Here is a picture of the Nikon D700 without a lens. The photo is from the E-bay listing, so it is supposed to be an image of the camera for sale.
As for learning to take good pictures, I've NEVER had a "formal" lesson on how to get good pictures. I've taken a sum total of one (1) course on how to use a complicated camera like the D300 or D700. That is the sum total of "formal education."
What I did learn came mostly from being raised at the knees (so to speak) of a mother that taught herself to paint with oil paints. Years of watching her (and her students) paint and looking at the finished product, as well as the "studies" from which they painted, taught me the "art" of composure. Anyone can learn to take good photos simply by observing the photos of others. I've been told to take photography courses to learn the "tricks" of the "rule of thirds," "lines," and other elements of composing a photo. However, I adhere to the quotation made by a very famous nature photographer named Ansel Adams. His quotation: "There are no rules for good photos. There are just good photos."
I've long looked at photo sharing websites like Pbase where one can see the photos of both amateurs and professionals. Looking at those photos will give one an idea of what "makes" a photo and eventually one learns to discern what "destroys" a photo as well. (We've all heard of photobombs.) I am NOT a "technical" photographer that is obsessed with using f-stops, ISO speeds, and other technical aspects of taking a photograph. I am what I call a "serious, amateur" photographer, which means I make nothing from my photos, but I'm willing to pay the money to get good equipment. I take LOTS of photos, simply because I figure that I may never get to that place again.
Then I take pictures of whatever gets my fancy at the moment, and sometimes numerous angles or what-have-you of the same subject. That drives one of my brothers-in-law nuts. When all is done in taking the photos, I then look through them and certain ones will "jump out" at me as a good photo. I'm very "self-critical" and don't choose many as favorites, although my family heartily disagrees with my assessment of my less favorite photos.
All in all, it is not the equipment that "makes" the photo. I've got lots of very good photos taken with a lot simpler cameras that the D300 is or the D700 will be. So, if one takes the time to learn by observing, one can do as well as professionals, even with a simple and cheap point and shoot camera. One should leave oneself ready for any opportunity. I missed a whale breaching in Alaska one time because my camera was off and my hands were in my pockets, and that whale was right out in front of me at the time. I'd likely not have gotten it anyway, because my camera at that time was pretty bad with what is called "shutter lag," which is the delayed effect between when the shutter button is pressed and the camera actually takes the photo.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Sunday 24th of November 2013 04:10:58 PM
Terry and Jo said
08:19 PM Nov 24, 2013
Well, maybe Sunday before "Black Friday" might be more appropriate.
Jo has ordered my Christmas present. She is selling her Nikon D90 with two lenses and other stuff so she can buy me a Nikon "full frame" D700. It is a used one and has been purchased off of E-bay. It appears to be in pristine condition and has only had about 10,000 shutter activations done on it. Plus, it comes with an extra battery and a nice backpack case by Lowepro. While I would normally refuse that she sell her camera to buy me something, she decided that I should still keep my D300 camera so that she would still have one that she could use. I can go for that idea.
It should be here ON "Black Friday." I can hardly wait. This is a present that will be used extensively when we get moved to Colorado. SirWinston21 (Jesse) informed that our reserved site at Mountaindale RV Resort near Colorado Springs has deer that cross it about every evening.
I've already got one FX (full frame) lens in a Nikkor 70-200mm, so that will get used a lot as well. Plus, my nephew that is working as a contractor overseas has offered to loan me his FX lenses until he gets back. One of those is the Nikkor 24-70mm FX lens. Now, I just need to save up my money for a "walk-around" lens and possibly my own 24-70mm lens.
Now, having said all that, do I have a great wife or what?
Terry
SnowGypsy said
08:31 PM Nov 24, 2013
Well, I got the message long before this last post that you had a great wife. I just get this feeling too, that she thinks she has a great husband. I don't understand anything about photography and a good snapshot hasn't even happened here since our son left home 18 years ago but, from your enthusiasm I am guessing you hit the jackpot! Looking forward to all of those photos in the future. I have often thought about getting a book to learn to take a decent picture but to me, it is more of a "gift" than something that can be acquired and I just don't have that particular "gift". Half the time, we can't even tell what the picture was supposed to be of when we look at them later on, seriously. I enjoy postcards.
