[gaffo]

March 25, 2011 at 10:36 am

one thing to look out for in relation to the lower end nikons is if you plan to use primes the low end camera bodies don’t have a motor to drive the auto focus on the lens so this would limit you prime lens choice to the 35 1.8G and the 50 1.4G unless you want to MF

http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;

[gaffo]

March 18, 2011 at 10:19 am

I agree with snaphappy the black and whites are fantastic !

[gaffo]

November 23, 2010 at 10:15 am

you can buy a kit from http://www.bokehmasterskit.com/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false; – I have it – plenty of pre cut shapes great for this time of year especially with all the Christmas lights etc …. works best on a 50 1.8 or 1.4 they have some recommendations on the site

[gaffo]

November 22, 2010 at 11:49 am

you will get fantastic results with a 50 mm prime lens, especially if you shoot people

Great for low light and really sharp.

I use a 50 1.4 as my main lens.

Its streets ahead of your currenly lenses.
paul

[gaffo]

November 19, 2010 at 2:42 pm

thanks Dave will check it out
Paul

[gaffo]

November 16, 2010 at 4:48 pm

really nice – there are few stray hairs across the eyes which are distracting. Nice black and white conversion. Definitely one for the wall

[gaffo]

November 11, 2010 at 11:08 am

On books – I have found that the Scot Kelby “The Digital Photography Book”, Volume 1,2,3 are great for getting immediate improvements in your photography. They are written like a collection of tips, well written and you’ll get through the books in no time and soon start to see improvements.

Paul

[gaffo]

November 8, 2010 at 2:03 pm

I have a d300 and often use the picture controls to for general available light of my kids in the house and it works quite well to give a light sepia look. I always shoot raw and jpeg so I always have the colour version available. see pic below more or less straight from the camera
Picture Control
contrast +1
filter effect orange
toning sepia 2

[gaffo]

June 28, 2010 at 1:21 pm

Damien – i will take the Giottos MH 1302-652 ballhead and Joby Gorillapod for the asking + P+P

PM me with details

thanks
P

[gaffo]

June 28, 2010 at 9:46 am

BUMP –

[gaffo]

June 24, 2010 at 11:25 am

BTW I bought the 35 1.8 g from Birmingham’s cameras ordered on Friday in Cavan on Monday morning – dearer than the wed but worth it – you can negotiate on the delivery etc

P

[gaffo]

June 24, 2010 at 11:11 am

if you currently only have kit lens I would get the 50 1.4 G or the 35 1.8G as you will find it more versatile than the 60 2.8 or a longer lens. Both the 50 1.4 and 35 1.8 are great for available light.

The 50 1.4 is the lens I use most for people shots – I know the longer focal length would be better for portraits but the distance required between the photographer and the subject can be a problem with longer focal lengths

I have also just bought the 35 1.8G as I wanted to go a bit wider ( more environmental).

I would have a think about exactly what type of portraits you intend to before you invest and do a quick search on flicker for each of the lenses and see if you like what you see.

[gaffo]

June 22, 2010 at 1:07 pm

Hi Ciaran

Good pic!
I like the processing but the burnt out highlights on the child’s face are distracting.

Also I think it would be great pic with the child as the subject .. the expression on her face is great but the guy in the background it to prominent for me. For me a crop and darken down the background slightly and you have great pic ……just my opinion

cheers
paul

[gaffo]

June 22, 2010 at 12:20 pm

Like the pics, fantastic location.

one way to get your daughter and the background exposed correctly is to expose correctly for the background and then to use flash to light your daughter.

An easy way to do this would be to get the correct exposure for the background dial it manually into the camera and the play with the flash in manual until you are happy with the exposure and you now have both the background your daughter correctly exposed. The trick is make is look like you haven’t used flash by balancing the two exposures.

Do a google search for balancing flash and daylight.

here is a quick tutorial.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101balancing-flash-with.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;

here is an example of this ( not mine its by Peter Searle [fantastic environmental portraits]) although I expect there was more than just a flash used…..

Watch your white balance as you camera may switch the white balance to flash as soon as you turn on you flash this will alter the colour of the image so set the white balance manually to suit the main light.

if I were you I’d go back and try it a again as the location is fantastic

Paul

[gaffo]

June 18, 2010 at 2:57 pm

thanks appreciate the advice

P