D.C. GTG July 17th or 18th 2008?

07/10/2008 10:34:44 PM · #26

I'm up for the later thing. I spoke with hubby and he's going to be so exhausted after a week of high end stress, that he's ok with us doing something in the evening. YAY

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

07/10/2008 11:47:11 PM · #27

Yippee! I'm finally going to meet the lovely and playful Jutilda! And banmorn! And maybe even my fellow Team Sucker krnodil!

Remember we're also planning one on September 13.

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

07/11/2008 01:13:56 AM · #28

I soooo want to go on this trip!!! After 2 weeks out of town in just a month, still recovering from the crud I caught on the first trip, business books and all that crap, I just can't seem to fit this trip in (headed to doctor appt #2 for this crap) .. despite hubby saying *go*. GRRRRRR

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

07/11/2008 01:15:46 AM · #29

Originally posted by Katmystiry:

Come up in September. :)

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

07/11/2008 01:18:52 AM · #30

I've already rejected another trip in September because I'm putting my daughter in a new private school (just trading private schools) and I want to be sure she is doing well there before I start my travels again. GRRRRR again!

SJCarter

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/11/2008 02:57:25 AM · #31

There's so much to see and do and shoot in DC... And night shoots can be spectacular there. I'll probably stay through 9-10pm, so I'm game for anything up until that point. I'm currently in CA shooting a wedding (and still haven't been home from the great Calgary workshops), but will be there in DC with bells on Friday morning looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it!

dahkota

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/11/2008 07:10:28 AM · #32

I can meet you all at the Zoo on Friday morning but then I have to hightail it back to work for two hours (I really hate people who can't work together for a day without a supervisor). Then, I can be back around 5 to meet up where ever you all happen to be. As long as I'm home by Saturday at noon, I'm good to go. :)

Night shooting on thursday or friday?

07/11/2008 07:41:54 AM · #33

Originally posted by SJCarter:

With bells on, huh? THAT should be worth a picture or two!

07/13/2008 02:37:32 AM · #34

YIPPEE - this is going to be fun.

Spoke with Jimmy,

SJCartertoday and he says we should be at the zoo around 10:30 or so. We will shoot for that. I am starting to collect cell phone numbers so PM me with yours and I'll give you my number as well. I think shooting at night will be awesome. I'll bring my cheap lightweight tripod since it's the only one I have, and it's easy to put in my luggage. I heard from

Skip today and due to other family plans, he won't be able to come but said to have fun and take lots of photos.

Still haven't heard from

NikonJeb. I'll try and drop him another note. :~)

07/13/2008 12:34:30 PM · #35

Update: heard from Jeb and he won't be able to make it so I guess it is just going to be we Musketeers. I'm getting phone numbers so we should be in communicado the entire day!! I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep. I feel like a kid going away to camp. LOL

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

07/16/2008 01:23:09 AM · #36

Hey folks, Scooter reminded me it'll be a full moon Friday night. That could make for some nice shots of the moon against the memorials.

He asked me some questions, and I responded via PM, but I thought other people might be interested in the info, too.

Here's my note to him:

I don't use a polarizer or ND filter for night shots; you have enough trouble getting enough light into the lens as is. :)

I'm glad you noticed the moon's phase - I hadn't realized it'd be full. It rises about 9 pm. I think we might get some nice shots of the moon and the Jefferson Memorial if we're over near there at moonrise.

In case you're interested, I use a free program called HALLO Northern Sky to show me the horizon, so I can see where the moon will rise. On Friday night, it'll rise E-SE. It's a little hard to figure out what it'll mean on the ground, but the edge of the Tidal Basin gives us lots of room to walk around and try different angles.

You can also get sunrise/moonrise info here: //aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php

The thing about the full moon is that it's extremely bright. In fact, it's a bright, sunlit object. So you have to use manual settings and think about going with 1/100s, ISO 100, F/8 at least to start and adjust exposure from there.

But near the horizon, where there's haze, you can sometimes get the moon to be dim enough to shoot at the same exposure as objects on the ground. See my tutorial at //www.dpchallenge.com/how.php?HOW_ID=46 for more info.

