I did share it with the bands on Facebook and I like sharing my work online, so I'm not pissed about that part of it. And I hate putting giant watermarks on my photos. So again, not pissed or really upset, but I would like to get some credit.

3/25/2015 6:21:54 AM

have you contacted them yet? tell them you want to be credited or paid.

3/25/2015 9:30:36 AM

Whether you want to get paid or not I'd still make sure to talk with them about using the photos without permission. Even if they credited you, they should have contacted you beforehand to use the photos.

Its a huge PITA how many people don't understand copyright and usage. Its one thing if you're in a job that doesn't require any knowledge of these things like a CPA or a chef, but if you're an artist, or represent artists, or manage and artist's webpage, you should understand basic laws concerning the use of images. At the very least this can be a good learning experience for whoever posted the photo to their website.

You may like this band and don't care about their mishandling of this, but now that they've got this image out on the web, unattributed to you, it can easily be taken and reused by other sites or groups that you may not want using your work unpaid.

3/25/2015 11:44:57 AM

Went to Brickuniverse today but was pretty underwhelmed.

3/29/2015 10:28:47 PM

Anyone looking for a Canon Wireless Trigger? I've got a good condition ST-E2 that I'm looking to sell so I can upgrade to a set of Pocket Wizards.

Also we did a tour of Morrisville's Firestation Today

4/2/2015 8:48:17 PM

Went to Biltmore last on Sunday for the egg hunt. I'll save everyone here from pics of my kids, but here's some stuff from the gardens.

4/6/2015 9:12:35 PM

did you use a macro lens or tube extender or anything for those flower pics?

4/7/2015 9:07:16 AM

No. I just had them positioned at the very minimum focus distance. The Hibiscus image was an exemption, since I couldn't get the stamen and petals in focus together I used two separate photos with the to create it.

4/7/2015 1:32:55 PM

how long was the lens?

4/7/2015 2:03:33 PM

it was my 28-70 2.8. I think everything was at 70

4/7/2015 3:13:39 PM

okay, that makes sense. I tried something similar, but the only fast lens I have is 35mm and I had too much distortion (Lightroom helped some, but not completely). I really want something longer for portriats anyways, maybe it's time to get a decently fast zoom or longer prime.

4/7/2015 3:16:08 PM

I just got a Tokina 50-135 2.8 for $280. It's awesome. I'm shooting DX though (70-200 equivalent). With 1.3x crop mode on the D7100 it gets decent reach and wide enough for indoors easy.

I shot all three versions of the Nikon 80-200 2.8 and the Tamron 70-200 2.8 (non-VC) looking for something reasonably priced. I was trying to find a Sigma old version as well. I had a line on the Tamron for $400. Older Nikons for less ($275 for a v2 of the push-pull I passed on), new two-ring for $500 all local. Decent prices when people upgrade to stabilized lenses if you look. Only one of those was listed anywhere so you have to get a little creative in tracking them down.

I didn't know the Tokina existed until I saw it buried in a big bundle CL post. The reviews sketched me out, but for the price and the test shots I rolled the dice. I may have won the lottery with this copy, but the Tokina is better all around. No CA compared to purple fringing like whoa on all the Nikons I tried. Focus seems more reliable and since it's a lot smaller and none of these are stabilized that's a plus. The Nikon two ring at 200mm is hard to hold still. Focus is a little slower, but I've been panning cars and running kids and it's fast enough for that.

Upside to the price, I flipped a 85mm 1.8G and a 17-55 2.8G in the month prior so I still have $70 of hobby profit budget left over for a couple of Yongnuo transceivers to start working on off camera flash.

[Edited on April 7, 2015 at 8:59 PM. Reason : gg]

4/7/2015 8:56:13 PM

How good is a Sony NEX-C3?

I see them on eBay for cheap (like $150, with a lens). My old Canon G-series got stolen a while back, and I need a "real" camera instead of just iPhone 6 all the time.

4/7/2015 9:43:51 PM

Good is relative. With the kit lens used in auto outside in good light probably comparable to the iPhone for most things as are many cameras for snapshots.

Used indoors you probably gain some performance.

However, the NEX isn't going into your pocket with the 18-55 kit lens by a long shot. I also find Sony UIs to be really fiddly and non-intuitive. Probably best suited to someone who won't mess with stuff much.

Sony RX100 MI looks like ~$225 on ebay. I have one for my grab when number of kids does not allow for a large camera and video needs. It doesn't disappoint except for the terrible stabilization for stills and quick fall off in aperture past pegged at the wide end.

Middle of the road option is a Canon M with a 22mm prime. Looks like they come in the same range ~$225 on ebay. I think they take awesome photos. Had I been paying attention I probably would have gotten one instead of the RX100. I'd get this.

