Joey's Gallery: Backroads of Michigan

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I think good photgraphs are not necessarily made with a good equipment (although it helps!), equally good pictures are just as possible with modest cameras. At the end of the day the most important thing is youre vision/interpretation of what you are about to photograph, the camera is simply to aid you to capure it. Just keep practicing as the guys are probably already telling you. Keep up the good work

Truer words have never been spoken. It’s all about the eye. The camera is simply a tool to help achieve that vision. I’ve seen brilliant work with some of the crassest cameras (Justine Quinnell’s pinhole camera in mouth comes to mind). Obviously better/more expensive equipment can sometimes help achieve certain thing you might have envisaged from a technical standpoint, however it certainly doesn’t make a better photographer.

I guess the beauty of something like the 1000D is having a camera that is (for its price) very versatile with all manual options available to you. Better glass etc etc is just icing on the cake.

 

[boiltheocean]

The second water shot is much much better than the first. Personally I feel the first shot looks abit unrealistic whereas the second shot retains detail in the water aswell as action, best of both worlds! 👍

The shot of your buddy is impressive, I'm loving the progress already.

 

[Joey D]

Nice pictures.. I especially like the 2nd and 3rd one

Thanks 👍!

Dude you are in the same sort of position as I am in that I am no expert photgrapher. I think good photgraphs are not necessarily made with a good equipment (although it helps!), equally good pictures are just as possible with modest cameras. At the end of the day the most important thing is youre vision/interpretation of what you are about to photograph, the camera is simply to aid you to capure it. Just keep practicing as the guys are probably already telling you. Keep up the good work

Thanks for the comments! In essence I'm finding this to be true for the most part. I have noticed the jump from the Powershot SD1100IS to the Rebel XS as I have more control and what not. However my buddy has the Rebel XSi which was $150 more than my camera and I honestly can't really tell the difference between shooting with that and my camera since we both have the same lenses. Even my friends with the even better equipment don't really do any better or worse than I do with my entry level.

Truer words have never been spoken. It’s all about the eye. The camera is simply a tool to help achieve that vision. I’ve seen brilliant work with some of the crassest cameras (Justine Quinnell’s pinhole camera in mouth comes to mind). Obviously better/more expensive equipment can sometimes help achieve certain thing you might have envisaged from a technical standpoint, however it certainly doesn’t make a better photographer.

Wow, that mouth camera thing is pretty neat. I'm still trying to figure out what style I like best and what I really like to shoot. Nature is nice but gets kind of boring quickly. I find I've been taking my camera with me when I go hiking for the most part but I often start day dreaming like I always do and miss photo opportunities. I figure I'll just keep shooting random things till I find something I really like.

I guess the beauty of something like the 1000D is having a camera that is (for its price) very versatile with all manual options available to you. Better glass etc etc is just icing on the cake.

Pretty much why I got it, it 'simple' and to the point. I do need some more lenses though. I borrowed the macro lens from where I work today, it's a Canon ultrasonic lens which apparently is nice. Tried it out and decided I need more cowbell in the lens department.

The second water shot is much much better than the first. Personally I feel the first shot looks abit unrealistic whereas the second shot retains detail in the water aswell as action, best of both worlds! 👍

The shot of your buddy is impressive, I'm loving the progress already.

Thanks for the comments! I agree the second water shot is better, I think it would have been even better if it would have been during the day and not around twilight.

====

Any who shots from today.

1.) I liked the way the sun was glimmering off the lake. I picked up a polarising filter today but I'm not really sure if it helps out at all. I need to have a different set up around the water.

2.) I've always liked the sunset through the trees, ever since I was a little kid.

3 & 4.) Playing around with the macro lens after watering the flowers.

 

[NLxAROSA]

1.) I liked the way the sun was glimmering off the lake. I picked up a polarising filter today but I'm not really sure if it helps out at all. I need to have a different set up around the water.
2.) I've always liked the sunset through the trees, ever since I was a little kid.

1. Polarisers work best when the sun is at a 90 degree angle. In that particular shot, you're shooting almost head on. Also, try fiddling with the polariser until you're happy with the results.
2. Now shots like this are prime material to create some (pseudo-) HDR images.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Loving those leaf shots Joey! 👍

I've got to get a go on photography as well now, it's been since last summer I took some snaps...

 

[Watchman]

The lake and the leafs look so great 👍

 

[boiltheocean]

I really like the lake shots, you've picked the right time of day for them.
The leaf shots are really good too. Keep it up man!

 

[Joey D]

Thanks for all the comments guys! Here is the next round from when I went to Frankenmuth, a small slice of German hell in mid-Michigan, over Memorial Day.

1.) This was the same lake as the previous shots, I just forgot to post it.

2.) It's where beer is borne.

3.) A war memorial that's in Frankenmuth, thought it turned out pretty cool.

