Hello everyone. This will be an ongoing thread during my time at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. I'll be posting photos form my entire stay here including class work and off time photos.

Here are a couple to start.

Class - Day 1
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/robluko/b2e72534.jpg

A photo that I took during the Nikon demo. I snagged one of their 60mm Maco lenses and shot this. I WANT ONE! lol.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/robluko/2741ad54.jpg

Orientation is officially over and class starts on Monday. I changed my major from Pro-Photography to Visual Journalism.... I just feel that my passion lies in telling a true story and taking photos that tell a story versus photos that are posed and are more for advertisement than anything.

I will have to sell my D-90 and upgrade for this major to at least a 300S. I am a little excited about the upgrade, but I just don't have the money for that. I guess the fofo will have do without some upgrades/repairs for awhile. No biggie.

Even though I won't be taking pro-photo as my major, i will be taking quite a few of their classes as electives so I can still excel in my photography.

Another cool thing about visual journalism is that we get to learn video on our DSLR cameras and will be using that for some of our projects. I just hope that my instructor can stomach watching focus video after focus video lol..

I'm stoked!

Congrats. And the 60mm Macro is a sweet lens.

Out of curiosity, why would you be upgrading to the D300s body?

It has the same ISO ability and Sensor as your D90. Did you just want the Metal Body and Trigger Ability? Or did you want more of a faster shutter rate for sports?

I personally think the D90 is a great camera. I have used a D300s many times and they do feel great, but after a few shots it can be quite heavy. The only reason I found pro-photogs that I know have this camera is because they need the rugged body for extreme outside weather shooting.

If you are looking for maybe a bit more quality photo and a faster shutter rate with great ISO ability ... I would look into the D7000. Its a great camera for the cost and still feels like the D90 with a Semi Metal Body (2 Pieces).

If you don't need the extra abilities of the D300s ... I would recommend saving up for some great Nikkor Glass for what you are shooting. For instance, I would love to get another camera (sold all of my bodies ... use the studios bodies ... D90, D300s or D700), but found since the studio lets me use their camera, I have been saving up for lenses and now looking at getting the 85 1.4 for more of my portrait work and low-light automotive/indoor sports.

Congrats again and look forward to seeing you photos pop up.

-Ray-

They are telling me that for sports photography, I need a camera that uses a Compact Flash card over SD. The CF Cards write faster. I have noticed that with my D90 over my old Navy D200 that it does take a bit longer to write when using a high shutter speed in between bursts. I've missed a few shots in the past because of it... I probably won't use many of the features that the D300s over my D90, but it still is a better camera.

That's incorrect. If you buy the Extreme Pro SD Cards, they write at 45mb/s over the standard SD of 5-8mb/s.

And that rivals the CF Cards. Evening the playing field.

And if you get the battery pack for the D90, that will add another 1-2 frames per second in your shutter ability.

Trust me, I have had debates with this and other photogs, then we went out and tested it and the D90 matched the D300s pretty close when you got the right cards and accessories.

Look into those pieces. The Extreme Pro Cards are much more expensive, but much cheaper than buying a whole new camera. About $75 for a 8gb. But I have the 16gb Extreme ... and have been extremely happy during sports when I use a D90. Fast write capabilities.

-Ray-

To add ... that fact was true a long time ago, but again the Extreme Pro SD Cards by SanDisk definitely level out the speed of the SD VS CF Cards.

Then it comes down to the camera. Of which your D90 will be able to battle with the tops of the D300s and D700. Sure it won't take out the D3s, but it sure is enough to stay pretty close.

-Ray-

I don't know how you feel about buying refurbished, but I picked up my camera from KEH, and have had zero issues with it. You can save yourself a few hundred bucks at least. Excellent condition D300S for $1219 up to Like New - condition for $1369. Still expensive, but cheaper than a $1700 new one.

http://www.keh.com/search?store=camera&brand=Nikon-Digital&category=Camera-Bodies&k=D300s&s=1&bcode=DN&ccode=2&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

I use a D90 at work on a daily basis, and I'd hate to see you have to part with such a solid workhorse of a camera.

I really don't want to dump my D90... I'll look into and ask about the new cards with the faster write speed.

I already have the battery pack and love it. I did notice that it has sped up the HSP setting a bit.

Yeah. Definitely do that.

I mean, what type of sports are you going to be shooting?

Since you are going into Visual Journalism, aren't most of your things going to be documentary style and less active?

The only sport I feel needs a super fast shutter is like Track and Field.

Cars look better with a slight slower shutter speed (get the motion look) and indoor sports are better with slower speeds as well because of the lack of light to run higher shutters.

-Ray-

I'll be shooting just about everything that I can while I'm here. I'm actually looking forward to winter to get some snowboarding shots. I'll be doing Mountain Biking photos, anything sports...

Hmm ... if you are going to get dirty. I recommend a good weather proof case for the D90.

Now when it comes to getting in some wet and dirty areas ... like snow and mud, the real metal body of the D200/D300 and up are what you need to keep the elements out.

I once did a shoot on a beach with my old D80 and had sand get inside through the plastic seam. Had to get it professionally cleaned to get it out.

If you do it, good luck and look forward to seeing those extreme photos.

-Ray-

Well if you want something weatherproof...

http://www.petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2011/04/muddy.jpg

^^ Yeah that's an old photo. Did you see the photo of the Ducks the guy took who owns this D3?

He even talked about using the pond water to pour on the back lcd to view the pictures.

That is definitely a camera well worth it.

