Cape York Bus service

[campdog]

Back from Samoa and came across the ideal Vehicle for a Cape York tour.
Truck chasis and wooden frame, no windows or doors to worry about and good wooden seats.
John

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/campdog_photos/samonabus.jpg

Samoan Sunsets
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/campdog_photos/Samoa2-1.jpg


http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/campdog_photos/manasesunset2.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/campdog_photos/manasesunset3.jpg

[geoffjy]

Love the pics John. You will have to teach me a few tricks. :)

I'll bet they dont allow smoking on the bus either.

[ant]

Campdog,
Got to hand it to you as you do have a talent with the photos. I don't mean the pic of the bus either. That last pic is sensational.
Can you shed some light for others out there in regards to the camera set up you have? By this, what settings are you choosing to use when you shoot different subjects. I presume the storm shot was taken with a tripod.

Now, if you tell me that these were hand held and taken with the auto feature then I am not going to be happy because they sure as hell don't turn out like that when I try.

[campdog]

Thanks Ant, Something I enjoy,took 1700 shots in 9 days and presently culling.Took heaps of same shot at different settings to get what I wanted.If I knew what I was doing I could save heaps of time.I think ive dleted about 500 so far.Only off the laptop, still on dvd.

My Camera is a Pentax K 10D Grand prix. SLR
The lens in these shots was one I got before the trip. Sigma 17-70mm f 2.8.

All Sunrise and Sunset shots are taken using a tripod.
I normally use Aperture priority setting or Manual setting.
Using a tripod you can get a longer exposure without camera shake.


The 3 sunset shots above were

1-Exposure Time = 30"
F Number = F8
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 100

2-Exposure Time = 1/8"
F Number = F9.5
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 100

3-Exposure Time = 2"
F Number = F8
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 100
I then converted it to black and white.

I sometimes use a neutral density filter so I can get longer shots during the day.
I also take all my photos in Raw file as it allows better post processing.
The bus was hand held.

John

[ant]

Thanks John.
Some images are just made for B&W and that is one of them.

Just a suggestion, in future posts it may be beneficial (for me anyway) to post the settings with the images.

Good to see people actually using the DSLR than more than just a digital 'point and shoot' as the automatic settings don't always work out to be the best. I guess that is where a film/slide background still comes in a little handy.

[Nedly]

Great shots John, but I suppose you already realised that.
I hope to achieve a similar level of expertise one day, but I won't be holding my breath.

What software did you use for the borders etc, was it Photoshop CS3 or CS4?

Les

[campdog]

Nedly, Im pretty hard on myself when it comes to photography and very rarely show them. I have taken about 13000 shots with this camera and to date have printed only one 6x8 of my grandson, I got the SLR in december 08.
I took heaps of the Cape with my last point and shoot but would love to be let loose now.
I use adobe photoshop lightroom for all my storage, cataloging,naming and editing. I have CS 3 and use it only for the border.Thats the limit to my use.
My name and year is done when exporting from lightroom. Lightroom was the changing point in my photos.
John

[campdog]

Thanks John.
Some images are just made for B&W and that is one of them.

Just a suggestion, in future posts it may be beneficial (for me anyway) to post the settings with the images.

Good to see people actually using the DSLR than more than just a digital 'point and shoot' as the automatic settings don't always work out to be the best. I guess that is where a film/slide background still comes in a little handy.
Ant, when I got the SLR I was expecting stunning photos from day one. I soon learnt that an SLR on auto is probably no better than a 4 meg point and shoot. To do any good you need to work on different settings.I would love to learn a few of the tricks.
My biggest change was composition. Everyone stands and takes a photo of the sunset or a building. I look for a different angle and get a few strange looks when im laying on the ground. For sunsets or sunrise I like to get down low and tilt the camera up. This gives a great view of the water as well as more clouds in the shot.
John

[ant]

Ant, when I got the SLR I was expecting stunning photos from day one. I soon learnt that an SLR on auto is probably no better than a 4 meg point and shoot. To do any good you need to work on different settings.I would love to learn a few of the tricks.
My biggest change was composition. Everyone stands and takes a photo of the sunset or a building. I look for a different angle and get a few strange looks when im laying on the ground. For sunsets or sunrise I like to get down low and tilt the camera up. This gives a great view of the water as well as more clouds in the shot.
John

John,
You have nailed it. The biggest mistake people make is that they don't really give the final product any real thought. Some of the best shots I have seen (not just 4wd drive stuff) have been taken from some very interesting angles.

