Baby Steps

[WesA]

Alright! Enough lurking

I lucked out and found a local guy through the classifieds who was selling his old camera in order to buy a much more advanced one. I got a used Nikon D90 with an AF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 GII ED lens for $500 cash. It looks like the guy took very good care of his equipment as there's not a scratch on this thing!

Since posting my introductory thread I decided to review some of the information found in the beginners' forum and came across a blog entitled "28 days with a DSLR" Now that I have my camera I believe I'll be following along with this blog closely and see where I end up

I love the weight of the camera. Up until now I've only ever used point&shoot cameras and to me this camera is heavy, and feels rock solid. Of course I took it for a test drive! The one thing I don't like about the camera has nothing to do with the camera at all, but rather my own shortcomings. My glasses interfere with looking through the viewfinder, but I'm blind without them so I suppose I shall just have to put up with the annoyance. I do like using the viewfinder instead of the live mode screen though. It helps to block out other distractions in the area and allows me to focus on the subject.

Realizing I would need a site to upload and share my photography I did a google search for "Online photo albums" and came up with shutterfly. They don't allow direct linking to the photos, but they do give a free webpage that you can customize with your uploads and turn into your own personal photo journal so that's what I did.

My first pictures aren't of the style that I really want to photograph (nature scenes), because it was night when I got it, overcast, and dreary. So I went around the warehouse where I work and took pictures of things that I found interesting. My first couple of pictures, as you'll see in the album was just testing out the camera.

Anyways, you can find my album here: http://violentserenade.shutterfly.com
These photos are untouched and unmodified. I used just the basic "auto" setting. I am looking forward to any and all constructive criticism on my compositions. Thanks!

-Wes

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Just so you know, Photobucket and Flickr are both free and allow you to post images here.

 

[WesA]

Ugh I hate photobucket. I'll upload them to Flikr. Just hate that they have a monthly upload limit. Ah well.

 

[bluetibby1]

Good luck with your photo adventrues and from a noob, it will be an adventure. In a good way
blue

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Ugh I hate photobucket. I'll upload them to Flikr. Just hate that they have a monthly upload limit. Ah well.

The upload limit isn't too bad if you keep your file sizes low.

 

[orb9220]

Yep or for a measly $25/yr. you have unlimited number and file size. Also gives you the ability for Collections/sets with no limits.

Be sure to check out the Nikon groups there are ones for the D90 that I belong to. As well as Nikon and Lens specific groups. Macro,Nature,Sports,Wildlife,Portrait,Weddings and even some local groups like my PDX group for portland area.

And you can get directions to learning the D90 from starting a thread or reading past threads in the specific group with a lot of helpful info and insights to learning your D90. Welcome Nikonian!
.

 

[WesA]

Cool. Thanks, Orb

I'm currently uploading now but with my slow connection it's going to be a little while yet before I'm finished. I may go ahead and upgrade the flikr account. I can justify it by saying I spent much less on my camera than I had originally alloted for lol.

 

[WesA]

Okay, all uploaded and I upgraded my flikr account so I don't have to wait a month between uploads. I still like the idea of having a photojournal website, but this will at least allow me to post pictures to the forum. So here goes.

This is the very first picture I took with the new camera. No attempt at composition, I was just shooting to test it out.

1st day 001 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

And I'll post a few from the batch that I thought were interesting

This was a rusty drum top. I just thought the texture was nice on it.

1st day 009 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

A blue mesh area we use to store archived files. Made for a neat effect

1st day 013 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

And finally these are our Big Ass Fans... No, really. That's the name of the company that makes these. Their company logo is a donkey lol.

1st day 025 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

 

[orb9220]

Congrats! and you can go ahead and make me a contact.
Then look at my profile and see my groups. As many there you may be interested in.
Nikon Bistro is laid back group like your first shot.
.

 

[WesA]

Thanks again, Orb. Added you. I can't figure out how to view the groups you're part of though.

 

[Rekd]

Good job, Wes. I wouldn't say you're quite "pro" yet, but it's about baby steps, right?

If others feel so inclined, Wes gave me the idea for this thread...

IMG_0001 (The First (un-edited) picture you took w/your new DSLR) - The Photo Forum - Photography Discussion Forum

 

[WesA]

Thanks, Rekd

Would anyone care to comment about the composition of the three pictures above? Even though they're not my "style" I'm not really into industrial photography, I like them better than any of the others that I took last night. I'd really appreciate constructive criticism about my composition on them.

 

[WesA]

Today I visited my mother and in the waning sun I went outside and took pictures of her yard. She has some rather eclectic tastes don't you think lol. Opinions/Critiques welcomed and encouraged.

This is my mother's shed. I painted the saw above the door for her when I was little.

DSC_0088 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

A totem we had carved. An eagle atop an owl atop a bear. I probably should have framed the shot better to get the whole totem in it.

DSC_0090 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

I didn't realize when I took this shot that the bottom duck's face was covered. I'll have to redo it.

DSC_0092 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

A flower pot robot man... Mom painted this one lol.

DSC_0094 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

An old cypress root my mother whitewashed and used as a bit of rustic yard decor.

DSC_0095 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

I don't think my mother could get all of her gardening done without the help of her gnomish army.

DSC_0096 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

It really works...

DSC_0098 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

My mother's strange sense of humor at work.

11-30-10 065 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

'nuff said

11-30-10 066 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

I really like how this one turned out. This piece of yard art has lots of character and age.

11-30-10 067 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

The greenhouse of many colors. We had like 8 cans of varying color of paint left over from other projects and we used all of it on this greenhouse. The interior looks like a crayola factory exploded.

11-30-10 069 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

...

11-30-10 071 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

I thought this cypress knee had good character

11-30-10 074 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

I'm thinking this could have been framed better, but I'm not sure how.

11-30-10 078 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

More gnomes...

11-30-10 079 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

Kiss me, I'm Irish!

11-30-10 080 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

A weathered old bull skull.

11-30-10 081 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr

Mother's old bassett hound was burried here a few years back. Good dog.

11-30-10 082 by lostsouldancing, on Flickr