Photography nerds!

[gymell]

Nice photos, everyone! Keep them coming! I like looking at the different subjects and photography styles. As far as I'm concerned, the best camera is the one you have with you at the time. Having expensive equipment can help in certain specialized situations, but I always remind people that the photographer is ultimately the one who takes the photo, not the camera. I'm often limited because I can't carry around that big lens with me all the time (the lens itself weighs 8.5 lbs.). And using something simpler can often promote more creativity.

But I have to admit, I enjoy the looks I get when I pull out the "big gun", especially when I'm handholding it rather than using a tripod.

[wildross]

Nikon D70 for me. I'm going to cheat because I don't have the picture on this computer and link to the twitter upload. I took this Easter morning on Galveston Island. Haven't tried shooting raw, so this is just on the "action" setting.

https://twitter.com/#!/jawildman/status/189176699383054336/photo/1

Muskingum River in Ohio.

https://plus.google.com/photos/109343327957230043885/albums/5420125492407641185

A very cold (-15F) night in January in Ohio

https://plus.google.com/photos/109343327957230043885/albums/5297102034228012225

[Blueberries]

Evny! I would love to shoot with a a full frame, especially for night photos and concerts. But I can't justify the cost

It's possible that I underexaggerated. As it happens, I think I love my camera more than all of my other possessions combined. True story.

[Corbab]

My current setup is a Nikon D60 that usually carries a Nikon 18-55mm. My baby is a Sigma 70-300mm (105-450 equivalent). I also have a F100 and a Nikon 50mm prime that I got for class, but without regular darkroom access and cheap film, I barely use it any more.

My gear doesn't merit a second glance, but I've gotten to be quite happy with it. I can take great pictures with it, and it's gone halfway around the world and back with me. I'd love a full-frame camera and a whole bevy of lenses, but I figure when I can fund it by selling photos, I'll have earned them.

[chammy]

Nikon D80 here. Flickr for your viewing pleasure (hopefully).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chammycham/

I need to go shoot more things since I've improved..

[Cosmo]

Hi! I'm here. Total geek. I prefer film and use either a FED2 (1960's Russian replica of a Leica camera) or a Nikon F80 which does some nice pics. I'm mainly experimenting with cross-processing slide film at the moment - which mucks around with colours a lot!

These are from the F80

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and this is from the FED2 - it's got a light leak on it and it's really irritating me now. I am going to tape it up everywhere soon

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Plus I use my fiancee's Holga sometimes (but he's better with it)

I also use a Nikon D200 for digital stuff and am seriously considering upgrading to the D300S for video but I am not sure if there will be a new, better model out soon. Decisions decisions. I use lightroom for everything and don't really do much at all to any pics - white balance, straightening up horizons (I think I am wonky!) and colours sometimes.

This is from the D200.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/funkabubble/

[bigm141414]

Nikon D80 here. Flickr for your viewing pleasure (hopefully).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chammycham/

I need to go shoot more things since I've improved..

chammy! yes you do your flickr page needs MOAR photos.

[bigm141414]

But I have to admit, I enjoy the looks I get when I pull out the "big gun", especially when I'm handholding it rather than using a tripod.

I can only imagine the muscles required to heft that around with out a tripod let alone hold it steady at full zoom.

[gymell]

I can only imagine the muscles required to heft that around with out a tripod let alone hold it steady at full zoom.

It's a fixed focal length lens (500mm). The camera and lens together weigh about 12 pounds. I took a workshop a few years back on hand holding large telephoto lenses for photographing birds in flight. It's a lot more flexible to shoot that way than on a tripod, even if you have a gimbal head. The trick is to not hold it very long. You lock in quick on the bird, fire off some shots, and then put it down. Here's an example (snail kite):

Maybe someday I'll be able to justify a 1D Mk IV and an 800mm f/5.6.

[gymell]

Hi! I'm here. Total geek. I prefer film and use either a FED2 (1960's Russian replica of a Leica camera) or a Nikon F80 which does some nice pics. I'm mainly experimenting with cross-processing slide film at the moment - which mucks around with colours a lot!

I remember the days of film cameras. I like the look of the film shots, but I love the instant gratification of digital.

Keep the photos coming, everybody! I'm enjoying looking at everyone's galleries.

[bigm141414]

Keep the photos coming, everybody! I'm enjoying looking at everyone's galleries.

Some great inspiration in this thread for ideas. Kinda want to hop on my bike and ride around with my camera instead of going to work.

[gymell]

Agreed! Maybe we should start a point and shoot photo challenge or something. To stoke our nerdy creativity!

