Camera Noob, pics included.

[Sean_GT]

Hi Started using my camera yesterday for the first time and took some shots in the house of the babies toys. I dont know what I'm doing at the moment so its all trial and error.

opinions and advise welcome

Edit: Two Extra Pics

 

[bored2tears]

My favorite picture would have to be the one with the basketball. I like the simplicity of it all.

Anyway, I am no photography expert, but I will put in my two cents of how I feel.


1.) The fish photo is a little out of focus. When shooting people or animals, try to get their closest eye in focus. If you do that, it shouldn't really matter if some parts of it are blurred.

2.) I also like this photo of Mr. Potato Head. Again, I think it may be the simplicity.

3.) I already said how I feel about the basketball.

4.) I like this photo too, but I think it would be better if you had the whole motorcycle in focus.

5.) Puppy! The focus seems good, but something seems off. I am not an expert, so I don't know how to describe it.

6.) I fail at taking pictures of people, so I cannot comment on this, other than by saying it looks good, but something is off.

 

[lampers28]

Liking the basketball ball one. Actually a nice angle. The rest don't really grab my attention. Keep trying though. X

 

[Sean_GT]

My favorite picture would have to be the one with the basketball. I like the simplicity of it all.

Anyway, I am no photography expert, but I will put in my two cents of how I feel.


1.) The fish photo is a little out of focus. When shooting people or animals, try to get their closest eye in focus. If you do that, it shouldn't really matter if some parts of it are blurred.

2.) I also like this photo of Mr. Potato Head. Again, I think it may be the simplicity.

3.) I already said how I feel about the basketball.

4.) I like this photo too, but I think it would be better if you had the whole motorcycle in focus.

5.) Puppy! The focus seems good, but something seems off. I am not an expert, so I don't know how to describe it.

6.) I fail at taking pictures of people, so I cannot comment on this, other than by saying it looks good, but something is off.

agree few things are off in pictures, everybody likes the basket ball and spud head. I dont know why the full bike wasnt in focus something im doing wrong.
in regards to the fish, they wouldn't keep still so it was difficult for me to get a good shot each time i hit the button i missed the shot it took a while to focus and snap it.

 

[Vtec44]

I dont know why the full bike wasnt in focus something im doing wrong.

It looks like the distance + aperture created a shallow DOF.

 

[Sean_GT]

I dont know why the full bike wasnt in focus something im doing wrong.

It looks like the distance + aperture created a shallow DOF.

which means? Sorry but im a serious noob so dont understand the short hand terms yet and the big words.

 

[MLeeK]

I really try not to comment on the newbie photos like these because they aren't really worth giving CC for. They're your first few shots and you'll look back on them in the future and say "What the hell was I thinking posting THAT for all of the world to see???"
BUT... Seeing how you asked me personally... I am going to try to give you some direction... I really don't mean it to be MEAN or harsh sounding, so please take this as I meant it... with the best of intentions.

These are the first images you have with your new toy. There is no particular thought put into them. No thought to the composition-they are all pretty much plopping the subject dead center in the frame and shooting a shot. They are all shot in auto exposure, so no skill went into creating them and it shows. The camera flash is popping on and giving you some HARD shadows, your depth of field is either too much or too little the image. Exposure is either extremely bright or very dark-had you CHOSEN what these images would look like when they showed up on your screen what would you have chosen? This is just me guessing here, but the fish and the motorcycle would actually be in focus. The black around the fish wouldn't be so black-you'd be able to see the fish's fins in much more detail. The stones in front of the cycle would be much less in focus.
Potato head wouldn't look like a flash just blew off in his face with a hard dark shadow behind him and neither would the basketball. The dog would have been brighter on the exposure and we would have seen where his furry face ends instead of it blending into the darkness. And lastly the young lady would have her face exposed better and her hair wouldn't be the main subject of the image.

So why did I point all of that out to you? Because that's now what you can do-if you LEARN. It's a lot of learning but you can definitely do it. Start by learning about good composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition.
Then or at the same time start to learn about the exposure triangle and what it does to control how those things in the image that you wish weren't the way they are. Digital Photography Tips: Digital Photography School has some great tutorials. There are THOUSANDS of great ones on the web to get you started.

