Photography: The Amateur's Eye

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Hey Folks. I finally, after years of whining and stamping my feet got a descent DSLR from my boys for Christmas. They bought me a Canon Rebel T3 1100D, which for an amateur like me is more than enough to absorb. Still learning I thought I'd post a few of the pictures I've done so far.

I stumbled across this old beast and the relic below on my way down to shoot a creek off the highway.
I actually forgot to shoot the creek after finding these two battered vehicles.

This is a shot of my best Pal Dexter who truly hates my new camera.

Structures. (Top) I shot this old Chicken House of Highway 20 on the way to Niagara Falls. It looks
somewhat creepy like out of a 1070's slasher film like Texas chainsaw Massacre.
(Bottom) This old barn took a real beating in the last windstorm we had in the Spring.

Black and Whites

Top: Turkey vulture on the hunt. Bottom lonely structure.

Trick photography? This is a shot I did from my deck toward a mirror hanging on our fence. I decided
to leave the reflection in color.

 

[TenPenny]

Those are great; I love good crisp b&w photos. Reminds me of the time spent in a darkroom with my father, making prints.

 

[SLM]

Some nice shots. I love photography.

Love the barn.

And Dexter's adorable too.

 

[shadowshiv]

All the pictures are really good, but I like the first two the most. Just the look of the decrepit vehicles gives it a sort of post-apocalyptic feel to it.

 

[In Between Man]

Like shadow I also like the first two the best. Although those pics of Dexter do scream "give me a belly rub".

 

[gerryh]

I wanna know why you have a mirror on the fence facing the deck. Then again, maybe I don't want to know.

 

[shadowshiv]

I wanna know why you have a mirror on the fence facing the deck. Then again, maybe I don't want to know.

Being as this is Mark we are talking about, we definitely don't want to know.:lol:

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I wanna know why you have a mirror on the fence facing the deck. Then again, maybe I don't want to know.

My wife put it there. You said it's for me to look in when I make a fool of myself.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Looks like the amateur has a pretty good eye, those are good shots, interesting subjects and nicely composed and framed. Nice camera too, glad to see the lads had the sense to get you a Canon. When I was looking around for my DSLR my research convinced me that only Canon and Nikon were worth looking at seriously, if only because as the market leaders any third party stuff like lenses will always be available to fit them. I predict that when you get more comfortable and experienced with it, the first thing you'll want is a longer lens. Both Canon and Sigma make some very nice ones in the 18-200 mm range. I have one of those (but mines a Nikon) and I use it for 90% of my photography, never use the kit lens at all anymore. I also have a 70-300 mm lens that I use for the other 10%, which is mostly while bird watching and it's almost always at maximum zoom. I'd like something even longer too, but once you get over 300 mm the price gets well up into 4 figures and I haven't been able to justify it to myself. Or save that much.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I also have an 18-255 zoom. I just haven't used it much. I'm heading for the Ice Roads in January, hoping to catch some interesting shots up there.

 

[CDNBear]

Nice shots Mark.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Nice shots Mark.

Thanks Bear. And Dex, I made a mistake, I have a 55-200 zoom lens as well.

 

[CDNBear]

Thanks Bear. And Dex, I made a mistake, I have a 55-200 zoom lens as well.

Off the wall question. What kind of shape is that truck in, chassis wise?

And do you think the owner would part with it?

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Off the wall question. What kind of shape is that truck in, chassis wise?

And do you think the owner would part with it?

I have no idea. I kind of snuck in there took the shots and got the hell out. I can send you the location if you like.

 

[CDNBear]

I have no idea. I kind of snuck in there took the shots and got the hell out. I can send you the location if you like.

If you wouldn't mind, please and thanks.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

If you wouldn't mind, please and thanks.

Google Earth Coordinates: Latitude 43° 4'40.50"N Longitude 79°30'38.47"W

Highway 20 approximate 6 km east of Smithville there is a rest area on the left just over a bridge that crosses a creek. Beside that rest area is house with a barn. The vehicles are behind the barn.

 

[CDNBear]

Google Earth Coordinates: Latitude 43° 4'40.50"N Longitude 79°30'38.47"W

Highway 20 approximate 6 km east of Smithville there is a rest area on the left just over a bridge that crosses a creek. Beside that rest area is house with a barn. The vehicles are behind the barn.

Thanks.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

 

[captain morgan]

Off the wall question. What kind of shape is that truck in, chassis wise?

Ole Betty is in great shape.. You'd never know it from the outside, but I can assure you that both cylinders go hell for leather once you put the hammer down.. Why, I'm certain that I've got her wound up to at least 21 kph more than twice (on a down hill with a back wind).

I have no idea. I kind of snuck in there took the shots and got the hell out. I can send you the location if you like.

That was you?.. My sister-wife said that she saw some city-boy sneaking through the property, but we was unsure if it wasn't Santa so I decided to leave my 12 gauge under the bed... Too bad really, we was fixin' to have our annual road-kill BBQ, you could have stayed.

--------------------------------

All kidding aside, great shots!

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Thanks Bear. And Dex, I made a mistake, I have a 55-200 zoom lens as well.

I wondered about that, I thought I knew the market pretty well and I've never seen an 18-255 lens, though I think Sigma makes an 18-250. But at around $1200, that's a little rich for me. I've never actually seen one, just ads for one, and it looks a little too big and heavy to be convenient to carry around all the time. The nice thing about having the 18-200 is that it covers the range of the standard kit lens, which is usually in the 18-50 or 18-70 mm range, as well as being a good medium range telephoto, and it's not too heavy. I'm interested in anything that minimizes fussing with the hardware on a shoot, and not having to change lenses much I find very convenient. I also like to minimize the number of times I expose the camera's innards, less chance for dirt and dust to get in. Actually I'd like another camera body, to permanently mount the 70-300 mm lens on, so I never have to do it, but that's another expense I haven't been able to justify to myself.

Or, to be honest, my wife...