Spent around 30 minutes in town this afternoon. I wanted to stay longer, but the parking police were out in force

It was my first public outing with the 200, and boy you don't go unnoticed As some of you know, I'm pretty shy, so this is really forcing me to get over that, particularly when taking candids. Sure you're not right up people's noses, but then again, you don't get any less noticed with this beast from 10 metres away than if I just had a 50mm a metre or two away :p

Still have a lot to learn, but I'm immediately blown away by the PQ. All at f/2, most at around 1/300s

1. Nice () candid of the guy. I'm soooooo busted with the girl!

2. The Salvation Army brass band were out. They were playing some nice heart-warming classics.

3. It's getting nippy now. Must wrap up - beer belly no longer enough to keep warm.

4. Not sure if these were meant to be elves. They were twice my size! But then again, I am short

5.

Walking around with a mini bazooka did turn heads though. A few people came up to me to have a chat, and a couple of spiritual chaps selling books tried to mesmerise me with their litterature as much as I mesmerised them with the big beast!

I'm now motivated to go out more and shoot more and more with this. A big investment, and a relatively heavy "walkaround" lens, but oh so worth it

So post your street stuff here and do tell of any anecdotes around the pics

Lovely feel to those Xav and good DoF

Yep, PQ is just epic to be fair! Not surprised you couldn't be in stealth mode; is it any bloody wonder though!??!

Love that 1st one too - some good Greggs purchases there!!

Pity the edge is taken off it slightly by the coat in shot bottom-left...

Edited 13 December, 200916 yr by Wardy

Very nice. I could murder a baguette now too...........

I know Steve. A couple of weeks before Xmas isn't the quietest you're gonna find the streets. And as I'm still getting used to shooting with this thing (and because of my puny left arm!), I'm finding poising 10 seconds for the killer shot a bit too tricky!

I did go out this evening, but it was eerily quiet :S maybe it was the calm between the shoppers departing and the night life starting up. I did snap up a few, but nothing really nice, and you're far more exposed, plus still feeling a bit paranoid about carrying the ensemble

A few more from last night.

I find this snowmannequin a bit creepy!

Some of these pictures are funking scary!

All very tidy though!

Lovely lighting and depth of field, Xav - that's why I love my Sigma 70-300mm. Way better than the 18-70mm kit lens! I agree, they are big beasts to carry round, but you can get great DoF (I guess which lens I will be using for shooting at the rugby tournament! ).

Lovely lighting and depth of field, Xav - that's why I love my Sigma 70-300mm. Way better than the 18-70mm kit lens! I agree, they are big beasts to carry round, but you can get great DoF (I guess which lens I will be using for shooting at the rugby tournament! ).

Thanks. But it's not just the focal length, the aperture has the biggest effect on DoF.

I would love a nice fast lens so I can use lower aperture ranges, especially for doing indoor portraits! Keeping my eyes peeled for an old Minolta lens, think I might have tracked a shop down in East Yorks that could be a potential goldmine!!

Did you ever spill the beans on what the lens is?

I would love a nice fast lens so I can use lower aperture ranges, especially for doing indoor portraits! Keeping my eyes peeled for an old Minolta lens, think I might have tracked a shop down in East Yorks that could be a potential goldmine!!

Did you ever spill the beans on what the lens is?

Good to know

I can PM you the list of shops I keep an eye on for second hand stuff Not sure about KM/Alpha lenses though...

I did spill the beans on the other thread, essentially, a 200mm f/2 vr

200mm f/2? Wow! I'm looking for a 50mm f1.8 or 1.4, seen a lovely Sigma one, but it is 350 quid!!

PM of list of shops would be fab, cheers!

Gimme a shout if you ever up this way and fancy a trip out with the cameras - Beeston Castle is defo on my list to visit!

Was it deliberate that the lady in post #6.2 is effectively in silouette?

cracking photo's xav. Is anyone else missing #6.1? :think:

Yes, although #1.1 has just turned up on my second visit to the thread.

