Closer up with a wide angle lens

Since getting a new 16-35 f/2.8L II I have been reading about the
closer up potential with such a lens. Normally I will be using this lens
for indoor weddings but I decided to take a few shots closer up and get
critiqued by TDP forum addicts (you know who you are, lol).


#1 EXIF Data: 5D, 1/60sec, f/14, 100 ISO, 18mm f/l


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#2 EXIF Data: 5D, hand held, 0.5sec, f/2.8, 100 ISO, 35mm


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It's been fun so far. Let me know what you think.


Tom

Hi Tom


I'm not a critique, far from it. Love pic #2. I envy you that you are able to shoot this pic hand held #2 EXIF Data: 5D, hand held, 0.5sec, f/2.8, 100 ISO, 35mm.


It seems that your are very happy with your new lens. I'm thinking of getting one, to use it with my 5D. Look forward to more pic's. Wally

Looks Great Tom! I have the same lens and it is one of my favorites!

Ah common. Two responses? That's it? Nothing from Neuro, Sean Setters, Bob Williams, Sheiky, Daniel Browning, or Denise? How sad!

Hi Tom,


Sorry - weekend is family time, and this morning was, too - I spent it out picking apples and taking a hayride with my wife and daughter. Saw your post on Sunday (from my iPhone, where as a recent thread discussed, I can read but not respond). Loved the hay bales shot - great exposure and nice composition. The kitty is cute, I may have cropped differently, but the close-up wide angle distortion works in your favor in the shot! I like!


--John

I apologize for not responding sooner! [:(] Been busy going thru so many photos of my own recently and trying out a few different pp techniques and of course our on and off again 503 errors.

After viewing your photos at work today (can view but can't respond unless on lunchbreak), you did have me taking a closer look at this lens. That's how much I really like the results you obtained with both photos! The color &detail in both photos is amazing! Did you do much post-processing?

This really looks like a fun lens! I've been thinking of making a few changes with some of my lenses but I'm waiting to see what Canon comes out with.

Denise

Wow, I just got called out.


Seriously, though, I like the kitty picture. I've often had fun shooting closeups with a wide-angle lens (I'm fond of the distortion under certain circumstances).


Speaking of shooting, I did quite a bit of it this weekend--three separate shoots, in fact. I've posted a few from my first session on flickr (and some are proving very popular). The other sessions are to come.

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Originally Posted by Tom Wertman

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Ah common. Two responses? That's it? Nothing from Neuro, Sean Setters, Bob Williams, Sheiky, Daniel Browning, or Denise? How sad!

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<div>Wow 2 days...you're one patient guy [:P] Nah you're right...I will admit that I'm one of the TDP addicts [A] Unfortunately it's not the only thing I do...</div>
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Anyway I saw your post yesterday, but at the time I was about to write something my camera was ready with importing and I wanted to check the photos of saturdays family-reunion/granny's birthday [;)] And believe it or not I did not even turn the PC on last sunday[8-|]At least not that I remember [:P]
<div>Right, but here's what I thought yesterday:</div>
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tom Wertman

#1 EXIF Data: 5D, 1/60sec, f/14, 100 ISO, 18mm f/l

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Very nice shot. I like the lighting although a little bit of fill wouldn't be too bad especially in the most outside haystacks(is that the proper word?). Also I was amazed about the little distortions. I assume you used some lens-correction? Or is 18mm distortion noticeably less than 16mm?


The one thing that disturbs me a bit though is the branch behind the haystacks exactly in the centre of the image. For some reason it gets my attention and I doubt that will be your idea. Perhaps it are the clouds pointing towards it. Also you seem to have some sensor dust [;)]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tom Wertman

#2 EXIF Data: 5D, hand held, 0.5sec, f/2.8, 100 ISO, 35mm

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I'm not a cat-man so I won't tell you it looks adorable or something, but it's a nice portrait. I can't believe you shot it hand-held at only half a second. Very nice since it looks "sharp" at this size. Was it an intentional slow shot? Training steady hands? [:D]

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Originally Posted by Tom Wertman

It's been fun so far.

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Well you can tell, these shots look great! Take my comments with a bit of satire...you were practically begging for it [A]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

After viewing your photos at work today (can view but can't respond unless on lunchbreak), you did have me taking a closer look at this lens. That's how much I really like the results you obtained with both photos!

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I agree with you Denise, however you must keep in mind that these shots were shot on a full-frame camera. Your 17-55 f2.8 could make the same shot on your 7D. Unless you absolutely needed the 1mm extra wide-angle or weathersealing it wouldn't make a lot of sense to put your money to this lens. Unless you're planning on full frame of course...


