GingerWeasel - Documenting My Progress

  • Thread starter Thread starter gingerweasel
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First I needed to decide on a camera system - and stick with it. Whatever I chose would have to last me a couple of years. This was not an easy call for someone who's gone through more cameras than David Bailey.
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John, I've enjoyed your thread so far but I am disappointed with your latest decision. Are you sure this is not just the old gear lust raising its ugly head again?:)
 
First I needed to decide on a camera system - and stick with it. Whatever I chose would have to last me a couple of years. This was not an easy call for someone who's gone through more cameras than David Bailey.
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I am currently looking for a good micro 4/3 camera system - not sure whether it's Olympus (love the styling) or the trusty old GF1. Either way it will be in the hope that a new version is released before the end of the year with a builtin electronic viewfinder
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John, I've enjoyed your thread so far but I am disappointed with your latest decision. Are you sure this is not just the old gear lust raising its ugly head again?:)
 
parkmoy said:
John, I've enjoyed your thread so far but I am disappointed with your latest decision. Are you sure this is not just the old gear lust raising its ugly head again?:)
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I agree, it sounds like you are still spending far to much time thinking about kit.
I thought it odd when you sold a 7D to upgrade to a 5D Mk II, now you are talking about going back to a compact. What's wrong with the middle ground?
Forget what camera you use....they can all take a decent picture.
 
John, stick with your original philosophy if you can. The kit always starts out feeling heavy because it's not what you're used to, then it becomes natural and you find it odd that other people say your kit weighs a ton!

Stick with it, you said yourself it's not going to be easy and the start of this project was always going to be hard as it was a big change for you. We're here to keep you on the straight and narrow so quit looking at the MFT and get back to that 5D and go take some pictures!!
 
Okay, the madness has passed. Not sure whether my hormones were playing up or something but over the last 48 hours I'd convinced myself I needed a smaller camera. Don't get me wrong lugging the 5D around has been a challenge but I think I went gear mad again and blew the situation out of all proportion. After a few hours out with the family (and no camera) I'm thinking clearly again and believe this can all be resolved with a different type of camera bag.

A psychotherapist would have a field day with me :)

Anyhow normal service has resumed, the 5D MKII is staying and as a show of my commitment I've just filled out the warranty cards.

Thank you everyone for jumping in and keeping me on the straight and narrow, hopefully this was a one off lapse and we can keep this thread focused on the images rather than the drama that is my life :bonk:

DigitalRelish said:
John,

Are you going to keep the 5Dmk2 as well as have a MFT system?

I'm just wondering what's going to keep you from going in circles with regards to your gear because if you go back to MFT only then aren't you just going to be faced with the same issues you had last time around?

If money's not a problem then maybe consider having the two systems?
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Will not an option at the moment but as stated above I believe a better choice of bag could help with the aches and pains. I bought a shoulder bag but normally i use a backpack for work so I think this would be better.

You're right of course the 5DMKII was the camera I'd chosen after weeks of research and it is the camera for me, great detail, great colour reproduction and a wonderful selection of lenses. It also makes me feel more comfortable being around other togs (rightly or wrongly).

madhouse said:
John, stick with your original philosophy if you can. The kit always starts out feeling heavy because it's not what you're used to, then it becomes natural and you find it odd that other people say your kit weighs a ton!

Stick with it, you said yourself it's not going to be easy and the start of this project was always going to be hard as it was a big change for you. We're here to keep you on the straight and narrow so quit looking at the MFT and get back to that 5D and go take some pictures!!
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Right on the mark :thumbs:



.
 
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Here's another point of view.

It may not be popular with either you or other TP'ers, but if you're serious about taking photographs, or developing a personal vision, or whatever, just go out and do it.

Don't talk about it on here, and don't take other people's opinions on board.

Only you can create something that's truly yours.

