UPDATED WITH NEW PICS FROM 12-31-08 ON PAGE 2!!!

Alright guys, I got some filters and a gorilla-pod for my D40 for Christmas from my girlfriend. It has been rainy and cloudy here ever since. Today was the first nice, sunny day we have had so, I was able to try them out for the first time.

Please leave tips or positive comments.

Thanks for looking.

 

They look pretty decent! You need a circular polarizer to get decrease the reflections and I would suggest getting farther away from the car. Use the lens around the mid-point in aperture where the lens is sharper. Read the books I had suggested prior to this post, unless I have you confused with another member.

 

You don't have me confused, lol. I actually do have a cp and uv filter on there.

I turned the polarizer until the reflections were at their minimum I had my aperture on the lowest setting I do believe. These pictures were taken 20-30 minutes prior to sunset also.

I went to Barnes and Noble this past weekend and looked for those books. No luck But of course, our Barnes and Noble sucks, lol.

I will go out tomorrow and try to take some more pics during the day with the aperture setting near the middle this time.

I have an 18-55mm lens that comes with the D40. What f#'s do you recommend?

I meant to send you the link to this through a PM but you found it when I was about to send it to you, lol.

Thanks.

Scott

 

nice dude

 

My recommendation using that lens is between f5.6 and f8 for maximum sharpness.
To use a circular polarizer for maximum effect, point your thumb at the sun, then extend your
forefinger. Maximum polarization occurs at the direction your forefinger is pointing. When it comes to reflections, the polarizing filter works best on light that passes
through the filter at an optimal angle about 45 degrees from the reflecting surface. If you want to achieve maximum polarization, you would do best to choose your subject, then
determine the viewpoint needed to achieve 90° (30°/40° for
reflections). Some where around these areas is preferred and then position your subject so you are with in the recommended degree for your CP to work its best.

 

Thanks for your help again 8URVTEC. I'll definitely change the fstop on my camera tomorrow when I go out to take some more pictures and see what I can come up with.

Once again, thanks.

Scott

 

Scott, remember that what you are attempting to acheive is up to you. If you want a shallow depth of field (blurred background) used more for portraiture f1.2 up to f5.6 is recommended. For a great depth of field (foreground and background a in focus) f16-f22is recommended. And there are your don't care apertures of f8-f11. Experiment with bracketing your shots to decide what looks best to you! Mainly just have fun and if you want to get further into it, freelance or pro then read and take classes or go to school for it. There are rules in photography but they are meant to be broken as well, Golden Mean, Rule of Thirds and other compositional tools, it all depends on what the photographer is trying to acheive.

 

I need a pod also!

 

I love shots with blurred backgrounds. I like shots where the background and subject are in focus also, but I like having an interesting background with it. Like some construction, or an old abandoned building. Areas around here like that are just hard to find.

I really need to just do like you say, and just experiment with it and find what I like.

If I am not too lazy tomorrow, I will try to get up around sunset to try to get some pictures and try some new stuff, lol.

 

nice looks good.. drop that thing ly is sexy

 

So I went out this evening to the old highschool and got some more pics... Tell me what you guys think.

 

nice like the rims. it would look better if you lower it i got me a set of tanabe springs its not really low but it makes a decent drop.

 

What kind of drop does it give you?

 

I will PM with my critique, don't want to get off topic here anymore!

 

Lol, alright man.