[Blueberries]

It's a fixed focal length lens (500mm). The camera and lens together weigh about 12 pounds. I took a workshop a few years back on hand holding large telephoto lenses for photographing birds in flight. It's a lot more flexible to shoot that way than on a tripod, even if you have a gimbal head. The trick is to not hold it very long. You lock in quick on the bird, fire off some shots, and then put it down. Here's an example (snail kite):

Maybe someday I'll be able to justify a 1D Mk IV and an 800mm f/5.6.

Comp, colors, lighting... I love everything about this one. (And that's saying a lot, because I have a weird fear of birds. )

I really only shoot with primes, too, although I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't make room for a 70-200 f/2.8 in my bag. Right now my longest focal length is my 85mm f/1.4, so I don't do a lot of wildlife photography as a general rule. Hard to want to get close enough to a bear to make it worthwhile with the 85....

[jmbrunson]

Agreed! Maybe we should start a point and shoot photo challenge or something. To stoke our nerdy creativity!

Great idea!

[gymell]

Comp, colors, lighting... I love everything about this one. (And that's saying a lot, because I have a weird fear of birds. )

I really only shoot with primes, too, although I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't make room for a 70-200 f/2.8 in my bag. Right now my longest focal length is my 85mm f/1.4, so I don't do a lot of wildlife photography as a general rule. Hard to want to get close enough to a bear to make it worthwhile with the 85....

Thanks - I took that photo before 8:00 in the morning, so there was really nice light, and it's such a beautiful bird. I shot with primes only for a long time. Eventually I found that a zoom really complements my prime (I'm down to just 2 lenses now since I basically just photograph birds these days.) But yes, I think getting close to a bear at 85mm would be tough, even at the zoo! The 70-200/2.8 is a great lens, but it depends on what you want to shoot. If you have any desire to do wildlife photography, the 100-400 zoom is perfect for that. Not as fast as lens as the 70-200/2.8, but 200mm is really too short for wildlife.

[AKLulu]

I love the snail kite! Lulu needs to work on learning how to take some photos...

And bears? What?

I also need a better zoom lens.... 55-250 isn't enough! >.<

[gymell]

Wow, that is a big bear!! I wouldn't want to get close to that, at any focal length ...

[AKLulu]

Yeah, it was a pretty big one... but it's okay, I was on the deck to the house. Door is like 10 feet away... and I don't care if bears can sprint at 30mph, it was still a couple hundred yards away, it couldn't catch me And it seemed highly content to be chewing on grasses...

[gymell]

Oh, just a yard bear.

The biggest predator I've ever had in my yard is a coyote!

[AKLulu]

Yeah, yard bear, no big deal We keep a shotgun handy just in case (though my mini Australian shepherd usually does a fair job of bothering them away)... in case they try to steal our smoked fish that is.

[Sundae]

Well, I thought I could make a quick gallery of some of the better pics I recently took, here you go: http://www.flickr.com/photos/77180392@N03/sets/72157629443927456/

[scotticus]

I used to have all sorts of expensive Canon Gear (too many L lenses, if such a thing is possible) as well as a pretty respectable set of strobes. But I sold all that stuff. Now I have one camera that I use for the most part and two that I will keep but use very infrequently. My focus was on studio portraits and fashion stuff before, but now I just kind of take shots of whatever suits my fancy.

1) Daily use

- Olympus PEN E-PL1 that I got on sale for CAD$300 with kit lens.

- Oly 14-45mm kit lens (slow)

- Oly 45-150 tele lens (slow)

- Oly 45mm f/1.8 (better)

- Oly FL-300R flash (for off camera work)

- Oly VF-3 EVF

The whole kit weighs next to nothing and takes up very little space, so I'm actually inclined to carry some or all of it with me. Honestly, this is probably my favorite kit of all the ones I've owned - and I've owned a lot...

2) Others

- 50's era Ricohflex TLR (120)

- Pentax K1000 w. 50mm f/1.8 (35mm)

These are for artsy time and don't see much action. They look pretty neat on the shelf though.

Basically, give me anything with a fast prime that can capture light and I'm good to go!

[KillerGriller]

Nice work all around! I wish I had more time to post to read/go through this thread, unfortunately I'm pressed for time so in lieu here's some of my work: http://51feetunder.wordpress.com/category/photography/

And here's some of my older (very compressed) rock climbing shots:

[scuddle]

I don't think i'm a photography nerd, per se... but I do think I've taken some cool photos!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deliriousduckie/sets/72157613124876726/

[gymell]

I really like that jellyfish shot! Nice job with the SD750.