Model: NIKON D1H
ExposureTime: 1/40"
MaxAperture: F1.0
ExposureProgram: Aperture-priority AE
MeteringMode: Center-weighted average
Flash: No Flash
ISO: 1600
FocalLength: 0.0 mm
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
LensSpec: MF
FlashMode: Did Not Fire
LensType: MF
LightSource: Natural
ShutterSpeed: 1/40
ToneComp: Normal
Thanks everybody, there are some amazing and very inspiring shots in there!
My Dad was a semi-pro back in the 70s, and raised me on Nikon Fs. Meters? Who needs a meter when you have eyeballs? Zoom lens? Just walk forward! I was never that great, but enjoyed the hobby a lot. Had my own B&W setup at home until about 5 years ago. Then we had kids, bought a digital camera (Panasonic Lumix w/ Leica superzoom) to chase them around with, and the F sits in the closet gathering dust
Life is just about settling down to the point that I have been thinking about getting back to it. Don't think I have the time to futz with the F anymore, so have been seriously thinking about a D80 or D200 given the recent deals. Budget is realistically more refurbed D40 Not sure my dad will ever forgive me if I buy a plastic Nikon though ! Not that all my old pre-AI metal lenses are going to be of much use either way.
Sorry for the OT, just wanted to thank you all for reminding me how much I miss shooting my Nikon!
I guess since I'm begging for guidance on a Nikon dslr purchase in another thread, the least I can do is contribute a few pics. Don't think they are really worthy of the company here, but what can you do? C&C welcome, I'm always trying to learn to do better.
I'm scanning some B&W negatives as we speak, so here a few color to start. All are shot with a Nikon F with no meter, probably on Kodak Gold 400 (my usual MO) scanned on Kodak PhotoCD. A quick bump to contrast and saturation, maybe a little crop/straighten and jpeg export from iPhoto on my uncalibrated 17" MBP are all most of these have seen.
Took a week long trip up to the Four Corners area back in 2003 when I was laid off for a few months. Had mixed sun and thunderstorms almost every day. Lousy for camping, good for pictures. Shot 36 rolls that trip
Storm Coming - Hovenweep NM Most likely AI 50mm/f1.8 at around f8. Wife was really wishing I would hurry up, since we still had to hike about 20 minutes towards the storm...
Ok, and here are a few B&W. All most likely Kodak Tri-X 400, developed at home. Just scanned for the first time from negatives on my Epson Stylus Photo RX500 printer. Looks like it could do with a cleaning Quick adjust to contrast/brightness to mimic what I did on the prints, and jpeg export from iPhoto. All taken with Nikon F, no meter, most likely all 35mm F2.8 and 50mm f1.8 at various apertures. All were taken on a trip to Bodie, CA ca 1999. Again, C&Cs more than welcome, thats we learn.
Bodie Bar Shot through window glass, outside natural light only.
Bodie Kitchen Shot with natural light coming in through window, buildings had no interior lights. I like how the thick layer of dust on everything looks like flour from someone baking.
ulrikft wrote:
Those two cat-shots are great, love the clarity and use of DOF on both.
I've noticed on the last couple pages a few shots that are really "clear" looking. I can't seem to ever get that kind of look no matter what I try, regardless of how sharp the original image was.
If TWoK or PeterGlaso or Raymond feel like chiming in I'm sure they'd have an audience - I can get results I like, but often if I try for that clear, clean look I get close, but not quite there. If I push it I end up with over-sharpened images or overdo it on contrast and end up with "mushy" looking shadow areas. Are you guys doing anything special in post that can't be achieved with LR and practice?
Well exposed images, sharp focus, good lighting (bad ligthing makes things look mushy, no matter how detailed your images have), localized micro-contrast-editing + good sharpening technique?
rubberband wrote:
I've noticed on the last couple pages a few shots that are really "clear" looking. I can't seem to ever get that kind of look no matter what I try, regardless of how sharp the original image was.
