Sutton Warrior
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Posts posted by Sutton Warrior
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I totally agree Steve. And what I've been finding funny on this thread isnt that people dont like post processed images, its the condescending way they seem to view them. Dont get me wrong, I've enjoyed the too and frow of the different opinions. I just get the feeling that some think its sort of not recognised in the world of photography.
Its here baby, and its here to stay.
And thank you Steve for bringing the thread back to what I intended it to be about
. "Strobe Lighting". As I said, I've enjoyed the thread but each time I get off the PC I think "Dam, I forgot to say that I wasnt trying to debate HDR or post processing anyway" . 
I've had the lights out last night and wow, lots to think about now!! Cant wait until I can get em on stands with umbrella's and maybe gels. Look out world, here I come!!
:camera: Mick.
Hi Mick, I think your post says it all, you are so enthusiastic about the way you are going. Personally, I am equally 'unenthusiastic' from my point of view. I dont want to be condescending, if thats how you see my comments, I apologise? . . . but I do need, and am entitled to express, why I dont like something with equal enthusiasm
HDR, PhotoShoping, Strobe, Computer Art, etc., yep, they are all here and here to stay, you like it, you go for it mate. I'm a simple soul, and getting on a bit these days
so there is lots about the 'old ways' I like as much as you young'uns like modern technology, neither are wrong, but we both must be able to have our view . . . and live together OK, so I don't much like HDR 'HB style', (although I do apreciate the artistry in your minds eye) however, does the 'Strobe' make it better . . . or different.
. . . ??? I can accept some messing about, 'solarised' a couple of photos for my mate of his yacht the other day, they are posted on here, he loved them, the original were a tad bland, a tweak on the 'S' colour curve, would have fixed that, but he liked the 'Solarised' shot. He is going to have a big one done, so I have to do him a full pixel CD.It will be interesting to see how your strobe work pans out Mike . . . Not guaranteeing to like it though . . .
SW, OFC (old farts club)
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I have just loaded a piccy of one of the fishing lakes that I have fished, I havent had time to find out how to vote yet but when I get time I will if I can.
A lot of my fish photos are not really worthy enough for consideration although I have a few nice shots of venues that I have fished. I will have to start arranging my fish piccies a bit better and then possibly upload a couple.
I don't have an expensive camera just a compact 'Canon IXUS 70' plus a 'Fuji FinePix' digital but they are ok for normal Fishing snapshots, so don't expect too much
.Keith (BoldBear)
Keith, dont you worry about the camera, Janets winning picture this month was taken with a modest Sam-sung compact, top result. I have often used a Canon Compact to good effect and a number of regular posters use compacts. The main fact for the comp., the picture must be current, taken in the month of the competition. But pictures of interest posted on threads can be any age.
SW
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Dont get me wrong, I like some of the arty stuff...I just prefer to stick to Photography, thats my hobby. I can post process most Photos into most things if I want to and constantly test and try things in and around Photoshop..I earn money doing so too. But for my own photos I just want them to be what I saw through the viewfinder, for the most part.
Here are 2 more HDR's of mine to illustrate what I mean.
The first is overstaurated for me although I admit it makes a pleasing image (note I said image not photo
), the second is borderline for me and if I re-processed it now..I would do it differently.Steve...
'Image', thats the word Steve, 'Computer Art Image', perfect description. Its great, if you like that sort of thing, but does it last in the mind . . . ?
SW
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There's a whole heap of stuff thats been devoloped from things that were intended to do other things. Dont mean they're wrong though
. But, its all down to taste as has been said.I think there's only one example that could be classes in that group SW. The others would be un touched in that department. They're all about getting light on the subject.
