Stories told with Bodies and Glass

[SomedayAdventure]

I think what draws me to American Adventurist, Other than all the people, are the interesting stories and places everyone is going and have gone. Everyone comes back, some wild in the middle of the voyage, and tells a story and shares their adventure. Almost beckoning others to do the same.

For me, half the story has been behind the lens. There are not many pictures of me doing what I do. Mostly just shots of my environment and any effect I have on it. That's about as close to selfie are usually get. Well, there's this little jem.

Look, I'm not looking at the camera so I must be doing something important lol.
But mostly the closest I get to pictures of me like this.

And if I'm lucky...this

So I thought I would bring up a discussion about what types of camera bodies and glass everyone uses. Oddly enough some of my more popular pictures are from a cell phone. It comes down to being ready to shoot and knowing how to do it I guess.

My personal preference, because it's what I started with, is NIKON. Whenever I am asked about what type of camera friend should get I always say Nikon or Canon. You can always trust those two brands as far as I'm concerned if you're looking for a DSLR at the 35mm digital range. I mean sure you can go out and buy a Hasselblad, I just prefer owning a house.

I started out on a Nikon d70 with a kit 28-105 f3.5 with macro. Honestly, it was an outstanding lens for a kid to learn and start on. Focal deficits so much is a concern as composition and the added ability to use macro on little things sparked my imagination. Thank God for beetles.

From there I moved up to a d200 with battery grip and picked up a 17-35 f2.8 Nikor lense. It should be stated that I only buy Nikon lenses. Recently, I upgraded again to the newer d810 body with the battery grip. At 36mgpxls and my first full frame image sensor, I get a lot out of this body.

My bread-and-butter now is the d810 and that 17-35. When I was shooting for magazines in Los Angeles, it pretty much got me everything I needed.

But then, I was using the d200 which didn't have a full frame sensor. This meant that an 85 f1.4 was really a 120mm as there was more image than the sensor could take.

My father was who started me out. Of course I was extremely competitive, as everybody in my family is… Well my brother dad and I.

(Sorry. Had to steel the pics back off Facebook after a computer crash)

[my brother and dad]

My brothers a steadycam operator now anyway.

{phones about to die...back later}

 

[SomedayAdventure]

I dislike smiles.

OK let me clarify. I don't particularly care for people who look at the camera and smile. When I photograph someone, I'm trying to capture a moment. I'm trying to capture someone who is experiencing something. I'm trying to capture an actual and untarnished emotion. I don't mean to say I don't like smiling.
[please forgive the grid. It's all I have left after my computer crashed. Only copies on Facebook left]

This is what drew me to photography. I never wanted to shoot portraits or weddings, despite having done both. I was glad I did because I learned something. I don't enjoy doing it. They almost seem plastic. I'm only saying this as a photographer and not as somebody having been in the photos. I appreciate having my photo taken during my wedding, I just don't like being the photographer. To me those photos require somebody with a knack for sculpting as they seem to require the skill of putting things in their artistic place.

Luckily I had my dad to do the pre-wedding shoot and a friend did my wedding.

And of course, I take nothing seriously

After figuring out this isn't the type of shooting I wanted to do, I had to figure out what it was I liked. I was always drawn to the National Geographic and TIME Magazine type photos. At one point I even considered going to Afghanistan just to photograph. My wife said no. So I had to do something more domestic. I turned to one of the photographs I loved as a kid in history.

This photo essentially became the guiding light to my photography. Not the destination of all my photos, or something to imitate, but rather something to reference.

My mother-in-law hates when I bring the camera over. She has low self-esteem and has to feel like she looks perfect in every photo…based on her opinion of herself and what she think makes her look best. Unfortunately, for her, she doesn't know she looks better unposed. At first, every time she sensed the camera, she would snap her head towards the lens quickly, brush back her hair with her middle finger and force a smile as truly genuine as a realtor forced to sell condos after previously selling mansions in a better market.

It was unbearable. My solution of course, was to exhaust her of this effort by relentlessly photographing her mid conversation. Eventually she got tired and stopped considering the photograph a necessary interruption and instead did exactly what I wanted which was ignore me. It took about 1000 head whips to do the job but it worked.
[not my mother in law]

TBC

 

[woody]

Nate I've really enjoyed your photography and the post above answers my questions of my ' how does he do it' for me Thanks

 

[Chazz Layne]

...and instead did exactly what I wanted which was ignore me. It took about 1000 head whips to do the job but it worked.

