Photography
Sigma 10-20mm First Shots
These shots were taken at lunch today, around Hobart’s waterfront.
Obviously not the best lighting at midday, but i wanted to see how the wide angle coped with some upward shots with overhead sun.
I must say, I can see this lens getting a lot of use. I love it’s width, and it doesn’t seem to suffer from any “softness” that is reported with some Sigma lenses. (Only out of correct focus, which was my fault for usinf a larger than intended aperture setting)
More New Gear On The Way
Since I began the journey into SLR land i’ve always been keen to get my hands on a good wide-angle lens, as my current, main lens is only as wide as 28mm, which may be fine on a 35mm or Full-frame DSLR, but on a Cropped-Sensor DSLR such as the 400D i have, it’s really only 44mm wide. which gives relatively poor results for taking great landscapes of shooting indoors.
So I set about hunting out a great deal on a good quality lens. I read countless reviews and lens lens tests on all the major players, such as
Canon’s EF-s10-22mm USM
Sigma’s 10-20mm EX-DC HSM
Tamron’s 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II
Tokina’s 12-24mm AT-X PRO DX
and also a number of different Canon EF Prime lenses.
Reflection Collection
If you’ve seen most of the other posts in my blog or viewed my gallery, you’Il see that I have a thing for reflections…
Whether it be in water, glass, mirrors or even the oven door, I feel compelled to take a photo of it.
Here’s a couple of recent ones…
Shot with Canon 400D, EF28-135mm
Shot with Canon 400D, Ef28-135mm
RedBubble Special… Free Shipping
Hello everyone out there,
This week, RedBubble are having a special promotion which includes FREE Shipping on your order.
So if you like any of my work, or any work from the other great artists/ photographers on the site, follow the links below and have a browse…..
I have just ordered some stuff last week myself…… dammit!!
PS – I almost forgot – the coupon code to receive the free shipping offer is ‘100000masterpieces’ – just enter this during the checkout process to receive the free shipping offer.
anywho, check it out…
9 Mile Sunset
This one was taken on Saturday evening from Swanwick on the Freycinet Peninsula, looking west towards Swansea and 9 Mile Beach/ Dolphin Sands.
Shot with Canon 400D, Canon EF28-135mm, Tripod
Step Back in Time: The World of Film
I have recently picked myself up a bargain-priced, Canon EOS 30V 35mm film SLR. Which was released by Canon approximately at teh same time that my 400D Digital SLR was, and the added benefit is that all my lenses and future accessories will be compatible with both bodies. (With the exception of EF-S lenses).
The 30V also has a system called Eye Control Focusing. It works simply by “knowing” which part of the viefinder you are looking at, and it will focus on the nearest AutoFocus Zone to where you are looking.
Generally a point and shoot camera will focus at the centre of the image all the time. SLR cameras have multiple focus points that are usually selected manually by the user by pressing buttons, or the camera can automatically select the “best” point. But the Eye Control Focus lets the user slect the point manually by simply looking at the desired point of the frame.
For example if you’re shooting a group of people standing in a line, you would compose the image so as to fit everyone in the frame as desired, but if you want to highlight the focus on one particular individual, you would simply look at that person through the viewfinder and press the shutter release to take the image. Very neat system when used in the right places.
I have always loved the “suprise” of opening a pack of freshly printed photo’s that were shot with film, and there is something just plain fun about shooting film.
I also love black and white, especially for portraits or groups of people, which I feel digital lacks the character that B&W film can deliver. It also adds a little elegance to portraits, and also highlights the technical attributes of a picture. Rather than being reliant on bright/ saturated colours to grab your attention, your composition, lighting and perspective must do the attention grabbing instead.
Thanks to Nige Honey for suggesting I see Alan at PhotoForce in Hobart (free plug) to discuss what options for film would best suit my needs.
So hopefully I have somthing worthwhile to share in the near future.
2009 Calendars
The online printing service that I use now, supports 2009 Calendar printing.
I have already prepared one ready for printing, but should you want a different selection of my images, I’m happy to customise one to your personal preference.
Simply contact me via e-mail for further discussions.
To view the current calendar configuration and pricing, simply click the image below
RedBubble calendars are printed on an HP Indigo 5000 (for those who haven’t heard, this is the digital press). Each page is a satin-coated print on 170gsm high quality art paper. They’re A3 size too (that’s 297x420mm, or 11.69″x16.54″). The cover shows your choice of image on heavier 300gsm paper.Your calendars have a hanger and white wire binding.
The Eyes of EOS, reccomended reading
Yesterday i was loaned a book by a family friend,
“EF Lens Work III, The Eyes of EOS”
it’s a publication by Canon, which details the entire EF lens range as well as a world of information including -Choices of lenses for different types of photography
-Full Technical specifications on the EF and EF-S lenses
-Theory of light including, reflection, refraction, optics and lens theory
-Construction and technical operation of the IS (Image Stabalisation) and AF (AutoFocus) systems.
There is also a downloadable version (in parts) available for those unaware of books!!
It can be found HERE
From what i’ve read so far, it’s a brilliant learning resource combined with an array of Canons marketing material. It is even very beneficial for the non-Canon users out there who would like a little more depth into the how and why’s of lens operation and science.
Night Shoots
Every now and then I have some free time after the sun has gone down, simply to wander around and see what looks good under moonlight or streetlights.
Tonight I was on my way to a mates place and saw the Tasman bridge against a wonderful dark-blue sky.
There was another person who arrived a minute after i’d setup the tripod and taken a couple of shots, who decided to try and take some photo’s of the same scene with a point and shoot and with the flash on.
I wonder how his turned out??
Shot with Canon 400D, Canon EF28-135mm at 28mm, 13 second exposure
All Work and No Play?? Not Me!!
Due to my current position with the Tasmania Fire Service, I am given regular opportunities to get to some of the most beautiful, untouched and inaccessible parts of the state to carry out our work.
Places such as Millers Bluff in the Central Highlands, Mt Arthur in the North East, Mt Owen – overlooking Queenstown in the West and even atop the mountains surrounding Hobart.
Needless to say that my camera gear is one of the first things packed, and yes it does have “official” uses, taking pictures of our equipment and modifications and maintenance we have been doing. But it does also get a chance to capture some great scenery aswell.
Recently i had a trip to the top of Mt Faulkner, above the Northern Suburbs of Hobart and Derwent Valley to help the local electricity suppliers do their job (read the meter!!). Getting there consists of a fairly rugged 4WD track and a short walk to the top.
Here is the view of Hobart from Mt Faulkner
Hobart City from Mt Faulkner
This shot was a 9 Shot stitched panorama taken with Canon 400D and Canon 28-135mm lens and tripod.
Some of out other sites are accessible by Helicopter only, and if the weather is agains us we have to hike in, with tools and heavy equipment (generators, fuel, etc)
We recently had a trip where the weather closed in so fast that it was unsafe to fly the helicopter off the mountain. So the pilot had to tie it down and sleep in the Aircraft for the long cold night, while we hiked down in zero visibility on an unmarked track!! Good times!!
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