***Official Ants Photography Thread***

[cry_minarets458]

No SLR camera interest right now...but I need a new pocket camera for tour season (decemberists mostly haha)

who's got a good recommendation? looking for a camera that takes good photos at concerts mostly...so dark and flashless

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by cry_minarets458

No SLR camera interest right now...but I need a new pocket camera for tour season (decemberists mostly haha)

who's got a good recommendation? looking for a camera that takes good photos at concerts mostly...so dark and flashless

What is your budget?

[cry_minarets458]

I'm feeling like 400-500 but I'm definitely open to more cost efficient ones, as 500 would get me a lower SLR

[Route_2]

This would be my choice at that price range:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Fast lens and large sensor for a point and shoot
Good quality at high ISO for low light
Manual control option
Ability to shoot in RAW so you can adjust exposure in PP

[Benny003]

For $500, that Sony camera would be a good one.

For $400, I would recommend the Canon S120: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho...rds=canon+s120

The big differences between the $400 Canon and $500 Sony would be the size of the image sensor. The Sony would have slightly cleaner images at high ISO's, but neither will be as good as a DSLR or APS-C mirrorless camera. The other major features between the cameras, including the lens, are nearly identical. As with virtually all point-and-shoot cameras under $700, just be aware that as you zoom in, the lens can't capture as much light because the maximum aperture available gets smaller. It's f/1.8 at the widest focal length and gets smaller from there for both cameras.

[mattyande]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthe...ream/lightbox/

[cry_minarets458]

Thanks for the input guys! I will let you know what I decide!!

[mattyande]

^ That photo I just posted was shot with a Canon S120 ^

[CrashDMB237]

Anyone have any old lenses they are looking to sell? I have a Nikon D3000 and I'm looking for an upgrade from the standard lens it came with.

Plenty have recommended the 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor lens and that's what I'm looking into, but I figured I'd check to see if any Ants were selling so I know my money is going somewhere useful

[skwormin]

Twiddle

http://festivalfootprints.com/twiddlecospring2015/

[mthawk07]

Anybody else see this the other day? Man gets out of his vehicle to photograph a lion, lion doesn't fuck around and tries to kill him. Man barely escapes death and has two breathtakingly terrifying pictures for his troubles.

http://io9.com/the-photographer-who-...d-w-1697051937

The man's Flickr page has some incredible shots in it, as well.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/atifsa...th/8456607406/

[Benny003]

Interesting photos. Can't say I'm a fan of the editing he did on the lion photos though.

[twz22]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Interesting photos. Can't say I'm a fan of the editing he did on the lion photos though.

the guy is definitely talented. love his composition and exposure. most of his post if way overbaked for my taste though.

[mattyande]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Interesting photos. Can't say I'm a fan of the editing he did on the lion photos though.

Yeah, that face is enough to grab your attention. No need to burn the rest of the image so dark.

I'm most impressed that he actually clicked off some frames while looking through the viewfinder at a lion dead set on tearing him apart. I don't care how long my lens is... I'm probably not taking frames when I see that...

I imagine the lion's reaction is exactly what the girl wishes she could do in his Steve McCurry "Afghan Girl" shots...

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by mattyande

Yeah, that face is enough to grab your attention. No need to burn the rest of the image so dark.

I'm most impressed that he actually clicked off some frames while looking through the viewfinder at a lion dead set on tearing him apart. I don't care how long my lens is... I'm probably not taking frames when I see that...

I imagine the lion's reaction is exactly what the girl wishes she could do in his Steve McCurry "Afghan Girl" shots...

Not a fan of the "Afghan Girl" photo?

[skwormin]

punch brothers, one of my favorite bands.

http://festivalfootprints.com/2015/0...brothersogden/

in a dark room...

[mattyande]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Not a fan of the "Afghan Girl" photo?

The first one, sure, it's amazing.

The fact that so many tourists/travelers try to replicate it feels exploitative to me.

