17-40 is one of my favorite lenses! :tup:

Thanks bud, I appreciate it. I didn't misfocus as much as I just went too open on the aperture. I got the emblem in focus but not much else, and in the dark it was hard to tell on the camera screen that it wasn't totally focused like I thought :shakes head: Oh well, I'll keep working at it. Yours look friggin sweet as always :)

This year I was challenged by a good friend of mine to do a photo a week. While that sounds easy for me when I'm shooting so much, the challenge was to shoot something other than cars and I added to that by deciding to use a different lens each week. So this is my "Project 52". I will admit, I've been kinda busy and have been a little slack but here's what I've got so far:

1/52 "Christmas Wishes" - 135L
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/...MG_2567-XL.jpg

2/52 "Bad Moon On The Rise" - 300L
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/...MG_9931-XL.jpg

4/52 "Tools Of The Trade" - 50 1.4
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/...MG_3023-XL.jpg

6/52 "With Fire In His Eyes" - 50 1.4
http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/...MG_3055-XL.jpg

Here is a practice shot with the speedlite. I have no idea what I'm doing but I liked how the water shows up.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/...8d5c068f_b.jpg

I have an inquiry regarding the depth of field experienced with Low F numbers.

The DOF in the viewfinder doens't quite match the DOF captured in the photos.

Is there a good / better way to estimate the actual focal (infocus) range ??

You can preview DOF using the DOF preview button located on the front of the camera near the lens, usually on the shutter button side of the camera. They only preview to about f/2.8-4, correct me if Im wrong, so shooting with a prime at, say, f/1.8, it'll look the same as f/2.8.

Scratches head... i'll have to look into what the DOF preview does... this is news to me! :bowrofl:

Hey Patrick, I've need your opinion. My primary lenses are my 70-200 f/4 IS, 85mm f/1.8 and 28mm f/1.8. Which of these options would you recommend to cover my focal range gap: 1. the 24-70mm f/4 IS, 2: the 17-40mm f/4 + 50mm f/1.4?

The 30-85 focal region is my least used range as it never really suits my aesthetic. I know the 24-70 f/4 is a very nice piece, but being that its my least used range, do you think the 17-40 might suit me better? What do you think of its quality being an L and all? I'd appreciate any light you can shed on this for me!

Can't go wrong with the 17-40, honestly. I think that's your best bet based on what you are saying about which ranges you use and don't use.

I never understood how to use the DOF preview, it just seems to make things dark and I'm like huh? lol

It's supposed to show you what is in focus and what is not when you are stopped down. I find it hard to actually see. In an age of digital medium, I find this feature rather pointless. Trial and error is the best way to get your DoF set, imo

Cool, thanks Patrick!

Yeah, trial and error also gets you used to which settings to use for a desired result, so you can do it on the fly. Another really useful tip is to google DOF calculator. Check out the charts for your particular lens and you can see the DOF in actual measurements. For instance, if I'm shooting a portrait using my 85mm f/1.8, I know that if my subject is 4 feet away, the DOF or sharp plane of the image is only maybe 1/2 inch at f/1.8. So if I want the subjects entire face from nose tip to back of ears in focus, I'd have to shoot at around f/11ish. Knowing this helps you pick the right settings for your desired result.

Went out and had a photo session with an R8 last night. This is the first edit. Will do more tonight.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8611/...85005f54_b.jpg

:drool:

Damn!

http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-conte...10/daaaamn.gif

Wish the arrow was pointing at the car instead of away but still... Nice shot, great view. And I hate parking deck shots lol

Very cool! You're getting really good at this night photography stuff!

Thanks for the kind words guys, especially coming from great photographers like yourselves!

HKYStormFront - I couldn't agree more with the parking decks man, I hate them myself. Its like a college project to shoot on a parking deck haha. Unfortunately that's the location I was told to meet the car so I didn't have much say. With me being new to photography I will take whatever is given right now until I am confident in the quality of my work. What makes it worse is as soon as I got there and saw that it was a shopping plaza I told the guy we will be kicked out. 1hr later, we got kicked out haha.