Come back in six months and tell us how you're getting on.:thumbs:
 
gingerweasel said:
.....
The Rules

  • No more automatic mode, all images will be setup manually - finding the right balance between aperture, shutter speed and ISO....
.
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Why buy a modern camera and not use the technology? Seems a bit bonkers to me when P, Av and Tv modes (coupled with great metering) are so good these days.
 
gingerweasel said:
The photographic exhibition was being hosted by 'The Fab Collective' a liverpool based photograph club who seem a really nice bunch of people. I always enjoy looking at other peoples work and taking a view through their eyes for that brief moment when the shutter is opened. My favourite image on display was of a street artist spray painting a wall (titled the streets are my canvas). Sadly I don't recall the photographers name but I will find out.
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Its Ade McManus - http://adebond.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/having-a-do/

Glad you enjoyed the show.
 
specialman said:
Why buy a modern camera and not use the technology? Seems a bit bonkers to me when P, Av and Tv modes (coupled with great metering) are so good these days.
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Pat that's the great thing about this thread following my progress.. several posts in I mentioned how I'd been using AV mode as I was in a fast shooting situation and light conditions were constantly changing. It did the trick!

Since then I've been mixing up the modes to learn more, best tool for the job and all.

mobilevirgin said:
Its Ade McManus - http://adebond.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/having-a-do/

Glad you enjoyed the show.
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Thanks Peter, I visited again this Saturday with the wife and made a mental note.

An excellent image.

I've been busy too with lightroom and photoshop processing some of the 900 images I've taken in the last 3 weeks. I specifically tried to work on my black and white conversions:

4916063392_871370606d_z.jpg


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As always larger versions are available in my flickr photostream:

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

I've also ordered a series of photography tutorial DVDs from Karl Taylor which I'm eagerly awaiting. He not only produces some amazing images but he's also very creative in the way he approaches things, something I need to work on.

** BOOK PROGRESS **

I'm still working through 'Understanding Exposure' (I hope to have it finished soon) but have run across a few situations in the book which left me scratching my head.

For example on page 60 the Bryan has an image of his wife in a swimming pool which he's using to discuss aperture selection. Specifically 'who cares' apertures of f8 and f11. He says "who cares what aperture I use since my point of view from above puts everything at the same focal distance?"

However unless I'm missing something nothing is at the same focal distance.

** INTERESTING FACT **

What I have discovered is how much I like shooting at the wide end of my lens something I'd never seen the appeal in before. According to a great little lightroom plugin I found on TP earlier today I shoot between 24-26mm 28% of the time.

Link to Lightroom plugin by Andy Drake (aka puddleduck) http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=251996


.
 
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John, I do have to apologise - it's a wordy thread and I've definitely skipped a few lines so have missed all the info as to how you're getting on. :)
 
I've been back and forward a lot myself over the past, but i find being strict and sticking to having one lens is best.

On FF, i would be sticking with your Sigma 50mm and that's it. It keeps the cam fairly small, light and makes you WORK for a shot.

If i could afford a 24L, that's what i'd be using on my 30D....actually might see if i can get a cheap Sigma 30mm 1.4.:bonk:
 
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gingerweasel said:
<snip>

For example on page 60 the Bryan has an image of his wife in a swimming pool which he's using to discuss aperture selection. Specifically 'who cares' apertures of f8 and f11. He says "who cares what aperture I use since my point of view from above puts everything at the same focal distance?"

However unless I'm missing something nothing is at the same focal distance.

<snip>
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From what I remember of this he's shooting from above, straight down, making pretty much everything at ground level on the same focal plane. So everything that would normally get blurred is either air or underground.

How's everything else coming on?

Am off to look for that lightroom plugin now.
 
Well I'm subscribed!

Having recently regained the 'taste' for photography, I will be following your progress closely!

Good choice on the Karl Taylor DVD's, he's from the same small part of the world I'm from! Shame I can't capture Guernsey the way he can!
 
Hi Tom, the picture itself is at an angle with her legs pointing into the bottom left hand corner and her head towards the top right hand corner (although he is shooting from above). Not a big problem but it did make me wonder..

I've added the link to the lightroom plugin to my original post.

I'll provide a further update of my exploites :) this weekend, keeping busy, still working through the book and snapping some shots of course. Got a long way to go yet before I'm any good!

xXClaret-PaulXx said:
Well I'm subscribed!

Having recently regained the 'taste' for photography, I will be following your progress closely!

