Any photographers here?

[Yagami Shirou]

Reika, I would be totally be interested in anything you have to teach

[Reika]

Reika, I would be totally be interested in anything you have to teach

What would you like to learn about? I have done about everything from studio work to light painting.

[Yagami Shirou]

I guess for starters...
Doing a decent shoot at a con, both indoors and out.
Also, random question... Should I get a flash or a new lens? ^^;
I only have the basic 18-55 mm
Do you recommend any brands?

[gdestefano]

Can't think of a better thread to first post in. Hi everyone, I'm Greg.  I'm a photographer and have been following the scene for awhile.  You can check out my work on my site at http://www.gregdestefano.com  specifically the Brawl stuff. I don't really shoot at cons, I tend to want to bring people back to the studio to have more control (lighting, makeup, styling, time, etc...)  Anyways, that's about it for now I guess, one last hello to everyone =)

[Reika]

I guess for starters...
Doing a decent shoot at a con, both indoors and out.
Also, random question... Should I get a flash or a new lens? ^^;
I only have the basic 18-55 mm
Do you recommend any brands?

Well taking Con photos can be tricky depending on the hotel, But one way to get nice indoor pictures is to use a flash and bounce it off the ceiling. If the ceiling is too high this might not work too well. This case you would need a larger flash not  a build in flash. You can pick up a good flash for around 50-300 bucks there are ones that cost more but you won't need to spend that much on one.

Outdoor photos can be easy depending on the weather if it's nice outside just make sure the lighting is enough for your needs. You might need to use a flash if there is not enough lighting for your photos. Now in this case you can't Bounce the flash to soften it so you will need a Diffuser on the flash. This is a example of a Diffuser. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/438067-REG/Dot_Line_DL_0190.html
If you don't want to use a flash there is also using a Collapsible Reflector this can help give you a little extra lighting where you need it.

I use a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS for most of my shots.

As for recommending a brand, the best thing is to go with brands you know. I shoot with canon cause I'm used to it but if you use Nikon or Sony then I would stick with them.

I guess the one question I have for you is what kind of camera are you using?

[Yagami Shirou]

Welcome to the forum gdestefano

Reika: Canon EOS Rebel XSi

[ZootWolf]

Sorry to be so slow replying, all --

@ Yagami --

Do you have any input?

Be starting off with some of the absolute basics, which are always good to have a look at. A little bit more on your questions further down when I can

Doubtless there will be (hopefully not too many) things I'll get wrong, forget to discuss, or simply don't know or have experience with. So the more expertise at hand, the better! And if it looks as if I'm mistaken or misguided about something, by all means, point this out -- because that's how we all will learn. . .and I'll want to be the first to know.

There are some AN photos drifting around there too... If you want to take a look...

Ah yes. . .I've definitely seen the one photo  you did so much really nice work there the photo of Saber, sitting under the trees is lovely!

Also can't wait to see your photo tutorials.

-- myself included! -- will try me humble best.

The best advice I can give is take at least 3 (just my rule of thumb) photos of everything with different ISO, Shutter speed, and angle. Down low, or up high can give some interesting interesting result

Exactly -- continually try new, and crazy stuff! =D

and it's especially good to do a series of different exposures when your subject is strongly backlit. If your camera has a setting like "force flash ON," etc., for backlit / darker situations using this for fill on your subject car really make a big difference too.

And, shoot your subject from different positions and directions. Profile shots can be really beautiful -- and not that often seen with Kig and Fursuit pics. Also try shooting from the back. There are a lot of great details of the costumes and hair styles that are rarely seen. . .and photos like this can be uniquely expressive as well -- have a look at the wonderful photo by Bastian of Yukifox taken at FWA, looking across the atrium. One of my faves.

@ Ecoht, I definitely remember your photos -- thanks for posting, always awesome to see

@ HikaruWolf, cool meetin' ya! I've seen your FA page before, following random links -- I remember the Jersey Shore Pic and a bunch of the others, like the 'No Dogs' shot, aw man, cool stuff! And fun titles BTW hehheh -- So much to keep up with. . .I'm always the last to know anything. . .
   
@ Rabbit  -- out of all the photos in your gallery, that's always been one of my absolute favorites . . .always been impressed with your eye for a good photo, no matter the subject.

I'm always willing to give tips and tricks  for taking better pictures.

This is truly excellent, Reika -- greatly appreciated! We can all totally benefit from your expertise

@ Greg --  Hi Greg, great meeting you, and welcome extremely cool to see this -- thanks for sharing your artwork and posting up those are some cool gritty lighting treatments in the Brawl series -- and I really dig the shot of the skatepark pipe!

[ZootWolf]

I don't have a good enough camera, or I would take more...

DarkHorse_Steele, hello -- it's a pleasure meeting you!

