A little help and feedback

amo14 · Aug 20, 2011

I have been taking a lot of pictures lately with not too much success. I want to get good looking pictures but I feel like most I take look alright on the back of the camera, then I get them to my computer to find out they are rather horrible. I have been using manual mode, to try and better understand my camera, which could be some of the problem that I am not used to it. Also I dont know about my composition and how things look. Ive posted two if anyone can tell me what they think about them and give me some feedback. I had a lot of pictures of a porcupine I thought I was happy with, then only to get back to the computer they were either grainy or blurry. I was zoomed in a lot, I didnt want to get close, I was half paying attention to get my camera right. I am using a Sony Cybershot. I feel that I am causing the photos to be grainy, I want to upgrade my camera badley, but I want to get a good handle on photography basics before I do. Again any help or feedback is much appreciated.

DSC04910 by amo1410, on Flickr

DSC04945 by amo1410, on Flickr

IgsEMT · Aug 20, 2011

I'm tempted to say never but PS cameras shouldn't be in Manual.
Wiki composition two thirds rule and go from there.
Good luck

tovicand · Aug 20, 2011

Composition is the most important thing. The first photo is ok, but seems a bit blurred (possibly camera shake). The second one is distracting... Looks like a piece of lettuce or something. Also the railing in the background is distracting. Learn about how you can control exposure with adjusting your ISO. It will help you take better photos that are not grainy.

KmH · Aug 20, 2011

Your subject matter has little appeal.

GeorgieGirl · Aug 20, 2011

Your focus in #2 is pretty good.

Shadowbox · Aug 20, 2011

I learned a lot by reading other people's critiques - so start doing that! The people here are very knowledgeable so there is a database of priceless information at your fingertips. Don't feel pressured to be exactly right every time, just keep trying. Nobody here has perfected photography, but you do get better the more you read and the more you pick up your camera.

GeorgiaGirl is right, the focus is good in number 2. The problem is the subject and the background. The subject isn't so interesting, but for practicing that's okay. We ALL took pics of anything and everything in the very beginning or our photographic journey. Do you have any local parks you could go to? Try taking pics of flowers, birds, squirrels, your pets.. etc.. while you learn, and try to have backgrounds which aren't super busy. Good luck.

Railphotog · Aug 20, 2011

I've seen way too many photo forum threads where newcomers report they are trying to shoot on manual, as if it was the "magic" ingredient in great photos. Shoot photos on manual and you'll have great photos - IF you know what you're doing! IF you know your shutter speed and aperture settings will provide you what you want. Otherwise, using the Program, aperture and shutter modes will generally work just fine, again if you have an idea what you're doing. Use aperture priority if you want the scene to have great depth of field, or little depth of field. Use shutter priority if you want to stop action, overcome camera shake, or you want the subject to appear to be moving, etc.

I have a DSLR, but find I'm using my Canon SX30 most of the time for convenience. Its an advanced point and shoot, and has manual capability. Trying to capture a squirrel picking up a peanut off a table means I often use manual, because the camera will be reading the light not only on the table, but behind it. I also want a high enough shutter speed to stop his motion. Autofocus is great, but if I'm anticipating where the squirrel will be, I won't have time to focus. So I set the lens to manual focus. Clear as mud?

See here: