***Official Ants Photography Thread***

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by Revolution36

Hey all, I picked up a camera last summer and have really taken to this hobby over the last few months. I still have so much to learn, hoping this is just the start. I launched a website this morning to showcase some pictures and sell prints. Check it out when you can, looking for some feedback. Thanks

https://www.nicholasnortonphotography.com

Good start. If your goal is to monetize your photography, I would suggest focusing on a niche and become known for that. Whether that's portraits or whatever. If you try to do everything, you'll be known for nothing. It's challenging to stand out from all the photographers that are out there because so many people are really good at their niche. It will be hard to get noticed unless you find your niche.

[Revolution36]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Good start. If your goal is to monetize your photography, I would suggest focusing on a niche and become known for that. Whether that's portraits or whatever. If you try to do everything, you'll be known for nothing. It's challenging to stand out from all the photographers that are out there because so many people are really good at their niche. It will be hard to get noticed unless you find your niche.

Thanks. I wouldn't say monetizing my photography is the main goal (at least not yet) but it would be cool for some extra cash. I really appreciate the feedback. Definitely still trying to figure out my groove, seeing what I like to shoot, and trying to figure out what I'm good at.

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Yeah, it's all automatic after you get the values plugged into the camera. It even knows when you put a teleconverter on a lens and treats that combination as a new lens. The toughest part is zoom lenses because the camera can only save one value for each lens, which is annoying. Like on the 24-70, you might need -3 at 24mm, but +5 at 70mm. Well since the camera can only save one value you have to either pick something in the middle or pick the value for the focal length you most often use.

The process to get these values is tedious, so look up some tutorials to do it right. The newer Nikon cameras (D5, D850, and I think D500) have auto-AF tuning, which is pretty nice. It still requires taking focus chart shots, but the camera will automatically calculate the correct AF value to plugin once it has the shot (recommended to do it 10 times for each lens and pick the value that comes up most often since it can vary from shot to shot).

My lowly 70D uses MFA at wide and tele so I can run 2 values. I'm assuming it'll do a linear interpolation.

[magnumdan]

I’m getting ready for a Disney trip in a couple weeks. I really don’t want to lug around my D7000. What are the more popular phone apps I should test out for the iPhone for our trip?

[BTCS_JTR]

Originally Posted by magnumdan

I’m getting ready for a Disney trip in a couple weeks. I really don’t want to lug around my D7000. What are the more popular phone apps I should test out for the iPhone for our trip?

Adobe Lightroom has a free app that's good. I've also used ProCamera, which I think is 5 or 6 bucks, but well worth it in my opinion.

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by magnumdan

I’m getting ready for a Disney trip in a couple weeks. I really don’t want to lug around my D7000. What are the more popular phone apps I should test out for the iPhone for our trip?

Shoot raw in Lightroom CC?

[magnumdan]

Thanks guys!

[Benny003]

For editing or shooting? I just use the native camera app for shooting. For editing I rely heavily on Snapseed. VSCO is a good one too.

[magnumdan]

Originally Posted by Benny003

For editing or shooting? I just use the native camera app for shooting. For editing I rely heavily on Snapseed. VSCO is a good one too.

Both actually, I just downloaded Snapseed, I like it so far.

[magnumdan]

Originally Posted by Benny003

For editing or shooting? I just use the native camera app for shooting. For editing I rely heavily on Snapseed. VSCO is a good one too.

Both actually, I just downloaded Snapseed, I like it so far.

[mattyande]

Oh no! The thread is now free to drift away from the front page... Makes sense, but I can definitely see this being the random reason I stop checking this site...

Had some shots run in the local paper for a remodeled home. I'm not a fan of their selects, but what can you do?

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/...198957614.html

[dmbetc]

Originally Posted by mattyande

Oh no! The thread is now free to drift away from the front page... Makes sense, but I can definitely see this being the random reason I stop checking this site...

Had some shots run in the local paper for a remodeled home. I'm not a fan of their selects, but what can you do?

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/...198957614.html

Subscribe to the thread then you can easily get to it from “My Profile “

[Revolution36]

Spent last weekend at Disney World, took some pics. Take a look, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uq...bAmGd2zF9RquR8

[BTCS_JTR]

Originally Posted by Revolution36

Spent last weekend at Disney World, took some pics. Take a look, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uq...bAmGd2zF9RquR8

I like the photos of Spaceship Earth a lot!

[Revolution36]

Originally Posted by BTCS_JTR

I like the photos of Spaceship Earth a lot!

Thanks. Yeah, I was pretty happy with those. It’s a cool subject to shoot.

[BTCS_JTR]

Anybody here ever mess around with one of the Sony A series? They seem fun.

[mattyande]

Originally Posted by dmbetc

Subscribe to the thread then you can easily get to it from “My Profile “

Thanks!

Originally Posted by BTCS_JTR

Anybody here ever mess around with one of the Sony A series? They seem fun.

I've used the A7r and the A9 pretty extensively. Capable machines, they are.

[mHeiser92]

Might be in the wrong place here... But looking at getting a GoPro..

Will be using for concert weekends, camping, fishing trips, etc.

Newbie, anybody have suggestions?

I have always had a thing for photography but it's always been a hobby. I want real photos and video to show my nephew and family about my experiences.

I'm looking for the best route to showcase all of my adventures to those close to me, while being semi-budget friendley..

[diableri]

Originally Posted by mHeiser92

Might be in the wrong place here... But looking at getting a GoPro..

Will be using for concert weekends, camping, fishing trips, etc.

