kja

How gorgeous is that moment in time?? Love it, huga!

Any position I need to be in to get the shot. I've climbed up high on very unsuitable objects, dug a trench in the sand, rolled around on my belly, slithered across floors, contorted around immovable objects, backed into the ocean up to my waist... One of the easiest ways to push yourself is to shoot the same scene in five or six different ways: - standing - crouching - laying down - try to find something to elevate you and stand on that, too Then move to the other side of your subject (or 90 degrees, or whatever, just use your feet and move) and repeat. If you can do a complete circle around your subject you'll be very surprised at the difference this very simple exercise can make and it'll really help you pre-visualize for "real" photo opportunities. Don't want to go to all that bother? Flip your camera into vertical/portrait orientation instead of normal/horizontal. Most people shoot the vast majority of their images horizontal and going vertical can instantly bring a dramatic change to the scene.

The kit lenses are NOT bad. They are simply of a lower quality than other lenses. This quality is most often not noticed and does not restrict new users. As your photography needs grow, your need for things that these initial lenses can't give you adequately will also grow. Check the threads dedicated to these lenses over on POTN and you'll see that there's no reason these can't do what they are built for very very well. They are a great way to give you a lot of options in a relatively inexpensive package. I'd say go for the kit lens unless you know what you are looking for in a lens and then, since you already know, get the best you can afford in that range. But most people starting out don't really know if they love 50mm or 200mm, close or far etc. The Sigma 17-70 is a fabulous lens and a great walkaround as it's range is very useful, it does well in relatively crappy conditions, the almost macro is pretty sweet and it's a great price point. If you have some ideas of what you want to shoot then buying individual lenses may be the way to go, but the coverage you'll get with the kit lenses is hard to beat when you're just getting a feel for things.

You know, just coz january ends there's no Challenge Police that will lock the thread so if we want to keep going, we can - even while other challenges are on

Day 30 - my goofy Dora being completely uncooperative Canon 1DIII, Canon 24L MkII 1.4 @ ISO800, 1/200, f2.0; MCP BlogIt Boards

Just remember when you change systems you get to buy Photoshop and Lightroom all over again as Adobe does not offer a cross-platform license so you need to factor that in to your budget!

huga - too cute!! Day 29 - how I spend my days. Pick up tank, lug tank, pick up tank, lug tank, fill tank, pick up tank, lug tank, repeat...one day I'll actually get to out diving again! Canon 1DIII, Canon 24L MkII 1.4 @ ISO 100, 1/500, 1.4

Helen - nope, I always forget they do them LOL I use them for prints and again, have never had any trouble, colours are always spot on, delivery is super fast.

Whooops, exif data added! Kate - I think Ash wanted me to send it to her so SHE could use it BTW - I finally got my daily shots up on my blog -> Kristin's News <- if you want to take a look. Some are different, some are the same, all have EXIF data listed. Feel free to comment. I'm excited for February coz I have big changes coming to the blog that I think are going to be cool

Hoya do good filters. Filters and hoods are two different uses. Both can protect your front element but that isn't their primary role (bar those UV filter thingos). Hoods offer reduced flare from light sources so you can control those bits of flare to get them where you want them or mostly eliminate them and can also give crisper overall images in some instances.

Totally Rad Actions has a free set you can download.

Going back only a couple of pages... Kirislin - Cool bees TN - good shower shot! ness & tlc - awww, too cute puppehs! anniek - cool place to shoot! fionac - a man & his dog, perfect for a photo ams - those ants look deadly! pointees - nice air action shot (and cute bunny!) Day 28 - boof pretending I'm not going to zap him with OCF again

Isn't it funny how experiences can be so different?? I've had fabulous CS from BP and everyone I have talked to there has been so polite, friendly & helpful. Rush jobs even GET to me - and I live nowhere - so damned fast it's not funny. Sorry you had stress with your dealings with them. I hate to hear things like this coz then it makes me paranoid for the next time. But so far, excellent so I'll keep using them.

I've had several really big canvas (and tons of small ones) done by Brilliant Prints and they have been superb. I have a 1.5 high one that's been my "tester" and it looks as hot today as it did almost two years ago. Their customer service has been fantastic, they have good prices and their turnaround time is awesome. Also, you don't pay until you receive the goods and if there is even the teensiest thing wrong, they fix it cheerfully. Do a little search here in the forum - Ash has suggested a couple of places, too. I may try one of her suggestions at some stage, but I have been so impressed by my dealings with Brilliant Prints they're who I think of immediately. Avoid Genius Print like the plague.

Happy I could offer something useful!

Shoot to crop. End images are Square, "panoramic" etc. I did a challenge with a couple of friends along these lines and it was amazing how tough it can be but really cool to think about things in a slightly different way. Translated very well to becoming better at composition for standard 4:3 or 3:2 as well.

Day 27 - Kanga Canon 1DIII, Canon 135L f2.0, ISO 100, 1/800, f2. Edit in LR then Photoshop for some Totally Rad Lux soft love

maybe for processing -> BW and toning. That could easily be run over a month. (and selective colour because as much as professionals might hate it, most people don't have to deal with it every day and don't mind it, plus it's good practice for masking, getting your eye in, experimenting etc imho )

Wheeeeeee!!! Love her!

I'd say go for the fewer MPs. Usually what happens is they up the MP coz it sounds good, but it actually makes the images worse. You want fewer MPs on the same size sensor for the best images. I'd guess that most camera phones use pretty crappy sensors and probably very similar sizes, so of those two, knowing nothing but what you've posted, I'd go the 5MP. But as I still haven't figured out how to make mine actually work properly (almost every shot is total and complete crap) nor how to get the images off it and onto my computer, camera phone knowledge isn't totally my strong suit

Day 26 - Australia Day. Seems most of my town is pretty low key...this is the only evidence I saw of Australia Day celebrations on my way to & from the beach. Of course, it was before 0630 so I may have been a tad early Canon SD1200 IS, edit in Photoshop to blur out the guy's license plate (yes I know it's a crappy job, sorry )

redangel - what an adorable doggie! fiona - ummm, gak :p huga - oo nice set. mobile is weibrity - cool kid craft CD- yummy, love the detail in the sugar Justice - thanks. head still hurts. Love the black/white conversion. In Lightroom you can play with the colour sliders once you've gone greyscale - very cool and enormous control. poocow - gorgeous dog and so happy to have the pretty rope! ams - how frustrating on the washing machine guys. hope they are on time Wednesday pointees - :p that you don't get to ride lately fluffy - love that self-portrait. Thanks for the kind words on my shots rozzie - like the long crop idea on your Range shot with the horses two spirit - love taite's face!

Hehehe, great series!!!

I have used snapfish several times and each time the prints have been spot on. I just got another reminder of their 9 cent sale and might find time to send off a new batch. I have snapfish prints that were done over two years ago that are still pristine - no fading or weird lines or anything. I also have a bunch of snapfish canvas that are left out in the light, dust and other non-canvas friendly elements and they look great. The only "problem" I have found with them is that their blues are a touch off (only on the canvas, prints are correct) and mine have faded a little bit (again, only the blue - I have a brilliant orange one that looks like it just came off the print press). The fading isn't bad, but I can see it (other people don't really notice too much LOL) Considering that they are not displayed in a typical place, I'm very happy with the quality. The canvas hanging in a friend's house have not faded at all that I can tell.

He is such a gorgeous boy! I want to just reach out and pull him into my lap for some big doggie cuddles!