Anyone got any photo question?

redrider111
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redrider111 3/17/2009 10:50am
3/17/2009 10:50am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 10:58pm
Alright Paul, I've got a serious question. I recently just got into taking pics at local races using my mom's new Nikon D90. I have gone to a few races and people keep asking if I have a website, gallery, etc. I told my parents about it and they said that I have the green light to go ahead and start something with taking photos at the races. My questions to you are-

1. Where and how do I start? How do I get my name out there??

2. How do you get people to buy?

3. What is the best website for people to view the photos?? eg.. smugmug??

4. Are these ok or should I just stick with riding??


Photobucket

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CS 347

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Paul Buckley 3/19/2009 5:01am
3/19/2009 5:01am
Boggy, just keep shooting, more practice equals better photos. Looks like you have the basics figured out now just look for different angles, try to get some shots that a moto Mom couldn't get from behind a fence (no offense to moto Moms out there I've seen some pretty good photos from some of you).

Maybe watch your exposures, the first couple look a little light, the others are nice.
Paul Buckley 3/19/2009 5:07am
3/19/2009 5:07am
Redrider,
1. Where and how do I start? How do I get my name out there??
Just keep knocking on doors, making calls, sending emails, posting links, it just takes time.

2. How do you get people to buy?
Shoot photos that speak for themselves, they'll buy something that they think is really cool or something that doesn't look like a dozen of their other photos.

3. What is the best website for people to view the photos?? eg.. smugmug??
Build your own, it's not that hard and look more professional that a smugmug page.

4. Are these ok or should I just stick with riding??
These are ok, you take good photos, keep shooting but don't give up riding.
redrider111
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redrider111 3/19/2009 9:14am
3/19/2009 9:14am
thanks paul for the advice... this is a great thread.One more thing, Im going to take pictures at a local race this weekend and it is going to be pretty cloudy, alot of overcast. I was wondering.. what settings do I need to change in order to get good photos during this cold weather??

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joel
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joel 5/1/2009 2:44pm
5/1/2009 2:44pm
so this is my first post, my names joel, and i live in Australia, and i've just gotten into photography in the last 6 months.

i own a canon 30d, a few pieces of glass, and am thinking about getting my first L series lens.

its more than likely (but i can be persuaded) going to be a 70-200 f2.8 lens

heres my question...

how important, for MX/SX is having an IS option on the lens.

a few people on other websites say 'shooting live action sports, IS can often be a hindrance' but they are considering live action sports anything from Football to nascar, and everything else inbetween.

a non IS version is about $800 (austrlian dollars) extra... and again, i;ve been lead to believe that i should get the non IS version, and a monopod...

any tips/suggestions what ever?

i have a blogspot, where i put my photos of shots i've taken...

www.bitter-and-then-some.blogspot.com

cheers

72kiteboarder
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72kiteboarder 5/1/2009 5:37pm
5/1/2009 5:37pm
IS is not need for most situations. Normally the Shutter speed is fast enough that the IS would not come into play.
Gozar
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Gozar 5/11/2009 10:34pm
5/11/2009 10:34pm
Paul, I had Void post some pics I shot of stunt planes over in non moto, and advice for taking better pics would be appreciated.
Cabro
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Cabro 5/12/2009 7:24am
5/12/2009 7:24am
Paul I need an advice.I'm going to buy a used flash(canon 580ex):how long do a flash lasts??
Paul Buckley 5/12/2009 4:30pm
5/12/2009 4:30pm
Cabro wrote:
Paul I need an advice.I'm going to buy a used flash(canon 580ex):how long do a flash lasts??
Depends on how hard they've been used. You could probably kill one in a single day of rapid fire shooting with an external battery pack. Heat is the enemy here, if the front element looks discolored or wavy that flash is or is nearly toast.
Factoryphoto
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Factoryphoto 5/16/2009 2:49pm
5/16/2009 2:49pm
Paul question for you..
I just bought a Canon 200mm 2.0 IS lens.I have a mark IIN..
For moto what metering mode do you recommend?Also when shooting with primes what is your avgerage apt # at? I have some saying I should use the full wide open 2.0 power of the lens, then others say the normal 5.6 or so that I usually shoot on. I got a 1.4 ex coming which make it a 2.8 (still awesome).. For bright days like what "most" mx days are here im really curious to what you put your setting on.FTE has always helped me out a bit so Mike if your reading this your the man I just like to hear different angles of opinions and try them.
Ive been shooting on eval metering keeping my apt at about 4.5-5.6 area..I shot yesterday for the first time with the new 200mm 2.0 and I did like the pictures I was def not enthusiastic about them.They were decent but my 70-200 2.8 is as good.
I do want to shoot with primes more tho they seem to be better IQ and colors..I had a 300 2.8 and loved it but it seemed like I was limited when shooting the nationals..With 30-40 photogs and media people all around its hard to get a clear line of sight plus with the mark 2 N not being a full frame camera I was at 390mm with it..But it got stolen a few months ago so that brought me to the 200 2.0 IS lens..It puts me at 280mm or so and that seems better (for me at least)
Any suggestions or info.
thanks Paul
Hoss
Cabro
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Cabro 5/22/2009 1:35pm
5/22/2009 1:35pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 12:02am
I got the flash and here are two test pics I shoot today...Paul do you have any advise??
Gozar
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Gozar 5/26/2009 3:26pm
5/26/2009 3:26pm
Not to sound totally stupid, but what is the Tilt Shot photograpy that several people are talking about?
motomatt
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motomatt 6/19/2009 2:28am
6/19/2009 2:28am Edited Date/Time 6/19/2009 11:47pm
Paul Buckley wrote:
Post them here and I'll try to answer them as best I can. Anything from camera set-up to Photoshop sharpening settings.
hi im 14 i only shoot my mates because i dont have a car to go shoot events

i have shot these using my canon 1000d with 18-55m lense these were the first moto pics i have takne with my camera and im still getting used to all the setting of apeture, exposure, white balance, etc

so please have a look at my gallery below and post what you think i know i have alot to improve on and the fact it was a very overcast day didnt help my photos much, can u please give me tips on how to make these fots look better and less gloomy

thanks


http://www.vitalmx.com/community/motomatt,15677/photos
Paul Buckley 6/19/2009 5:38am
6/19/2009 5:38am
Factoryphoto wrote:
Paul question for you.. I just bought a Canon 200mm 2.0 IS lens.I have a mark IIN.. For moto what metering mode do you recommend?Also when...
Paul question for you..
I just bought a Canon 200mm 2.0 IS lens.I have a mark IIN..
For moto what metering mode do you recommend?Also when shooting with primes what is your avgerage apt # at? I have some saying I should use the full wide open 2.0 power of the lens, then others say the normal 5.6 or so that I usually shoot on. I got a 1.4 ex coming which make it a 2.8 (still awesome).. For bright days like what "most" mx days are here im really curious to what you put your setting on.FTE has always helped me out a bit so Mike if your reading this your the man I just like to hear different angles of opinions and try them.
Ive been shooting on eval metering keeping my apt at about 4.5-5.6 area..I shot yesterday for the first time with the new 200mm 2.0 and I did like the pictures I was def not enthusiastic about them.They were decent but my 70-200 2.8 is as good.
I do want to shoot with primes more tho they seem to be better IQ and colors..I had a 300 2.8 and loved it but it seemed like I was limited when shooting the nationals..With 30-40 photogs and media people all around its hard to get a clear line of sight plus with the mark 2 N not being a full frame camera I was at 390mm with it..But it got stolen a few months ago so that brought me to the 200 2.0 IS lens..It puts me at 280mm or so and that seems better (for me at least)
Any suggestions or info.
thanks Paul
Hoss
Hoss, that's a bunch of questions.

Average aperture? 4.5-5.6

F2.0? Try it, it's not like you're burning film. If you like the results keep using it, if not... try something else.

Sunny day settings? Manual exp mode, cloudy WB, high saturation. After that the settings are shot dependent .

With Canon L lenses I have a hard time telling the difference in quality between a zoom and a prime.
motomatt
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motomatt 6/22/2009 11:48pm
6/22/2009 11:48pm
hi im 14 i only shoot my mates because i dont have a car to go shoot events

i have shot these using my canon 1000d with 18-55m lense these were the first moto pics i have takne with my camera and im still getting used to all the setting of apeture, exposure, white balance, etc

so please have a look at my gallery below and post what you think i know i have alot to improve on and the fact it was a very overcast day didnt help my photos much, can u please give me tips on how to make these fots look better and less gloomy

thanks
http://www.vitalmx.com/community/motomatt,15677/photos"
72kiteboarder
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72kiteboarder 6/23/2009 9:24am
6/23/2009 9:24am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 12:33am
Opinions? I like to shoot the dirt.