sologal said
08:18 AM Nov 27, 2013
Terry, your wife is a" GEM" and I quite suspect you would do the same for her at any time. I agree with your assessment on photography, I too have never taken a course nor do I even come close to knowing all the "right" settings as many people [ pro's only] have told me. I do however make my living selling my wildlife photos so some people like them anyway. I do believe my only real talent is patience and composition, and at first I thought it was pretty simple for most to do but have since come to the realization that very few can sit for hours on end to achieve the shot and I was just lucky to have the gift of patience. Some of my best sellers were taken with a simple rebel xt but I would not part with my 1x400mm. The equipment does not "make" the photo but hey it is still fun to have some of it. lol!!! Good luck to you and I know you will have a Merry Christmas and the photo's to prove it!
Terry and Jo said
10:09 AM Nov 27, 2013
The mailman has arrived as of 9:45 this morning and I am proudly in possession of the camera. I took it outside with my 70-200mm lens and took one photo. It is an even better deal than I thought. The photo I took indicated by the file name that it has had less than 9000 shutter activations. I'll be charging the batteries today and may go to the 45th Infantry Division Museum on Friday to take some photos inside of all the displays there. It will be a real test of camera and lens, provided the 70mm isn't a problem with being too close to the displays. That is because one has to use available light and cannot use flash.
I'd say that I'd use it tomorrow to take pictures of the grandkids at Thanksgiving lunch, but I'll probably have to use my D300 because of the lens being a lot shorter. I've got to learn yet whether I have to do anything particular to use a DX lens on an FX camera.
Heh.....Merry Christmas, everyone. Oh, speaking of that; way back in 1968, Jo and I got married on Christmas Day, so on Christmas we will have been married for 45 years. (I did that so I could always buy one gift and two cards for my lovely bride.)
Terry
Terry and Jo said
10:18 AM Nov 27, 2013
sologal wrote:
Terry, your wife is a" GEM" and I quite suspect you would do the same for her at any time. I agree with your assessment on photography, I too have never taken a course nor do I even come close to knowing all the "right" settings as many people [ pro's only] have told me. I do however make my living selling my wildlife photos so some people like them anyway. I do believe my only real talent is patience and composition, and at first I thought it was pretty simple for most to do but have since come to the realization that very few can sit for hours on end to achieve the shot and I was just lucky to have the gift of patience. Some of my best sellers were taken with a simple rebel xt but I would not part with my 1x400mm. The equipment does not "make" the photo but hey it is still fun to have some of it. lol!!! Good luck to you and I know you will have a Merry Christmas and the photo's to prove it!
Debbie,
Unfortunately, my dad was cursed with having a son that turned out to not be a good fishing companion. I never had the patience to sit on the bank for hours, waiting for a fish to decide to chow down on my bait at the bottom of the lake. So, I turned to fishing with lures so that I could at least be "casting and reeling in" so as not to be completely bored. He finally ran me off because he felt I was scaring the fish.
Anyway, I also don't have the patience to sit for hours waiting for the wildlife to come to me. As for wildlife, I get them when the opportunity arises. I'm generally taking mostly photos of the landscape or of a detail of some subject. I also like getting shot of flowers and other plants. I've got a shot of some cactus and soapweed that Jo really took a liking to. I had to use my Nikon Coolpix 5700 and get right down on the ground to get the shot I wanted.
Cathy,
Here is a picture of the Nikon D700 without a lens. The photo is from the E-bay listing, so it is supposed to be an image of the camera for sale.
As for learning to take good pictures, I've NEVER had a "formal" lesson on how to get good pictures. I've taken a sum total of one (1) course on how to use a complicated camera like the D300 or D700. That is the sum total of "formal education."
What I did learn came mostly from being raised at the knees (so to speak) of a mother that taught herself to paint with oil paints. Years of watching her (and her students) paint and looking at the finished product, as well as the "studies" from which they painted, taught me the "art" of composure. Anyone can learn to take good photos simply by observing the photos of others. I've been told to take photography courses to learn the "tricks" of the "rule of thirds," "lines," and other elements of composing a photo. However, I adhere to the quotation made by a very famous nature photographer named Ansel Adams. His quotation: "There are no rules for good photos. There are just good photos."
