brandn03

 

 

Brandn03,

 

The miniature effect is an incamera option. It can be created with LR4, by adjusting the sharpness of the top and bottom of each picture or basically making the top and bottom out of focus. The remaining area is then compressed to make everything smaller. All of the cameras I carried have the in camera option for the mini effect, but some are easier to navigate to than others.

 

My advice is to shoot a LOT of pictures and try new techniques every day and then work on improving the results of the techniques you like best. The same holds true with LightRoom and the best thing about it is you can try multiple effects with each photo and still keep the original intact as shot.

 

Every time I go out and take pictures I learn something new and find a new angle I wish to explore. After nearly four decades of taking pictures I have a couple dozen or so that I really like and think I almost nailed perfect. Not quite, but almost. Interestingly enough, some of the shots I like the best have obvious flaws that I could correct in post processing, but I like them as they are so I won't edit them. :eek:

I actually found the miniature setting today while I was playing around with my camera. Can't wait to try it out one the cruise.

By the way, I just saw you say you are close to the New River Gorge Bridge. We are practically neighbors. I live in Virginia not far from Bluefield, WV. We are up your way on ocassion for rafting and Brdge Day.

Thanks again!

Brandn03,

 

Thank you.

 

I used four Canon cameras; DSLR: Canon 5D Mk III with Canon F2.8 15 mm, 70-200 F2.8L, Canon 24-70 F2.8L, Canon 135 F2.0L, and Canon 85 F1.4 lenses. Point and Shoot: Canon SX260HS and Canon SX50HS. Underwater: Canon D20. My son Britt used a Canon 6D with 70-200 F2.8L lens.

 

Since I got into DSLR I bought just about every filter type there is, but I've opted to avoid using them and instead I've purchased 'L' quality glass lenses. I've tried the filters out, but the notion of placing a ~$100 piece of thin glass in front of a $2500 glass lens just hasn't impressed me enough to continue using them. I compared results with the high dollar filters vs the cheap ones and the difference just doesn't show up.

 

Perhaps it makes sense to 'protect the lens,' but I prefer to never touch the glass with anything prior to blowing off the dust and then using a quality lens cleaning cloth. I always use a lens hood to prevent glare and to protect the glass from being touched.

 

I edited all of the photos with Adobe Lightroom 4. The majority of the editing consisted of improving the horizons and making sure there wasn't obvious background things that needed to be removed; South Beach scenery is not all rated PG and I don't post R rated material on purpose. Some of the pics in DR at the resort where I zoomed in on the kids while they were kayaking and riding the bananna boat had some R rated things on the anchored boats that I had no clue were there. :eek:

 

LR4 also has a custom preset for fog and haze that negates the benefit of a 'Haze or UV' filter.

Paul,

Thanks for the info! I have played around a bit with Lightroom 4 but I have only had my camera for about a month, so I have still have TONS to learn.

One last question. What did you use to get the miniature effect pictures? Those look really neat! It honestly had to look several times to make sue you hadn't just taken a picture of a miniature replica of the port are in Curaçao.

Thanks again!

Paul,

Your review and photos are fantastic! I will be on the Breeze in just under a moonth and I am beyond excited. Thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough review!

I recently purchased my first DSLR camera and I am looking forward to using it on our upcoming cruise. I'm a complete novice when it comes to photography, but I am having fun learning how to use my camera. Your pictures are wonderful and I hope I can get some that are half as nice as yours. I was wondering what kind of equipment (camera, lenses, filters) you were using? Do you do any editing using Lightroom or another program?

Thanks again for the review!

BTW, I have a Canon Rebel T3i with a 18-55mm lens and a 55-250mm lens.