I would absolutely recommend against the SB-400. I would rather go for a used SB-600 before getting that piece of crap. Here is the main reasons why:

1) Swivel Angle

The SB-400 simply allows you to tilt the light up to 90 degrees up. With the other "pro" flashes, you can truly bounce at different angles. They allow you to swivel the head as well as tilt it straight up, and even behind you, which is what I often do. Additionally if you ever shoot in portrait mode, forget ever being able to twist the head and bounce nicely. All of the light will come from the side that the head is on. Enjoy the massive shadows.

2) Not Wireless/Remote Capable

All the other flashes will use remote Commander mode. The SB-400 will not. Your D7000 is capable of off-camera flash firing via the on-camera flash. Since I do not have remote radio transmitters, I currently use this capability to trigger my flashes, when I need to deploy my available remote flashes. The SB-600 cannot be a command unit (I have 2) but the replacement model SB-700 can.

I would not really advocate for the SB-800/SB-900, as that adds a lot of expense for much less gain. But seriously, if you are going to spend the money on an SB-400, check the camera stores for a used SB-600, or save up for a new SB-700.

1/5/2014 12:09:54 PM

Since we're on a new page I'll post this to stay at the top.

TWW Flickr Group
http://www.flickr.com/groups/2400706@N25/

1/5/2014 2:54:39 PM

We've been housebound since Christmas while our youngest son dealt with Pinkeye and a change in his reflux medication. Our 3 year old is starting to go stir crazy so my wife got him to do a little dance session today.

1/5/2014 10:52:59 PM

no offense, but can we leave the kid pictures out of this thread? there's gotta be something in lounge/old school for that

1/6/2014 5:40:03 AM

no offense but that's a pretty dumb request

someone into photography should be able to look past the subject and appreciate/evaluate the quality of a photo

1/6/2014 6:56:36 AM

No offense, but its photography that he did, so it is pertinent to this discussion. I think that is pretty much the only requirement to post in this thread. And Austin has been keeping this thread alive a lot more than the rest of us. I'm perfectly fine with him sharing his photos, whatever the subject.

Also forgot to mention earlier that I got a Gary Fong Lightsphere 5 Collapsible as my only photography related Christmas present. Not sure my thoughts on it yet except it is a lot heavier on my flash than my Stofen. I'll have to shoot with it more before I decide whether I like it or not. Haven't shot a whole lot since Christmas (been busier editing), but now that I'm back at work I expect that to change.

1/6/2014 8:11:49 AM

what caused his arms to be ghosted with the window? is it due to the exposure time and a delayed flash?

1/6/2014 10:18:15 AM

No offense but this is a DSLR thread, I took those with my DSLR. If you want better content in here, feel free to contribute.

If you'd prefer, I'll take my shirt off and dance around with a scarf. It won't be a kid picture, though I'm sure no one wants to see that.

^Yeah that's exactly what it is. I had the camera set for aperture priority so the shutter speeds were in the 1/10-1/30 range and had a flash mounted on the camera with the head turned to fire at the ceiling and walls behind me.

1/6/2014 11:34:23 AM

There are tons of kid pictures in here.

And I appreciate learning about shooting kids because that is what I take the most pictures of. Nieces, nephews, and the kids I nanny for currently. My own soon.

1/6/2014 11:45:22 AM

Yea hate to say it but many of us are growing older and finding that we shoot a lot of pictures of our kids. I would prefer that they not look like some shit that came out of a camera phone.

1/6/2014 11:53:58 AM

Anyone interested in any of the following:

Canon 40D (recently got back from service at Canon, haven't used since. Works great, it's just collecting dust) $250

Canon 50mm 1.4 (works great, the focus ring is a bit gritty but it's never mattered to me, AF works likes a champ) $200

1/6/2014 1:50:20 PM

No offense, but this is TWW, and we shouldn't have to preface everything with "no offense."

1/6/2014 6:34:38 PM

I have been looking to purchase a Nikon D5300 sometime in the near future, but saw this sale pop up. How does the Canon T3i compare? Does this look like a deal or is it just a "deal"?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM9003132413?sid=IAx20130502xSkimlinks&aff=Y&PID=7105813&AID=11092214

1/14/2014 3:30:53 PM

Adoramapix is having a sale. 8x10s for $.99 and 11x14s for $1.99.
Its been years since I had anything printed but I plan on placing a big order for this. I've heard really good things about this printer and you can't beat 99 cents for an 8x10 at their quality.

http://www.adoramapix.com/

1/20/2014 1:19:34 PM

Started shooting with a D800 tonight doing some comparisons between it and my D7000. Its pretty hot.