As you say mate, all down to personal taste, to that end, its how I see things in my mind . . . I have my feet firmly 99.9% in the 'old farts' natural look camp . . . but you have your style and "direction", go for it, there are artist who were poo-hoed, these days their work fetches millions. I will never be a millionaire thats for sure
SW
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All been said,
just mark the topic 'AN Photo Competition, May 09', the regulars know where and how, but it helps the casual interest. Nothing wrong with the occasional register, we all do it on all sorts of Webb issues, fleeBay is classic!As for help Steve, my name has been mentioned
as has been the expressions 'time poor' and 10-12 hour working a day. . . Thats besides my poor grasp of computer button pressing due to not being the sharpest knife in the draw in some areas. I'm a follower . . . even have to be dragged kicking and screaming sometimes, no,no,no.SW
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Have not been a fan of HDR, but the 'Cave' and particularly 'Boathouse' I like very much. Its has to be said, the examples that are shown by Hellbelly, for me, have the hint of a 'pastals artist drawing' the way highlights are applied in such a medium? Leaving me with a slightly flat, 2 dimensional, drawn 3D, all most comic strip image in my mind? . . . Mmm I have said it before, 'computer artistry', love it or hate it. I tell you what, it don't matter a fig if its commercially salable, go fill the boots
SW
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Its a Dogs life . . .
SW
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Hi Joel,
I've used a Sony Ericcson 810i for the last year or two, takes great pics as below. It's been replaced by the C902 which apparently takes even better pics so that's next on my list
You know 'Jedibond' those first two pictures would not look out of place in the 'AN Photographic' section, in the monthly competition even!!! Why not drop down and have a look in . . .
SW
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SW
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Stupid question but if you bump the ISO down to 80 (or lowest setting you have) what difference do you get ? Is it just a duller looking image due to less light ?
Having had my set up for 3 odd years I am finally learning what settings are required to get the best out of the given situation. This has come with experience and a heck of a lot of messing around with the settings lol.
ISO is about the sensitivity of the 'film' or in modern digital terms sensitivity of the sensor that now replaces the film. Low ISO = less grain on film, in digital talk thats 'noise', you will have seen the examples in camera reviews, when the talk about and show how increasing ISO increases noise and how well noise is controlled by a particular camera as ISO increases. The higher the ISO the lower the light levels a picture can be take in before flash is required or you give up
So you get better sensitivity with highers ISO figures at the cost of increased 'noise' or in old terms 'grain'.The amount of the available light that reaches the sensor is controlled by shutter speed and aperture size. So high or low ISO is not a direct function of 'dull looking images', its the aperture and shutter, they control light. Thats the simple explanation in my book?
anyone want to take it to another level? SW
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This is a thread worth looking at in the 'AN course fishing forum'. I am impressed with the quality of some of the phone camera pictures I have seen, a couple by 'jedibond' are really note worthy. Not for the purist . . . ? but we ain't purists are we! I've said it before, let us all see what you are about . . . great stuff, camera in the pocket all the time
http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/camera-...s-t1529416.html
SW
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Hi SW
I've been out of action for a bit - raging vertigo and now tinnitus in my right ear - off to ENT I go tomorrow, in the vain hope of trying to get it fixed.
Spinning head has not been conducive to either (a) looking at my monitor or (
taking photos. I'd need to have the damn camera permanently attached to a tripod and even if that kept things level, I'd still end up falling over. LOL.On the sweet spot issue, as I understand it, the usual rule of thumb I have used is that a lens will usually hit its sweet spot 2 stops down from its largest aperture up to about f8-11. At around f8, you probably wouldn't be able to see much difference in sharpness between most lenses (consumer, 'prosumer', and pro (max aperture of f2.8 or greater)). You might be able to see differences in colour/contrast, but again, you'd probably need to be pixel peeping at 100% to really see it and not many of us hobbyist photographers will be doing that.
On the camera settings, it is more a matter of personal taste. Sometimes you will want colours to be brighter and more vivid. Sometimes, more 'natural'. I've got 4 custom set banks on my camera, with settings defined for "Point and Shoot" (which I use 98% of the time), Portrait, Landscape and Sports. There is precious little difference between most of them, though (hence why I use my P&S settings most).
Interesting about you now using centre weighting with more success. I play around with the metering too. Matrix does it well most of the time, but I do use centre weighting and occasionally spot, if I'm taking a picture where there are big contrasts in light conditions e.g. portrait shot inside with face in shadow, but direct sunlight on the wall behind. Not ideal, as matrix/centre will try and even things out to get the neutral grey colour that the camera thinks is 'good' across the whole image. Spot weighting allows me to get the exposure on the face fine, but with the inevitable consequence that the background has blown highlights. It's a question of when it is time to accept that fill flash is needed, rather than just relying on ntural light. Having said that, I much prefer the look of photos taken with natural light.
