Drenton

Well, I've had my stock strap on my Canon EOS 400D since I got it (Three years ago), and I've changed the way it hangs about two times in total, switching after the first year. The strap doesn't seem to be in too bad condition, some of the fibres look a little warped at the strap loop point, but I'd rather replace it before it snaps. Keep in mind I do use a 16-35 L lens as my main lens and frequently pair it with a 430 flash, so it's not a completely unfounded concern.

I've seen many after-market straps, from Lowepro to obscure brands, and it seems that regardless of whoever makes them, they all have quick release neoprene straps that seem very ergonomic. I'm always scared that if I were to use one either the quick release would do it's thing without me wanting it to and my camera dropping and smashing, or that the neoprene would just tear (I've always assumed the camera bounces slightly when you walk with a neoprene strap). Lowepro's lifetime warranty isn't that comforting when it doesn't cover what their product was attached to

My questions:

How many years should one typically use a single strap for?

Are quick release straps safe?

Well, I've had my stock strap on my Canon EOS 400D since I got it (Three years ago), and I've changed the way it hangs about two times in total, switching after the first year. The strap doesn't seem to be in too bad condition, some of the fibres look a little warped at the strap loop point, but I'd rather replace it before it snaps. Keep in mind I do use a 16-35 L lens as my main lens and frequently pair it with a 430 flash, so it's not a completely unfounded concern.

I've seen many after-market straps, from Lowepro to obscure brands, and it seems that regardless of whoever makes them, they all have quick release neoprene straps that seem very ergonomic. I'm always scared that if I were to use one either the quick release would do it's thing without me wanting it to and my camera dropping and smashing, or that the neoprene would just tear (I've always assumed the camera bounces slightly when you walk with a neoprene strap). Lowepro's lifetime warranty isn't that comforting when it doesn't cover what their product was attached to

My questions:

How many years should one typically use a single strap for?

Are quick release straps safe?

Basically I'm doing a photo series which involves drug use and the like. I've hit on small issue though, finding a decent looking heroin substitute for a photo. I've looked on Yahoo Answers and various film making websites, but I haven't really found a consistent answer. Basically, I need to know how I can create a visual substitute of the kind of heroin you'd get on the streets before you cook it. Ideas for cooked heroin substitutes welcome too :P

I know some agencies prefer you to not sharpen your images, at least not in camera. What are acceptable settings? Would having high in-camera contrast settings be appropriate? Saturation? Etc

I'm going to apologize to one of my friend's parents, and I would like some ideas for what clothes I could wear to help my case out, or colour schemes. Might sound like a stupid question, but you must be able to see my point, I mean, if I came dressed in intimidating clothes, wouldn't really make them any more prone to forgiving me.

I've heard blue is a calming colour?

I'm going to apologize to one of my friend's parents, and I would like some ideas for what clothes I could wear to help my case out, or colour schemes. Might sound like a stupid question, but you must be able to see my point, I mean, if I came dressed in intimidating clothes, wouldn't really make them any more prone to forgiving me.

I've heard blue is a calming colour?

What are some visual metaphors for destruction?

Well, long story short, my camera dropped out of my bag from a rather small height, but landed in such a way that the UV filter shattered (And pretty neatly, if I say so myself). Now, the front element of the camera is fine, a few bits of glass powder on it, but nothing that an extremely careful clean can't fix. The lens seems to be focusing just as well, and sharpness hardly seems to have been effected.

However, the now useless filter is stuck to the threading of the lens, and I cannot get it off using my hands.

Do the average camera stores aimed at serious amateurs/professionals offer a filter removal service? Or am I better off sending my lens into Canon for servicing and recalibration (Well, if I'm sending it in, I may as well get it recalibrated whilst I'm at it)? How much exactly is the cost of servicing and recalibration with Canon?

Please, don't tell me that it's not worth the cost and to just buy a new lens, this is an L lens I saved up for about 1½-2 years to get.

Lately I've been told that I use "complicated" and/or "scientific sounding" words by my friends, and that it makes people I'm just meeting feel uncomfortable. I need some advice to help me "dumb down", so to speak, even I'm starting to get frustrated with it, because the wording I use makes me sound uptight and tense, which ends up making me tense, which cycles and affects my choice in words... I also tend to use larger words and mumble when I feel under pressure, two things which don't work well together.

Please don't tell me to "get over yourself", because that wouldn't help me at all, I'm asking for help, not whining about "society doesn't get me" or some garbage like that.

Sorry if this isn't exactly the right category to put this question in.

