Forum - View topicShelf Life - Mixed Martial Hearts
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John Casey
 Posts: 1853 Location: In My Angry Center |
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Interesting email, but far too bitchy: It's not terribly realistic to expect people to utilize proper photography technique, among higher end equipment to take photos of their DVD collections that he expects to be gallery-quality....
Most people, in the US at least, couldn't give two shits about photography. 80% of camera usage these days is for Facebook. And I can tell you, not exactly iStock quality... So, that said, just so he'll quit moaning, I'm gonna (right now, in fact) bust out my nice SLR Sony Alpha, and take some purty photos of my DVD collection. And just to annoy him, I will use flash, I won't use a tripod, and just for giggles, I'll even snap a few dutch-angle style, and maybe even add some Photoshop spice. And in the process, prove him wrong... If he's gonna be whiny about photos of people's DVD shelves, then the least poor JC can do is oblige and indulge. Bamboo, you'll get them in the next 30 minutes or so. Last edited by John Casey on Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:16 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Anime Remix
Posts: 354 |
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It sucks that there are no pictures to see. People Anime shelfs really do inspire me to keep collecting and get a collection as big as the one they have.  Maybe I'll take pictures and show my collection, but I kinda don't think mine is all that...(Not many anime DVDs and so much manga/manga magazine (Shonen Jump)/anime magazines). Then again, kinda shy to take pictures  (The only thing I could use to take pictures would be my Nintendo Dsi  )
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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He was talking about built-in flashes of compact cameras. It wouldn't be fair if you use an external flash to bounce or be triggered remotely (either wired or wireless), or even use multiple flashes plus a commander to create a "shadow-free" picture. Even if you just use your built-in flash on your Alpha (which one and what lens do you have?), it's capable to adjust power output and, with the help of fully manual exposure control, to give you way more options e.g. the ratio between flash reflected and ambient light. In other words, IMO he just gave some suggestions to novice photographers, while you were the bitchy one. |
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John Casey
Posts: 1853 Location: In My Angry Center |
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Except, who here is actually a photographer? People just took random pics of their DVD collections, just to show off... And he's off critiquing their photography techniques. Somehow...I really doubt that's the point of Shelf Life. And to answer your question(s), I use an Alpha 200K - it's a bit of an older model for the photo buffs. A DT 18-70mm zoom lens. 1/120 shutter speed with defaulted built-in flash settings. In short...the most basic settings of a cheap Cannon PowerShot. And lookie, sneak preview. No tripod, no "natural indirect lighting" (which I even fail to see the point of considering most people, you know, keep their DVDs in-doors, or at the very least, away from windows so the sunlight doesn't color-wear the covers). No tripod, used default flash and shutter settings. And didn't bother with a retake... Lesson learned? What's the point in critiquing when the point lacks a critique... Point in point: The photos that have been posted up until now were just fine. I never expected anyone to be a professional here, and I'm sure no one else did either. And it's the subject matter, not the subject matter, that counts for this column. If he wants better photos, then he can look at mine next week - sending them to Bamboo as we speak. I just don't want mine to be the next standard - that's all. EDIT: Sent. Oh, know what else too? I've also sent a photo of my kitty, Jack Jack. Kittehs are something that haven't appeared in Shelf Life in like...forever. [EDIT: Be kinder and try to keep big pics as links next time. -TK] |
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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Yeah right. Same exposure value != same picture quality; otherwise, what's the point of using T* lens? By the way, EXIF data told me that you used 1/160" shutter speed, not 1/120". And it's Canon, not "Cannon."
You used ISO 3200, for Pete's sake. 
Many compacts don't even support this high ISO setting; those do would produce unacceptably noisy and fuzzy pictures. For most compacts with 1/2.3" sensor, the upper limit of an acceptable picture is usually between 400 to 800. Here's a few tips for novices who only have compact cameras: Common tips: - Turn on all available lights in your room first. - Set white balance according to your ambient lighting; better yet, customize it with a Letter/A4 sized white, clean paper. If you don't know what "white balance" is, refer to your camera's user's manual. If you CAN find a sturdy support (e.g. a tripod) for the camera: - Set the camera to its lowest ISO - Turn OFF the internal flash and the image stabilization feature - Set a 2-seconds timer, then click the shutter button If you CANNOT find a sturdy support, and your camera has no manual exposure control (shutter/aperture priorities) whatsoever: - Set the ISO to 400 - Turn on the flash and image stabilization feature - Use the wide angle end of the lens; with VERY FEW exceptions, wide angle end has the largest aperture - Set a 2-seconds timer, then click the shutter button - Take several pictures and pick the best one If you CANNOT find a sturdy support but your camera has manual exposure controls (shutter/aperture priorities): - Set the ISO to 400 - Turn on the flash and image stabilization feature - Use the "S" or "Tv" (shutter priority mode) and set the shutter to 1/30 (or 1/15 if you have strong arms and big hands) - (Optional) try not to use the full power of camera's internal flash, if your camera can have the flash output adjusted - (Optional) use the wide angle end of the lens - Set a 2-seconds timer, then click the shutter button - Take several pictures and pick the best one Last edited by dormcat on Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:37 am; edited 2 times in total |
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FaytLein
 Posts: 1260 Location: Williamsburg, VA |
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I just finished watching Master of Martial Hearts, and up till ep 5, I thought it was mostly a fetishizing show, not terribly good but just useless fluff.
