Fire: Guildford High St, 20th Dec

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 21-12-2006, 8:32 AM

I popped in to town after lunch yesterday to get some Xmas shopping and to nip in to Microsoft presentation at PJ HiFi. Had my camera with me. Caught the tail end of a shop fire. ried my best to create some interesting shots. I've got some more I've not looked at yet.

Some of the public stopped and asked me if I worked for the Surrey Advertiser...perhaps I should try to sell them some snaps...

G

Different perspective on above

too big for direct link
http://www.pbase.com/gmfism/image/71950347

and last one of crowd that I had to keep pretty big so you could see detail in faces. Need to click link

http://www.pbase.com/gmfism/image/71950352/original

Thanks for looking

Gordon

Leigh_1973 · 21-12-2006, 8:37 AM

Very nice, two and five (not the pbase link the one after) are my favourites

I know guildford very well, so no the spot

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 21-12-2006, 8:46 AM

Thanks,

It was quite difficult to actually capture some images that didnt just look like snapshots. When I saw the crowds I thought it would be a good reportage sort of thing. Once again though I had trouble getting my 5d to do what I wanted to. So some cool images of the huge pile of fire tenders and fire masters cars are all blown out. I have since discovered why the 5D wouldn't do what I want so next time I should be in charge, not it....

Gordon

h4rri · 21-12-2006, 9:14 AM

Nice shots mate, they convey the scene very well.

Got to ask though, was anyone hurt? Looks like a serious fire so I'm hoping not.

petrolhead · 21-12-2006, 12:57 PM

Great set of photos Gordon and tack sharp

Leigh_1973 · 21-12-2006, 3:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

Thanks,

It was quite difficult to actually capture some images that didnt just look like snapshots. When I saw the crowds I thought it would be a good reportage sort of thing. Once again though I had trouble getting my 5d to do what I wanted to. So some cool images of the huge pile of fire tenders and fire masters cars are all blown out. I have since discovered why the 5D wouldn't do what I want so next time I should be in charge, not it....

Gordon

What are you having trouble with on your 5D?, ive had mine about a month now without problems but ive not really had chance to use it in anger yet

Radiohead · 21-12-2006, 4:29 PM

I'd be interested to know that as well Gordon - wrong metering mode or something?

I like 3 myself - good use of DOF.

stevegreen · 21-12-2006, 7:46 PM

3 and 5 for me Gordon, as Guy says, good use of depth of field on the 3rd one (I prefer the composition to the 2nd).

I'd have emailed small ones to the Picture Editor of the paper and named your price, don't know what the smaller locals generally offer for pics though.

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 21-12-2006, 10:38 PM

Well that's me just in after another mental long day. Thanks for comments guys. If I'd had time I would hav emailed Surrey Advertiser. Steve I prefer the second version with the fireman out of focus as well.

There were no ambulances so I'm pretty sure no one got hurt. There were I believe 11 tenders there at one point according to other witnesses...

My trouble with the 5D is the little switch that you flick to ON. It actually has three settings. Off, On and On and a bit more. On and a bit more enables the big wheel on back to change fstop while the wheel on grip changes exposure. I had two days of wondering why sometimes when I used the camera I could use the wheel at back in manual mode to change fstop while other times it seemed locked. It did my head in until I realised that I had to move the switch one more click up.....doh!

I've only used spot meter so far. I'm doing more by histogram now though and shooting manual.

Gordon

onefivenine · 21-12-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

My trouble with the 5D is the little switch that you flick to ON. It actually has three settings. Off, On and On and a bit more. On and a bit more enables the big wheel on back to change fstop

It's called Exposure Compensation. It's a 'real' camera!

Very useful shooting in snow or on the beach etc...

Nice photos by the way. Looking good so far!

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 21-12-2006, 11:13 PM

ONEFIVENINE. I wasnt talking about the exposure compensation. I was talking about how you actually go about adjusting the iris and the exposure in manual mode. The instructions don't really explain that there are three positions for that on/off lever. They lead you to believe there is only on or off setting.

Thanks very much for the nice comments on the pics though. I liked my 350d but this thing does seem a more "real" device. Just hope I am up to it....I love the CLUNK/thud noise the shutter makes on this. It's like difference between my last two cars, a Daewoo Matiz and my current Passat....Both function fine but one is much more substantial

Gordon

onefivenine · 21-12-2006, 11:23 PM

In M mode it adjusts the aperture. In all other creative modes - Av, Tv, and P - it adjusts the exposure compensation.

Glad you're enjoying getting to grips with it - and taking nice photos too.

**senu** · 22-12-2006, 12:04 AM

I don't know about your issues with the 5Ds controls ( it obviously more complicated than the ( to me) rather complicated AV "calibration" you do for a living

) all I can say is the Pics turn out very well.

I don't much like fires ( and war) as they often represent the destruction of years of hard work and sacrifice in a very short space of time, even when there is no loss of life or limb.

I felt sad for the owners of the property watching your images and that shows that they succeeded in capturing the scene that morning in Guildford
Well done

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 22-12-2006, 7:53 AM

Thanks Senu: I'm not a big fan of death and dstruction myself. I was at a clients yesterday and he played me Brother in Arms on SACD to show off his rather nice audio system. You can say what you like about that band but that song is very moving...and it made me feel sad listening to it on his system. I guess photogrpahy can be just like any other form of expressive art. It should make you think.

All the best and I hope everyone has a less eventfull christmas and new year than the guys above have had.

Gordon

**UrbanT** · 22-12-2006, 9:58 AM

Great pictures Gordon. I was having lunch a few doors down, and left the restaurant about 1pm. Couldn't believe the huge flames shooting out of the top of the building, and the first thought I had was 'where is my camera??'

Some people we got talking to confirmed that no-one was hurt

petrolhead · 22-12-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onefivenine

In M mode it adjusts the aperture. In all other creative modes - Av, Tv, and P - it adjusts the exposure compensation.

Glad you're enjoying getting to grips with it - and taking nice photos too.

If its the same as the 30D it will also adjust exposure compensation if you hold the shutter butttom half way down when in TV or AV mode and I think also P mode.

I wish the on/on more butttom would also disable the geared wheel on the front as well. A few times, especially with he 1D, I have accidently adjusting things I did not want adjusting

onefivenine · 22-12-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrolhead

If its the same as the 30D it will also adjust exposure compensation if you hold the shutter butttom half way down when in TV or AV mode and I think also P mode.(

I find it great on the 30D especially using C.Fn4 set to 1 (swaps the focus lock and AE lock buttons around), and when spot metering.

What I do is
1) Frame spot metered subject in the circle
2) Press shutter button halfway to lock Exposure (C.Fn4=1)
3) Press rear star (AE lock) button to focus (C.Fn4=1)
4) Dial in any exposure compensation on real control wheel.
5) Depress shutter button fully to shoot.

After a while I've got used to doing this without hardly thinking about it, like changing gears in the car. And I think my photos have improved a lot.