I see over the past few months we've got a lot of new photos/photographers popping up here on the Swellinfo forums. Curious as to if any of you guys actually have a photography related career or are just doing it on the side as a hobby. For me it's kind of like a hobby. I'm in school right now getting my bizz degree in finance but I hate it. I don't want to sit at a desk trading stock blah blah. Did an internship doing stocks/finance stuff and it deff wasn't my favorite. If any of you guys are a contributor to a magazine, newspaper or any other type of media outlet it'd be cool to hear your story. Right now I just have my blog. I contribute to a local newspaper (non paid) and I've been sending my photos to some local magazines. Truly, I love surf and photography. I don't look at it being a chore going to the beach and taking photos. Not looking for the money either. The people that surf here like it and that's what I think makes me the happiest. Sounds kinda lame but I just wanted to get a little surf photography session going. Sure I would love to make a career out of taking pics for a big magazine and travel the world but I'm cool with the local scene here for now. Kinda long, my bad. So post anything you feel fits here. What equipment you are using, how long you've been shooting, hobby or job, magazines etc, and general discussion of some sessions or experiences. Camera: I think most of you know I got my ghetto first generation Nikon D40 about 5 or something years old. Upgrading soon Lenses: 18-55mm stock lens 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 Cool Stuff: housing, flashes, etc (none of which I have) Website: Folly Surf Photography
I just got into photography last year.I took a basic course at Brookdale,We bought a Cannon rebel xs with a 70/300 lens.Havent posted any pictures on swellinfo just yet.The only problem when I go surfing with my camera is that I just want to surf.I shot a small wedding in Belmar this summer for strangers except one dude I knew.That went pretty good thou.I would love to do this for a living but it seems kinda tough to get started.
I hear you when you say you just want to surf when your shooting and you see these nice sets coming in. I only was able to have the discipline because my wetsuit was getting repaired. Now I try to shoot before a session to see where the waves are breaking the best and you can tell where the crowds are. (Folly is a concentrated beach break) If I had a water housing I think I would have even more fun shooting cause you're actually out there in the surf, boardless but you're out there. I wanted to take some classes like you said you have but my school really doesnt have good digital photography classes that are offered. Might take digital photography class at the local art or tech school if I have the time.
Yea man,When im shooting in the water I have a Pentax W60.Its 10 megapixels and it even shoots vid.pretty cool little camera.Like I said its been so hard to give up the waves and pick up the camera but im going to try a little harder this year.
I just like to mess around and take pics with my Nikon L100 after getting this camera with is way better than my little Olympus camera. I got into photography more , and I plan on getting a camera that I can put different lenses on . I wanna get a tripod for my Nikon for a better than basic camera that has not lense attatchment capabilities it takes really nice pics I was gonna get a Smug Mug site to host them
Hobby at the moment...... I got into surf photography because I like doing sports and anything that has action to it so I can do stop motion shots. I'm going to take a course in April to get more of an idea about the possibilites of digital photography. At the moment I don't like using very much photo editing software other than : cropping, adjusting horizons and sometimes exposure and switching to black & white. My camera & equipment is: Pentax K100D camera, Pentax DA 18-55, Quantaray LD 70-300 1:4-5.6. Many different filters(don't usually use them for surfing photos), Slik tripod(also not used for sports) and possibly the most crucial item...Giotto blower, its removed plenty of dust specs from the sensor! I'm going to upgrade my camera and lenses this summer to the next step up Pentax, so I will be selling the camera and both lenses, if interested let me know( sorry about the sales pitch). I post my photos here(about 15 per session) as well as my Facebook group: Ocean City Maryland Surfing, feel free to join and post your photos as well! If anyone has any specific questions or comments, you can send me a message....Later
The lens you have now is decent. f4.5 But, if you want to take your pictures to another level. Your gonna want to save up for a f2.8 or f3.2. I have taken some real nice pictures with the f4.5. but, with this lens I feel like you need lots of light.
I totally agree about the lenses, but they're BALLS expensive and for right now I'm concentrating on taking better pictures.
I have been taking surf images for many years as a hobby hoping to get something published or even making a career out of it, but with two kids and steady job (IT Support) I am finding it hard to commit myself to just photography. I have been pursuing a degree in photography at local community college in New Jersey, but know living here in Milford, DE makes it difficult. Not many school options here that support the art's. I am looking into doing an on-line school to finish up my degree. I have been taking many surf images of New Jersey, Delaware and places I have traveled. I also, submitted images to magazines, but was never lucky to have one accepted. I just sold my Nikon D50 and currently acquired a D5000, but having issue with lens compatibility. Be aware of lens compatibility with these newer digital SLR cameras. I am looking to upgrade the D5000 to D90 (Cost more, but may be worth it, has auto-lens motor built in). I have two lenses that I use - Tamron AF 200-400mm, Nikon DX AF-S 18-135mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED - I get lost in the acronyms on lenses. My sites: www.dwaynedunlap.com and www.eastbreak.com
i take picture every now and then i live at the beach so usually i will just paddle out but it is mad fun to chill and take pics i dont have to many good ones from shooting surf but some good one from around the island camera - Canon EOS Rebel Lens - 55-220mm, 18-55mm others- Tripod
I do it as a hobby. There are some great books out there to pickup before you spend the money on a class. I recommend Master Composition Guide by Wildi, Learning to See Creatively by Peterson and Understanding Shutter Speed and Understanding Aperture all by Peterson. Great books and provides a good basis for your shooting. Next is to shoot as often as possible. Photograph everything and apply what you have learned in the books to composing your photos. Finally, check out some of the forums out there. I like Fred Miranda Forums. The folks there are more than willing to offer their critiques of your pictures. Purchasing top gear will help your photographs but if you don't understand the basic principles of composition and how to utilize the aperture and shutter speed, you'll be wasting your money. I'm not an expert and my photos certainly aren't the best, so take my advice for what it's worth.
A non-surfer photographer friend of mine said to me once, "you're lucky living at the beach, you got unlimited options for shooting with all the water around you." So, I have been taking advantage of that and trying to get out and actually snap some shots, even when it's a junky day. It's just a hobby for me, something fun to do. No schooling, no classes, just a bit of common sense and a photogenic eye. Every now and then I get some good ideas for photos, but limited resources and $$$ have kept me from doing anything on a grander scale. To me, it's always been about having fun. Once you HAVE to go get a shot and you don't want to, I think you should re-think your profession, because there are plenty of people out there (including me) who would scrap for your job.
I am completely addicted to photography and manipulation. I also shoot film on a regular basis using an all manual cam. Good practice and a unique outcome compared to the usual shot today. Being surrounded by water is what really got me into photography, but I have been an artist my whole life. Have done a ton of odd jobs for people and shops, but nowhere near a career as far as art or photography goes. If you're interested I've been putting alot of my work up here www.enkased.deviantart.com
Is that your work 'deviantID' graffiti character? I like that design, good for skateboard deck logo. I am a fan of graffiti coming from Philly.
yeah that's my drawing. if you like graff that site has some impressive writers who went the digital route like myself. it's hard to not like graff if you're from philly... some amazing people go there to do legals, and come from there.
I took a trip up to DC the other day to see an exhibit at the National Art Museum called "In the Darkroom". It wasn't big or anything, but it was very interesting. It is basically a study on photographic manipulation before digital photography came into play. While many of the classic shots displayed I'd seen before (but it was still cool to see them in person) the information was the best part. Definately worth checking out for any photographer, and it made for a good trip for me and my girl. That museum is absolutely amazing, as a whole it blew my mind. Just thought I'd give you all a heads up.
