The ABCs of Photography - The Project (or PING Photographers) SIGNUP THREAD

[Lorena]

wade moore and I have been working on getting back into photography so we created dynasties. wade's RAW Deal can be found HERE and mine can be found HERE. We decided to start a project to really get us out there and wanted to post it here to see if any of you would be interested in joining us.

Every week we take 1 picture of a letter in the alphabet. Example, week 1 would be A (so we'll take pictures of apples, airplanes, etc.) week 2 would be the letter B, etc etc. If we have a decent size group, we can post everyone's pictures here, in the Off Topic forum; but if not, then we'll keep it in the dynasty section. Details will be sent by PM if anyone is interested.

To sign up and register, go to http://www.maverickmarks.com/abcphoto.
Click the "Login" link and then register from there.

[terpkristin]

I'm definitely interested, though I only have my small (non-SLR) digital camera.
I want to get a Nikon DSLR but I can't justify the cost right now..

/tk

[wade moore]

I know from my perspective (and I think DC's) that I don't view this as something to show who is the better photography - so the quality of camera isn't a huge deal. I look at this project as a way for those of us interested to get feedback from others interested in photography on how to improve ourselves individually. Or, if you aren't interested in feedback, just an excuse to go out and get practice with your photography.

So yeah, I see no issue with you participating with scanned polaroids if you really want .

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by wade moore

I know from my perspective (and I think DC's) that I don't view this as something to show who is the better photography - so the quality of camera isn't a huge deal. I look at this project as a way for those of us interested to get feedback from others interested in photography on how to improve ourselves individually. Or, if you aren't interested in feedback, just an excuse to go out and get practice with your photography.

So yeah, I see no issue with you participating with scanned polaroids if you really want .

What he said. Especially the bolded part

[cartman]

I'd be up for participating.

[terpkristin]

I'm in, then, for sure. And maybe taking more pictures will convince me that I can justify buying a DSLR.

Actually the biggest reasons I want one are a) I have a bunch of lenses that should work with it, because I have a 35 mm SLR that is pretty much retired because I love working with digital stuff and b) I want more control over shutter speed, as if there's one thing the point & shoot Canon I have doesn't do now is figure out exposure times for anything but outdoor shooting.

Anyway. Yeah, I'm in. PM me or email or whatever with details on where things are going to be posted, when it starts, etc. Or post here and I'll probably find it.

/tk

[oliegirl]

Do the pics have to be edited in photoshop the way you guys do in your dynasties, or can we just post unedited/raw photos? If they don't have to be edited then I'm in...

[wade moore]

I didn't anticipate a ton of "rules" around this, so unless DC disagrees I don't see why editing would be required. In fact, I will likely post pictures that I don't do any editing on as I prefer not to if I can help it.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Where the hell is the "The ABCs of Pornography" thread?

[DanGarion]

I'd be game. I've taken photography in High School and in College (just black and white). I'm actually considering getting a DSLR soon or a good SLR and taking some more classes.

Right now I have a Canon AE-1 for SLR (that needs to get serviced) and a Canon S2 IS for digital.

The DSLRs are just a little too expensive for me considering the constant advances in technology (IMO).

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by dangarion

I'd be game. I've taken photography in High School and in College (just black and white). I'm actually considering getting a DSLR soon or a good SLR and taking some more classes.

Right now I have a Canon AE-1 for SLR (that needs to get serviced) and a Canon S2 IS for digital.

The DSLRs are just a little too expensive for me considering the constant advances in technology (IMO).

As you'll see in my thread, I did several semesters of black and white dark room photography that truely made me love photography.. adjusting to color and digital is a little weird, but fun.

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by wade moore

I didn't anticipate a ton of "rules" around this, so unless DC disagrees I don't see why editing would be required. In fact, I will likely post pictures that I don't do any editing on as I prefer not to if I can help it.

Definitely not. As a matter-of-fact, we probably shouldn't touch them up. I would like this to be strictly photography, not "Photoshop Techniques" cuz that would make it a little difficult, I'd think.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Definitely not. As a matter-of-fact, we probably shouldn't touch them up. I would like this to be strictly photography, not "Photoshop Techniques" cuz that would make it a little difficult, I'd think.

