorite, and the last Palm I liked). When I finally was able to get a Treo, they were already in their later generation, the 700p, on the Verizon network, as through experience, everyone knows Verizon has had the best service.
Fast forward to today.. almost 2 years later with my Treo. I intensely dislike it. I’m worn out by the device momentarily locking up when it loses signal, for example during my commute, when I could and would like to be using it, instead it’s frozen for 2-5 seconds every 90 seconds or so. This was the device that was supposed to do it all. I find it failed at almost everything. Lousy reception, random lockups, even during calls. The first patch was supposed to help, instead, as I reported to Verizon, and waited as thousands of others reported, it broke the Treo. A patch was released later, that fixed many, but not all of the problems.
Then there is Verizon’s policy of crippling all of their devices Read the rest of this entry »
The user experience
I sold my Nikon D80 on eBay last week, after two previous failed attempts. I feel relieved, something I had never given a second thought to, my eBay ‘experience’, had always been positive. I’ve been a member since ‘98 with never a worry/hassle buying or selling. I actually sold my ‘05 F-350 on eBay, and for the amount I had wanted! This time however, was different. Different meaning bad. Just to be clear, the bad kind of different.
The Nikon DSLR world is awash in rumor regarding Nikon’s D80 replacement. The actual release of a new body to replace the D80 will, naturally, make used D80’s price plummet. I really enjoyed my D80, however, a couple of things made me really want the D300. From the day I first replaced my D70 with the D80, I had always felt like I should have gotten the D200. The grip on the D80 never quite exactly fit my hand. I was using the camera more than the D70, and in slightly harsher conditions, often worrying about the weather and the non weather-sealed D80, I had outgrown, (actually never used), the scene modes.. etc. On the D300, certain features, like Live View, I find useless, but I understand why it’s there, and perhaps someday will use it. As for the wow factor, did you see that screen ? Read the rest of this entry »
Hold on a few..
The photoblog had a .php meltdown., I’m restoring it, but it’s going to come back at it’s own page, most likely @ http://www.mikewhitman.net/photoblog/
It’s restored, however not working 100% yet. You can see it here:
http://www.mikewhitman.net/blog/ The archives are only showing 1 image per month. These are totally separate blogs, so registering on 1 does not mean you are registered on the other. I don’t know if I can synchronize the users. I know WordPress MU does this, but that’s not where I want to go.