Blooming Today - Page 2 - Orchid Board

goodgollymissmolly · #11 03-31-2008, 04:18 PM

OK, this C walkeriana alba. This at -1.0EV with Dlighting applied at 40-40. It looks a little fuzzy to me, but it's all I have right now without going and getting a new pic.

Detail wise it's OK I guess, but it is a little yellow and if I get it as white as the flower the detail goes to Hades. I'll try pure side light tomorrow to get some shadow detail. that might improve it. Never thought about using a landscape technique for detail.

Ross · #12 03-31-2008, 04:26 PM

You can remove the yellow through the <camera settings><white balance><capture nx> selection then select various settings till it looks right. "Calculate automatically" is what is normally applied. You can change that to warmer or cooler by changing the Kelvin setting based on the lighting you were using. You're on the right track though. This Capture thing is way to go once it becomes second nature, but up till then, it's the program you love to hate!

goodgollymissmolly · #13 03-31-2008, 04:40 PM

Well, I got it white. It was shot with flash in a darkened room at 5400K (There was just enough 5000K light entering so that I could focus. You would not have been able to read a book). I had to go to 4200K to get it looking right.

Ross · #14 03-31-2008, 04:48 PM

Fantastic! Got it! Nice photo.

shakkai · #15 03-31-2008, 05:21 PM

Good Golly!

That's a gorgeous stuartiana! What a great flower! Beautiful photos. One of these days, I'm going to have to really sit down and try to understand my camera (I've got the D200 as well) but I tend to just let it make the decisions - and most of the time, it does save me from myself!

(..._...) · #16 03-31-2008, 05:44 PM

very nice! I like the phal

caseydoll · #17 03-31-2008, 05:56 PM

Beautiful orchids and photos goodgolly! It sure does brighten up this gloomy day!

Now I just wish I had my own blooms to drool over...

goodgollymissmolly · #18 03-31-2008, 06:04 PM

Shakkai, this is the smaller of the two stuartiana's. The larger one is mounted and only has about 3 blooms open, but it's going to have a bunch. It is highly branched and should be very pretty.I'll try for a picture when it gets going.

Yes, you should get your camera off thinking for itself. With the black backgrounds I use spot metering because I don't want the background to influence exposure at all. The meter will try to make it gray and I'll just blacken it again but meanwhile the subject will be overexposed. I essentially never use Auto white balance. Actually the D200 auto WB is pretty good (outdoors only), but the D100 was terrible and I never used it. I do use auto focus because I was never good at focusing and the current screens offer no focusing aids of any kind. I keep thinking I'll get a KatzEye screen which has a split image.

The stuartiana is really eye catching (for me too), but I'm still most impressed with the equestris clone. Since no one else seems to be, I think a different picture because this thing is really pretty.

I'm the Catt person here so I think most highly of the Catts.

Well thanks Casey Doll. Believe me it's small return for the propane bill this winter. Just about $4000 since October. I have a considerably cheaper supplier for the future. About a third less. Now I'm encouraged so I'll post some more pictures (this after telling Shakkai that I didn't do that).

Ross · #19 03-31-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakkai

Good Golly!

That's a gorgeous stuartiana! What a great flower! Beautiful photos. One of these days, I'm going to have to really sit down and try to understand my camera (I've got the D200 as well) but I tend to just let it make the decisions - and most of the time, it does save me from myself!

Come on Shannon, this time I'm the enabler! Ask away and please don't be afraid to use the NEF format (RAW.) I use it exclusively (wouldn't know how to use the jpg format usefully). I can help you if you choose to go to the dark side, Luke

shakkai · #20 03-31-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

Now I'm encouraged so I'll post some more pictures (this after telling Shakkai that I didn't do that).

Do it!! I'm loving your photos! And they sure are a great tonic for our "Spring" showers!

I had to laugh at your comment about doing everything but manual focus - and that's the only thing I will do!! I've just not ever got my head around f-stops and the metering and whatnot.