Author Topic: photography 101 (Read 2081 times)

Roach Carver · « **on:** April 16, 2012, 01:26:43 PM »

I was looking at the "show your cb out on the road" thread and it occurred to me that there is a HUGE difference between nice scenic shots v.s. a "pic" of your cb. I know there is artistry involved and probably like most things the pic has more to do with the taker than the equipment or even subject, so that brings me to the point of my question....

What makes for an interesting photo of your bike?? I have no eye for a good photo and I used to burn up a roll of film and had nothing but crap, so for all the photogs among us, how about some pointers.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2012, 02:03:09 PM »

Quote from: Roach Carver on April 16, 2012, 01:26:43 PM

What makes for an interesting photo of your bike??

Put a hot babe on the seat and yer done...

Roach Carver · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2012, 02:59:41 PM »

you know, thats a good point. I also dfi

Quote from: CycleRanger on April 16, 2012, 02:03:09 PM

Quote from: Roach Carver on April 16, 2012, 01:26:43 PM
What makes for an interesting photo of your bike??

Put a hot babe on the seat and yer done...

You know, thats true. I also find the less she wears the more I seem to be interested.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2012, 06:41:39 PM »

One basic photo tip is to shoot in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is at an angle.
For bikes, low-angle shots are usually better. Shoot the bike at angle.
Of course it helps to have something else interesting in the shot. (See my earlier comment.)

Just browse some cycle mags and pay attention to how they shoot the bikes.

78 k550 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2012, 09:47:15 PM »

Love the first shot going up to Mt Evans.

Paul

the technological J · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2012, 09:55:01 PM »

when i take a pic i try to choose what is the focus and what is the suuroundings... like my profile pic... i wanted it to include me but not be a pic of just me i also mess around with the saturation and tint alot i think i also cropped it a little

EDIT: I found the original(i think... my head is a little different)

faux fiddy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2012, 12:14:45 AM »

Not really a photo critique but I had some composition lessons and did a bunch of photo stuff since I was 12. Had slr's by zeiss (leaf shutter!), pentax, GAF, zenit or some ru thing, canons, minolta and I think I have a nikormat around. Won awards when I was in Highschool. I have 8 rolls Fuji 200 in the freezer for the last 5 years unused.

I'm Still better at burning in with an enlarger than new photoshop, but hardly do either anymore. Most of my photography is now done with point and shoots that you can hide in your fist and cost under $10 at Walgreens.

That being said, I would say the good thing in the photos above is the rail that takes your eye back into the photo. I would say a better composition would be to use a tree closer foreground to frame the right side of the photo, and a branch across the top, like 30 yards back there.

The first "don't" I can recall shooting is avoid having things sticking out behind your subjects heads. Things like phone poles sticking up out of people's heads to consider as bad composition.

Really the best place to study composition is probably an art history book.

tramp · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2012, 02:19:24 PM »

depth of field to turn attention to the bike
don't be afraid of black and white

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2012, 02:31:45 PM »

Another tip for starters is called the "rule of thirds." Envision two vertical lines dividing the image area into thirds horizontally. Then two horizontal lines dividing the image area in thirds vertically. Place your subject at one of the four intersections. Some cameras even have an option to superimpose this grid in the view finder. This is not a hard, fast composition rule, but a starting point.

dave500 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2012, 09:19:33 PM »

i recently sold my old canon T50 with a konica lens,i wasnt using it,i hadnt used it for ages since i got a small digital.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2012, 06:29:27 AM »

Quote from: dave500 on April 19, 2012, 09:19:33 PM

i recently sold my old canon T50 with a Konica lens,i wasn't using it,i hadn't used it for ages since i got a small digital.

Yep, I have a really nice Pentax in the closet. I haven't used it since probably 1998.
A quick look at ebay shows that's it's basically worthless now.

Actually, lately I've been going through 35 years worth of negatives and scanning them.
What a chore! Doesn't make me miss film at all. Much.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2012, 06:54:13 AM »

Here's good example (from another thread) of a nice shot and well composed.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2012, 07:18:54 AM »

Thats what im talking about Bob. Beautiful.

tramp · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2012, 05:22:28 AM »

i still shoot film all the time
collect the old camera's now
that is a good shot bob

faux fiddy · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2012, 10:44:49 PM »

These are fun, point, shoot download and the files are small so you can plug them in to the forums without photobucket or flickr.

It Does 17 seconds of video, smaller than an egg fits in the palm of your hand, clips on a belt loop or keychain.

The one drawback is the viewfinder is not really accurate at close range, but then again it says minimum distance 5' and daylight.

I've shot in near dark florescent light, 12" or less with okay (for illustration) results.

dave500 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2012, 12:08:14 AM »

maybe a little of topic,but now we have millions of cameras and video recorders around there seems to be less of those ufo sightings?

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2012, 03:45:06 AM »

Quote from: tramp on April 21, 2012, 05:22:28 AM

i still shoot film all the time
collect the old camera's now
that is a good shot bob

We're the only two people left shooting film I think.

Just kidding, but not by much.

Kevin D · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2012, 07:46:53 AM »

I got a slide scanner a while back and it included a Photoshop. Now... I'm not a student of photography, never had a class or read a book on the subject. I'm just another guy with a camera, but I like nice photos too.
I took the first picture with my $100 Kodak, good subject, but dang it, what a mess. So I doctored it up a bit to make it presentable for my brother in law on his 60th birthday. I'm sure there is more that could be done, but for my brother in law and for me, it's just fine.

I got a little bit luckier on the third picture.
I have gigabytes of my poor pictures stored on my computer, I get maybe 1 decent one for 20? shots. Photography is another item on the list of things I wish I was better at.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2012, 06:04:12 PM »

One in 20 is not bad as far as I'm concerned. If I get a good shot out of a 24 frame 35mm roll it's a good day.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2012, 06:26:40 PM »

Quote from: Bob Wessner on April 22, 2012, 06:04:12 PM

One in 20 is not bad as far as I'm concerned. If I get a good shot out of a 24 frame 35mm roll it's a good day.

Heh, yeah, I've been going through my negatives from 25-30 years ago and that sure seems to be ratio!

shade · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:16:31 AM »

Try shooting on overcast days. When exposing the image, aim the meter towards a darker part of subject to get an exposure and then compose and shoot. Also try shooting the bike in "open shade" maybe the shadow of a barn etc., and let the areas in the sun blow out.

The best way to learn photography these days is to use a manual digital camera and take notes about what you are doing. Save your best images with detailed notes and try to recreate them.

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Author Topic: photography 101 (Read 2081 times)