tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27507517315572240782023-11-16T02:40:25.009-05:00Automatic CameraUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-17099923729713627292010-08-27T01:36:00.002-04:002010-08-27T01:39:26.408-04:00This is very good advice, very goodGreat advice from <a href="http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2010/06/100-things-i-have-learned-about-photography/">Eric Kim</a>:<br /> 1. Never stop taking photos.<br /> 2. Photos make great presents.<br /> 3. Never hoard your photographic insight- share it with the world.<br /> 4. Travel and photography are the perfect pair.<br /> 5. The more gear you carry around with you the less you will enjoy photography.<br /> 6. Make photos, not excuses.<br /> 7. Photography isn’t a hobby- it’s a lifestyle.<br /> 8. You can’t “photoshop” bad images into good ones.<br /> 9. Carry your camera with you everywhere. Everywhere.<br /> 10. Only show your best photos.<br /> 11. Spend less time looking at other people’s work and more time shooting your own.<br /> 12. Capture the beauty in the mundane and you have a winning photograph.<br /> 13. Go outside and shoot photos rather than spending hours a day on photography forums.<br /> 14. Always shoot in RAW. Always.<br /> 15. Just because someone has an expensive camera doesn’t mean that they’re a good photographer.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://folio.jorgeq.com/post/1016468816/100-things-i-have-learned-about-photography">via</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-19521938222818121682010-07-19T09:58:00.004-04:002010-07-19T10:02:24.977-04:00Photography inspirationThis is a webinar hosted by Photoshelter.com with Tim Mantoani.<br />It's inspirational.<br /><br /><blockquote>"A camera is like a guitar. It's just a box with a hole in it. Until it is placed in the hands of a true artist it will not make music, only noise. What do you want your music to sound like?"</blockquote><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13317541&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13317541&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13317541">Focus On Your Passion: Finding Yourself in Your Photography</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user912760">PhotoShelter.com</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />Thank you <a href="http://www.petapixel.com/2010/07/17/inspiring-webinar-by-tim-mantoani">PetaPixel</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-40741240994281525272010-07-05T11:36:00.002-04:002010-07-05T11:36:00.204-04:00Aerial over Coney IslandThis was a very short kite session. I was hoping to get more of the carnival at Coney Island but I only had time to put it up in the air once. But the wind was perfect!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/4756107635/" title="Coney Island Aerial 1 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4756107635_cae58f2c56.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Coney Island Aerial 1"></a><br />The boardwalk is an interesting place, to say the least. Carnivals attract an odd people. If you want to go people watching this may be the best place in the world for it. But just remember, once you see things, you cannot un-see them.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/4756103989/" title="Coney Island Aerial 2 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4756103989_d5c266f3e0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Coney Island Aerial 2"></a><br />Of all the beaches I've been to I really liked this beach. The sand was nice and it wasn't crowded yet, even this late in the day.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/4756099639/" title="Coney Island Aerial 3 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4756099639_476e3210c6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Coney Island Aerial 3"></a><br /><br />Out of the 30 or so photos, these were the best. I would have liked to set a better angle for the camera before I sent it up. Ah, whatever. It was just nice to get a kite up and take some photos. It's been way too long. I have another kite session to show, when I get around to posting it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-65895439612617937432010-07-01T20:15:00.005-04:002010-07-01T20:31:26.699-04:00The epitome of point and shoot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJjQKZd8sHjnZZKkaXgTZfhJaYg0J1_FLWxb0ScR0yOI5vEBYaezLZiIpCgSR4AYiH7vSSnLsdkCpeUlV5OqLYCA6E8GMGVi2fdoCJvRELHZ9hPXVGMXI8vGO1-qMz5sG0YDkMxlUKcw/s1600/holga.d.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJjQKZd8sHjnZZKkaXgTZfhJaYg0J1_FLWxb0ScR0yOI5vEBYaezLZiIpCgSR4AYiH7vSSnLsdkCpeUlV5OqLYCA6E8GMGVi2fdoCJvRELHZ9hPXVGMXI8vGO1-qMz5sG0YDkMxlUKcw/s400/holga.d.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489098441896284834" /></a><br />I haven't blogged for many months but I was inspired today.<br /><a href="http://www.saikatbiswas.com/web/Projects/Holga_D.htm"><br />Check this out</a>. I haven't lusted over a camera for quite a long time. I love the features this <span style="font-style:italic;">doesn't</span> have. There is no viewfinder and no display. Just like old times!<br /><br />A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holga">Holga camera</a> is a sort of toy camera that shoots 120 film, but the camera is manufactured so cheaply that each one will have "flaws" that give the photos a certain artistic quality that people love. A digital version of this is so cool.<br /><br />I'm going to try to post more soon. I have some fun stuff.