[What is your most challenging part of photography?]

21 hours ago, ST said:

I'm fortunate to have come to photography when modern cameras can handle the ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and even focusing. I started with the A7 IV last summer and got the A1 in February when I realized how much I enjoyed this new pursuit.
 
With all the technical details handled by the camera, I'm left with finding something to photograph, composition, and, of course, understanding and using light.

I walk outdoors every day, and even in the worst weather, there's usually something to photograph if I keep an open mind. I typically carry two bodies, the A7 IV with the FE 50mm F1.2 GM and the A1 with the FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS. If it's dark and ugly, I'll take the A1 with the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II, and I carry the 2.0X teleconverter in case the light improves.

The biggest challenge right now: 
Every week, I photograph amateur musicians in a community hall. There is no stage lighting, and the musicians are constantly in motion. There can be up to fifteen acts (solos and ensembles, up to five or six) in an evening. There are no dimmers, so the organizers turn off the main room lights and rely on some track lighting at the rear of the room and some outdoor security lights coming through the windows to illuminate the space. 

I recently picked up some small LED lights that the organizers will barely tolerate. They want to maintain the 'ambience'. There are also many obstructions like microphones, microphone stands, and music stands. This makes for all kinds of hotspots and ugly shadows.

In this setting, I use the FE 50mm F1.2 GM and FE PZ 16-35 MM F4 G on the A1. I use Capture One to help with separating the people from the frenetic background.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is, I'm not comfortable photographing people.

I'd be grateful for any comments or suggestions.

My in-laws are in their 80s, but they go 'jam' every week with fellow musicians and I hear you about the light! My best tip is to just to look for those still moments, or at least when they are not wildly swaying, and use a slower shutter speed. I think strumming with slow shutter can be really impactful. Seriously though, this is a tough situation. A wedding photographer would just demand to light the scene. 😂 One thing you might try is a long lens. Getting in close can be magical with musicians. You did great here with what you were given! 

[24 GM as a Macro Lens? I think I like it!]

Wide angle lenses are usually purchased for the big picture....landscapes, astro and the like. I love the close focusing distance! There is something about a wide angle that gives a 'bigger than life' appearance and makes details pop. I'm a struggling botanical photographer in winter in Minnesota. 🙂 I have a few pansies in my greenhouse that are still alive and I'm enjoying the pink blush this time of year. I'm excited to use the 24 more! 

These were shot at f9 and I used an LED mat to light it on my left. 

 

[What do you print for your walls? Share your fave wall prints here!]

On 12/18/2023 at 2:43 PM, LensBrew said:

Thank you! This is what I was going for and I'm glad it worked.

I'm going back next week and want to get those subjects at golden hour (sunrise). By the way, the second one is a vertical panorama with 5 images.

I love that! I would never have known that! 

[What do you print for your walls? Share your fave wall prints here!]

On 12/14/2023 at 2:03 PM, LensBrew said:

I've only did test prints to see which paper would look better for specific images.

These are so timeless! 

[What is the HARDEST thing you shoot?]

On 12/7/2023 at 3:21 PM, ST said:

Not so scary (taken from across a stream) at 9:07 a.m. on a dreary, overcast day.

ILCE-1 FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS 
600 mm f/6.3 1/200 sec ISO 3200

That is about as close as I’d get. 😂

[What is the HARDEST thing you shoot?]

On 12/9/2023 at 12:22 AM, ST said:

Hi, Katrina,

I'm still new to all of this, so take it with a grain of salt.
When I'm looking for eagles, I have the camera set for birds in flight (loosely based on the video below), and I use recall custom hold assigned to a button to override those settings for birds at rest.

That way, it's point and shoot when something interesting flies by. This doesn't guarantee good results, but at least the camera is ready even if I'm not.

ILCE-1 Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) 600.0 mm ƒ/6.3 1/4000 sec ISO 640

Awesome! 

[What is the HARDEST thing you shoot?]

