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Nikonian vs. Canonites Image contest.

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Steven:
Great shot all..but one in particular was amazing!

I'm curious as to how you shot your multiple lightning strike shot. Wopuld you care to share any details...thanks....
 
Just one best photo? That's not easy, so difficult to choose... Oh, I don't know, for me the best is probably one of the most recent because it is what interests me most now:



Taken with Canon 5D + 85 mm 1.2 L Mark II. As for equipment preferences - I'm using Canon because I believe their image quality is indeed better than any competition (excliuding WF), for example see:

http://www.outbackphoto.com/reviews/equipment/5D_and_d2x/Canon_5D_Nikon_D2x_conclusion.html

quote: "Nikon D2x... ISO noise behaviour good but not at the same level as the EOS 5D...Most likely the 5D has more dynamic range than the D2x. This can show in darker shadows or easier blown highlights with the D2x".

Having said that, I don't love Canon or hate Nikon. I happen to think that in terms of user-friendly controls they both suck big time.

http://lordofthelens.smugmug.com/
 
Beautiful photos. I trust you'd be able to make them with my D100.
Although there is a quality to the images that is why I am contemplating a 5D.
--
Hernan
 
--
warren prasek
web design ~ interactive media ~ photography
http://www.wprasek.com/

Gearlist: If you think I'm so insecure I need to list every item of kit I've got in a desperate attempt at self-validation, then you're madder than a bag full of squirrels.
 
this is a very simple posting........hoping to maybe see some GREAT photography, but as expected the same people coming on here posting negative commentaries about wrong forum, or who cares?......WTF???

I've post on both Canon 1d and Nikon D3 forums and the same type of responses occurred. So instead of just posting your best photo, and let your photograph do your talking.....you'd rather hide behind you computer and continue with the usual B.S.

its a damnnnnnnn shame.
 
Playing out of fun.....as I know ALL brands have merit in the right hands.

A few from my many diffrent Nikon cameras:

Nikon Coolpix:





My Nikon D70:
With 18-70 Kit Lens:



With Tokina 12-24:



My D2H:
ith 80-400 VR:



Didnt have it for long...so not many from the D2H.

D2X:
With Tokina 12-24:





Roman

--
'Miles to go before I sleep.'
--Robert Frost
http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/
 
I could care less about the Canon vs Nikon air that gets blown around. But I will say this: There seem to be many more Canon users willing to display their own stunning photography on these boards. Most of the Nikon guys on the boards just talk about how superior Nikon is to Canon. Canon users, on the other hand, prove the superb quality of Canon equipment with their images. On these boards, at least, Canon would win easily. That isn't to say there isn't great photography made with Nikon out there, it just doesn't appear as much here.

--
Matt
 
If the point of your original post truly is to see some great photographs, it is a worthwhile point. However, I've seen you dish out the "B. S". too, at times. Chances are, you'd say the same about me.

Seeing some great photos would be a welcome sight on these DSLR forums.

As far as comparing cameras goes, I think the reality is that a great image depends a lot more on the photographer and whatever it is that they're photographing. A dull subject is a dull subject, and a great subject is a great subject, regardless of the camera used.

Way too much is put into the gear on these forums and way too many people fight over insignificant things. Yeah, I know this a "gear" site but there still should be more consideration put into other factors when trying to achieve a great photo.

Many great photos are posted in the point and shoot forums. There is also less fighting there. I find that very interesting. It seems to say that point and shoot users are enjoying their photography more and aren't as hung up on gear and trying to promote or defend their choices and preferences.

It appears that the more some people get into advanced gear, and the more they spend on it, the more defensive and arrogant they are in promoting or defending it, and the more they bash the "competition".

I've also noticed that women rarely get into the fights here. Men are sometimes way too competitive for their own good. "My muscle is bigger than your muscle." "My dad can beat up your dad." "My car can beat your car." You guys know what I mean.

Anyway, we all need to take a deep breath sometimes and realize that gear isn't the only thing that matters and that great photos are made by great (or lucky) photographers, not necessarily great gear, and that all the major manufacturers make cameras capable of producing great images.
tonybrownphoto said:
this is a very simple posting........hoping to maybe see some GREAT
photography, but as expected the same people coming on here posting
negative commentaries about wrong forum, or who cares?......WTF???