Boggy_353
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Boggy_353 8/24/2009 1:51am
8/24/2009 1:51am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:44am
Okay so I've been shooting for a while now on manual mode, and have been trying to work on some angles just like you told me. So now I'm posting some more photos so i can get some more feedback on them, these are raw photos still have to fix them up a bit on photoshop.











So what do you think?

Darren@sx
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Darren@sx 9/13/2009 4:38pm
9/13/2009 4:38pm Edited Date/Time 9/13/2009 4:43pm
72kiteboarder wrote:
IS is not need for most situations. Normally the Shutter speed is fast enough that the IS would not come into play.
If you were shooting SX in poor lighting would IS still not be needed ??? or would it be more usefull. I presume you would still be shooting at about 1/250 so is that fast enough ??

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Paul Buckley 9/28/2009 10:44am
9/28/2009 10:44am
Most SX's are lit well enough that you can use a higher shutter speed than 250 but if your camera can't handle a high enough ISO then use IS and make sure your lens is set to IS mode 2
Darren@sx
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Darren@sx 9/29/2009 3:30pm
9/29/2009 3:30pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:25am
Paul Buckley wrote:
Most SX's are lit well enough that you can use a higher shutter speed than 250 but if your camera can't handle a high enough ISO...
Most SX's are lit well enough that you can use a higher shutter speed than 250 but if your camera can't handle a high enough ISO then use IS and make sure your lens is set to IS mode 2
Thanks paul but i could not be sure about the IS so i went and bought the 70 - 200 2.8L IS and i have to say i think its the best piece of glass i now have in my bag.


Thanks again for all the input.


taken with the new lense
Darren@sx
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Darren@sx 9/30/2009 1:50pm
9/30/2009 1:50pm Edited Date/Time 9/30/2009 1:52pm
Truckdriver
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Truckdriver 10/24/2009 7:27pm
10/24/2009 7:27pm
Hi Paul. I shoot with a Canon XTi and a 18-55 Canon, and a 70-300Canon zoom. I have had the issue of the 70-300 lense getting confused about focusing. Once and a while it will take two great pics, and then all of a sudden it can not get into focus for the next 2-5 photos. I have to turn to another subject let the camera focus on something else, then I can go back to shooting where I was. Whats that about????
Also what is the correct focus program for shooting motor sports?
Have a boat load of pics up on the Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin forum.
Venture
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Venture 11/5/2009 3:21pm
11/5/2009 3:21pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 6:47pm
Can you help me get my photos to "pop"? This was shot with my Canon Rebel XT and a Sigma 70-200, 2.8. I now have a Mark IIN that I have shot two soccer games with so far. Now that is over, I'll be hitting the winter series soon.

BR>


I'm not sure this Suzuki shot is savable. Just too much yellow/brown in the shot? Also, I am going to shoot a Vintage race in the spring, is there a different technique, good capture shots that I should be looking for rather than shooting modern mx races? Any help you can provide would be wonderful.

Thank you for providing this service. I've read through 11 pages and have been taking copious notes. Hopefully SOMETHING will sink in because reading the Understanding Exposure book has not been easy.
hidesintrees
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hidesintrees 11/6/2009 6:57pm
11/6/2009 6:57pm
Hey Paul, i recently found a Craigslist add from Cavan Images- apparently they buy photos on the cheap and then resell for way more- the topic had to do with licensing and selling/reselling photos.
Cavan Images would buy a photo 1 time sale of 50$ and they own the copyright. if say- you sell a photo for 200 and then down the road want to sell it again you can because you still have the copyright?

im confused on the legal process of licensing, and how to stay away from legal issues. i hope you understand what i'm asking.

heres some of my work, i would like to increase sales commercially but want to know what im doing first, a little research i figure will be helpful in the long run.
Thanks!