Apologies if that repeats what HB has posted in his link - the screen is spinning and I can't get the mouse to sit on the link, let alone read it! Apologies for any typos or genera rambling too. I can't look at the screen for more than 10 seconds without feeling sick, so I'm boogered if I'm gonna spell check.
Glad you have found some custom settings that suit your palette.
I've managed to have a quick squizz at the photo comps - some good stuff by the clan in there, as usual. I'll have to pass on my congrats to everyone here in this thread though.
Hope to be back soon.
Andy.
Westie, sorry to hear you are not 100%, explains why have not see much of you recently. Look forward to seeing more of your valued input soon, which means you will be on the mend
I understand the F8-F11 setting on lenses, but it was when I started to combine F8 with ISO200 on the Nikon 18-200VR super zoom, thats when I started to notice every thing coming together consistently well. As I have said previously, super zooms have long been put down for their compromise in performance. Pixel peepers will always find something to criticise, thats what makes them happy
But as a hobbyist photographer, I am finding great satisfaction recently in being able to extract good results from a relatively economic setup. Thats, economy and quality by my relitivly simple standards of course, the camera is doing its bit, all I have to do is get my act together Thanks for that link Hellbelly, I will give it a proper read later, off to B&Q for an hour, need some stuff for the garden, then back in time for a bacon sarnie and glass of cider in front of the TV watching the Spanish Grand Prix . . . tough life . . .
SW
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A Virgin customer for many years, I have just had my download rate changed from 2Mb to 10Mb . . . They increased the monthly rate by £2, knocked of a pound for email billing and gave me the higher down load. A bit side ways
I suppose to grab another quid, but my computer screen is really JUMPING now . . . OK, a fair trade?SW
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The sloping horizon I found made me feel a bit queasy!
I like the solarizing effect. It's made a rather ordinary shot very much more dramatic. I'm not one of the hair shirt purist brigade that say you shouldn't fiddle...if you have the technology, then why not use it? I think Hellbelly can show us the way there - I love what he's done with some of his more recent photographs. Such a pity that they are barred from the monthly competition. Perhaps we ought to have another section?
I really don't care what has been done to a picture, so long as the results are pleasing on the eye. In many cases the so called "fiddling" can turn a very ordinary shot into something much more special.
I particularly like the first shot with the sun hiding behind the sail - how about levelling up the horizon and posting them again (without the bit of sail in the top left hand corner of the amended shot).
I've got a crick in my neck trying to visualise it!
Hope that made sense....????
Janet
Mmm, if its made you feel queasy Janet . . . perhaps it has achieved the objective, 'you are at sea?' . . . "Ooooo, a life on the ocean waves . . . . . "
'Hair shirts' in my book are more into the 'everything manual', use either prime or best quality professional zoom lenses, do things the hard way and big bucks . . . ££££££? I wish. They seem to be quite happy after promoting the 'old fashioned', retro, 'steam operated' way? They are then quite happy to dive into all sorts of modern skulduggery in PhotoShop . . . isn't that a double standard?
I'm happy to get the settings right in the camera, with a minimum of post processing in PS. However, to have a little fiddle some times is fun dont you think . . .
The owner of the boat loved the Solarised pictures.Only my humble opinion
SW -
I have two tripods and a mono pod. The first one I ever bought is very much on a parr with the one you have Janet, great for compacts and modern light DSLR's with a standard lens. These days one has a Manfroto 55, support the world! it will, but heavy . . . !!! I also have a Manfroto Mono pod, great general purpose mobile compromise, but for long exposures it has to be the full Tripod. Looked at the carbon fiber tripods, expensive and not as light as one would think, its the head, thats still heavy.
Pity some one does not make a 'walking/hiking stick', carbon fiber mono pod, that would be perfec, no heavy head required? Unless some one knows different?
SW
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I've had my suspicions for a few weeks, that there is an ideal . . . perfect . . . general setting on my Nikon D80/18-200VR combination? also seems to extend to the Sigma 10-20 as well?