I've post on both Canon 1d and Nikon D3 forums and the same type of
responses occurred. So instead of just posting your best photo, and
let your photograph do your talking.....you'd rather hide behind you
computer and continue with the usual B.S.

its a damnnnnnnn shame.
Click to expand...
 
I do all my lightning with the 1D Mk II for the following reasons....

1) The lock button!!!!

2) The long exposure noise is very well controlled and no DFS noise reduction is required.

3) I am not as concerned with rain. I am still concerned, just not as much.

The lighting stitch was my first attempt at stitching lightning. To do this I needed a very strong storm and we happened to get one the night I took that shot. The storm dropped something like 100,000 strikes in 2 hours on the East Valley. It was amazing and a target rich environment. NOTE: I try to stay far enough away, I can't hear the thunder. Still a bit dangerous, however.

I shoot with a short telephoto like the 85mm f1.8 set to f5.6 to f8.0. ISO is set to 200. Shutter speed is what-ever. I like 8-10 seconds.

Over the course of about 8 minutes, I took about 60+ pictures of so. Since strikes were coming from this cell every 4-5 seconds, I would get 1-2 strikes per shot. I worked from right to left making sure I got 1 "dark frame" (a frame with no lightning in it, only ambient light) and a few shots where the lightning never left the frame and was well centered (more on this later).

The camera was in Landscape mode and there are 5 "groupings" working right to left.

When I got back, I grabbed all of the frames that had well centered lightning. I needed dark edges to aid in the blending. Also, if a strike left the frame, it would just look weird.

I used the dark frames to subtract out the light from each lighting shot. This left me with just the light added by the lightning and nothing else. In most of the 5 groupings, 2 shots were combined using the following formula:



The Base represents the "dark frame". 'n' was 2 or 3. I don't remember the "x" value off of the top of my head. I wrote a quick and dirty Cocoa app to do this for me.

I then stitched as normal using PanoTools and blended manually.

Steven

--
---
Fall 2007:
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/images_fall_2007_downtown_chicago

2006 White Sands and Bisti Workshop
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/white_sands_and_bisti

 
Steven Noyes said:
I do all my lightning with the 1D Mk II for the following reasons....

1) The lock button!!!!

2) The long exposure noise is very well controlled and no DFS noise
reduction is required.

3) I am not as concerned with rain. I am still concerned, just not
as much.

The lighting stitch was my first attempt at stitching lightning. To
do this I needed a very strong storm and we happened to get one the
night I took that shot. The storm dropped something like 100,000
strikes in 2 hours on the East Valley. It was amazing and a target
rich environment. NOTE: I try to stay far enough away, I can't hear
the thunder. Still a bit dangerous, however.

I shoot with a short telephoto like the 85mm f1.8 set to f5.6 to
f8.0. ISO is set to 200. Shutter speed is what-ever. I like 8-10
seconds.

Over the course of about 8 minutes, I took about 60+ pictures of so.
Since strikes were coming from this cell every 4-5 seconds, I would
get 1-2 strikes per shot. I worked from right to left making sure I
got 1 "dark frame" (a frame with no lightning in it, only ambient
light) and a few shots where the lightning never left the frame and
was well centered (more on this later).

The camera was in Landscape mode and there are 5 "groupings" working
right to left.

When I got back, I grabbed all of the frames that had well centered
lightning. I needed dark edges to aid in the blending. Also, if a
strike left the frame, it would just look weird.

I used the dark frames to subtract out the light from each lighting
shot. This left me with just the light added by the lightning and
nothing else. In most of the 5 groupings, 2 shots were combined
using the following formula:



The Base represents the "dark frame". 'n' was 2 or 3. I don't
remember the "x" value off of the top of my head. I wrote a quick
and dirty Cocoa app to do this for me.

I then stitched as normal using PanoTools and blended manually.

Steven

--
---
Fall 2007:
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/images_fall_2007_downtown_chicago

2006 White Sands and Bisti Workshop
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/white_sands_and_bisti

Click to expand...
Thanks for the in-depth explanation of your lightning photo.

I'm not sure if I have the skill you do to re-create even a proximity to it..but how you did it is pure knowhow and an inspirational marvel..
 
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