WHat flash did you use Exxy? I've been looking at getting the SB-400 or SB-600.

_________________

SB-400. It's not mine, but does the job. All I wanted was to be able to point it vertical/at an angle, which it does.

If you're on a budget, save some money and get a YN-560.

The ability to take your flash off the camera gets you so much more out of it it's not even funny. I've got some portraits I took of a friend which I can't post here, but just firing it through an umbrella gives amazing catch lights in the eyes and very even lighting.


And if all you want to do is bounce it off a wall, having it off the camera allows you to move around while keeping the light consistent.

It doesn't do TTL (the 460 does though, but doesn't do manual), but manual is so much more useful.

What of camera flash gets you
www.Flickr.com/groups/strobist

_________________
I am uncomfortable with the analogue stick placement on the Dual Shock 4.

Cheers for that Habiz, I just bought it for 50 quid from here:

http://www.bestofferbuy.com/YongNuo-YN5 ... n=gbase_uk



I didn't want to spend 300 quid on a speedlite until I'm rich.

_________________

_________________
Flickr

If anyone else wants one, I'd recommend cotwoldphoto on eBay. They give you a little diffuser cap, 4 NiMHs and they test the flash works before they go out.


Then get yourself a lightstand, and a shoot through umbrella.


This is How To Light:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html


Quick few shots showing what a difference it makes (and my bokehlicious f/1.8).

_________________
I am uncomfortable with the analogue stick placement on the Dual Shock 4.

Some nice shots here. Some of you have some sexy cameras it seems. Would like to invest in something good eventually, but I have a lot to learn about them.

Took a bunch of pics in Asia recently but I rather like this one...



It was near sunset so it wasn't a perfect blue sky at that point which I think makes the image a bit more interesting.

_________________
my illustrations

That's a great photo. Very simple and elegant shapes. You clearly have an eye for good composition. If the rest of your pics are half as good you should post them.

_________________
Flickr

Thanks. Yeah I'll add some up soon. Luckily SE Asia is an incredibly photogenic place . Even I look good in some pics. I do really like photography but I've never learnt it properly. I do Illustration so a lot of the time I take pictures just to use as references for drawings.

_________________
my illustrations

As close as I can get with my 18-55mm kit lens:




Uploaded with ImageShack.us
As close as I can get with my kit lens end to end with my 50mm f/1.8:




Very fiddly, but I really need some macro capability, as I saw an amazing thing today which I want to try out soon.

_________________
I am uncomfortable with the analogue stick placement on the Dual Shock 4.

I want to do macro photography, and microscope photography, but it's so expensive.

_________________

You can get a macro filter. It's not as good as a dedicated macro lens or an extender, but it works alright and is much cheaper.

_________________
Flickr

Just to see what kind of magnification you get with that thing in comparison with the inverted lens thing I just tried, could you see how close you can get to a coin, please?

_________________
I am uncomfortable with the analogue stick placement on the Dual Shock 4.

My attempts with a slightly broken old Pentax 50mm 1.7 reversed in front of my standard 35mm 1.8.

LOL VIGNETTING



Damn close, though, although it's incredibly difficult to work with such a super thin DoF.

_________________

strawberry floatr

I just shot at f/32 and used my flash off the walls at full power. Really helps a lot.

_________________
I am uncomfortable with the analogue stick placement on the Dual Shock 4.

This coin is 2.5cm across. Not sure about your coin, but it looks like you can get closer with your setup.
But then again I do have a 70-210mm lens with the same size filter threads as my kit lens.


Gotta be straight on or this happens.


The edges and corners are starting to go out of focus. This is at f16.

_________________
Flickr

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YN-560-Flash- ... 287wt_1396



It's 66 quid, but Harry recommends it, I cancelled my order from overseas. They're UK based, so I changed my order to them.

_________________

_________________
Flickr

That flash was worth it. I lit up these seeds and took the shots with a Nikkor 70-300mm lens. The flash really helps and removes the need for a tripod when shooting between 70 to 200mm.




O and OSC, your shot of this bird is awesome. I didn't realise how hard it was to get a shot of tiny birds. I tried following some around and they just don't let you get near even with a zoom lens.

_________________

It helps if they're preoccupied with food. Probably a good idea to take some bread or corn or whatever the hell birds like. That way it would also be possible to set up shots in a specific place.

_________________
Flickr