4.) Liked the way this shot came out. And here's a question for you, how much do you NOT want to shop at a place the offers gifts to "Espresso Yourself".

5.) A picture of another buddy of mine while we were chilling in a beer garden. I just wish I would have been at more of an angle so I didn't reflect off his glasses. Oh well.

 

[Azuremen]

With the dock/walk way picture, leveling the image in photoshop would make it look much more composed.

As for modes - I never use them. My camera sits in Aperture Priority mode or Manual. Unless I am drunk, then it is in full auto because I am just taking snap shots. All the other modes that are sports, macro, and so on, just emulate what you can do with those. Saying this because it sounded like you are leaving the camera in those modes rather than manually managing aperture and such.

I probably will lock it in Shutter Priority next time I am out at an autocross though to make sure I have the motion blur I want.

The shots aren't half bad, but you can see the exposure issues from using the auto modes and just letting the camera do the metering. Such as in that memorial where it is under exposed due to the bright white sky.

Also, send me your macro lens

 

[Joey D]

It's all still a big learning process for me, remember I was the one having a hard time with a point and shoot. I'm thinking about taking a class to get a better understanding of everything.

You are right the camera is in various auto modes, I suppose I should venture into manual ones. The only problem, like I said, is that I haven't the foggiest idea what I'm doing. I suppose I should pick up the manual and start reading again while I wait for a class to be offered.

And I think I'm going to "borrow" the macro from work again to play around with it.

 

[Azuremen]

This link, while I just skimmed over it, seems to have helpful information.

http://jigyasu.wordpress.com/2006/02/21/learning-slr-basics/

The biggest bit is understanding the relationship between ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Then the relation between Aperture and Depth of Field along with how distance to the subject modifies DoF, and then blur induced by using too fast a shutter speed for a given focal length.

Also, consider looking into the Ansel Adam's zone system for properly exposing shots.

Courses do help, but mostly by running you through basics with clear examples. Most of it is just playing with things and coming to better understand what does what.

 

[Joey D]

Thanks for the link, I really haven't had a chance to go shooting. When ever I have time I either have to be at work or it's raining out. Although it supposed to be nice this weekend. Maybe I'll clean up the car and try my hand at car photography. I defiantly read though the stuff posted there though and hopefully I can pick up a thing or two.

I'll still up in the air about a class, they are all during the day for whatever reason. I guess amateur photographers don't have day jobs.

 

[Azuremen]

Most photographers that are in classes, thinking to make a career out of it, are massive flakes. No insult to anyone here that does that, but just what I've seen over the years of being in photography classes randomly.

And most photographers I know that make money with it have taken maybe a class or two, tops. Just how it goes I guess.

 

[Joey D]

It reminds me of the Family Guy episode where whoever (Stewie maybe) says "every hot girl that holds a camera thinks they are a photographer." I agree with you though, just about every photography major I know are...uhhh...different people.

I found a class at a local camera shop which is on Wednesday night. It's like $40 for a three week class. I think I'm just going to do that. They teach you some of the basics. Either that or there is one though the local community centre.

 

[exigeracer]

Most photographers that are in classes, thinking to make a career out of it, are massive flakes. No insult to anyone here that does that, but just what I've seen over the years of being in photography classes randomly.

And most photographers I know that make money with it have taken maybe a class or two, tops. Just how it goes I guess.

I'm not taking offense or anything, but maybe you're hanging with the wrong crowd? I got to an art school, and barely any of the photography majors I know are dinking around. Some seriously professional work taken by some very talented artists going on... The amateur flakes, and I know there are many, are the weekend warriors who picked up the DSLR from the parents for high school graduation and are taking poli-sci at the party universities. And the actual paid professionals I know put in their time in university and didn't just take a crash course.

 

[Keef]

Woah, time to jump in with an opinion.

It goes both ways. Some people went to school for it, and some people don't need to go to school for it. Sometimes talent just happens. The greatest artists in history never went to school for it, they just kinda did it. The only real reason I see that anyone would ever need schooling for photography is so they can figure out how to use a camera, develop film, all the technical stuff. But taking a good picture is what matters. You can teach someone to frame a shot the way it says in the book, but the people who actually stick to that probably aren't going to making the rounds at art museums a hundred years from now. A wedding picture is a wedding picture is a wedding picture, and yeah it pays, but the stuff that gets people remembered--whether it makes them money or not--is never the same thing twice.

 

[Syntax error]

Since everyone is wading in with an opinion on this, I thought I might as well. I personally think it is up to the individual really. Depends really on your style of learning. Some people find it better to have someone sit there and explain it, others prefer to study it themselves. Also I think it depends a lot on what you want to learn.

Since you only want to learn basic stuff like composition and basic camera functions, it would be cheaper to just read a few tutorials on the net and then head out and practice a lot. Also spend a lot of time studying other people’s photos to see how they do things like composition and lighting.