Been hosing around recently with gay abandon,
having found the pleasures of 'Center Weighted metering', histogram confirmation and colour curve adjustment. With the superb weather, I started to play with ISO settings, ISO200 in good light seems to promote F8-F11 aperture and a shutter speed from 125th up to 500th. Thats set on 'Auto P', fixing the aperture at say F8 for general walk about photography seems to get good results.The reason I have finally decided that there does seem to be a sweet spot. I have this morning gone through the photographs I took on my friends yacht last week, about half were taken using the Nikon 18-200VR super zoom the rest, taken with my Sigma 10-20. Sharpness and colour were excellent, requiring minimal post processing to send a set of 10 via email to Harmony's owner.
Super zooms are not noted for their sharpness, and although light conditions did change through the day, I was able to compensate easily with the help of the histogram, requiring F1/3-F2/3 minimal changes. Even the less than perfect shots were not so far off as to be unretrievable had I not got 'F' compensation right.
I presume it is me, and the penny is finally dropping on this photography thing . . . or is there a settings 'sweet spot'?
Its strange, when I used to take pictures for my magazine articals, back in the days of film, I always, as did the magazine, prefered the Fuji ISO200 film . . . ? Nikon have often favoured ISO200 as the minimum speed setting on its modern DSLR's . . . ????
SW
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When I first joined the AN Photography section . . . . XXX years ago, afraid the memory fails me on dates, however, there was a good nucleus of experienced photographers, plus plenty of would be photographers with questions. We had our ups and downs, but things went on swimmingly, a few members went and were replaced by new blood. As an Angling based forum, the od fishy picture appeared, lots of wild life and waterscapes, as well as the more usual efforts from enthusiastic amateurs. Encouragement was dolled by the ladle full, along with help and loads of banter.
Steve Randles handed on a healthy Forum to the late, Mr Wiggly. Wiggly became a friend to us all, how you do that over the Internet I have not got a clue, but he did it. Enthusiasm, advise, encouragement and a whole load of commitment and work behind the scenes, was the Wiggly trade mark, sadly Mr Wigglies passing has left a gap in every ones life that he touched. He would be devastated with what has happened to our vital and thriving forum in the space of 6 months.
We hade a unique Photo Forum, in my humble opinion. We were not high and mighty, think we know it all, pro and anorak based self opinionated hair shirts. We accepted photography for its own sake, not trying to impress with how much we had spent on a particular brand.
Janet has given you a a shake up, Delia fashion ; . . . " where are you . . . lets be having you".
Looking at the reaction since then, Janet's words seem to have hit a spot? You only have to look at this months competition entries and picture viewings, standard is good, and the viewings are excellent, which, one assumes, means the voting will be good as well
Forum chat has gone up, threads are interesting, if they don't float your boat . . . get in there and post a thread that does!Its a start, but the forum needs to be moving back to 'Wiggly style' days, comment, chat, banter, information. Continue the 'anything goes' theme on equipment, £100 compact or a £1000 DSLR, its the eye behind the camera that makes the photo, not a fat check book in the pocket!
Lets be seeing some of those early simple, 'AN style', watery, fishie and wildlife pictures that were the trade mark of 'Anglers Net Photography'.
There are the threads of a start, a spark of enthusiasm. The weather is good we are in for a Bar-bi-que Summer, so the weather man and woman 'political correctness'
say. No excuse, get out there and lets see what you are up to. Never mind the fancy PS'jobs, lets have some real life and how you live it.SW . . . Some of my pleasures in similes;
PS, any vistors reading this, get you kit off and 'come on in' . . .
PPS, sorry, my spelling is a bit off I think??
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I thought it was only me who had a thing about photographing weeds!
Perhaps we should start a mini comp? I'd love to see some more of that kind of stuff. I don't know if anyone has the time or know-how, but a section devoted to photographic manipulation I'd certainly find most interesting! I really liked your solarized shots of the boat yesterday, and some of Hellbelly's portraits are outstanding....
I stand in awe of the people on here who can take a good photograph, but I also think there's a lot of skill in using computer software to make more of a relatively plain and ordinary shot.