6spd - Thanks so much man. Thats the good and bad about fulltime job. Only time I get to go practice shooting is at night haha. And because I don't have any strobes or decent speed lights yet I am stuck having to fake flashes with light painting. Need to save up some cash so I can invest into a good lighting setup.

You are very talented and tasteful with the light painting, much props! Was that shot one shot or a composite if you don't mind me asking?

Ohh I dont mind at all man.

It was a lot of shots.

1 front Wheel
1 Rear Wheel
1 Front Left to hit the emblem and grill a little
1 To hit the CF
1 To hit rear quarter panel
1 To hit whole side which I then used only on the top portion of the belt line to make that bodyline pop a little.

I used my EX580 to fire manually into the car because I am now on Nikon and need to get a trigger for it to work in sync.
I also have this ghetto rig I made out of a tow truck light that I used to light part a little of the rear with.

Here is another shot I did last weekend with my car. Again, a bunch of shots put together haha.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/...12370745_b.jpg

Very cool, thats what I figured! I love comps and I do them all the time thats why I asked. I may give this a shot one night soon if I can find a decent place to shoot it. I hate shooting boring backgrounds lol.

Thats actually my biggest struggle. Finding a fun exciting env. I know some guys photoshop in a dif env but I am really trying to avoid getting that fake with it yet. Or better yet, I havnt got a shot where I was motivated enough to do that haha.

Only negative thing about it for me is the great env are in the less wealthy areas and I am always worried about getting robbed. Esp when its pitch dark and your standing flashing a light around attractive everybody haha.

Retouched another one.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/...c520c53b_b.jpg

You use that rig program don't you?

For this one I just did it all in photoshop. I do have that rig program but I use it for my CGi cars. I personally want to buy me a real car rig but before I do that I want to buy me a Profoto B1 500 location kit.

Jesus, you must have spent a lot of time on it in photoshop for that effect!

I haven't posted pics here in a while, so here are a few from an award winning set I did recently for a school exhibit:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/...30434a28_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8653/...75fd164d_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8597/...108b21c3_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8587/...4303ae6f_b.jpg

In my quest to try knew things in the photography world and branch out my portfolio, I tried my first attempt at a fitness photoshoot this past weekend with one of my favorite models, Meghan Bailey. I've worked with her several times through Z1 Motorsports for their poster photoshoots and she is one of my absolute favorite models to work with. We always have a great time together. Out of what I got, this was my favorite shot:

http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/...MG_3364-XL.jpg

Here's the rest if you'd like to look through:

Meghan's Fitness Photoshoot - 2/15/15 - JPMcG Photography

6spd - that last shot is awesome man!

HKY - I agree, love the highlights on all the weights in that one. Beautiful lighting on her as well.

Ordered my B1 location kit the other day, if all goes to plan I will be playing with it this weekend! Need to step my game up to compete with you boys haha.

This is AWESOME! thanks! I've been an independent contractor endurance coach for a while now and just filed the paperwork for my own business. Putting together a website as we speak and I need ideas for content. Perfect timing and great inspiration! Very Nice!

Holy sh1t you bought a B1 kit?! That's some expensive gear!

Awesome set Patrick!

Yeah its def running up price wise quickly. Because I dont have anything as far as stands and sandbags and softboxes go this is starting to come close to a 5.8k investment.

My personal logic is if I can afford it I will buy it and that way I have absolutely no excuses as to why I suck. Then I just work on perfecting my personal skills. I have been using this logic with my stunt riding and its been working good haha. However with stunt riding the consequences are a lot more dangerous than just money lol.

Yup, practice makes better, never perfect, just better lmao! Thats my logic!

Thanks everyone :icon17:

If I can be of any service with helping get your website up via producing media, please let me know! :tup:

thank you! I'm pretty lost right now. Have to work on it over the weekend. Just got my papers filed and secured domain names. I'll let you know.

More practice. Took out my wifes mustang.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/...d77db92d_b.jpg

nice shoot dude!!!

Nice work. :tup:

Something to get you guys in the mood for Spring.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8576/...5f578be8_b.jpgIMG_2736_7_8 by pandahouse, on Flickr

Woot woot, getting dangerous!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8611/...e905be80_b.jpg

Damn dude, that's awesome