Good choice on the Karl Taylor DVD's, he's from the same small part of the world I'm from! Shame I can't capture Guernsey the way he can!
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Hi Paul, welcome to the thread!
 
So, you're selling it then?

You should probably go and see a psychiatrist. This isn't normal, at all. I'm not even joking. You're throwing away hundreds and hundreds of pounds for no gain at all.
 
RevOnline said:
So, you're selling it then?

You should probably go and see a psychiatrist. This isn't normal, at all. I'm not even joking. You're throwing away hundreds and hundreds of pounds for no gain at all.
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I know, I'm a total nut job - you'll get no arguments there. For women it's shoes, for me it's cameras.

However as it happens fate has stepped in and made the decision for me. Today at work I was told that I may be out of a job in three months time (yes, right on top of Christmas). I am gutted beyond belief and haven't got a clue what I'm going to do work wise as the market is dead. I could be faced with long term unemployment or accepting a salary almost half of what I earn now.

Anyhow given the fact that I'm such a flake when it comes to equipment I am going to avoid discussing it in this thread. I really want to keep this about my progress/skills (or lack of) and see where this whole journey takes me.

I'll be posting a full update this weekend which will include some info about the liverpool learn together meet. I can't wait to meet everyone and chat to some more fellow togs.
 
Selling the Canon gear now, and you may be unemployed at the end of the year? Seriously, you need some kind of professional help, but not for your photography.... :cuckoo:
 
As I've said previously I'm not going to discuss gear in this thread, I want to keep it about the images regardless of what is used to create them.

I'm selling my gear in part to free up some money precisely because I may be out of work in a few months - nothing silly about that.
 
Hi John,

Was nice to meet you at the Liverpool meet.. I love those B+W shots of your kids.. will keep an eye on your thread.. hope everything ends up ok with work!

Michelle
 
DigitalRelish said:
Hi John, I noticed you're selling your Canon gear and wondered how you'd been getting on?
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Hi Will, nice to hear from you again. I managed to direct the Liverpool TP meet your way but St Luke's was closed. A real shame, I know the group would have loved some of the images on display.

Things have been good, taking more pictures than ever before and getting involved with as many groups as I can so I have more opportunity to go out shooting. Also trying my hand at club comps but I tend to shoot what I want and what interests me rather than trying to conform to the comps requirements - I like to be the odd ball :)

The kit is up at the moment :bonk:

mich66 said:
Hi John,

Was nice to meet you at the Liverpool meet.. I love those B+W shots of your kids.. will keep an eye on your thread.. hope everything ends up ok with work!

Michelle
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Hi Michelle, was really nice meeting you at the TP meet. I enjoyed the day and found it really useful to be able to ask questions and learn from more experienced photographers.

Work is a concern at the moment but I know a lot of people in worse situations than myself so can't really complaint to much. Something always comes up even if we can't see that at the time :)

photogwannabe said:
Love the conversions!
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Thanks Paul - I really love B&W images, something about them really grabs my interest. I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up shooting 90% of all my images with a view to B&W conversion.
 
So how's things going? photography-wise anyway, by the sounds of it the work side could be better!

You must be sad at selling the kit after making your mind up but that's life, there's still a camera in your hands and you're improving and that's what this is all about.

Enough about gear, let's see the fruits of your labour! I know what you mean about comps and shooting to a brief, it's not a skill I've mastered yet either and thankfully I don't have to.

Can't remember if you've done one or if anyone else has mentioned it but have you thought about a 52 or 365 project? Can be public or private but it would keep you going with goals and requires a fair bit of dedication and would also nicely document your progress?
 
Hi Tom, the work situation was a blow but may not be as bad as I first thought. It looks like I may be able to car share with someone in order to travel to the new location. If this comes off it will mean extra hours but that's a far better situation than being unemployed. I should know within a week or two ;)

On the photography front things have been a little slow. I've managed to finish 'Understanding Exposure' and a three set series of DVD tutorials from Karl Taylor.

As you may know I went on the Liverpool TP meet the other week - which was a great experience. However overall I was less than impressed with my output from the day. Normally people don't show their rejects but I think given the purpose of this thread it's just as important to see when I fall flat on my face as it is to see when I shine.

