Okay, so we know that a suspritzed diamagnetic synchronizing filter doesn't REALLY exist, but I've also heard that you really SHOULD use a filter, and that there are lots (Gobs I think) different types of filters... So....

1. Has someone already taken the time to explain different filters? If so, could I have the link?
2. If not, would any of our more "salty" photo-masters mind taking a minute and tapping out what filters a beginner (like me) should start with, and what filters one may grow into?

Thanks everyone...

C

I feel like I've been gone forever... It was just three days in the hospital, but when you're not the one sleeping, it's like a year.

So what does a photographer do when he's bored?

This one plays with Perspective!! (or is this called DOF?)

When that was no longer interesting I messed with Long exposures at Night and seeing what control I had over Manual Focus with my point-and-shoot camera.

The next day, with the wind blowing hard, I took about 30 shots before I finally got the American flag AND the POW flag both standing at the VA Med Center next door.

(And I'll spare you the 2 hours I spent messing around with f-stop and shutter speeds... about 75 pictures later and I'm still no wiser!)

C

Ahh, Spring in Colorado!

The birds are singing...

The flowers are blooming...

And another storm is headed our way... (there's supposed to be mountains out there, but there's snow falling between here and there...)    

My little postcard camera (canon powershot a70) is getting old... a couple times now, the lens goes wonkie (that's the technical term I found on the internet) and instead of an image on the screen, there's lots of horizontal lines. The standard Marine Corps technique usually works to fix it (thump it a couple times) but I think all this Field Maintenance is making my pictures a little worse. Here is the Histogram for one of my recent potraits... I don't know if there's enough information in this image, but I don't think the little white chasms in the regularly smooth curve are good things.

Couple questions:

1. Is my interpretation of the histogram correct?
2. What other information do y'all need to tell if my camera needs work/replacing?
3. Is there anything I can do about the images I've already taken? (In photoshop...?)
4. Anyone willing to part with a Rebel for cheap? =)

Thanks for the help and advice...

C

I'm trying to pick up a job shooting portraits at the Navy's Birthday ball here in a few (6) months. I would like to offer "While you wait" printing so people can go home with their portraits instead of waiting a week or so for me to send them off to a lab then mail them back out.

Before I run out and chase printers, has anyone had good or bad experiences with printers, paper, ink, etc?

Thanks in advance!

Chris

So... I'm playing around with my camera and the exposure settings... Fortunately it was nighttime and I have Denver in my back yard. Someone is kind enough to drive by as I'm snapping another picture, then a couple of cars go by, one of them turning.

Cool.

Then, gazing into the night sky, I see an airplane making it's approach to Denver International Airport... crossing the Moon...

Way Cool.

And, playing around with some of the Storyboard ideas I've seen...

Lemme know your thoughts... especially if you have thoughs on how to make the moon sharper (besides "Buy a better camera"... I'm working on that one...)

In the next few months, I'm going to expand out of my "Postcard" camera (Canon A70 Powershot) and into one of the EOS line...

However...

Still being a novice, I don't understand the subtle differences between the Rebel, 20D and 30D. Obviously, the 30D (being the newest) is the sweetest, but would it be in my best interest to start with a Rebel, learn on a "real" camera, then graduate to a 30D in a few years?

With the release of the 30D, it looks like Rebel prices have dropped several hundred $$, which, unfortunately, makes a difference to my budget... =(

Thoughts or comments? Lens and flash  questions will be next week... =)

Here's another first submission... These are the untouched ones. I'll see about getting the processed versions up when I get free time... (early 2008, I'm thinking)

Anyway, here are my boys kicking the football (look careful at the top, I almost missed it), catching it, and finally posing. (We had to play one-hand touch, since I had the camera AND was on defense... alone...)

Comments welcome...