Newbie, anybody have suggestions?

I have always had a thing for photography but it's always been a hobby. I want real photos and video to show my nephew and family about my experiences.

I'm looking for the best route to showcase all of my adventures to those close to me, while being semi-budget friendley..

I've had one for years now. It's incredibly simple to use at a basic level and tough. Mastering it is more about editing your video and choosing the correct settings for the end result. Nothing but practice and experience will get you there imo.

Several good youtubers that help people out if you learn well that way. Just searching how to and gopro should get you to the better ones easily.

I haven't used the little one, mine came out before that one. I think it's a Hero 4 Black or something along those lines and I got the LCD for it. Extra battery or two is a good idea but you can add that stuff later when you're sure you'll need it.

Overall it's been a rock solid piece of kit but one I don't use all that often.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, they seem to get sold used in perfect condition a lot. I think people buy them thinking they'll use them frequently and they sit around unused until finally they try to resell.

[Benny003]

GoPro's are fun in the right situations. The new ones seem to be really impressive. I still have a Black 3, which is older, but I don't personally use it a lot (I have lots of other cameras). Basically, you have to know what situations are best for it to get the most out of it. The video is all about editing to make it worthwhile to watch. Meaning, you need to know how to splice clips together in an interesting way to make them interesting for other people to watch or you need to mount the camera in an interesting position to give an interesting point of view to watch. For photos, again it's about mounting it in a creative way that makes the viewer feel like they are there. That can be challenging a lot of times if you're not in that mindset. It's not a normal camera because it has an extreme wide angle view. It's typically used best when the person holding the camera or the thing the camera is mounted to is included in the shots. If you're just using it to take landscape pictures of the places you're at, you're better off with a regular camera. I know that's probably kind of vague, but before you commit to a GoPro really study the GoPro clips and photos that you think are really good and understand why you think they are really good so you'll be able to hopefully use this tool in the right way to get the results you want. A GoPro is a unique tool, but it's still just a tool that is only as good as the user using it. It won't magically make interesting photos or videos for you, not that you were saying it would.

[rconverse]

By no means a photographer but thought these were pretty cool off my phone the other night.

[unccrombie]

Anyone going to experiment with the Canon and Nikon FF mirrorless offerings? Looking to make the jump within the Canon ecosystem.

[diableri]

Originally Posted by unccrombie

Anyone going to experiment with the Canon and Nikon FF mirrorless offerings? Looking to make the jump within the Canon ecosystem.

I don't think so for me personally, been really following to see how things go.

Really disappointed in them, again. Going to wait a while longer and see how the sony lens situation matures. I was really hoping they'd release a competitive body but maybe in the next gen. Sticking with my Oly gear for another rev it seems.

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by unccrombie

Anyone going to experiment with the Canon and Nikon FF mirrorless offerings? Looking to make the jump within the Canon ecosystem.

Not yet. They are first gen. Lots of improvements to come in future generations. The current offerings don't seem professional level yet, so I'll wait. No need to rush jumping into that pool yet. It is encouraging to see where it will go though. I like that all of the Nikon lenses can be used with a simple adapter that has no glass, so there is no change in image quality. That's huge. Once their mirrorless cameras have two memory slots and can shoot 11 fps with a battery life that is much longer than the currently rated 330 shots I'll be a lot more interested. They will get there, but it will take a generation or two more. Good start though.

[Route_2]

This guy's work is pretty cool.

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles...ography-220519

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by diableri

I don't think so for me personally, been really following to see how things go.

Really disappointed in them, again. Going to wait a while longer and see how the sony lens situation matures. I was really hoping they'd release a competitive body but maybe in the next gen. Sticking with my Oly gear for another rev it seems.

Originally Posted by Benny003

Not yet. They are first gen. Lots of improvements to come in future generations. The current offerings don't seem professional level yet, so I'll wait. No need to rush jumping into that pool yet. It is encouraging to see where it will go though. I like that all of the Nikon lenses can be used with a simple adapter that has no glass, so there is no change in image quality. That's huge. Once their mirrorless cameras have two memory slots and can shoot 11 fps with a battery life that is much longer than the currently rated 330 shots I'll be a lot more interested. They will get there, but it will take a generation or two more. Good start though.

I think I'm going to take the R plunge in the fall. My EF-S gear suffered some lens issues so I'm in no mans land with images I don't love. The 4k crop and no dual slots has me bummed.

[Benny003]

Originally Posted by Route_2

This guy's work is pretty cool.

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles...ography-220519

That's pretty cool. The editing must be grueling though. Reminds me of that airport photo from several years ago where a photographer compiled all of the planes taking off one day at LAX into one photo.

[BTCS_JTR]

I went to B&H today and played with an a6400 and Nikon Z6. The Nikon is quite the unit. I think my next buy is going to be the a6400 though.

[Benny003]

Apparently on Monday Amazon screwed up and was selling tons of serious camera equipment for $94. Things like high-end cameras and lenses that literally cost thousands of dollars each for $94 and they are apparently honoring all or most of the sales. I'm gutted that I missed this.

https://petapixel.com/2019/07/17/ama...-on-prime-day/

[Route_2]

Originally Posted by Benny003

Apparently yesterday Amazon screwed up and was selling tons of serious camera equipment for $94. Things like high-end cameras and lenses that literally cost thousands of dollars each for $94 and they are apparently honoring all or most of the sales. I'm gutted that I missed this.

https://petapixel.com/2019/07/17/ama...-on-prime-day/

I saw that! Wish I had seen it at the time.