So here goes:

4977635219_930c31abef_z.jpg


This is one of my first attempts at panning. I think I managed the motion blur okay but my timing was off and I clipped the back end of the boat. Also due to the position of the sun the foreground has a lot of shadow area.

4977635707_2618ae6cc8_z.jpg


I think I clipped the highlights on this as well as failing to think about composition at all. Ian posted a great shot of this statue which really worked and it was all down to the composition.

4977635413_a4548ce0de_z.jpg


I took a lot of shots of this trying to get the reflection of the docks but was unable to come up with a composition that worked. Maybe one for the future when the building work has cleared.







..
 
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Well I have waded through this thread . . . Very interesting, took my mind of my toothache!!! a complication of a wisdom tooth extraction a few weeks ago . . . "has to take its course", so the dentist says . . . mmm, he is not the one suffering:thinking:

You journey has shades of my own experiences over the past 20 years and a moment of revelation 6 months ago! Kit weight was a real problem to me, and I seem to have suffered many of the mind traumas you experienced.

Getting better as a tog . . . I'm not on quite such a '8alls-out' mission, preference to take things a little more laid back, but the end result; better pictures. Probably my advancing years slowing me down . . . :thinking:

One of the things that I did decide on was a light, single lens, I have not got the patience, will or energy to carry and swap all that kit about. That went for the 18-200 super zoom as well, heavy? . . . made me feel like 'Jacob Marley' . . . :gag: . . . . These days, I use a Nikon 18-70, it still makes one think about a composition, but with enough versatility and IQ, not to put 'to much pressure' on an old man . . . :naughty:

I will watch with interests the further adventures of 'gingerweasel' . . . :lol:

CJS
 
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It's certainly been a while and as always things have been changing! I'm currently sporting a new m4/3rds camera which has been a joy to use, it's small enough to fit in my jacket pocket so it's accompanied me everytime I've left the house. This has led to a number of opportunities which I might have previously missed out on so I'm pleased as punch.

I feel comfortable now with exposure and i'm able to replicate the look i want 99% of the time.

What I want to look at next is the use of multiple exposures to get a wider dynamic range within an image - a mild form of HDR and improving my composition.

I also have a better handle on the processing side of things too and I'm preparing an order of prints to hang on my walls (very excited).

Here are a couple from yesterday:

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5061300660_6ef940f63e_b.jpg
 
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ThomasPwr said:
Thread Tools > Subscribe to this Thread.

Good luck with your project. I'll be following you along the way. Keep us updated!
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Me too

gingerweasel said:
It's certainly been a while and as always things have been changing! I'm currently sporting a new m4/3rds camera which has been a joy to use, it's small enough to fit in my jacket pocket so it's accompanied me everytime I've left the house. This has led to a number of opportunities which I might have previously missed out on so I'm pleased as punch.

I feel comfortable now with exposure and i'm able to replicate the look i want 99% of the time.

What I want to look at next is the use of multiple exposures to get a wider dynamic range within an image - a mild form of HDR and improving my composition.

I also have a better handle on the processing side of things too and I'm preparing an order of prints to hang on my walls (very excited).

Here are a couple from yesterday:

5061311650_bc47ea6e64_b.jpg


5061300660_6ef940f63e_b.jpg
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Rule number 1 resize your images to the forum max 800

before the size police come along AKA the pixel police :lol:

Merc
 
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the forum max is currently at 1024 though isn't it? Hence the poll whether it should stay that way or go back to 800
 
Had mine removed for being over the limit just last week.

we live and learn

Merc
 
just voted, i can find nothing that says it has been decided yet, or are you saying we can use both sizes :thinking:

Merc
 
the chair spoils it for me John, but i do love the texture and highlights.
 
I've been getting out and about quite a lot this past week as I've taken some time off work. Today I managed a quick trip to the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral with the wife.

I'm pretty chuffed with what I got in the space of 30 minutes.

Welcoming Arms

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Between the Light and the Darkness

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A Prayer for Mum & Dad

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Faith Crosses All Boundaries

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In Memory of James Malcolm Harrison O.B.E

5071660051_6f81459f7e_b.jpg
 
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