Beginner w/Sony A300 Intro

[Scribblah]

I just wanted to say hello and that I hope to begin posting here soon and sharing any photos for critique. I was able to read several posts including "thcheme's" post where Don gave some awesome advice on equipment which totally has helped me chart my course with my new buy.

I have never used an SLR or a DSLR for that matter and am just reading as much as I can. My heads still spinning from all this information but the more I read the more I like and it really gives you peace of mind when you're trying to take a nice photo. I'm enjoying my new hobbie and am enjoying reading everyones post.

Thank you and I hope to be a part of this board and hopefully one day I can offer my 2 cents.

I've included a shot of my daughter in which I took at her Baptism. It was the second day of having my A300. Any critique is welcomed. I thought it was a great picture until I started staring at it for three days and I noticed the shadows on her face. Is there something I could have done different other than the obvious, find a new location? lol The sun was great it was 99 degrees and it was in front of the church. Would having a small collapsible reflector have helped? Sorry just tossing ideas out. I should be quiet and let someone with more than a week experience critique. ;)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/Scribblah/mari_share.jpg

Again, thank you.

[DonSchap]

Direct sunlight ... problematic in most portraits. While the sun is, perhaps, the greatest light source available, with the camera you currently use, the A300, you do not need that kind of power.

The sun, from 10:00am - 2:00pm is almost 8 f-stops of light. That is from the blackest-black to the whitest-white. Your camera's digital sensor, as well as many others, only has the capacity to process 3 to 4 f-stops of light range.

Let's examine this:

f/1.4 ... actual direct sunlight's blackest-black
f/2 . . . (no change from f/4)
f/2.8 . . (no change from f/4)
f/4 . . . . . the camera's blackest-black (EV -2)
f/5.6 . . . (noticable darking)
f/8 . . . . . the camera's "0" meter reading (EV) {in other words, assumed to be the proper aperture at shutter-speed and ISO selected}
f/11 . . . (noticable highlight change)
f/16 . . . . the camera's whitest-white (EV +2)
f/22 . . . (no change in highlight intensity)
f/32 ... actual direct sunlight's whitest-white

That's quite a gap in intensity.

Now, suppose you have set your shutter speed to get a "0" meter-reading at f/8. Your camera can only process light that fits within 1.5-2 f-stops either side of f/8. Everything outside that range is lost to white or black saturation.

So, in your daughter's dress ... several layers of detail are lost to the sun ... and several layers of shadow overpowered by direct (not subtle) shadow, hence the face issue.

Now, some of this can be recovered by post-processing ...

"B4"
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"AFTA"
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but blow-outs have no real way of being reduced. They are gone. So, unless seriously contrasty shots should be the order of the day ... stay away from them ... especially with white. The automatic DRO that the A300 uses offers some assistance in this by extending the capability of dealing with this wide variance of light, but still ... you controlling this overpowering level of light is your best bet. Yes, it may seem counter-intuitive, but using the pop-up flash can help balance the shadows in a shot like this.

[sparkie1263]

You will have to also learn how to use a photo editing program. I look at my shots right from the camera and when I edit them and it is like night and day and I am just learning. I will look for a before and after and post it just to give you an idea of the difference.
Frank

Don maybe you can post a before and after to show what somebody who knows how to edit a image can do.

Before

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn219/sparkie1263/Sony%20A100/DSC05447.jpg

After

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn219/sparkie1263/Sony%20A100/ArmyPlane1.jpg

Not the best after but you get the idea.

[sparkie1263]

I edited the post above

[DonSchap]

Unfortunately I have begun to love using AdobeRGB colorspace ... and while the greens, cyans and blues look great "locally", unless I convert to sRGB before I post on the DCRP website ... it washes out pretty badly.

Anyway ... I made the correction to the little girl image and it seems to have been somewhat effective. Again, though, that direct sunlight plays hell all over the place.

I will try and post a direct sunlight w/ & w/o fill flash, later in the week, when it quits raining. That may help demonstrate and explain some typical exposure issues with outdoor portraits.

Also remember that a Circular Polarizer (CP) and/or a ND-filter can extend the aperture control of your lens, in bright sunlight.

Psst: Frank, how old is that plane image? Looks like you have "dust" about mid-sensor :eek:

[Scribblah]

Thank you guy's. That's why I truly enjoy visiting this board. I'm heading on a trip to the Magical Kingdom and expect to come back with at least one worthy shot.

I'm finding it difficult to find a good read on what ISO, F Stops and Shutters all do and they work together.

