Photoshop + new dog.

[ButtGumbo]

I'm glad I found a new studio watchdog.

http://www.spazzweb.com/images/Josieguitarguard.jpg

[chazhound]

A pure breed Rockhound :)

[Renee750il]

ROFL What an expression Josie has! Maybe she was a music critic in a former life.

[ButtGumbo]

I hate to burst bubbles, but being the "honest" tweak artist I am, I have to admit that I was just fooling around with a new version of Photoshop. Josie's expresion in the original picture was actually pretty retarded...when I applied filters and viewed the composition I thought it would be funny to paint "piercing" eyes and it would make her look mean.

It did.

I still think it's a cool shot, considering it was taken in the dark with a compact digital. It's rare to have in-focus perspective at that range at low resolution.

*the preceding paragraph was digital photography geekspeak*

I need a beer.

[Renee750il]

If you don't already, you really do need to enter some of the stuff at www.freakingnews.com .

What kind of digital equipment are you using. You're obviously well versed. Ever think you'd be considered a resource? :D

I've never had any luck with a digital. They seem to know that I don't consider them real cameras. The Olympus Charley bought to use for the store quit after taking about a handful of photos. I set it down next to my Nikon (with the 200mm lens attached) and the Olympus suddenly died. I think it died of shame and lens envy. Sony's done the smart thing - put Zeiss lenses on some of their digital models. I understand one of the manufacturers, Canon, maybe (?) has solved the lens restriction puzzle and now has a digital camera available that accepts different lenses. Lens quality and capability has always seemed like the real weak spot in digital to me.

[ButtGumbo]

Being an old SLR photographer (Minolta) it took me awhile to wrap my arm around digital ameras as anything other than a gimic. After researching though, digital photography is actually superior as far as image manipulation, processing costs etc. Most people only picture (no pun) the small compact cameras like the one I use now, an Olympus D490, which is 3 years old. I've been researching Digital SLRs that are awesome, but pricey (1-5 grand). The digital SLRs accept a variety of lenses, and some MFGs cameras are even interchangable with their film SLR cameras.

I'm probably going to get the Olympus D-1, which is about 1300 bucks. It's AWESOME.

It's great to be able to choose and tweak your photos in Photoshop and only print the ones you want, rather than have to process a whole roll for one picture. The digital SLRs initial image, when captured, is actually superior to that of a film camera.

Check out PC Photo magazine for great info.

[Renee750il]

I'll probably let Charley invest in the digital imaging end, since he can write it off as a business expense. The next little photography toy I'd like to have is one of those (drool) lovely, long lenses that you can see God with. Barring stumbling across someone who just really wants to see me happy with one at a ridiculous price, though, the next toy (after some car stuff) will probably be a fish-eye lens.

[chazhound]

I got a neat digital camera three months ago to take pics. I had no idea what to get so a friend helped me out. Got a Cannon EOS rebel with two lenses and a 420EX flash. And added a battery pack. One lense came with it and one is a EF 28-135mm with an image stablizer. The lenses are very easy and quick to change out. Now I have to save up and by about a 300 or 400mm lense. They are expensive...

Chazhound

[ButtGumbo]

I got a neat digital camera three months ago to take pics. I had no idea what to get so a friend helped me out. Got a Cannon EOS rebel with two lenses and a 420EX flash. And added a battery pack. One lense came with it and one is a EF 28-135mm with an image stablizer. The lenses are very easy and quick to change out. Now I have to save up and by about a 300 or 400mm lense. They are expensive...

Chazhound

Those digital rebels are nice cameras. What did you pay for yours with the extra lens?

[Renee750il]

Canon makes some great equipment. I like the Canon EOS, except for one thing a photographer friend warned me about after he got his: the lenses are outrageous, and they are very specific - they only fit the EOS, and no one else makes lenses to fit the EOS. Hopefully that will change as the patents expire (which should be soon on some of them). Tamron makes some excellent lenses and you can get them at very reasonable prices, so hopefully they'll do the same for the EOS when they're able.

My favorite thing about the digital revolution in photography? Now I can get killer used Nikon equipment at better prices! When I have film processed I just have the shop burn me a CD at the same time.

[chazhound]

I have too much in it now... :(

It will take some cheaper aftermarket lenses, but I hear they aren't as good quality. The EOS line of lenses are expensive for the good ones but well worth it and easy to work.

Canon offers the world's largest selection of autofocus lenses. My Cannon EOS Digital Rebel is compatible with the EF Lenses, EF-S Lens and most EX series Speedlites. The EOS Digital Rebel accepts over 50 of these lenses, from ultra wide-angle to super telephoto, plus fish-eye, macro and tilt-shift lenses

When I upgrade down the road, my lenses will be compatible with the EOS line of cameras by Canon:
EOS-1Ds Digital
EOS-1D Mark II Digital
EOS 20D Digital
EOS 10D Digital

I expected to use Canon brand lenses anyhow as they tell me they are excellent. The camera is perfect for a camera dumb guy like me... love the pic quality too. Just have to practice with it more now.

Chazhound

[Renee750il]

So far the Tamron lenses are the only aftermarket lenses I'm willing to use, and I do prefer the Nikons, but if I run across a killer deal on a Tamron I'm willing to snag it.

It sounds like Canon figured out why their initial big sales on the EOS suddenly slacked off and fixed the problem. When they first came out with the EOS line their lenses were outrageous compared to the other top lines. Even Nikon lenses weren't as pricey. Glad to hear it; they're an extremely good line.

[chazhound]

I will have to remember Tamron. The cannon lenses can get very expensive. I know several pros with Nikons, and they wouldn't trade them for nothing. But after trying them, I thought the learning curve as over my head to take good pics. Alot to learn in this stuff. The Cannon is still a learning curve, but my dog pictures looked better :)

Chazhound

[Renee750il]

It seems like I've always ended up taking photos in impossible conditions. I'd had a nice Minolta until my sister took off with it to college (unbeknownst to me when she packed) and "lost" it when she wanted a fancier camera.

The excuse/rationalization for the Nikon was doing the wrestling shows. I had to have something that would give me a lot of latitude in differing light conditions and make the best of some real garbage situations. I can't remember when I've taken indoor photos with any semblance of adequate light! lol

[FeistyLaraCroft]

Cute pup....Great job on the photoshop.;)

[smkie]

I cannot believe that pic. You realllly have all those lens? That is just incredible..how many do you use on a regular basis?