In regards to Adobe Lightroom: I am not familiar with it. Is it similar to Photoshop? I have CS3 and use Photoshop a lot (obviously). Bridge is great for sorting and storing and of course (being a mac fan) iphoto is how I import all my images.

[xina]

Great Shots as usual Campdog. 'Specially that last one.
Cheers,
xina.

[campdog]

John,
You have nailed it. The biggest mistake people make is that they don't really give the final product any real thought. Some of the best shots I have seen (not just 4wd drive stuff) have been taken from some very interesting angles.

In regards to Adobe Lightroom: I am not familiar with it. Is it similar to Photoshop? I have CS3 and use Photoshop a lot (obviously). Bridge is great for sorting and storing and of course (being a mac fan) iphoto is how I import all my images.
Ant,Lightroom is a database system for the storing and editing of photos.I very rarely venture to photoshop,except for borders,you can link with photoshop for bulk editing or borders etc.
Lightroom enables you to keyword,rename etc.The great thing is that it is non destructive to the original file.You can keep all your photos on an external hard drive.Lightroom only keeps the changes you make so the original is not effected.
Better to try it youself.If you go to adobe site you can download a trial version. costs about 300 dollars to buy.

[ant]

Thanks John,
Sounds similar to 'Aperature' which is a mac based program.

[campdog]

Thanks John,
Sounds similar to 'Aperature' which is a mac based program.
Thats it, Aperture, I have read some good reviews about it. Worth every cent.
I never got into film photography, I couldnt afford the film and processing costs with a family of 4 kids.I had a panasonic M7 video camera instead.Good memories.
John

[Nedly]

Nedly, Im pretty hard on myself when it comes to photography and very rarely show them. I have taken about 13000 shots with this camera and to date have printed only one 6x8 of my grandson, I got the SLR in december 08.
I took heaps of the Cape with my last point and shoot but would love to be let loose now.
I use adobe photoshop lightroom for all my storage, cataloging,naming and editing. I have CS 3 and use it only for the border.Thats the limit to my use.
My name and year is done when exporting from lightroom. Lightroom was the changing point in my photos.
John

Thanks for that John, I was looking at Lightroom the other week, but wasn't sure whether it was the right way to go or not. A mate of mine swears by a programme called ACDSee, though I'm not convinced.
Will have a closer look at Lightroom, plus I think it's cheaper than CS3, or CS4, whatever the latest is.
Anyway, if that's what you use to get your results, I'm convinced, much better shots than my mates.

Les

[campdog]

Thanks for that John, I was looking at Lightroom the other week, but wasn't sure whether it was the right way to go or not. A mate of mine swears by a programme called ACDSee, though I'm not convinced.
Will have a closer look at Lightroom, plus I think it's cheaper than CS3, or CS4, whatever the latest is.
Anyway, if that's what you use to get your results, I'm convinced, much better shots than my mates.

Les
Les, go to the Adobe site and download a trial version,no cost and it lasts 30 days.If you have any kids at school or Uni you can buy it a a student price.My daughter got ours to use with year 12 exams.
John

[Nedly]

Les, go to the Adobe site and download a trial version,no cost and it lasts 30 days.If you have any kids at school or Uni you can buy it a a student price.My daughter got ours to use with year 12 exams.
John

Thanks John, I'll do what you suggest.
It always amazes me what the kids can get at student prices, in fact one of our daughter in-laws is into graphic design and still going to uni, might have a word with her.

Les