Washington DC Night Tour June 12

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

06/14/2004 04:32:18 PM · #76

Hey gang. Thanks again to Clara for putting this together. I had a really good time, and it was great meeting everyone. When is the next one?

My Pics - Either I have way too many dead pixels, or my sensor really needs to be cleaned. I wasn't too happy with my results, especially in color. I'll post a photo when I get home and maybe one of you can tell me which it is.

I'm not happy about this. :(

-d

Chiqui

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

06/14/2004 04:41:32 PM · #77

Originally posted by dsidwell:

Originally posted by richterrell:
It was no big deal, really. Me and John Setzler were shooting some pics of the fountain I posted an image of below. While we were shooting, a police officer informed us that tripods were not allowed on Capitol grounds. I actually did not realize we were on Capitol grounds at the time, but it would not have much mattered - I also did not know that tripods were not allowed in the first place. The officer was very courteous, though.

We folded up the tripods and continued shooting. In the shot below I used my backpack as a base and triggered the shot with the self timer.

What REALLY happened:

It was no big deal, really. Me and John Setzler were shooting some pics of the fountain I posted an image of below. While we were shooting, a dozen SWAT officers surrounded us and yelled at us to 'Get down! Put your hands on your heads and lie face down on the ground!!!' Since the ground was muddy, and since I had my new $500 jacket on (I thought I'd off to fellow DPCers), no way was I going to lie face down on the ground. Then I thought how fun it would be to take a picture of the SWAT team's weapons aimed at me, so I turned my camera toward the nearest visible semi-automatic weapon.

Suddenly, the sound of a single gunshot careened through the air. My camera went toppling to the ground--or almost did. Setz doved and caught it just before it fell into the gurgling water near my feet (thanks John!).

The officer yelled again, 'Put your hands on your heads and lie face down on the ground!! Now!!!' We really had no choice this time. Luckily, John was still on the ground, so I lay down on him and was able to protect my jacket from getting muddy.

Instantly, nine of the SWAT officers ran to our position and pointed their guns at our heads. I was sweating profusely, and Setz was breathing heavily (the result, no doubt, of my weight on him). I said to John, 'To think our DPC meeting would end like this!'

One of the officers suddenly stepped back a few inches. 'Did you say DPC? As in Digital Photography Challenge?'

'Uh, yeah!' I quipped brightly.

'Hey, I'm a member, too!,' noted the officer. The guns suddenly vanished and we were suddenly all smiles. 'Maybe someday I'll get a ribbon, but I've got to learn how to use depth of field properly. I'm also thinking I need to add some drama to my shots somehow.'

'Right,' I agreed, 'I think we could all use some work in those areas.' By this time the other officers had backed off and were headed to the dark, gleaming SWAT van I suddenly noticed was hidden in the trees.

John stood up. He was wearing a T-shirt made from his Liberty and Justice shot. It was covered in mud, but still startling in its photographic perfection. 'Hey, cool!' said the officer, 'how did you get that shot?' John proceeded to explain, but the officer stopped him. 'Sorry, I'll have to ask you later. I gotta go.'

As he walked away, he turned one more time to us and said, very courteously, 'By the way, you're not allowed to use tripods on the Capitol grounds!'

'Okay!' I waved back. We folded our tripods and continued shooting. In the shot below, I used my backpack as a base and triggered the shot with the self timer.

Hey, maybe you should consider a career as a freelance writer as well!
June

blemt

Nikon D70

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

06/14/2004 06:20:47 PM · #78

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Imma get in trouble for posting this for sure :) If I suddenlty disappear, blame Clara :-))

Gosh John, thanks so much for giving me that nice, free, 512 MB card. Yer a stud.

Clara- get in trouble? Why would you think that? ;)

fstopopen

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/14/2004 08:57:17 PM · #79

just a quick post of a shot I got. I just thought this was neat, even though some of the hot spots were burnt out, I like the clouds. I am now going to sleep. I haven't slept since thursday night. Just got back to Oklahoma. this is rambling. thanks clara. thanks everybody. lets do it again.

drake

Message edited by author 2004-06-14 20:59:46.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

06/14/2004 09:18:36 PM · #80

dsidwell....

Very very funny. Truly enjoyed the yarn. That is precisely why I will travel your way to shoot those sandstone caverns with you....someday.

Thanks.

Great pics folks. Glad you had a solid good time.

Flash

PerfectShot

Nikon D500

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Minolta

06/15/2004 12:19:01 AM · #81

Okay okay, so I've been a bad boy. I haven't really had the opportunity to do any post processing, but I know I need to do it soon. Only a day left for the basic challange.. oh what the heck, hold on a sec...... Here we go... 2 hrs later.. did some cropping and a little playing around in PS, still learning, but here we go.

