Random Thoughts... [Photographic Edition]

rolling shutter "jello" effect

Hmm, good point. Another reason to go with the Lumix over the Canon SX1, as it has CCD. I've always been annoyed by the rolling shutter CMOS on my Sanyo.
 
Anyone else ever go out to shoot, only to return with nothing worth putting your name on? :(

Started out by making a small change to the header on my site, ended up completely re-skinning the site and hacking up a skin to suit mine better.

www.pmcgphotos.com

Any thoughts ?
Simple is good, but that's a little too simple.
 
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Anyone else ever go out to shoot, only to return with nothing worth putting your name on? :(

Not really, but I notice that for every 300 pictures, about 15-20 are acceptable...:?
 
i get with my digital the same rate as with film.. about one shot per film
 
Anyone else ever go out to shoot, only to return with nothing worth putting your name on? :(
It's all useless. Tried putting the camera into aperture priority, JPEG and matrix metering, and turning the screen to see if I liked what I came home with.

I did not. At all. Blargh.
 
With:
https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8233.jpg

Without:
https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8235.jpg

Same exposure, same flash power, etc.

Yes, I know, direct flash, looks like arse, etc. I thought the idea was that I could use the diffuser to light things more directly.

And here's some nice, even, natural-looking bounced flash:

https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8237.jpg


Short of buying an umbrella, stand, etc., is there something I can get (or make) that will diffuse the light similarly to an umbrella, but I can just attach to the flash?
 
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According to the the-digtal-picture guy (he talks about in the flash reviews), that diffuser was bound to give such results because of the area of the light source. Makes sense, the area of the light source is essentially unchanged so the shadows will still be just as sharply defined. Larger light source, larger distance between the light being fully obscured and not obscured, aka larger penumbra.

if that's not a good explanation, here's a super unscientific diagram
https://pic.armedcats.net/r/ra/ramseus/2009/11/19/wtfthisisidonteven.jpg

something like this should give you soft shadows.
 
Poop. So, why do they even sell this thing?

Also, I just rigged together a softbox with a cardboard box and a sheet of tracing paper. Works much better.
 
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I don't even know. Maybe because Ken Rockwell thinks diffusers work like soft boxes? Diffusers just like make the light spread out more or something (see: canikon flashes with built in diffusers to turn the bare 24mm coverage into 14mm coverage) so you could end up with the flash boucning around a bit more and more light ending up in your shadows so it looks a bit better, but whatever.
 
To get suckers like you? I kid. Thanks for the pics BTW, that info should be added to a database somewhere.

Didn't twig until Ramseus explained it. Makes sense. If it's any consolation you could make a diffuser yourself out of everyday items you can find in your kitchen.
 
To get suckers like you? I kid.
Hey, I first asked you guys if it was any good :p

Oh, well. It makes a nice flash cover, I guess :\

If it's any consolation you could make a diffuser yourself out of everyday items you can find in your kitchen.
Yup, cut a hole in a cardboard box, put some tracing paper over the other end. Works quite nicely.

Direct flash (looks like arse)
https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8272.jpg

Softbox with 1 sheet of tracing paper
https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8273.jpg

Softbox with 2 sheets of tracing paper
https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8276.jpg

Softbox with 3 sheets of tracing paper
https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8277.jpg

Bounced off the ceiling
https://pic.armedcats.net/e/ep/epp_b/2009/11/19/DSC_8279.jpg

I'll experiment more when I can use it off-camera tomorrow :)
 
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When looking at the two pictures, I think there is a good improvement with the diffuser. :dunno:
 
No, I was talking about the photos of the bag.
 
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