Arny's Photography Appreciation Thread

[Arnathor]

Cockpit Country, Jamaica.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

I sometimes think I'd like to go back. I was there 15 years ago when I didn't even know how to work a camera; I remember it rained almost the entire month of August. I wouldn't know nowadays... As much as I'd enjoy shooting long exposures of Rotterdam or Amsterdam's train stations I'd probably get pickpocketed before I knew it.

You were pretty unlucky with the weather as August tends to be the height of summer with a very good chance of excellent weather.

Amsterdam's central station is pretty much a place you get out as quick as you can, been a few stabbings, lots of druggies and pickpockets but nothing remotely on the scale of the likes of Milan's central station.

Amsterdam is one big tourist trap these days, it use to be very seasonal, but now the crowds are all year round. But it is a good city as regards getting into the museum quarter in a car and out without severe traffic. Rotterdam has some interesting parts, but equally a number of problem areas as does The Hague and Amsterdam. I prefer several of the provincial towns at street level: Maastricht, Leiden, Delft, Dordrecht, et al. There's also really great forested areas to the east of the country around Arnhem way. But like most western European cities the move is away from the distinct to the bland uniform city of the future. A word you don't hear much anymore and that is ''Cosmopolitan''. I find the cities less sophisticated and more dumbed down and less intriguing to visit. Getting grotty in parts, particularly Rotterdam and The Hague. Amsterdam less so. Still nothing on the scale of some of the UK cities.

 

[Arnathor]

Lol, you make the case for me to stay put perfectly. Though I miss Bergen, Alkmaar and Groningen. :'(

 

[Scherensammler]

Taken today:

 

[ballmouse]

These last couple seem to have more depth. I know nothing of cameras - but was it a completely different camera? Or just different settings?

 

[Scherensammler]

These last couple seem to have more depth. I know nothing of cameras - but was it a completely different camera? Or just different settings?

I had HDR setting switched on. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro dual camera. No extra settings.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Whatever happened to Arnathor ? Did he get eaten by wild dogs in jamaica?

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

Here's some of my jungle adventures in Venezuela back in 1999, taken on the APS, which proved to be the last attempt at introducing a sub-standard compared to 35mm camera system before the digital revolution swept everything aside:

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

The Buffalo River from Fugitive's Lodge lunch dining verandah:

The Sphinx like Isandhwana from where Chelmsford column crossed from Nataal into Zululand:

The Zulu line on the ridge:

The Dunford monument where he formed the square and sent his native contingent on to warn Rorke Drift:

Various cairns reaching out to the firing line:

A mass grave close up:

One awe inspiring and overwhelming place (well would be with the right camera lens and angle):

 

[Arnathor]

Great composition on the first photo!

 

[Dropbear]

Small town Texas, morning fog.

 

[Dropbear]

Disaster City Training Facility.

 

[Dropbear]

Is there any value in getting a little 20mp auto camera? Right now I’m using an old digital SLR for a very rare portrait and the iPhone camera for nearly everything else. I always scoffed at the little happy snap cameras, but now I’m thinking it might be a decent compromise for travel and pics of the kids, etc.

I have taken some gorgeous iPhone pics, but only when the lighting is perfect. Too many dark and blurry pics the rest of the time.

 

[Arnathor]

Hi Dropbear ,

I assume you are referring to point & shoot style cameras. There are a few tempting looking P&S cameras even for me, like a Canon Powershot G3X which seem to utilize sensors and hardware similar to pro level dSLRs. I see nice photos taken at Jazz festivals and similar events and it makes me feel pretty confident that you could cover a wide range of things without having to switch lenses.

For in-depth reviews, I would recommend to look at www.dpreview.com

Feel free to ask any other questions!

 

[Dropbear]

Thanks. I can see it coming out for vacations, but I guess I’m just not sure if I’d use it the rest of the time. This damn phone is always on in my pocket, editing is quick and easy and sharing the pic after is near instantaneous.

that g3x might be a bit pricey for something I may not use much. Would the g9 be close?