-Ray-

Yeah, the shots he took were pretty amazing. I can feel this thread getting more and more off-topic, and I'm pretty much to blame. Rob, learn some stuff and take some new pictures! :P

I found the high speed SD cards at BH photo. I'm going to order this one.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764374-REG/Delkin_Devices_DDSDELITE_633_8GB_8GB_Elite_Class_10.html

Make sure you read the reviews on that one. It's very new. I once bought a different brand from SanDisk and use this 16gb MicroCenter card for an Offshore rig we were shooting. Came back to the studio and half my photos were corrupted on that card. Had the card for 6 months ... it's now lying somewhere in the garage land fill. Rubbish.

I am sticking to SanDisk.

The speed looks good on that card, but speed is nothing compared to reliability.

It's like Nikkor Glass or Canon L Glass VS Sigma, Tamron or Tokina ... The offbrand guys are going to do the same as the Nikkor and L glass but will not have that full functionality and quality of the Nikkor and L Glass.

-Ray-

I'll look into it a bit more before ordering it.

Oh, and I also bought a CPL filter like you suggested.

Sweet!!! Nice pick up. You will not regret the filter at all.

Good luck with it all man. Looking forward to you getting better and showing us your photos as you progress.

-Ray-

My photojournalism instructor assigned my class to photograph environmental portraits and he singled me out in class and said that I need to get out of my comfort zone.....

So I went to a gay bar and photographed drag queens. Thats about as far out of my comfort zone as I get.
I'm uploading the photos now.

Here are a couple

http://www.focusrush.net/sitebuilder/images/110528-R-1376S-006-398x600.jpg http://www.focusrush.net/sitebuilder/images/110528-R-1376S-020-398x600.jpg

http://www.focusrush.net/sitebuilder/images/110528-R-1376S-097-600x398.jpg

http://www.focusrush.net/sitebuilder/images/110528-R-1376S-027-600x398.jpg

http://www.focusrush.net/sitebuilder/images/110528-R-1376S-016-600x398.jpg

http://www.focusrush.net/sitebuilder/images/110528-R-1376S-009-600x398.jpg

http://www.focusrush.net/sitebuilder/images/110528-R-1376S-004-600x398.jpg

Interesting request from a teacher.

He probably sees the talent and wants to challenge you. Let's us know if you run into a snag that you need help on ... I know I would be glad to give some pointers for anything.

As for shots, I assume Off-Camera light.
The last one is my fav. The second dramatic one with the single light to camera right is underexposed.

But nice overall. Once you get used to using one off-camera light ... looking into getting into 2 and using one as a background light to control even more of the ambient area lighting.

-Ray-

I just got this lighting kit and I really hate it. It came with one translucent and one reflective umbrella to use between the two lights. I think I might keep it as a backup, but I'm going to get another lighting kit with soft boxes.

Do you have speedlights? If you are low on cash ... I would look into some Nikon Speedlights SB-28s. Older speedlights, but great speedlights.

Is it a shoot through umbrella or a fill bounce?

-Ray-

For this assignment, I can't use my speedlights..... FAIL. I was pissed when I read that in the directions. I've got 3 SB-800's that I LOVE to use for everything...

One light was Translucent - Shoot through
and the other light was reflective - Bounce

I've got a buyer for the kit already. I'm ordering a softbox kit.

So, were the lights strobes given to you by your teacher? or Continuous?

Again, interesting that your teacher would do that to you. Sounds like my buddies issue he had when we were in college. He had a teacher that gave him some stupid rules in film school and we just hit the points dead on with some modern twists and the teacher still gave us a hard time.

Just do your thing with the challenge. Will definitely make you a better still photographer. And show up the teacher.

-Ray-

They are strobes.

The teacher and I went head to head today... lol. (Friendly competition) and we had the class critique both of your portfolios.

I won :-P

Nice. Good job on the head to head competition.

-Ray-

Totally random, but is Tucker Porter in any of your classes? I went to high school with him, and he goes to Brooks.

http://tuckerporter.com/

From the looks of his photos, it looks like he is in the pro-photo program. I'm in the photojournalism program. 2 Different campus'?..campuses?..Campi?

Oh, all I know is that he's in SB at Brooks. I don't know about the actual layout of the school lol.

Yeah, if he's in Santa Barbara, then he's in the pro photo class. I'm at the Ventura Campus. BUT..... I'm sure our paths will cross eventually as the student body is fairly small and there are many on and off campus gatherings.

More environmental portraits.

Lets see I've not shot
1. Drag Queen
2. Drag King
3. Tow Truck Driver
4. Tatoo Artist
5. A Piercer
And today I'll be doing a portrait of a soccer player out on the field. I hope my extension cord is long enough to reach out there.

I'll post when done.

Extension cord? ... do you have plug-in strobes?

-Ray-

I recommend a good off-site sine-wave battery next time if the big plug in strobes are what you are using.

-Ray-

I have a JTC Portable strobe kit and a dynalite kit that I use for studio stuff.

The soccer team lost, so I have to do them tomorrow even though the assignment has already been turned in.

Here are the Environmental Portraits I turned in.

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley10.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley09.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley08.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley07.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley06.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley05.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley04.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley03.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley02.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb458/mc2stanley/Student%20On%20Assignment/eporstanley01.jpg

I think the first shot of the tow truck driver and the first shot of the tattoo artist are the best in this series.

The last 3 ... are they just extra to what you have posted already?

I like the shots.

The shot of the tow truck driver on his truck bed at an angle though ... just doesn't appeal to me. I can't put my thumb on it, but just not feeling it.

The other photo of him infront of his door seems like the fill flash is actually to strong here.

The hand close ups are nice, but not really something that fully stands out.

Nice shooting ... and keep em coming.

-Ray-

So my instructor liked the first photo of the tow truck driver, the second one of the tattoo artist, and the second one of the piercer.

I like 'em all, but I'm an impartial judge.