I looked out of curiosity: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1357493/0?keyword=eos,m#12945606

[Edited on April 8, 2015 at 8:59 AM. Reason : one for sale]

4/8/2015 8:49:33 AM

Anybody want a Nikon 35-70 2.8D? Looks like ebay avg for last month was $350 or so. $250 takes it. It will take me some time to shoot proper demo shots and get it on CL.

4/8/2015 10:46:03 PM

^^ according to Snapsort, the NEX-C3 beats up on both the RX100 and the Canon, at least for still photography.

At any rate, I went ahead and broke out the wallet and bought a Sony A6000.

4/11/2015 5:51:57 PM

Dumped the curator job, which was eating my life, to get back in the field. Slow uploading photos, but I'm out there doing it again. I've been trying to run around mostly with the 10-22, so I've been learning.








(I know, overexposed this one. Light was harsh that day).

4/22/2015 11:59:30 PM

upside-down - what do you do? I've always admired your pictures. do you have a doctorate in ecology/biology or what?

4/23/2015 12:08:35 AM

I dropped out of a PhD program for lots of reasons. I've been struggling to find jobs since. Most of the work I've done for the past 8 years (before, during, and now after grad school) involves eastern diamondback rattlesnake telemetry/ecology.

4/23/2015 7:34:56 AM

^^^The first is so qqqqt ^______^

i haven't posted in decades so here are some randoms from the past couple months. fuji x-t1 & xf 35mm f/1.4. they're from tumblr so the compression might be wonky idk.




















[Edited on April 23, 2015 at 3:11 PM. Reason : .]

4/23/2015 3:07:07 PM

Just got back from a trip to Maui with the fam to visit my brother.

5/1/2015 10:43:04 AM

Bweez how do you like the Fuji X-T1? I'm considering getting one. It's time for a new camera and I really want a mirrorless one for the form factor for traveling. One of the big draws I have towards the X-T1 is it's weather (water/dust) resistant which would be awesome for backpacking. As well as it's across the board positive reviews on color and photo quality.

I'm considering the 18-135 f3.5 lens that comes with the camera. It's the only WR (weather resistant) lens in that price range. I could upgrade to a 16-55 f2.8 but it's $1199 compared to $599 for the 18-135.

Most of my shooting will be outside so I'm thinking the 18-135 is a good starter lens for the camera.

5/26/2015 8:18:14 PM

Anybody interested in a Tamron 70-200 2.8 VC (Nikon)? $900 brand new shape.

[Edited on May 26, 2015 at 8:43 PM. Reason : s]

5/26/2015 8:43:33 PM

^^^ Slow reply, but nice pics!

Was that atop Haleakala? Did you make it down into the crater?

The bee pic is great!

[Edited on May 27, 2015 at 3:04 PM. Reason : All the ups!]

5/27/2015 3:04:07 PM

Thansk man. It was Haleakala but we just drove up for the sunset and then my brother, son and I stuck around for a few hours to star gaze. We didn't have a chance to hike into the crater, but my brother lives there in the upcountry and has hiked it several times. Actually I think he and his GF just finished a trip down about 2 days ago.

Here's a couple more from that night:
The Silversword, a threatened plant species:


The last light of day and the first light of the night (Venus)


[Edited on May 27, 2015 at 4:12 PM. Reason : ]

5/27/2015 3:56:47 PM

Anyone have any good tripod recommendations for backpacking / camping? I'm looking for something ideally under 2-3 pounds.

Gitzo obviously makes the best carbon fiber light weight tripods but I'm not trying to spend $600-800+.

From my research I've found these:

http://www.mefoto.com/products/backpacker.aspx

Very positive reviews and only 2.6lbs for $149.

This Sirui T-025x model I've seen pop up in quite a few reviews. It's $239 and only 1.3lbs (carbon fiber).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZTCHK2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AZTCHK2&linkCode=as2&tag=danhbaisadvph-20&linkId=CJNA6BITZNVOWN7O

5/27/2015 5:43:48 PM

^I've been looking at benro tripods, thinking about getting an aero: http://www.benrousa.com/

It's a video tripod though, so I don't know if that works for you.

I feel like I'd be a little worried about a tripod weighing only 1.3 pounds, but if people are fine with it in reviews then I guess it's fine.

As for the X-T1, I love it a lot, I was in a funk where I was pretty much never shooting except for work because my d600 was gigantic and a bitch to take with me in NYC and was otherwise just giving me problems, and now I take the lil guy everywhere. Got the d600 repaired and use it for video now but the X-T1 is my main photo camera at this point and it's great. I'm really excited about the present and future of fuji.

edit: ALSO, they've been somewhat regularly releasing firmware updates that significantly change the camera. I think the last major one enabled electronic shutter, which is pretty fantastic, and enabled 24p video which was inexplicably absent before, and one coming in June is supposed to completely revamp the autofocus system. Really nice to see a manufacturer keep making a camera better rather than essentially abandoning it after release.