I mean, I've always wondered how one would go about doing street photography for a living. With things like commercial photography and photojournalism (As in spot news, I know street is a form of photojournalism), there are guidelines for what route to take, yet I've never seen a guide on how to do street professionally.

This has been gnawing my mind for quite some time.

We've an upcoming assignment on an undisclosed date that requires the incorporation of dirt in some form or another, and I'm planning on being well prepared for it. The photo just has to have something to do with dirt. To give you an idea on how broad it can be, it can even include dirt encrusted sneakers.

So, I'm just interested in hearing what you would do.

This theme week in photography is circles. Any kind of circle. My original plan was to go with http://drenton.deviantart.com/art/Sir-Kill-8753902... , because it combines a a circle and a portrait, but the circle isn't that dominant.

So this morning, I dressed up and had a little photo shoot. The end result was this: http://drenton.deviantart.com/art/Picking-my-skin-... .

So, what do you think? Which should I use?

In the event that anyone suggest a change that I think would work well with the picture, I'll edit the version up on my Deviant Art. See this link for the original ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dylanhope/3314122141/ )

This theme week in photography is circles. Any kind of circle. My original plan was to go with http://drenton.deviantart.com/art/Sir-Kill-8753902... , because it combines a a circle and a portrait, but the circle isn't that dominant.

So this morning, I dressed up and had a little photo shoot. The end result was this: http://drenton.deviantart.com/art/Picking-my-skin-... .

In the event that anyone suggest a change that I think would work well with the picture, I'll edit the version up on my Deviant Art. See this link for the original ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dylanhope/3314122141/ )

I've been talking to my Jehovah's Witness friend, who has a great heart, and is just one of the sweetest guys I've met in my life, but he can get confused and misinterpret things, so I'm just wondering, do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the typical Judeo-Christian version of Hell?

Please, no hate answers, no conversion answers, no "lol Monty Python made a sketch about the word Jehovah" answers for the love of your chosen deity!

http://flickr.com/photos/elenaerda/2108027099

How do I make a border like this in my photographs using Photoshop Elements 7? That sort of almost painted looking border? I'd prefer if I was directed to a guide than given a template border, as it tends to give a rather same-y look about the pictures (Like the link at the bottom of my post).

Thanks in advanced,

Dylan Hope

http://flickr.com/photos/elenaerda/2295342159

Recently my school's computer system was hit by some jackwad who decided to infect the entire system with an IRCBot trojan. Anyone who sticks a USB into the computer ends up with it on their memory stick. This in turns lays dormant until the USB is opened again, and then it infects the computer it was opened with.

Anyway, I have ESET Smart Security, and I've scanned the USB, Cleaned the files, and repeated this. It's detected the trojan twice (I've plugged the USB into a school computer twice) and deleted it (2 files). However, I'm just wondering if ESET is good enough to completely eradicate the problem? I hate the idea of having a keylogger on my PC.

http://drenton.deviantart.com/art/4-Million-Years-...

Each week, we are given a mini-assignment. This week, the first week, the theme was apples. I'm just wondering whether or not I should settle for this photo or if I should go out and try something else.

Anyway, tell me if you think it'll be good enough for the class, if you liked it, if you didn't like it, whatever =]

Sometimes I just get a little tired of wearing Chucks, so I've also been wearing my 8 eyelet Docs on-off for a year now, these things are about 2 years younger than me (My dad's old pair), and while I don't mind wearing my jeans over them, I'm a little tired of that and was wondering if there is a "better" way to wear them? Tucked in, untucked, what pant style, etc.

Sometimes I just get a little tired of wearing Chucks, so I've also been wearing my 8 eyelet Docs on-off for a year now, these things are about 2 years younger than me (My dad's old pair), and while I don't mind wearing my jeans over them, I'm a little tired of that and was wondering if there is a "better" way to wear them? Tucked in, untucked, what pant style, etc.

Now, keep in mind, I'm in New Zealand, studying overseas isn't really an option.

I was looking at Massey University's courses (Still a good 2-3 years off needing a Uni, but still), and I noticed that some of the subjects they offered only had diplomas available. These were in subjects like Journalism Police Studies and Photography, to name a few, whilst other subjects like Nursing had Bachelors degrees available.

I always thought that a diploma was something they handed to you when you finish highschool (They call it "college" here in NZ, go figure).

Basically, my question is, what is the difference between the two? Will a diploma holder be passed on, whilst a degree holder will be more sought after?

Because, while I know photography doesn't require a degree or anything, it'd be nice to have something that could give me a slight boost, and if a diploma is somehow a lesser form of education, I think I might have to study elsewhere.

Here's a link to Massey's Diploma courses:

http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/study/programme-cou...