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by mattyande

The first one, sure, it's amazing.

The fact that so many tourists/travelers try to replicate it feels exploitative to me.

I didn't know anything about that.

[mattyande]

Originally Posted by Benny003

I didn't know anything about that.

I feel like I see it all the time in people's travel work. I'm not sure there's any other way to capture a portrait of a woman with a head scarf that doesn't feel exploitative to me at this point, but I'm just usually put off by them. Maybe I'm just looking at too much imagery

[mattyande]

A couple of very different recent posts with images:

http://matt-he-wanders-on.com/nothing-lives-forever/

http://matt-he-wanders-on.com/celebrating-roland/

[Benny003]

Good posts, thanks for sharing.

[mattyande]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Good posts, thanks for sharing.

Thanks Ben... Side note: my x100t should be arriving today. It's going to be all a bring with me to Europe this summer

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by mattyande

Thanks Ben... Side note: my x100t should be arriving today. It's going to be all a bring with me to Europe this summer

x100t, nice. I love my x100s. That's all I brought with me when I went to San Francisco in January. I brought it with me when I went to Spain a year ago too, but I also brought the D800. I would carry the X100s around like when we were just going out for dinner or places I didn't want to carry the big DSLR. It was really nice to be able to swap between the two for different situations, but I'd still want to bring the DSLR on a trip to Europe for those special places that I might want to print big or for situations where I want to do things like HDR.

[mattyande]

^cool. This trip is going to be about being minimal for me, so the single focal length and whatnot will be my working constraint. Hopefully it'll help me not perseverate too much on photography on the trip too... I don't want to turn it into a photo project, although I usually can't help it.

[diableri]

So I have some choices to make and I'm looking for advice. This would apply to extended backpacking if I am lucky enough for anyone to be into that.

I've done big chunks of the JMT, PCT and most of the eastern sierras all my life and just been content with taking some extra batteries along until they're toast. When we do things like Whitney it's usually just one phone between us. This time I'm planning a slow through hike on the JMT for next season (permits willing of course). I'll have a partner and it won't be solo if I'm lucky as well to help split up some weight and space.

Anyone have experience with solar and rechargeables? I'm pretty happy with my gopro and EM-1 but I am debating on picking up a smaller point and shoot for just this trip but it's tough to give up my lenses. Extra weight and battery life etc all come into play though of course. I'll also be adding a new lens that's big and heavy (for the format) that I wouldn't be able to leave behind (7-14 2.8 mu4/3) if I take that body. The whole package will be significant as far as weight goes. If I do a smaller camera with a fixed lens... I'll save myself a lot of relative weight and absolutely take some out of the ordinary (for me photos). Problem of course is that feet zoom is not often an option for things like this. Resupply batteries are of course an option on the JMT. Also thinking about one of those mini dollies like the Pocket Dolly.

I've researched it all to death already but am asking on a few boards for some first hand experience if anyone happens to have it.

If anyone is unfamiliar with the JMT but does other routes I'm talking about 20-24 days with three resupply points. Any advice is appreciated.

Great posts and photos as always Matt. Thanks for letting us know when you put up cool stuff.

[Benny003]

I've never done any hiking, so I wouldn't be of any help. I'm jealous of the experience you'll have though. I've recently watched several movies/documentaries about people doing extended hikes and it seems like an amazing experience.

[mattyande]

Originally Posted by diableri

So I have some choices to make and I'm looking for advice. This would apply to extended backpacking if I am lucky enough for anyone to be into that.

I've done big chunks of the JMT, PCT and most of the eastern sierras all my life and just been content with taking some extra batteries along until they're toast. When we do things like Whitney it's usually just one phone between us. This time I'm planning a slow through hike on the JMT for next season (permits willing of course). I'll have a partner and it won't be solo if I'm lucky as well to help split up some weight and space.

