Daily Carol's 365 from 12th December 2012 - A Year of Happiness

Havent edited it yet but was thinking the same - crop the RHS - maybe from the tree across then Heron isnt so central .... or would you make him central? :thinking:
 
Havent edited it yet but was thinking the same - crop the RHS - maybe from the tree across then Heron isnt so central .... or would you make him central? :thinking:
No, not central as he needs space to fly in to... just not that much space...but, it is personal preference...
 
ok thanks :D Dont want to mess it up by cropping too much ......
I love capturing Birds ( as Ive probably said a million times :lol:) and this has been a mission to capture him properly rather than so far away. I think I need a new lens now --- just for the birds so there is no fear of scaring them away - any suggestions please? and also not too expensive as my budget is limited :(
 
ok thanks :D Dont want to mess it up by cropping too much ......
I love capturing Birds ( as Ive probably said a million times :lol:) and this has been a mission to capture him properly rather than so far away. I think I need a new lens now --- just for the birds so there is no fear of scaring them away - any suggestions please? and also not too expensive as my budget is limited :(

I'm afraid there is no real cheap option to bird photography lenses... you will always want a better one...
My lenses are the Canon 400mm f5.6 L lens...costly new, so secondhand options are your best bet... or, the Canon 70-200mm F4 L lens with a 1.4X converter, again secondhand will be your best bet...well worth it though...
Your other option is just to try and get closer...
 
I'm afraid there is no real cheap option to bird photography lenses... you will always want a better one...
My lenses are the Canon 400mm f5.6 L lens...costly new, so secondhand options are your best bet... or, the Canon 70-200mm F4 L lens with a 1.4X converter, again secondhand will be your best bet...well worth it though...
Your other option is just to try and get closer...

Well I have an 80-200mm so could maybe just try for a 1.4x converter. Got a cheap 2x converter - worst thing I could have bought tbh ..... works but get a blur around some of the subjects in the shots so will look for a proper one :) and maybe look for a 400mm just to spoil myself :)

Thanks for that Lee - much appreciated :)
 
Well I have an 80-200mm so could maybe just try for a 1.4x converter. Got a cheap 2x converter - worst thing I could have bought tbh ..... works but get a blur around some of the subjects in the shots so will look for a proper one :) and maybe look for a 400mm just to spoil myself :)

Thanks for that Lee - much appreciated :)

The classified section has some longer lenses at a good price.... not sure if you're able to get into there yet...but, when you do, you'll wish you hadn't lol!.
 
:lol: I was warned AFTER I bought my first Canon that it wasnt a cheap 'hobby' and I now know that to be very true - but it IS satisfying and I enjoy it so why not :)
 
:lol: I was warned AFTER I bought my first Canon that it wasnt a cheap 'hobby' and I now know that to be very true - but it IS satisfying and I enjoy it so why not :)

Carol....way I see it is you only need lenses for what you want to shoot... I have a decent portrait lens. A decent telephoto..a nifty fifty... As for anything else .. I make snoods and shades and use all sorts of props I fed round the house. I bought three flashes second hand off of ebay and so far they haven't failed me. I got triggers from Hong Kong... Gels for flashes are plastic cups and sweet wrappers...
 
I have three lenses - 18 - 55, 35 - 80 and 80 - 200 and they work well for me tbh and cover a fair range wouldnt you say? so may just look for a converter then I have up to 400mm. My flash is speedlite YN560 which it turned out is manual and is from ebay - love looking on there :) Think i may need another flash though dont use it that much as usually take shots outdoors .... and if I do take indoor the onboard flash should be enough for now shouldnt it? I dont have filters or Gels but have been looking at things around the house that I could use :) sweet tins have been raided :lol: I have the triggers too but havent used them much but there is still time yet. Think I will have to put a curb on the spending and look at everything in a new light ;)
 
SamuelSlade007 said:
Carol....way I see it is you only need lenses for what you want to shoot... I have a decent portrait lens. A decent telephoto..a nifty fifty... As for anything else .. I make snoods and shades and use all sorts of props I fed round the house. I bought three flashes second hand off of ebay and so far they haven't failed me. I got triggers from Hong Kong... Gels for flashes are plastic cups and sweet wrappers...

I've been after a portrait lens for ages as I'd love to do more people! I've never thought of using props from around the house I wouldn't know where to start!
 
what size would you actually use for a portrait lens? (I know it sounds as though I am a bit thick but am not sure tbh )
 
I use a 50mm or my 85mm lenses for portraits.... so Carol you could use any of your lenses for that.
 
Thanks Lee :)
 
what size would you actually use for a portrait lens? (I know it sounds as though I am a bit thick but am not sure tbh )

I use a 50mm or my 85mm lenses for portraits.... so Carol you could use any of your lenses for that.

I have a 24-105 as well as a 70-200... Both useful portrait lenses and like lee says you have the range covered..what you're looking for is capturing the face without distortion that wide angle lenses give... They say 50mm is pretty much the human eye sees at normally..so go from there and try it..
 
I've been after a portrait lens for ages as I'd love to do more people! I've never thought of using props from around the house I wouldn't know where to start!

Cardboard is a great example. My lightbox was built from big sheets of the stuff... Bubble wrap from inners of jiffy bags can help diffuse flash...its not ideal but anything helps.. Tissue paper even.. My snood is made from a Costa coffee cup...I wasn't a young fan of blue Peter..but the concept might have been born from watching it..that and take hart..
 
am trying all different kinds of photography at the minute - just practising more than anything and want to ask my neighbour if I could take some of his daughter so might just do that now :) I see all these different titles for some of the lenses and can never quite understand the differences in them - Prime lenses, portrait lens, Macro etc .... Reading head on I think :)
 
Cardboard is a great example. My lightbox was built from big sheets of the stuff... Bubble wrap from inners of jiffy bags can help diffuse flash...its not ideal but anything helps.. Tissue paper even.. My snood is made from a Costa coffee cup...I wasn't a young fan of blue Peter..but the concept might have been born from watching it..that and take hart..

Ive seen your lightbox and am impressed with the simplicity of it :D Might try one of those myself. Costa Coffee Cup? Great idea. I know what you mean about Blue Peter - seemed boring at the time but often go for 'Blue Peter' moments myself :)
Will try the lightbox though - and best thing is it can be folded down and put away easily enough
 
am trying all different kinds of photography at the minute - just practising more than anything and want to ask my neighbour if I could take some of his daughter so might just do that now :) I see all these different titles for some of the lenses and can never quite understand the differences in them - Prime lenses, portrait lens, Macro etc .... Reading head on I think :)

Prime lenses are fixed focal lenses, so you can't zoom in or out...normally better quality glass...so 50mm, 85mm, and 400mm...are my prime lenses..
 
right .... I understand that a bit better now. My daughters boyfriend was explaining a lot last night to me about the lenses themselves and how to use them to the Max..... Learning all the time :D which is what I want to do anyway. I never had to worry about any of this with a Finepix but am having to start from fresh with the Canon - which is good :) Never to old to learn something new :)
 
right .... I understand that a bit better now. My daughters boyfriend was explaining a lot last night to me about the lenses themselves and how to use them to the Max..... Learning all the time :D which is what I want to do anyway. I never had to worry about any of this with a Finepix but am having to start from fresh with the Canon - which is good :) Never to old to learn something new :)

Well, I've only been doing photography for about 7 months...so I have a lot to learn as well....
 
Ive seen your lightbox and am impressed with the simplicity of it :D Might try one of those myself. Costa Coffee Cup? Great idea. I know what you mean about Blue Peter - seemed boring at the time but often go for 'Blue Peter' moments myself :)
Will try the lightbox though - and best thing is it can be folded down and put away easily enough

Tbh my box stays erect all the time. I built it for rigidity and length than thinking how easily I could put it away...
 
Well, I've only been doing photography for about 7 months...so I have a lot to learn as well....