Did that make any sense?
Janet
It certainly makes sense Janet, whether one can get that enthusiastic??? Time, creativity, the real world, as you say, an ordinary picture . . . Ordinary pictures can be boring, the real world is boring . . . I live in the real world ............ whew, does that make any sense? I accept life as boring with punctuation marks!!! Down hill all the way . . . ????
SW
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I don't know what you've done to get that effect, but I like it! It looks more like a painting than a photograph?
Janet
Complete flook Janet, had the original in 'Levels' I slid the left hand and centre slider to far to the right, thought that looks interesting, see what happens? . . . kept sliding, "simple's . . .
" Got some Hawthorn and Cowslips today, classic session on my way round the lanes, 50 mile trip to Cambridge, only a parcel on board going to Addenbrookes Hospital, no pressure, know the road well, watched as I passed known vantage points, found a rape field on the side of a hill, parcels are great, they don't complain . . . watch this space?
SW
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No bluebell woods, but I found some daisies today . . .
SW
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The sloping horizon I found made me feel a bit queasy!
I like the solarizing effect. It's made a rather ordinary shot very much more dramatic. I'm not one of the hair shirt purist brigade that say you shouldn't fiddle...if you have the technology, then why not use it? I think Hellbelly can show us the way there - I love what he's done with some of his more recent photographs. Such a pity that they are barred from the monthly competition. Perhaps we ought to have another section?
I really don't care what has been done to a picture, so long as the results are pleasing on the eye. In many cases the so called "fiddling" can turn a very ordinary shot into something much more special.
I particularly like the first shot with the sun hiding behind the sail - how about levelling up the horizon and posting them again (without the bit of sail in the top left hand corner of the amended shot).
I've got a crick in my neck trying to visualise it!
Hope that made sense....????
Janet
Hay Janet, hear what you say, if I try to level it up you loos so much of the photo? Might have another look later? Off to my boat now, see if we can catch a few early season bass on the new flood tide that starts at 3pm?
Note, on the original I had cropped that bit in the corner out. Hard to make much more of the standard picture with out a full fish eye lens or change my initials to 'JC' and walk on water
I suspect there is a cleaver way to straighten the horizon??? but I have no idea how? Good case for an excuse to go out on another fishing trip to re shoot
SW
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Well now . . . I have been and surprised myself!!!
I've been playing 'silly buggers' mid morning, not touched a drop of the hard stuff . . . looking at the sailing. Then I came on these two, total by chance the shot was taken at an angle, the camera was playing up!!! actualy finger trouble But the result was the shots leaning over, I think they get a sence of speed with the mast over like that, despite the horizon falling of the picture as well?However, the picture as was, was still bland, spice it up with a little adjustment in 'colour curves', down hill from there . . .
one of the style options was 'Solorise'; these are the results after a little trial and error. I am not a fan of unnatural pictures, however, the angle of the boat and the colour combination, the sun ahead and amazing sky colour, in my humble opinion put a zip in to the shots?1 Original picture with a high (standing) lens position with some basic pp work
1a Solorised
2 Original picture with a low (grovel
) position and some basic pp work
2a Solorised
So finger trouble at the camera end and my wandering about in the computer menu produced interesting results . . . IMHO
Do you like the strange angle, is the high or low lens position better, does the solorising work for you, do the pictures work at all? . . . agree, disagree? open to you comments.SW
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As this is essentially an angling site with Photography tagged on these days? I thought this report, that I put up on another sea angling site, of which I am a member, might be of interest?
Obviously the pictures element is for this site. Taken within the confines of the boat Harmony, I used the wide angle of my 18-200VR for the cod picture and the 10mm focal length of my Sigma 10-20, for the sailing shot, which I thought, in view of circumstances and wanting a picture under sail for the owner, turned out well enough? It also follows on from an earlier thread; I am using 'Center Weight' metering almost exclusively these days, to very good effect.
Perhaps I will post a few more of the session that I think might be of interest, composition was a real problem, both in terms of confinement, as was the case with the sail shot, not falling over board, and the sun being almost dead ahead!!!
