Chapter 1 - Enterprise

[toddpalino]

Hi, everyone.  This is the first photo that I'm posting on the composition assignments.  I decided to take pictures of the space shuttle Enterprise.  While I got a few pics that I like (which are on my Flickr at [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/51338106@N06/sets/72157626442269823/]http://www.flickr.com/photos/51338106@N06/sets/72157626442269823/[/url]), I was having a problem finding a single detail or area to focus on.

This is the center of the inside of the engine nozzle.  It was a little tricky because of how dark it is combined with the Smithsonian not allowing tripods.

-Todd

[DoubleTap]

Todd,

Great photo.  I like the color's and symetrical composition.  The detail is great and the exposure is spot on.  It's a very neat photograph to look at.  What setting did you use?  Lens?

I agree with you on find a single detail or focal item.  Sometimes it is really difficult to all the technical knowledge in place while still accomplishing good composition and context.  I have been reading up on types of photography, and I recently read something on how we are acustom to editorial photography.  I like to look at editorial photography and see how they use elements like scale, relation and contrast to make their images pop.  Typically editorial images have a very clear subject, I want to learn how to turn that switch on and off in my head regardless of what the actual subject is.

Cheers!  I should be posting my own attempts at assignment one soon.

[toddpalino]

That shot was taking with my not-so-good Tamron 28-300 f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD on Program mode. I was having a lot of problems getting the exposure decent because of how dark the inside of that cone is and the lack of ambient light in the building. At the time, I didn't yet have the 50mm f/1.4 prime that I have now, which would have made things a LOT easier! I was able to steady my hand on the railing around the exhibit to make up for not having a tripod, at least.

I ended up spending a bit of time in Lightroom afterwards touching up the exposure to get it right, as the center ended up being completely washed out (which is why I didn't resort to a flash in the first place).

[DoubleTap]

I am getting ready to do my own chapter 1 assignment so I kind of cheated looking at everyone else's assignments first.  But all this review and research has really helped.  I hope I can find something cool.

You have a 50mm 1.4!  I am jealous.  I have a 7D with a 50mm 1.8.  I shoot a lot of band photography.  I really want to drop the dough on a 70-200mm 2.8 (~1400 without IS).  I love the extra stops on the prime lenses but after playing around with my 28-135mm  3.5-5.6 IS and reading a lot of reviews, I think having a good zoom with a fixed low aperture.

I can see what you are talking about with the washed out ring.  I think the only chance you would have at getting that area would be to do a longer exposure on a tripod.  Sounds like that isn't an option.  You're right on with trying to find something to stabilize on.  I do that quite often myself do to low lighting and have read articles from guys claiming as low as 1/20 with good results.