Agreed. I think the most is just simple color touch up and balance sort of like Picasa does. But that's just me

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by dangarion

Agreed. I think the most is just simple color touch up and balance sort of like Picasa does. But that's just me

Yeah, Picasa is all I use but I'd definitely be very much up for a "pure photo" deal where we don't do any touchups.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Yeah, Picasa is all I use but I'd definitely be very much up for a "pure photo" deal where we don't do any touchups.

Yeah I'd be fine with that. Not like anyone would no either way, unless they were doing real touch up type work.

[terpkristin]

I actually rarely if ever touch up my photos, as I like to have a record of how bad of a photographer I am (or conversely, how I can sometimes do things right--hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut!). So no touching up is fine by me.

/tk

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I actually rarely if ever touch up my photos, as I like to have a record of how bad of a photographer I am (or conversely, how I can sometimes do things right--hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut!). So no touching up is fine by me.

/tk

TK, out of curiousity, have you taken any photography courses? I was curious cuz I can give you a few basic pointers (rule of thirds, perspective, etc) if ya want.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

TK, out of curiousity, have you taken any photography courses? I was curious cuz I can give you a few basic pointers (rule of thirds, perspective, etc) if ya want.

Nope. Just try to figure out what makes my good photos good and what makes my bad photos bad. Probably why I like digital so much...sooooo much nicer to hit delete rather than having to pay to find out how bad the picture is.

Anyway, any advice/n00b pointers you've got, lay 'em on me! And as you all find out how bad my pictures suck, I'm sure I'll get tons more to learn from.

/tk

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Nope. Just try to figure out what makes my good photos good and what makes my bad photos bad. Probably why I like digital so much...sooooo much nicer to hit delete rather than having to pay to find out how bad the picture is.

Anyway, any advice/n00b pointers you've got, lay 'em on me! And as you all find out how bad my pictures suck, I'm sure I'll get tons more to learn from.

/tk

Sure, no problem. The only way to get better is to have others critique our work which is the reason why wade and I wanted to bring this project to the Off Topic Forum.

I know what you mean about digital cameras. We can take dozens and dozens of pictures and if we don't like them, we just hit a button and it's free. I have SOOO many pictures developed out of film that are completely worthless... yes, thank goodness for digital cameras

I'm very much an amateur but I'll give you a few suggestions that might help and if others have anything else to add, feel free.

PERSPECTIVE:

- I love taking pictures at different angles. Taking a picture of, say a flower from an ant's point of view is different than if we take a picture of that same flower from our point of view:



or here's another one:



- You can also somewhat distort a subject if you get really close with a wide angle lens which can make for an interesting shot:



LINES:

Lines lead your eye from beginning to end. Sometimes they're in one direction, sometimes it's an "S" (I love S Curves):





RULE OF THIRDS:

The Rule of Thirds is basically placing "imaginary lines" on your subject so it gets divided as you see in this diagram:



Ideally, you wanna place your point of interest on the intersecting lines or on the imaginary horizontal, vertical lines. i.e. taking a picture with the subject on the top third of the photography, left third, right third, etc.

Here are a few examples:







notice the eyes on this one:




Hopefully this well help you. I'm looking forward to your development as a photographer

[Lorena]

dola,

repetition and texture make for some great pictures too

Repetition:





Texture:

[terpkristin]

Thanks, DC!
I look forward to this starting.

/tk

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Sure, no problem. The only way to get better is to have others critique our work which is the reason why wade and I wanted to bring this project to the Off Topic Forum.

Exactly. This is all about growth. The Dynasty threads are fun, but it's catching a limited audience (i.e. much of the true critiquing is DC and I talking to each other.. there are several great folks following it, but I think they're more just enjoying the photos and discussion rather than critiquing) - so the hope is that if there are several of us taking pictures on the same general "theme" that we will be more inclined to discuss the techniques, etc...

