*** Canon Image Challenge 65: Windows, Doors, and Gates (man-made) ***

db Thank You, I was not offened in any way, you didn't have to apoligize,my fault for questioning it again. I am not on the forum too many times since I first used Dpreview to look at cameras etc. until I saw I could get into the challenges also, and am in others on the Internet. I enjoy CIC challenges since everyone is fair and helpful & enjoy the submissions, comments and post processing comments since I am learning more about that with my Elements program and what I get from the challenges etc. Nice to be able to submit my older photos since the others I have to shoot currently and don't always have time to keep up with all of them. By the way, I'm Stan Pepka (StanP) in the challenges and used Amberbug to get on to Dpreview but can't find a way to change my Profile so if I want to add comments to the forum on the Challenges you would know who I am.

Thanks - Peace - StanP

Had I known amberbug and
StanP are/is the very same
person, I would not have
written my first post to be-
gin with:

As I had known StanP before,
the sudden appearence of an
unknown to me amberbug
would not have had me sus-
pecting there was something
strange...
;-)

amberbug said:

db Thank You, I was not offened in any way, you didn't have to apoligize,my fault for questioning it again. I am not on the forum too many times since I first used Dpreview to look at cameras etc. until I saw I could get into the challenges also, and am in others on the Internet. I enjoy CIC challenges since everyone is fair and helpful & enjoy the submissions, comments and post processing comments since I am learning more about that with my Elements program and what I get from the challenges etc. Nice to be able to submit my older photos since the others I have to shoot currently and don't always have time to keep up with all of them. By the way, I'm Stan Pepka (StanP) in the challenges and used Amberbug to get on to Dpreview but can't find a way to change my Profile so if I want to add comments to the forum on the Challenges you would know who I am.

Thanks - Peace - StanP

Click to expand...

--
db.

Have a great weekend

The 50 1.4 is a great value. I'm also pondering the thought of getting one. That or the 85 1.4. I'm looking for something that can isolate the subject better. I have the 100mm 2.8macro and 17-55 ef-s 2.8 IS.

The question is, is 50mm long enough for sports?

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-50mm-f-1.4-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Zoom lenses aren't usually faster than 2.8, then you have to find one that stays at 2.8 throughout the range to be really useful.

What kind of indoor shoots are you expecting to photograph?

I'm going to be shooting mainly banquets, and weddings indoors, and really can't afford to botch anyones photos with the motion blur my lenses produce in such low lighting. I think 50 mm is enough, as I can always move closer or further away. Are you going to be shooting sports?

sierraphotography said:

I'm going to be shooting mainly banquets, and weddings indoors, and really can't afford to botch anyones photos with the motion blur my lenses produce in such low lighting. I think 50 mm is enough, as I can always move closer or further away. Are you going to be shooting sports?

Click to expand...

Woah, that's a a entire different situation. Are you doing this as a paid gig? If so (don't do it) then you need professional gear and and that means a 5dIII at $3000.00 and add to that a 70-200 2.8 IS II, at $2500.00 a 50 1.2 $1600.00 and to round it out a 24-70 2.8 at another $1600.00.

Pro wedding photographers do use flashes at the appropriate times and have to know how to balance the flash and the BG lighting. That's where the 5D comes in because of it's high iso low noise capability. Did I mention that you will need 2 camera bodies. the 7D is fine for a 2nd body but not as a single camera.

Finally you need training, having great gear is only 1 small step and I do mean small.

I definitely agree about the training, that's why I lined up some practice shoots, to me I learn best hands on. I know someone who's shot weddings with a 30 or 40D.....she has a 50, a 10-22 and a 70-300. I don't know whether or not they were L's. I'm not there yet, but with lots of practice and I the right lenses I'm pretty confident. I guess everyone's got to start at the bottom. But it probably wouldn't hurt to bring a 2nd shooter when the time comes, that would account for another body (literally).

Daniel, sorry for the delay with my replay to your question regarding picture size - sometimes it is difficult for me to find a time during the weekdays. As a half-Russian/half -Jewish, born in Soviet Union, having Germany citizenship & living in Singapore, I think I may represent non-American point of view and I would say I really do not care what is allowed limit for picture size. As Paul said - this is first of all for fun. I'm Ok with the current limit, and I'm not sure that I'll post "bigger" pictures if it is upgraded.

I would be happy would it be the biggest problem in our life.

K

Daniel, sorry for the delay with my replay to your question regarding picture size - sometimes it is difficult for me to find a time during the weekdays. As a half-Russian/half -Jewish, born in Soviet Union, having Germany citizenship & living in Singapore, I think I may represent non-American point of view and I would say I really do not care what is allowed limit for picture size. As Paul said - this is first of all for fun. I'm Ok with the current limit, and I'm not sure that I'll post "bigger" pictures if it is upgraded.

I would be happy would it be the biggest problem in our life.

