A small bit of advertising

[pecunium]

It doesn't do me any direct good, but my father has a book out.

Picture Yourself Getting the Most Out of Your Digital Camera.

It's not a bad primer. My name is on it, but that's not because I had a huge hand in the writing, it's a bit of honest nepotism. I helped with the content of several chapters. It does get me a published credit, but until the one which has my name first I'll refrain from going for the blinky text.

There are some of my pictures in it (elisem Ratty's Wharf is in there, so you are getting a "famous" print. :) which is nice.

Now to finish the proposal for the Macro Book. When I sell it I'll be looking for people who have pictures I can use to illustrate the book (because I don't have the photos to use for everything I need to talk about).

Comments

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

If anything I have on flickr would serve, you are welcome to it.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Flickr is going to be my friend. When I get the deal (really likely, as we'll be using the nepotism in reverse when we picth this, my dad will be the second name [making the publisher feel better about the deal] and I'll do pretty much all the writing), I'll be poking about and sending out requests for use/limited rights.

Rights... that was a hassle, but you'd keep them all.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

Rights... that was a hassle, but you'd keep them all.

I knew you'd be honorable about the rights.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

The trick with photo books isn't the writer, but the publisher. There are those who try to grab rights to "derivative" works from the parent volume.

At which point the images are lost (in terms of value) to the photographer.

This publisher hasn't tried to do that.

[shunra.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

I've told Daniel about this - he has various macro images and I'm sure he'd love to help with your book.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Just have to finish banging out the proposal, and swinging the contract.

Fingers crossed; soon I can use the blinky text. :)

[shunra.livejournal.com]

I'll cross my eyes and fingers for you.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

I have a quick question for you: where (online) can I go to look up camera recommendations? My wife was a pretty good photographer, but all the cameras are digital now and the one's we've been buying are menu-driven. I'd like to find her a good digital with the settings on the outside (turn the lens or whatever) but I need to know what to look for.

Thank you and sorry for butting in OT.

Uk, I hit enter too soon. I wanted to say good luck on the book proposal and on your father's book.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Ok... Online, you are going to have a hard time of it, because getting answers to your questions is going to depend on you understanding what the author is trying to say.

If I understand you correctly, you are looking at a dSLR, because the rest are, pretty much menu driven. Some of the compacts might be control operated, but you'd need to find some detailed reviews, or a comparison review.

Popular Photography and American Photographer probably have websites, which might do such a comparison.

If you have specfic questions, I'd be glad to help.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

She already has a Canon Eos Rebel G (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Rebel-G-Camera-35-80mm/dp/B00005OCWN) but with a big fancy lens (a Canon Ultrasonic) she can attach to the front. I'd like to get her a digital version of the same camera, especially if her fancy lens would fit.

I guess what I'd really like is to not hear "Ugh! The flash on this sucks! I hate this camera!" around the house anymore. :)

Thank you.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Ok... we have a system. That's half the battle right there (it's kind of pointless to reccomend a Canon to me, as I have a huge investment in Nikon equipment, Fuji might be an option but Canon won't work with my extant stuff).

Canon is problematic because, unlike Nikon, not all of their lenses work on all of their cameras.

If you are wedded to Canon (how much in the way of ancillary equipment does she have)? Because if she thinks the Rebel G sucks because of how it's built... she's not likely to be happy with say, the Eos Digital Rebel (which I don't recommend, because the body is sort of flimsy, and serious use risks breaking it, at least in the ways I use cameras).

If what she hates is the flash, what you want isn't a new camera, but a strobe. The new camera will have the same flah problems (which come from the flash being too close to the axis of the lens, which makes it very contrasty, and harsh; with sharp shadows behind everything).

If she is tired of shooting on film, the flash problem won't go away but the EOS Rebel XSi EF-S will take her present lens (I think most of the newer dSLRs Canon makes all take EF lenses). The general comments of users seem to be in favor, though it's said to be a bit noisy above ISO 800, a bit soft in contrast at 1600, and the controls are menu driven, and complicated.

Since you will want only the body the price should be a bit lower than the quotes you'll see, which are all for kit lens equiped bodies.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that I was unclear above. The Rebel G is the film camera that she loves. But film is a pain in the butt now and expensive, too. The camera she hates is a Canon Powershot point and click.

She doesn't like menu-driven controls because she's a total luddite. I'd like to find a Rebel G-type camera that takes digital pictures, and being able to use the lens she already has would be a bonus.

But looking at the videos of the Canon dSLRs on C/NET makes it look like everything is menu-driven now.

And thanks for explaining what "body only" means.

Maybe what I should do is carry her camera into a camera shop. Is there a chain retailer you'd recommend?

(I'm just about done quizzing you here, and thanks for your help.)

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Where do you live? In this part of the world I'd recommend Samy's. In the DC Area Penn Camera. In Seattle, I'd head down to Lakewood, and go to Robi's Camera (far and away my favorite camera shop).

The 10/20/30D are more like a film camera, for controls. So to are the Nikon D series (esp. the D'x' line, and the the D'xxx', but the D'xx' series isn't too bad, but you won't be able to use her present lens.

And yes, the flash on the Powershots sucks.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

Ooof. I am in Seattle, but I don't have a car. Lakewood is way out of my hunting range.

I'll look for something in the city.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

That's too bad, because Robi's is a great shop. They do it all, developing, printing, digital, mounting, framing, equipment (new and used).

Crap, I forget where I was looking at something near Pike Place (there is a decent framer near there, but I'd have to walk to it; coudln't give you directions. It's an art supply as well, not the framing studio a couple of blocks closer, and more uphill).

The shop in Tacoma, not so good, I'd recommend against them.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

A couple blocks from the Market? I know the one you mean, I think. Talls, on 4th Ave. I pass it on the bus all the time. I'll drop in there.

Thank you for taking so much time with me. I placed an order for the book above a couple days ago (but I didn't mention it before now because I didn't want you to feel obligated or anything). I look forward to it.

Again, thanks.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I feel in no way obliged. My name on the cover doesn't entitle me to any share of the royalties.

No, that's not true, the sales of this book will affect, slightly, the pitch I'm making for the book I'm actually writing.

Let me know, if you don't mind, how useful the book actually proves to be.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

Will do.