Edit: Also - I don't remember of hearing of the rule of thirds. But, I'm pretty sure that it's what I do without realizing it...

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Thanks, DC!
I look forward to this starting.

/tk

I have a week off this coming week and I know I'm going to be without the camera for some time in the fall, so I'm going to get a head start ..

[wade moore]

It looks like we have some solid interest - DC when were you thinking we'd actually start and when the week 1 photos would be posted? I'm stockpiling photos since I know I'll be without the camera for a chunk of time and it has me excited (although i don't have A yet!)

[Lorena]

A little anxious eh wade?

I have the following people participating:

Dodgerchick
wade moore
terpkristin
cartman
oliegirl
dangarion

How does Sunday, August 26 sound? The last day of posting pics could be Wednesday, August 29 and that'll give us a few days to critique and plan for the next assignment. If everyone agrees with this we can continue with the Sunday through Wednesday schedule.

[wade moore]

Are we going the route of PM'ing them to you and you posting them anonymously, or are we going to just post them?

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Are we going the route of PM'ing them to you and you posting them anonymously, or are we going to just post them?

Antmeister is researching some options for us. I like the idea of posting them anonymously though.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Antmeister is researching some options for us. I like the idea of posting them anonymously though.

I must thank you tremendously for helping to re-spark my love of photography - so sorry if I'm a little overzealous.

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by wade moore

I must thank you tremendously for helping to re-spark my love of photography - so sorry if I'm a little overzealous.

lol

Awww... you're so sweet... no worries man, just glad I got that fire burning in your tummy

So are you taking your camera for a ride like I am?

[DanGarion]

So we are starting with the letter A? Or am I lost?

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by dangarion

So we are starting with the letter A? Or am I lost?

The first week is brought to you by the letter A...

...

But yeah, I think we were going in order A-Z...

[terpkristin]

All sounds good to me.
By the way, has any of you used Noise Ninja? I bought a new camera yesterday (and tried to do some shooting on the boat, but do you know how hard it is to get a shot framed on a boat?!), and the negative parts of the reviews say that it has noise in the higher ISO settings (which seems to be a common problem with cameras of the type I bought...the Canon I was looking at, the Fuji, and the one I got, the Olympus, all had that particular negative point). The guy at the camera shop, who really sold me on the Olympus, suggested Noise Ninja as a way to remove the noise introduced by the camera. I usually don't touch up my photos, but this doesn't sound like it's really touching up so much as overcoming camera's limitations, and sounde like it could be useful.

New camera: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...p?product=1289
Noise Ninja: http://www.picturecode.com/

/tk

[Antmeister]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

All sounds good to me.
By the way, has any of you used Noise Ninja? I bought a new camera yesterday (and tried to do some shooting on the boat, but do you know how hard it is to get a shot framed on a boat?!), and the negative parts of the reviews say that it has noise in the higher ISO settings (which seems to be a common problem with cameras of the type I bought...the Canon I was looking at, the Fuji, and the one I got, the Olympus, all had that particular negative point). The guy at the camera shop, who really sold me on the Olympus, suggested Noise Ninja as a way to remove the noise introduced by the camera. I usually don't touch up my photos, but this doesn't sound like it's really touching up so much as overcoming camera's limitations, and sounde like it could be useful.

New camera: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...p?product=1289
Noise Ninja: http://www.picturecode.com/

/tk

Hey terpkristin,

I used Noise Ninja a couple of years ago when Frogman introduced us to it. But back then it was still freeware. It is very powerful and was pretty easy from what I remember. In fact, all it had to know was you camera profile and it would automatically fix the noise.

But I wouldn't buy this package. I would go with Bibble Las instead:
http://www.bibblelabs.com/index.html

The reason why I would do so is that it includes the Noise Ninja technology and it also also you to do a number of other post processing effects. You really don't need to buy anything beyond the lite package to get impressive results.

Download the trial version to see what it is capable of. I highly suggest buying this.

[wade moore]

Interesting, I'll have to take a look at that. All I've used at this point is Picasa which has some basic things for modifying RAW format - of which as I've mentioned is that the "Sharpen" effect is just awesome.