If you need to learn about studio lighting for example, then a course is the way to go, as you would then have access to the equipment required to practise.

Well those are my thoughts on the matter anyway, but as I said, it is really up to you in the end. Keep posting up photos here too, as we are all more than happy to give you feedback and suggestions.

 

[Azuremen]

I'm not taking offense or anything, but maybe you're hanging with the wrong crowd? I got to an art school, and barely any of the photography majors I know are dinking around. Some seriously professional work taken by some very talented artists going on... The amateur flakes, and I know there are many, are the weekend warriors who picked up the DSLR from the parents for high school graduation and are taking poli-sci at the party universities. And the actual paid professionals I know put in their time in university and didn't just take a crash course.

The only major benefit to taking classes is the easier access to studio equipment, in my opinion.

I do not go to a dedicated art school. That could explain some level of the difference in the students of art versus where you are at.

The fact is though, most consumers of photography are happy with a guy with a camera that understands the zone system and how to properly expose pictures with a flash. Which is where most of the money in profession photography is. Unless you have immense talent and get into high end modeling work or such. At which point it is more a function of talent and being in the right place at the right time than if you have a Bachelors of photography.

 

[Joey D]

Time for some more photos, some turned out better than others but I figured the guru's here could give me some advice on what to do differently. I've read through the link Cody posted as well as some other websites around the net, but really the only way I'm even going to get better is putting what I read to use.

1.) While hiking last Friday I took a break and noticed how nice the sunset looked.

2, 3, & 4.) These are from an old mill/dam that collapsed, now it's a graffiti canvas for high school kids with nothing better to do.

5.) Tried to do a black and white photo for the RenCen in downtown Detroit, it looks ok but I think I'm missing something.

6.) More from downtown Detroit, it looks like a great city when viewed from Canada.

7.) Red Bull Air Race plane

 

[Omnis]

5.) Tried to do a black and white photo for the RenCen in downtown Detroit, it looks ok but I think I'm missing something.

It's missing the giant mushroom cloud in the background.

 

[Azuremen]

What your black and white lacks is contrast.

Similarly, your Sunset exposure is trying to hard to be the middle ground. You've lost details in the clouds by over exposing them, while you've lost detail in the ground by under exposing it. There are generally several stops difference between the clouds in the sky and the ground you see. While you have some good shots, the exposures and contrast could be a bit sharper. How are you post processing these?

Also, what are your settings when you save for web? I am seeing a lot of artifacting when I opened the Red Bull Air race shot up.

 

[Joey D]

Your process of the black and white RenCen looks a lot better, I guess contrast was what I was lacking on that one. I'm going to have to play around with the full sized image again to see if I can't get it better.

I'm using Photoshop CS3 to process the pictures, basically just messing with the brightness and contrast a bit to make the pictures a bit cleaner. I'm always afraid of doing to much and making everything look over processed. Although it looks like I might be already over processing them by not doing the right things. I've used Photoshop for years, but never to really do more then cut a picture out, crop, or do basic touch ups.

And I'm thinking the artifacting is from Photobucket compressing the pictures weird or something. I didn't do "save for web" which is probably part of my problem I'm finding.

 

[Azuremen]

Change your photobuckets save setting from image resolution to raw file size. They have a limit of up to 1 meg, which makes it so you can upload fairly large resolution pictures without artifacting.

Use the save for web function, and crop images to around 1200 pixels wide. You will have no issue keeping the files size reasonable while maintaining image quality.

 

[Joey D]

Will do, thanks 👍!

 

[Joey D]

So this past weekend I went to Chicago and I didn't really want to lug my D-SLR around since it was more or less going to be a bit of a drink holiday (shhhh don't tell my doctor). Anyways I brought along the point and shoot and I was surprised how well it could take pictures if I slipped it into manual mode and played with some settings. I did some Photoshopping too, but I think I need to get better at this.

1.) Lamborghini Superleggra in a lovely orange.

2.) My buddy reach for himself off the Bean. I wish I would have got a better angel on this.

3.) Tried my hand at another B&W photo of the Sears Willis Tower.

4.) Train station at sunset

5.) Freight train

 

[in.s@ne]

Love that shot of the train station at sunset. Everything blends so nicely

 

[Joey D]

Love that shot of the train station at sunset. Everything blends so nicely

Thanks 👍!

 

[Watchman]

Wow, the train station at sunset is incredible. Love that shot, too A big 👍 to you, Joey.

 

[Joey D]

Wow, the train station at sunset is incredible. Love that shot, too A big 👍 to you, Joey.

Thanks! Funny how playing around with my camera at the train station while waiting for the slowest train ever produced such good shots. I really do like the sky as a band of thundershowers were moving through and it gave the sun a cool glow.

 

[Moglet]

That train station shot is so smooth and flawless, it's jawdropping to look at! It looks like a very very professional image 👍