How I rekindled my love affair with photography

z31maniac said:

David, I've always wanted to get in to photography. Any tips/suggestions for someone that wouldn't be doing it for work?

Yes.

Step 1: Buy camera.

Step 2: Go make photos.

Seriously, it can be that easy. 

I realize that leaves a big question: What gear to buy? I admit, that can be overwhelming. 

I recently bought a used Canon EOS 7D for my wife, and it’s been working very well. This is the same body that I carry as a backup. I bought one in excellent-plus condition from KEH for $178. (Charger and battery included.)

Looks like they now only have one in excellent condition, but it’s $136. While the 7D is an older model, it’s a robust DSLR that many pros have used. 

KEH specializes in used gear, and I have bought several pieces from them. I have been 100% happy in every instance. You might find it for less on eBay, but here it’s from a trusted source. A friend in the biz recommended them to me, and he’s also a very pleased customer. 

For a lens, my wife has a Canon 50mm f/1.8. I got a refurbished one directly from Canon for $99. It’s a prime (meaning non-zoom lens) but I like primes. They’re generally faster (meaning they let in more light), lighter and less expensive than a zoom. Wish the subject filled up more of the frame? Walk closer. Need to put more space around the subject? Walk backwards. It’s a great learning tool, too. 

Then add in a UV filter for $7.98.

So, for less than $300, my wife has a solid setup that she won’t easily outgrow. (Free plug: See some of her work here.)

I have been using Fujifilm gear for my “fun” work but, I admit, it costs more than this. Figure about $1500 for the setup I was using last night, and that’s also with used gear.

So, now to taking photos: Get out there and shoot. Non-exotic places I have had fun shooting: our backyard, the paths through our neighborhood, assorted alleys in DeLand. 

Thanks! Thats great advice!

Thanks. I realize there a zillion possible answers to your question, but that’s one that’s worked for us that’s also fairly painless. My friend Bette is using the same setup: Canon 7D and she also recently picked up that same refurbished 50mm f1/8.

Now I'm off to look at equipment. 

David S. Wallens said:

z31maniac said:

David, I've always wanted to get in to photography. Any tips/suggestions for someone that wouldn't be doing it for work?

Yes.

Step 1: Buy camera.

At least a camera where you can manually adjust the shutter speed, aperture (f-stop), and ISO sensitivity value.

z31maniac said:

Now I'm off to look at equipment. 

Woot, have fun. Not sure if that camera will come with a strap. I can’t remember if my wife’s did, but she bought something that more fits her style. I tend to favor ones from Couch, the guitar strap maker. 

You’ll also need a bag and, again, there are a zillion choices out there. 

A few thoughts on the "how do I get into photography" question, not in any particular order:

- Buy and read whatever the latest edition of "Understanding Exposure" is by Bryan Peterson (looks like it's 4th edition:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607748509/).  This is an excellent intro to the basics of the main "photography equation", how you have three ways of controlling the light (shutter speed, aperture, ISO) and how each of them has their own effects on the resulting image and how you can use those effects to do what you want.

- Decide if you want to shoot digital or film.  Probably the answer is digital (personally I have less than zero interest in film, but hey, some people are weird).

- If you want a bit more structure in your learning, look into your local community college.  Usually they have some inexpensive basic photography courses.

As far as gear goes, it depends a bit on what your intended subjects are.  Be warned that motorsports photography tends to be fairly demanding of gear (you rarely have the option of standing right next to a race car, so long telephoto lenses are important). :)

David S. Wallens said:

the_machina said:

I'm kinda jealous of how fast your flash sync is on the X100. Having the leaf shutter lets you balance the sun so much easier and lighter.

 

Beautiful shots too!

Thank you and these latest photos–the beach, the Ram and Bette with the 911–have been taken with my X-T3. I’m very happy with it. 

I need to try the X100V with the flash. I haven’t done that yet. 

 

Nice!

I've been able to balance golden hour light with just a speedlight with my EOS R, but if you want to start really overpowering the light I've found that I need to get into HSS and then my recycle times get really long. I'm interested in hearing your experiences with your X100v and some flash.

z31maniac said:

Now I'm off to look at equipment. 

Oh, one small heads-up: The 7D takes CF while the later 7D Mk2 has slots for both CF and SD. 

Thanks guys, a ton of great info!

In reply to the_machina :

Are you running the speedlight on or off the camera? 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

For event photography, normally on camera with a ceiling bounce if I can.

For portraiture, I'll throw it in an umbrella on a stand. The Godox V1 has been great to me so far.

Cool, glad to hear it’s all working well. I went with the Flashpoint-branded square head. So far, so good. I scored a used Manfrotto nano stand from Adorama. 

Some film photography talk by Colin over on the Classic Motorsports site: Vintage cameras: the most accessible way to experience the past?

