Ray ( )'s photostream  

Thanks for dropping by and checking out my stuff.

I am a bit erratic with Flickr. I enjoy shooting a lot more than processing or editing, so I have lots of unprocessed photographs waiting for me to finish. But often I forget them, sometimes re-discovering raw pictures months later.
When I do decide to work on something I go though a strange ritual: First I like the shot, but then as I begin editing I wonder if it's good enough to post. I'll do a second or third version, eventually deciding which to post, then after seeing it online I often don't like it anymore.
Is it this tortuous for everyone?
Some time later I will look at it and either think: 'that's quite nice' or 'what was I thinking?' and want to delete it altogether. By then my friends on Flickr have reacted and often the ones other people like are the ones I want to delete. I then have problem deciding whether to delete or not.
So if I choose the right shot, do a good job processing it and it gets a good reaction I am surprised... and happy.

I love HDR if it is done well, but less than 5% of HDR shots I see on Flickr are in that category. I have done some shockers myself. I often process HDR shots and later hate them and delete them. I think it is hard to do HDR well and it doesn't suit many photographs. Trey Ratcliff www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/ does high quality work.
I am about to explore DRI using digital blending techniques because it is another way of processing to bring out the best in shots. Daniel www.flickr.com/photos/danielcheong/with/6437282805/ does it really well.
I also like the occasional black & white or sepia.
I get bored with the same look quickly so I try to use a variety of processes that suit the shot.
But as I said, editing is not my favourite thing. My friend Sarah is particularly gifted with her processing and photomanipulations: www.flickr.com/photos/dadaistic_fantastic/
She edited this shot for me and it is my enduring favourite: www.flickr.com/photos/raymondoh/5525983532/lightbox/

Don't get me started on Explore.Too late! So many of us mistakenly use it as an indication of the quality of our work when it clearly is not. I used to make this mistake and became addicted to getting shots in the daily Explore list. I still enjoy seeing my work in the Explore 500 but I have seen so much crap in Explore that I can't take it seriously. I have also seen many superb shots by my contacts that never make it. It might be gratifying to make Explore but it is a lottery and they change the formula often to give more people a chance to get into it. If you work hard maintaining your contact base and encourage others to visit your stream by commenting on their work you can increase your chances, but I no longer have the time nor the interest.

So how do I really know whether my shots are good or not? That's where you come in. I rely on your comments and faves as the real indication. Please be honest in your comments, don't fave anything unless you love it. Don't fave or comment expecting the same in return. I don't play that game. If I fave your pic it's because I really love it and I am proud to showcase it in my faves list.

Forgive me if I take a little time to get back to you. As I said I am a bit erratic on Flickr. But I will get back to you eventually.

My photographs can be purchased in various formats at: www.redbubble.com/people/rayw
If you see something you want on Flickr that's not on RedBubble just email me and I will upload it.

Thanks for your interest and support.

Cheers
Ray


PS: I always find it fascinating to see what other choose to shoot with, so I have included a list of my current equipment.
(I just retired my D60 & 2 kit lenses)

Cameras:
Nikon D700 (full frame DSLR)
Nikon D7000 (DX/ crop sensor DSLR)
Nikon F75 (35mm film SLR)
GoPro HD Hero (for action video or all weather time-lapse)
Casio EX-FH100 (budget slow motion video)

Lenses:
Sigma 10-20mm DX
Sigma 12-24mm
Nikon 14-24mm f2.8
Nikon 17-35mm
Sigma 24-70mm f2.8
Nikon 28-100mm
Nikon 50mm f1.4G
Sigma 70-200mm f2.8
Nikon 70-300mm G
Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro
Sigma 150-500mm APO HSM

+ the usual flashes, tripods, macro rings, reversing rings, ND & ND grad filters, reflectors etc

I do not to carry all this at once, but I usually overdo it rather than be caught without the right lens.

The D700 is my favourite camera but it is big and heavy. The 14-24mm & 50mm f1.4 are my favourite lenses.

Minimal kit for general conditions:
Nikon D7000
Sigma 10-20mm
Sigma 24-70mm
Nikon 70-300

Minimal kit at night:
Nikon D700 + Nikon 14-24mm f2.8
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 or Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 depending on what I am doing.


I usually carry around:
Nikon D700 + Nikon 14-24mm
Nikon D7000 + Sigma 24-70mm
Nikon 50mm f1.4
Sigma 70-200mm (or Nikon 70-300mm)
Having a second camera body means less mucking around changing lenses plus the D7000 (DX/apsc sensor) gives me the advantage of a 1.5 x crop factor, extending my range without losing f stops. So I have 14mm-300mm (or14-450mm) covered.

I might also add the Sigma 12-24 if I am going to need extra wide shots (yes 12mm instead of 14mm makes a difference) or the Nikon 70-300 and/or Sigma 150-500mm for long lens situations. But long/fast lenses are heavy and I will leave them home if they are unlikely to be needed.
I use the Sigma 105mm for macros, or the 24-70 with macro rings, or 17-35mm with macro rings.

I have two tripods: an aluminium Manfrotto which is light and compact but despite claims by the manufacturer the ball head can barely handle the weight of the D700 with a heavy lens. My Optex tripod is big, bulky, heavy and often the only thing to use with a heavier camera/lens combination or when I am bracketing shots for HDR.

I hope this has been interesting. Feel free to email your thoughts.