K

Traveller

Thank you K. I specifically often pick out an image that is hard, for Exhibition. Images that I like, but that I haven't tackled in a first go though, at least in part because they are difficult images to process.

There in no Challenge in processing a well shot image...lol.

In this instance, thee was a terrible yellow cast over the image which also was very dark...it was not shot in RAW...so, in color balance I had to eyeball this to something decent, and, for fun, I used to dodge tool to brighten up the fruit...so I am particularly pleased you noticed...lol

I have some stuff for Eligible that I'll try to get to this weekend.

Be Good and Best Wishes, Traveller

Thank you, K, for your answer.

Shall we count you, then, as
representing some roughly
four countries and two conti-
nents in cic from now on? ;-)
(There are, BTW, a few things
your and my multicultural
backgrounds have in com-
mon.)

I'm glad for you you're OK with
the current limit. I am not. And
I still don't really understand
how raising the limit could af-
fect negatively all those being
fine with how things have been
so far. Why such an outcry over
my humble suggestion? If you
are OK with the present limit,
you'd be so as well with a high-
er one, would you not? There-
fore, I can understand perfect-
ly everyone who did not want
to get involved (e.g. shu or
yourself); but I honestly felt
somewhat aggrieved by a
few who responded as if I
had commited a sacrilege.

Now, of course, I would be
happy too if this was the
biggest problem in my life.
But even being it a very mi-
nor one in my life, it was
one of the bigger problems
for my continuing participa-
tion in the challenge: If I
don't like myself what I en-
ter, why would I possibly
want to enter it at all to be-
gin with?

So, I feel defeated in this
"battle". Nobody—not one
single cic-participant—had
"fought" on my side, back-
ing my proposal. OTOH,
Techo's admirable calm
and unagitated search for
and, then, presentation
of a seemingly feasible
compromise was, for me,
the one and only positive
side of a struggle I would,
in hindsight, rather not
have started...

kyagudin said:

As a half-Russian/half -Jewish, born in Soviet Union, having Germany citizenship & living in Singapore, I think I may represent non-American point of view and I would say I really do not care what is allowed limit for picture size. As Paul said - this is first of all for fun. I'm Ok with the current limit, and I'm not sure that I'll post "bigger" pictures if it is upgraded.

I would be happy would it be the biggest problem in our life.

Click to expand...

--
db.

...Wedding Photography is a talent...and control, in a good way, of your clients issue.

Your personality, your business sense will be more important than your equipment.

Of course you have to have a talent for this...for people.

But most shots are standard...there are established things that people like...they are cliche's, but they are this because people want them, because people enjoy them.

Get good with flash and some off camera reflector flash too.

Natural light is good...but you will need control of flash after the wedding & at at the reception.

Once you have the basics down...cold...really when you can shoot them in your sleep, then get creative and branch out with other shots.

Look at other people's galleries on this...they are all over.

Sure you should have some basic good equipment...but eventually the good lenses wll come...now, you are the most important question in this equation.

Good Luck, Traveller

Traveller, thank you for the words of encouragement, and sound advice

Classicism

http://www.pbase.com/cichallenge/image/142830507

http://www.pbase.com/cichallenge/image/142830506

Best Wishes, Traveller

I think you missed my last sentence where I mentioned training.

Like you said this is a skill, a real skill and you just don't grab a camera and sub par glass and go shoot weddings. One bridezilla and a lawsuit later and your screwed. What you have to do to learn the craft is ask a pro wedding photographer if you can shadow them and shoot as a 2 nd or 3 rd shooter. Numerous times.

What I was trying to emphasize was to be a pro you need pro gear and training. Going at it alone would be a disaster. Maybe when uncle Chester gets married for the 3rd time you could offer to shoot it for practice.

Thanks anyways Paul for your concern, but I will not be shadowing anyone but myself. I have a well rounded knowledge of what needs to be delivered to the bridezillas that are out there. All I was asking for was advice on the next lens to purchase is all. I don't feel any further need to defend my decisions as I know what I am capable of. I am in a photography class, I read constantly the things that I am not taught, I ask a lot of questions.......even though I sometimes get negative feedback, it won't stop me from going after what I love. And I don't need a 5D to get phenomenal pictures.

nt = no text
--
db.

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.

I really wish you the best but just know you have been advised that it is a poor decision to jump in feet first alone.

I can compare this to a young student learning to be an electrician from a trade school. He... or she goes out and buy a hand full of tools and say "I'm gonna go out and wire a house even though I have never worked with a master electrician or journeyman electrician in the trade. The book tells me everything I need to know.

Seriously I do wish you all the luck because I think you are in for a serious awakening and I want to help you realize there is a bullheaded way to do things and a smart way to do things.

I suggest if you jump over to http://photocamel.com/forum/weddings/ and start reading, join if you are not a member and post your intentions and questions there. You will get both help and browbeat. Just be sure you have a thick skin.

I have said all I'm going to say about this.