[M_Six]

I'm sure some Luddite film photographers feel that digital photography means anyone can do it. And in a small way, they're right. There are millions of excellent images out there that were only made possible by digital photography. First of all, you can take thousands of shots with little or no cost (except time), so practice comes with far less expense than it used to. Second, the software to manipulate the images is much easier to use than a darkroom. And third, your images can be seen by a far wider audience.

There is still a difference between a good amateur and a pro, though. You can still tell the folks who have invested loads of time into their craft.

[Chewy734]

^ well put Mark.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I'm sure some Luddite film photographers feel that digital photography means anyone can do it. And in a small way, they're right. There are millions of excellent images out there that were only made possible by digital photography. First of all, you can take thousands of shots with little or no cost (except time), so practice comes with far less expense than it used to. Second, the software to manipulate the images is much easier to use than a darkroom. And third, your images can be seen by a far wider audience.

There is still a difference between a good amateur and a pro, though. You can still tell the folks who have invested loads of time into their craft.

[gary88]

Made my third stock sale

[Chewy734]

cool! on what site?

edit: n/m. I figured it out.

[Chewy734]

D4 specs are out... might be officially announced tomorrow, with shipping next month.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by gary88

Made my third stock sale

Congrats.

How long have you been with Getty and how many images do you have listed? I've got sixteen listed and they just finished putting the tags on them in October, with no sales...yet.

My friends that have been with them a while say that it really took a couple of years to build any significant momentum, but once it did it became pretty steady.

Dave

[gary88]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Congrats.

How long have you been with Getty and how many images do you have listed? I've got sixteen listed and they just finished putting the tags on them in October, with no sales...yet.

My friends that have been with them a while say that it really took a couple of years to build any significant momentum, but once it did it became pretty steady.

Dave

I'm actually with Alamy, and I have 242 listed at the moment. I started in 09/08 and didn't get my first sale until two years later. I really need to upload more, I'd like to get my portfolio to around 1,000.

I've been meaning to put together the ~40 image portfolio that getty requires for review before approving you as a submitter but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by gary88

I'm actually with Alamy, and I have 242 listed at the moment. I started in 09/08 and didn't get my first sale until two years later. I really need to upload more, I'd like to get my portfolio to around 1,000.

I've been meaning to put together the ~40 image portfolio that getty requires for review before approving you as a submitter but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Interesting. My friends at Getty only have 60 to 100 images up so far, but they're earning $200 to $600 per month about three-years in. My friends all specialize in wildlife photography. They say that they get a lot of repeat business, apparently from the same artistic directors that have "discovered" them and keep coming back. Of course, the exact nature of the buyers is hidden, so it's hard to know what's going on with your own portfolio.

I'm thinking of setting up a web site to allow print ordering and maybe convert one of my vanity books into something generally of interest, to see what happens. I need to do a lot of research to find a host that suits me.

I've just started tracking revenue and expense (mostly expense) and plan to file a Schedule C with my 2012 tax return. Deducting equipment is attractive, but I'd like to support my hobby eventually and recover some or all of my prior investment.

Dave

[Chewy734]

good idea Dave. What will be your business name?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

good idea Dave. What will be your business name?

Haven't even thought about it yet. I've got some cards that say "David C Stephens Photography" and the other side has one of my nature images. I do nature, travel and scenic photography, so I think that I should make my emphasis clear so that I don't have people approaching me to do their wedding, etc. I have done head shots for friends, but I wouldn't want to get into that as a "business".

I need to get busy. 2012 is flying by...

Whatever I do, you guys here will be the first to see.

Dave

[M_Six]

The S95 is impressing me with it low light ability. This image was taken on the low light setting, which set the ISO at 3200. Aside from reducing the exposure a tad to recover highlights and boosting clarity a bit, it's SOOC. No post NR at all. All done in camera. Not too shabby for a camera smaller than a deck of cards.

[Weebl]

Hmmm, how about the G1x? I could use a small camera, the one I have is really plain.

[rodi]

amidst the turmoil of the past few weeks, i still managed to trigger-finger-purchase this:




going to develop everything myself, and use it instead of my nikon (except for setting up lights and warming up the model) from here out - see how long this lasts. i sold my old hasselblad 6x6 last year, but this system has better lenses. and the build and features on it for the price are unreal.