[Edited on May 28, 2015 at 6:12 PM. Reason : ,]

5/28/2015 6:08:49 PM

I replaced the LCD screen on my D40 yesterday. (yes I know, ancient technology) Can't afford a new camera right now, and I dropped my D40 out of my car onto my driveway a few months back and it hasn't worked since then.

That was literally the most frustrating thing I've ever done. It cost $22 + $6 for a precision screwdriver set. I spent 2 hours of my life fucking around with it, and proceeded to strip 2 microscopic screws, the frame around the new LCD screen didn't fit very well so I didn't use it, and I managed to temporarily lose the rubber boot for the delete button.


TL;DR: just pay someone else to do it.

5/28/2015 9:48:00 PM

oh also I'm looking to get rid of my Nikon 85mm f/1.8D, if anyone's interested. I'll be in NC from June 19-23rd. it's a lovely lens but my D600 is mainly used as a video camera at this point so I'm looking to get some more cinema-friendly manual focus lenses. It has both caps and a metal lens hood, though the hood has a dent at the front. Looking to get $250 I guess.

6/1/2015 1:08:36 AM

Quote :

"edit: ALSO, they've been somewhat regularly releasing firmware updates that significantly change the camera. I think the last major one enabled electronic shutter, which is pretty fantastic, and enabled 24p video which was inexplicably absent before, and one coming in June is supposed to completely revamp the autofocus system. Really nice to see a manufacturer keep making a camera better rather than essentially abandoning it after release."

Yeah 4.0 just came out.

Which lens do you have? I'm debating between the 18-135 3.5 or the 18-55 2.8. The former is water resistant and most of my shooting would be outdoors while in the mountains so I'll probably go with that one.

6/29/2015 5:20:45 PM

I sold one of my cars recently and decided I needed the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II

7/1/2015 11:44:06 PM

^^I have the 35mm f/1.4 and it's super sexy but yeah the 18-135 sounds sweet

[Edited on July 6, 2015 at 3:57 PM. Reason : .]

7/6/2015 3:56:58 PM

Finally edited my pics from the 4th. I omitted the shots with my kids in them and was left with our nighttime stuff from after we got back to my parents place.

7/9/2015 10:24:57 PM

I struck out getting some good nighttime shots at the meteor shower last night. I blame the fact that EVERYONE from Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill was at Jordan Last night.

Did get a good one of my son fishing before hand.

8/13/2015 9:14:15 AM

From a recent trip to South Africa

8/16/2015 10:00:48 PM

is wickerman trolling?

8/17/2015 7:33:25 PM

^ I couldn't get the images to fit correctly, sorry about that.

8/17/2015 10:10:43 PM

ok i'll bite - what were you shooting with?

8/17/2015 10:19:13 PM

those all have exposure/focus/iso issues

what photo editing software are you using?

8/17/2015 10:31:59 PM

^^ t4i

^ Canon Digital Photo Professional. It came bundled with the camera. What am I doing wrong?

8/18/2015 1:44:35 PM

Quote :

"those all have exposure/focus/iso issues"

This and all your horizons are askew.

8/18/2015 1:48:20 PM

the duck photo and one of the penguin photos are almost in focus

8/18/2015 1:52:44 PM

not all of them. no need to exaggerate

8/18/2015 1:54:54 PM

your camera is fine (I have a t3i and it's a great entry level DSLR), you should ditch the Canon software (frankly, it sucks compared to Lightroom or even Photomatix), and you really should take a photography class, or at the very least read the book I posted several pages back.

you don't seem to really grasp some very basic photography concepts like exposure, aperture, shutter speed, iso, and composition/framing. I think the duck, elephant, and penguin shots could easily be touched up, but your landscape portraits have lots of issues, in general.

8/18/2015 1:59:06 PM

^ thanks for the feedback. Will educate myself and report back..

8/18/2015 2:42:10 PM

read about the different focus and exposure modes and when to use what, i think some of these were just set to focus on the wrong point

8/18/2015 2:48:03 PM

fwiw, each one of those shots poses inherent challenges, so a lot of what's getting in the way is due to the environment you're trying to shoot. bright, sunny skies tend to wash out everything out; night skies almost ALWAYS require a tripod/shutter release cable/remote, and wildlife is tough too, given how it moves around so quickly. try shooting landscapes in cloudy conditions, and/or during blue/golden hours. while you're at it, look up stuff like the 'rule of thirds'- it'll help you frame more interesting shots.

[Edited on August 18, 2015 at 2:54 PM. Reason : .]

8/18/2015 2:53:45 PM

these were shot in africa with my t1i - it's not the camera - even the kit lens on auto should focus better

message_topic.aspx?topic=391741&page=167#14117337

8/18/2015 3:03:23 PM

I don't see much wrong with the second penguin shot or the orange mountain shot. except maybe jpg compression artifacts. I've seen much worse from beginners.

8/18/2015 5:33:33 PM

^

are you looking at them on a phone or...?

8/18/2015 7:53:23 PM