Better Gear Better Photos?

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Hello LCC members,

It seems like my e-mail lately has been filled with announcements about the newest gear. All of the stuff starts off with the promise of better this or that more features better video etc etc.

But you know what?

Here is the bottom line most every camera on the market today captures high quality images. Why do I say that well it is a fact if Canon,Nikon,Pentax,Sony and the list goes on did not capture great images they would go out of business. That’s right it is a business that has to ride that perpetual circle of more, better and faster.

But, you must ask yourself how much more, better and faster do you really need?

The camera is just a tool like a paintbrush and it is your hands, eyes and brain that make it work. My point here is that in my opinion you are much better off to invest your additional $$$ in books, photo work shops, classes or post processing software.

Much of what I have learned up to this point has been from books and attending photo work shops and various classes.

Some helpful books I can suggest are:

All books by Bryan Peterson many of which are available at the Palm Beach County Library. His books are written in an easy to understand format without getting too technical.

For Black & White photo techniques and processing I can recommend From Oz to Kansas: Almost Every Black and White Conversion Technique Known to Man by Vincent Versace

Books by Scott Kelby are great sources for knowledge and techniques.

Books by Nicole S Young are inspirational and have great tips on improving your photography.

There are lots more great books these are just a few that have been helpful to me in my photographic journey.

” it’s more than just the gear it is also what’s between your ears that can make a great difference in your photography”

~Steve

The Humble and Sometimes Forgotten 50mm f1.8 prime lens

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Hello LCC members,

The humble and sometimes forgotten 50mm f1.8 prime lens is something every photographer should have in their camera bag. Why, well for two reasons it is a fast lens at f1.8 and there are very inexpensive.

The Canon 50mm f1.8 goes for about $125.00 it has been jokingly called the “plastic fantastic” as the housing is made of cheap feeling plastic. I have one and it works great!

canon 50mm

For all who shoot with Nikon cameras they also have a version of this 50mm f1.8 lens. It sells for about $105.00

Nikon 50mm

It is great to have one of these in your bag for low-light situations. The best part, they are very light-weight. The Canon Lens weighs in at 4.6 Oz. and the Nikon weighs in at 5.44 Oz. The 50mm is also great for street photography because of the small size and that fast f1.8 aperture. They also produce some nice Bokeh

In photography, bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens.  Bokeh has been defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light”.

The other effect you get at large aperture settings f1,f1.8, f2.0, f2.8  is isolation of a single subject in an image or you could call it a small slice of sharp focus.

Here are some example images, the photos were shot handheld, camera used was Canon 5D MII, aperture range of  f1.8 – f5

Feel free to leave questions and comments.

-Steve

April 2023 Theme Birds

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Don’t forget this months theme is birds your photos must be emailed to Jeff jefforns@comcast.net by April 9 .

If you go to Wakcodahatchee and happen to notice these little blue herons sitting on the low branches near the water. Slow down and take a moment to watch them. They will begin to fly low over the water in fishing mode.

Your camera settings should be Shutter speed between 1/2000 – 1/4000 sec f8-11 ISO set to auto range 100 – 2000 Focus Mode AF-C or AF Servo mode. Exposure Mode – Spot Meter or if you use Sony set it Spot / follow focus point.

Upcoming LCC Club Member Events

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We have a speaker on Wednesday, January 18, at 6:00 pm at NPB Library, so please attend.   The speaker is DAN FRANKIAN, who is a falconer and works with Busch Wildlife, as well as his own business, to train birds of prey.  

He is also an expert photographer with great stories about his adventures.  He will be bringing an owl with him, so bring your cameras.   Here is a link to find information about Dan’s business in Canada and his website, www.Hawekeye.ca.  .  https://www.hawkeye.ca/dan-frankian-biography   

NOTE: To participate in LCC Club events you must have a valid club  membership.

How to Join the Lighthouse Camera Club

          

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Also – we need a few photographers at the Hot Cars and Chili festival  on January 28 at Anchorage Park.  

The event starts around noon, and the Village Recreations Department wants some specific photos from our group for their newsletter.   If you can make it from 12 until around 4:30 (the awards photos will be taken at 3:30), please let Dina know (LitigatorBarbie@comcast.net) and she will provide further instructions on the types of photos they want.

We will attempt to include a slideshow  of the pictures you Car Photographers will take at the show at our February meeting, along with the Doors, Gates, and Windows (the February theme).   (Car windows could be rather interesting as well. )