amateur photo thread.

I'll throw my 2 cents in for some points, while others are pretty much self-explanatory.

Sounds like this is an error with the tripod that you're using or methodology and not the camera. If you're just tightening the screw with your fingers and not an actual screwdriver to torque it down tightly, it will obviously come off over time. I've left my tripod base on my camera for the last three years and it hasn't budged at all. No locktite or any other bonding agent used other than a flathead to tighten it in (coins can often do the same job).

If you're referring to how some companies seem to have slight saturation differences between each other, that is just natural. This can be all changed in post if you haven't already used a program like Adobe Lightroom. If you don't want to buy a subscription for Adobe CC however (the student discount is a good deal if you're in school), you could easily just buy (or make) a grey card to calibrate the white balance in your scene before taking any shots. I've only ever used it twice however (I made it myself out of paint swatches) and just threw it away the other day simply because I never use it and rely on Lightroom and my editing.

Chances are you'll be looking at lenses eventually with optical stabilization later on, so if the body is not exactly what you want there is always the chance that you can add on with different lenses. Not a fan of it personally due to how easy it is for these systems to disrupt a perfectly still shot with artificial vibration.

Most Nikons currently have quite the array of AF points to chose from that is within your budget and if they are unable to be selected from the screen, they are visible within the viewfinder.

I'd suggest rather than having something hold it's shutter within the camera's equipment to times above 30", that you look into buying a cheap intervalometer. You can have it set delay before the shot, interval between, and duration of the shutter being opened. This is an example of an hour long, single frame shot. While it is quite smooth, there is plenty of noise easily visible within the star trails.

Spoiler

Results from one of the cheapest kit lenses out there that came with my D3200:

Spoiler

And my favorite night time shot consisting of over 12 frames stitched together for a panorama (Rokinon 24mm 1.4):

Spoiler

Anything from 8-30 seconds is all you need when in a dark area to get shots of the stars. Once you go above 30 seconds the stars move fast enough to give them tails or the beginning of star trails.

Never heard of this happening. I use my Rokinon lense for the majority of my photography and it weighs even more than the body does. The F-mount is an absolutely solid unit and I've never read anything bad about them.

I think your budget for a good APSC sized DSLR is good, but you'll have to look around for some lenses (Good luck finding FX lenses) to squeeze in.

 

This is a small post to introduce myself. I am an amateur photographer when I'm not racing on the console

I mostly shoot landscapes and abandoned stuff.
This was taken this morning at my backdoor,

And then I would like to suggest to @AerodyManiac to try using extension rings on an ordinary lens to shoot stuff upp close. The bumblebee in my other photo was shot using a Nikon D5200 with an old M42 50/1.8 and a extension ring.

 

First time playing around with Lightroom's HDR and panorama merging tools.







Some other photos

 

Yeah, I always just use my nails to tighten the screws to the camera base because there’s no screwdriver large enough to fit snugly into the drive. Now that you’ve talked about it though I’ll try using a coin the next time and see how it does.

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Thanks for the advice guys. I eventually decided not to buy a brand new camera after realizing that the situation doesn’t necessitate it (my Olympus is still functioning very well and the additional gains doesn’t outweigh the costs), and bought a macro lens instead. I did learn more about cameras (including my own - I have always thought that it’s a DSLR until now!), so that will probably help when I’m really on a hunt for a new one the next time.

 

I screwed up one thing. You can actually use lenses for other cameras on the M43 cameras with the right adapter.

I'm also holding still with any upgrades. I still have a lot to learn before I drop major coin on a new telephoto lens.

 

From today's classic car show. One of my best shots from today, might post more tomorrow.

 

We had some thunderstorms pass by as the weather changed from summer to fall temperatures. A good chance to do some night photography I thought.

 

More photos of Saturday's car meet.

 

Oh, that Peugeot! I had one of those when the model was two years old.

 

Hey guys, I got to be Street Art Racing's personal photographer for the race weekend at the Nurburgring. Here are some images I took throughout the weekend. Great team, beautiful cars, and it was great to be there when they won the AM-class title!