Episode 5...... Funi, I like you guys, and even after watching that, I still do. But I think maybe you are exploring your dark side a bit too much. I haven't seen a show take such a neckbreaking turn since.....well, never. I'm watching the Japanese commentary track now and the poor girls obviously haven't done ep 5 yet, so my heart goes out to them. So peeps, beware of Martial Heart. It sets itself up for one thing then everything seems to go HORRIBLY WRONG. |
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John Casey
Posts: 1853 Location: In My Angry Center |
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Dormcat... =.= That was you with the email, wasn't it?
By going into specifics, you totally missed the point of my post... That you can take decent pics without nitpicks! The whole bitchiness with the photography thing was my point entirely. And you rebuke it by....being even more nitpicky? Oh, and for the record regarding my terminology... :< Last time I took photography was when I bought that camera. So excuuuse me if I failed to specify the ISO for you. =.= Not once did I make this a contest of photography knowledge, so don't go treating it like I did, man... Be easy. Like I said, I even sent a photo of my cat. So chill, and look forward to it. >:< |
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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For the record: NO.
Your equipment is much better than average picture submitters of this column. With DSLR's much larger sensor, it's way easier to take good pictures under poor lighting conditions i.e. indoor than using compact, point-and-shoot cameras. Imagine this: someone questions you why couldn't you "take decent pics without nitpicks" under moonlight with no flash, while he's holding a Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95.
I fail to see your point here. I marked "ISO 3200" red because compacts with 1/2.3" sensors can either produce very fuzzy, grainy, almost intolerable pictures under ISO 3200, or no picture at all. |
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Tamaria
 Posts: 1512 Location: De Achterhoek |
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I have a very old Kodak Easy Share (3.2 mega pixels) that only gives me 10 seconds to take a picture before it will insist my perfectly good batteries are dead. A tripod? I have no room for a tripod. I have to balance on a corner of my bed to capture everything. Ah well, I sent them in months ago. So:
I don't think they're too bad, though. The only things that really bothers me are the orbs. Makes my room look dustier than it is. 
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Penguin_Factory
 Posts: 732 Location: Ireland |
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I've been meaning to submit a Shelf Obsessed photo, but my collection is so miniscule compared to everyone else's.
What's the deal with including video game collections in your photos? I've seen a few peope do it, but that seems a bit reduntant.
This is clearly the best anime series ever made. Also, did anyone else think the bass fishing bit in the Mitsudomoe review was hilarious? |
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ikillchicken
 Posts: 7272 Location: Vancouver |
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Yes! This is why I (with no disrespect to Erin) I really miss Bamboo. I now really really want to see a Shonen tournament series about bass fishing. |
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Zin5ki
 Posts: 6680 Location: London, UK |
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Fortunately for me, I don't celebrate such a holiday. I shall await a second opinion regarding this title. I suspect that more needs to be said of its key assets. |
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Fronzel
Posts: 1906 |
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The finale didn't exactly have good writing, but it was much better than the limp "power of friendship!" ending the rest of the series sets up. It may have been a cheap shot, but it made the series memorable, at least. Makes me wish the series was better set up to lead to that point. I think it could have been pretty interesting. spoiler[I rather want to see a series that says "you're not as good of a person as you think you are" to the main character.] |
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asimpson2006
 Posts: 3151 Location: USA |
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No love for Mitsudomoe? Well it's best said that if you look subjective humor in the dictionary you would find Mitsudomoe. Master of the Martial Hearts looks like another leave your brain at the door show *adds to rental queue*.
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prime_pm
 Posts: 2394 Location: Your Mother's Bedroom |
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Oh my God. Everyone had a great time MSTing Martial Hearts at Otakon this year. The dialogue was just so awful, almost as bad as the animation. And the indoor scenes during the day always looked like there was an atomic bomb going off outside the windows.
This show actually made me pine for Ikkitousen, a show I have admittedly despised since inception (not the movie, the word, look it up). The majority of the viewing consisted of the audience making burger jokes. And episode 5... ...my eyes hurt now; I gotta lie down |
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