Photography General - Sperging about taking pictures and shit

  • 🏰 The Fediverse is up. If you know, you know.
  • Want to keep track of this thread?
    Accounts can bookmark posts, watch threads for updates, and jump back to where you stopped reading.
    Create account
Obviously this photo doxes me since I live in the little house on the right of the picture.
SNEED_7011.jpg
 
Oh neat, another photography thread! I usually just post in the Nature Photography thread, but I really like this picture of Jesus.

jesuschrist.jpg
 
Ok you camera people, I don’t know shit about photography but I was recently gifted 2 old Olympus 35mm cameras. One is an IS-1 and the other is a Stylus Epic Zoom 170 Deluxe. How do I make pictures I take not look like complete shit and are these cameras still alright? From cursory research it seems theyre pretty decent by 1990s standards.
 
How do I make pictures I take not look like complete shit
Fristly, you could looks through the manuals: https://www.manua.ls/olympus/stylus-epic-zoom-170/manual?p=6 , https://www.cameramanuals.org/olympus_pdf/olympus_is-1.pdf
Then you need to understand the concept of exposure: https://photographylife.com/what-is-exposure
You can download whichever camera app is there on your chosen mobile platform that allows you to set aperture, shutter speed and ISO and take enough photos with settings changed around till you understand it.

Besides that, its all learned through trial and error. Since film is expensive, I recommend using your phone along with the cameras to get a rough understanding of the exposure before you take a photo but don't worry about getting perfect exposure all the time, especially at the start. Basically the objective is to learn enough of the technical side so that it won't get in the way of (and eventually help in) making a good image.

Since both of your cameras use film, you can try using the EZ 120 first since its automatic then alternate between them as you get a hold of more manual controls.
 
Fristly, you could looks through the manuals: https://www.manua.ls/olympus/stylus-epic-zoom-170/manual?p=6 , https://www.cameramanuals.org/olympus_pdf/olympus_is-1.pdf
Then you need to understand the concept of exposure: https://photographylife.com/what-is-exposure
You can download whichever camera app is there on your chosen mobile platform that allows you to set aperture, shutter speed and ISO and take enough photos with settings changed around till you understand it.

Besides that, its all learned through trial and error. Since film is expensive, I recommend using your phone along with the cameras to get a rough understanding of the exposure before you take a photo but don't worry about getting perfect exposure all the time, especially at the start. Basically the objective is to learn enough of the technical side so that it won't get in the way of (and eventually help in) making a good image.

Since both of your cameras use film, you can try using the EZ 120 first since its automatic then alternate between them as you get a hold of more manual controls.
Thank you for the info! Ill read through the manuals and research some more basics.
 
Ok you camera people, I don’t know shit about photography but I was recently gifted 2 old Olympus 35mm cameras. One is an IS-1 and the other is a Stylus Epic Zoom 170 Deluxe. How do I make pictures I take not look like complete shit and are these cameras still alright? From cursory research it seems theyre pretty decent by 1990s standards.
F8 and be there
 
f/8 and be there is a mantra said by landscape photographers.
The wikipedia page attributes photojounalist/street photographer Weegee to have coined the saying. Basically, at f/8 "the lens set to the hyperfocal distance—which results in a sharply-focussed depth of field whether taking pictures up close or at great distances." also worth noting f/8-f/13 (depends on the lens) is usually the sharpest aperture before you start seeing diffraction that negatively impacts sharpness. The wiki page also mentions it is a mantra used outside of photography. Something similar to the saying "the best camera is the one you have with you".
 
Thanks for your information, I like visiting old abandoned places that are not visited much and I have the place myself.
From one photographer to another, please be careful in abandoned areas. I've known two photographers over the last couple decades that have died due to accidents that occurred during their explorations of abandoned buildings and lots. One fell through a weak concrete floor five stories above the main area and while he survived the fall, he did not survive the injuries for several hours and was found two days later. Another that I knew got herself locked into a space... they didn't find her for a while.

Please be careful in abandoned buildings.
 
From one photographer to another, please be careful in abandoned areas. I've known two photographers over the last couple decades that have died due to accidents that occurred during their explorations of abandoned buildings and lots. One fell through a weak concrete floor five stories above the main area and while he survived the fall, he did not survive the injuries for several hours and was found two days later. Another that I knew got herself locked into a space... they didn't find her for a while.