We have the same peeves, that drives me nuts too. I've somehow developed the exact opposite habit, completely ignoring the camera to a fault...it drives the other type of photographer nuts.

 

[richard310]

I was just about to ask you what you shot with, and now it's been answered. I'd expect nothing less from a great shot behind the glass and a full frame body. Love the cake toppers by the way.

My little old Nikon D80 is still being put through its paces, needing a service but still kicking. I was looking between the D80 and the D200 at the time but ended up with the D80, purchased used to learn on. It's the first DSLR that I've bought 4 years ago and have been through the kit 18-55 lens, and also a Nikon 55-105mm lens. I didn't like the picture quality and made a jump to the Sigma F/2.8 17-50 EX HSM. I shoot with this lens all the time as the depth of color is so much better and I love the fixed F/2.8. Having been going on group trips more often than before, I've come to realize that I enjoy shooting a lot more for the sake of others rather than for myself. Having that itch to move to a full frame sensor is definitely there (possibly a D750), but sometime down the road. Until then, the D80 will continue to rack up that shutter count.

 

[Trump]

I have been enjoying my Nikon D7100 for a couple years now. Mostly entry level Nikon glass mounted up to it, but still some really great results. I have not invested much into more glass just in case I get more serious and jump to a full frame body. If and when I get another lens for the APS-C system, it will be either the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 or their newer 11-20 f/2.8. Some examples from my current lenses (I downloaded a couple of these from my FB page so excuse the low res):

18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

35mm f/1.8

Many from this lens didn't seem to make it to my phone here, but this lens is gold if you like framing with your feet.



55-300mm f/4.5-5.6

I also dislike posing and smiling for the sake of a photo... There are times that it is appropriate, but I much prefer a candid shot. My wife doesn't understand that one at all.

 

[SomedayAdventure]

Building an arsenal:

Just like my truck build, improvements need to be made in my photography equipment over time. That is, if I plan on going somewhere with it. And, just like my truck build, failure or limitations in a project teach me the most about priorities and necessity.

I'm a pragmatist. I'm a realist.

I've come to learn that the rule for me buying camera equipment is, "If there something I am missing, what is a highest value solution for long term gain."

When I started shooting, it was on a d70 mounted with a 28-105 f3.5-4.5 with macro. Great starter lens. But after a while, just a starter lens. My dad had an 85 f1.4, a 17-35 f2.8, and a 80-200 f2.8 which I fortunately got a chance to play around on. I learned that the 85 mm had outstanding focal plane when it came to portraiture. Such great light. I also learned that his 80–200 was outstanding for objects at the same range and further and had an outstanding little ability called compression (I will going into talking about that later). Finally, his 17–35 was a great mid range lens with a ton of versatility.

When it came time to deciding what I needed for my first major lens purchase, the 17-35 won out hands-down. At about $1600 a pop, i was happy the choice was easy. Like I said before, this lens was my bread-and-butter in Los Angeles. I could use it for portraits as well as landscapes. In some occasions, I could even use it for action shots or sports. But something was missing.

Depth control. Part of the art of photography is manipulating space and light to bring something new or specific to the viewer. Drawing the appropriate attention to a piece of time in a way the photographer imagines it should be told.

So I knew my next lens decision was going to be based on my control of focus and depth. Things were getting technical now. Based on what I had learned, I either wanted a prime f1.4 lens or the new 70-200 f2.8. I had to base my decision on the style of photography I needed to accomplish first. The F1 .4 would've given me really great news paper like photos for things where portraits were more my focus. The 70–200 would not only give me extended range but something special known as compression. In short, compression is when you zoom in to a subject with a large millimeter lens and shoot it at the lowest f-stop which makes everything behind the subject blend together in a way you cannot distinguish depth.

The shot is done with an F1 .4 and a short focal length. Notice you could still discern the city behind the feet.

This is a photograph utilizing compression. Not the best example.

A better example… And a cute little photo of me

So in short, I decided to get the 70–200. It had more usefulness and areas of sports, portraiture, wildlife, and action. It was the pragmatic next choice.