<br /><br />Found <a href="http://www.monoscope.com/2010/07/saikat_biswas_holga_digtal_cam.html">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-52555990961387362662009-12-29T13:35:00.001-05:002009-12-29T13:37:42.655-05:00Taking bad pictures<div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p><em>"It's important to take bad pictures. It's the bad ones that have to do with what you've never done before. They can make you recognize something you hadn't seen in a way that will make you recognize it when you see it again."</em><br />--<a href="http://diane-arbus-photography.com/">Diane Arbus</a></p> <p>--><a href="http://www.spd.org/student-outreach/2009/12/smart-quote-15-bad-leads-to-go.php">SPD</a></p><p><a href="http://www.spd.org/student-outreach/2009/12/smart-quote-15-bad-leads-to-go.php"></a><a href="http://www.monoscope.com/2009/12/diane_arbus_on_taking_bad_pict.html">via</a><br /></p><p></p></div> </div><p><a href="http://diane-arbus-photography.com/"></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-76078427726811046202009-12-29T00:48:00.002-05:002009-12-29T00:51:07.737-05:00Seattle<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/4222870483/" title="Pikes Place Market by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4222870483_fef6f927ce.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pikes Place Market" /></a><br /><br />Seattle has it's own magic for the holidays. <br /><br />The real key to a shot like this is holding the camera still. Yes, that's pretty much the key to 99% of point and shoot photography.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-39786354260333631642009-12-24T11:41:00.002-05:002009-12-24T11:58:20.388-05:00Merry ChristmasI'm with family in Lake Stevens, WA. <br />Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/4211467560/" title="Lake Stevens on the dock by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/4211467560_968bfeb903.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Lake Stevens on the dock" /></a><br /><br />This may look inviting but temperature was in the 30s (F)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-10576514052838295912009-12-17T15:33:00.002-05:002009-12-17T15:39:12.857-05:00I should have done this<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKo0mEOK_K6sZJjRtfpcLzLS706GwVwNDeFjEvm2fl8Gh7t_WDTZNP4BqFlZA2qGcAZ_bELXBXlv9y1LejLL0haZtwwwxTEZmDahu-1klAiUFLLHoBjBbyYbMze6uh-l3DZl1uw5iZuw/s1600-h/You-Must-Have-Found-My-Came1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKo0mEOK_K6sZJjRtfpcLzLS706GwVwNDeFjEvm2fl8Gh7t_WDTZNP4BqFlZA2qGcAZ_bELXBXlv9y1LejLL0haZtwwwxTEZmDahu-1klAiUFLLHoBjBbyYbMze6uh-l3DZl1uw5iZuw/s320/You-Must-Have-Found-My-Came1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416307375695952722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sorry I can't find where I found it, but <a href="http://www.andrewmcdonald.net.au/a-pictorial-guide-to-avoiding-camera-loss/">check out Andrew McDonald's</a> take on how to recover a lost camera.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-35130163055995524162009-12-12T14:39:00.005-05:002009-12-15T17:38:15.421-05:00My camera is goneI could title this <span style="font-style:italic;">I lost my camera</span> or <span style="font-style:italic;">My camera was stolen</span> but that doesn't explain it fully.<br /><br />We went into the city via the Long Island Railroad. The girls and I found a seat with a window and waited out the 15 minute ride. I put the camera on the seat. As we pulled into Penn Station we got up and lined up at the door. Just as the doors opened I realized I didn't have my camera. I pushed my way through the people trying to get out and my previous seat was empty, no camera. I checked all over the place, and in all the seats nearby. I lost it, but nobody voiced concern or called out for the owner. It was just an opportunist theft in my opinion. I was too slow and someone else was too quiet. <br /><br />There weren't any valuable photos on the camera, so the loss was really monetary. And it just makes me mad that someone grabbed it and didn't say anything. I even checked the lost and found.<br /><br />So now I'm on the hunt for a new camera. I'm interested in doing an ebay purchase of a used camera. To replace my camera new is much more expensive than the $125 I got it for brand new. Ebay looks to run $25-200, for used or new. I'll be looking.<br /><br />UPDATE: I got a replacement! I'm super happy about it. I got the very same camera I lost for $60 on craigslist. So excellent.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-23548664033114816782009-10-12T08:13:00.001-04:002009-10-12T08:13:00.415-04:00My photos of running waterThese photos were all up one of the Cottonwood Canyons in SLC, in the late afternoon (after 5pm). This made the light really nice and soft. I used shutter priority, and set the shutter at 1/5. Slight enhancement in Lightroom. <br /><br />Try photographing running water. Just slow your shutter down, and make sure your camera is on a something that won't move. You need the crisp focus of something not moving (like rocks) so the blurred water looks like you made the photo that way on purpose, rather than just blurry photos. I know, I definitely got some of those too.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/4000022500/" title="ut-cottonwood-1 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/4000022500_01c470a4e0.jpg" width="500" height="274" alt="ut-cottonwood-1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3999271659/" title="ut-cottonwood-3 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/3999271659_2e05b9fb90.jpg" width="500" height="371" alt="ut-cottonwood-3" /></a><br /><br />Not bad for a point-and-shoot photographer hopping around the rocks in dress shoes.