New to Photgraphy

Jrmdb3 · Aug 9, 2007

Hey guys, How's it going? Im 16 and I've always had a passion for photography. I've always loved it. However, I am quite the noob once it comes to it. Not to taking pictures, but to photography terms and what they mean. So during my stay here I wish to gain more knowledge, get some advice, learn some more techniques, and anything else useful!
Here are some of my picture that I have taken:

These are from France about a year ago:

These are from Belgium in July '07

(Oldest wall in Brugge)

And here is the last batch. Most recent photos:

Well those are some of my favorite select few. Please give me any advice, comments, anything. I am using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7. Not using any lenses or anything. So please take the time to look at them and tell me what you think

One question. I'm having trouble taking pictures close up. And help would be appreciated. Thanks so much guys
Looking forward to see what you ahve to say! And don't be too hard on me, I'm only 16 with no experience. Haha
Thanks
-JR

Jrmdb3 · Aug 9, 2007

Ok wow, Sorry. I didn't know they would be so big. Any help? I could resize them but that would take forever:/
Sorry for the double psot BTW

Big Mike · Aug 9, 2007

Welcome to the forum.

First lesson is to resize (and save a copy) your images before posting them. Most of these are way too big to see. Keep them to 800 pixels or smaller.

Simonch · Aug 9, 2007

wow, you have a very nice perspective on those taller buildings.... quite often when people take that kind of pic, the building tends to taper out of proportion, but these have come out well, couldnt make out the larger ones, i host with http://www.photobucket.com and it resizes my pictures quite nicely!! to save them as a smaller file however, i just open in paint, and save as a JPG, amateurish, i know! does the job for on here tho!

Keep up the good work

lockwood81 · Aug 9, 2007

Holy pixels Batman...those are some huge pictures. I liked what I could see. I saw that Wall in Brugge when I was there about 15 years ago, guess it wasn't as old then. :lol:

kundalini · Aug 9, 2007

I sat in the middle of the first row of the worlds largest IMAX screen (at that time) in Sidney once (went to the one in Melbourne a few years later and they claimed to the largest) and the images weren't that large.

What Big Mike said, read the protocol. There are several threads and a few "stickys" that explain image size requirements and try again. I'd like to see what you have...seemed interesting but...

Jrmdb3 · Aug 9, 2007

Yea, sorry guys. I really didn't know. I'll be sure to resize them when i get back. Thanks for all the comments though!
Looks like a didn't have a good first impression huh?

Oh well, No worries. Ill have it fixed very soon.
Sorry again guys

Stranger · Aug 9, 2007

Horrible first impression, you will never be able to show your face around here again... lol

The paris photos looked good i thought, will be waiting on the resized belgiums

Jrmdb3 · Aug 9, 2007

Ok guys, resized them
Once again, very sorry for the "images larger than IMAX"

Hope you like them.
Any advice would be appreciated.
And need help on close-up picture, it never seems to focus.
Thanks!
-JR

Big Mike · Aug 9, 2007

Much better

And need help on close-up picture, it never seems to focus.

Practically every camera/lens has a minimum focus distance. If your subject is closer than that, you won't be able to focus on it. Also, when you do focus on something very close, the Depth of Field (distance from the camera that will be in focus) will be rather shallow...so you have to be careful that you focus on what you want to be sharp.

Jrmdb3 · Aug 10, 2007

Thanks Big Mike, I'll keep that in mind!

Jrmdb3 · Aug 10, 2007

Bump.
Would like some more C&C's please

Jrmdb3 · Aug 19, 2007

am_photoer · Aug 19, 2007

Jrmdb3 said:
Not using any lenses or anything.

No one else noticed this eh? :er:

Anyhow, they all seem okay. Do you have photoshop or Gimp? They all seem like they need a little editting and balancing. For the shots they are not very well exposed, limitations to camera most likely. The fourth picture is actually really good and a keeper. When i look at buildings i want to see them in their whole, the architect in me speaking there. Chopping off their foundations is painful to me, like showing half a person. As for the closeups, the camera should have somewhere minimum distance, if lens is built in, maybe try the manual. I actually liked the cat pictures and i bet they seem soft because the depth of field is a little shallow, so small an aperture where subject actually begins to lose focus.