St. Paul Conservatory... again

[Belgarion]

But this time I didn't even go inside. I and my friend arrived and found it closing. So we took pics outside the building and I got some of the best shots I've taken to date. I'm really quite happy with how they came out.

I've got them all up on deviantart too. 1 2 3 4

[e-freak]

Stunning! This pictures are very nice. Where's this Conservatory and are those waterflowers in reallity that blue o.O? if or if not - the picture looks incredible good. also the architecture looks handsome in the way you caputred it.

[Spellbinder]

Awsome stuff there! I voted number 2 i really like that reflection and calmness of the water.

[Mojo]

needs more IDS and metrodome at dusk FTW

cool shots though, I definately like the lillypads

[Belgarion]

Stunning! This pictures are very nice. Where's this Conservatory and are those waterflowers in reallity that blue o.O? if or if not - the picture looks incredible good. also the architecture looks handsome in the way you caputred it.

Thanks! Yeah the flowers really were that blue, or close to it. The conservatory is actually part of the Minnesota Como Zoo in St. Paul, MN. It's a little far from the IDS tower and the Metrodome to include those in the pictures though. :roll:

I'm surprised at the voting though. I thought the architecture would have the most. That's my favorite anyway.

[e-freak]

i think that most people who had voted 2 (like me) voted because of this "black mirror" effect in composition with the flower as "colored contrast" - which is kinda unreal (but gooood )

what camera do you use (obligatory question)?

[Mojo]

The conservatory is actually part of the Minnesota Como Zoo in St. Paul, MN. It's a little far from the IDS tower and the Metrodome to include those in the pictures though. :roll:

Its only a short jaunt down 35, maybe if you can, get some shots across the washington bridge at the U. Hmm maybe I should do that when I come up this winter.

[Belgarion]

at the moment I'm using my uncle's Canon D60, as my 20D is in the shop. <3 Canon. I've picked up a Nikon D80 and a D50 a few times, but they felt strange in my hands. The positioning of the trigger and wheels felt odd and unnatural, while my Canon bodies are simply made for my hands. 20D especially feels like they took my hand and molded the frame around it.

As for lenses, I own a Canon EF 50mm 1.4 (not used in any of these pics, superb portrait lens though), and a Tamron 17-50 2.8 XR Di II (pics 1 and 3). I have been very very happy with my tamron lens. The other two pics here were taken with a friend's Canon EF 75-300 4-5.6. It's not a flaberghasting lens, and certainly not fast (F stop), but it takes fairly nice pictures with enough light, and 5.6 seems to blur the background fairly well at 300mm (shot 2 is a pretty good example).

My next lens will probably be the Canon EF 70-200 L F/4, but that won't be for some time. I had to spend nearly 500 dollars to get my 20D fixed (shutter wore out.. it sucks). So that sets my lens buying schedule back quite a bit, especially since I'm in college and don't have a lot of money to throw around. If I had the money I'd get the 2.8, but I can't justify it. Heck, I can't justify getting the F/4 right now!

Its only a short jaunt down 35, maybe if you can, get some shots across the washington bridge at the U. Hmm maybe I should do that when I come up this winter.

Maybe we should meet up and take a few shots. I'm starting up a photography club at Dunwoody (just started going there last week). One of the places I want to take everyone to is the Conservatory, as well as Minnehaha Falls, the Farmer's Market, at St. Marry's Basilica. Those last two are like two blocks away from Dunwoody.

[e-freak]

yes all canon frames i've used until yet (eos 300, 350 and 400 and eos 300d and 350d) felt very good. i am using 350d but i just use an standard sigma 18-50 1:3.5-5.6 - i am going to buy "makro rings" whose increase the distance between camera and lenses - supposed to help getting a better makro

[insta]

I voted for 3. Would have been even cooler if you didn't have that building in the frame to the left.

[Belgarion]

yes all canon frames i've used until yet (eos 300, 350 and 400 and eos 300d and 350d) felt very good. i am using 350d but i just use an standard sigma 18-50 1:3.5-5.6 - i am going to buy "makro rings" whose increase the distance between camera and lenses - supposed to help getting a better makro

Well, those "makro rings" (actually spelled macro), are really called extention tubes. And yes, they do increase the minimum focusing distance of a lens, but it comes with a price. Your lens will no longer focus to infinity, and the image quality won't be the same as a true macro lens. That said, they are very cheap compared to most lenses and work rather well. i've been thinking about buying a 12mm extention tube for my 50mm 1.4.

I've got to dissagree with you on the 350D feeling good in your hand though. I went to a camera store and asked to use a 20D and a 350D (was trying to chose between them). I used the 20D for about 5 minutes, then picked up the 350D and set it right back down vowing never to buy one. I don't mean to say it takes bad pictures. It has the same sensor as a 20D, but it doesn't feel good in my hands at all. There are other things, but it's a nice camera overall. I have two friends who bought them. They're a lot lighter than a 20D too, due to all the plastic.

I voted for 3. Would have been even cooler if you didn't have that building in the frame to the left.

Really? I thought it looked better with it. Well, hardly matters. I couldn't have had the same framing without that part of the building. the right edge of the frame is about half a foot from the end of the building.