Meeting a Dgrinner when out shooting

[Steve Cavigliano]

Hello All,
The wife and I had some errands to do over at the beach, so I figured I'd bring the pack and spend some time shooting. It was foggy and gray on this side of the hill and I figured surf shots with the Bigma would be extremely challenging :dunno But, as we drove over the hill, the Sun broke through and it was beautiful at the beach. After lunch, we drove to the Lighthouse parking lot and I got out to shoot some. There were a bunch of surfers and lots of people taking pics of them. Like these 2 guys (also notice the big white lens in the BG of the 2nd pic...lol)
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k/image/38927388/medium.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k/image/38927441.jpg

So I'm shooting up a storm, moving around, trying to squeeze in between all the tourists and other shooters. One of the other shooters with a BIG WHITE lens walks past and says "this is a good show today." Thinking about the excellent big wave pics MacZippy posted earlier in the week, I reply, "yeah but I wish the waves were bigger." So we are all shooting surfers and pretty engrossed when the guy with the big lens comes by again and says, "hey is your name Steve?" I figured maybe it was MacZippy and asked, "is your name Andrew?" He said, "no, my name is Ian." Holy cow!! It's Ian408:clap


Now, how cool is that? I knew there were lots of Bay Area Dgrinners, but I never expected to bump into one while shooting :rofl We had a nice conversation and we both can't wait for the Yosemite trip. Oh yeah, we also agreed that Gus should by a Bigma :thumb With his artistic eye, and keeping his budget in mind, this baby is a perfect fit and I'd just love to see the results he could coax out of it :D

OK, I'll shut up now and post a few Bigma surf pics :lol3

http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/14623285-L.jpg

http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/14623281-L.jpg
http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/14623283-L.jpg

Thanks for looking,
Steve

[Dee]

I'm always looking at guys and wondering if it's Steve, or Dave or anyone else.... LOL

I saw this at the beach Thursday and couldn't resist sneaking a shot. I was brazen enough to ask if I could photograph his lens... he obliged... then I asked what he was shooting and he replied porpoises and showed me a pic!

I was blown away that one, he even saw them, and two, that he had time to haul out all the equipment, set it up and still get the shot!

He just got his first digital camera a month ago - 20D. He's from Santa Cruz (geesh, all the times I go to Santa Cruz to get pics and he heads north into my turf!) :D

No, he doesn't do dgrin, or the forums at dpreview (just the reviews!). So here's my bigma catch of the day.

Now if this doesn't win the silliest post of dgrin, I don't know what will

:rofl

[Andy]

how cool!

great shots, too steve.

but - ahem... where's the food :dunno

[ian408]

I was definetly "over-lensed" today. Given I had to walk about 3/4 of a
mile to the lane, and didn't want to carry everything, I brought the 1D
and the 500 figuring I'd be good to go. But the tide was higher than I
thought.

Here's my prospective on the hoodie...shot from the same spot as
Steve's.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14624389-M.jpg

Plus, I got this guy...

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14624387-M.jpg

And another one of a painter "Images one pixel at a time" :clap

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14624391-M-2.jpg


Steve, it was great to meet you and the wife! I won't tell 'zippy you
thought I was him :)

Oh, and since I was reading lens mfg's, 'gus, almost every long lens was a
Sigma...

Ian

[ian408]

how cool!

great shots, too steve.

but - ahem... where's the food :dunno
We talked about food...Andy's BBQ to be exact :D

[Ann McRae]

How cool .........so, any other dgrinners in Edmonton?????


It's warmed up nicely to -8C - warm enough to hottub!!!!

ann

[ehughes]

Very cool guys, :thumb thanks for sharing

[luckyrwe]

Dee, folks with lenses like tat live for the moment they get questions about it. I think us dgrin folks here need a secret handshake, or maybe a patch for our gear bag, to identify one another out there. :thumb

[dkapp]

Dee, folks with lenses like tat live for the moment they get questions about it. I think us dgrin folks here need a secret handshake, or maybe a patch for our gear bag, to identify one another out there. :thumb

I'd slap a smugmug patch on my bags. How hard would it be for smugmug to get some made up?

Dave

[pathfinder]

I'm always looking at guys and wondering if it's Steve, or Dave or anyone else.... LOL

I saw this at the beach Thursday and couldn't resist sneaking a shot. I was brazen enough to ask if I could photograph his lens... he obliged... then I asked what he was shooting and he replied porpoises and showed me a pic!

I was blown away that one, he even saw them, and two, that he had time to haul out all the equipment, set it up and still get the shot!