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3999265595/" title="ut-cottonwood-2 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/3999265595_9e2b16cce1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="ut-cottonwood-2" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-9380484677794632232009-09-19T00:13:00.001-04:002009-09-19T00:20:28.615-04:00My drive up the canyonI had a wonderful drive up a canyon from Salt Lake City this week.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3932658443/" title="Driving up the canyon by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/3932658443_6ce2502447.jpg" width="445" height="500" alt="Driving up the canyon" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-56148449000096923742009-08-25T20:34:00.002-04:002009-08-25T20:35:59.016-04:00Brooklyn Bridge<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3857790462/" title="Brooklyn Bridge by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3857790462_f0db5835c3.jpg" width="500" height="236" alt="Brooklyn Bridge" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-24408642300752001572009-07-23T08:15:00.001-04:002009-08-03T14:03:27.703-04:00Something to aspire to with aerial photographyPlease look at this aerial photography. By hand. From a balloon. Above Everest. Now this is some aerial photography that I aspire to.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201090/Everest-revealed-British-balloonists-breathtaking-panoramic-shot-worlds-highest-peaks.html#ixzz0LvSga7WN">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201090/Everest-revealed-British-balloonists-breathtaking-panoramic-shot-worlds-highest-peaks.html#ixzz0LvSga7WN</a><br /><br /><blockquote>He took this picture using a hand-held 35mm camera with a wide-angle lens while standing in the balloon's wicker cabin.<br /><br />Mr Dickinson, of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, said: 'This photograph is one of the finest I've taken, and I'm immensely proud of it.<br /><br />'It took several minutes to set up - I was in the stratosphere and carrying bulky breathing apparatus - and I wasn't sure it would even come out.<br /><br />'So when it was developed, and it came out like this, you can imagine my delight. It's a scene that I'll remember for the rest of my life.'<br /></blockquote><br /><br />(via <a href="http://twitter.com/JimMacMillan/status/2763914369">@jimmacmillan</a>)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-26811509194651980152009-07-21T21:43:00.005-04:002009-07-21T22:09:56.406-04:00Kite eating treeIts started out harmless. I just wanted an aerial photo of the lighthouse. I mean, how many aerial photos are there of light houses, especially this one.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3744104437/" title="Kite eating tree 1 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/3744104437_bb2a75a92e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Kite eating tree 1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3744915032/" title="Kite eating tree 2 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3744915032_c35a7ca44e.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Kite eating tree 2" /></a><br />But my disregard for the trees was my downfall.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3744910226/" title="Kite eating tree 3 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3744910226_dd64a72b39.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Kite eating tree 3" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3744918928/" title="Kite eating tree 4 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2475/3744918928_70bb54b595.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Kite eating tree 4" /></a><br />And resulted in a climb, a struggle, snipping strings.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3744109017/" title="Kite eating tree 5 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/3744109017_7a980fabd7.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Kite eating tree 5" /></a><br />And finally I stuffed the kite in my hooddie for safe keeping and scored victory over the tree.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-58181423772708534022009-07-16T20:47:00.002-04:002009-07-16T20:53:31.766-04:00Photography is easy, and hardFrom Paul Graham:<br /><blockquote>It's simply a way of recording what you see -- point the camera at it, and press a button. How hard is that? And what's more, in this digital age, its free -- doesn't even cost you the price of film. It's so simple and basic, it's ridiculous.</blockquote><br />And...<br /><blockquote><br />It's so difficult because it's everywhere, every place, all the time, even right now. It's the view of this pen in my hand as I write this, it's an image of your hands holding this book, Drift your consciousness up and out of this text and see: it's right there, across the room -- there... and there. Then it's gone. You didn't photograph it, because you didn't think it was worth it. And now it's too late, that moment has evaporated.</blockquote><br /><br />via <a href="http://www.kottke.org/09/07/an-intuitive-expression-of-liquid-intelligence">kottke.org</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-49678618119811211502009-07-12T22:12:00.002-04:002009-07-12T22:30:20.260-04:00Oregon CoastSome photos of our trip to the Oregon Coast. I was so busy playing, that I only have these few favorites.