If you want some more, please indicate within your comments, other wise I won't boar you any further with my sailing exploits
5.40 . . am! the late spring cod are calling, engines fired up and Harmony gingerly locks out of Shotley Marina, she is a tight fit with 3 feet per side to spare. A steady steam with the tide had us bearing down on our mark in surpisingly quick time? or is it when you are having fun time passes so quickly? Then a brief look at the bottom, to asses what we have, this was a new mark, recommended to Colin, Harmonies owner by a friend.
Anchor down, and commence some serious fishing, we had unwashed squid, black lug, ragworm and peeler on board. Covering basses with the bait variety, as this time of year, various species could be out there, bass, smoothound, roka, as well as cod. First fish came at 8 o'clock on the dot, I had swapped to my light 12lb Abu Suveran rods for the summer, and what a great fight they offer against the tide and a 9lb cod! I have said it before, The 12lb Suveran blank is awesome, light and sensitive and yet, as the pressure is applied, it steps up to the mark with power in hand as the medium to through action takes hold!!!
First cod, at 9 pounds a good omen, one rod was fishing with crab, the cod came to steady old uw-squid Cod number 2 was Colin's, and thats how it went. Colin boated a 10lb+ fish which caused a bit of celebration, bit like scoring the magic 100 at snooker. In these parts 10lbs+ is a target!!!
Eight cod from 4lb to 10lb+, we had a smattering of other species, a couple of small smoothound, a pout and the tiniest of roka, of course the local dog show was in full swing.
Tide went slack, we decided to wait for the flood tide, gave it an hour, nothing, zilch Colin asked the question, I agreed . . . yes I'd love a cupa, let these baits fish out, if nothing head for home.
We were running with the flood tide, 10-15mph wind blowing from, SSW. Put the sails up and go home in 'style' Well, I have never been under sail before, not on a proper boat, other than a short stint on a Thames barge a couple of years ago. I could get used to the life, with the time required to go with it, lovely.
The results of a very pleasant relaxed days fishing, cod and chips twice please Hazel.
SW
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SW - you are easily amused!
You know, I must have taken fifty or more pictures of dandelions in the first few days that I had the camera. I know they're considered to be weeds, but personally I love them! It's a great sign of summer approaching...
Janet
I certainly am Janet, you know me, anything goes, sign of spring approaching . . . yes, mmm
and a sign that I'm a rubbish gardener, I have a great crop in the law this year . . . another sign; the lawn now needs mowing every week!!! 4.30am! . . . there is only one reason to be up and awake this early, off to catch some late season cod, keep the fingers crossed for an early bass . . .
try to get some thing more than snapshots to post for the days efforts? . . . "watch out you coood" 
shhhhhhh!!!SW
Favourite Fishing/Pet/Aminal Picture
in Photography
Posted
For the fun of it . . .
Here is a sequence that as anglers you might like. I was fishing on a friends boat as a guest, we had a group of guys who had chartered the boat for the day to go Tope fishing in June 2006. It was to be my last feature article for the fishing magazine media. For those that are not sure, Tope is a shark, teeth and all!!! native to UK waters, rod caught record is about 80 something pounds, 82lbs I think. Bigger have been taken in the past couple of years but were released . . . 90 something?
These pictures were taken by John Hanks on his mobile phone . . . it might have been a compact? I was otherwise occupied with the fishing rod
The head appearing on the right . . . see next picture
We had not got a net big enough to land it! So this brave soul, hung over the side, 4 guys hanging on to his legs
The Tope went 38lbs . . . the fat lump wearing the silly hat goes considerably more than that . . . !!! That was 2006 . . .
Just to prove the point, this is the same, not so fat lump, same smock, but hat less, last year . . . I have lost a lot of weight! The fish is a 7-8lb Thorn Back Ray, 'Roka' in these parts and 'skate wing' in the chippy.
I am very grateful to John Hanks for the watery Tope shots, far from perfect photographically, but give me pleasure every time I look at them, they are in my 'special memories' category. Non of these are master pieces, but in my book there is more to picture taking than perfection? You may have a view . . .
Please enjoy them with me, for what they are . . .
SW OFC