Syntax's Gallery - Updated 09/08/2011 some boring couples shots... no cars here :(

[Syntax error]

Hey guys,

Not sure if any of you remember me. It's been a fair while since I have posted here, but I have been logging on and browsing. Anyway, I thought I'd make a more permanent presence on the site, especially since there is a dedicated photography sub forum.

Anyway, for those of you that don't know me, I'm an avid photographer with a small part time photography business doing mostly event coverage and some advertisement work. I hope to get to know you all a little better and I thought I'd kick off my return with a couple of my older shots from sometime ago.

Also feel free to give advice on anything I post, or vice versa, ask questions.


From my honeymoon in Fiji:

Out the front of my office:

 

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These are some of the 6000 odd shots I took over the weekend HOG Rally (Harley Owners Group) in Lennox Head. It was an extremely tiring weekend. Let me know what you all think:

As i said earlier, I took thousands of photos so I havn't had time to process most of the raw data yet, but I'll post some more shot later.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I like the second and the last of those photos Syntax.

Your ones in the first post look a bit chemically artificial for me. I didn't say anything earlier as it was probably the look you were going for!!

 

[TheCracker]

Some nice photos there 👍 What camera do you use and do you digitally edit them much?

 

[Syntax error]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback.

Giles, I took the first two images a little while back with a 400D and a crappy 18-55 EFS lens and was having some major problems with image quality so I think I may have over compensated with the post production on the shots. I'm looking for constructive criticism anyway so don't feel the need to hold back.

Cracker, the first two shots in the first post where from a 400D with the terrible kit lens, all the shots in the second post however where with a 20D and a EF 24-105mm f/4 IS USM L series lens. I have had a tendency in the past to over do the post production in lightroom but since I’ve been using the 20D and the L lens, I've noticed that I only really need mild sharpening of the raw data and the occasional slight colour adjustment. Oh and noise ninja to get rid of the noise in those 3200 iso shots at night.

 

[Cano]

spanking good most of them, your postpro is like night and day from first to second post, composition on the HOG rally pics is awesome on most, I'll look forward for more shots!!

Damn I need some lenses, I'd really like to pop up my colours a bit.

any car events? any car photoshoots?

 

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Thanks Cano. No car events on the table at this stage. I might make it out to the drags in the next few months but at this stage I'm pretty busy with other stuff....

 

[Serge.D]

I like the Jack Daniel's ute ,biker with beard and biker group photos. 👍

 

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Thanks Serge. Plenty more to come soon. Been working through all my photos but it's taking longer than anticipated... Anyway, here is a one that I thought was pretty funny... the police car is actually escorting all the bikers but it looks more like he's being chased in this photo.... lol

 

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Here are a few car related shots I took of Brett Stevens Racing Top Doorslammer at the HOG Rally...

 

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A performer singing on stage as part of a girl pop group....

 

[Cano]

Dude, you are really, REALLY good. The girl looks stunning. The zoomies and Simpson belts rock: I would have liked to see a complete car, mwahaha

 

[Syntax error]

Dude, you are really, REALLY good. The girl looks stunning. The zoomies and Simpson belts rock: I would have liked to see a complete car, mwahaha

Thanks Cano, it was a bit of a moster, shame I didn't get to see it in action.


lock up your daughters.... bikers are in town!

although some brought their own kids along to the rally as well....

 

[Syntax error]

Wow not getting a lot of comments at all, i think we might need to do something about the Photography sub-forum to encourage interaction, but that's for another thread I think.

Anyway, about a month or two back I got given a lens by my old boss as he was getting rid of his equipment and couldn't be bothered selling the stuff. I ended up with this monster MC MTO-11CA camera lens which is 1000mm.

To date, I've only tested it out on the moon (see below image un-cropped might I add) and well, as you can see, together with the 1.6x crop factor on the image sensor, it have a pretty impressive distance. It does not have autofocus or any other new fangled feature, it's actually technically a reflecting telescope with a camera mount on it and it is old USSR surplus so don't expect too much from it really.

Anyway, I keep getting sidetracked, my question is, does anyone have any suggestions on what I could actually use this lens for apart from astro photography, which does not excite me all that much. Oh and keep it clean guys, all the naughty thoughts have already crossed my mind

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Reflector lenses were really popular in the 1980s and 1990s. I'm assuming you got an M42 mount adapter for it? I think the big issue with them when shooting during daylight is the toroidal highlights in the out-of-focus (bokeh) areas of the image. In some instances this can be quite pleasing. I'm guessing that static birds is probably your best bet.

Looks like some shake on that moon shot. Is your tripod up to it, or was it handheld? I shot with a reflector once and it wasn't that heavy.

Oh, and don't worry about the comments. Worry about the number of views. The gallery threads are doing well I think. The really great shots are getting compliments, and the bad ones are getting advice. There's a huge middle ground of lovely shots that don't motivate a comment.

