Evan's photography phun

[Heinz]

Agree with Trackend!

Great shot

[evangilder]

Originally Posted by trackend

Nice shots Eric
I bet the guy who owned that was well chuffed with that image,. I'm certainly not suprised you had it published its super.
thanks for posting

I think the owner is still the manufacturer. It seems to be showing up all over the country. The picture was actually supposed to be published in June in the same magazine as part of a feature with myself and 2 other photogs. So it may get multiple publications.

[Lucky13]

Awesome pics matey!

[ccheese]

I have to agree with your dughter, Eric. Warbirds Int'l is a great mag. I've
been a subscriber for eons. It's the only (yes, only) magazine I subscribe
to.

Charles

[Wayne Little]

Top shot Eric!!

[evangilder]

Things are going crazy, a GOOD kind of crazy. Three children's books are out now that feature some of my shots.
Mega Aircraft
Picthall and Gunzi :: Viewing Book :: Mega Trucks :: Pre-School Children's Books Publisher

My Aircraft Sticker Activity Book
Picthall and Gunzi :: Viewing Book :: My Aircraft Sticker Activity Book :: Pre-School Children's Books Publisher

My Early Learning Library - Aircraft
Picthall and Gunzi :: Viewing Book :: My Early Learning Library - Aircraft :: Pre-School Children's Books Publisher

One that should also be releasing shortly is My Top 100 Aircraft, a sticker book.

I also have been getting details for another big shoot coming up in June that will have me working from a bigger "office", and this one is going to be freakin' cool! You won't be waiting long, it's June 5.

[trackend]

Well done Eric I'm glad things are going good for you mate. I know from the time you first came on this site it seemed to be the direction you have been working towards not just that but your picture taking deserves a wider audiance, and if you can make a couple of bob at the same time all the better.
Now I'm going to pick your brains I have been looking at the D300 body whats your opinion on it?, The write ups seem pretty good and it appears to be a big enough step up from the D50 to be worth doing.

[evangilder]

I have my eye on the D300 as well, Lee. I like my D80, but of all the Nikons, it has the worst metering system. All cameras have their quirks, it's just how long it takes you to find them and either work around them or use them to your advantage.

The D300 though is in a class that is new for Nikon. I have a number of friends that have them and they absolutely love them. The one thing that will be kind of a drawback is that the D300 uses CF cards, so you will be buying new media as well. I haven't seen anyone using a Bigma with the 300 yet, most use the 200-400mm VR (SWEET lens, by the way, but pricey).

I picked up the 18-200mm VR after I pranged my 28-80 on a door frame (long story) and LOVE that lens. The 18-200 is my air-to-air lens now and it blows away the 28-80 for clarity because of the VR. The 28-80 still works, but has been relegated to ground based duty for still life and flowers now. Although it rarely comes out of the bag these days as the 18-200 is awesome.

[trackend]

Thanks for that Eric sorry I bugged you on my pic thread when you had already replied.
It's what comes of having a brain the size of a peanut.
I would love to get the kit (D300 + the 200-400VR ) but the cheapest I can get them both for over here is £4600 which is a bit steep for me. Perhaps in two steps get the Body first, run with the Bigma for a while then save up and get the Zoom being able to run 3 stops slower yet retain sharpness + panning recognition must make life much easier. I have read that there is a X1.5 matched mulitiplier for it as well but It had very little info an can't seem to be able to locate one over here.
I suspect the image stablization would be unavailable when using it. so it would be a bit self defeating, probably better to settle for a smaller sharper image then pump it in Photoshop.
Anyhow with your image business doing so well Eric you'll have Nikons and Hasselblads out of your ears before you can say Cheese.( at least it'll save all that lens changing, just need a truck to cart it all about).

[evangilder]

Not coming out of my ears just yet, but I do typically carry 2 cameras at each event these days so I don't have to change lenses "in the field". At airshows, it's the Bigma on the D80, 18-200mm on the D50. I only change those if I am doing air-to-air work. Then the 18-200 goes on the D80. I have only taken the Bigma on one air-to-air, when I was in an AN-2 for the photo ship (plenty of room), but found it's still a bit unwieldy up in the air. Plus that lens is tough to hold steady in the slip stream!

Let me find out about the 1.5x on the 200-400. I think it still has the VR and the AF, you just lose a little on the aperture because of the magnification. I know on the 2x for the Bigma, you lose AF. My hand isn't steady enough to hand hold and manually focus at 1000mm!

The D300 with 200-400mm kit is my dream kit (at least for right now), even sweeter with a D3 or the D3X when it comes out. Watch Amazon, they seem to be having some decent deals lately. The D300 here is between $1600-$1800 at legitimate stores. There are places on the web that advertise them for $950, but you know about places like that (cough cough rip-off cough cough). After using a battery grip on the D80, it's a must have on the D300 for me, so that adds about $200 more. Plus CF cards, and plenty of them. Dammit, where are those winning lotto numbers?!

[trackend]

Cheers for that eric.
I am looking at the finance situation and hope to get a D300 body before FL in 7 weeks time. I am hoping to go to my local camera shop and try out my bigma on a body to get some idea of the possible results I'll let you know how I get on.

[evangilder]

Thanks Lee. I am curious to see how the Bigma performs on the D300. One option that I am considering for a bit is the rental option on the lens for a while. I can rent the 200-400 for about $60 for the weekend, which is a fair bit cheaper than shelling out $5-6k.

[evangilder]

Gents, I am very close to having my first photo book ready. I am going to use a "vanity press" for this first run. There will be more to follow if this one is well received. The book layout and covers are all done. I am just going through the final checks and getting approval from the subject, who will remain anonymous until the book is ready for print.

Stay tuned, it is very close.

[Heinz]

Sounds great Eric!

[Gnomey]

Sounds great Eric, looking forward to it.