First RF pics ever!! Constructive critism please!

eIII · 11-02-2005

*COLOR PHOTOS ADDED TO GALLERY*

you may have seen my recent thread about the voigtlander prominent with a nikton 50/1.5 i just aquired. 5 days ago i didn't know what a RF was and today i don't know what i would do without!

anyway, yesterday i took a roll of color and loved the results but didn't get a disc to share. today i took a roll of B&W (1st b&w's ever with any format) and got the disk with my 1 hour developing. i think they turned out rather nice considering my overall lack of experience and the fact i went meterless.

please tell me what you think and what i might do to improve any aspect, from composition to exposure, anything. i want to learn!

here is a link to my gallery- i don't know how to add it to my posts. (if someone could inform me, please

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...y.php?cat=5419

a note about the photos. this is the first time i have ever loaded pics on my computer or getting them developed to disk for that matter. i put them in iphoto (also a first) and uploaded them to this sightwithout modifying them at all. they are raw. they are low res- the big file pics wouldn't take. any suggestions about making them look better for public veiwing would be appreciated if anyone has the time. but if you just want to make fun of my pictures for now that's fine.

thanks much. can you tell i am excited!!

cp_ste.croix · 11-02-2005

I like the composition, but I think you might want to sdjust the levels a bit to bring in the blacks...they look a little grey to me.

For meterless, they look pretty darn good...maybe a stop less next time the light is like that to keep the highlights in check...but they are a GREAT first effort.

Congrats...that final image is awesome

eIII · 11-02-2005

thanks cp!

i agree, they are too grey. the prints are much nicer and the blacks are there- i just couldn't figure out how to adjust the brightness/ contrast in order to make the low res pics look more like the prints.

there were a few more pics i like better, but these were the best variety of close, middle and far without exceeding the daily limit. some tombstone shots turned out really nice and detailed. even my untrained eye can see why this old lens gets rave reviews.

i thought about taking my nikon FM2 for metering, but decided to wing it and teach myself to do without. i know i will be better off in the long run.

thanks!

cp_ste.croix · 11-02-2005

well you're braver than I am, as I always meter...such a chickensh*t. Are you post processing them in photoshop? If you are, just go in and manually adjust the levels and you'll get closer to what your prints show.

eIII · 11-02-2005

not photoshop- just iphoto that came on this old mac. i don't think i have photoshop (unless it was already on here when i bought this thing used- just never looked.)

i was able to change the brightness and contrast and make them look MUCH better, but it wouldn't let me save the changes. it is the first i've messed with iphoto, though, so i will figure it out.

a lot of firsts for this rookie today!

cp_ste.croix · 11-02-2005

I still hate (and respect) photoshop...darn computers wil be the end of my sanity.

DougK · 11-02-2005

Nice work, especially the last two cemetary shots. I'm impressed; I would have been panicking without my meter.

I usually use PS Elements for my editing but iPhoto is a great place to start (I still use it occasionally myself). May I recommend "iPhoto: The Missing Manual" by David Pogue? I found that to be an extraordinarily helpful book and it should get you up to speed very quickly without burying you in technical detail.

wlewisiii · 11-02-2005

Very nice work, especially going sunny/16 on it. I'm guessing this was Kodak BW400 from someplace like a walgreens? No big deal, I've shot a bit of it and these remind me of it, is all. I looked at them earlier and liked the composition of them - the first was a keeper to me - but now I'm getting an error so I can't go back and make better comments.

If you are enjoying the old time camera but do decide you need some meter, keep in mind that old selenium meters from the 50's are often extreamly cheap and can still be very accurate. I'm partial to the GE PR-1, but there are lots of others as well. It fits the mood of that kind of camera quite well.

Glad to see you're enjoying the family camera. That's the way it should be

William

nomade · 11-02-2005

I like ur work, as cp mentioned earlier, it needs a bit more black, the tones r light...I like the tree patern there...

lubitel · 11-03-2005

if your mac has got iPhoto then it cant be that old

double-click on the image you want to adjust, click on the little arrow in bottom right area of the window to get to the menu and choose adjust. There you can adjust all that your heart desires.

zuikologist · 11-03-2005

Nice work, especially the last two - great results with no meter.I would also try to boost the black a little.

dim · 11-03-2005

Nice start.

I also prefer the two last ones. They have good composition.

Keep on shooting.

eIII · 11-03-2005

thanks for the input, all!

and thanks for all the links, tips, and resources- i'm going to check all of them out.

i did figure out how to save the changes in iphoto, but the slightest adjustment bumped the file size over 200k, thus exceeding the limit. i'll learn as i go!

i'm going to keep learning sunny 16 and learn to go meterless. i like the freedom and simplicity. i took copious notes on each exposure and used a few setting for the same shot for comparison sake. this will be fun!

pstevenin · 11-03-2005

I am totally desperate without a meter (or even two (reflective or incident light)) .

But usually I measure it and then I take several pictures freely (especially during peformance or music shows) as you If I feel I have to. with B&W and color films.

With respect,

nomade · 11-03-2005

I don't use meters, i let my instinct guide me

So far i've made some mistakes(over/under exposing some shots), but i'm improving...When i feel that i'm estimating 99% of my shots correctly maybe i'll use a meter...

sbug · 11-03-2005

I use iPhoto for storing my images but I edit in Photoshop Elements 2. You may be able to get a copy of that somewhere pretty cheap. It's much more robust than iPhoto (I have v2 of iPhoto as well) and it is much easier to control image size and file size when resizing to upload here.

RichardS · 11-03-2005

Composition is all right and everything appears to be in focus. All you need is a bit more contrast.

Dick

ZeissFan · 11-03-2005

Hey, these are pretty cool. I'd like to hear your thoughts about the Prominent's ergonomics.

By the way, that lens is a Nokton [rather than Nikton -- no relation to Nikon

].

I think you're off a very nice start.

eIII · 11-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlewisiii

Very nice work, especially going sunny/16 on it. I'm guessing this was Kodak BW400 from someplace like a walgreens?

spot on! exactly what i used. aftre looking at all the b&w photos on here i had to take a roll and that was available. i'll figure out what i like as i progress.

i updated iphoto to v2, still can't figure out how to control file size. looks like i'll have to find the "missing manual" or look into the PS elements mentioned a few times.

as far as the prominent ergonomics i may not be the best person to ask. with my limited experience in photo overall i don't have a lot of ingrained habits. however, after reading all the info i could find on the prom before i took a single photo i figured it was going to be a real pain in the rear to use. this thing sure has its detractors.

i didn't see what the big fuss was about. i really didn't find it akward to use at all. to me, focusing with that left knob on top wasn't that strange, but the weird spring tension that makes it want to constantly return to infiniity took getting used to. it felt like it was going to slip out of focus, though it never did.

i can see that if one has multiple cameras, all 'traditional', and this one gets thrown in the mix, it could be a bit weird. i was also quite deliberate in what i was doing, taking plenty of time. i've been reading that the simple beauty of the RF is its 'quickness of use to capture the moment.' i haven't used it in that setting, but it seems like it may be more demanding. only time will tell.

i've more to say, but off to work i must go. i'll report back later. hope this helps for now.

Skinny McGee · 11-04-2005

Glad to see youu got out and tooke some photos with grandads old camera... They look good keep shooting and keep posting..

Thanks
Skinny

eIII · 11-07-2005

Color photos added to gallery!

i took some pics of my wife on a beautiful fall day with the prominent/ nokton. the link.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...y.php?cat=5419

this is regular old fuji 200, c41. i think the nokton 50/1.5 is a better color lens than b&w! these low res pics don't do the originals justice, but they are still beautiful!

the more pictres i take with this camera the more i love it!