Please be careful in abandoned buildings.

please avoid abandoned buildings simply because it’s trite and hacky to photograph abandoned buildings.
 
please avoid abandoned buildings simply because it’s trite and hacky to photograph abandoned buildings.
Just like how every Photography I student in 9th grade walks up to a tree, sets their camera at the base of the trunk and aims it up.

Please stop taking this photo unless you're super duper sure that this one is the next Ansel Adams Award winner.
 
please avoid abandoned buildings simply because it’s trite and hacky to photograph abandoned buildings.
If the photo can look good and it doesn't harm anyone, I don't see why not. A style of photos being common is another issue but I think real pretentious is putting too many filters, artificial film grain and vingetting in photos; and straight up copying popular photos from instagram.
Just like how every Photography I student in 9th grade walks up to a tree, sets their camera at the base of the trunk and aims it up.
Same with these kinds of photos; why not do it? We're not limited in the number of photos we can take anymore.
the next Ansel Adams Award winner.
I get his work and get why he's famous but I don't understand people (not talking about you,) hype him up so much. He got in on the scene early and plenty of people can make images just as or more striking than his and be completely ignored today. Still mountains ahead of "legendary" street photographers though.
 
I decided I definitely need to get a digital camera. I’m considering either a used Nikon D7500 or a newer Z50 II after I’ve saved up. I’m looking for a camera for a small amount of hobbyist photography and family photos and videos. I wouldn’t mind having a compact like the Lumix LX100 II or even a Canon Powershot, but I really want something more heavy duty and dedicated for taking nice pics and something that has built in flash. Still not sure how much I want to drop on this, I really only want one that will last a long time.
 
Last edited:
I decided I definitely need to get a digital camera. I’m considering either a used Nikon D7500 or a newer Z50 II after I’ve saved up. I’m looking for a camera for a small amount of hobbyist photography and family photos and videos. I wouldn’t mind having a compact like the Lumix LX100 II or even a Canon Powershot, but I really want something more heavy duty and dedicated for taking nice pics and something that has built in flash. Still not sure how much I want to drop on this, I really only want one that will last a long time.
If I were buying new, with no legacy lenses I'd get the mirrorless. I have a Zfc which I really like, but 80% of the reason I bought it was the retro look, 20% because it's actually tiny. It's a nice companion to my ginormous D750.
At least the Z50 II has a built-in flash, that's all I really miss on the Zfc.
 
either a used Nikon D7500 or a newer Z50 II
Used D7500 and Nikon F-mount lenses will be cheaper but video will be much better on mirrorless. Both the Z50II and D7500 have built in flash. The Z's battery will drain faster but it can charge via micro-USB (I think).
Also take a look at which lenses you want to use and go with the mount that has or has better lenses in the focal length.
 
I get his work and get why he's famous but I don't understand people (not talking about you,) hype him up so much. He got in on the scene early and plenty of people can make images just as or more striking than his and be completely ignored today. Still mountains ahead of "legendary" street photographers though.
I mostly agree with you. If you get in on the ground floor, hey good for you; you probably deserve some of that fame because you were probably being called a faggot by most people for not working a "real" job. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that because he was early, he gets taught in Photography 101.

Same with these kinds of photos; why not do it? We're not limited in the number of photos we can take anymore.
Of course! I tell people the same thing all the time. But I still like to take the piss out of 101s for being 101s. Perk of the experience. And then obviously I try to help them improve because I care about the art form. :lol:

@Null Can you please post a proper upload of your DC photo from the stream? It was artifacted a bit on the stream and I would like to judge you. Post more pictures too! You're getting judged hard. The thread is ready.

james.png
 
Took these on a walk last week.
View attachment 6819681View attachment 6819682
View attachment 6819683View attachment 6819684
No mist creature snatched me away, unfortunately.
I really like the first and second one even though they are basic. But I like basic. Doing "basic" well can be difficult. You have access to a good location. Keep working on that shot and improve it.

I can't tell which one I like more. The first nails the general idea of this kind of photograph (a "view down a path" scene) but the curve that starts to grow out of the second image is interesting to my brain. These two pictures are almost the same, but that one little bit of curve in the tracks turns them into entirely different images altogether.

Keep working on that shot. Try the shot again and try that location again. Over a few months/years you may find something really great in that place. :lol:

Oh and as always: safe photography! Don't wear headphones or otherwise obstruct your senses along rail lines and near traffic. Ideally you are never blocking out your senses to too great a degree.
 
Back
Top Bottom