 

[Arnathor]

I'd say the specs look good for what you'll pay! It looks like there are options in terms of manual exposure settings which is something I think is key. I also believe they came out in the same year, so you should have similar quality of processing/sensor ability.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Is there any value in getting a little 20mp auto camera? Right now I’m using an old digital SLR for a very rare portrait and the iPhone camera for nearly everything else. I always scoffed at the little happy snap cameras, but now I’m thinking it might be a decent compromise for travel and pics of the kids, etc.

I have taken some gorgeous iPhone pics, but only when the lighting is perfect. Too many dark and blurry pics the rest of the time.

What about something like a sony RX100?

 

[Scherensammler]

Following images were taken with my phone ($180), 12 +2 MP with HDR settings.
You'll struggle to find a camera at that price point to offer similar quality. Unless you want a zoom.

 

[Dropbear]

^Sure, phones can take great pics. Also more likely to be charged and with you when you need it and also easier to send or upload pics. But I find them far to dependent on good lighting. I am hoping a p&s camera will be better for action shots in less than ideal lighting conditions (vacations and kids doing crazy shit around the house). I also have a nice dslr for portraits that I pull out maybe one or twice a year.

 

[Journeyman]

But I find them far to dependent on good lighting.

Definitely this. I've taken some great photos when the lighting is good. However, as soon as the sun is in the wrong direction, or it starts to get a bit dark, most phone cameras lose a lot of their ability.

 

[Arnathor]

Great lighting and composition, pose is odd. Really like the hills in the back meeting the skyline.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Great lighting and composition, pose is odd. Really like the hills in the back meeting the skyline.

you did this?

 

[Dropbear]

you did this?

The Jewish Space Lasers did.

 

[ballmouse]

I was going to ask how you got the shot to look so clear.

 

[Arnathor]

No. I did not take the shot, I admire the technical skill it takes to get this shot.

 

[Arnathor]

I was going to ask how you got the shot to look so clear.

I believe the technique used is called high speed sync. The technology exists to use strobes at much faster shutter speeds than before. It looks like they exposed for the background, and then lit her with a softbox. I think the photographer used a long telephoto lens to produce that blurred bokeh and probably shot around f/5.6-8 to get a reasonable amount of depth of field.

OR

It is a great photoshop job. But I doubt it, because you see footprints in the snow at the bottom.

 

[Arnathor]

I took this shot of a 2021 Elantra when it came on the lot. Social media promotional stuff.

I like the angles and the way the rim looks.

Customers like seeing things on the lot rather than the photos supplied from corporate.

50mm lens, laying prone on the ground. f/5.6 @ 250th/Sec.

 

[Grand Potentate]

No. I did not take the shot, I admire the technical skill it takes to get this shot.

yeah that's what i thought you did. the photoshop in that pic is amazing. it almost looks like it was superimposed on the background.

 

[Arnathor]

Drone shot of industrial area.

 

[Arnathor]

Gwangyang Steel Plant in South Korea, the world's largest steel mill

 

[Arnathor]

Will likely be buying some more gear soon, exciting time to be alive!

Canon 5D MK IV - This looks a really great body that will become my new workhorse.
Canon 24-70mm f/4L - Great all around lens.

 

[Sammy Ambrose]

Taken today:

Superb.

 

[Sammy Ambrose]

Gwangyang Steel Plant in South Korea, the world's largest steel mill

Wow.

 

[Arnathor]

Looking at getting a Canon 5D MK IV. Solid camera body with a proper SLR construction.

Socially dangerous goblins with deep ignorance buy mirrorless bodies. I could've gone with an R5 but I did not want to rely solely on these digital bodies. I bet a few tackys here may own one and require a photographic demounting.

 

[Arnathor]

Wow.

Drones are awesome. I go for the advanced operations license this August.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Drones are awesome. I go for the advanced operations license this August.

you need a license to operate a drone?

 

[Dropbear]

you need a license to operate a drone?

Become a Drone Pilot

www.faa.gov

 

[Arnathor]

you need a license to operate a drone?

Yes, There is a lot of restricted airspace in SW Ontario, but not a lot of people to enforce.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Yes, There is a lot of restricted airspace in SW Ontario, but not a lot of people to enforce.

Huh. So are you adding aerial photography to the business?

 

[Arnathor]

Huh. So are you adding aerial photography to the business?

Yes, the AEC clients appreciate it. So do the car dealerships. You can get a drone with a flame thrower to burn shit off of powerlines.