I always feel a right **** in town with the 70-200. Having it in the Canon white/grey 'L' colour doesn't quite help you blend in either. I always worry about photographing people if there's no actual event on, or if they're not street performers - having no model release etc. It's a bit grey in the legal sense.

Great pics though. Is it a full frame camera or crop?

I always worry about photographing people if there's no actual event on, or if they're not street performers - having no model release etc. It's a bit grey in the legal sense.

Its perfectly legal to photograph anyone if they are in a public place, some may not take kindly to it, discretion is the best policy THIS LINK explains the legality quite nicely.

Cheers

Graham

200mm f/2? Wow! I'm looking for a 50mm f1.8 or 1.4, seen a lovely Sigma one, but it is 350 quid!!

PM of list of shops would be fab, cheers!

Gimme a shout if you ever up this way and fancy a trip out with the cameras - Beeston Castle is defo on my list to visit!

Sorry for the belated PM. On its way now

Was it deliberate that the lady in post #6.2 is effectively in silouette?

Err kind of. Although I didn't get the focus quite right. There is some detail in her hair, but it's the dark gloomy alley in Reading known as "smelly alley" because it's where loads of fishmongers are

cracking photo's xav. Is anyone else missing #6.1? :think:

Yes, although #1.1 has just turned up on my second visit to the thread.

They should all be ok. Second post has the wheelchair signpost, the lady in smelly alley and the scary snowman.

I always feel a right **** in town with the 70-200. Having it in the Canon white/grey 'L' colour doesn't quite help you blend in either. I always worry about photographing people if there's no actual event on, or if they're not street performers - having no model release etc. It's a bit grey in the legal sense.

Great pics though. Is it a full frame camera or crop?

I guess that's one benefit of dressing in black and having the black versions of the Nikon lenses (they do make them in Canon-like grey too, although that's nowhere near as common). But you're right, and me being a relatively shy and timid person, this is pushing my comfort boundary. Although I was pleasantly surprised how it all went, and I'll be doing it again. Certainly did get a lot of attention though, and not just people starting or pointing at me, but people interacting, having a chat and all that. I didn't get a single frown or a hand to hide the face.

Having said that, it's mightily busy out there, and at 200mm, it's almost on the long end with people crossing your field of view constantly. But it's all good practice, and I don't half need some!

Ooh, yeah, full frame (d700)

Yeah Xav, now I look at #6.2 again, I can see your focal plane is far nearer to you than the lady is, but that wasn't what I meant. I meant that she's a black silouette apart from a few highlights from her shoes and bag. I rather liked the silouette, but yes if you'd had a deeper focus (more depth of field or a better focus) it would have been a better shot.

Incidentally, I normally fit a 135mm portrait lens for street candid work, and slip my 28mm or my 50mm in a pocket for an alternate.

Fair play, these a some cracking shots...... So was this literally your first attempt at candid street photography? I keep saying to say to myself that i need to get out there and try some myself, but as with yourself, i am a bit on the shy side, and have so far i have not plucked up the courage to do so.

Some great shots there Xav, I wish I was able to produce simillar pics.

Yes, Steve, it was.

I'd be going out again though

It's not exactly inconspicuous of course, you do get noticed, but it's part of the fun and challenge! At least with the longer focal length, the person you're taking a photo of doesn't see you as you're some distance away. It's just everyone else out there does see you

Just bought a new body so will be using that mainly from now on for the big stuff.

Just bought a new body so will be using that mainly from now on for the big stuff.

Does that mean you are now 6' 2" ?

LOL, no, not quite.

And no, it's not to compensate for anything else either :no:

LOL, no, not quite.

And no, it's not to compensate for anything else either :no:

Cracking shots there Xav. Nice to see another Nikon user on here. I really must try my hand at street photography some time. Maybe once the snow relents a bit. :wonder: