Shhhh, don't tell the wife...

[keeds]

Just came home with an early Christmas/Birthday present for myself. Hasselblad 500C/M with 2 backs and a 150mm lens. Need to find an 80mm, might take some searching, but boy am I happy. Commision sale from local photo shop, cheaper than if bought blind from ebay. Body is ..ES.... which makes it '90. Boy am I happy. Did I already say that? Sorry for being happy, not very English.... Sorry....

 

[Antje]

Oh my, I'm so jealous. Enjoy!

Antje

 

[keeds]

Thanks Antej. All I can say is sorry... I did have to sell a Bessa R and a couple of lenses to free up the cash though.

 

[mark]

So......How much is this information NOT getting to your wife worth?

 

[Antje]

Don't be sorry, I'm actually in that crazy pre-buy phase now where you can't take your eyes off Ebay and similar sites and local camera stores... It's a lot of fun. I might have found one, my dad found a 1969 500C with a Sonnar 150/4 and two backs for 440 Euros. Seems to be a good price. We'll see.

Antje

 

[copake_ham]

Oh sure, we all conspire not to tell your missus and then, when she does find out, we all get whacked over the head with the same rolling pin she's going to use on you!

 

[keeds]

Phew. Still alive. Came clean and survived. To soften the blow I showed her a picture that I would like to use a basis for a portrait of her and our puppy which she loved so all I have to do now is deliver the goods. Should be fun trying out the new camera and getting the dog to sit still!

 

[Antje]

Should be fun trying out the new camera and getting the dog to sit still!

He will. Dogs can feel what is at stake.

Antje

 

[mark]

Depends on who the dog likes best. If it wants your wife all to itself, then your screwed.

As an example, I have been trying to get this type of shot for years and the two who favor her refuse to sit still. The three who like me best are angles. now I have two children and you can only imagine the frustration. Five dogs, two small boys, and one wife, fills the frame with blur.

 

[SAShruby]

He will. Dogs can feel what is at stake.

Antje

If not, take the dog to a few dog shows, it will learn.

 

[keeds]

On a serious animal photography note. Is it safe to use flash/strobe? Maybe bounced off ceiling and not direct. What about a softbox? Any thoughts?

 

[Antje]

I use flash all the time with my animals - but always bounced or with a softbox and only the lowly Canon 420EX. They (two chinchillas and a cat) don't mind if it's bounced. The chinchillas are a bit afraid of the softbox, though. I never thought about flashing directly because I just don't like the light that creates.

Antje

 

[vanspaendonck]

I use flash all the time with my animals - but always bounced or with a softbox and only the lowly Canon 420EX. They (two chinchillas and a cat) don't mind if it's bounced. The chinchillas are a bit afraid of the softbox, though. I never thought about flashing directly because I just don't like the light that creates.

Antje

In last few weeks I shot about 6 rolls of Fuji Provia and Velvia to capture the litter of 6 pups that our dachshund delivered on October 25. I used a Bronica EC (because it allows me to get a real low angle of view) with the 80 mm/2,4 Zenzanon MC and a Metz 40MZ2 in manual mode, powered down to give just the right amount of light at a distance of 60 cms. (2 feet). At this setting, the flash doesn't seem to disturbe the puppies as much as the very loud mirror slap of the Bronica. I also used my Leica M2 with a 50 mm dual range Summicron (with "spectacles") and again with a 40MZ1 or 40MZ2, which I find ideal for photographing (I would rather not use the word "shooting" in this context) animals close up: a very silent camera and just a small bit of flash.