Saturday was World Photography Day, so my wife and I participated in two group shoots–one in Longwood (Orlando) and then another up in Gainesville, Florida. Both were hosted by Pexels. 

The Longwood one took place in Optiview360, a “content creation” venue. The theme was cyber punk. Maybe a hundred people were there. I know I didn’t see everyone or everything. This is my friend Hathim. 

And then we headed to the meet-up in downtown Gainesville. It was smaller–maybe a dozen total–and a bit less intense (no house music or associated lightshow.) There  I worked with Shaneka. 

Both were shot with a Fujifilm X-T3. No editing. 

And another shot from Saturday in downtown Gainesville, home of the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge. 

Natural light/unedited and I like how the blues all work together–her eyes, her shirt and the covered-up graffiti on the wall.

So, yeah, having fun with this. 

Car photography last night but not overly happy with the outcome. Too much glare on the nose, but adding a circular polarizer stole too much light. Too little depth of field, too.

The lesson, though: Maybe I should have brought along a tripod. 

Setting up a soft box for the flash would have also helped but, as I learned, this is where semis like to make their U-turns. Love the color and the lines of the car, though. 

David:  A problem with having more in-focus depth-of-field to that shot is that the background might become distracting.  I don't think you have a depth of field issue here really, it seems fine to me.  Just a challenging shot to "make interesting"?  Replace the pine trees with a beach and it might get better.  Or a distant mountain.

I do like the color and lines of the car.  Almost like BMW stole a copy of Plum Crazy.  

Take all of this with a grain of salt.  Maybe even two.

Yeah, not totally in love with the background, either, but figured I’d share as it’s a good learning tool.

I had another location picked out–thought it would work well for a sunset photo–but it wasn’t working at all. This was nearby so it quickly became my Plan B. 

This was shot at f/2.0. I’d like to see how just a tiny bit more depth of field would have looked but felt like I was pushing it. Although, looking back, I should have pushed it.

Always learning. 

How do you shoot people? I did backup photos at a small family wedding once as a favor maybe five years ago and haven't done people since. I'm not taking great pictures of places and cars and the like but I'm at least comfortable with it. 

At the end of high school photo class, Mr. Gutterman shared some parting advice: Don’t photograph weddings. 

Too much at stake, he said. Leave it for a pro.

Anyway, the whole working with models has definitely been a learning experience. Both parties involved need to be comfortable as there’s a contract of trust: You’re simply going to do your best to make them look fabulous. (Hint: No matter how much skin they’re showing, you’re not there to hit on them and make them feel uncomfortable.)

Most all of the models I have photographed are people with real jobs. Several are college students. Just as I want to learn more about photography, they want to learn more about modeling. So we work together. I guess I have become “regulars” with a few as we’ll often work together at events. It’ll be a quick, Hey, let’s shoot together for a few. 

Tonight I went to a workshop on photographing cocktails. I figured it would be fun and also help with shooting car parts–how to work with light and shadow, etc. After I got home, I photographed a coil pack and spark plug.

This is one of my images from the workshop:

The hand belongs to one of the other photographers. We’re on the distillery’s porch. Natural light, zero editing. 

This could have just as easily been a muffler bearing or whatever. 

We had a model there, too–one I have worked with before. I was at her first shoot just a few months ago, and since then she quickly became comfortable and confident in front of the camera. I also shot this tonight. 

We’ve now worked together several times, so I guess we’re comfortable with each other.

The secret? I dunno. I guess breathe, be a good partner, and work together to get the shot. 

I also admit that my photojournalism roots often come through. I tend to do more “capturing” than “directing,” but I’m usually happy with the results. 

David:  Understood and agreed that you couldn't really go too far either way with the depth of field if that was already at f2.0.  Must be a good lens to be that sharp at that aperture. 

Getting comfortable taking pictures of people is definitely not my strong suit either.  I don't do it very often though outside of random pictures of bands at a bar in town.  That's been good practice. 

I recently had a friend ask me to take photographs of his father's funeral and viewing.  I never felt so out of place holding a camera.  I don't think I'll ever do something like that again. 

That’s the Fujifilm’s 50mm f/2.0 and, yeah, I’m happy with it. 

I think that comfort, like anything, comes with practice. At my first model shoot, I was like, “I’m just supposed to take their pictures?” As the evening went on, I felt more and more comfortable. It was a bit like being thrown out of the nest. 

Not sure I could photograph a viewing, either. That’s an assignment I’d rather not do.

I just read about a company that's come up with a way to retrofit analog 35mm cameras to digital.  They've packed the electronics into a container the size of a film canister, so it fits inside the camera without modifications, and uses a 20MP sensor so the quality should be pretty good.  However, they don't mention what it will cost.  https://petapixel.com/2023/10/06/a-20mp-sensor-in-a-film-canister-reinvigorates-vintage-analog-cameras