First Shoot- Newbie

[tanzak88]

Alright everyone... I picked up a D3100 about 6 weeks ago and finally got a chance to take some shots with it when my girlfriend and I went to Vegas.

I haven't spent a lot of time with the camera, nor read the manual but I skimmed through my "D3100 Field Guide" on the flight. I basically took the camera to get the classic "tourist point and shoot" shots to document the trip, but decided I'd try some "artistic" stuff.

I only have a couple to share at this time. I shot a bunch in RAW, figuring I could be hardcore like the big-timers and do some HDR work... well, I have no idea how so they're going to sit on the card until I convert them to JPEG, then I'll have some more to share.

Critisizm is welcome and appreciated!


Bellagio Waters
(What I don't like about this shot is that you can't read "Bellagio" on the hotel)
Original:

DSC_0254 by tanzak88, on Flickr

A little editing:

DSC_0254_DxO by tanzak88, on Flickr

Bellagio Fountains

DSC_0258 by tanzak88, on Flickr

Fountain on the street
(I was playing with shutter speed here a bit. I don't have a tripod so I just set my camera on a handrail and propped it up with my wallet. Couldn't get the angle I was wanting)

DSC_0515 by tanzak88, on Flickr


DSC_0516 by tanzak88, on Flickr

 

[amandalee]

These look great! I love the colors! And how sharp and clean the pics are!

 

[PhotoTish]

Only 6 weeks and you took photos like this? Brilliant :thumbup:

 

[meggageg]

I really like the Bellagio Waters edited or not!

 

[DisasterDan]

Im not going to lie, coming into this i thought i was going to see some candids shot with a nikon coolpix. Great pictures for a beginner. Keep up the shooting and i cant wait to see more.

 

[KmH]

What shooting mode did you use?

 

[doubleoh7]

Not bad at all with a nikon d3100. impressive work. keep shooting!!

 

[tanzak88]

Thanks everyone! Really wasn't expecting the compliments in a forum filled with amazing pictures.

I was shooting in every mode while I was there. I mostly kept it in landscape. I also used "sports" or whatever, for the fast shutter because I don't have a tripod and 99% of the shots were hand held.

For the small fountain on the street I was in Aperture Priority and was adjusting my shutter speed. I didn't really have time to get anything other than what's there. I wanted to frame the fountain between the buildings, which would have also covered up the grossly bright billboard in the left 1/3 of the frame.

Next up for me will be a tripod. I love shooting at night and after the nights out in Vegas, I've found that for night shots, a tripod is a must. Maybe after that I'll get a 50mm 1.8 (the 1.4 is too expensive for me at this point...)

Thanks a lot everyone! I'm here to learn so bring on the critisizm... and the compliments

 

[tanzak88]

Bump for some critisizm and tips for learning from

 

[hayleyfraser24]

I love them especially no3 with the fountains!

 

[Patrick Simmons]

Great pictures, not much to criticize in those pictures.

 

[David-Wayne]

I'm amazed you can get a night shot out of a d3100 without a 1.4 and a tripod. Thats a good camera for $600!!

 

[Ballistics]

What kind of lens is that taken with?

 

[tanzak88]

What kind of lens is that taken with?

I forgot about my posting on here! Took a break from photography for a while, I've been to busy with life.

They were all taken with the kit 18-35mm lens.


Getting back into it... have a few cool shots of medevac helicopters from work, but nothing spectacular.

Now that winter is coming, I hope to have some neat photos.


Sorry to bump an old thread!