He just got his first digital camera a month ago - 20D. He's from Santa Cruz (geesh, all the times I go to Santa Cruz to get pics and he heads north into my turf!) :D

No, he doesn't do dgrin, or the forums at dpreview (just the reviews!). So here's my bigma catch of the day.

Now if this doesn't win the silliest post of dgrin, I don't know what will

:rofl

Wimberly tripod head - Was this a 500mm or a 600mm lens? 600mm would be my guess.

[ian408]

Here are a few of my shots from this afternoon's shoot.

I'll start with the brush off--Santa Cruz is a fairly teritorial
place. Who knows if these two knew each other or the guy in
front was really PO'ed?

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14631653-M.jpg

This guy was pretty fun to watch.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14631654-M.jpg

A wipeout.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14631657-M.jpg

And finally, a surfer suiting up.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14633419-M.jpg


Ian

[Tim Kirkwood]

I'd slap a smugmug patch on my bags. How hard would it be for smugmug to get some made up?

Dave

I would also like to have "the mark". I too have been out shooting and run into another photog and wonder if its someone I may have talked to online before.


The patch would be a great idea!

Where do I sign:deal ?

[gus]

Oh yeah, we also agreed that Gus should by a Bigma :thumb With his artistic eye, and keeping his budget in mind, this baby is a perfect fit and I'd just love to see the results he could coax out of it :D

OK, I'll shut up now and post a few Bigma surf pics :lol3
Thanks for looking,
Steve
Nice to know im talked about in such high photoalogical circles gents. Ok steve..question time. Nice shots BTW

What shutter speed are those shots ? I have heard/read that at about 1/500 is enough to do surf.?

[GREAPER]

I'll take one too...

[ian408]

Wimberly tripod head - Was this a 500mm or a 600mm lens? 600mm would be my guess.
Looks like a 600.

Ian

[Steve Cavigliano]

Nice to know im talked about in such high photoalogical circles gents. Ok steve..question time. Nice shots BTW

What shutter speed are those shots ? I have heard/read that at about 1/500 is enough to do surf.?Gus,
Thank you :D

I like to shoot the Bigma at F8. It's pretty sharp there, no matter what zoom is used. So when it's bright out, I just set the ISO to 400, and use Av mode set to F8. I can usually get really good speeds using this method. The 1st shot was @ 1/800 and the other 2 were @ 1/2000. Speeds over 1/1000 seem to do a really nice job of freezing those little globules of water. While 1/500 may be OK for surf shots, I recommend getting the highest speed possible. Especially, if you're handholding a long lens. FWIW, I was handholding the camera and panning with the surfers.

Thanks again for the nice comment. I'm very happy with today's results and it was a blast running into Ian.

Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

I'm always looking at guys and wondering if it's Steve, or Dave or anyone else.... LOL

I saw this at the beach Thursday and couldn't resist sneaking a shot. I was brazen enough to ask if I could photograph his lens... he obliged... then I asked what he was shooting and he replied porpoises and showed me a pic!

I was blown away that one, he even saw them, and two, that he had time to haul out all the equipment, set it up and still get the shot!

He just got his first digital camera a month ago - 20D. He's from Santa Cruz (geesh, all the times I go to Santa Cruz to get pics and he heads north into my turf!) :D

No, he doesn't do dgrin, or the forums at dpreview (just the reviews!). So here's my bigma catch of the day.

Now if this doesn't win the silliest post of dgrin, I don't know what will

:roflLOL Dee. Man that is some longggggggg piece o' glass Cute story and nice pics :thumb

Ian mentioned he had been up your way earlier in the day and nothing was happening. So he came down to SC. I guess it works both ways.

You're right, we've got to get patches, or t-shirts, or.....tattoos :roll

Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

how cool!

great shots, too steve.

but - ahem... where's the food :dunnoLOL Andy :rofl We really did talk about food and when we went to Andy's Ribs a few days before it closed it's doors forever :cry Save that Andy's t shirt. It'll be worth big bucks soon....lol

No food pics. The dw really gets upset when I take pitchas with food in my mouth :lol

Thanks for the nice comments,
Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

Steve, it was great to meet you and the wife! I won't tell 'zippy you
thought I was him :)

Ian
Ian,
You barely got the "hooded guy's" face and camera in the frame...lol That's one tight shot:rofl

Hey, it was a pleasure meeting you :clap :clap We had a good time chattin' while shooting. Look forward to next time.

Steve

[wxwax]

I'd slap a smugmug patch on my bags. How hard would it be for smugmug to get some made up?

Dave
I'd put a dgrin patch on, since this is our meeting place. :thumb Good idea.

