450D dilemma!

[insigniades]

Hi guys

I'm new so please be gentle!

I've got it embedded in my thick skull that I will never get anywhere shooting with my EOS 450D and that I need to upgrade to a 60D.

I currently own the following lenses:

Sigma 18-50mm f2.8-4.5
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS Lens
Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM Macro Lens

The following flash:

Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flashgun

I have a battery grip and 3 batteries

I have a tripod but it's not brilliant n I have a monopod.

Have I got a good kit or do I need an upgrade?

I would LOVE to take photos of this caliber:

http://www.glenntaylor.co.uk/wp-cont.../2011/07/9.jpg
http://www.glenntaylor.co.uk/wp-cont.../2011/07/4.jpg

I consider myself to be reasonable when it comes to portrait:

http://www.glenntaylor.co.uk/wp-cont...img_4979-2.jpg

Opinions please!!! Any advice is HUGELY appreciated before I end up blowing my pay cheque

[dlambert]

When you've tried to take photos like the ones you indicated, what did they look like? I'm not sure you're going to get from "point A" to "point B" just by upgrading your camera body. Those photos are largely successful because of technique (very long shutter speed), but both look like fairly wide-angle shots (tougher on a cropped-sensor camera than full-frame).

BTW, are you Glenn Taylor? If so, and those photos aren't yours, I think you want to be pretty careful hosting them on your site.

[insigniades]

No, they aren't my photos:

UK coastal photography inspiration | Glenn Taylor

They are on an inspiration blog I have created and I have linked back to the respectful owners.

Back on topic, I want to know what it is I need to produce images of those quality - the portrait image is one of mine.

[SusanH1970]

Those images were produced by using long shutter speeds, most likely on a tripod. Definitely doable with your 450D. A camera upgrade won't make you better at technique.

[insigniades]

True true, I've been advised to get as you said a sturdy tripod an ND8 filter and a Sigma 10-20mm lens, are these wise choices for Landscape photography? Thanks Susan !

[SusanH1970]

I'm a portrait photographer so I can't really advise you on filters and good landscape lenses, so hopefully someone else will chime in.

I do, however, have the same camera as you and my go-to lens for portraits is my 50mm f/1.8. Feel free to check out my website and/or Flickr for examples of my work, if you'd like.

ETA: You might also consider buying a remote shutter release if you're going to be doing long exposures.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Those images were produced by using long shutter speeds, most likely on a tripod. Definitely doable with your 450D. A camera upgrade won't make you better at technique.

Ditto this...a good photographer can take a good photo on any camera. There are penty examples of this when photographers used pin hole cameras to produce their image.

[insigniades]

Thanks for the responses, would love to hear from someone who does this type of photography!

[SusanH1970]

Nicole, one of the DPS moderators, does a lot of this type of photography. You can check out her Flickr stream here: Flickr: -Nicole-'s Photostream. I believe she has her EXIF available on her photographs so you can get an idea of how she took them. I'll PM her a link to this thread so hopefully she can help you out.

[insigniades]

Thank you Susan much appreciated I will have a nosey through her photos!