You obviously don't use your camera as much as me and most of the time I don't use auto focus. I am lucky if my batteries last me 2 weeks.

They are relatively new as I buy new rechargables every 6 months.
I have always had battery grips for both my K10 and K20.

I use the cameras more or less everyday.

How often do you use your camera and what do you use it for, by that I mean what subjects?

Paul

Well done Owen, it truly is a fantastic lens

Paul

That's exactly what I do, I didn't mention the off site storage as I have mentioned that in another thread on this forum.

I use my hard drives; main computer, 2 externals, and dvds of each shoot.

Sounds alot but when you do it for a living you can't afford anything going wrong. With the dvds, I keep a copy and hand one to my in-laws.

Ok I understand that hard drives can break but I wouldn't feel safe if I hadn't put them on the hard drives. Dvd's can get scratched or damaged to.
Like I said though, I do make copies on both discs and drives.

Paul

If I were you I would get an external hard drive and keep your photo's on there.

Personally I keep all my RAW images as they are most important to me. If I do anywork to them then I save it as a PSD and save that to. I don't convert them to a jpeg unless I need to show them for a job.

Other people may store their RAW's differntly to me, but to me my RAW's are like negatives, I store them well and back them up. Definitely go for the external drive to store your files or delete some songs....

Paul

Get it!!!!

Errrr yeah, that might cost a bit on postage, I didn't twig where you were from.
Plus it's late here, that's my excuse, and I have to be up in 4 hours...best go to bed me thinks!

Paul

I know the backgrounds you are talking about as they had them when I was at college as well and that was 15 years ago.

My business partner kept using them until I advised her to buy the lastolite pop up background where you shove the flash heads inside. Much better and the lighting is spot on.

The only one that doesn't look right to me, and taking into account what you said about youor line of work, is the bottom image. That looks just too odd compared to the other images. It looks like something big has sat on her and squished her into a weird shape....but of course if that's what you want her to look like then thats cool.

Paul

You should sell No.5 to "Doric Signs" as I am sure they will use it for advertising!

If this isn't your thing, shooting wildlife, then I would say you should be proud of all of them! Especially using a 70-200mm.
I would be

Well done


Paul

My favourite out of all of them is probably No.2
The lighting is ok, could have been a tad brighter as in my opinion its a bit dark on her back.

Of course this is just my opinion, others may disagree.

No.1 You are losing the light at her feet and although its not shadowy it's too dark. Plus the angle is not flattering for anyone.

No.3 is a very unflattering pose the mouth looks like she is ready to say something, like something is forming on her lips and ready to splurt out.

No.4 looks odd. Have you tried to resize the image as she looks flattened, turning her into a squat, weird shaped lady. Also the right arm seems to be floating. Her face seems to be over exposed, like she is standing to close to the flash and has been blasted.

Feeb, as I say, this is only my opinion but as I am a portrait photographer and see this work daily, well I thought I would offer some help.
You have the lighting almost spot on, just needs to be either angled differently or increased in power.
Keep up with the great work and I hope to see more of it soon


Paul

I have used the Benbo, which is exactly the same. Apparently the designers of Benbo left the company and started their own business creating Uni-Loc.

I personally prefer Uni-Loc. Not sure why, maybe it's because the Uni-Loc is cheaper.

Yes you are right, they are difficult to use first off, but you will get used to it. It's great for wildlife and macro work as it will get down to almost any position.

If I saw one going cheap then I wouldn't hesitate in buying one. They are very sturdy, reliable and water proof.

If you don't get it, then I will


Paul

Karl, you are entitled to your opionion but constructive criticism would be appreciative on these types of forum.
Tell Scott why you dislike them as I am sure he will apprieciate it more


Paul