[ian408]

Ian,
You barely got the "hooded guy's" face and camera in the frame...lol That's one tight shot:rofl

Hey, it was a pleasure meeting you :clap :clap We had a good time chattin' while shooting. Look forward to next time.

Steve
I think it really affected my take otherwise--seriously. I'm headed down
to the aquarium tomorrow. If the coast is clear, I'll stop with the 100-400
(I'll be gear limited with the bike :D).

Hey, how's this one?

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14632601-M.jpg

Lot's of Canon gear out today...

[ian408]

I'd put a dgrin patch on, since this is our meeting place. :thumb Good idea.
I bet the guy that did the Advrider version would be happy to make
stickers for lens hoods or even the patch.

Ian

[gus]

Gus,
Thank you :D

I like to shoot the Bigma at F8. It's pretty sharp there, no matter what zoom is used. So when it's bright out, I just set the ISO to 400, and use Av mode set to F8. I can usually get really good speeds using this method. The 1st shot was @ 1/800 and the other 2 were @ 1/2000. Speeds over 1/1000 seem to do a really nice job of freezing those little globules of water. While 1/500 may be OK for surf shots, I recommend getting the highest speed possible. Especially, if you're handholding a long lens. FWIW, I was handholding the camera and panning with the surfers.

Thanks again for the nice comment. I'm very happy with today's results and it was a blast running into Ian.

SteveGreat info to chew on steve...why im so interested in surf shots (other than i love the sport) i recon its a bit of a benchmark to shoot ie speed with water effects & both good & low light.

I have no idea which way to go as in a telephoto yet..man am i reading heaps though. I am not so concerned with the high speed glass so much as reach. I would have far more to shoot with distance rather than low light distance & really the only 2 lenses that are in the game is the Bigma & the 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS USM. And certainly a 400mm lens is no slouch.

So the question remains again a personal one...is that extra $500-$600 worth the sacrifice of 100 mm zoom + the addition of IS ?

I am always reading people in other forums on about IS effectively allowing a larger apature. Whats your opinion of using Image Stab Steve ...would it help a great deal in lowish light for what you shoot ?

[Dee]

LOL Dee. Man that is some longggggggg piece o' glass Cute story and nice pics :thumb

Ian mentioned he had been up your way earlier in the day and nothing was happening. So he came down to SC. I guess it works both ways.

You're right, we've got to get patches, or t-shirts, or.....tattoos :roll

Steve

Don't shave and I might have a fighting chance of recognizing you! LOL

[Dee]

Dee, folks with lenses like tat live for the moment they get questions about it. I think us dgrin folks here need a secret handshake, or maybe a patch for our gear bag, to identify one another out there. :thumb

You're probably right :D

He even swung the lens around (when I asked him) so I could get better lighting on it! :D He also explained half the lens was the lens hood and that it came off.

[Michiel de Brieder]

I am always reading people in other forums on about IS effectively allowing a larger apature. Whats your opinion of using Image Stab Steve ...would it help a great deal in lowish light for what you shoot ? 'Gus,

About IS, it does make for about 1-2 stops difference in handholdability, BUT remember that you will still need fast shutter speeds to stop the action! With the sh$tload of light down under you'll probably don't need it :rofl I've decided for myself to get the Bigma :D I've seen so many good results from that lens that I can't justify the cost of the 100-400 for myself... I hope to get 'nuff cash raised for the Yosemite shoot so that I can buy some food for the 2 weeks I'm there AND grab myself a lens :clap

[Michiel de Brieder]

And a nice read :D I hope to get some nice shots when I get to SF! I like shooting surfers, so I'm hoping for some nice weather in May!!!
Thanks for sharing

[dugmar]

I'd slap a smugmug patch on my bags. How hard would it be for smugmug to get some made up?

Dave
Great idea actually. I'd sew one on my bag for sure.

Doug

[gus]

'Gus,

About IS, it does make for about 1-2 stops difference in handholdability, BUT remember that you will still need fast shutter speeds to stop the action! With the sh$tload of light down under you'll probably don't need it :rofl I've decided for myself to get the Bigma :D I've seen so many good results from that lens that I can't justify the cost of the 100-400 for myself... I hope to get 'nuff cash raised for the Yosemite shoot so that I can buy some food for the 2 weeks I'm there AND grab myself a lens :clap
Michiel i have done nothing but read about the Bigma & a few others for the past couple of weeks..you would be hard up to find a bad word against the Bigma 50-500 (you do see some bad words for the sigma 170-500 though)

Sooo many people that shoot long distance rave about it. Its all just a giant trade off like everything else in this world. I was surprised at the following that lens gets though.

just some site i found where the bloke shoots neally everything with the bigma.

http://www.h20pix.com/

[maczippy]

I'll buy a person a pint if they ever spot me.....