My start for the DC portfolio, still have a lot more to review and post process. I had a great time out there, needless to say when I got home, I was so in the dog house ;-0. Once she saw the pics she was a little less harsh on me ;). When I finally slept, it was 10am on Sunday and it was a short (2 hr) power nap.

We MUST do it again some time, maybe another city???? Hmmmm...

See yas!

06/15/2004 12:46:11 AM · #82

Who wants to give me a verdict on this.

Dirty sensor - bad pixels - both?

06/15/2004 01:22:52 AM · #83

Originally posted by DJLuba:

Who wants to give me a verdict on this.

Dirty sensor - bad pixels - both?

No.... sensor noise probably from a long exposure.. how long was it?

06/15/2004 10:41:29 AM · #84

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

No.... sensor noise probably from a long exposure.. how long was it?

This was about 13 secs at f/10.

-d

06/15/2004 10:46:14 AM · #85

Originally posted by DJLuba:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
No.... sensor noise probably from a long exposure.. how long was it?

This was about 13 secs at f/10.

-d

Put the lenscap on your camera and shoot at f/10 for 13 seconds at the same iso setting you used in this photo and then see what the results look like.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/15/2004 10:36:46 PM · #86

The Lincoln Memorial

I think this is probably my favorite image from this event. The Lincoln Memorial has always been my favorite monument in Washington D.C. and I wanted to capture something nice there....

fstopopen

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/15/2004 10:38:43 PM · #87

beautiful pic john. I'm glad to have met you. I had a lot of fun discussing ways to pick up women. I can't wait to try them out. lol.

drake.

digistoune

Canon EOS-20D

06/15/2004 10:39:29 PM · #88

Wow! You guys got some great photographs while in DC! I'm insanely jealous :-)

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

06/15/2004 10:42:38 PM · #89

Originally posted by digistoune:

Wow! You guys got some great photographs while in DC! I'm insanely jealous :-)

Ditto. Hope this is an annual event. I'll start saving pennies for next year!

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

06/15/2004 10:46:29 PM · #90

Some of my other shots from the trip are here:

//www.pbase.com/jmsetzler/washington_dc

Some of this stuff is edited and some of it isn't but there are a variety of things to see :)

blemt

Nikon D70

06/15/2004 11:10:17 PM · #91

Originally posted by jpochard:

Ditto. Hope this is an annual event. I'll start saving pennies for next year!

As of now, plans are in the works to have the second annual DC Night Tour next year. :) Couple of questions:

1) would people be willing to pay if needed to secure permits to shot in areas like the US Capitol if required?

2) would people be more interested in summer or fall

3) would people be interested in this being a weekend event to allow for more shooting time?

4) have I lost my mind to even be considering planning another event?

Clara

06/15/2004 11:14:03 PM · #92

Originally posted by blemt:

Originally posted by jpochard:

Ditto. Hope this is an annual event. I'll start saving pennies for next year!

As of now, plans are in the works to have the second annual DC Night Tour next year. :) Couple of questions:

1) would people be willing to pay if needed to secure permits to shot in areas like the US Capitol if required?

2) would people be more interested in summer or fall

3) would people be interested in this being a weekend event to allow for more shooting time?

4) have I lost my mind to even be considering planning another event?

Clara

1. yes
2. fall or spring so its not so dam hot :)
3. yes.. weekend or even more
4. yes. definitely :D

digistoune

Canon EOS-20D

06/15/2004 11:17:36 PM · #93

1. Yes
2. Summer (cuz my son spends summers w/ his dad which leaves me free for such adventures)
3. Yes
4. Yes, but it's awfully kind of you!

06/15/2004 11:20:22 PM · #94

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by DJLuba:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
No.... sensor noise probably from a long exposure.. how long was it?

This was about 13 secs at f/10.

-d

Put the lenscap on your camera and shoot at f/10 for 13 seconds at the same iso setting you used in this photo and then see what the results look like.

John,
Check this one out.

Taken with the Cap on. Looks bad to me. Still think this is noise?
Thanks,
d

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/15/2004 11:31:05 PM · #95

Finally got a chance to post one.

Good times!

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

06/15/2004 11:41:31 PM · #96

I wish I could have made this trip. I was in DC last Spring to pick my eldest up from the airport as she returned from Luxemburg. I only had my little Mavica FD92 then, but here are some of my shots from that trip.

dc 1
dc 2
dc 3
dc 4
dc 5
dc 6
dc 7
dc 8

Hope it's okay to post these links for this thread. I really enjoy seeing every one's shots from your night out. Can't wait to see more of them!

06/15/2004 11:41:34 PM · #97

Originally posted by DJLuba:

Taken with the Cap on. Looks bad to me. Still think this is noise?
Thanks,
d

Shoot it again with the lenscap on and shoot at your lowest ISO option and shoot it for 1" and see if you notice any noise. Longer exposures definitely increase the noise on the sensor.