 

[Syntax error]

I'm assuming you got an M42 mount adapter for it?

Spot on.

I'm guessing that static birds is probably your best bet.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to see if there are any rare species around my neighborhood that would be worth the effort but then again I'm not the most patient man.

Looks like some shake on that moon shot. Is your tripod up to it, or was it handheld? I shot with a reflector once and it wasn't that heavy.

I took the moon shot a about a year ago with the 400D and I think I may have gotten carried away with the lens at the time so I forgot to adjust the iso settings (I had it on 100), and since the focal length is so large, the moon would actually pass through the line of site really fast... so the blur ended up being due to the orbit of the moon. I've been meaning to go out and give it another go as I'm sure I can get a significantly sharper image.

Oh, and don't worry about the comments. Worry about the number of views. The gallery threads are doing well I think. The really great shots are getting compliments, and the bad ones are getting advice. There's a huge middle ground of lovely shots that don't motivate a comment.

I see your point. I was hoping for a little more open discussion with people on even the middle of the road type shots as well, but I think I might have to be the instigator in this case. In any event, I appreciate the feedback Giles.

 

[Dougboy]

Nice pics Syntax error.

Quick question, if you dont mind me asking. What, if any PP do you apply to your photos to get that "dark" tone. Curves?

Or maybe its just me viewing on my laptop. The monitor isnt exactly calibrated.

 

[Syntax error]

Nice pics Syntax error.

Quick question, if you dont mind me asking. What, if any PP do you apply to your photos to get that "dark" tone. Curves?

Or maybe its just me viewing on my laptop. The monitor isnt exactly calibrated.

Thanks bubble, I'll usually shoot in AV mode (aperture priority) but will occasionally make adjustments to the shutter speed, especially in really bright light situations. This tends to give my images a slightly darker complexion (which is unfortunately lost on my laptop as it also needs some calibration urgently).

 

[Dougboy]

Hmmm now i see, looking at your exif info, stopping down 1.3ev.

What lens do you usually shoot with? Besides that "beast"

 

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Hmmm now i see, looking at your exif info, stopping down 1.3ev.

What lens do you usually shoot with? Besides that "beast"

I take the majority of my shots with my EF 24-105mm f/4 IS USM L lens. It's by far my best lens and is probably best suited the types of photos I take. I'm looking at buying anothe L series lens soon as they kick ass, but I'm still undecided on which one to get at this stage.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Yeah, three primes and five zooms down the line, I understand the power of the red ring. It looks like you might be suited to my latest acquisition, the EF135 F/2L

 

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I saw you post a shot of it in the latest purchase thread... very nice. I've been looking at it but my heart is really set on the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM. I'm still trying to justify the additional 1K AU$ for the IS version. I'll also require a plausible back story to give my wife.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Just point her to this thread on Photography-on-the.net. 70-200/2.8IS is a beautiful lens that produces beautiful shots. It's a joy to use, and you're often conscious - as you shoot at F/2.8, 1/50s at 200mm - that it's generating shots you can't take with any other lens (save for the EF200 F/2 IS, which is five times the price).

There are quite a lot of shots from mine in my gallery thread.

 

[Dougboy]

Those "lens picture" threads on POTN.

All they do is encourage spending

 

[Syntax error]

Thanks Giles. Great thread... certainly helps me make up my mind. (Although subconsciously I think I may have made it up myself already, I will get the IS version) now it's just a matter of budgeting.

 

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Took some couple shots for my friends the other day;

and although no one asked and purely in the interst of showing off, that's my home bar in the background...

 

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Talked my wife into a photoshoot on the weekend...

 

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Got to finally test out my new studio lights, they worked like a treat... Although I probably still need a bit of practice with it myself. Also in a desperate need of a light meter now... eek more spending coming soon...

Also I now totally understand why people in film & television say never to work with animals or kids.... my friends dogs where so hard to get to sit still haha

the dog would just not get into place...

 

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Been a little while since I've updated. Here are a couple of snaps I took over the holiday period.

My little brother in-law

The Fair at Koshigaya Park, Campbelltown for New Years Eve celebrations.

Band performing for New Years Eve celebrations.

Cute little girl dancing to the music.

Former Australian Idol contestant Joseph Gatehau, performing for New Years Eve Celebrations.

 

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Going for a record 6th consecutive post without a response at all! Oh well, I was doing some gardening and I thought it would be great excuse to get the camera out...

I was watching the grass grow.Seriously, I planted grass seeds near the back in an area of the garden that was baron. After less than a week and constant watering….

Growing some corn...

My wife was doing some pickling

This is my handy work. I got a little bored the other day and decided that I should build a table stand for my wife's pot plants. I built it from scratch, with no particular design in mind, just a lot of wood, a saw, a hammer, tape measure…. oh and a lot of cursing haha