Hint, I'm the only person who handholds these beasts...and has a "funny" accent....I'll say no more..

So don't be shy, if you think it's me, and are feeling brave, it's a trip to the Seabright brewery for you...on me...

Nice work Steve et al.

Andrew ;)

(at home becuase there's just too many people for me down there today...)

[Steve Cavigliano]

Great info to chew on steve...why im so interested in surf shots (other than i love the sport) i recon its a bit of a benchmark to shoot ie speed with water effects & both good & low light.

I have no idea which way to go as in a telephoto yet..man am i reading heaps though. I am not so concerned with the high speed glass so much as reach. I would have far more to shoot with distance rather than low light distance & really the only 2 lenses that are in the game is the Bigma & the 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS USM. And certainly a 400mm lens is no slouch.

So the question remains again a personal one...is that extra $500-$600 worth the sacrifice of 100 mm zoom + the addition of IS ?

I am always reading people in other forums on about IS effectively allowing a larger apature. Whats your opinion of using Image Stab Steve ...would it help a great deal in lowish light for what you shoot ?
Gus,
I was considering the same 3 options as you. The 100-400mm and the 400 F5.6 are lighter, are Canons and are "L" glass. Plus, the 100-400mm has IS. The major positives for the Bigma were price, the extra 100mm's (more like 75mm's) of reach and the extra room at the wide end. I read all the reviews (including user feedback) and looked at a ton of pictures. I came to the conclusion that they are all equally capable of delivering sharp images, with nice color and contrast. None of them had any image quality issues I could see (CA, flare, color issues, viginetting, etc). Since I couldn't see a $300-$500 difference, I took the economical route. I'm am very satisfied with my decision and think I can get even more out of this beast once I get more experienced with it.

Regarding, the question "to IS, or not to IS?" As Michiel points out, IS helps you with slower shutter speeds. Unless you plan on shooting at full tele, with speeds less than 1/500 (or 1/400 in the Canon's case), you really wouldn't notice a difference. In most cases, you will be using high speeds in good light and IMO, all of these lenses are still too slow, at max tele, to handhold in poor light anyway.

FWIW, I ordered the cheapie ($80usd) Tamron 1.4x TC from B&H last week. I plan to try it with the Bigma, I'll keep you posted on the results :D 500mm's x 1.4 = 700mm's. 700mm's x 1.6 FOV = 1120 :yikes If it works out, I'll be able to tell if a surfer missed a spot when shaving :lol


Good luck,
Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

Don't shave and I might have a fighting chance of recognizing you! LOL
I've had it (the beard) for 23 years. I was going to shave it off years ago, but I was afraid my children wouldn't recognize me :rofl Like that would be a bad thing....LOL

Besides the salt and pepper beard, I am usually wearing a SF Giants baseball cap (turned backwards when shooting). So the beard and cap narrow it down to about 10% of the males in the Bay Area :roll


Steve

[gus]

Thanks steve...will look fwd to the 1120 shots :thumb

[Steve Cavigliano]

I think it really affected my take otherwise--seriously. I'm headed down
to the aquarium tomorrow. If the coast is clear, I'll stop with the 100-400
(I'll be gear limited with the bike :D).

Hey, how's this one?

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/14632601-M.jpg

Lot's of Canon gear out today...Ian,
Looks good and yes there were lots of Canon cameras and Sigma lenses there.

I'll be interested in seeing your results from the aquarium. I've always wanted to shoot it, but worried about the lighting and shooting through that thick glass (with all those hand and nose prints all over....lol). Good luck with that :thumb

Seriously affected your take, indeed :scratch If you would have been using a CF card larger than 256mb, you could have gotten a ton more shots :lol I even offered to loan you a high capacity 512mb card :roll J/K :wink

I am serious about wanting to see the aquarium shots, so please post some :clap

Be careful on that bike,
Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

And a nice read :D I hope to get some nice shots when I get to SF! I like shooting surfers, so I'm hoping for some nice weather in May!!!
Thanks for sharing
Michiel,
Thank you very much for your nice comments :clap

May might be the best month of all to visit the SF Area. Usually, not much fog and not too warm, or cold. Everything is still green and vibrant from the rains and not dired up/out by the Summer Sun. A month or two later and it's the worst time to visit. As Samuel Clemens wrote "the coldest Winter I ever spent, was Summer in San Francisco" :rofl How true it is.


Thanks for looking,
Steve

[maczippy]

Hey Steve...

I think you'll find that Mark Twain said that...

Andrew :)

[Dee]

Wimberly tripod head - Was this a 500mm or a 600mm lens? 600mm would be my guess.

