Comments on: My camera and gear. . .

By: Denise Tanaka

Denise Tanaka — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:11:02 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing!! I’ve admired you’re style for awhile-and the ‘crisp’ness of your photography! funny, I’ve begun to read my manual as well. Amazing how it helps! Thanks again…

By: Juanita

Juanita — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:24:54 +0000

Thanks Melissa.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:33:31 +0000

Juanita- I would not think that you would encounter any distortion with the 24mm on your camera. On a full frame sensor there would probably be some distortion around the edged. Even my fisheye handles distortion well if I place my subject near the center of the frame. I’ll ask my sister to be sure.
Tere- I edit most of my photos in Photoshop. I have been doing less editing with my family pics because of the time involved. I have SO many photos that have never made anywhere because I haven’t had time to edit them. My goal this year is to pic my favs and leave them SOOC (staight out of camera). If I have time to edit- I’ll come back and do it later. I strive to keep my photos as natural as possible. I feel like digital photos have a layer of gray film over them. Through my editing I like to “peel” it off. I know that is a weird analogy, but when I look back to my photos shot with my SLR film camera the colors are so much more vibrant. That’s what I want my DSLR pics to look like.
Wendy- Are you using your 50mm at the lowest aperature (or at least around 2.0)? Do you have the 1.8 or 1.4?
Erika- Thanks! I have considered putting this on canvas. I love it.

By: ericka

ericka — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:26:54 +0000

You should make a mural out of this shot of Elle… priceless and too stinkin’ cute!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:24:48 +0000

Thanks Melissa for the lens help. I will look into the 24mm lens. My camera is less than a year old, as well as the 50mm lens, and I am already READY to upgrade, as I did crank up the ISO to 1600 & 3200 for Christmas photos and still found any movement so blurred. Unless it is a still shot, I haven’t been too impressed with any of my photos taken with this camera/lens indoors. Ugh!

By: Tere

Tere — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:37:50 +0000

Thanks for all these great questions. I love reading the responses, they really make me think. Another follow up, I LOVED your LOVE…. books you did with AE’s overlays. The colors seems so VIBRANT. Do you use a particular software for making your colors pop? And I’m on the hunt for an underwater house, who knew

By: Juanita

Juanita — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:29:17 +0000

Thanks for the link Melissa. I found it very helpful. One question. If I were to go to a 20mm or 24mm lens for indoor shooting on my crop sensor camera, would there be facial distortion? I have been pondering what lens to buy. I have the 50mm 1.4, but also have that too close problem.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:37:29 +0000

Wendy- Yes, it’s the crop factor that is making it tough to shoot indoors. My sister has my old 20D and just upgraded to the 7D (also a cropped sensor). She loved her 50mm lens, but also felt limited by it’s focal length. She recently bought a Canon EF 24mm 2.8 lens which acts more like a 38mm or so on her camera. It’s much wider than the 50mm. If you are shooting in natural light you also want to get a lens with a relatively low aperature so that you can shoot indoors without flash. The 2.8 aperature on my sisters lens is perfect. Her 7D also handles high ISO’s better than the Rebels. You will have to deal with a bit of grain when you crank up your ISO. If an image is super grainy I just convert it to b+w. In fact I really like a gritty grainy b+w! Don’t be afraid to crank up that ISO indoors. I would rather have a grainy shot than miss the action. HTH!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:23:00 +0000

You brought up an interesting point for me. I have the Rebel xti and recently bought a 50mm lens after hearing how so many photographers recommend it. I’ve found it very difficult to get decent photos indoors as you really have to be back so far. Is this because of the cropping factor? If so is there a better lens you would recommend to those with the Rebel and trying to take great natural & low light photos indoors without missing too much of the action? For ex. birthday parties and Christmas. Not so much for portrait photos, but capturing family activity indoors. Thanks for your advice.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:07:17 +0000

Elliottsurf- Yes, you can use it for group portraits. I wider angle may be a little easier in tight spaces, but I have used the 50mm for outdoor group shots. Reguardless of the lens focal length you want to use a high aperature (4.0+) when shooting groups of people.