*OFFICIAL* general photography conversation thread

[M_Six]

Wifey and I saw the Disneyland fireworks 4 of the 5 nights we were there. No need to go to the lame local show this year. Especially not in this heat.

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by The1

Next year go to July first Canadian fireworks, no security here

Funny thing, I was there sunday night in Ottawa. But I wasnt supposed to bring my camera. I didnt regret it.

I experienced fireworks photography for the first time. And I didnt really knew how to shoot those. Luckily for me, the show was long enough for me to try a lot of things. I really liked the mirror up mode in the final part of the show. It fills the frame in no time.

I may post a pic or two; some of them seems to be really nice (on lcd at least). But it was so crowded and we went in late; so I didnt have premium spots for that. But for handheld long exposure shots, I'm happy with the results.

[gary88]

Apologies if this question has been beaten to death already, but how much do you guys charge for freelance work? I have a person who asked me to take pics of some of the products his company makes that they want to use for marketing. I said $150/hour which I think is fair considering my experience, cost of gear, and how much time I spend in PP.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by gary88

Apologies if this question has been beaten to death already, but how much do you guys charge for freelance work? I have a person who asked me to take pics of some of the products his company makes that they want to use for marketing. I said $150/hour which I think is fair considering my experience, cost of gear, and how much time I spend in PP.

For corporate work I'd shoot for free till they are satisfied with what they have but I'd charge licensing on all the photos they actually use.

Up to you, if you're comfortable with $150 hr then sure. If it was me I know I'd charge more. Then again, if you ask for too much they might go elsewhere for them. I guess the real trick is to get them to want YOU specifically instead of letting them commission a photographer to shoot for them which happens to be you.

[Chewy734]

seriously? more than $150/hr? damn... I must be charging way too little for my consulting fees.

[rodi]

what is your time worth? supply and demand. i quote really high now because of how busy i am, if they don't bite, i don't mind.

or, you could charge a flat fee. $x for t hours and n images.

[Chewy734]

I was curious...

What mode do you guys usually shoot in? manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, auto, etc

[panicos81]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

I was curious...

What mode do you guys usually shoot in? manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, auto, etc

manual. you guys told me to shoot manual when i first came in here and i just keep doing it

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by panicos81

manual. you guys told me to shoot manual when i first came in here and i just keep doing it

now you know better than to listen to us, right?

[panicos81]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

now you know better than to listen to us, right?

i tried all other "modes" its just not fun any other way.. now if i was shooting professionally i don't know, but for now its strictly manual..

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

I was curious...

What mode do you guys usually shoot in? manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, auto, etc

I shoot Av mode, but always watch the shutter speed in the viewfinder. If I need more SS, I increase ISO. With the 7D, I try to keep ISO at 800 or less. I try to keep SS over 1/1000th when handholding the 500mm, but go as low as 1/160th by holding my breath and bracing when possible.

I expose to the right and often use +1EV. My thought process is that I've got this very expensive meter in the camera, so why not use it all the time? I spin the +-EV wheel on the back of the camera to take into consideration changing light and different subject brightness (+EV for black and brown things and -EV for white and brilliant colored things.

You guys that do manual, why wouldn't you use you meter?

Dave

[remmib]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

I was curious...

What mode do you guys usually shoot in? manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, auto, etc

I'm in AV mode (aperture-priority) almost all the time.

[Chewy734]

I guess I also forgot to ask the question.... Why did you choose that mode to use most often, as compared to other modes?

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by dcstep

You guys that do manual, why wouldn't you use you meter?

Dave

I don't follow Dave... who doesn't pay attention to their metering when in Manual mode?

[The1]

Generally use manual, however, more recently (mostly due to the ISP abilities of the 5d3) I've been being more lazy and shooting aperture priority and adjusting iOS as needed and the metering with ev control.

Really depends what I'm up to, if I'm shooting to catch lots of activity, I'm not wasting time adjusting everything, while if I'm shooting a model or still life I have all the time in the world to make all the adjustments needed.

[MaximusJ]

Almost always in aperture priority; in shutter priority when shooting sports or any kind of subject that need to be frozen or blurred and playing with ISO when the other automated setting is not to my likings.

[M_Six]

Mostly full manual mode. Sometimes AV mode if I know I'll be using one aperture setting for an extended time. The new firmware for the 7D due out in August will allow you to set max ISO for auto-ISO mode, so I'll definitely make use of that. Like Dave said, I try to stay at or below 800 whenever possible. Shooting in AV mode with auto-ISO limited to 800 will be nice.

[rodi]

depends on what i'm shooting. if it's live and fleeting: usually aperture, unless the light is not changing. if it's studio/controlled: manual.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

I don't follow Dave... who doesn't pay attention to their metering when in Manual mode?

Well then, why wouldn't you let the meter adjust the camera?

I know two things, I want to generally ETTR, which means that I generally need +EV, but I also adjust for my subject when the meter can't handle it, like a white subject in a neutral background or dark background.

I understand using manual in a controlled lighting situation, like with a model. I use it for multi-shot panoramas, lightning shots and other situations where I don't want the meter to change exposure from shot to shot. Otherwise, I'm in Av.

Dave

[The1]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Well then, why wouldn't you let the meter adjust the camera?

I know two things, I want to generally ETTR, which means that I generally need +EV, but I also adjust for my subject when the meter can't handle it, like a white subject in a neutral background or dark background.

I understand using manual in a controlled lighting situation, like with a model. I use it for multi-shot panoramas, lightning shots and other situations where I don't want the meter to change exposure from shot to shot. Otherwise, I'm in Av.

Dave

just a personal preference thing. Just like how I chose a manual transmission, yes these DTC transmissions are now many times faster then a manual, but there's just something about having complete control over everything that just makes it better. For some people.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by The1

just a personal preference thing. Just like how I chose a manual transmission, yes these DTC transmissions are now many times faster then a manual, but there's just something about having complete control over everything that just makes it better. For some people.

The "complete control" part is where I think that I have the advantage in either Av or Tv modes. I think that I can spin the EV wheel on the back of my camera faster than the manual players can adjust aperture and shutter. Of course, you could chose to keep two out of three parameters constant and then change one parameter with the top wheel. In Av mode, I use the top wheel to select aperture and then control the over/under exposure with the back wheel. There are days when that back wheel is spinning on every few shots.

I DO set up my camera as if I'm going to shoot manual. For instance, my ISO moves in whole steps; therefore, it easy for me to calculate the EV change caused by moving my ISO one stop.

I'm old, old, old and learned photography when most of us didn't even own a meter, so I started with sunny-16 and adjusted from there. Having a fast, accurate meter right in the camera is such a delight to me that I don't miss the manual days at all.

BTW, as you know, I have a 6-speed, but I don't think we can argue anymore that we have more complete control than those driving a DCT in manual mode. That is one hell of a transmission and I occasionally wish I had it (like when I go against the rev limiter for a second or so avoiding a shift that I would have made with a DCT).

I think what I like about 6MT is honing and maintaining a skill at a high level that's getting rarer and rarer. It's a point of personal pride and not so much a superior performance.

Dave

[dcstep]

BTW, Sekonic is running a free webinar later today about Measuring and Evaluating Light in Landscape Photography:

http://www.sekonic.com/Classroom/Web...%2B7%2F11%2F12

I can't attend live today, but I hope that I can see it after the fact. Some of you might attend live.

Dave