[Lorena]

Antmeister has found a program so we can view our images in a slideshow, so what I'll need from each participant is a username and password so I can set-up accounts to enable everyone to upload images.

I'd like to do a testrun before August 26 to avoid any glitches when the Challenge starts.

PM or email will be fine: [email protected]

[Antmeister]

Okay for all those wishing to signup, please send a PM to DC above with the user name and password you want. We are about to post a thread for a test run of the slideshow. More details to come in the new thread.

[Castlerock]

I'm going to give it a shot. Never taken any photography courses (but I have read a course book). Also never done any post-processing other than what Picasa can do.

I was outside this afternoon with my 2 year old son and there was a monarch butterfly on our flowers. I know... it's not an "A". Anyway, went back inside for my camera but after trying to keep my son out of my camera gear, the butterfly was gone.

[Antmeister]

Originally Posted by Castlerock

I'm going to give it a shot. Never taken any photography courses (but I have read a course book). Also never done any post-processing other than what Picasa can do.

I was outside this afternoon with my 2 year old son and there was a monarch butterfly on our flowers. I know... it's not an "A". Anyway, went back inside for my camera but after trying to keep my son out of my camera gear, the butterfly was gone.

Cool, DC just sent you a PM with the login and password.

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by Castlerock

I'm going to give it a shot. Never taken any photography courses (but I have read a course book). Also never done any post-processing other than what Picasa can do.

I was outside this afternoon with my 2 year old son and there was a monarch butterfly on our flowers. I know... it's not an "A". Anyway, went back inside for my camera but after trying to keep my son out of my camera gear, the butterfly was gone.

Yeah I've had lots of moments like that, more than I'd like to remember. Now that you signed up you'll start becoming more aware of your surroundings and you'll start to look at things differently.

Welcome aboard Castlerock

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Castlerock

I'm going to give it a shot. Never taken any photography courses (but I have read a course book). Also never done any post-processing other than what Picasa can do.

I was outside this afternoon with my 2 year old son and there was a monarch butterfly on our flowers. I know... it's not an "A". Anyway, went back inside for my camera but after trying to keep my son out of my camera gear, the butterfly was gone.

It works for B or M

My fiance has taken to harassing me now.. any time we see something it's like "D for Dog" or "S for Sign"... it's pretty amusing ...

[lordscarlet]

I'm interested, but Wade has "my" camera ("my" means our mother's camera that is her "old" camera that she doesn't use anymore that I borrowed first ). I get to steal it back for Greece, though, and can use my point-and-shoot for this.

[PadresFan104]

Looks like I'm a bit late to the party, but I'd love to get in on this project. I'm strictly amateur, but very interested in improving my technique.

Thanks!!!!

[Antmeister]

Originally Posted by PadresFan104

Looks like I'm a bit late to the party, but I'd love to get in on this project. I'm strictly amateur, but very interested in improving my technique.

Thanks!!!!

No, you are not late for the party. We are only doing a test run at this time and we are experiencing problems (my hosting service). So stay tuned.

[PadresFan104]

Ok, thanks!

[Antmeister]

Okay, for those interested in signing up, you have the ability to register yourself to the site. See details in first post.

[PadresFan104]

Awesome - I'm signed up and successfully uploaded a pic. Looking forward to this. Thanks for the work to set it up!

[CamEdwards]

I just signed up as well! This'll be fun!

[Craptacular]

I missed all this before. I have a DSLR that was supposed to get me into learning more about photography, but truthfully, I usually just leave it on auto and go from there. I also don't use any software for editing. I'll sign up and hope it's a good excuse to at least make me take pictures of something other than just my kids, dogs, or yard.

[Lorena]

Awesome, glad to have you guys aboard

If others reading this are interested in joining at a later date, that's perfectly alright too.

[sterlingice]

I also just upgraded cameras this past week so I'd love to take it for a spin in this thread. Plus, I have a ton of shots from my old one to choose from as well when I can't come up with something new and this sounds like a lot of fun

SI