1/22/2014 9:27:15 PM

Husband took my camera to Peace Camera and did indeed clean all my sensors for free. He also bought me a nice new camera strap.

1/22/2014 9:30:19 PM

Naturally lit.

1/26/2014 3:11:30 PM

So does anyone know if Our State magazine publishes the photo contest winners in any of the issues? I could have sworn at one point I remembered reading that winners would be published in the Jan or Feb issues. Nothing so far.

1/26/2014 4:26:12 PM

I haven't posted in a while, so I'll just dump some recent stuff I've shot.

Lots of shots of the girlfriend for her blog (http://www.eversothea.com).









Misc. studio nonsense.




Misc.

1/29/2014 6:30:14 PM

Apologies for the double post. I was shooting a conference down in Florida a few months ago and shot this "series" (I guess? I was shooting for fun in between sessions) of business folks in front of a window.
http://ronnynause.com/conference

1/29/2014 6:32:47 PM

On Hwy 88 Near Warrensville, NC. Anybody have aclue what is causing this. I have seen them with a red tint also about 300 feet down the road. It appears for 2 or 3 days then its gone.


This one is from the same area

1/29/2014 8:27:35 PM

Seeps and springs, man. Underground aquifers charged by elevated water sources provide a steady supply of water, which eventually works its way through the rocks and out the surface/sides. As for the rusty color you see, I don't know for sure. Probably mineral deposits mixing with the water.

1/30/2014 2:03:54 AM

I've got a DX camera (Nikon D5100), and right now just a couple cheap DX lenses (kit lens and 35mm prime) because I didn't want to start spending money until I knew that this was a hobby I would enjoy and continue.

My question is this: now that I know that this is something I enjoy, should I start purchasing full-frame FX lenses? Are there any disadvantages to using an FX lens on a DX body? I'm at least a couple years away from purchasing a full-frame camera, but I don't want to invest in anymore DX lenses if I'm going to eventually move to a FX lens.

1/31/2014 10:44:30 AM

how do you get a shot with the sun AND milky way arch/stars in one shot??

see ~1:39 for a few examples
http://vimeo.com/83436955

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFx6wt_gI3A

[Edited on February 2, 2014 at 11:06 PM. Reason : ]

2/2/2014 11:01:45 PM

Its probably not the sun, but a giant solar reflector.

2/2/2014 11:16:06 PM

sunrise with stars visible
http://youtu.be/tFx6wt_gI3A?t=1m4s

[Edited on February 3, 2014 at 6:33 PM. Reason : 1:52]

2/3/2014 6:31:51 PM

Sorry I'll be more clear. Its the Moon. What you're seeing is the moonrise.

2/3/2014 8:15:05 PM

^Yep. When you are shooting that open to light the moon looks like the damn sun.

I've done some night photography, but I REALLY want to try to shoot for the stars like that. I think that would be so much fun to do. Hoping I can try it when it starts warming up a little.

2/4/2014 8:27:24 AM

It's my kid, so BEWARE.

Pre and post snow portraits. Everyone in the house took a nap and I wanted to get the camera out so I set up a portrait station by the door.





And an outtake

2/12/2014 9:29:25 PM

Thought I'd bump this thread to see if anyone had anything new.

Here's a shot from a wedding I did

3/5/2014 5:29:56 PM

I just look at the pictures in this thread and realize how much I suck

Also Jvp's pictures above remind me of the children's books/cartoons of Madeline. Very well done.
http://asset.image.film.spiritclips.com/new-madeline-s01e10_xlg_1280x720.jpg

[Edited on March 5, 2014 at 6:40 PM. Reason : ]

3/5/2014 6:35:10 PM

It's cold and rainy and I'm editing photos to finally get my site up to date. I found this:


Oh summer, only a few more months.

3/7/2014 3:42:56 PM

I'm about to order some prints. If I'm putting them in a glass frame, what finish should I chose? matte?

3/18/2014 12:10:02 PM

Wife got her first tattoo and my son's learning to stand.







I put more of the tattoo work in a story on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/austingd/sets/72157642694736954/

And I still got a little more work to do, but I've finally started to get my site up the way I like it.

http://austindowd.com/

[Edited on March 21, 2014 at 11:57 AM. Reason : ]

3/21/2014 11:54:24 AM

More kid photos

4/3/2014 6:28:35 PM

End of spring break today so we went back to the art museum with some friends.




Also, doesn't anyone else have stuff to post or is this just destined to be one of the many long running threads that's dying out?