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3714575817/" title="Cape Mears by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2433/3714575817_5ac5c3ae4d.jpg" alt="Cape Mears" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />This is the view from Cape Meares. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=cape%20meares&w=all">Cape Meares has a lighthouse</a> but I didn't take any photos of it. That's because I was busy with other embarrassing endeavors, that I'll get to in another post.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3715376802/" title="Cannon Beach - Haystack Rock 2009 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3715376802_ba257d217f.jpg" alt="Cannon Beach - Haystack Rock 2009" height="265" width="500" /></a><br />Haystack Rock is the "anchor" of Cannon Beach Oregon. This is the view from where we stayed.<br /><br />Both of these photos are pretty much straight from the camera with a little cropping.<br /><br />The lesson I'm taking with me from this trip is: <a href="http://automaticcamera.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-better-use-camera-you-have.html">Take more photos</a> (see point #3). I don't know if I was just being lazy (lame), or was waiting for the right moment (lame), or just having too much fun (excellent!). Oh, and I took a few photos with my wife's DSLR, (traitor to the blog!) I may show them later, because they turned out pretty good.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-5051115809187386662009-06-23T09:24:00.003-04:002009-06-23T09:33:09.393-04:00Crazy monthJune has been pretty crazy. I haven't posted in a while but I will... We're off to Canon Beach, Oregon next week.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3249550794/" title="Cannon Beach Needles at Haysack Rock by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3249550794_6f2e464f38_b.jpg" width="500" alt="Cannon Beach Needles at Haysack Rock" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-82727144298202250052009-06-03T22:17:00.012-04:002009-06-04T22:01:09.338-04:00Reflections on taking your timeTake your time.<br /><br />We went to Washington DC last weekend. On Saturday we walked around the Washington Mall and visited some of the museums. What a great place to learn. We had such a good time just visiting the highlights and not rushing to see it all. We would return soon so there we'd get what we missed later.<br /><br />At the end of the day I had a chance to visit the Lincoln Memorial on my own. It was packed with people so it was hard to get a simple shot of the monument. But I didn't realize that it over looks the reflection pool and the Washington Monument. I snapped a photo of the Washington Monument as I started up the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial. I was there for Lincoln.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3593563665/" title="Washington Monument by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3593563665_df607bc8e2_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Washington Monument" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3593557205/" title="Washington Monument by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3593557205_b92cfaacc6_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Washington Monument" /></a><br />These were nothing special. They really are just snapshots. They aren't amazing by any means. <br /><br />Then I snapped some quick photos of Lincoln. I was kind of in a rush to get back to my family so they were quick shots. But I kept taking more photos, really trying to get something different. This ended up being my favorite.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3593550991/" title="Lincoln Memorial by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3406/3593550991_0128c82a8b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Lincoln Memorial" /></a><br />Everyone takes photos of Lincoln from the front. I was shooting for something different. He gets his photo taken hundreds of times a day. But it wasn't until I settled into taking my time for the photos that I started getting more creative and got a shot I really liked.<br /><br />But then once I was in my "photo mode" I went back out and tried the Washington Monument again.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3593543887/" title="Washington Monument by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3593543887_5e30716b37_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Washington Monument" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3594346648/" title="Washington Monument by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/3594346648_43e94fd64f_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Washington Monument" /></a><br />Just by taking a few extra moments I was able to get the shot of Lincoln that I was really happy with and this shot which was my favorite of the day. All it took was an extra minute or two. Sometimes that's all it takes just a little time.<br /><br />I snapped these two photos again, and I liked them a little better. Then I walked down closer to the reflection pool. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3593530461/" title="Washington Monument by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3593530461_426314c45b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Washington Monument" /></a><br />I took this first shot, that I really liked. Then after taking a few more moments I reframed the shot which turned (below) out to be my favorite. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3594333588/" title="Washington Monument by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3594333588_d98a54f2f3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Washington Monument" /></a><br /><br />So take some time to get your shot. It'll be worth it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-47857443662135443032009-05-25T22:00:00.004-04:002009-05-26T07:36:03.288-04:00More thoughts on buying a camera<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/smanography/3073414449/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/3073414449_9971a21a72.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/smanography/3073414449/">New "Camera"! </a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/smanography/">Shermeee</a>.</span></div><p>One of my coworkers, Rosanna is buying a new camera. Her current camera is many years old and the battery won't last more than a few photos. So she has been shopping around and we've talked about different cameras she could want.<br /><br />I want to talk about buying a camera... <a href="http://automaticcamera.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-buy-camera.html">again</a>.<br /><br />After talking with Rosanna, she started her buying decision based on budget. Most people do. She is buying the camera for a trip to Italy and wants something that is easy to travel with. More specifically she wants a lot of zoom.<br /><br />She's been going through lots of different cameras trying to decide on the best one. She has some pretty general wants, nothing really specific like time lapse, just a better zoom.<br /><br />After talking more with her today I realized what she really wants in her camera purchase. She could be happy with any one of 100 cameras. What she really wants is to feel confident that she got the right one. So here is my buying advice for Rosanna:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Make a list of things you trust about your future camera</span>. This means pick a brand you know you'll be happy with. List some features that you really like and used from your old camera. I'm going to guess that most people like me use probably five to ten features about 99 percent of the time they shoot and use the other hundred features available on the camera one percent of the time. For me It would be: Canon, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, P Mode, Macro, Timer, Video, maybe zoom, it also need to have a time lapse feature or at least have a <a href="http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_in_Brief">firmware mod</a> to add it for kite photography, or maybe flash, <a href="http://automaticcamera.blogspot.com/2008/12/get-rid-of-red-eyes.html">I try to avoid using the flash</a>. Those features make up 99 percent of my shooting. If I bought a camera that was missing one of those features, I'd be quite unhappy with that camera.<br /><br />This will be the "meat" of your camera finding. Once you got your list made, and your budget set then...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. You should be able to narrow down your list to just a few cameras</span>. Use this fantastic tool to find all the cameras with your features. <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp">I love this tool on DPreview.com</a>. Then you can pick based look and feel etc.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />3. Pick one you like best.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Find the best deal on that camera.</span> Stop second guessing, stop looking at the green grass on the other side of the fence. If you really went through your list from #1 you will be very happy with the camera you get.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-5316610296750296702009-05-20T21:08:00.005-04:002009-05-20T21:57:38.991-04:00Sunset over NYCTake straight from the camera this evening. The buildings in the distance are in Manhattan. This is looking from the east.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3550414424/" title="Sunset over New York City by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3550414424_c2c6d53572.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Sunset over New York City" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-43196313823430066312009-05-19T21:58:00.004-04:002009-05-19T22:18:19.658-04:00Great minds think alike.I'd like to say I'm as good of photographer as <a href="http://miriamlovell.blogspot.com">my wife</a>. But she really has an eye for photography that I just don't have. However, we both took this same shot. It makes me think I'm actually thinking more like a photographer. The first photo is mine, the second is hers.<br /><br />Putting both of them together it's interesting to see how different they are even though the general photo is the same. The major differences being, she crouched down for the photo, and I didn't. And of course the time of day was very different.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3547735724/" title="beach-path-1 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3547735724_1040ef7faa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="beach-path-1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://miriamlovell.blogspot.com/2009/05/wedding-details-sanibel-island-florida.html"><img width="500" src="http://miriamlovell.com/blog/images/san-path.jpg"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-68982868689829049242009-05-11T22:32:00.004-04:002009-05-11T22:50:04.903-04:00Finally some photos from the sky!It's taken a long time but I finally got some photos from my new kite. We went to Sanibel Island, Florida for a wedding. <br /><br />So I took some photos during the wedding. They turned out spectacular! Well at least this one did.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3524337058/" title="Dan Sara Sanibel wedding by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3524337058_2d403ea1fd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Dan Sara Sanibel wedding" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3524381784/" title="Sanibel Island-1 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3524381784_18b74eacb7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Sanibel Island-1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3524415612/" title="Sanibel Island-4 by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3524415612_d7e556a174.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Sanibel Island-4" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-8799434314299021052009-05-01T07:16:00.001-04:002009-05-01T07:16:00.794-04:00Warm spring in New York CityThis was the view of crowded Central Park on Saturday. <br /><br />I tired to get the kite up in the air but there was no wind. I would have loved to have a crowd shot from the sky, and the city surrounding the park.<br /><br />But I'm pretty happy with this. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3490559616/" title="Central Park by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3490559616_483d56c2bf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Central Park" /></a><br /><br />I you look really carefully you can see a baseball diamond. That's about where I was trying to fly the kite. I got it up in the air a couple times but with so many people around I didn't want to risk letting a bunch of string out only to have the wind die again. Then the kite comes crashing down on someone. <br /><br />I have yet to attach a camera to this big kite. I will soon.<br /><br />(I added upped the Blacks setting and added some contrast in Lightroom.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-2497679763321863892009-04-25T08:55:00.004-04:002009-04-25T10:02:56.896-04:00New kite!First flight for my new kite! I made this kite specifically for lifting a camera for aerial photos, but I didn't actually lift my camera with it because it was way to windy for this huge kite. But I did get out my smaller kite to lift my camera, a Sutton Flowform.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3472624531/" title="My Rokkaku first flight by dandyer, on Flickr"><img height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3472624531_59e6edec3e_b.jpg" alt="My Rokkaku first flight" /></a><br />Photo by <a href="http://miriamlovell.blogspot.com/">my wife</a>, using a Canon 30D.<br /><br />There were only these two photos that turned out. All the rest were blurry. The wind was really strong.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3472630431/" title="Fort Tilden Beach by dandyer, on Flickr"><img height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3472630431_6f2642525d_b.jpg" alt="Fort Tilden Beach" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The heart stopping moment of the day</span><br />I put the camera on and it was happily clicking away. The wind was stronger as the kite got higher. I thought, "wow I wish the wind was this good every time I flew this kite before. Suddenly without warning the kite started to dive for the ground, with camera attached. Just so you know this kite is supposed to be really stable. Anyway, I glanced from camera, to kite, and back, watching in horror as the camera dipped into the kite and string eating bushes. Just as the string caught a tree the kite zipped upward again, but my racing mind thought this will not last. I will have to surrender this setup to the monstrous thicket. But the wind became my friend again and the kite powered upward and the string broke free of the tree. <br /><br />A few moments later it happened again! Anyway I got the kite and camera back and we'll be trying again this weekend.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandyer/3473437382/" title="Fort Tilden Parking lot by dandyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3473437382_5d3892676a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fort Tilden Parking lot" /></a><br /><br />We were pretty much the only people there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2750751731557224078.post-1813003533222504792009-04-20T10:51:00.005-04:002009-04-20T10:56:39.828-04:00That's exactly what I meanFrom <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/go-out-and-shoot">Digital-Photography-School</a> blog:<br /><br /><blockquote>Disregard all fear of what people will think of you as you snap away on the street or at your favorite venue or park. “Oh what a tourist!”, “That camera’s not even that great”, “That looks like a cheap kit lens”, etc. Don’t let others or the price/quality of your gear set limitations on you! We all have to start somewhere.<br /><br />I’ve read it numerous times here on the DPS forums and elsewhere. It’s not the quality or price of the camera, but the photographer BEHIND the camera that makes or breaks an image. The only way we can improve our photography is to practice and shoot a lot, not by breaking the bank and buying the latest and greatest. </blockquote><br />I think by "elsewhere" he means <a href="http://automaticcamera.blogspot.com/2009/03/get-over-it-and-get-shot.html">right here</a>. I think <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/author/darren">Darren</a> reads my blog. Darren are you out there reading this?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2