My first 4 days with my first DSLR...

[voldisinarta]

Well, finally the purchase of my first DSLR was approved by my other half... So last Saturday we went to buy the camera. (Her comment: "I wonder why boys like to buy such a heavy camera?" )

So, here are some experimental shot I did on the last 4 days...

Long long way from home



Father Christmas



Old 'n Rusty



My dear



Myself


to be continued...

[voldisinarta]

Plant closeup


Close up 1


Close up 2


Close up 3


Close up 4

[wrx_sti_22b]

nice photos...

[Galdor]

Nice pictures bro.

Heavy camera?.... You got a 1DsMkIII?

[advrider]

nice shots. great potential!

[voldisinarta]

Thanks bros for your comment...

No, I did not buy that one, mine is Nikon D200, but all cameras more than 200gr is considered heavy for her That's why she loves her Canon Ixus-i very much.

This is my equip list I use for those photo shots above:
Camera: Nikon D200
Lenses: Sigma 17-70, Nikkor 55mm f/1.2, Tamron 1.4x teleconverter
Flash: 1st Flash is Nikon SB-26 connected to camera using PC sync, 2nd flash: Yashica CS240 using slave shoe

Others:
DIY flash snoot (plastic cardboard + styrofoam)
DIY diffuser box (cardboard + tracing paper)
A4 paper and styrofoam cup to soften the flash
Tablecloth and cuttingboard for the backdrop
Very old $10 Vanguard tripod, 1x small tripod for the flash
sofabed in my study room as the shooting platform

...and other things you can find in your flat

[lukesky]

Originally Posted by voldisinarta Thanks bros for your comment... No, I did not buy that one, mine is Nikon D200, but all cameras more than 200gr is considered heavy for her That's why she loves her Canon Ixus-i very much. This is my equip list I use for those photo shots above: Camera: Nikon D200 Lenses: Sigma 17-70, Nikkor 55mm f/1.2, Tamron 1.4x teleconverter Flash: 1st Flash is Nikon SB-26 connected to camera using PC sync, 2nd flash: Yashica CS240 using slave shoe Others: DIY flash snoot (plastic cardboard + styrofoam) DIY diffuser box (cardboard + tracing paper) A4 paper and styrofoam cup to soften the flash Tablecloth and cuttingboard for the backdrop Very old $10 Vanguard tripod, 1x small tripod for the flash sofabed in my study room as the shooting platform ...and other things you can find in your flat

wow for someone with their first DSLR, u've got a pretty big list of accessories man! Were u using it for yr previous cam? A prosumer perhaps?

[smalltake]

Solid bro!!! You sure its only 4 days????? You got some nice shots here leh........ swee lah!!

[blazer_workz]

wah 1st DSLR? u seems to noe alot abt lightings..
Nice job! Any sample pics for the DIY flash snoot?

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by lukesky wow for someone with their first DSLR, u've got a pretty big list of accessories man! Were u using it for yr previous cam? A prosumer perhaps?

You ever heard of a film SLR? I believe he must have been shooting film for a long time already. SB-26 flash is more than 15 years old. Having a first DSLR and posting in Newbies subforum doesn't mean that someone is new in photography. It could be that someone is new in ClubSnap or new in digital photography using DSLR. And shooting DSLR is no difference from shooting film SLR, only you don't have to load film and you get to see the images immediately.

For people who jump straight into photography with DSLR might not be able to think before they shoot like those who shoot film do. For film, we usually think before we shoot, making sure everything is right, otherwise shoot one or two shots more just to be sure. For digital, many people just shoot first and view, no good shoot again... I think the mindset got to change if they want to take their photography to the next level.

[voldisinarta]

Originally Posted by smalltake Solid bro!!! You sure its only 4 days????? You got some nice shots here leh........ swee lah!!

Yes, 4 days: Sun outdoor shoots to get used to the camera, Mon to Wed inside my study room on top of the sofa bed, shooting from 7pm all the way to 11pm, trying to recall old knowledge which was quite lost in don't know what corner of my brain...

From next week onwards I'm going to re-learn outdoor portrairs... I'm going to ask my friends to be my first victims before I go for TFCD model

Originally Posted by blazer_workz wah 1st DSLR? u seems to noe alot abt lightings.. Nice job! Any sample pics for the DIY flash snoot?

Yes... this my first DSLR... besides that I also have Nikon F3 and F70d film cameras... Well, you see, photography is my old hobby during my study days, but after I started working about 10 years ago, and got married 7 yaers ago, my hobby was abruptly halted since I have to do "proper" job (I'm an IT programmer / engineer).

Now after everything more or less settled down, finally I can re-start my old passion...

My DIY Flash snoot? Okay, I will take picture of it and post it here. Also my DIY flash diffuser?

