52 week photo project

Looking forward to all input. I have no idea on how to improve.

 

We're all learning. But these weekly challenges help a lot.

 

Another note for those of you who can shoot in RAW do it. It helps a lot to improve your shots.

 

A lot of suggestions will depend on what options you have available. i.e., do you own strobes, tripod, PP software, etc.? If not, you have fewer options, but that doesn't mean you can't make great shots.

I actually really like the light in the rose shot, so I think I'd try to "fix" the OOF issue by:
Use a tripod
Increase your aperture 2-3 stops
Reduce ISO to 200
Use a long exposure with a remote release

If none of that is an option, I'd go ahead and increase ISO. You're generally better off to get a correct exposure with higher noise than to under-expose.

WhiskeyTango

 

On the rose shot. It really wasn't set up. In fact all of my pictures aren't staged. Just in the moment trying to snag a picture. So time is limited as well as lighting and movements. I do what I can. Higher ISO is a good option in that shot that I could have done. As stated I'm definitely going to try that next time. But... The rose is dead. So maybe with something else.

 

What is RAW? Sorry still a noob
What setting do you change the ISO under? I have been trying to figure it out on my camera but I'm not sure if I'm just not finding it or if in fact I cant adjust it.

 

RAW is an image format. Check here for the full skinny http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_image_format

Your profile shows you shooting a Fuji FinePix S700. From what I can see of Fuji's site, I'm not sure you have RAW as an option. I'm only seeing .jpg.

You'll definitely want to grab your manual and find the ISO setting. The S700 runs up to ISO 1600, which would give you greater sensitivity in low light (at the expense of noise/grain).

Google "exposure triangle," and do some reading. That's the basics of image exposure and the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. It will give you a lot more control over your images.

WhiskeyTango

 

Also, I'd recommend reading Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson! I've found this book to be very helpful in my learning process.

 

I will definitely check those out thank you!

 

Growth:
This is not the best photo I've taken; not even the best one I took for the "Growth" theme, really. But I decided to use it because it's the first one I've taken with any real focusing success, using a really old manual lens I bought recently. Purchased a Nikon N2020 film slr WITH a Sigma 75-300 lens for $40. I have to manually focus the lens on my D5100, and with my vision problems, that's quite a challenge! This is the closest I've gotten--I was focusing on the crocus plant at the front left. Still a little soft, but I think that's my cheap tripod with this old, heavy lens on it.

Anyway, the photo:
These little crocus plants are already springing up among the dead leaves, underneath my Japanese saucer magnolia (which is also budding). Poor little things have been tricked by the warm weather into thinking it must be spring, but I have a feeling they'll regret it come February!

 

It's very nice to see that there is still green out there! All I see here is white!

 

Here's my submission for "Growth."

One thing I'm learning... I need to improve my skills at working with kids, lol. I once again had a much better idea than this, but couldn't get the multiple kids involved to all look good at the same time



Please C&C!

WhiskeyTango