First photos with DSLR. C&C perhaps.

[Ballistics]

Here are my first pictures with my D5100 w/ kit lens.I know nothing about photography and I have had my DSLR for a little over 17 hours now. I will be taking a Digital Photography class at college starting this fall but until then I will be trying to learn as much as possible about my camera and still imagery. Any constructive criticism is definitely welcome and I am sure there will be plenty of it lol.


I know it's corny, but I played around with photoshop with this picture. I am trying to learn both photography and photoshop at the same time.

[Ads]

[lyonsroar]

1. Bad B&W conversion. Low contrast. Blech selective coloring.
2. Neither color nor sepia. Green-ish tone I guess? Bad. Also not straight and/or level.
3. Best of the 3. I would crop it tighter and give it a lighter background. But at least you got low unlike many first time water droppers.

[Ballistics]

What makes those photos "bad"

[iolair]

1) The selective colouring isn't often my taste; it's OK here but I think the picture would have been just as impacting or not in full monochrome. The lack of contrast is a real problem; it definitely looks more "greyscale" than "black and white".

2) Actually looks to me like the shutter went off at the wrong time, that you hadn't aimed the camera yet ... Why green? White object (plastic chair?) on the left is distracting.

3) Nice focusing, timing and colours. Composition is neither symmetrical, rule of thirds nor even centred ... following one of those schemes would have improved the composition. It looks a little underexposed to me, the whole thing on the dark side.

[Ballistics]

Obviously I have a ton to learn, being that I am 17 hours into taking pictures with a real camera. I just put it in photoshop and converted the pictures to black and white and clicked tint. Most of the things you guys are saying I don't really understand yet. I don't even own a tripod yet lol.

[lyonsroar]

What makes those photos "bad"

1. Bad B&W conversion. Low contrast. Blech selective coloring.
2. Neither color nor sepia. Green-ish tone I guess? Bad. Also not straight and/or level.
3. Best of the 3. I would crop it tighter and give it a lighter background. But at least you got low unlike many first time water droppers.

[Ballistics]

That doesn't explain anything except that greenish tones are bad. Why are they bad.
Why is the BW conversion bad?

[lyonsroar]

That doesn't explain anything except that greenish tones are bad. Why are they bad.
Why is the BW conversion bad?

It is not pleasing and not something generally looked for. It honestly looks like you converted to B&W (or sepia) and then added a sickly green tint.

The B&W conversion is bad because:

Low contrast. Blech selective coloring.

[Ballistics]

I tried to use my understanding of the rule of thirds here but I think I failed. Can I get another C&C please?

I used an 18mm-55mm lens
F3.5 @ 18mm
ISO 320
1/80

[lyonsroar]

I tried to use my understanding of the rule of thirds here but I think I failed. Can I get another C&C please?

The background is too busy. You clipped off both hands haphazardly. The blown out sky in the window is competing for attention with your subject. It **might** be a hair underexposed, but not much on my screen.
I would look into getting a FlickR account so that we can see your EXIf data and render better C&C.

[Ballistics]

Ok thanks for the input.

I used an 18mm-55mm lens
F3.5 @ 18mm
ISO 320
1/80

Is the rule of thirds there?

[KmH]

Most of the things you guys are saying I don't really understand yet.

Which indicates you are somewhat premature in asking for C&C and could benefit by doing some more research on your own.

Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition.

Digital Photography Tutorials

[Ballistics]

Most of the things you guys are saying I don't really understand yet.

Which indicates you are somewhat premature in asking for C&C and could benefit by doing some more research on your own.

Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition.

Digital Photography Tutorials

I can see your point and agree. However, I posted these pics here as a benchmark. Kind of like how a person takes before and after pictures during the course of weight loss. This way, in the future I can come back and see what you guys mean. I appreciate the links btw.