Demo Forum - Recent Posts

My new Vanguard VEO 2 265CB Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Arrived!!!

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:14:59 +0000

This just arrived today and I have to say this is a beautiful tripod. Thank you for the recommendations PT! Just one question, I thought this would have been a little taller. Would you happen to know if longer center columns can be purchased or extensions added?

Let me know please. Thanks!

RE: Does speed lights strength fade with time or just stop working?

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:14:20 +0000

I've never had any issues either with either scenario and I have some old units. That said, I have had issues with batteries leaking and ruining a flashlight. It's a lesson I learned many years ago. I always remove alkaline batteries when not in use in any object, flash or otherwise.

Does speed lights strength fade with time or just stop working?

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:14:10 +0000

I've been using my flash more recently and was wondering will the strength/intensity of the light fade over time, or does it just stop working when it's at the end of it's life?

I hope that makes sense. I'm just trying to understand how speed lights fail.

RE: Looking to buy a new lens, and I need your advice!

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:13:25 +0000

If you're not ready to assess the value of a lens, it seems to me that you're not ready to buy one.

If you want to do product photography, you need two things: a reasonably long lens, and a tripod. The Sigma might be okay above 85mm, but I'd suggest a macro lens at 90mm or more. You want longer to mitigate any geometric anomalies you'd get with a shorter focal length.

If you're still not sure, rent one if you can. Not knowing where you're located (fill out your profile?) I can only suggest.

Looking to buy a new lens, and I need your advice!

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:13:15 +0000

I have a Canon T6i and I am looking to buy a new lens, I am mostly interested in product photography, sharpness and image quality is super important to me. I am currently using a kit lens which is Canon EFS 18-135mm and I am thinking about buying Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art and it's very expensive so I need to get some advice from an expert before buying it. Is it worth it or not? Am I ganna see a big difference in the quality? What is your advice to me?

RE: Need DSLR decision help please and thank you!!!

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:12:28 +0000

You want to go to a camera store and lay hands on product. You might consider current models from Nikon, Canon (you can reuse your lenses) and Sony. You might consider a mirrorless system from Panasonic, Olympus or Fuji. (Micro 4/3 systems all have interchangeable lenses across manufacturers.)

But you really need to hold the cameres, investigate them, play with them. You'll know when you've found the right one: the one you don't want to put down.

Even shooting JPG, you may find that current products do a better job / have more useful features.

Need DSLR decision help please and thank you!!!

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:12:19 +0000

Hello, I currently have a Canon Digital Rebel XT with a Canon 28 - 105mm 0.48m/1.6ft AF lense, a Canon 75 - 300mm 1.5m/4.9ft AF lense and a Canon EFS 18 - 55mm 0.28/0.9ft lense which we mostly
use in the Auto mode. And yes, I know we don't utilize the full potential of the equipment we now have. While we were on vacation recently my wife offered to return the favor of taking a picture for a couple and was shocked by the difference in just looking through the viewfinder of that couple's camera. It was so much better than ours it was like night and day. So now, I'm on a quest to find a better, clearer camera system. I realize DSLR's have come a long way since the XT. We mainly take wildlife, landscapes and the pictures of us with a landscape background. We don't need a $5,000.00 camera. We are retired and on a fixed income so we don't want/need top of the line everything, just a big improvement!!! Thanks in advance for any helpful guidance. Tom

RE: Male portrait under harsh sunlight

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:11:35 +0000

That came out pretty well. But why not turn him to one side to get some sideways shadows? Clearly the sun is not directly overhead but more in front of him.

Male portrait under harsh sunlight

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:11:26 +0000

G'day all

I find portraiture not an easy subject to work with - and so to get this bloke to stand in full sun and not have too much eye squinting was a bit of an ask. But together we did it!

RE: What is Macro Photography?

takewp_demo — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 08:10:45 +0000

Nice explanation Dang... From now on when I explain macro to someone I will begin by saying "According to Dang...".