4/4/2014 7:12:14 PM

I want to post, and always check the thread when it gets new activity, but I can barely even get my shit on FB lately, because I am so busy. I shoot too damned much now.

4/5/2014 7:29:30 AM

^^ I really enjoy reading this thread but don't ever feel like I have much to contribute is all. I can post up a few though I suppose. I don't ever have to time to really get into creative shots or too out into the weeds on the settings. I do manually pick all the settings (but mainly just to try and get 'proper' exposure) and frame the shot like I want typically but that's about as far as I get. Nothing very artistic but I do enjoy having a nice camera to capture things now.

A tree I love in our downtown park:


Our dog at home:


A test shot in our bedroom. I was just messing with some lighting settings - was really trying to get a shot to show off the art that my wife and I made to go over the bed:


Neighbor's dog back at halloween:


[Edited on April 5, 2014 at 10:44 AM. Reason : ]

4/5/2014 10:39:04 AM

Nighthawk What are you editing with? Most everything I do gets exported straight from Lightroom into my flickr or photoshelter with duplicates on my Facebook. It's only about 20 seconds extra on my workflow, and I have started using it more and more since its providing an online backup for everything.

^ Really like the photos. I'm not sure why but the room photo is particularly nice, it may be just that color pop in the otherwise grayish landscape.

4/6/2014 3:21:46 PM

im just getting back into photography ... its been a while

picked up a new marketing client that needs me to photograph events and food so i just picked up a new 50 mm 1.4G

been shooting some this weekend and will post a few when processed.

4/7/2014 10:59:54 AM

[Edited on April 7, 2014 at 12:58 PM. Reason : asas]

[Edited on April 7, 2014 at 12:59 PM. Reason : k]

4/7/2014 12:57:24 PM

^Doesn't show for me.
If you're trying to link an image from Flickr, they've changed a bunch of their interface and you need to link from the "view all sizes" page.
To get there.
Open the image
Click on the three dots icon (...)
Select "Download / All Sizes"
Select "View All Sizes"
From that page you can select an image size and then right click the image to copy it's url for posting.
Just bear in mind that if you select one of the larger images (>1600) then it will explode the page view on here.

4/7/2014 2:30:26 PM

Quote :

"^Doesn't show for me. If you're trying to link an image from Flickr, they've changed a bunch of their interface and you need to link from the "view all sizes" page. To get there. Open the image Click on the three dots icon (...) Select "Download / All Sizes" Select "View All Sizes" From that page you can select an image size and then right click the image to copy it's url for posting. Just bear in mind that if you select one of the larger images (>1600) then it will explode the page view on here."

Thanks! I am not a fan of Flickr's new design, thought I read a rumor somewhere that they were changing it again soon...

4/7/2014 10:53:00 PM

Yeah it has to be one of the greatest tools for photographers while at the same time being one of the most annoying.
I like the dog pics though the second needs some temperature adjustment.

4/9/2014 9:34:49 PM

I had a chance to go to see the cherry blossoms at peak bloom yesterday. I am quite sure no one has ever taken similar images to these before. Ever.

4/11/2014 5:15:12 PM

Very cool dude. Great use of the blossoms to frame the monuments.

Meanwhile, back here in the South, we're getting the signs of spring are everywhere

4/11/2014 6:12:53 PM

Just spent the day with our best friend and his son while. Big "lazy" sunday, kids played on the deck with our water table, while the adults all straightened up the yard and cooked.
I kept stepping out to take photos and ended up with a good set which I'm going to whittle it down to a decent little essay.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingd/sets/72157643926295485/

A few of my favorites:

4/13/2014 11:06:57 PM

Looking to get back into the video world and a few people have recommended I pick up a nice DSLR as those are seemingly very popular these day. I'm thinking the D5300 is my top pick as I'm not really looking to spend TOO much. Any suggestions or arguments to look elsewhere?

4/14/2014 8:16:27 AM

I'm kinda excited. A photo I just uploaded yesterday got explored on Flickr today. Not the first time that's happened. But then I noticed that a Flickr editor just contacted me and they want to feature me on the Flickr blog. This is kinda big to me, despite the fact that the consensus as of late has been that Flickr has been going to shit (though - like Facebook - plenty of people carry on with their use of the site).

4/15/2014 4:02:28 PM

Congratulations dude. Can you post a link here when it goes up?

And I don't think its gone to shit. There's things about it that no other site does (1 TB space for free and auto-mobile uploads are the big ones for me) and that makes Flickr one of the best options out there. There's also other things that will annoy anyone, like constantly changing their UI, gutting their logins, dropping their pro status, etc.

4/16/2014 9:28:16 AM