I... AM... PUMPED!!

[gjtoth]

I just received my confirmation for a media pass for The Wilderness and Spotsylvania! This is going to be a LONG winter waiting for May to come around. I've got three new lenses that I'm DYING to put to the test. I'm sure many here will be going and I'm anxious to meet y'all for some personal photos and yak.

 

[Henry Whitworth]

Congratulations!

 

[chellers]

Hooray!!! Sounds great.

 

[unionblue]

Enjoy.

I am sure the wait will make it all the better for you.

 

[Drew]

Cool! As a guy who grew up with physical and chemical photography, how do you apply different lenses to electronic photography today? Does it make any difference? Or, are you the second-to-last guy still doing it the old fashioned way? Curious, really.

 

[gjtoth]

Cool! As a guy who grew up with physical and chemical photography, how do you apply different lenses to electronic photography today? Does it make any difference? Or, are you the second-to-last guy still doing it the old fashioned way? Curious, really.

Don't really know, Drew. I've never shot film other than some high-end point and shoot stuff. That seems eternity ago. The digital sensor replaces the film. In fact, in the Pentax cameras, many of the legacy lenses work just fine. You just have to focus manually. That's fine for still life but really sucks for birds/wildlife and action events. The principles are still the same with ISO, aperture, speed, etc. The BIG joy to digital photography is no film or processing costs and instant gratification. And, most digital cameras today do still and video. Some of the major film makers are using the high-end DSLRs to produce their stuff. They're smaller, lighter, less expensive, and can go where those big, honkin' film cameras of yesteryear wouldn't even dream of going.

 

[Custers Luck]

way to go!!!!!!!!

 

[ErnieMac]

Congratulations.

 

[Drew]

That seems eternity ago.

Tell me about it! Thanks for the reply, though - very interesting.

 

[mt155]

I just received my confirmation for a media pass for The Wilderness and Spotsylvania! This is going to be a LONG winter waiting for May to come around. I've got three new lenses that I'm DYING to put to the test. I'm sure many here will be going and I'm anxious to meet y'all for some personal photos and yak.

What kind of set up do you use?

 

[gjtoth]

What kind of set up do you use?

I have my Pentax K-5 with Sigma 50-500mm MkII mounted on a carbon fiber tripod with Gimbal head for the long-to-medium range shots. I have a Sigma 17-70mm OS HSM on my Pentax K-30 on a Stedi-stock attached to a QuickStrap for my wide-angle shots. For a walkabout lens (for in the Living History areas and towns), I bring along a Sigma 18-250mm OS HSM.

 

[Nathanb1]

Cool! As a guy who grew up with physical and chemical photography, how do you apply different lenses to electronic photography today? Does it make any difference? Or, are you the second-to-last guy still doing it the old fashioned way? Curious, really.

You still get to lug around a lot of "stuff" but you can play a lot more. Lenses still make the difference in a great photo and a ho-hum one, IMO. For sports, we use a big honkin' lens (or basketball--a wide angle lens works nicely).....and then there's sort of the standard one for everyday stuff.

 

[reading48]

Good for You!!!

 

[Union_Buff]

Congratulations!!

 

[kealbo54]

Do you dress to "blend in"? I hqave seen too many media photographers that were right up in the action,snapping away,and it was annoying to watch.Onre particular guy at 150BGA Gettysburg kinda ruined the whole moment in the woods as the confederates were forming for Picketts charge,last june.It was a great moment,and here was this dude and his camera,right in the middle of Lee and his staff,as he rode from unit to unit giving encouragement.All these great period impressions and this one guy with cargo shorts and a bright Hawiian shirt on.As a rule,I have no problem with photographers,but this guy really upset me.
Conversely,at the 150th Fredericksburg,last year,there was a guy with a bazillion dollar rig,taking pictures,but he was neatly attired,head to toe,and could have just come from Harpers Weekly.Just something for you to consider.If all goes well,I will be at that event,too.

 

[CheathamHill]

If you can't wait until may..there should be plenty of other reenactments around you can check out and get the exact same pictures. Pretty much every reenactment is identical these days with a few minor exceptions and differences. The 'carnival not carnage' atmosphere reigns supreme.
The artillery will start their "duel" for half an hour...both 'armies' will march out in various numbers at various points and bang away at each other 20 yards apart for 20 minutes...then one side will charge..then the other will charge....and then in a final gasping 'dramatic' attempt, the scripted winner/loser will charge again and 90% of the reenactors will take goofy looking hits upon the works while the 6 people who took hits in the previous hour of banging away at each other sit up and take pictures on their iphones.
Indeed friend, no need to wait until May.

Mileage may very...but in case you TRULY couldn't wait until May I was just giving you the heads up

 

[FrenchZouave]

Congrats! Look forward to the pics this coming Spring..

 

[gjtoth]

Do you dress to "blend in"? I hqave seen too many media photographers that were right up in the action,snapping away,and it was annoying to watch.Onre particular guy at 150BGA Gettysburg kinda ruined the whole moment in the woods as the confederates were forming for Picketts charge,last june.It was a great moment,and here was this dude and his camera,right in the middle of Lee and his staff,as he rode from unit to unit giving encouragement.All these great period impressions and this one guy with cargo shorts and a bright Hawiian shirt on.As a rule,I have no problem with photographers,but this guy really upset me.
Conversely,at the 150th Fredericksburg,last year,there was a guy with a bazillion dollar rig,taking pictures,but he was neatly attired,head to toe,and could have just come from Harpers Weekly.Just something for you to consider.If all goes well,I will be at that event,too.

It is the way people are now... rude, self-centered, totally-unconscious of anything/anyone around them because it's all about THEM. I wouldn't BEGIN to even dream of doing something like that! Reenactors should begin to speak up for yourselves. I know, if I were in your shoes I certainly would. You folks spend a goodly chunk of cash on your outfits and weaponry not to mention the time invested. You have a say. Something like, "Sorry, my friend, this area is for period dress only. You'll have to leave." I'm sure the organizers would be more than glad to escort him off the field. I sure would be if I were an organizer. As a photographer that attempted to squeeze out as many farbies as possible, this guy would have really torqued me off, too.

 

[gjtoth]

You still get to lug around a lot of "stuff" but you can play a lot more. Lenses still make the difference in a great photo and a ho-hum one, IMO. For sports, we use a big honkin' lens (or basketball--a wide angle lens works nicely).....and then there's sort of the standard one for everyday stuff.

I don't necessarily lug around a lot of stuff all the time. I have a Fujifilm HS25EXR that puts out some pretty darned nice images. I normally use it as a back-up for event stuff, but I keep it in my car for "those times you wish you had a camera". I don't usually play pack mule anyways. I try to plan ahead and keep things to a minimum. The only bag I carry is a Lowepro Passport sling. Holds everything I need for the day and then some.

 

[Nathanb1]

I don't necessarily lug around a lot of stuff all the time. I have a Fujifilm HS25EXR that puts out some pretty darned nice images. I normally use it as a back-up for event stuff, but I keep it in my car for "those times you wish you had a camera". I don't usually play pack mule anyways. I try to plan ahead and keep things to a minimum. The only bag I carry is a Lowepro Passport sling. Holds everything I need for the day and then some.

LOL. Since we're in the boonies and covering sports for the paper, we go prepared. Luckily, we do have a monopod. Those long lenses get really heavy by the end of a six man football game.