Having a look at your photos you've posted here, it certainly looks like the camera you have does a completely fine job -- overall, current point and shoot cameras are very capable picture takers. By all means, don't be mistaken about this --

You've got nice examples of both outdoor and interior photos, and looking at them, they're all fine looking images -- it handled the backlit deck scene on the Constellation very well (And BTW, nicely composed shot with all the open sky and rigging ) and the interior shot looks good too -- the flash is nicely even throughout the entire frame (no dark spots in the corners) and the exposure range looks fine -- the wood isn't overly dark, and at the same time the white wall and light parts of your costume and mask aren't burned out, either -- no problems at all that I can see!

And please, by all means keep taking photos, as many as you can, and as often as you can!

After all we have this incredible luxury of being able to take essentially an unlimited number of shots, for free  -- so fill up that SD card

And BTW Cyber Puppy is exceedingly cool -- looks like you've got some serious creative chops going on there.

[ZootWolf]

And this brings me to one of the most important things that might be said here to all, and that is this --

What kind of camera, whatever bells and whistles it has, that's not what really matters --

The most important part of the camera is the person pressing the shutter. Cameras don't take pictures, photographers do.

Ideally, when you're creating photographs, you shouldn't even be noticing the camera. You shouldn't even be thinking about it. You should be free and undistracted to entirely concentrate on and be inspired by your subject.

Good photographs come from inspiration and creativity and insight and knowledge of technique, not photo gear. Buying pro gear or a bagfull of expensive lenses will not, and will never, make you a better photographer.

And from a technical standpoint, your photos will essentially look no different shot with pro gear than they would if taken with good quality consumer grade equipment.

And it's easy to be mistaken, and fixate on this. . .we see the pros working with all that impressive equipment, but the reasons are different. They use it because it's sturdier, or it makes some things a little faster, or more convenient. That's pretty much it.

And just because you don't have all that stuff, don't think you're not "worthy" somehow, that you're not serious enough, don't ever  think that --

Artistic inspiration trumps any supposed technical polish afforded by such equipment every time.

When you see something that's significant, that engages you emotionally. . .that's your subject and content -- what you have to say -- concentrate on that, and that's what makes a good photo -- and any good art for that matter. It's our task as artists to bring what engages us emotionally to the attention of our audience, by the way we present and depict it. So that they may experience it as we do.

Think about the Lascaux cave paintings. They are magnificent and exquisitely beautiful; they are filled with a sense of awe and power and majesty, because they were created by people who felt this about their subject -- that kind of awe and wonder, and because they were almost certainly part of a ritual to ensure successful hunting, the painting of those images was for everyone there a matter of life and death. . .of survival, nothing less. These images were made beautiful because the people who created them were moved by the magnificence of these animals, and the world around them -- and possessed the imagination, talent and skill to translate that into reality.

Now imagine the tools that were used to create them.

Mathew Brady didn't use zoom lenses. Margaret Bourke-White never used Photoshop. Neither did Amsel Adams. Dorothea Lange didn't have a computerized digital SLR when she took the photograph Migrant Mother.

You can give a $6 disposable camera to someone who is inspired and skilled, and they will take great photos.

Don't ever be mistaken in thinking you can't do this, with the photo gear that you have

[Reika]

Don't ever be mistaken in thinking you can't do this, with the photo gear that you have

Even a Iphone can take good pictures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOoGjtSy7xY&feature=player_embedded#!

[noodles_husky]

Don't ever be mistaken in thinking you can't do this, with the photo gear that you have

Even a Iphone can take good pictures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOoGjtSy7xY&feature=player_embedded#!

Yup, I've been able to take good pic with a mobile phone! http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s126/noodleshusky/Charity%20Outing%2010th%20Oct/

[Eternallycloudy]

some of my best pictures have been taken with out a setup or posed just one of those 1 second of time "click" and then i think that was not good and after reviewing it it was better than i thought example was at FC i just took a shot of 2 furries and it came out with Autumn looking around the other female  as if oh your taking "my" picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46994087@N02/4762497770/in/pool-furtherconfusion

[Reika]

One thing you should take from the video I linked too is that Lighting is Key to making or breaking a photo.

[ZootWolf]

Even a Iphone can take good pictures

Wow, this is an awesome video  --  "dude. . .it doesn't even shoot RAW." -- lol

Everyone should just watch that instead of reading what I said up there -- it's certainly more entertaining XD

This is a really great find, thanks so much for posting this, Reika! =D

Yup, I've been able to take good pic with a mobile phone! http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s126/noodleshusky/Charity%20Outing%2010th%20Oct/

Those are super photos -- like the set with Sky as well. . .particularly enjoyed the ones that were taken from to the side and behind the performers, they really show the interaction between the people there wonderfully -- and seeing this, you captured this really well

some of my best pictures have been taken with out a setup or posed just one of those 1 second of time "click" and then i think that was not good and after reviewing it it was better than i thought example was at FC i just took a shot of 2 furries and it came out with Autumn looking around the other female  as if oh your taking "my" picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46994087@N02/4762497770/in/pool-furtherconfusion

Awww, what a cool photo This is how being alert pays off -- you gotta be on your toes -- er, hooves, all the time. . .you could miss something like that very easily. . .really have some nice ones in that set.

[Eternallycloudy]

Thank you ZootWolf!