Anyone have experience with solar and rechargeables? I'm pretty happy with my gopro and EM-1 but I am debating on picking up a smaller point and shoot for just this trip but it's tough to give up my lenses. Extra weight and battery life etc all come into play though of course. I'll also be adding a new lens that's big and heavy (for the format) that I wouldn't be able to leave behind (7-14 2.8 mu4/3) if I take that body. The whole package will be significant as far as weight goes. If I do a smaller camera with a fixed lens... I'll save myself a lot of relative weight and absolutely take some out of the ordinary (for me photos). Problem of course is that feet zoom is not often an option for things like this. Resupply batteries are of course an option on the JMT. Also thinking about one of those mini dollies like the Pocket Dolly.

I've researched it all to death already but am asking on a few boards for some first hand experience if anyone happens to have it.

If anyone is unfamiliar with the JMT but does other routes I'm talking about 20-24 days with three resupply points. Any advice is appreciated.

Great posts and photos as always Matt. Thanks for letting us know when you put up cool stuff.

What are your photographic goals with the trip? I'm pretty convinced of the mindset that putting constraints on yourself inspires creativity because you're forced to work with what you have.

What initially comes to mind if I were going to do an extended trip like this would be to take my film rangefinder body and a bunch of film. Resupply would be to swap out rolls. No batteries required whatsoever. One focal length would feel tough at first, but you'd get used to it and really work it to the best of your abilities.

This is my film rangefinder: http://mattsclassiccameras.com/konica_auto_s.html

(that's not my site, just a coincidence in the name)

You can find an awesome old film camera that works perfectly for under $150. Then you'd just need to teach yourself light values (not hard) so you can live without a meter.

I don't know much about solar chargers, but you're obviously looking at that as your main option. I'm really interested to hear how that works if you go that route. Another thing to consider: if you go digital, send your cards back at resupply even if they aren't full. Shoot to two cards if possible based on the body. You don't want to fall in a river and have everything you shot end up lost.

[diableri]

Those are interesting thoughts Matt. I hadn't considered one of my film cameras(or better yet, a new one). I actually cut my teeth on film back when digital was still a couple megapixels and 10 grand to even play with. I've shot (poorly) thousands of slides over the years so it probably wouldn't be too bad. I'll have to give it some thought.

I know I'm bringing some kind of digital with me no matter what though as I want to do some pano and time lapse/dolly stuff that I've never really tried as well as learn to at least half-assed edit video. The gopro could do all that in a pinch but it's not really what I want to use. Just cheap, light and waterproof. My em-1 is also a tank for weather and I already have them both. Brings me back to the power dilemma. I will absolutely switch out cards at the drops but then I am entrusting them to the USPS which should be fine but... Stuff happens. If I destroy cards, at least it's my stuff that happened. unfortunately the em1 is a single card body (one of the more frustrating bits about the thing).

I guess I just want to document the experience and share it with my family and friends. Very few of them will come up there with me but every one of them that has over the years has been changed by it. I guess I just hope to convert others I know and be able to show my nephews etc. I am purposely going slow this time to soak more of it in (well, I'm also old and out of shape). I've done this type of thing too much, quickly over the years. For the horrid reason of needing to, "get back to my job". Well not this time. They pay out my vacation time every year. I'm going to burn some of it for once.

Thanks for a different perspective to consider.

[mattyande]

Sounds like you've got a pretty good plan and past experiences to base it off... now you just need the technology to play along...

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by unccrombie

can someone give me a run down of the best entry to mid-range dslr deals for black friday/cyber monday?
I've seen the T5i equipped with the 18-55mm STM and the 75-300mm at $700

would be more comfortable around the $400-500 range though

bumping this post, as my trip is approaching and i still haven't nabbed a camera

recent suggestions have been the nikon d5500

anyone have anything to offer? looking to try and "full proof" myself for 5-7 years in buying a camera. i have decent knowledge of the technical stuff, so something lower mid-range is ideal.