Here are some of my Flickr photos....

So far my two favourites are



and

I didn't know if this was worthy of a new thread, so I figured I'd just post it here.

I took the following picture in Japan about three weeks ago. I was on a business trip that got pushed out by about 10 days from which about the only positive was the cherry blossoms popped (these same branches had buds but no blossoms a week earlier):



When I uploaded the pic, I got to thinking about the whole rule of thirds things, and cropped it to put the main blossoms more towards the right-hand and lower thirds:



Is the second picture really "better"? I think we go through life asking questions like, "Is that centered?" or "Is that level?" and that, coupled with having a technical background, makes me think in terms of straight lines and bisection and such.

(Oh, Olympus E-Volt E500, 17-45 kit lens, aperture priority mode, I think -0.7...)

these are a little 'busy' for me and the shallow DOF makes me wish the entire background was sky.

ideally, some fill flash is needed to give the subject some pop


another shot i would have enjoyed would be a touch less DOF, an issolated branch and the building/sky as back drop.










overall though, i'm just jelleous that I've never been to Japan.



Thanks for sharing!

I'm sure this thread still has some life in it. Anyone have any new pictures to share?

Huge thread, but I'm getting into photography more and more. Here's one from a birthday party out at a lake I was at on Saturday (pic is of my Belgian Shepherd Neeko taking a dive):



Tweaked the levels in iPhoto quickly (could have definitely done a better job in Photoshop) and converted it to B&W since it was a quick action shot that I wasn't actually prepared for -- I was just shooting the doc and fortunately happened to be shooting at a high shutter speed when he leaped.

Posted before, in my hiking thread:



Simple shot, but I'm rather fond of it for some reason:



All taken with a Canon 30D. #1 with a Tamron 28-75 and #2/3 with a Sigma 10-20.

Hope this doesn't go against the spirit of the thread, but my mom just had some photographs accepted into CamerArts web extras. I don't know if they will be in the actual magazine or not.

Can't get the images inline, so here is a link.

CamerArts

-Mike

This doesn't do justice to the absurdity of this place. Shot in North Carolina, one exit off I-85 over the border from Virginia.

I have to say I'm suprised by the quality of some of these shots. I should start taking more photos I think

Here are a couple I'm fond of

These are beautiful shots.

Some recent ones of mine:

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[img]http://img3.*********************/uploads/38a896b4b9.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img2.*********************/uploads/1d028a2bf0.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img3.*********************/uploads/dfb487f251.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img3.*********************/uploads/e32581e8f2.jpg[/img]

Great thread, lots of awesome pictures. Anyhow I have a question for your knowledgeable photo types.

I've been wanting to get into this more as a hobby. Im looking for a first digital camera. I can't decide if I'd be better off going with a digital SLR or a point and shoot. In each of those categories, I'd like to see some suggestions on good bargain buys.

Thanks,
VR

I hate taking pictures and having pictures taken of me, but my girlfriend loves it. She uses a Canon digital rebel and the generic iPhoto software that comes with macbooks. I'm sure she'd appreciate any comments. Here are some of hers that I think are cool. I will take the liberty of titling some of the work I did not do.



Jazz:


San Francisco Christmas:


Muni

If you want to get into it as even a slightly serious hobby definitely get a DSLR. I think the best value if you are buying new at the moment is the Pentax K100d, as it is very cheap for what you get. Im not sure what your budget is but if you are trying to keep it on the cheap end of things a 2nd hand Canon 400d or 350d (Digital Rebel XT/XTi in the US) is a good option. If you do go with the Canon its best to spend a bit more initially and get a better lens than the crappy kit one.

There is something about this picture I really like. Very spontaneous moment. I was sitting by a pool and this little guy popped through the fence and I grabbed my camera,balanced it on my shoulder as I was looking over my shoulder and got this before he scurried away.




I love my macro lens
I took outside my kitchen window. There was a slight breeze which caused the web to sway a bit, the spider kept moving, I was holding the camera while standing on a ladder.

View from the Met:

I guess this is the place to ask...

Does anyone have any experience with a Zenitar fisheye? I'd like a fisheye to play with but I imagine it's not going to get a ton of use. Therefore the idea of a Russian made £85 lens seems more sensible than a £600 Canon one.

The only places I seem able to get them from in the UK are native Russian sites and ebay - I'm slightly wary of just buying a lens without trying it first though...

With few exceptions you get the glass that you pay for. I don't have experience with this lens to know if it is one of the exceptions.

Visited Kauai a couple of weeks ago. First time in Hawaii in nearly 25 years, and first time on Kauai ever.


Helicopter view of the Na Pali Coast


Still learning the motion thing...here's a fire dancer from a luau.


Sunset at Spouting Horn

Trip to Vegas


Doyle Wins (WSOP HU)



The Venitian

This one might not be about the photo as it is the subject and her expression

This was just a couple of weeks ago in Spearfish Canyon, SD