Beginner - Couple for C&C with new Camera...

[SarasotaTim]

Hey guys/gals...just a couple I took over the weekend (took about 350, got maybe 20 total I really liked)...made some beginner's mistakes a few times (left ISO on 400 instead of auto, didn't change aperture when switching from macro to landscape shots, etc.)...but I'm shooting 100% manual now, so feeling better about my knowledge of the camera, which is awesome!

The pics are a mostly macro/closeups, a landscape/bridge type shot in there too. These are ones I actually like, but ANY tips or suggestions would help...haven't done any additional editing in Photoshop with these, crops etc....

Thanks guys!

EDIT - After some PP, playing around with color/filters and recropped per some suggestions, the #1 image:

FlowerDesat by Sarasota Tim, on Flickr


1

IMG_0117 by Sarasota Tim, on Flickr

2

IMG_0074 by Sarasota Tim, on Flickr

3

IMG_0118 by Sarasota Tim, on Flickr

4

IMG_0147 by Sarasota Tim, on Flickr

 

[MissCream]

NEVER leave your ISO on auto!!!!!!!

I really like the first pink flower, although I think you should go with a different crop so its not dead center

 

[SarasotaTim]

Ahhh, ok so 2 mistakes I made...left it on the wrong ISO throughout the shoot, AND thought that auto ISO is the way to go lol
I've seen several posts on here that unless there is a very dynamic situation, auto ISO is ok...now I know

I'm assuming the reason NOT to use auto ISO is so that you can always use the absolute lowest ISO setting as possible, for better image quality?

Good idea on the cropping, I'll experiment

 

[o hey tyler]

Yes, the native ISO of the camera is usually the best performing ISO. So Canon is 100, Nikon is 200 I believe for most models.

 

[SarasotaTim]

Gotcha, thanks Tyler, I knew the 100 would be best performing, but I was curious as to if that's the reasoning behind not using auto...somewhere I also read that some Auto's actually use in-between levels, i.e., 250, 325, etc.......not sure if that's something that happens versus differing brands, I have a Canon...guess I'll experiment

 

[o hey tyler]

I believe it's a feature found in camera's above the Rebel line. I know my T1i went 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, etc. But my 5D goes 50, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400, 500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250, 1600. The 1/3 stop ISO increments do not retain as high image quality as a whole stop ISO increment though.

 

[SarasotaTim]

ahhhh, interesting...I'll have to do some more experimentation with that.

 

[SarasotaTim]

BTW MissCream, I did a crop on the #1 image....just didn't look right with it not centered, so I trimmed out the fluff and concentrated in more on the actual flower

 

[MissCream]

BTW MissCream, I did a crop on the #1 image....just didn't look right with it not centered, so I trimmed out the fluff and concentrated in more on the actual flower

Gotcha, either way, it's nice

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Nice set.

Don't forget that you can turn your camera sideways, for things like the fence shots. Also try looking at the world from something other than standing, eye level, which the fence images give me that feeling.

 

[ImNick]

if that first flower shot was cropped so it was in the lower left third of the picture, it would be awesome.
PS my Nikon goes to 100.

 

[Juice]

NEVER leave your ISO on auto!!!!!!!

Why not?

I do this on a pretty regular basis when I'm shooting at a relatively constant shutter speed/aperture and don't have time to set up each shot (ie sports, important events, etc).

 

[SarasotaTim]

Thanks! Actually, I did squat down pretty low for that shot...it's the handrailing for a small wooden bridge over a river/creek.....I took one standing up, same perspective, looked worse lol

Good idea about turning sideways, I've yet to try shooting one picture in that orientation.....

Nice set.

Don't forget that you can turn your camera sideways, for things like the fence shots. Also try looking at the world from something other than standing, eye level, which the fence images give me that feeling.

 

[SarasotaTim]

I will try that tonight

if that first flower shot was cropped so it was in the lower left third of the picture, it would be awesome.
PS my Nikon goes to 100.

 

[SarasotaTim]

And yeah my Canon goes to 100 as well....I'm still hearing arguments for and against auto ISO, guess it's preference, I can better see the "against" side of that after MissCream's comments....

if that first flower shot was cropped so it was in the lower left third of the picture, it would be awesome.
PS my Nikon goes to 100.