​

 

More rallycross from me, this time the fifth round of the British Championship at Lydden Hill:

Ford Fiesta VI 4x4 T16 (51) (Julian Godfrey) by Steve White, on Flickr

Suzuki Swift Junior (126) (Roberts Vitols) by Steve White, on Flickr

Ford Fiesta VII 4x4 T16 (101) (Derek Tohill) by Steve White, on Flickr

Ford Fiesta VI 4x4 T16 (51) (Julian Godfrey) by Steve White, on Flickr

Citroen C2 S1600 (303) (Jarek Suchowiecki) by Steve White, on Flickr

 

Few favorites from a car show today.
DSC03366 by Casey Lee, on Flickr
DSC03333 by Casey Lee, on Flickr
DSC03350 by Casey Lee, on Flickr
DSC03349 by Casey Lee, on Flickr
DSC03326 by Casey Lee, on Flickr

 

Not many events left this year now. Few from round 8 of the World Rallycross Championship in France a couple of weeks ago...

 

One of my favourite shots from IAA on Thursday. I'll be adding/posting more shots soon.

 

Some photos from the Climate Strike at my school

(language warning)

https://www.behance.net/gallery/85771757/Cornell-Climate-Strike

 

More IAA pics. Including the brand new RS6 and RS7 (drools).

 

Here's a pic from last night taken in Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia.

 

Lewis Hamilton at Spa 2019 using 35mm film.

It's a difficult task taking photos of cars that are going 290 kph around a corner, especially with a manual camera and prime lens. It's an out of focus photo, but I don't mind, The fact that it's out of focus is a testament to how hard it is to capture these cars and how digital cameras are the most optimized. I might get this printed out and framed.

If I could, one day, meet Lewis, I will bring a wallpaper-sized silver-print for him to sign.



This image was difficult to expose properly, but I think it shows the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes at these races. This is also at Belgium.



And the last one I will share on here. I took this photo at BMW's museum in Munich. It was also difficult to expose, but I made it work, so well to the point that it's one of my favorite photos I've taken of a car. It's like it's a dormant legend. My wallpaper and avatar

 

A photo of a friend I took when I tested my new Sigma 17-50 mm lens yesterday. Really pleased with it, I love the depth of field at F2.8.

 

Bunch of photos I've taken this week





These were taken in upstate New York. Some of the most amount of star's I've ever seen! The first one looks a lot better smaller. I think there's too many stars in it. It was taken with a 50mm, I wish I had bought a new wide angle lens before I went.



I'm really proud of that one. It looks amazing. The symmetry, the lighting, the framing, etc. Everything's just perfect in my eyes.

 

Those are very nice. If star scapes are something you want to do more of a wide angle is good. You should check out a free program called Sequator, it helps you stack multiple exposures to get noise free star scapes.

Among the others the one with the old-fashioned street lamp among the trees are my favourite. It looks like Narnia.

 

Thanks!
I have a 19mm 2.8 but it's for my old APS-C camera so I didn't use it. I'm gonna get a wide angle probably this Christmas anyways, I just haven't had the chance to get one since upgrading my camera. I probably won't have any more opportunities to get star scapes in the neat foreseeable future though.

 

I find shooting at night one of my favourite things. It's slower, more deliberately photography almost zen
The milky way looks great where you are.

 

Those were in upstate NY which is like 3 hours away from where I'm studying. Where I'm studying is like a 2 day drive away from where I live.
I probably won't get the chance to see the milky way again for a while

 

A bit of impromptu product photography. Used my TV as a light source and my desk chair as my "tools" for the shot. I posted it on my Instagram page as well, and it even got recognized by one of the company's co-founders.



Shameless plug: my photography page on Instagram is @nblkrvisuals

 

If you do get another chance to do some astrophotography, something i like to do is panorama shots. 4x3 looks good and is only 12 frames, but your down time has to be minimal between the shots. I use Microsoft image composite editor (ICE) to stitch them together. It’s free and one of the best programs I’ve found to put the photos together before importing to Lightroom.

It’ll make the Sky not seem so overwhelming and you can include more on the bottom third.

 

Excellent photo! Kudos.

 

Essen Motor Show 2019.












Still got more to come.