My advice to anyone who is starting out and is considering it a serious Hobby or profession, consider first what you want to shoot. What moves you and what types of photos are you most likely to take. Then, if you're serious, but good lenses. Most, not all, are in the ballpark of $1600. Some cheaper and some more expensive. Be realistic and think about what brings most utility to what you're going to shoot and where. Also, study other photographers. Look at how they shoot subjects. Decide if that's the way you like it and move on from there. It may translate differently for you in the future and perhaps give you an edge.

Some of my old shots as examples of focus/compression

To date, my primary gear is as follows:
All NIKON
D810
28-105 f3.5
17-35 f2.8
70-200 f2.8
35 f1.4
10.5 f2.8

 

[SomedayAdventure]

A quick check in.

In London, walking about, and had to decide on the best 2 lenses to take. Lots of buildings and architecture to shoot as well as Chelsea from time to time.

I decided to go with the 35 f1.4 and the ol' 17-35 f2.8.

 

[SomedayAdventure]

Well, I'm back home. Home from England and Scotland only to be off to SoCal Desert Rendezvous.

Tonight is home campout night...i.e. I'm camping in my driveway to make my boys happy.

The weather is not that great but I popped off a quick shot to share. It reminds me of the one (1) thing I miss about shooting with the Samsung cameras. Fast turnaround (it could wirelessly download straight to my phone to share).

Small sacrifices must be made.

 

[SomedayAdventure]

The Point of View:

An often overlooked concept that might help you tell your story is the point of view. This is part of the framing and composition of a photograph. In my opinion it often takes more effort to remember and, in many cases, evaluate the possible importance of (to decide if it should or should not be addressed).

Observation point of view-

This type of photo uses a point of view that is observing a subject (my son) in his moment and environment. It lends itself to subtly saying "look at him" or "see how happy he is". It is taken from the perspective of someone not at his level. Or in some cases someone on the outside. I am taller so the pictures taken downward


Shared experience-

This type of photo uses the point of view that shares the subjects experience. Typically, I bring the camera to their level. Also, I often allow eye contact but it can be done in different ways such as over the shoulder.

In this case of my dog Kraken, I would hope to invoke a sense of pathos in the observer. They can either take it as a sense of laziness, lethargy, longing, feeling of being overwhelmed...or even humor based on a related feeling it invokes.

This photo, taken at the level of my son, is taken away but hopes to bring the observer into his world. Even though he is the subject of the photograph, it's almost as though he is speaking or communicating to the observer.

TBC...

 

[SomedayAdventure]

Another note is that using the point of view of the subject with other objects in motion can help the observer make a connection with the subject.

It can also work vertically or at different angles depending on the environment you want to show.

 

[Scott]

These are some very cool photos. I love the explanation of them! Keep it up.. I follow you here Facebook and Instagram and look forward to your photos.

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

 

[SomedayAdventure]

These are some very cool photos. I love the explanation of them! Keep it up.. I follow you here Facebook and Instagram and look forward to your photos.

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

Thank you Scott

 

[Xpedition Outfitters]

Thanks for sharing. Amazing work as always.....

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[SomedayAdventure]

Just a throwback. My brother and I holding the guns

 

[SomedayAdventure]

So, I finally got the 'go ahead' and tomorrow we're adding a new member to the family.

The NIKON 14-24mm f2.8

This is to go along with my favorite lens, my 17-35 f2.8 to cover more of the landscape base I haven't improved on.

The interesting thing about this lens is learning the many uses. I'll talk more about it later but a "wide" like this can either expand your possibilities or, if used incorrectly, corner you in repetitive and somewhat boring shots.

@Mr.FrankLopez


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dave]

Fascinating thread. Thanks for sharing your knowledge here with us.

 

[Nuclear Redneck]

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us.

 

[Gallowbraid]

A lot of great information here. Your photos rock! Love seeing what you post, keep it coming.

 

[SomedayAdventure]

Fascinating thread. Thanks for sharing your knowledge here with us.

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us.

A lot of great information here. Your photos rock! Love seeing what you post, keep it coming.

Thanks guys. I really just wanted to help people get some ideas for their own shots. If anyone knows how to tag someone in a post, I spoke with Frank Lopes (mrfranklopez) and he said he would help me out with this (when he has time im sure) as we have the same essential camera systems.

Thanks again.