Merlin1

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • in reply to: first camera #26714

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Hi,

    there’s not really 1 answer to this, everyone has their own opinion and there’s a big spit between Nikon and Canon.

    Personally I’m a Canon man and I was going to suggest an EOS 7D as a good all-purpose dSLR, however the EOS 5D II you mention is an even better bet. Excellent camera.

    As sablesword says, dont spend all your cash on a camera as its just the tip of the iceberg. I’d suggest a speedlight flash unit and a reflector are important.

    The most important thing you need to get good results is not a better camera, its a myth that expensive camera kit = better results, it REALLY doesn’t. What you need is training and experience. If you are interested in RE.com type images then get yourself to a training / groupshoot day at your local studio and I guarantee it will be money well spent. I’ve seen many examples of someone with an educated eye using a crappy camera to faaaar better results than a muppet with camera kit worth the same as a small car in the same situation. Such days are also fun.

    Your proposed camera kit is excellent, maybe too good. That full-frame sensor works brilliantly with 50mm (f1.4) prime lens and they’re not even expensive!

    Have fun!

    Richard

    in reply to: January 2016 #26660

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Nice new armbinder thingy. Does it work?

    R

    in reply to: Attitudes to Adult Fun #26659

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Err, Ariel.. can I just point out that I bought the weed just because of the novelty of finding a vending machine with drugs in it.

    I mean who wouldn’t? Nothing I could do about it.. Really.

    ahem

    Rich

    in reply to: Attitudes to Adult Fun #26658

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Wow, “Greetings from New Jersey” nice to see that back 🙂

    Tbh it had never occurred to me until you wrote “what the Dutch have been through” but I’d say you’re spot on there. The ghost of Anne Frank lives on in Dutch society without anyone being consciously aware.

    I’ll see your Niemoller quote and raise you:

    Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don’t give up the fight. – B. Marley.
    (Yeah I’m deep)

    Cheers
    Rich

    in reply to: Intergalactic captive transport (interactive) #26657

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Totally awed you take the time to post all this. Sincere thanks!

    Apologies also as I’ve yet to have time to read it all. But I will, soonish, probably.

    Cheers

    Richard.

    in reply to: Thoughts of a "drive-by" subscriber #26656

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Wow, thats more of a social conscience than I’ve ever seen on the internet. Kudos.

    I think my first contact with Hywel (many years ago..) was when I emailed him one day after looking at “next months previews” saying something like “dammit I’ve been trying to leave this fucking site for months, PLEASE stop producing such good work – I wanna join another site but I can’t leave this one”, I think I was serious when I wrote it 😉

    Not my job to say so but welcome! Always good when people stick around and contribute.

    Cheers

    Richard.

    in reply to: Feeling a bit guilty.. #26655

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Hi Pling!

    good to see you here again, hope you’re well. I’m feeling less guilty now… 😉

    I’ve seen some great shots of you from conventions recently, isn’t it time you worked with Hywel/Ariel again?

    Richard.

    in reply to: Haze and Desaturation #26544

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Nice experiment, I kinda like the effect. The atmospheric lighting and the retro underwear makes me think of colonial era in some steamy far-off land.

    At least that was my first thought, then I saw the second half of the set and its just, better.

    I can take-or-leave stockings but in this case such lingerie would look half-assed without them. Win.

    Good to see that after 15(?) years (I’ve lost count) (god I must be getting old) there’s still scope to try new things.

    Rich

    in reply to: December 2015 previews #26532

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Ooooh! New cage?

    Richard.

    in reply to: BDSM Questionnaire #26529

    Merlin1
    Participant

    Done.
    Although tbh Ariel with your role of “Queen of the searching personal questions” you could have probably done this for me.. 😉
    Richard.

    in reply to: Attitudes to Adult Fun #26514

    Merlin1
    Participant

    #Note: This post contains sweeping generalisations of peoples that of course contain exceptions in all ways. The intention is to refer to “the majority” “most of the time”..

    Interesting observations.

    I’m a UK expat in The Netherlands and I came here full of the international stereotype of the Dutch based I guess upon the legal drugs and prostitution etc. To an extent this is initially true in that I walk past brothels all the time and have bought cannabis from a vending machine in a bar.

    However, over the last 5 years or so I’ve got to know hundreds of “locals” mainly through working in close teams and have been surprised by how “untrue” this stereotype is. Of all the people I’ve got to know only 1 has ever shown any interest or knowledge in drugs, all others (mainly guys in their 20’s) could not even imagine doing any kind of (legal) drugs beyond alcohol and a significant minority are very religious. Its difficult to know about sexual attitudes as although I’m pretty open talking about sex it’s a real taboo, people look embarrassed and give 1 word answers etc. Back in England its not exactly a utopia of openness and free expression but generally I’ve found most of by former colleagues were knowledgeable of (illegal) drugs and spoke openly about sex (when you work in small/close teams you really get to know people) faaaar more than here in the “liberated” NL.

    Its strange, I used to think this was the result of a “public” taboo here and behind closed doors it was all going down, but thats really not the case. The best way I can describe it is that the Dutch, for the most part, are exceptionally conservative BUT believe strongly it the rights of everyone to do/say/act as they choose – even if they disagree with it themselves. I can think of lots of examples, my little son has a friend who’s a lovely little girl with 2 mothers. This raises exactly no eyebrows even though I’d bet in private 90% of the population would be personally against LGBT parenthood yet believe strongly that such members of society have equal right in all ways.

    When my little son is in the car I’m careful with the radio as there’s so much swearing both in the songs and from the presenters it makes (English) me a bit uncomfortable but god help anyone who dares to suggest censoring what they can say.

    Right now in the Uk there’s a Putin-esque creeping media/porn censorship being introduced without regard to the principles of democracy or freedom that would cause riots here in The NL, but if you put a bondage chocolate display in the shops they would mostly rot on the shelf.

    Cheers

    Richard.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)