http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/hidesintrees/Portfolio/?albumv…
Paul Buckley 11/7/2009 2:13am
11/7/2009 2:13am
Truckdriver wrote:
Hi Paul. I shoot with a Canon XTi and a 18-55 Canon, and a 70-300Canon zoom. I have had the issue of the 70-300 lense getting...
Hi Paul. I shoot with a Canon XTi and a 18-55 Canon, and a 70-300Canon zoom. I have had the issue of the 70-300 lense getting confused about focusing. Once and a while it will take two great pics, and then all of a sudden it can not get into focus for the next 2-5 photos. I have to turn to another subject let the camera focus on something else, then I can go back to shooting where I was. Whats that about????
Also what is the correct focus program for shooting motor sports?
Have a boat load of pics up on the Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin forum.
If the camera's pointed at something with very low contrast the AF point will not have anything to see and the lens will drive through it's range of focus trying to find the focus point. Even a 1Ds Mark II will do that every once in a while but usually only with a 300 and the 1.4 or 2. extender.

Always use the AI servo mode for anything that's moving.
Paul Buckley 11/7/2009 2:20am
11/7/2009 2:20am
Venture wrote:
Can you help me get my photos to "pop"? This was shot with my Canon Rebel XT and a Sigma 70-200, 2.8. I now have a...
Can you help me get my photos to "pop"? This was shot with my Canon Rebel XT and a Sigma 70-200, 2.8. I now have a Mark IIN that I have shot two soccer games with so far. Now that is over, I'll be hitting the winter series soon.

BR>


I'm not sure this Suzuki shot is savable. Just too much yellow/brown in the shot? Also, I am going to shoot a Vintage race in the spring, is there a different technique, good capture shots that I should be looking for rather than shooting modern mx races? Any help you can provide would be wonderful.

Thank you for providing this service. I've read through 11 pages and have been taking copious notes. Hopefully SOMETHING will sink in because reading the Understanding Exposure book has not been easy.
Lighting and exposure are two key ingredients you need if you want your photos to pop. The Honda shot looks like it was taken on a bright overcast day maybe even in the shade. In Photoshop make sure the image has a full range of tones, the easiest way is with the Levels command, hold down the alt/option key while you drag the black and white points. You want something in the photo that's almost pure black and somewhere that's pure white.

The Suzuki shot is just a tad too light, try darkening it up a bit and then use Vibrance or Selective color to fine tune it.
Paul Buckley 11/7/2009 2:24am
11/7/2009 2:24am
hidesintrees wrote:
Hey Paul, i recently found a Craigslist add from Cavan Images- apparently they buy photos on the cheap and then resell for way more- the topic...
Hey Paul, i recently found a Craigslist add from Cavan Images- apparently they buy photos on the cheap and then resell for way more- the topic had to do with licensing and selling/reselling photos.
Cavan Images would buy a photo 1 time sale of 50$ and they own the copyright. if say- you sell a photo for 200 and then down the road want to sell it again you can because you still have the copyright?

im confused on the legal process of licensing, and how to stay away from legal issues. i hope you understand what i'm asking.

heres some of my work, i would like to increase sales commercially but want to know what im doing first, a little research i figure will be helpful in the long run.
Thanks!


http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll202/hidesintrees/Portfolio/?albumv…
If you sell anyone the exclusive copyrights then it's their photo and you can't legally sell it again.

I like to sell a photo with usage rights so that I retain the copyright and can sell it again.

If you have a boat load of MX photos maybe give Cavan a try but I'd keep any unique shots under lock and key.
treeline
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treeline 11/7/2009 5:50am
11/7/2009 5:50am
Paul

I have been reading through all these post and you give some great advise.
Thank you for sharing, you are very helpful.

Cheerful
nate720
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nate720 12/4/2009 1:15pm
12/4/2009 1:15pm
Hey Paul,

Your pictures are simply amazing. I am pretty new to photography, and have a pretty basic Canon EOS Rebel Xsi. Anyway, I was wondering if you could give me some tips on the basic settings, i.e. what should I set my setting at in order to get somewhat good picture quality. I realize that the settings depend on lighting, the time of day, etc. But what would be a pretty basic guide line to start at?

Thanks
Paul Buckley 12/4/2009 5:34pm
12/4/2009 5:34pm
Learn how to use Manual mode, try the shutter speeds from 30 to 2000 and ISO's from 100 to 1000 to see what you like. For a basic MX shot run ISO 400 and 1000 shutter, the F stop will depend on the lighting.

Now read all 12 pages of this thread then your cameras manual, there'll be a quiz in the morning.

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