I've long looked at photo sharing websites like Pbase where one can see the photos of both amateurs and professionals. Looking at those photos will give one an idea of what "makes" a photo and eventually one learns to discern what "destroys" a photo as well. (We've all heard of photobombs.) I am NOT a "technical" photographer that is obsessed with using f-stops, ISO speeds, and other technical aspects of taking a photograph. I am what I call a "serious, amateur" photographer, which means I make nothing from my photos, but I'm willing to pay the money to get good equipment. I take LOTS of photos, simply because I figure that I may never get to that place again.
Then I take pictures of whatever gets my fancy at the moment, and sometimes numerous angles or what-have-you of the same subject. That drives one of my brothers-in-law nuts. When all is done in taking the photos, I then look through them and certain ones will "jump out" at me as a good photo. I'm very "self-critical" and don't choose many as favorites, although my family heartily disagrees with my assessment of my less favorite photos.
All in all, it is not the equipment that "makes" the photo. I've got lots of very good photos taken with a lot simpler cameras that the D300 is or the D700 will be. So, if one takes the time to learn by observing, one can do as well as professionals, even with a simple and cheap point and shoot camera. One should leave oneself ready for any opportunity. I missed a whale breaching in Alaska one time because my camera was off and my hands were in my pockets, and that whale was right out in front of me at the time. I'd likely not have gotten it anyway, because my camera at that time was pretty bad with what is called "shutter lag," which is the delayed effect between when the shutter button is pressed and the camera actually takes the photo.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Sunday 24th of November 2013 04:10:58 PM
Well, maybe Sunday before "Black Friday" might be more appropriate.
Jo has ordered my Christmas present. She is selling her Nikon D90 with two lenses and other stuff so she can buy me a Nikon "full frame" D700. It is a used one and has been purchased off of E-bay. It appears to be in pristine condition and has only had about 10,000 shutter activations done on it. Plus, it comes with an extra battery and a nice backpack case by Lowepro. While I would normally refuse that she sell her camera to buy me something, she decided that I should still keep my D300 camera so that she would still have one that she could use. I can go for that idea.
It should be here ON "Black Friday." I can hardly wait. This is a present that will be used extensively when we get moved to Colorado. SirWinston21 (Jesse) informed that our reserved site at Mountaindale RV Resort near Colorado Springs has deer that cross it about every evening.
I've already got one FX (full frame) lens in a Nikkor 70-200mm, so that will get used a lot as well. Plus, my nephew that is working as a contractor overseas has offered to loan me his FX lenses until he gets back. One of those is the Nikkor 24-70mm FX lens. Now, I just need to save up my money for a "walk-around" lens and possibly my own 24-70mm lens.
Now, having said all that, do I have a great wife or what?
Terry
The mailman has arrived as of 9:45 this morning and I am proudly in possession of the camera. I took it outside with my 70-200mm lens and took one photo. It is an even better deal than I thought. The photo I took indicated by the file name that it has had less than 9000 shutter activations. I'll be charging the batteries today and may go to the 45th Infantry Division Museum on Friday to take some photos inside of all the displays there. It will be a real test of camera and lens, provided the 70mm isn't a problem with being too close to the displays. That is because one has to use available light and cannot use flash.
I'd say that I'd use it tomorrow to take pictures of the grandkids at Thanksgiving lunch, but I'll probably have to use my D300 because of the lens being a lot shorter. I've got to learn yet whether I have to do anything particular to use a DX lens on an FX camera.
Heh.....Merry Christmas, everyone. Oh, speaking of that; way back in 1968, Jo and I got married on Christmas Day, so on Christmas we will have been married for 45 years. (I did that so I could always buy one gift and two cards for my lovely bride.)
Terry
Debbie,
Unfortunately, my dad was cursed with having a son that turned out to not be a good fishing companion. I never had the patience to sit on the bank for hours, waiting for a fish to decide to chow down on my bait at the bottom of the lake. So, I turned to fishing with lures so that I could at least be "casting and reeling in" so as not to be completely bored. He finally ran me off because he felt I was scaring the fish.
Anyway, I also don't have the patience to sit for hours waiting for the wildlife to come to me. As for wildlife, I get them when the opportunity arises. I'm generally taking mostly photos of the landscape or of a detail of some subject. I also like getting shot of flowers and other plants. I've got a shot of some cactus and soapweed that Jo really took a liking to. I had to use my Nikon Coolpix 5700 and get right down on the ground to get the shot I wanted.
Terry