Jan


Ps: Tom...I will read and reply to your PM the second after I push the "Post" button [;)]
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Wow 2 days...you're one patient guy

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Sorry didn't mean to be pushy. Thanks for the response everyone. [:)] There is a method to my madness. Since I often feel two dimensional with my shooting (weddings and hockey) and see some of the creative things other people do, I feel the need to push my self a bit. 95% of wedding shots are the static ones that everyone wants, the other 5% I try to get more creative with. With hockey its pretty much stopping the action so parents can enjoy seeing their kid playing. And I'm just hoping something cool happens. But its not the NHL[:(]So getting a chance to try something new I was eager to get some feedback.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

The one thing that disturbs me a bit though is the branch behind the haystacks exactly in the centre of the image.

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Bugged me too but not as much as rolling those hay stacks would have.[:D]

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Was it an intentional slow shot? Training steady hands?

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No just a tough cat to capture. I was actually walking in the house with camera in hand when I saw him relaxing (rarely) at the top of the steps. So I crept up slowly and knowing he was in a dark spot did the best I could before he bolted. I was sitting on a lower step so I was able to rest my left elbow on the next higher step which help steady the shot. Free handed I doubt it would have turned out this sharp. Originally he was not centered but I cropped out a bad spot on the molding.


Only post processing I did on the cat was to remove color cast in PS. For the hay stacks I blued up the sky using a blue filter in PS and bumped the contrast a bit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Your 17-55 f2.8 could make the same shot on your 7D.

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Not sure about that one. FOV and aperture yes. 5D excels in low light conditions (that other 5% for weddings). I don't own a 7D so I would have to rely on those who do for their opinions.


Whew! That is my longest post to date. Good thing I am home under the weather today or I may not have been able to do it.


Thanks everyone, Tom

Hi Tom,


Congrats on the new lens!


I'll be honest with you, I don't like the first shot that much? It appears a little soft. I would try a slightly wider aperture like f/8 and a slightly faster shutter speed like 1/125sec. I would also think the hay bails are supposed to be the focal point of the shot, however the sky and clouds are overwhelming the shot, but I don't think the sky is carrying the shot, because the blue sky is a little washed out. The green bush in the middle of the shot is a little distracting too. I would also like to see a little more of the green grass. Maybe the shot would work better from a lower perspective, instead of standing. Perhaps 5 or 6 hay bails in the shot at 20-24mm would work well? The 2 hay bails on either end don't really add that much more to the shot.


The bottom corner hay bails are a little too dark, perhaps a bit of vignetting in the upper corners too? The bottom corners and right bush look underexposed and the center clouds and bush look a little overexposed. This may be due to the metering or light fall off. I think evaluative metering may be better than spot metering in this situation. I think thisshot would work well in HDR too, although I don't do that sort of thing. I would love to learn though.


I think it's a great scene and I would try and go back if possible and try again. Sorry, about the harsh critique but I was hoping that you would appreciate me going out on a limb here, but it's all just an opinion anyway. It's also a new lens and it will take some getting used too. Wide angle on FF is probably the hardest thing to shoot well, because there is just so much in the frame.


I love the kitty shot though! See.., I'm not all that bad. I think cats are some of the hardest subjects to shoot!





Rich

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

The color &amp;detail in both photos is amazing! Did you do much post-processing?

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The only thing I did in PS for the kitty was to remove color cast by declaring the white fur to be white. For the hay shot I bumped the contrast a bit and blued the sky with a PS color filter.


After reading Rich's response I am going to revisit the original and see what I can do. If I have to go back to the scene I will try that as well.


Thanks,


Tom

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Richard Lane

Maybe the shot would work better from a lower perspective, instead of standing.

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Here is another version where I used PS and DxO together to attempt to remove what was disliked. BTW the camera was tripod mounted about 15" off the ground.


Tom[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.22.75/_5F00_002-copy_5F00_DxO.jpg[/img]

Hey Tom,


Experiencing a little technical difficulties!


I removed the 2 hay bales on the ends, removed some grass, and adjusted the color a little. I do miss the bushes, but just not centered and competing for attention.


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/...65cd7fc9_o.jpg





Here's the original, but cropped differently, to move the bush over to the left. I think a nice compromise would be something in between these 2 shots.



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/...1dd24ecd_o.jpg


Let me know what you think.


Rich

I am having a little trouble getting used to the new forum. Not sure which photo I like best. I'll keep trying.


Thanks,


Tom

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Originally Posted by salazarbrujo

I like number 1, are you a professional, or have any pro training or is that lens and steady hand alone? nice shots cant wait to see more!

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Thanks, I occasionally get paid to shoot weddings and sporting events. On Oct. 2nd I will be shooting a cross country race that has over 700 participants from high schools from all over the country. It should be a lot of fun and I will post some photos of it too.


Tom

Hi Tom,


I

Paul,


I don

Tom I must admit that I don't like the brushed away branches. I like the original with a somewhat different angle of cropping. Richard made a nice example where the branch isn't exactly centered. I do like that more, it seems like the bush is less disturbing that way.


Jan