Mamiya 645 Pro with Power Drive grip,
couple 120 backs for B&W, a 220 back for color film, a polaroid back.
80mm f/1.9 (basically the depth of field of a 50mm f/1.0)
55mm f/2.8 (depth of field of a 35mm f/1.4)

just thought i'd share. and see if i'm crazy for going backwards, what with the D4 and all.

[M_Six]

Nice rig, rodi. I've always lusted after a Mamiya 645. Back in my film days I wanted one in the worst way. Of course back then they cost a king's ransom.

[TL]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

D4 specs are out... might be officially announced tomorrow, with shipping next month.

It's been announced on the official Nikon site,

D4 primary features
- New Nikon FX-format CMOS image sensor
- ISO 50 to ISO 204800
- New EXPEED 3 image-processing engine
- 91K-pixel RGB sensor
- Faster and more accurate AF with 51 focus points
- Multi-area Mode Full HD D-movie with three image area options
- Smooth workflow from initial setup to image transfer
- The new compact Wireless Transmitter WT-5 with simple connection to the camera (available separately)
Other D4 functions and features
- Extremely durable shutter that has passed testing for 400,000 cycles
- Magnesium alloy adopted for the very strong, durably body that is very resistant to dust and water
- Effective sealing using O rings and packing make the camera more resistant to dust and water
- Silent shutter-release mode for live view photography that almost completely eliminates the sounds of the mirror and shutter operation
- A time-lapse photography feature, with which the camera automatically takes photos at selected intervals to record a time-lapse movie, which can be played back at 24–36,000x normal playback speed
Operation optimized for both horizontal (landscape) and vertical (portrait) shooting
- Button backlights (illuminators) for increased visibility when working in dimly lit or dark situations
- High-performance viewfinder, utilizing a glass pentaprism, with a frame coverage of approximately 100% (FX format) and magnification of approximately 0.7x
- Four image area options for still shooting—FX (36 x 24), 5:4 (30 x 24), 1.2x (30 x 20), DX (24 x 16)—with viewfinder indicator that identifies the current image area
- A 3.2-inch, approximately 921k-dot LCD monitor with reinforced glass and wide viewing angle; integration of the glass and panel reduce internal reflections
- A virtual horizon that shows the degree to which the camera is tilted sideways (roll), forward or backward (pitch) with display in the monitor and viewfinder
White balance that can be adjusted in units of 10 K; white balance can be specified separately for shooting (white balance applied to images) and monitor display with still-image shooting in live view mode

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by rodi

amidst the turmoil of the past few weeks, i still managed to trigger-finger-purchase this:

Nice purchase. I'll be anxious to see the results. I'm sure you'll put it to good use.

What scanner will you be using to get to digital? Have you considered going MF with a digital back?

Dave

[dcstep]

TL, in Nikon lingo does FX mean FF sensor or crop?

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by dcstep

TL, in Nikon lingo does FX mean FF sensor or crop?

FF sensor

I can't believe amazon sold out of all their pre-orders for this body in less than an hour... insane.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

FF sensor

I can't believe amazon sold out of all their pre-orders for this body in less than an hour... insane.

Yeah, the new Canon 1DX and this camera will be in much demand for the Summer Olympics. They're ideal cameras for that type of photography, so all the pros want to have one. Expected slow productions and limited deliveries, due to the tsunami, have everyone lining up, even at $6800 for the Canon. What does the Nikon cost?

Dave

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Yeah, the new Canon 1DX and this camera will be in much demand for the Summer Olympics. They're ideal cameras for that type of photography, so all the pros want to have one. Expected slow productions and limited deliveries, due to the tsunami, have everyone lining up, even at $6800 for the Canon. What does the Nikon cost?

Dave

Yeah, you're right. But still... that's a lot of money to just throw down at a whim for a lot of people.

The Nikon D4 is $6k.

[gcochard]

As my brother put it: "Nikon D4 can shoot video in both FX and DX modes? Nice...like a Canon 1D & 5D in one. Guess that's why it costs $6k"