 

[RebeccaAPhotography]

which means? Sorry but im a serious noob so dont understand the short hand terms yet and the big words.

It means ur aperture your f-stop was too open and the object you were shooting was too close. What were the settings you had for that pic? Shutter speed f-stop and iso?? Innorder to avoid that you would want to open your aperture more. Say you took it at 1.8 opening it to 4 could have had the whole object in focus

Read understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's very easy to read and great exercises to do to learn what a good exposure is

 

[Vtec44]

which means? Sorry but im a serious noob so dont understand the short hand terms yet and the big words.

Oops!

DOF = depth of field. It looks like you were really close and using f5.6, so the shallow DOF caused 1/2 the bike to be out of focus. It's not a good or bad thing, you just need to understand "how" and "why" it happened. I'm not good at explaining things in writing, but do a quick Google search and you should see some examples. Also, read up on exposure triangle to get a good understanding of the relationship between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. It will help you in controlling the exposure of your pictures. Also, Google "Rule of Thirds" and "Golden Mean".

 

[blackrose89]

I really try not to comment on the newbie photos like these because they aren't really worth giving CC for. They're your first few shots and you'll look back on them in the future and say "What the hell was I thinking posting THAT for all of the world to see???"
BUT... Seeing how you asked me personally... I am going to try to give you some direction... I really don't mean it to be MEAN or harsh sounding, so please take this as I meant it... with the best of intentions.

These are the first images you have with your new toy. There is no particular thought put into them. No thought to the composition-they are all pretty much plopping the subject dead center in the frame and shooting a shot. They are all shot in auto exposure, so no skill went into creating them and it shows. The camera flash is popping on and giving you some HARD shadows, your depth of field is either too much or too little the image. Exposure is either extremely bright or very dark-had you CHOSEN what these images would look like when they showed up on your screen what would you have chosen? This is just me guessing here, but the fish and the motorcycle would actually be in focus. The black around the fish wouldn't be so black-you'd be able to see the fish's fins in much more detail. The stones in front of the cycle would be much less in focus.
Potato head wouldn't look like a flash just blew off in his face with a hard dark shadow behind him and neither would the basketball. The dog would have been brighter on the exposure and we would have seen where his furry face ends instead of it blending into the darkness. And lastly the young lady would have her face exposed better and her hair wouldn't be the main subject of the image.

So why did I point all of that out to you? Because that's now what you can do-if you LEARN. It's a lot of learning but you can definitely do it. Start by learning about good composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition.
Then or at the same time start to learn about the exposure triangle and what it does to control how those things in the image that you wish weren't the way they are. Digital Photography Tips: Digital Photography School has some great tutorials. There are THOUSANDS of great ones on the web to get you started.

I agree with this very much.

 

[tom_anderson18]

I feel that the picture of the dog would have had potential if the lighting had been a lot better.

 

[Sean_GT]

every pic was took in a dark room using flash. However I was told from start not to use auto so I have not. everything else ill take on board and start learning. whats the best basic settings i should adjust my camera to?

 

[tom_anderson18]

I have had my camera a total of 2 days during day one all I did was take pictures in the auto mode, once I put it into manual I started to notice the difference but to be honest there isn't a basic setting for you to set as each time you take a picture the light, subject etc is different I have been reading up on shutter speed, aperture, ISO then going taking a picture of something very simple and seeing what changes each time I change something as I'm more of a hands on learner, I can't just read then put into practice.

 

[Sean_GT]

I have had my camera a total of 2 days during day one all I did was take pictures in the auto mode, once I put it into manual I started to notice the difference but to be honest there isn't a basic setting for you to set as each time you take a picture the light, subject etc is different I have been reading up on shutter speed, aperture, ISO then going taking a picture of something very simple and seeing what changes each time I change something as I'm more of a hands on learner, I can't just read then put into practice.

I see what you mean, I'm going to look into it. Its also getting used to the camera and adjusting it at moment it seems hard to adjust although camera is designed for new starts.
Ill take some more of the dog tomorrow in the day light every pic was took in the living room.

 

[MrsLittle]

I would definitely read a few books first. I didn't even use my camera until I finished Understanding Exposure and did some research on the basics. GL!