Geesh, you recognize the tripod head? I am so not an equipment gal!

[gus]

"the coldest Winter I ever spent, was Summer in San Francisco" :rofl How true it is.


Thanks for looking,
Steve:huh :huh :huh :huh :huh you telling me to pack some warm stuff steve ?

I dont own any.

I remember charles bronson smearing grease all overhimself & then wrapping in plastic to be warm in a movie once...juuust might do the trick.

[Dee]

I've had it (the beard) for 23 years. I was going to shave it off years ago, but I was afraid my children wouldn't recognize me :rofl Like that would be a bad thing....LOL

Besides the salt and pepper beard, I am usually wearing a SF Giants baseball cap (turned backwards when shooting). So the beard and cap narrow it down to about 10% of the males in the Bay Area :roll


Steve

So besides camera equipment, I'm not into sports. Giants, huh, what color scheme do they use? Well, I know the As are green and something because I like that shade of green :D

I should go to the Mugs thread and print out pictures of the locals and carry it with me! Yeah, that would do it! :rofl

Husband: Why are you printing out pictures of all these guys?
Dee: So I won't walk up and talk to strangers with cameras.

(You have to understand I'm an introvert by nature, an easterner (don't talk to strangers) by upbringing, so like that's the biggest joke in our family that I'd walking up to strange men and starting conversations. But now, that I'm a "little old lady" I'm getting braver. That and 20 years of living with Californians, who if you don't say hello on meeting, you are suspect, the direct opposite of when I was working in NYC.

[Dee]

I shot a lot of good photos at the Monterey Aquarium and because of the lighting (DIM) I didn't have any problem with smudges or with reflections. Did I say the light was dim?

A tripod would be difficult, but you can up your ISO, where I can't... I bet you could get a great shot of the Nautilus by upping your ISO! The cuttlefish (if still there) are a blast --- and the jellyfish? mesmerizing! Then they added the deep sea -- huge turtles -- nice slow moving turtles!

The only problem area with scratched glass, etc. would be the sea otter indoor area.

Go for it, and stop worrying :D

[Dee]

:huh :huh :huh :huh :huh you telling me to pack some warm stuff steve ?

I dont own any.



First of all it WILL be colder at Yosemite, especially after 4 p.m. or so. It's not like NYC for sure!

Around SF -- we layer. Hooded sweat shirt, long sleeved, a short sleeve top (don't you see people out here with hoodies wrapped around their waist?) and if you plan to go out at night, some kind of lined wind breaker jacket and long pants.

I'm always sockless, by the way, with sandals (m'ah Tevas) but sometimes I wish I had gloves.

Even if it's warm, the wind will come up and the ocean wind can be chilling. You don't need a goose down jacket or anything like that... ladies need something to tie their hair back (especially at the beach, if it's windy) and a cap, hat, or hood comes in handy.

Now someone else will have to give us a Yosemite weather condition report, but that's it for SF, come prepared. It usually chills down to 50 or so late afternoon and evening, even if it's 90 during the day. The only time this changes is if we get an east wind instead of our usual west winds.

I asked my girlfriend when I first moved out here how she managed the different temperature changes -- layer. Morning, sweater or jacket. Drive to work, leave sweater or jacket in car. Lunch, just fine. Time to go home, put sweater or jacket on, drive home... going out at night, heavier jacket... all is well.

[ian408]

(at home becuase there's just too many people for me down there today...)
No kidding. Pack-O'rama!

Ian

[maczippy]

No kidding. Pack-O'rama!

Ian

I figured. I've been here since 97 and you get to know when things are not worth bothering with..

I really am quite the loner when it comes to this, but will share knoweldge and help etc with anyone who talks to me (hence the Seabright offer...)

The best times are truly during the week, If you get a good low tide, and somewhat crappy weather (not really bad but just bad enough) you'll get the good surfers out (those that live locally, as we all know how much disdain is dealt out to those who live "over the hill" - HWY 17 - which I think is silly but there you go)

But I have found the best surfers are those that live for the waves...and they come out in the week when the weekenders are back at work...

Just a little tip..and keep your eye on http://www.surfline.com

Andrew :)

[ian408]

Surfline is your friend :thumb

I don't generally experience the 'disdain' but then my approach isn't the
tourista approach either :)

When I'm shooting, some of the locals will come and chat which is pretty
nice because I've gotten some good tips from them. Even the grom's are
pretty cool :D

I don't know very much about surfing so the info I get from locals is always
useful.

But then when I travel, you won't find me on the main street of the towns
I visit because the best stuff is usually off the beaten path :D

ian