Talkenlate04 Picture Thread.

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
That last set of shots was at I think F20-29, ISO 200, shutter speed 80-100. The combination between the three flashes helps a lot. Tilting the speed lights up and down and placing them in different locations gave me many different results.
Photo manipulation? I am not really doing anything to them. I did some vignetting for fun with the lighting a few sets back, I slap borders on them and resize them, but other then that, that's it. This whole photo thread has been shot free handed no tripod. But now that I have a good tripod I'll start using that when I can to hopefully make things more crisp.
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
Here is what the camera was set at for the last posting of pics. (I like how those turned out.) But I want to tinker with them some more.

Taken With: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D300

File Size: 260 kb - 1024x680 Taken On: 2008:04:19 01:31:25

Camera Make: NIKON CORPORATION Camera Model: NIKON D300

Date/Time: 2008:04:19 01:31:25 Resolution: 1024 x 680

Flash Used: Yes (manual, return light not ... Focal Length: 105.0mm (35mm equivalent: 157...

Exposure Time: 0.0100 s (1/100) Aperture: f/29.0

ISO Equiv.: 200 Exposure Bias: -3.67

Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: center weight

Exposure: Manual Exposure Mode: Manual

Exposure Mode: Auto bracketing GPS Latitude: ? ?
GPS Longitude: ? ?
 

dragontears

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 14, 2005
Messages
266
thanks. It's probably just the flash then. I have a ring light that doesn't allow for as much variety as your twin flashes. Great...now I have to go spend more money ;)

I occassionally do some exposure compensation after the picture is taken to make the photo a bit brighter, that's why I was asking if you manipulated the photo at all. I'm usually shooting at around f-16 with a shutter speed of about 80
 

Hendrik C.

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
169
Hi,

in my opionion the pictures lack any contrast and don't look "natural" at all! Working with apertures like f/20 or higher is not clever as well, because for most lenses the image quality descends at apertures like f/20.

You should try to decrease the power of your flash.

BR,
Hendrik
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
Cool thanks for your opinion. That is why I like photography. It's all open to interpretation. And if you don’t like it, OH WELL. I DO. ;P

Your photos are very good by the way. :worship:
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
Hi,

in my opionion the pictures lack any contrast and don't look "natural" at all! Working with apertures like f/20 or higher is not clever as well, because for most lenses the image quality descends at apertures like f/20.

You should try to decrease the power of your flash.

BR,
Hendrik
I do have one question though....... when a lens maxes out at F 57, when would you ever need to shoot with an F stop that high? It seems to me when I am playing with this lens that below say about F16-20 I start to lose a ton of focusing depth. The area I am directly focusing on is very focused, but not far away there is severe loss of focus. Aside from having a flat object to photograph is there a way to hold depth of focus without going past F20?
Ok that was more then one question {D
 

Hendrik C.

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
169
All lenses get unsharp due to diffraction with smaller apertures. It's simply a physical effect that can't be avoided. I don't know why you can even select so small apertures but maybe just to give the photographer "all options".

In general you get a nice depth of field in the range of f/2.8 to f/16. Personally I don't like it when everything is in the focus. Playing with the depth of field is the most powerful thing in macro-photography!

When you want to have a high depth of field without getting in the "diffraction range", you'll have to take a couple of shots at the same aperture but moving the focus for each pictures. After that you combine those images in e.g. Photoshop.
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
I don't have a full version of Photoshop. And if I did I would have no idea what to do with it. All I have now is Photoshop elements 6.0, and I can't even really get that to work too much in my favor. I assume you mean in Photoshop you can cut and past a collage of pieces to give you one in focus photo minus the diffraction?
Whenever I get a chance to take some more shots ill tinker with your advice, I for some reason just don’t like what the picture looks like at the lower F stops. But then again I have not played with it enough. Does lower F stop equal better color somehow?
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
sadly not all spiders stand still long enough for a HDR image.
HDR? I don't know what that means. :?

I do know that sometimes the cameras flash sends my pokies running for the hills. That is always fun. Take my eye out of the viewfinder to see the subject has gone missing!
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
So you are saying that my contrast levels are crappy because I am using to much flash power? And to high of an F stop?
 

Hendrik C.

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
169
This picture was taken at f/6.3 (105mm as well) and at least I like it ;)

 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
What do you recommend I set my flash power too? Where you shooting on a tripod? And what did you do in photoshop after the shot was taken?
 

Hendrik C.

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
169
So you are saying that my contrast levels are crappy because I am using to much flash power?
Yes or you're simply not using the flash in the right way. The flash steals all highlights and shadows. It "flattens" the image.
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
I am assuming camera angle would play a roll in that as well then. I have been in the habit of shooting my subjects straight on. If they are on the ground I am directly above them shooting down.
 

Hendrik C.

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
169
What do you recommend I set my flash power too? Where you shooting on a tripod? And what did you do in photoshop after the shot was taken?
I've no experience with the Nikon flash you're using, so I can't give you any recommendations.

All my pictures, except night shots, are taken free hand!

I take all my pictures in the RAW format and I edit them using Photoshop Lightroom. In Lightroom I correct the white balance and the tonal value.
 

Talkenlate04

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
8,655
I am going to get the SB-800 as well.

I sadly am not shooting in RAW because of my lack of ability to process photos after the fact. I guess I should read up on that.

Other then post photo editing what is the benefit to shooting in NEF raw or fine?
I am only shooting JPEG fine.

And that picture you posted, what shutter speed?
 

Hendrik C.

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
169
Same image, bigger size and including EXIF data! The programm I use to shrink my images removed the EXIF data, don't blame Lightroom for that. ;)

I used the Sigma 105/2.8 macro + Speedlite 580ex II (indirect to ceiling using bouncer)

 
Top