On 12/10/2023 at 12:29 PM, LensBrew said:

That would be swimming for me. Swimmer dip in-and-out of the water and causes the camera to loose focus continuously. To make matter worse, the camera's focus shifts to the water droplets that splash in front of the swimmers. I get the lowest percentage of usable images for this sport. Not to mention Chlorine water everywhere.

Oh goodness! Just the humidity alone and a fogged up lens! I did t know about the drops issue in front of swimmers. I wonder if the new AI focus works well with goggles? 

[What is the HARDEST thing you shoot?]

On 12/8/2023 at 9:00 AM, Katrina Thompson said:

For me, it's eagles and owls in flight. I feel as though I have had many opportunities as of late, but by the time I get close enough and my settings are ready, they fly away before I get a chance to get that perfect shot with their clear, crisp wings in flight. 

So majestic! 

[What is your most challenging part of photography?]

On 12/13/2023 at 7:03 PM, TrekRover said:

I think lighting is always a challenge and the ISO. I am a pixel peeper so noise bothers me lol. I am also too slow to react to fast moving objects/animals. Hope the a1ii will have the pre-capture like the a9iii 🙂

Pre-capture is a game changer for sure!! 

[What is your most challenging part of photography?]

On 12/10/2023 at 12:39 PM, LensBrew said:

Lights in venues are a nightmare. Our basketball court has ones the worst lights in college, and to make matters worse, some lights died and the university are not planning to replace them for "development" reasons. 

I wonder if Sony can be developed a sensor solely for such venues, without the need to raise the ISO.

Nothing is worse than gym lighting! 

[What editing software do you use? is it free or paid?]

I use Adobe, but that is mostly because I’ve taught it so long.  I adore the new masking functions! 

[What is your most challenging part of photography?]

Is it ISO, aperture, shutter speed, or perhaps light? What part of photography with Sony challenges you the most? 

[Best website service?]

2 hours ago, Joey-Austin said:

@CarolineJensen This is a very simple but beautiful and organized website, I ended up getting website.com it's very cheap and comes with free domain for a year, this is my website https://joeyaustin.us

I love the aesthetic here 

[What is the HARDEST thing you shoot?]

What challenges you the most? What do you kind of dread to shoot, but love the results? Share below! 

 

I find all night photography hard. I won't even bore you with my miserable failures, haha! I need to get better at astro photography as I have a good area for that, but coyotes scare me! 

[Greetings from Spain]

Welcome! 

[DSC-RX10 V? Phased our or pending release?]

I really love this series of cameras! It has always been my 'crafty camera' as I shot from far away and made art with it. I miss using it as my kids use it all the time. I want an updated version! 

[Did you get something fun for Christmas? Share below!]

I am eyeing the new 300, but that doesn't come out until spring. I think I want a Sony flash, but I am not sure which one! 

[Mechanical shutter count in your very brand-new SONY camera.]

I think it depends. I would imagine the camera has going through quality control and thus would have shots on it already. 

[Is "Auto" setting on pro bodies still necessary?]

also, for when you have to pass your camera to someone and they don't know the camera. I have done this! 

[What’s In My Bag: A 1-Body, 1-Lens Kit For Creative Food Photography]

Great video!! 

[Best website service?]

I also have a zenfolio site and their new backend is really easy! You can see my website here to get an idea: https://kindredflorals.com

[Share Your Favorite Black and White Photo Challenge]

This is an oldie, but I still love it. It is my favorite full-sun technique, backlit-veining. This fly landed as I was shooting the veins of a leaf. I love the details and black and white really pops the details. 

[10h in San Francisco, enough to crash my drone :D]

On 11/28/2023 at 9:50 PM, damian said:

@CarolineJensen thank you! it was fun trip! still healing poison ivy!

UGH! Poison ivy is the worst!!! 

[How to Use Ansel Adams Zone System in Digital Photography?]

Nice!! This is great! 

[A Little Birding This AM and more with the Sony A7CII + 600GM]

Oh man....that 600 again!!! 🎉