If TWoK or PeterGlaso or Raymond feel like chiming in I'm sure they'd have an audience - I can get results I like, but often if I try for that clear, clean look I get close, but not quite there. If I push it I end up with over-sharpened images or overdo it on contrast and end up with "mushy" looking shadow areas. Are you guys doing anything special in post that can't be achieved with LR and practice?...Show more →
My only post processing on these images, which only slightly enhanced them, was done with my CS2 action: resize to 2000 pixels, 50 pixel border, USM 150%/1/0, Fade USMto 85% opacity.
Post or PM me some images so I can see what you're talking about. What camera are you shooting?
rubberband wrote:
I've noticed on the last couple pages a few shots that are really "clear" looking. I can't seem to ever get that kind of look no matter what I try, regardless of how sharp the original image was.
If TWoK or PeterGlaso or Raymond feel like chiming in I'm sure they'd have an audience - I can get results I like, but often if I try for that clear, clean look I get close, but not quite there. If I push it I end up with over-sharpened images or overdo it on contrast and end up with "mushy" looking shadow areas. Are you guys doing anything special in post that can't be achieved with LR and practice?...Show more →
I often think the same about other people's pictures.. 'How does he do that'? I'm in awe of the skill of many here. The best advice is probably what someone said about paying attention to exposure, light. What i often do is i take several pictures with different settings when i know i'm shooting something that could potentially be a good picture. That drastically increase the chance of a keeper for me. Trying to pay attention to the histogram as well.
rubberband wrote:
I've noticed on the last couple pages a few shots that are really "clear" looking. I can't seem to ever get that kind of look no matter what I try, regardless of how sharp the original image was.
If TWoK or PeterGlaso or Raymond feel like chiming in I'm sure they'd have an audience - I can get results I like, but often if I try for that clear, clean look I get close, but not quite there. If I push it I end up with over-sharpened images or overdo it on contrast and end up with "mushy" looking shadow areas. Are you guys doing anything special in post that can't be achieved with LR and practice?...Show more →
Not sure if it fit's in the category you describe. but maybe the most important thing is to check your histogram, both in camera and while editing. I shoot to the right all the time. That doesn't mean that i always overexpose every shot, i just try to keep the histogram as far to the right as possible. Carlos' white head makes that hard sometimes, but i still try. When i process my image i try to make my subject stand out by optimizing the levels. Most of the time there is a gap on either the shadow side or the highlight side of your histogram. i try to narrow those gaps. This will increase the contrast in my image and can be done in LR. turn on the shadow/highlight warning if you like.
Maybe that's the most important trick to get the clarity in my images. To make sure i have a proper exposure on my subject, i drag a marquee selection (in PS) on that part of my image, this reveals a histogram of only that part, showing me the levels of my most important part in the image: the subject. Works great for a last check before i go to print...
Not sure if it fit's in the category you describe. but maybe the most important thing is to check your histogram, both in camera and while editing. I shoot to the right all the time. That doesn't mean that i always overexpose every shot, i just try to keep the histogram as far to the right as possible. Carlos' white head makes that hard sometimes, but i still try. When i process my image i try to make my subject stand out by optimizing the levels. Most of the time there is a gap on either the shadow side or the highlight side of your histogram. i try to narrow those gaps. This will increase the contrast in my image and can be done in LR. turn on the shadow/highlight warning if you like.
Maybe that's the most important trick to get the clarity in my images. To make sure i have a proper exposure on my subject, i drag a marquee selection (in PS) on that part of my image, this reveals a histogram of only that part, showing me the levels of my most important part in the image: the subject. Works great for a last check before i go to print...
hope this helps ...Show more →
Wow. Even on my crappy monitor at work this thing looks fantastic!
I was never that great, but enjoyed the hobby a lot. Had my own B&W setup at home until about 5 years ago. Then we had kids, bought a digital camera (Panasonic Lumix w/ Leica superzoom) to chase them around with, and the F sits in the closet gathering dust 
Not sure my dad will ever forgive me if I buy a plastic Nikon though 
! Not that all my old pre-AI metal lenses are going to be of much use either way.
Thanks! Here's another one, a re-edit of a image from my last trip last year.