[blazer_workz]

Originally Posted by voldisinarta Yes, 4 days: Sun outdoor shoots to get used to the camera, Mon to Wed inside my study room on top of the sofa bed, shooting from 7pm all the way to 11pm, trying to recall old knowledge which was quite lost in don't know what corner of my brain... From next week onwards I'm going to re-learn outdoor portrairs... I'm going to ask my friends to be my first victims before I go for TFCD model Yes... this my first DSLR... besides that I also have Nikon F3 and F70d film cameras... Well, you see, photography is my old hobby during my study days, but after I started working about 10 years ago, and got married 7 yaers ago, my hobby was abruptly halted since I have to do "proper" job (I'm an IT programmer / engineer). Now after everything more or less settled down, finally I can re-start my old passion... My DIY Flash snoot? Okay, I will take picture of it and post it here. Also my DIY flash diffuser?

lol..just as expected..and glad to hear that u r coming back to the world of photography..

Yes, the flash snoot..if possible the whole collection of ur DIY accessories.. TIA!

[Galdor]

Welcome back to the hobby. Shoot more & post more to let me drool & learn from you bro.

Originally Posted by voldisinarta Yes, 4 days: Sun outdoor shoots to get used to the camera, Mon to Wed inside my study room on top of the sofa bed, shooting from 7pm all the way to 11pm, trying to recall old knowledge which was quite lost in don't know what corner of my brain... From next week onwards I'm going to re-learn outdoor portrairs... I'm going to ask my friends to be my first victims before I go for TFCD model Yes... this my first DSLR... besides that I also have Nikon F3 and F70d film cameras... Well, you see, photography is my old hobby during my study days, but after I started working about 10 years ago, and got married 7 yaers ago, my hobby was abruptly halted since I have to do "proper" job (I'm an IT programmer / engineer). Now after everything more or less settled down, finally I can re-start my old passion... My DIY Flash snoot? Okay, I will take picture of it and post it here. Also my DIY flash diffuser?

[Six-GHz]

Originally Posted by voldisinarta Well, finally the purchase of my first DSLR was approved by my other half... So last Saturday we went to buy the camera. (Her comment: "I wonder why boys like to buy such a heavy camera?" )

Er... cos we don't have anything heavy to hang around our chests?

Quote: Old 'n Rusty

I like this, personally find it very nostalgic

[absoluthal]

how do u shoot the no. 5 picture?
can share?
thanks...

[theveed]

Excellent...

Why are people assuming he's a newbie hehe...

I suspect that the TS bought his first DSLR, but not his first cam...

He obviously understands DOF, manual metering, lighting techniques etc... Great experience on a new toy...

[Oly5050]

Wow....very good for a first time DSLR owner....or perhaps you had an SLR before, but not DSLR...hehe.

[ahbian]

Originally Posted by Oly5050 Wow....very good for a first time DSLR owner....or perhaps you had an SLR before, but not DSLR...hehe.

I myself have a newbie question, because I have never used a SLR before, for a person moving from SLR to DSLR, what will be the difficulties?

My layman impression is that it is easier to go from SLR to DSLR rather than the other way round, anyone care to explain?

[blazer_workz]

Originally Posted by ahbian I myself have a newbie question, because I have never used a SLR before, for a person moving from SLR to DSLR, what will be the difficulties? My layman impression is that it is easier to go from SLR to DSLR rather than the other way round, anyone care to explain?

Color balancing..

[voldisinarta]

Originally Posted by blazer_workz wah 1st DSLR? u seems to noe alot abt lightings Nice job! Any sample pics for the DIY flash snoot?

Here it is...

Make a tube from a black material, attach to flash head:


If you want the light to be more focused (minimal side leak), make this light concentrator by using black straw or plastic board:


Flash with light concentrator, minimal light leak:


Light come out from Flas with snoot and light concentrator:


DIY Flash diffuser (Tracing paper as a diffuser), inside box lined with silver paper for a more uniform light:

Originally Posted by absoluthal how do u shoot the no. 5 picture? can share? thanks...

First make / buy a flash snoot. If you want to make one, I think my pictures above can give you some idea.
Put the flash on a tripod, and direct the snoot to the left / right side of the object's face, slightly to the front.(Connect the flash to camera using PC sync cable)
If your flash power can be adjusted, adjust to 1/4 or 1/8. If cannot, don't move the flash further since the light will be too wide if the distance from the flash to the face is too far. In this case, play with apperture.
Set your shutter speed to the fastest flas sync
Play with apperture until you get the desired light level.

Originally Posted by ahbian I myself have a newbie question, because I have never used a SLR before, for a person moving from SLR to DSLR, what will be the difficulties? My layman impression is that it is easier to go from SLR to DSLR rather than the other way round, anyone care to explain?

The most difficult with film camera is that you have to think a lot and do some calculation mainly on the lighting part, since wrong exposure means lost 1/36 of the film cost. Bracketing might help for difficult exposure, but it means you will lost 2 out of 3 frame per object.

So I can say that moving to DSLR is a relief for most of photographer since the result can be seen straight away, and wih the help of the histogram, more or less the result can be predicted. The most difficult is the white balance adjustment. I tried to photograph my wife but the result gives me different skin tone everytime we move from a different lighting condition.

In Digital photography it is much easier to learn since we can correct the problem straight away. During my learning with my film camera, I have to record every shooting data in a piece of paper. When the print come, I have to adjust the shooting data on the paper before loading another film and redo the shots all over again.