David and I just got back from a weekend in Springfield - it was cold but turned out to be nice for pictures.
The State Capitol building
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2216/2256070437_0268aafd61.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/2256067083_12bd2f5c38.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2290/2256869660_4ac234746d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/2256837562_0b07aec37a.jpg

The chandeliers in the House chambers.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2256853140_1e0ce501ee.jpg

Old State House
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/2256133815_a0790a7660.jpg

I took full advantage of my tripod, especially with the weak light and for interior shots, kept my ISO low and bracketed like crazy!

very, very nice CHy! I like number 4 the best! the Sun peaking thru is a nice touch.

OMg chy those freakin rock!!!! What is the theme for the photo club this month do you know?
I love the flare one too...it's not allways easy getting those..........So what lens did you use???? I like number 1 too!
I still can't get over how heavy your cam was compared to mine.......lol

Thank you Hunterz and Bam! The flare was pure luck - I need to get one of those star filters, tho!
I used my 28-135mm IS kit lens. The IS definitely helped with some of the handheld shots, but I dragged my tripod all over and made myself use it. I'm definitely pleased with the way they turned out - it was worth it to lug that tripod around! Carrying around my camera, lenses and tripod, I'm packing on serious arm muscles!
Bam, I think the theme next month is "People taking pictures" and it's a 12 month one.

Chy, if you want you can borrow my filter if you would like.......I can drop it in the mail or bring it to the next meeting or whatever, just so you can try it before you buy it...:D
Just wait until you have a kid in a pumpkin seat.then youll get arm muscles.....lol.....and then carrying all that gear and a kid for half a mile in the woods.last time b was wanting to set up a stand I offered to carry that instead of milky and my gear....and it was lighter.......lol...just teasing.....

Ah ha.people taking pictures.....that shouldn't be too hard.....

Ah ha.people taking pictures.....that shouldn't be too hard.....

you two could just follow each other around.......:D

you two could just follow each other around.......:D

you wanna chy? lol.....

My girls both have a camera too.......We got them the fisher price kid tough one and just got my other daugther a mini camera something I don't know..and then b uses my kodak sometimes so really I don't even need to leave the house....lol...or I could take them in the mirror like everyone does on myspace......ROFL.....

Excellent work Chy..just excellent..Bam I don't know if your filter will fit Chy's lens..depends on her lens size...A tripod...a much as we all hate them ...does indeed make a difference, and the IS will help tremdously..with the IS I can shoot the hubble handheld down to 1/60th..but it's really important to remember to shut the IS off when you have it tripod mounted..it will actually work against you when it's tripod mounted..
Chy..how did you convert yours? did you shoot RAW then go to greyscale and adjust the levels? these almost appear to look like a silver gelatin print..I've only been able to recreate a silver gelatin print look by duotoning them..
Again..superb BW shots..Superb..

Very nice Chy. #1 about sent chills up my spine w/ the clarity and it's solemness. A powerful photo about a powerful spot.

I like 3 and 4 nice pics

Nice ones Chy! I always wanted to lay on the ground in front of the licoln statue out front of the Capital and shoot up at the Cap as a back drop.

Very nice pics.

Thanks all!
Thanks for the offer of the filter, Bam, but I might just pick one up from Amazon after I decide which lens I want it for - my 28-135mm takes a 72mm filter! :eek:
Gretchen, I shot these in RAW, worked with them in the RAW converter in color, processed them in color, then went back and processed them in black and white, adding a red or orange filter depending on the shot and boosting the contrast ever so slightly. I really love the way they turned out. And as for my IS, I remembered to turn it off while I was using my tripod - it was turning it back on that I almost forgot when I went back to handholding!

I can't wait to go back with more lenses and shoot some of the historical homes - I've always wanted to go back to the Vachel Lindsay home and revisit New Salem (haven't been there since grade school)! :)

Cool, no problem....I think they aren't that much..I got the star filter, polarizer, soft focus, and a diffusion one......My star filter is a 6 sided one....there are different ones out there.....there are tons of options out there....and really alot of programs do the same thing the filters do anymore....

Gosh, I haven't been to springfield in years.......again cool shots Chy!