Comments on: nature photography – questions anyone?

By: burning silo

burning silo — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:03:06 +0000

Peter – Thanks for adding some addition notes about the cameras. It’s good to get feedback on things like how large or heavy a camera feels, etc…
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am – Thanks! It’s occasionally mentioned to me that my insect photos are unusual for the way in which I portray them — a suppose a little more sympathetically than is typical. I find many insect photos kind of static, so I’m always trying to move in the direction of capturing whatever it is that gives life to the subject.

By: am

am — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:49:16 +0000

I don’t usually think of spiders and snakes and insects as being photogenic. Your photos are remarkable, Bev! Thanks for stretching my mind in a good way.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:15:19 +0000

Thanks for the comment on the lobster face Bev, the total views shot right up after you posted a link :-)

Celeste – I had the chance to play with a D40 on the weekend. Great camera! I have used the D80 as well (earlier today actualy), and I don’t think I could stand lugging that one around in the field even with just one lens. The D40 is a much lighter camera, much better suited for being out and about, unless you want to build some large shoulder muscles.

By: burning silo

burning silo — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:23:45 +0000

Peter & Xris – Thanks for additional input on the cameras. I’ve posted some comments in response up in the main body of the above post.
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Cathy – Thanks! Well, don’t let me deter you from checking out DSLRs, but I do know that, at the moment, they aren’t really for me. I’m very happy with the CP8800 and it’s about as large a camera as I’m willing to carry around. I’m quite hard on my equipment — both the CP4500 and the CP8800 have taken at least a couple of major falls while I’ve been out hiking. The bodies of both of them are titanium, which is probably why they didn’t get shattered before now. Anyhow, I think it’s good to look at all options and not feel too restricted. There are so many nice cameras around now – in all sizes and price ranges – that there’s likely something out there to suit just about every need.
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John – I was wondering if you had been checking out cameras yet. As mentioned to Cathy, there are so many nice cameras around now that I’m sure you’ll find one that suits.
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Celeste – Thanks! It’s too bad we’re all so far apart as it would have been fun to have all of us together in a group to talk about nature photography. I think all of the Nikon and Canon DSLR bodies are fine cameras and take great photos. There’s certainly nothing wrong with cropping down images of small things from larger images… that is regularly done, especially when people are using a telephoto lens to shoot very small subjects. With the CP4500, I rarely have to crop much, but with the CP8800, depending on the shot, I usually do at least a little cropping as it captures a lot of “extra” with that big lens. I love black and white too and use it for some things — usually more for art photography that I do and not so much for the nature shoting. I think that’s a nice idea for a field guide…one that is a little more aesthetic than technical. I’ve been thinking of doing something kind of similar — well, it would actually be a bit offbeat — with my nature photos. I think there’s plenty if territory for “other” uses of nature photography.