YOU'RE KIDDING ME????? :eek: I just looked at some of your threads and they are amazing shots!! Love the water droplet ones and thats after 7months???? OMG I'm slacking and way behind! :( I have a LOT of learning to do now :lol:
 
YOU'RE KIDDING ME????? :eek: I just looked at some of your threads and they are amazing shots!! Love the water droplet ones and thats after 7months???? OMG I'm slacking and way behind! :( I have a LOT of learning to do now :lol:
My main interest is bird photography... but, I really struggle to take shots of other stuff though, in that I am struggling.....and I do have a lot of help from people on here...
 
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YOU'RE KIDDING ME????? :eek: I just looked at some of your threads and they are amazing shots!! Love the water droplet ones and thats after 7months???? OMG I'm slacking and way behind! :( I have a LOT of learning to do now :lol:

I wouldn't rush yourself Carol... If you want to master everything there's a huge curve...but I did my first real water droplet the other week...and its mind bending but could have been more frustrating if I hadn't thought about my setup and watch a few tutorials...
 
I wouldn't rush yourself Carol... If you want to master everything there's a huge curve...but I did my first real water droplet the other week...and its mind bending but could have been more frustrating if I hadn't thought about my setup and watch a few tutorials...

I definitely agree with this....
 
Tbh my box stays erect all the time. I built it for rigidity and length than thinking how easily I could put it away...

unfortunately space is limited in our house so would have to use it, fold it and put away util I can either throw the stepson or the lodger out to get the room to myself and my camera :lol:
 
No I wont be rushing into it all :) With many things I have learnt to do it had to be done quickly but I still managed to forget a lot along the way and have to relearn it every so often but with the Photography I know it is not going to be one of those 'fast learning curves' .... I am learning bit by bit (thanks to people like yourselves :D ) I sometimes get so excited when something 'works' for me that I just want to keep doing it ...... I look at other peoples shots and learn from them - ideas on scenarios, themes, how to do similar etc and I ask questions (sometimes sounding stupid) but I would rather ask than try and figure it out and mess it up completely.....
You guys have helped me more in the last three weeks and I have learnt more than any other time .... in just 3 weeks!! It is actually inspiring me and making me want to learn and go out and use the camera more than just whenever I feel it would be right to (family gatherings, venues etc)
 
unfortunately space is limited in our house so would have to use it, fold it and put away util I can either throw the stepson or the lodger out to get the room to myself and my camera :lol:


admittedly mine does get in the way...always poking off the end of a cupboard or something...and i'm not the tidiest of people..
 
will have to have a look at work tomorrow for a box that would be suitable :) How did you get the inside white? paint? paper? or was it already white?
 
I'm with you there carol this place is brilliant and so willing to help!
Apart from starting 365 my mission is to read and learn more too, plus that will benefit the 365 as well
 
I'm with you there carol this place is brilliant and so willing to help!
Apart from starting 365 my mission is to read and learn more too, plus that will benefit the 365 as well

My thoughts exactly T :) Ive been more inspired since I joined this forum than any other time......... It all helps :)
 
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will have to have a look at work tomorrow for a box that would be suitable :) How did you get the inside white? paint? paper? or was it already white?

the inside is actually of a creamy colour... the flashes are diffused slightly at the sides..but i'm guessing the enclosure bounces enough white light around... its na perfect but for the price of tape.. :shrug:
 
It's still a brilliant idea :D and it does the job its been expected to do :) Thinking about cream backing paper (wallpaper type) - that should be okay do you think? Thin enough to let the flash through enough
 
It's still a brilliant idea :D and it does the job its been expected to do :) Thinking about cream backing paper (wallpaper type) - that should be okay do you think? Thin enough to let the flash through enough

experiment girl... i've got plenty of tissues, bubble wrap and voile curtaining .. see what works best for your set up..
 
I am now going to look and see exactly what I have hidden int he depths of my airing cupboard :lol: Would have had the box by now but shop closed at 8 :( Oh well trip out tomorrow :)
 
I am now going to look and see exactly what I have hidden int he depths of my airing cupboard :lol: Would have had the box by now but shop closed at 8 :( Oh well trip out tomorrow :)

darn those shops closing early like that... :bat:
 
'Blue Peter ' Moment I think :)
 
ouch :lol:
 
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