One thing that's helpful for night shooting is either a remote shutter release or to know how to use your self-timer, so you're not bumping the camera during a long exposure. A flashlight's also helpful, both to see your camera's settings and to light up the foreground.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

07/16/2008 01:24:18 AM · #37

Judy, how many people will we be? Scanning the thread, it seems like we'd all fit in my minivan, including running Robert to the train station. Speaking of which, don't plan to shoot there - there have been published news stories about them booting photographers because it's private property.

banmorn

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

07/16/2008 07:30:08 PM · #38

Originally posted by levyj413:

That's OK...I've done it twice already.

krnodil

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

07/16/2008 07:51:35 PM · #39

If I get there, it'll likely be for a short while Friday morning, at the zoo, won't be able to make a whole day of it. So count me out for the night shoot, Jeffrey, if you're figuring space in your van.

07/16/2008 08:38:47 PM · #40

I arrived in Tyson's corner this afternoon and I've now had two bloody mary's and a glass of wine. LOL I'm on Mike's laptop. I am thinking there is going to be 8 of us during the day. Not sure about night.

I have the following (not using links to their profiles)
Jutilda and son, Grayson
SJcarter
MaryO
banmorn
scooter97
dahkota
levy413
krnodil (for a bit of of the morning time) who makes 9

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/16/2008 08:42:19 PM · #41

Originally posted by Jutilda:

I arrived in Tyson's corner this afternoon and I've now had two bloody mary's and a glass of wine.

And you didn't call me to help?! You should not be doing that unsupervised, young lady. And I had nothing better to do this evening so I mowed the lawn. I would MUCH rather have joined you!

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

07/16/2008 09:01:29 PM · #42

Yay! Judy has landed!

I'm freeing up afternoon and evening to come down. Don't know what form of transportation I'll use yet...so many options but I'll likely drive to Union Station and park there.

Can anyone say how the day's schedule is looking? I'd like to plan to meet up with folks sometime in the early afternoon...maybe even for lunch if you know where you all might be.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

07/16/2008 10:25:09 PM · #43

Originally posted by Jutilda:

Okay, but krnodil's leaving early and I'm sure Mary will drive, too, so we'll be good.

Maybe I'll even just bring my Prius. Mary, how many can you haul around?

dahkota

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/16/2008 10:27:59 PM · #44

I'll also be driving and have room for 2 more if needed...

scooter97

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/16/2008 11:06:45 PM · #45

Is anybody going to be around Thursday night? Any interest in shooting or just hanging out? I'm staying in Bethesda and it's right on the red line of the Metro so I can get around pretty easily.

Message edited by author 2008-07-16 23:27:46.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

07/17/2008 09:34:30 AM · #46

Originally posted by levyj413:

Okay, but krnodil's leaving early and I'm sure Mary will drive, too, so we'll be good.

Maybe I'll even just bring my Prius. Mary, how many can you haul around?

I always drive my minivan, so 5 in its current configuration and 6 if I put the other seat back in. Do remember my warning from last year: there will be dog hairs! I'll vaccuum it today but I'm sure some will escape my notice.

Are we meeting at your house for the night shoot? Time?

Also, anybody have a plan for where to meet at the zoo in the morning? I could just wander around looking for you guys but it's a pretty big place and I don't want to wander in the heat more than I must.

banmorn

Nikon D750

07/17/2008 09:40:49 AM · #47

Hm....We're meeting at the National Zoo at 10:30 AM as far as I can tell. What happens after that I'm not sure. I suppose we'll lunch at the zoo but not sure what time. Then dinner somewhere? Then some night shooting. Times, places for these? Best bet is to make sure we have cell numbers to communicate as we go.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

07/17/2008 10:28:46 AM · #48

Judy and I left it pretty loose for tomorrow night. We were just going to call each other toward late afternoon and figure something out. I need to go home (I work downtown) and get my car and my gear. So if I can get away from work early enough, I'll do that and drive back in to meet you folks for dinner. If not, I'll meet you somewhere appropriate later in the evening.

My only real goal is to be somewhere thought out to catch the full moon rising near something interesting at 9 pm. For example, if we're at the Tidal Basin (parking near the FDR Memorial), we could get the Jefferson Memorial with the moon. From the Mall (like 17th and Constitution), we should be able to get the Washington Monument. It'll be rising E-SE, closer to SE.

I'll also bring my slot card to play around with, which will let us add the moon in a single shot to any picture we take (see that tutorial I mentioned to make it clearer).

So everyone, think about what you want to photograph with the moon.

Message edited by author 2008-07-17 10:29:47.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

07/17/2008 01:42:02 PM · #49

I just found out I can break free and bring my daughter and her friend.....okay if I join y'all at 10:30?