DSLR advice

Red__Zed · 04-26-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKYStormFront

fixed

haha, I did 4 years in engineering undergrad. I think I can handle it.

Parkerman · 04-27-2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Thanks for all the thoughts guys. I just placed an order for a Nikon d3100 and the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G, and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR lenses. Hopefully it will provide a good start for me getting into photography.

Since you have a DX nikon, I would also suggest picking up the 1.8 35mm. I've heard good things out of it, but since I'm on FX I haven't ever used it myself.

Red__Zed · 04-27-2011, 03:37 PM

Thanks, I will look into that once I start to get the hang of shooting

Red__Zed · 05-01-2011, 07:24 PM

Rain finally stopped, managed to take a few pics. Flame away. The light wasn't very conducive to taking pics...

Red__Zed · 05-01-2011, 07:25 PM

Parkerman · 05-01-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Rain finally stopped, managed to take a few pics. Flame away. The light wasn't very conducive to taking pics...

Just wondering, what makes you say that?

wilsonp · 05-01-2011, 10:47 PM

Flat light from cloud cover generally doesn't lend itself to the best pictures.

Your white balance looks a little off to me - the red looks quite orange. I think a little Topaz Labs processing could help the pictures though.

Red__Zed · 05-01-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parkerman

Just wondering, what makes you say that?

The only time the rain stopped was right in the middle of the day, and so I was dealing with the sun pretty much overhead.

Red__Zed · 05-01-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsonp

Flat light from cloud cover generally doesn't lend itself to the best pictures.

Your white balance looks a little off to me - the red looks quite orange. I think a little Topaz Labs processing could help the pictures though.

Please tell me more. I'm a complete noob when it comes to this

Parkerman · 05-01-2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

The only time the rain stopped was right in the middle of the day, and so I was dealing with the sun pretty much overhead.

Ahh, I gotcha, yea.. Mid day shooting blows.

but, as far as overcast/cloud coverage, its actually one of the best times to take pictures due to it being a gigantic diffuser, which will help in making the lighting much less harsh.

Red__Zed · 05-01-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parkerman

Ahh, I gotcha, yea.. Mid day shooting blows.

but, as far as overcast/cloud coverage, its actually one of the best times to take pictures due to it being a gigantic diffuser, which will help in making the lighting much less harsh.

Yeah, I did notice that it helped-- it was the only reason the midday shots turned out at all, but the sun was still peeking around the clouds, and I got some funny reflections on the paint as a result.

Cmike2780 · 05-01-2011, 11:09 PM

It's not the light, overcast "diffused light" is actually better than harsh direct sunlight. The problem is that objects reflect color, in this case grey. Red is such a vibrant color and the greys (from the clouds) reflecting off the surfaces washes out the color.

If you want a great photo shoot, grab a tripod and shoot 30 min before sunset. Also, use the cloudy setting on your white balance or custom with a grey card. Good start though. Composition is good. Next time shoot from perpectives you normally don't see. Also, don't try to capture everything in one picture. You want to show the car off, not sell it on Ebay

Take a few steps back and zoom in on details.

Parkerman · 05-01-2011, 11:09 PM

My other suggestion is to work on composition.

With this picture there is more negative space between the rear of the car and the edge of the picture rather than the front and the edge, it makes it feel a bit cut off. Think of the front of your car as a face and you want to know where it is looking. It creates a leading line in which your eyes will follow. Currently it follows that line and meets the edge of the picture.

Red__Zed · 05-03-2011, 11:55 PM

makes sense.

chuckd05 · 05-05-2011, 04:24 AM

grab a low aperature lens.... the 50/1.8 cannon lens was the best 100 dollars I ever spent ..... im sure nikon has a comparable lens... the crispness of the shots are incredible... also a tripod is a good investment...

and dslrtips.com

guys voice get to you but you will learn a lot

05-01-2011, 10:47 PM	#22 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 17	Flat light from cloud cover generally doesn't lend itself to the best pictures. Your white balance looks a little off to me - the red looks quite orange. I think a little Topaz Labs processing could help the pictures though. __________________ 2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

05-01-2011, 11:09 PM	#27 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	It's not the light, overcast "diffused light" is actually better than harsh direct sunlight. The problem is that objects reflect color, in this case grey. Red is such a vibrant color and the greys (from the clouds) reflecting off the surfaces washes out the color. If you want a great photo shoot, grab a tripod and shoot 30 min before sunset. Also, use the cloudy setting on your white balance or custom with a grey card. Good start though. Composition is good. Next time shoot from perpectives you normally don't see. Also, don't try to capture everything in one picture. You want to show the car off, not sell it on Ebay Take a few steps back and zoom in on details. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

05-01-2011, 11:09 PM	#28 (permalink)
Parkerman Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 255 Drives: 2009 MB 370z Rep Power: 15	My other suggestion is to work on composition. With this picture there is more negative space between the rear of the car and the edge of the picture rather than the front and the edge, it makes it feel a bit cut off. Think of the front of your car as a face and you want to know where it is looking. It creates a leading line in which your eyes will follow. Currently it follows that line and meets the edge of the picture. __________________

05-05-2011, 04:24 AM	#30 (permalink)
chuckd05 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY Posts: 2,391 Drives: No longer a Z Rep Power: 20	grab a low aperature lens.... the 50/1.8 cannon lens was the best 100 dollars I ever spent ..... im sure nikon has a comparable lens... the crispness of the shots are incredible... also a tripod is a good investment... and dslrtips.com guys voice get to you but you will learn a lot __________________ 09 370Z 6M PW - FBO Best 1/4 mile = 12.926 @ 109 SOLD -- 08 BMW 135i - FBO 12.1@120mph SOLD -- white 09 e92 335 Coupe Mtech - 11.9 @ 119 :-)

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04-27-2011, 03:37 PM	#18 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	Thanks, I will look into that once I start to get the hang of shooting

05-01-2011, 07:24 PM	#19 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	Rain finally stopped, managed to take a few pics. Flame away. The light wasn't very conducive to taking pics...

05-01-2011, 07:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120

05-03-2011, 11:55 PM	#29 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	makes sense.