Couple Pics from the new Camera

[pmcbrier]

So I got a Canon 40D recently and it is my first SLR. It kicks ass from what I can tell, and while I have always enjoyed taking pictures, this takes it to a whole new level. Anyways, nice blog, here are a couple photos, and I would like advice on how to improve. Thanks in advance.

1.

2.

3.

 

[brianyi]

Very cool dog shot. I'm loving the last photo. Keep it up!

 

[photo28]

2&3 are nice, especially for your first few. #1 is a bit out of focus... try a faster shutter speed if you're shooting manual. Like the ideas though, keep it going.

 

[fiveoboy01]

#1 the focus is off or your shutter speed is too slow, #2 and 3 are nice first efforts. #2 is definitely best out of the 3, IMO.

 

[fokker]

Big fan of #2 and #3, what lens did you shoot them with?

 

[Samanax]

I would like advice on how to improve.

Digital Photography Tips For Beginners

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Learn Photo Composition

How To Make A Killer Photo Using 8 Simple Composition Rules

The Golden Section In Photo Composition

How To Improve Your Photography - 5 Easy Tricks

Understanding Depth Of Field In Photography

A Beginner's Guide To Capturing Motion In Your Photography

The Art Of Panning

Mastering Panning - Photographing Moving Subjects

 

[pmcbrier]

Big fan of #2 and #3, what lens did you shoot them with?

These were shot with a Canon 40d kit lens 28-135mm
Settings for the photos are as follows:
1. f/5.6, 1/500, 250iso, 135mm, Tv, Pattern metering, Center focus dot.
I thought 1/500 would be fast enough. Maybe I was wrong, maybe a focus issue?

2. f/9.0, 1/250, 200iso, 28mm, Av, Pattern metering, Center focus dot.

3. f/16, 1/80, 200iso, 28mm, M, Pattern metering, unsure as to focus settings.
This may have benefited from using a lower aperture setting to let more light in, along the lines of the second one, but I was concerned that I wanted to have the flowers, which were very close, in focus, so I went high on the f/stop. Ideas?

I have been studying up, reading Peterson's Understanding Exposure. I have been reading online on how to improve fairly constantly in the evenings, as well as trying to learn how to develop a post processing workflow to try to bring more out of the photos after shooting. I am using Adobe Camera Raw, and Photoshop CS3.

Thanks for the comments. I will post more photos up soon.

 

[McNugget801]

Utah