I think it's really just reading and practicing.

Again, thank you I'll take your advice and I do have photoshop so I'll be able to practice.

I'm trying to find the Tamron 300mm but am not sure I'll have it before I leave.

[DonSchap]

Hey, remember that a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is designed for outdoor use and, usually, a subject needs to be at least 5 feet away ... more like ten.

For reading on the plane, get your hands on Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003). (<- Click on title)

If your don't get anything out of that book ... put the camera back in the box and quietly return it to the retailer. ;)

[sparkie1263]

Don the spots on my sensor were when I posted last week on how to clean my sensor. Did you see any on my Humming bird shots? I hope not because it will have to be cleaned at a shop.
Thanks for spotting them.
Frank

[DonSchap]

Nah ... I get spots all the time ... well, not ALL the time, but when I begin swapping glass in the field ... it starts to accumulate. That's when I:


Remove whatever lens I have mounted,
break out the Giottos Rocket Blaster (this thing is worth its weight in ... well, something),
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Go to "wrench" menu 3,
enter the command for Cleaning mode,
throughly blow off that sensor (w/o touching the tip to the sensor!),
shut off the camera,
remount my lens and
ease on down the road.


It has always appeared to be a good idea to clean the sensor prior to a major shoot. Especially when you are doing a lot of sky shots. I figure "an ounce of prevention" ... makes up for plenty of pounds of post processing woes!

Dust ... it's just ... just ... everywhere! :eek:

[Scribblah]

Don thanks for the info I ordered the Peterson books on Exposure and Shutter from Amazon. I also ordered the A300 book that hasn't come out yet. Hopefully that should hold me over.

I couldn't get my hand on the telephoto lense from Tamron but they had the Sony one for $229. I resisted the temptation and am going to place the order for the Tamron for around the same price when I get back.

I'm starting to like night photography a lot. I was reading the current issue of Digital SLR Photography and they had an article called, "Exploring urban nightscapes", which showed some great photos. In it they recommended buying a wide angle zoom such as the "Canon EF-S 10-22mm" because they're ideal for "urban nightscapes, as they allow you to include more in a scene".

What would you recommend for a Sony a300 that's equivalent to what was mentioned?

I'm off to buy a bag, cleaner and anything else I need on a trip to the Magic Kingdom. I was looking at the lowpro bags. Not trying to break the bank. lol

Again, many thanks.

[sparkie1263]

Order your Tamaron 70-300 from this site.http://www.adorama.com/TM70300DMAX.html?sid=1211730335357233

I drove there and picked my up it is the best deal I could find.
Frank

PS Use the cash you save on the filters you will need.

[Spookonthe8ball]

Scribblah - You'll like the Lowpro bag. I have the slingshot 300 and it works well. You might be ok with the 200 model if you don't have many lens, or a longer lens you want mounted while backpacking. For Magic Kingdom I would go with the 100 or 200 model because of the physical size. Peterson book on Understanding Exposure is the best purchase for the money you could have made at this point in your photography endevor.
Listen to the Sony folks like Don and they will lead you into the best lens for the money.
Have fun and get some great photo's with that new A300.
Spook

[sparkie1263]

Lowpro bag is the one I have. I need to get a bigger one. I am thinking the Nova 3 I think I have the Nova 2 now. Go to there site and check them out. I found the best prices on Ebay with free shipping. I think the Nova 3 was about $48.00 and free shipping.
Frank

[Scribblah]

Sparkie, Thanks on the Tamron. Pretty good price. I'm gonna have to place the order. The Nova 2 and 3 are pretty good size bags. I'm looking heavily at the 3.

Spook, I didn't realize about the versatility of the bag until you mentioned "backpacking". Living in So California I have several options and areas to take photos. I'm leaving soon to find a bag. Let you know the outcome of my purchase. I'm looking at something that'll be around as my Kit grows.

Had the wife known how much my "hobby" would have cost she would have gotten the new Sony T300 instead. lol

[DonSchap]

You are just scratching the surface, Scribblah. LOL This hobby has some real potential at cleaning out a wallet, right down to the moths! :eek: :D

[sparkie1263]

Here is the link to the Nova bags on Ebay. The pirice including shipping is $44.00 they sell for $66.00 and up everywhere else.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lowepro-NOVA-3-AW-Black-Digital-SLR-Shoulder-Camera-Bag_W0QQitemZ270250392555QQihZ017QQcategoryZ50504Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Frank